-Plus&Minus+

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Here we go…

Chapter2: Dracula Freak

O+&-O

He was used to getting it all.

Everything.

Only one thing he lacked.

One thing he desired too wildly.

Refusing to see his other half.

All minus…he hadn't brought in the other part of the equation yet.

But there was one who might bring it to him…

Completing her half too.

O+&-O

She shivered a little more…before a frown came to her face. It was hard, but she broke away from those piercing blue eyes and reached under the counter.

Blood. Did he just ask for blood? Oh…and that wasn't all. He wanted to taste her? Perverted psychotic sicko.

Her tone was deadly now. She wasn't one to throw out names and to be ultra tough. But she did have a very strong inner part inside her that contradicted her unassuming but pretty looks. She'd learned it over the years, how to avoid hurt, how to take care of herself. And she was not one to be walked all over on, even though her emotions sometimes too strongly held her hostage.

"All right. Listen. Dracula Freak! Either you let go of my hand now…or see this bottle…what's in it?"

She lifted up a bottle of hard whiskey in her free hand now. "It's going to make contact with your black silky GQ VERSACE crap pants and make it look like you had an accident in this bar. And that's before I use the bottle for batting practice."

Noting that she really meant it, he couldn't help but smile. Her toughness made her even more sensual and sexy. What a beautiful work of creation this woman was. Such softness in her and yet she was not a pushover. In her deep brown eyes was intellect purely from her inner mental ability. Her hair golden mixture of cinnamon spice, her form small, but femininely curved, those brown eyes big and knowing. It was a beauty that didn't start from the outside with the aid of artificial enhancement, but from the inside creating a fire on the outer. It took everything in him to not just grab at her face now and fasten his lips to hers. He truly did want to taste her…a drive in him begging to know what it would feel like…what she would taste of. He wouldn't do it though. Wouldn't push and rush through like he normally did, too impatient to wait for the final culmination.

Oh no…not with her. He'd…wait.

He searched her face now, not even discouraged that it hadn't worked. It hadn't worked. It hadn't…worked?

Wow.

It always did. It never failed. Even with his siblings he often had the power to hold it for a short half of a moment. But with her…she escaped it. She didn't let him hold her in his vision. Amazing. Even the half hadn't dimmed that.

Truly Amazing.

He moved closer against the counter, his hand starting to slide back up the sleek black, just missing the rushing scarlet pool and shards of clear glass.

"Maybe I am Dracula…a vampire. And I just want the sweetest taste from the sweetest woman in this place."

She was ready for it this time. Now that he had let go of her hand, Haley rolled her eyes and called it out. "DIRK…I'VE GOT A LIVE ONE! HE THINKS HE'S DRACULA!"

Nathan turned around now, seeing a huge muscled guy coming over to him. Okay, he wasn't a lightweight and he was tall at over six foot two, but this guy looked like King Kong's son. Something like seven feet of…Kong. Uh, maybe he should have asked her for a kiss…handshake? Geesh…here came Kong's son.

Damn. And the worst part of it. His stupid brother would win the bet. He was getting thrown out. It really hadn't worked. She totally resisted it. She was like…immune. Strange, but all at the same…sort of thrilling.

He played it cool, bringing the golden cinnamon haired woman's hand into his again, giving it a slight whisper of his lips. "This won't be the last time we see each other Beautiful. Count on it."

"Count on you're about to get your ass kicked!" Haley yelled back at him angrily, but seeing Dirk now there forcefully holding Dracula Freak, she started to panic some. Each time, even this last time, his words had been so invasive and freaky, but his touch…was so…so…

Almost soft and giving. Talk about powerful contradictions.

She fought with herself, before she grabbed at Dirk, her favorite bouncer from the club. "Hey…Dirk…don't do anything to him…okay? Just…get him out. Please. But don't uh…really…hurt him."

Dirk was a bit surprised at Haley's pleading need, but it didn't shock him that she didn't wan the man roughed up any. Haley didn't like violence and even with these creeps she still tried to avoid anyone getting badly hurt. It had created an instant soft spot inside Dirk for Haley. Even though she held her own well, he kept an eye out for her. Haley had that endearing quality. A total sweetheart the way he saw it, but so strong too. "I'll just show him the curb and then be on my way Honey…don't you worry."

