CHAPTER 4: Bars and Vampires

It was not until we were driving through the night away from street lights that I noticed it. I had been too distracted before. It was pitch black out and I could see everything clearly. Colors were brighter, each object took on a distinct shape, and every aspect of the night had its own inherent beauty. Briana must have noticed the rapt expression on my face because she looked over at me and spoke.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" she asked softly, "I remember when I was newly made. I was entranced by everything around me. Soon you will discover your other gifts. The blood I gave you will make you strong."

"It's amazing," I replied just as softly, "What else can I do?"

She shrugged, "Your sense of hearing and touch will have increased as well as your physical strength. The weakest vampire has the strength of ten men. You will be able to move faster than the mortal eye can follow. I will teach you to levitate. And all vampires are telepaths."

I nodded feeling slightly dizzy at the implications of it all. I tried to distract myself by asking another question, "Where are we going?"

"Scattered throughout the world there are places where vampires gather. These places are similar to what humans call bars. Ironically these vampire bars are the safest places for mortals to be."

"Why is that?" I asked confused.

"It is forbidden to kill in these establishments," Briana replied, "There are mortals there who are willing donors and if people were to start turning up dead it would bring unwanted attention to our kind."

"I don't know if I can do this," I whispered closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the headrest.

"You must," Briana reminded me gently, "A vampire's embrace does not have to be painful for the victim. If it was only painful why would mortals volunteer to give us their blood?"

Any reply that I might have made died in my throat as we pulled into a parking lot. Briana opened her door and climbed out waiting for me to do the same. To my shame I found myself unable to move. Briana simply came around to my side of the car and opened the door for me. "Come, my heartbreaker," she coaxed holding out her hand, "Trust in me. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to."

Slowly I reached out and took her hand and climbed from the car. It was dark where we were, not a single street light but that didn't matter. I could see without such things now. I studied the brick building before us. "This is it?" If so, I wasn't impressed.

Briana laughed, "Wait until you get inside. We must maintain a degree of discretion. We do not want our presence to be known by all." We started to walk towards the building but she stopped several yards from the door. "I must ask something of you," she said soberly, "I know that I told you that you may call me by my mortal name but while we are in the company of others of our kind you must call me Raven."

"Why?" I didn't understand.

Her blue eyes narrowed as she struggled for words. "The use of that name would bring unwanted attention to me."

I still didn't understand but I could see how important this was to her. "Whatever you say . . . Raven."

"Thank you. Now," she lifted her chin, "Follow me and stay close."

It was like stepping into a new world. Red spotlights, a strobe light on the dance floor and other flashing colors assaulted my new senses. I gasped and instinctively drew closer to my maker. I felt her arm around me, her long ebony hair sheltering me from the harsh lights and her lips were against my ear causing me to shiver. "Give it a moment, Shawn. Your eyes will adjust." Again I was struck by the notion that top of Raven's head barely touched my shoulder and yet it was I that she held protectively.

I forced myself to look up and slowly the lights became less intimidating. I slowly relaxed and looked around. The room was split into multiple levels and on the first level was a large dance floor filled with gyrating bodies. Somehow I could pick out the vampires. They were different than the mortals here. Their skin had a certain sheen to it and their eyes glittered in the shadows. They smelled different as well.

"You will always be able to recognize our kind," Raven whispered, "Be wary of those that you do not know."

Raven led me to the bar and no sooner than we were seated than we were approached by two females both blondes and very beautiful. "Well, Raven, what have we here?" The taller of the two purred, her eyes roaming my body lustfully.

The other female chuckled, "He couldn't be yours now could he? You, who have never made another of our kind."

"Maybe I changed my mind, Celeste," Raven's tone was cold, "It is no concern of yours."

The taller one cocked her head green eyes glittering mischievously, "Really, Raven, no need to be rude. At least introduce us to your fledgling."

Raven sighed, "Very well. Celeste, Anastasia, this is Shawn. Shawn," she waved her hand at the two blonde vampires.


Anastasia leered at me and I felt like a piece of meat. "Nice to meet you, Shawn," she cooed, "Would you like to dance?"

Maybe it was Raven's tense and cold behavior towards these two creatures or perhaps merely the fact that the tall one's voice was grating on my nerves but I shook my head, "No, thank you. I'm fine where I am."

