Chapter 42:

Feeling productive so figured I'd go ahead and post this. R&R!

The mall was buzzing with activity, people everywhere rushing to-and-fro, carrying bags from multiple stores, pushing past each other entirely focused on where to go next, the next sale, the next item on their lists.

Larten took a very deep breath. He was on edge being in such a foreign environment. He scowled. Nobody made eye contact with him for very long even though he was attracting unwanted attention. People made space walking past his imposing figure. He wasn't even wearing his preferred entirely red attire. Brigid had picked his clothes out, which had made him furious, but he understood even though he had argued with her for a full 30 minutes about it. (It was the principle of the matter. He did not need a child to pick out his clothes for him! Humph!)

He was wearing black pants, a white shirt with open collar, a red vest, and a long black coat. It was becoming quite obvious that women would stare and whisper secretly to each other about the handsome, well-dressed man that seemed to have popped out of a romance novel. Though he maintained his scowl, he couldn't keep his male ego from soaking it all in and enjoying it.

Erin had taken quick notice of the attention surrounding Larten with his shocking orange hair, facial scar, and out-of-the-ordinary attire. She knew leaving the house with him this would happen. She felt a tad guilty that she had dragged him along but the window to buy gifts was closing from then until Christmas and she needed the extra set of hands.

"Okay, done. Let's get out of here. I love the holidays but not this being jostled around part."

Erin tried to pull a lock of hair behind her ear that was in her face, but couldn't manage with the bags in her hands. She sneezed.

Larten extended a finger and moved it for her.

"Thank you." She smiled, wiggling her nose.

Larten broke his scowl, but it returned quickly.

They exited out into the parking lot. Everything was covered in snow, the moon glowing with its winter aura. Erin stopped and took a breath.

"I am so glad we're done. I know it was hell. Thank you for coming and helping me. You were a lifesaver."

Larten bowed.

"I am glad I could be of assistance."

"You always are." Erin quipped, pulling out her car keys.

Larten and Erin walked down to the level they had parked in the parking garage. As they rounded the corner from the staircase a group of four men walked out from the shadows blocking their path.

"Shit." Erin muttered.

"Bags, purse, car keys, now." The main male demanded pointing a gun at them.

The other three had knives and a crow bar and were closing in on them.

Larten made a small movement. The gun shifted specifically towards him.

"Don't try and be a hero, buddy. Try it and your girl gets fucked with a knife while you watch."

"What the fuck are you smiling for, bitch? I will— "

The man who had started towards Erin found himself with a shattered arm.

He screamed, Larten silenced him quickly.

"Fuck, run! Run, goddammit!"

The three started running but Larten, well, he had them dealt with in a matter of seconds.

He brushed his hands-off walking back to Erin. She was still smiling.

"Yikes. The EMTs will be surprised at a completely shattered arm in a simple robbery."

Larten grunted, picking up the Christmas bags he had been carrying.

"He was coming towards you." He said gruffly.

Erin surveyed the scene.

"Hmm. Think I'll need to do some mental clean up."

Larten looked down at her.

"What do you mean?"

She glanced past him looking for security cameras.

"Vampires do not show up on film of any kind. Our atoms act differently unable to have our image captured." He said thinking that was what she was concerned about.

"No, I'm not concerned about that. They knew where they were and that's why they came at us at this angle. What I'm worried about is them gaining consciousness and describing us, in particular, you. Like I've always said, you strike quite the figure." She laughed.

Larten furrowed his brows.

"Perhaps I should have simply used my knock-out gas."

"Nah, you gave them the type of concussion that they may never recover from. But, just on the safe side. People will find them here soon."

"How are you so calm in this?" Larten asked, slightly perturbed.

Erin looked at him and shrugged.

"I had an inkling this was going to happen."

"A heads up would have been appreciated." Larten huffed.

"Do you hear anyone coming or nearby?" Erin asked.

Larten listened. He knew she had meant via his vampire hearing.

"No."

"Okay, just give me a minute."

"What are you going to do?"

"Ssh. I need to concentrate."

Erin closed her eyes, her chin slowly dropping to her chest. Larten could feel a change in the air around them akin to static.

It was a couple of minutes before Erin's head shot up gasping for air.

Larten looked at her in shock.

"What did you do?!"

"I can sometimes alter memories or perceptions if I concentrate hard enough. I've never practiced on how to harness it so it's hard to do."

"It sounds akin to the gas we produce. It leaves our victims confused and dazed unable to correctly remember anything before or after."

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. I know if I practiced I could really do some impressive feats, but, well, kind of hard to find the right situations and subjects for something like that."

Erin started the car and backed out of the parking space. She looked to Larten as she shifted gears.

"Besides, I'd rather have a vampire escorting me: a tall, well-dress, grumpy vampire at that."

"Humph!" Larten blushed, scratching his scar.

Erin's laughter filled the car as they drove home.

"Finally, you guys are back."

Larten and Erin sat their bags onto the floor near the Christmas tree where Erin had formed her wrapping station; there was an assortment of rolls of wrapping paper and bows everywhere. She would always laugh when Larten threw it a disgusted look.