Haley nodded her head as now Collin came out of the backroom and looked at her strangely. "Hey…what number did that guy just play on you?"

Haley shook her head, seeing him take his glasses off now, looking at her. His eyes…even from so far away they were so…blue…deeply piercing. She turned away.

"Haley?"

Noticing that Collin's expression was concerned, Haley waved him off gently. "Nothing…no number Collin. Don't worry about it." She turned away quickly, forgetting the broken glass on the counter. Putting her hand down, she cried out as a piece of it cut into her finger…her skin.

Releasing a trickle of blood.

She stared at it for a second, before wrapping it in a white towel. Feeling eyes on her…His eyes

He watched as she wrapped her finger, before he felt Dirk reaching the door, still holding his arm roughly.

She stared at him for a second…before turning away, going to the back room to get a bandage for her finger.

Stained with red.

Blood.

O+&-O

"So have you shared with Marissa your Dracula encounter tonight?"

Haley grimaced as the question was asked, feeling a bit of a sting from her injured finger now wrapped in a bandage.

"What?" The cappuccino colored haired woman asked that was walking on the other side of Collin. It was about two fifteen in the morning now. Haley and Collin had gotten off at two. Marissa had come to the club a little before to meet up with her boyfriend and share some conversation with Haley too.

Marissa, Collin's girlfriend with cappuccino colored hair, was a tall woman, that even wearing heels Haley found herself much shorter than. Marissa was a student working on her master's degree in social sciences at one of the universities in town, that town being a little bit outside the Manhattan area of New York City.

Haley lived a bit on the outskirts in the funkier and cheaper village parts, convenient, since it was a few blocks away from Rendezvous. Also convenient because it meant she got an escort on nights she worked very late, like this one. Usually when she had these later shifts, Collin did too. They'd somehow managed to get their schedules to coincide with each other's most the time. It was nice because then not only did they get to work together, but also Haley preferred walking with her friend to taking a taxi home. Friendly conversation and comfortable safety created a strong combination of contentment and reassurance.

Marissa had been a bit of a tense area in the beginning. When Haley had first started working at Rendezvous, Collin had not been seriously dating the tall beautiful woman yet. When they had started dating, Marissa also started coming to the club to be with her boyfriend many nights, acting cool and distant with Haley. That had been until Haley grew tired of it and took the woman aside one night, explaining though she considered Collin a dear friend, it stopped there. A few more visits from Marissa, quiet still, and then it just happened, they started talking, sharing with each other, and before Haley knew it, she and Marissa were friends too. It was relieving to her now as the three of them walked together. It meant she didn't have to feel awkward about a friendship that was special to her.

Friendship had been something for years that Haley had very little of in her life. It still was pretty much like that. Though there were many regulars at Rendezvous who liked her, she hadn't built up any real bonds with them. It was easier in a way to just communicate with them at the club, and leave it there. She wasn't one to hang out with other females that much. And most of her relations in general tended to come and go. Collin was a nice exception that she hoped would stay that way, and even maybe Marissa, who she liked talking to a lot now also. It was all fine, as long as she kept a bit of distance. People had disappointed her in the past. And though it hadn't made her bitter or unwilling to reach out to anyone, it had made her cautious.

"What's Collin talking about Haley?" Marissa asked her now as the three of them walked to Haley's apartment. It relieved Haley to know that Marissa didn't mind it at all. In fact, after she and Haley had started being friends, Marissa had insisted on it, saying that someone needed to watch out for her.

"Oh…" Haley frowned at Colin now before answering the question as they walked down one last street, the one with her loft apartment. "It's no big deal. There was just this total psycho tonight. Gorgeous, but psycho. He's all ordering blood and then saying he wants a taste of me or something like that, oh and dressed like Manhattan yuppie's finest, just a real dark version of it. So of course I had Dirk throw him out."

Collin laughed now. "Yeah…practically cape and all, right Haley? Vampire Yuppie!"

