Chapter 3
A few minutes later there came a knock on, Thierry's hotel room door and Thierry opened it allowing the sheriff to enter. "What can I do for you Mr. Descouedres?" asked the sheriff.
"You know I'm a vampire, right?" asked Thierry, seriously. When the sheriff nodded, he continued. "There was an accident out near Leigh Thornson's house."
"Yeah, I just heard about that, it's a real sad case, poor girl. We went out to the sight and found no body, must have burned up when the fuel tank exploded," said the sheriff.
"No, the body did not burn up in that accident it is here," said Thierry, pointing towards the bed.
"Is she dead?" asked the sheriff, glancing at the girl lying on the bed.
"No, I had to turn her into a vampire to save her life. I did it with her consent of course. What I need from you, is that you find a body that is so badly burned that it is unrecognizable and claim it is Leigh. A coroner verifies it, and I take Leigh home with me. To everybody in this town she is dead the victim of an unfortunate accident, and we can live peacefully," said Thierry.
"Why are you doing this?" asked the sheriff, wanting to understand Thierry's reasons.
"She is my soulmate, that's why. About 75 years ago I watched as Hannah Snow my soulmate died of old age, but she made me promise to wait for her to be born again and Leigh is that person. I love her more than anything in this world."
"I'll see what I can do," said the Sheriff nodding. He understood completely, but it didn't make his job any easier. "On the condition that you leave this town and never return," said the sheriff as he got up to leave. "By the way, do you know who is responsible for this so-called accident?"
"Yes, it was Ridge Redfern," said Thierry a hidden anger in his voice. He wanted to kill that vampire for what he had done to Leigh, but he wouldn't, he would let the law handle it.
"Oh, no, It just had to be him, didn't it?—One of the most influential families in this area—damn. Why would he do such a thing?" asked the sheriff.
"Because Leigh kept turning him down when he asked her out and I guess he finally just snapped from the rejection. Plus, it is known that his father was a mad vampire who kept killing other vampires," said Thierry. "By the way, here," said Thierry handing the sheriff a small bag, with a needle in it.
"Like father, like son?" asked the sheriff, shaking his head. "What is this anyway?"
"It has a small cluster of Leigh's cells on it so the coroner can identify the body," said Thierry.
You've thought of everything haven't you?" asked the sheriff.
Thierry shrugged, "I try; besides, I've had a few thousand years of practice in thinking of everything."
The sheriff nodded, took the bag. He shook Thierry's hand and left. Thierry went over to the bed took off his clothes and silently lay down beside Leigh. In moments he was fast asleep.
~~~Thierry and Leigh~~~
Leigh awoke feeling strange. She felt stronger, better than she ever felt in her whole life, but she was also hungry, not for food, but for blood. She was also in perfect control of her body, she could smell better, hear better and see better than any human had ever been able to. Leigh got up slowly, trying not to wake Thierry and went into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror over the bathroom sink. Her hair was a mess, her face was streaked with dirt, but the strange thing was that she no longer had the birthmark that had plagued her all her life. She stroked her cheek, slowly where the birthmark had been until she began to feel like she was suffocating. Thierry, she called.
Thierry awoke instantly at her mental call, What's wrong?
I feel like I can't breathe, what is wrong with me? Leigh asked.
Thierry groaned before he answered her also telepathically, You need to get some blood, or your cells will start to die from lack of oxygen. Thierry got up quickly and pulled on his clothes then opened the door and looked around. He saw a man coming his way and using his mental abilities influenced him inside. The man sat down on the edge of the bed at Thierry's mental command and Leigh could actually smell the blood running through his veins. Just at the thought of blood her teeth began to sharpen, and she bit his neck. Instantly her mouth was filled with the warm, coppery blood. She drank and drank and drank and didn't want to quit, but Thierry quietly put a hand on her shoulder. "That is enough," said Thierry, in a commanding tone of voice.
Leigh looked up quickly and realized what she had almost done. "Oh, Thierry I almost killed that man," said Leigh after they had shown the man out. Thierry used his mental abilities to make him forget the incident and to tell him all he needed was sleep.
Thierry kissed her and said, "Your instincts are too good, I don't believe you would have killed him. Leigh said nothing, but a silent tear ran down her cheek. Thierry gently wiped the tear away and kissed her again. "Why are you so good to me?"
Thierry did not respond but led her gently to the bed where they both laid down. Thierry made love to her then and Leigh did not resist. Thierry started to kiss her neck and Leigh kissed his mouth. Pretty soon they seemed to be devouring each other with kisses. Thierry's kisses were gentle, for he was afraid of hurting her, but Leigh's were not quite so gentle. Leigh began to unbutton Thierry shirt, slowly, nearly torturing him. Finally, the shirt was off, and Thierry threw it on the floor. Thierry started to undo her dress, going just as slowly as she had, until she was practically screaming at him to hurry up. Finally, the dress was off and joined Thierry's shirt on the floor. Thierry fondled her breast, but gently and kissed her nipples, until Leigh groaned with pleasure. Leigh kissed his chest and soon seemed to be devouring him with kisses.