"Larten, look!" Brigid said excitedly.

Larten looked around.

"What?"

"Look at the fireplace." Brigid hinted.

Larten shifted his eyes to the mantel.

"I do not—oh."

"Do you like it? I just finished decorating it!" Brigid beamed proudly next to the stocking she had made for him.

It had his name in the same script as Erin and Brigid's, complete with a glittery spider with a ridiculous Santa hat on its head.

It was one of the most horrendously ugly things he had ever seen. So why was his throat tightening?

"Yes, I do like it. Thank you, Brigid." He gave a small bow of his head and smiled.

Brigid beamed.

"Are you staying here tonight or spending the night at Ellie's?" Erin asked from the kitchen.

"I'm going to Ellie's tomorrow. Honestly, I'm tired and want to finish this book I started so I'll be upstairs if you need me."

Brigid hurdled over the couch and up the stairs leaving Erin and Larten in the kitchen, a Christmas movie still playing on the t.v. Brigid had been watching while decorating Larten's stocking.

"Looks like it's just us. Are you hungry?"

"No, I am not, thank you." Larten tossed his black coat over the back of a chair.

"Do you want some egg nog?"

Larten pulled a face.

"Haha! Okay, okay, let me see what else we have? Wine?"

"That sounds much better."

Erin poured them each a glass leading them to sit on the couch, the movie Brigid had left on serving as background noise.

Erin immediately curled up next to him, tucked in against his side. Neither of them said anything, sipping their wine looking at the t.v., but not actually watching it.

Larten cleared his throat. He needed to clear the air.

"Erin, please do not- "

"Too late. You already have presents to open on Christmas." Erin smirked.

"But I have said it multiple times that— "

"Yes, I know. Vampires don't celebrate Christmas. But you agreed to celebrate it with us and presents are a part of the entire celebration. I'm afraid you'll just have to deal with it." Erin nudged him in the ribs.

"I suppose I will." He sighed.

Erin laughed and Larten chuckled as Erin poured them another glass of wine.

"Were you okay last night? You seemed to have dreamt a lot and you said my name. I only want to make sure you are not having nightmares again." Larten asked awkwardly, staring into his glass.

He immediately regretted the question as it left his mouth. But he couldn't stop himself. Now there was no taking it back.

Erin coughed as wine went down the wrong pipe.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just choked a little." Erin coughed into her hand.

In absolute honesty, she had not expected that question and it had completely thrown her off.

"Oh, it was just a regular dream. No nightmares or bad premonitions. Just a…very enjoyable dream is all. You were in it so that is probably why you heard your name. No big deal." Erin said bringing the wine glass to her lips, her face burning red as she tried to hide it.

"So, it was a good dream then? And I was in it?" Larten kicked himself once more. He wasn't trying to pry, but he just…he just wanted to know.

Erin tried to keep the smile creeping onto her face. God, she was embarrassed, but, for whatever reason, she wasn't THAT embarrassed about him hearing her call out his name.

"Yes, you were in it and it was a good dream."

Larten pretended to look around the room nonchalantly.

"Is it like the good thing that will happen soon that you had a vision of?"

"Ah," Erin faltered, "yeah, you could say that." There was no stopping the secretive grin on her face behind her wine glass.

"Why are you grinning in such a way?" Larten asked.

They were now on a second bottle of wine, almost ready for a third. At least for Larten.

"I'm not. You're seeing things."

Larten playfully tickled her side.

"Stop!" Erin squealed. "What are you doing?"

"Vampire torture techniques."

Erin gave another squeal as Larten started tickling her all over.

"Stop, stop, ah, I hate being tickled!" Erin gasped out, laughing.

Larten himself was even laughing feeling the warmth of the wine sloshing in his veins.

Erin shoved against him with all her strength to where they were both sitting up and laughing.

"I never knew you had a fun side."

"I am full of surprises. Watch."

Larten snapped his fingers doing a small magic trick.

"Oh, I forgot you knew magic from before. Do another one!"

Larten entertained Erin and had not felt so fun and playful and happy like that in a very, very long time.

"My turn." Erin said.

Larten sat next to her.

"And what will you be performing? Believe me when I say I have seen most everything done in this world."

"What I'm going to do will take your breath away and stop your heart." Erin said.

Larten noticed an almost imperceptible glint of fear in the back of her eyes.

"Well, what is it?" He asked, taking another sip of wine.

"This."

Erin placed a hand against the side of his face pulling it to hers kissing him full on the mouth. She broke away before gently placing another one. She kept her hand in place on his face and looked into his eyes, somewhat surprised at herself, but also relieved that it had finally happened. Perhaps it should be the man who initiates, but Erin never had time for that.

It was true, Larten had stopped breathing, and his heart had skipped several beats. His eyes were wide as he looked into Erin's. Her hand was still against his face. Slowly, he placed his hand on top of her hand, pulling it off, holding it firmly.

Erin quickly tugged her hand away, turning her face in shock at what she had just done. She tried to sputter something out, but Larten turned her face towards his and kissed her deeply in return.

There was no going back now.