Haley absentmindedly nodded her head, looking down at her finger again in the dark, the streets lit partially by the overhead lamps shadowing the blood stain that lay beneath the bandage. "Yeah…well more like some stupid overcoat or whatever…Dracula Yuppie."

Marissa half laughed now, shaking her head. "What a guy to get hit on by!"

Haley sighed. "Yeah."

"But he was gorgeous, huh Hales?" Collin asked her now with a wink.

Haley grimaced. Had she said he was gorgeous? "Can it Coll."

He laughed, but stopped as Marissa hit at him. "Hey!"

"Leave my girl alone. You guys laugh at these things and it's like there's nothing worse than being hit on by a total jackass."

Haley smiled at Marissa. "Exactly."

"Hey Haley…what happened to Bobby? He was really cute!"

Haley sighed as she heard the name of the guy she had been dating a few months ago, her boyfriend actually, until one night after sex, lovemaking for him, she had let him know how much it was only sex for her. That hadn't exactly sat well with him. She couldn't be blamed though…entirely. That night had been just…weird.

Strange…almost like this one. "We broke up. It just wasn't working out."

She felt both Collin and Marissa watching her now before they gave each other a glance. Haley ignored it, looking and seeing her apartment in the closer distance now. It was a mostly brick building on the outside, nothing fancy or great, but nice for the area she lived in and inside it was a pretty good sized loft, with a view from her small rooftop balcony of the city. It was a home…hers anyway. And it had a really nice landlady, even though she was a bit eccentric…and old.

Hearing the two of them whispering about something now, Haley walked a little ahead, feeling slightly out of place suddenly. But then she heard Collin's voice as he pulled back a bit at her arm.

"Oh man…Hales, Marissa was reminding me. I feel awful now. We've got tickets for the theater tonight so I took the night off work. But your shift is till two again, right?"

Haley looked over at him now. "Yeah."

Marissa spoke next. "That's really late for you to be walking Haley. Can you take a cab?"

"Yeah…sure." Haley wasn't crazy about working nights late without Collin. They were rare and few thank goodness. But she also wasn't terribly scared to walk the city streets at night. She did it often with…

"Hey…maybe Jack will let you bring Bear."

Haley laughed at that dryly. "I doubt it! Come on Collin it's a club! Where's he going to stay?"

He smiled at her weakly. "In the backroom. Dirk loves him. He'll spoil him rotten."

Haley shook her head as they were now just a few buildings down from her apartment. "Yeah, and last time I brought him…the first and the very last time…Dirk nearly got fired for watching him more than for creeps. I don't think so Collin."

He nodded his head now, looking a bit troubled.

But then…

"Hey I know. Trade with Gloria. She's working an early shift. You can get out a bit earlier at least. I'm sure she'll be game."

Haley shook her head now. "Uh…yeah."

She and Gloria weren't exactly friends. Rendezvous had two women bartenders, Haley and Gloria. Though Gloria had been there longer, Haley was the more popular one. A fact that Gloria didn't exactly like. On the nights that rarely came when they ended up with shifts together, Haley had to endure the woman's jealous little barbs. She mostly shook them off. Haley was very good at keeping focused on her job even with a bratty coworker bugging her. She simply ignored her and did what she was paid for, bartending. Still, it didn't mean she liked working with the woman.

"I'll see."

Haley didn't tell Collin that she doubted Gloria would ever trade places with her as now they reached her apartment. She knew how protective he was and she didn't want to worry him over nothing.

Collin smiled at her. "Good…I'd feel better then. I'm so sorry Hales…totally forgot."

Marissa teased her boyfriend lightly. "Yeah…you know he has the worst memory Haley. That's why I'm the one who is keeping the tickets for the show."

Haley laughed quietly. "Good thing Marissa. Well, here's my stop. I hope you guys have a great time…tomor…" It was sometimes still hard to get used to that when she got off work it was often the next day already. "Well…tonight."

She half joked now. "Just bring him back to me Marissa. Too many shifts with Gloria and I'll go insane."

All three of them laughed now. Haley gave the couple a friendly hug before running up to her apartment door, giving one last wave before heading in.

