III
The theater was quite as the audience became hooked on the last scene. Raiyne and Tara had obtained seats in the balcony. What they had been watching was a recent play created and directed by a college student. Surprisingly it was entertaining and not childish. It had been about a vampire of old, who had come to find a bride. The idea was slightly original, but that didn't matter. Raiyne knew it was going to end up on Broadway. Tara had seemed to be quite into it. But for the sake of her friend, Raiyne pretended to be interested. In reality her mind was somewhere else. Where to be exact? Wandering around in an endless world of mist and smoke, not alone…but with a vampire. Least, from what she's read in books and seen it movies, it was a vampire. This whole day, she'd had that vampire on her mind. The dream would not cease and desist. Normally she wouldn't care about a dream this much. Looking down, she inspected the mark on her wrist again. Sense it had not gone away, she'd been worried. Course, like Tara said it could be some kind of bug bite. In the dream though, it had all been so real, and this seemed to prove it.
Before Raiyne knew it, the audience had exploded into applause. She stood, not wanting to look out of place, and clapped. "It wasn't all that great." She thought bitterly. As soon as the people began filing out, Raiyne found herself being dragged down to the ground floor. "Well, I suppose Tara will have a good night tonight." It was obvious that Tara was making a beeline for the director. "Tara, just what exactly are you trying to do."
"I'm going to get my kicks in," Tara replied, shoving her way past a person. "…while I'm still young enough to get them. I'm surprised you aren't as enthusiastic. You sure are dressed to impress to night." She cast a look over her shoulder. "Though you'll probably be more impressive undressed." Raiyne glared and stopped, swinging her bag at Tara.
"Slut." Tara only beamed with pride. "As much as I'd love to stay and romp around with the two of you, I have to open tomorrow." Raiyne and Tara owned a magic shop together. The number of Wicca practices in New York was unbelievable. The business was good and they enjoyed what they did. They had spell books, ingredients, potions, charms, whatever you need to perform your rituals and spells. There was a disappointed look on Tara's face when she turned around. "Sorry hun, but I've gotta get some sleep." Now Raiyne felt bad about leaving her. But she did not want to hang around. The whole day had been kind of stressful for her. All she needed now was a good night's sleep. After a quick hug, Raiyne weaved her way through the crowd and headed for the door. Stepping into the street, the cold air nipped at her bare shoulders and legs. The streets were far too crowded and Raiyne's hopes of getting home soon were crushed.
Wrapping her arms around her waist, her bag on her shoulder, Raiyne headed down the street. The soft thud of her boots blended in with the other city noises. As Raiyne passed by the mouth of an ally, strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist. Her scream was reduced to a muffled "Oomph!", as a strong hand covered her mouth. Dragged into the ally and roughly shoved up against the wall, the hand left her mouth. "What the fuck." Her eyes darted to her…attackers? "Who the hell are you?" She tried stepping forward but was shoved back up against the wall. Two of the three men were on either side of her. Each one pinned an arm up against the brick wall. The third stepped in closer.
"Why, we're only here to keep a young, helpless thing like you in check. You sure seem like you're quite a ways from your corner." His greasy black hair hung down past his shoulders. Beady brown eyes stared at her, lust filled as he took in her body. A loose shirt hung off his narrow shoulders, a jean jacket only making him look smaller. His pants were full of holes and tucked untidily into worker boots. Raiyne eyes flashed as he hinted to her being a whore.
"In your dreams…" She spat. A lonely hand rested on her stomach. The two henchmen beside her chuckled.
"Real men don't dream, sweetheart." His breath was rank. Raiyne turned away from him, nose scrunched up.
"They don't bath much either." She was rewarded with a forceful backhand. He roughly began to force his hands up her shirt. Raiyne struggled at the sudden violation. The two buddies of the man had released her. She put her hands on his shoulders and tried to push him away. "Get off! Stop!" With a swift knee to the groin, the man went down and Raiyne ran. In the wrong direction might I add. At the end of the alley there was a chain link fence. Trying to scale it in her boots would be impossible. "I'm not helpless, I'm not helpless…" Raiyne repeated over and over as she tried inevitably to scale it. Looking behind her she saw the three men advancing on her. Two of them each held a knife. Her eyes widened to the size of softballs. "I am helpless…I'm gonna DIE!" She shut her eyes tightly and screamed. Screamed like a horror movie bimbo, surely someone would hear. I mean, shouldn't glass windows be breaking? Raiyne stopped when she heard a blood-chilling yell.
Opening her eyes she turned, her back to the fence, and looked into the alley. She could see a shadowed figure, hunched over bodies of the two henchman. The almost rapist, was backed against a wall. The figure advanced on him, hands tense at its sides. With a lightning fast reflexes, it had the man by the throat. It raised him above the ground, and with one quick move, snapped his neck. The man fell to the ground lifeless. Raiyne was paralyzed. She stared as she saw the figure turn on her. It walked towards her and Raiyne made herself flat against the fence. When it entered the stream of light, coming from a nearby window, she gasped. It was…was…him. The vampire from her dreams smiled at her, and Raiyne felt her knees get weak.
"Are you alright?" He inquired, smiling softly at her. Raiyne's tongue felt like dead weight in her mouth. He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "How rude of me, not introducing myself to you." Stepping closer to him her took her left hand and turned it over, exposing the faint red mark. "I'm…" He leaned down and lightly kissed her wrist, instead of the back of her hand. "…D'Artagnan." When Raiyne felt his lips on her wrist, images from her dream started flying about in her head. An instant rage over took her and she glared at him. Pulling her hand away, she made a fist with her right hand and made to give him a right hook. But before she even got close to him, he grabbed her wrist, spun her around and pinned her against him. His arm across her chest, still holding her wrist.
"Let go. Now." Raiyne tried to sound convincing, but there was a slight pleasure in being close to him. D'Artagnan laughed.
"Or what? You'll hit me." Raiyne clenched her jaw, knowing she'd lost. He was right. What was she going to do? Beat up a vampire. Yeah, right. Though it was an inspiring though, she really was helpless. "You haven't told me your name. Not even said thank you after I saved your mortal ass." Raiyne struggled and was surprised when she was released. She turned on him to find him standing there, a cool demeanor about him.
"Raiyne," She said quietly, looking for a way around him. But she caught herself staring at him mostly. The smart aleck smile on his face only made him look that much better. "Oh goddess, I'm falling for a…vampire. I must be losing it." That's when Raiyne noticed she wasn't the only one staring. D'Artagnan was smiling now, his eyes moving up and down. Raiyne growled, but a chilling breeze ripped through the alley. She found herself shivering and her house was more than ten blocks away. D'Artagnan seemed to find this quite entertaining. He walked up to her, stripping off his leather trench.
"Come on, dying from stupidity would be quite embarrassing for a mortal like you." He commented, holding his coat open behind her. Raiyne snaked her arms into the sleeves.
"Stupidity! What's that suppose to mean?" She snapped, irritated at the teasing smile of his. But her insides flopped about and she looked away. "Well, who leaves their house dressed like that?" He observed. "Especially if they are going to be out in the middle of the night." Raiyne wrapped the coat around here; she turned to look at him. She was met with a piercing gaze. She melted for a moment, and then regained her composure. "Shall we go madam?" Staring at him opened mouthed, trying to find the right words, Raiyne glared. "You know, I'm beginning not to like you." She turned around fast and headed for the alley mouth.
"Funny," D'Artagnan called, following her. "Because I'm beginning to love you." Raiyne didn't have to look back, to know he had a smartass smile on his face. But as she walked down the street, she felt her face burning. Why her? Did she really look that attractive tonight?