Passion rose between them, and they started really kissing then, Leigh's tongue entered his mouth and massaged the roof of it and then intertwined with his tongue, saliva, mixing with, saliva. She was not afraid of his teeth, considering she was now a vampire to. Thierry panted and started to kiss her more private areas, until Leigh returned the favor, by taking off his pants and his underwear and doing the same thing to him that he had done to her. Finally, Thierry rolled on top of her and entered her, trying to be as gentle as possible and Leigh groaned with ecstasy. Finally, two hours later they lay back sated to their very souls and absolutely exhausted. Soon afterwards they fell asleep in each other's arms.
Two hours later, Leigh awoke to Thierry stroking her back. Leigh grinned up at him and Thierry returned it with a smile of his own. "I think I am going to go get a shower," said Leigh. "I'm a mess." She got up and headed for the bathroom.
"Mind if I join you?" inquired Thierry, mischievously.
Leigh looked at him strangely for a moment then shrugged not sure what he had in mind, but anxious to find out. They both entered the bathroom and Leigh started the shower. She stepped inside and let the hot water run over her body, suddenly she felt a pair of arms encircle her waist and start to massage her back. Leigh groaned in pleasure as they both stood there under the hot water. Leigh kissed him and he continued his massage with difficulty as Leigh started to kiss his neck, his chest and his lips. She finally began to massage his shoulders and his neck muscles, kissing them as she went. He groaned in ecstasy, and they were finally done an hour later. Leigh managed to wash her hair and her body doing all this, extremely appetizing interplay.
When they got out of the tub finally Leigh dried her hair with a towel and put on a pair of jeans that belonged to Thierry. They shrunk immediately to fit her waist, but the legs were still a bit long, so she rolled them up. She put on an old, white T-shirt of his and tucked it into the pants. It looked extra big on her, but at least it was clean. She brushed her hair with his brush, until it shone. Thierry put on a pair of jeans and a blue shirt with buttons. He tucked the shirt into the waist of his jeans and then he put on the pair of boots he had been wearing earlier, while Leigh put back on her tennis shoes which had managed to escape getting to dirty from the car accident.
A few minutes later they were both presentable and Leigh asked, "How am I going to get out of here without being seen?"
"We'll wait until nightfall then take the back roads out to the airport," said Thierry. He turned on the TV and listened to the news. There was a report on Leigh's car accident, and he listened to it closely, checking for anything abnormal.
~~~Thierry and Leigh~~~
"There was a terrible car accident yesterday," the reporter was saying. "Her name was Leigh Thornson, and she was driving home from her high school graduation when a red and white striped sports car rammed her. The car is said to have belonged to Ridge Redfern who at this point can't be found by the police to be questioned. Her family and friends will be mourning this accident for years to come and I hope they catch this diseased manic who did this to a teenager. Apparently, the body burned up when the car exploded, and all the police found were her charred remains. This is Deanna Thompson channel 3 news."
~~~Thierry and Leigh~~~
Thierry turned off the set and sat back satisfied, with a slight grin on his lips. "Okay what did you do?" asked Leigh, looking at him suspiciously.
"What makes you think I did anything?" inquired Thierry, innocently.
"Because I know you, that's why. So, what did you do?" Leigh repeated, looking at him suspiciously.
"I simply told the sheriff to find a body that was so badly burned it couldn't be identified as you on its own and I also took a cluster of your cells and gave them to the sheriff, so that the burned body could be identified as you, just in case something like this happened. I am always prepared for any occasion. Now, I think it is time for me to call a friend of mine and get you a disguise." Thierry took out his cellular phone and silently dialed a number. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door and when Thierry opened it, he found a package waiting for him. He brought it inside and opened it. Inside was a belt of some kind.
"What's that?" inquired Leigh, looking at the strange belt. It was done in some kind of silver mental with a green stone of some kind in the center.
"It's a hologram belt it will make you look like anybody or anything." Thierry took out the control and looked it over quickly. He pressed a few buttons and the stone in the center of the belt lit up like a miniature nova. "Here put it on," said Thierry, handing it to her.
Leigh put it on and instantly she was covered in a glowing light, which then disappeared after a few seconds. It also shrunk to fit her waist. Leigh looked in the bathroom mirror to find herself looking totally different from her usual self. She had black hair and green eyes. Her skin was a lot darker then it usually was. And she was a bit broader, but not fat. "And this is all an illusion?" When Thierry nodded Leigh laughed, "It sure looks real."
"That's the point, it ought to fool anybody even the cops," said Thierry.
Leigh took off the belt and her own face reappeared, "Thierry this is marvelous, sometimes I wonder how people got by without all this technology years ago."
Thierry laughed and said, "They managed, especially since they didn't know what they were missing."