Once inside she took the steps, two flights to her home abode. Reaching for her key now, she walked up the plain, but mostly open steps, small windows on each flight, but nothing really that special. It wasn't until you reached each loft that the big windows came. Reaching hers now, she turned the key into the deadbolt lock and closed the door behind her, making sure to lock it. Stepping inside her home, she reached for the light switch. It brought to life a tastefully almost southwestern style decorated living room, with a bit of shabby chic too, creating an interesting mixture. Making her way to an earth colored striped futon, Haley sat down, kicking off her heels and curling her legs onto the comfortable cushion. "Ohhh…" She stretched her arms up now, calling out softly. It was very late and thankfully her apartment building wasn't a noisy one late at night. Most the residents worked hard and played during times that were appropriate. Or at least they played quietly when it was late.

"Bear…hey Babe where are you?"

A few moments later a heap of black, silver, grey and white fur came running out to the room. She smiled at it and brought her hands out. "There you are!" The large malamute husky mix dog, nearly the size of a lesser bear, and rumor had it touched with a smidgen of wild wolf, barked softly before jumping onto the futon. Haley hugged him.

"Mmmmm…time for some sleep…oh yeah." She nuzzled at the dog's ears before getting up and heading to her bedroom. The dog followed.

As he did, it became apparent by just his physicality that Bear did not display everyday dog features. His large build, facial wolf-like appearance, and strong green eyes made him impressive to even the biggest men. But of course! Dirk had loved him…ha ha. Bear's physical strength added to his protective nature towards his owner too. But behind all that, at heart, was a loveable and extremely loyal companion. They had gone through some shared hard times…together. It had made them inseparable.

Haley patted at Bear's black and grayish white head, before taking out light green pajama pants and a matching long sleeved shirt. Reaching down now she ridded herself of her nylons.

She stopped though as Bear started barking.

Haley spoke to him firmly. "Hey…you know better than to bark loudly this late. Quiet down Bear."

He looked at her, looked at the living room, and then trotted out. She watched him curiously before continuing her task. Reaching backward for the zipper of her dress, she brought it down and let the black material fall to the floor before scooping it back up along with the nylons. She threw both in a beige colored hamper. Reaching for the front clasp of her bra, she unfastened it, letting that fall to the floor too. Starting to put her pajama shirt on now, she heard Bear bark again. It made her frown. This was totally not like him.

And then it just stopped. She heard not a sound from him. She wondered at that. Strange.

Shaking her head now as Bear came back into the room once again looking pretty calm, she pulled the pajama top on over her head and brought it down to cover her stomach.

"Mmm…that's better. Now what's with you, huh?"

She lifted at the dog's chin, and with her other hand deposited her bra into the hamper also.

"You want to go for a walk? Well too late for that. You want a snack? Also too late. I'm going to get a little milk and then you and I are going to sleep so you can stop acting all wacky, got it?"

She gave the dog one last firm, but affectionate look before she headed out to the living room and then to her small but warm, light green and yellow kitchen. Taking out a glass from a cabinet and a carton of milk from the refrigerator, Haley started pouring herself her nighttime drink, humming one of her fave Beatles songs.

"La da dee…oh blah dah…oh blah dee life goes on…braaaahhh…la da da da….life goes on…"

"So not only can you dance and pour drinks. You're a singer too? A woman of many talents…just what I desire."

The milk hit the floor. The glass nearly did too, but somehow she saved it in time.

And as for that carton of milk…

Lifting a finger, he watched the liquid go back into the cardboard carton and then smiled with satisfaction at the cleaning of the potential mess that now was a thing of the past. Curiously too he watched her save the glass…with her mind.

He looked away from it now, seeing her staring at him with wide eyes. His lips curved slowly.

"Why so shocked Beautiful? I told you that wouldn't be the last time we saw each other."

O+&-O

More to come…

Feedback always adored.

Haley's song lyrics credit: The Beatles

Ah…a cliffhanger yes. I love having people read this here, and will update soon, but if you don't want to wait, I do have more chapters of this up at my homepage. Also, I'm currently working on a new chapter for this story. So however you prefer to read, enjoy and thanks!