~~V~~
Chapter 3
"What are you talking about Pam? I'm not intentionally dense, but I feel like all you vamps can be particularly evasive and are never forthcoming." My irritation and displeasure were palpable. Sideswiped yet again by Eric's fickle nature I looked to Pam for answers.
"Look here, little air breather, I'm not forthcoming because I don't have to be, just because you asked doesn't mean you have any right to know" she returned, her bejeweled mask throwing light and color in all directions as she turned to leave.
I seemed to have hit a nerve. It was true, the person lacking knowledge never gets to call the shots. I struggled to remember a saying my Gran had once used; you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I checked myself; took a deep breath, found that quiet calm place I often struggled to locate within myself.
"You're right. You tell me what you want to tell me, and I'll be grateful of it" I said, trying my best so sound like honey.
With that, rough and tumble Pam seemed to deflate. She leaned against the door and looked with a great sadness at me.
"I just hope you're worth all this hassle, really I do. I mean I get it, I'd love to take you down to the basement and have my way with you, but Gucci and Chanel" she exclaimed throwing up her hands, "all this pomp and circumstance is becoming droll. You'd think he was an prepubescent groundhog, scared of his own shadow" Pam looked over at me like this should clear up everything, as if she had suddenly given too much away.
"Are we talking about Eric right now?" I had assumed that we were, but the more she said, the less sure I was.
She smirked, "I'll let you see yourself out. You can stay if you like, but I really have better things to do then to save your scrawny ass" and with that she sashayed out of the office.
I felt small and neglected. The dress I was wearing seemed too formal, too romantic for the bright lights of the workspace. I let my back slide down the wall until I was scrunched at the place the floor met the wall, grabbing my knees to me.
I began to deeply regret coming to Fangtasia. I felt the reality of my situation. I was a "hassle" and a nuisance. My presence only worked to disturb and perturb. If Eric did like me, he only did for moments at a time. His seizure like adoration and dismissal left me confused and lonely.
I stared unseeingly at the tile patterns on the floor, the deep glossy blues darting in an intricate pattern along and beside the whites. Tracing the demarcation I hummed a sad tune half in my head, half out loud.
I knew I needed to find my way back to my trusty old rig, needed to pick myself up, dust myself off, and retrace my steps back through the swarm of masked assailants. I counted. I counted my breathing. One-two-three: get up. One-two-three: straighten yourself up. I counted the number to steps. Ten to the door. 27 to the end of the hall. I counted the doors. I counted the masks.
The dark notes of a piano greeted me as I made my way through the bar. I stepped in time with the music. I let the tempo fill me, let it set the beat of my heart, let it mark the rate of my breath.
I felt more at peace with myself. I let my eyes flutter closed for a moment and the image of myself dancing inside strong arms swam through my senses. My eyes snapped back open in anger. I could see the exit now. "One, two, three," I repeated over and over to my subconscious.
The slick haired man from before stepped into my exit path. His smarmy hair rivaled only by his more sycophantic look.
I stepped to the right. "We meet again," he purred.
"I was prevented the opportunity of introducing myself. I am Damino, and you?"
"I am Leaving," I said pushing past.
His arm came up to hinder my forward motion. He wrapped it around me, soft and snakelike.
I couldn't hear his thoughts and knew at once this was not just a horny out-of -touch human, this was a horny out-of-touch vampire.
"Excuse me." I defiantly stared at the stranger.
"Perhaps I could buy you a drink. Convince you to stay a while." His smile was sinister and creepy, his sharp fanged teeth descending as he leaned forward.
"Pam!" I shouted hoping she heard me wherever she was and I attempted to wriggle from his cinch-like grasp. I was going to owe her big time, but I needed my scrawny ass re-rescued.
"Pleasure to meet you, Pam" He cooed at me, misunderstanding. I wasn't sure if he was trying to glamour me, or if that was just the way his face looked.