The frowned and Celeste moved closer. "That's not very nice," she scolded her hand flashing forward to take hold of my chin.

The contact ended abruptly when Raven snarled and before I knew what was happening Raven was holding Celeste by the throat, the creature's feet were several feet off the ground. "Never lay your hands on him again," Raven warned before shoving Celeste towards Anastasia, "Keep better reign on your fledgling, Anastasia, lest I not be in such a pleasant mood next time."

Anastasia dragged Celeste away glaring angrily over her shoulder. Raven merely shrugged, "I have never liked either of them." She stood. "Now, stay here. I will be back in a moment.

I had not been waiting more than five minutes when she returned with two mortals, one a female with pale skin and glorious auburn hair, the other a handsome male with brown hair, in tow. Raven reached out and took my hand, "Come with me."

The four of us made our way through the crowd to the back of the club where Raven opened a door that led to a private room. Raven beckoned the brunette to come to her. "Watch and learn, my childe," she whispered to me as she took the male in her arms. She gazed into his brown eyes for a moment before lowering her head and sinking her fangs into his neck.

He moaned, not with pain but pleasure, and Raven held him close as she fed. The boy's knees buckled and she withdrew, picking him up and carrying him to a couch. She bit her finger allowing a few drops of blood to spill over the wound. "Our blood will heal the puncture wounds," she told me her voice husky. She turned to me. Her face was flushed and her eyes flashing. "Now, it is your turn. Come here, girl," she bade and the girl did so without hesitation. "Now be gentle, Shawn. Listen to her heart. You will see her thoughts and she yours. You can entrance her and she will know only pleasure."

Swallowing hard, I took the girl into my arms and as Raven had with the boy, gazed into her eyes praying to God if he could still hear me that I would not hurt her. As gently as possible I sank my fangs into her neck and we both moaned with the pleasure. I concentrated on her heartbeat as Raven at instructed and somehow I knew when I had taken enough. I pulled back and the girl collapsed against me.

I stood unmoving; my mind was in such an uproar that I couldn't think. All I knew was the residual affects of taking blood and was beside myself with pleasure. I felt stronger and more alive than I ever had.

Rave took the girl from my arms laying her on a large armchair and healing the girl's wounds just as she had with the boy. Raven came to my side, "It is a lot, I know," she told me stroking my hair, "As we feed we experience the life of those we feed on. It is this that makes eternity worth living."

I looked down at her and impulsively I lowered my lips to hers claiming her as she had me when she had given me the blood. Raven moaned and wrapped her arms around my neck kissing me back. I wanted more but Raven pulled back tenderly brushing my hair back from my face. "My Heartbreaker," she smiled lovingly.

I opened my mouth but no words come out. I couldn't get my thoughts to focus. All I could feel was the pleasure. Raven kissed my cheek, "Come, my love, let's go home. You are just overwhelmed. A little quiet will help clear your mind."

I allowed her to lead me and something in me snorted in contempt at how much following I seemed to be doing lately. I had never been a follower and my new position unnerved me somewhat. What was happening to me? When we reached the car I placed my hand on her arm, "Can I drive?" I asked needing to control something with a sudden desperate need.

She cocked her head but nodded handing me the keys, "If you are sure that your head is clear enough."

"I'll be fine," I assured her, "I-I need to drive."

I calmed down a bit as I started the car and backed out of the parking lot and began to head back the way we came. It unnerved me how I knew exactly where to turn.

"Vampires have photographic memories," Briana told me, "For some, mortal memories fade away. But a vampire remembers everything from the moment of his rebirth with crystal clarity."

I refer to her now as Briana and it really was like she was a different person now. She was more relaxed with none of the fierceness I had seen her display at the club. Her words made me think. What of my friends? My career? What would they think had happened to me?

I didn't voice my thoughts. I think I was too afraid of the answers. I drove us the rest of the way home in silence. I parked the car and handed her the keys. Wordlessly I climbed out and left the garage instinctively finding my way outside. It was a warm night and I stood alone with my eyes closed letting the breeze ruffle my hair.

Briana watched me but did not attempt to intrude. She walked quietly to the front porch of her house and sat in a chair waiting for me. I wanted to take a walk but suddenly I was afraid to be out of her sight. Damn this new insecurity was becoming annoying.

I sighed. I didn't want eternity if it meant the end of everything I was.