Time to Feed

Henry sat on the couch surrounded by piles of wadded paper, pillows, stapler, paper clips and various other objects that would be found on the top of a busy desk. Vicki was pacing, mumbling, throwing things and taking random jabs at the punching bag. He was trying to read a book when his hand came up to deflect Vicki's current missile and said, "Will you please stop throwing things?"

Vicki picked up a wooden pencil, thought better of it, picked up an address book and heaved it in Henry's general direction saying, "Not until you let me out of here."

"Not happening, so settle down and let me read." As he spoke he neatly plucked the address book from the air, stood up and returned it to her desk, "I know you're bored, but trust me, you're not ready. It's only been two weeks." He studied the eyes and teeth that were beginning to show the signs of vampire hunger and anger. "It won't be long. The vampire is making its presence known." He returned to the chair kicking away the evidence of Vicki's boredom as he went.

Vicki walked to the front door of her apartment and placed her hand on the doorknob, but her fingers wouldn't obey her commands. "Stop controlling me. I need to get out of here before I go crazy."

Henry slammed the book shut and shouted, "Is that what you really want me to do? Allow a half baked baby vampire loose on the city, or take my time and make sure you're ready for the experience?"

Vicki moved from the door and pulled Henry from the chair, "Why wait?"

Henry's arms came up and pinned Vicki's arms to her sides as he pulled her in for a passionate kiss. "A hundred years ago a growl from me would have had you trembling." He looked at her curled lip and revised his statement, "I take that back, no one ever would have been able to make you tremble."

Vicki broke his hold and grabbed his shoulders shaking them as she snarled using his last name to annoy him, "Fitzroy, I'm going crazy in this place. Let me out of here." Vicki put her teeth on Henry's ear and bit down drawing blood. She lapped up the few drops as the wound closed over.

Henry returned the favor by biting down hard on her neck. She moaned in pleasure as he drank her blood and his talented fingers worked their magic. The wound closed without aid of his saliva as he said, "I've changed my mind. We're going out . It's too early for you to feed from a human, but I remember the first time Christina let me try. It was one of the most powerful moments of my life."

Vicki gave him a pointed smile and said, "Let's grab our coats."

As he walked to the car she froze in her tracks, put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes asking, "What's with all the noise and light?"

Henry saw the misery in her face. He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her back towards the door, "We're going back in. I was right. It's too soon."

Vicki dropped her hands and opened her eyes, "No you don't. I'm out of the cage and you can't get me back without a fight. Teach me."

Henry smiled at his willful lover. Sometimes he wasn't sure what he loved about her, but what he did know was that he never wanted to live without her. He explained how to tamp down hearing to acceptable levels and told her to keep her eyes half closed and avoid looking directly at any light source.

Vicki watched the buildings through the window and heard the sounds of everyday life. She asked, "Is this what it's like all the time? How can you stand it?"

Henry glanced in her direction and said, "Pretty much. I had hundreds of years to adjust to the increase in population and light. You have more to tolerate at the beginning of the life than I did."

Vicki closed her eyes and let the sounds and smells wash over her. She remained quiet for so long that Henry asked, "Are you okay?"

Vicki kept her eyes closed but nodded yes and said, "I should have listened to you. You're right again. It's too much."

"We can go back."

Vicki opened her eyes half way and said, "We've gone this far. That's my style, plunge ahead and duck when things fall apart."

Henry turned onto the major road that led toward down town and laughed, "That's what drew me to you in the first place. You're not afraid. You stand up to the unknown and fight until you wear down the problem."

Henry drove to the center of town where businesses were beginning to close for the night. The homeless wandered the streets looking on the ground and in trash cans for hidden treasures. A coin or two, a lost phone, or pen and even sometimes a dollar bill. There were half eaten sandwiches, coffee or soda cans in those same trash bins just waiting to be found. If one looked carefully there was enough to survive for another night. Tired businessmen or women could find an evening's company for hire on certain street corners. As a cop, Vicki had patrolled this part of town and later investigated homicides long these same streets. Now she and Henry were hunting for food of their own.

Louis walked down the street hoping to find someone to keep him company for an hour or two. To see him for what he was, a lonely man whose boss was a jerk, whose girlfriend was out of town, and whose so called best friend that borrowed money but never had time to hang around with him.

Henry stopped Louis and overwhelmed him with vampire persuasion. Henry led him to the dark doorway while enticing Louis to talk about his problems. He nodded knowingly and encouraged the man to pour out his heart. If he could, Henry would take the time to listen before feeding. He felt he owed it to his prey. Henry put an arm around Louis in comfort and willed him to sleep. Henry bit gently on the wrist and took what he needed, then waved to Vicki. She came out of the shadows, placed her lips to the still bleeding wound and took a swallow. The taste gave her pleasure but it wasn't as "sweet" as Henry. He touched her shoulder, she licked the wound and lifted her head away from Louis' arm. Henry whispered, "Take my place holding him, and as I pull back my power, try to bring yours up so that our friend here thinks he was talking with you the whole time."

Henry put action to words stepping aside as Vicki put her arms around Louis and kissed his lips. Louis opened his eyes and said, "Thanks for listening. You're beautiful, but I have a girlfriend. I don't want to hurt her feelings by cheating." He looked down at his tingling arm and shook his wrist saying, "I must have leaned on it all day. Good night and thanks again for listening." Vicki smiled and walked away from Louis who was pulling his cell phone from his pocket. She heard his happy voice as he talked with his girlfriend.

Henry joined her as she walked toward the car asking, "Well?"

Vicki wiped a drop of blood from Henry's lip and then one from her own before she said, "It wasn't bad, but I want to feed from you as long as I can. He didn't taste like you."

Henry smiled remembering Christina and said, "No one ever tastes like your parent. Once in a while, if you're very lucky you'll find a love that comes close." He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek and added, "Me, I found someone better than my parent. I found you"

Silver eyes shown in the darkness as she said, "I'm not looking. No one could be better than my prince." Then she pushed him back laughing, "But I'm not going to remain caged at home when you go out."

"I agree, you can come with me from now on, but I say when, where, and how often. I see it in your eyes, I need to feed you soon. Baby vampires are as noisy and as demanding as baby birds."

Vicki leaned her head to the side as she listened to his words, then asked, "Do you do it on purpose or is it a happy accident?"

Henry raised both eyebrows and asked, "Do what?"

"Say things that'll piss me off?"

"I'm not telling." He held her close as he whispered his love and his plans for her late night snack.

The happy look of fun and mischief danced around his lips as he opened the passenger's door of his vintage car. She slid in and looked up with silver eyes and grinned to show her newly formed fangs.

Henry leaned in for a kiss as her sharp baby fangs took a nip from his lower lip. She took a greedy sip before the wound closed then said, "Henry, I have a couple of plans of my own for tonight."

Henry licked the rapidly healing wound and said in a mock threating voice, "We'll see whose plans are completed."