While his frame was small, there was no denying his strength. His grimy worn leather boots trudged across the floor, dragging me along with him. His cold, dusty breath sent goose flesh down my spine.
Assuming he didn't know I was unglamourable I did my best to aware awestruck and vapid.
"What would you like to drink?" He droned sniffing my ear.
"I'm really not thirsty. I think I'll just be leaving" I smiled back hopefully.
"You look like you could use a shot of Patron." He then proceeded to flag down a bartender and order a shot of tequila.
Then I resorted to the only tactic I had left, screaming at the top of my lungs, and causing a general disturbance.
"Let go of me! Let me go! I said NO!" I shouted over and over.
Damino's grip became vice-like and a hand quickly moved to cover my mouth. His hands felt like stone, rough and cold.
I should have known that a plea for help in a place like Fangtasia would accomplish little. He was now making his way towards the back exit. The neon green "EXIT" sign buzzed and flickered as the vampire slammed me against the metal bar, stepping into the warm Louisiana night.
The crunch of the gravel beneath his feet sounded load and angry. Small pieces of rock and dirt were kicked up into my shoe where they lodged themselves between the sole of my foot and the sole of my shoe.
We were both facing the building. I glanced up at the ring of light around the single lit bulb and the swarm of insects humming around it. It had a magical glow about it. I tried to think of some way out of this mess, but found myself mesmerized.
"Welcome to Area Five, Sheriff" I heard drawled somewhere behind us.
"Ah, Eric. So good of you to make a showing at your own establishment," my captor replied turning us both to face the elusive Sheriff of Area Five.
My eyebrows shot up is surprise and relief. I attempted to shout out to him, but my lips were still welded shut with the hard concrete grip of Damino, and all that came out was a sad gurgle.
"I was preoccupied. Had I known of your arrival, I would have sent for you." Eric's words were staccato and unnecessarily loud in the quiet of the bar's back lot. His eyes steered clear of mine and shone sharply into the masked bandit holding me.
"No matter" the man smiled sardonically. "I will come to call some other time. I currently have more pressing matters" the s's in the word "pressing" came out like hot air through a teakettle.
"Then, by all means, depart. But, I'm afraid you seem to have confiscated something of mine, which I should like to keep." His eyes darted to mine, but were completely unreadable.
"Pam?" He asked Eric softly, and giving a quick tug to my person to verify the fact that he was referring to me.
"The girl. Yes." He replied.
Damino looked perplexed for a moment, deciding if he should challenge the Sheriff in his own territory or not.
The gravel felt no less comfortable on my face as I was haphazardly dropped with my hands still pulled tightly behind me to the ground.
"Ouf" I gasped as the air in my lungs left me.
"Some other time," Damino whispered as he leant over me and kicked a bit of dirt on me and turned to leave.
I heard a car start and peel out of the parking lot before I struggled to right myself. I could taste the dry ground in my mouth, could feel the cracked and bleeding abrasions on my face.
Two solid arms collected me. They brought me upright and then lifted me in a protective embrace.
Salt water spilled over the barrier of my eyelids and raced in fits and spurts down my cheeks and across my chin.
~~:~~
I was back at my car, propped delicately against the hood of the car.
Eric was looking at me. He had removed his mask. Sharp, piercing, fierce blue eyes that looked concerned and wrought with worry barred down on me. He was silent.
My tears continued their journey down the valleys of my face, but I too was silent. In my head I counted. In my head I recalled the words of Pam. Recalled that I wasn't worth it, that I was a hassle.
His fingers moved from my hips where he was holding me steady and upright to my face, where he gently removed my mask.
In the end we both decided to speak at the same moment:
"Where did you go?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, that…" He said.
A/N:
Okay, so Eric is back, I know you all missed him for his brief disappearance. I don't think he'll be going anywhere soon… so stick around folks. Planning to update once a week or so (perhaps more?) in the future… I think the story may be a bit long… if it goes the way I want it to… and rating may change. What do you think? Please write a review…. I really live for them.
Thanks for reading!
-K