They laid down then and made love again after that and slept for a few hours.
~~~Thierry and Leigh~~~
That night
Thierry and Leigh emerged from their room and Leigh went to the car while Thierry checked out. In just a few minutes they were on their way to the airport and his private jet. Nobody stopped them or even recognized the lady sitting beside the handsome man. Finally, within half an hour, they were soaring through the clouds. "You know I need to get a message to Cat somehow and tell her that I'm okay. She knows about you anyway and I would hate for her to mourn me for nothing."
"We'll see what we can do the minute we get home to Las Vegas," said Thierry, understanding completely, he knew how it felt to miss friends and to have them mourn you as dead. They sat back and relaxed then for the rest of the trip. All too soon they landed at the Las Vegas airport.
They exited the plane to find a limo and Nilsson waiting for them. Nilsson hadn't changed over the years Leigh noticed he still had his long brown hair and dark eyes. "Welcome home," said Nilsson to Thierry and Leigh, holding the door of the limo open for them to enter. The whole house had been prepared for their arrival home, and they all knew about Leigh and what had happened. Thierry tended to keep his people informed.
"Thank you, Nilsson," Thierry responded.
They entered the limo, and Nilsson closed the door behind them. The ride to the mansion was short, but to Leigh it seemed to take forever. She was afraid things had changed dramatically from what she remembered and that she would know nobody. Nilsson finally turned in the drive of Thierry's mansion and Leigh looked around as best she could out the car window. The black roses in the stained glass were still there along with the original brickwork. The outside hadn't changed much over the years, Leigh decided.
The car finally sat down on the driveway and Thierry got out first and then helped Leigh out. Leigh looked around some more as she and Thierry walked up the drive. As they neared the door, it opened and out stepped somebody, Leigh recognized instantly.
"Lupe," Leigh said as she sprinted towards her friend.
The two friends hugged for they had not seen each other in 75 years. "I was afraid you would not remember me," Lupe, told Leigh.
"How could I ever forget one of my dearest friends?" Leigh asked her.
Lupe shrugged, not knowing the answer to that one and they entered the house together, with Thierry following close behind.
~~~Thierry and Leigh~~~
Thierry and her; had a quiet dinner together in the dining room. Leigh was again getting used to the splendor that Thierry lived in, but she still worried about her friend Cat, who would be absolutely heartbroken, that her best friend was dead. She had to find a way to get a message to her, without anybody else finding out. Leigh picked at her food not really hungry. Considering she was now a vampire she didn't really need to eat regular food, but she still loved to when she wasn't worried. Thierry noticed her distress and slowly took her hand in his own, "I know you are worried about Cat, but I might have a solution."
"What?" asked Leigh eagerly.
"I'll send a messenger, and he will be given instruction that he is to give the message to no one except to Cat," said Thierry. "And you will tell your friend to burn the message after she reads it, that way there is no evidence that there ever was a message."
Leigh nodded and went to compose a message right away.
~~~Thierry and Leigh~~~
The next day a messenger knocked on the door of Cat's house. A woman in her 50's opened the door. The man looked her over and realized that this must be the mother. "Yes, how may I help?"
"I'm looking for a Cat Popitrani," said the man. "I have a message for her."
"I'm her mother I'll give it to her," said the woman.
"I have my orders ma'am, and they are to put it only in the hands of your daughter," said the man, politely.
The women nodded and then called her daughter's name, "Cat, you have a visitor."
Cat came down the stairs slowly and the man could see she had been crying. Cat wiped tears away as she approached the door. The man handed her an envelope and whispered in her ear; Cat nodded her face not changing expressions. She thanked the man and then headed upstairs to read the letter in the privacy of her room. She ripped the letter open slowly and unfolded it.
Dear Cat,
"I am writing you to let you know that I did not die in that fatal car accident, no matter what you might have heard, but before I go on you must swear to yourself that you will never reveal what I am about to tell you." The letter seemed to pause then continued, "Thierry saved me and turned me into a vampire. It was the only way to save my life for I was badly injured when Ridge ran me off the road. I am now living happily at Thierry's Las Vegas mansion and am happier then I have ever been before. Do not fret for me my dear and true friend I am happy in this life and my only regret is that it had to be done this way and that I am causing my mom so much grief. I will miss you, but I hope to hear from you soon."
Your friend now and always,
Leigh
P.S. Burn this letter after you read it and leave no evidence that I am alive and well.
Cat read the letter again and again then she almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Her friend was alive, only thing was she could tell no one. Cat slowly ripped the letter into as many pieces as she could manage then put them in a drawer until she could burn them.
Cat practically whooped for joy as she thought of Leigh living the good life in Las Vegas. Her friend was alive, her friend was alive, she just kept repeating to herself. Cat quickly penned a reply and mailed it to the address on the envelope, leaving the name space blank. Those at the Las Vegas mansion would know who it was for.
~~~Thierry and Leigh~~~