Moonlight guided Merritt to Bloodworth’s office firm that bone-chilling night.  He flew his broom low to avoid the air-traffic full of bats floundering about like they’d just grown their wings.  When one of the pathetic things nearly whacked him in the head, he manipulated the wind around them to fling it in the opposite direction like a pesky mosquito.  

Honestly, vampires complained so much about witches on their brooms when they couldn’t even fly properly after getting blood-drunk.  They irritated Merritt terribly. He hoped none other would cross his path tonight.

It wouldn’t be long before summer arrived, but even in spring the nights brought the kiss of death with them.  Merritt had bundled up in his thickest robe and scarf, even carrying along some heated charms to fend off the cold.

When Bloodworth’s office finally came into view, he started his descent directly in front of the red brick building and hopped off his broom. He carried Bandit in his arms, having his briefcase bag tucked away in one of his robe’s enchanted pockets.  It came in very handy when he flew to work.

Vampires never considered temperatures, so it surprised him none when he walked into the office and it felt like he’d literally stepped into a freezer.  He tightened his robe closer around himself as he made his way over to his desk, grateful for the heating charms he’d brought along with him.  He placed one of the ghost repellent charms underneath his replacement crystal ball, hoping it would keep wicked spirits away. 

Merritt made himself as comfortable as he could at his desk.  He couldn’t help but lift his new crystal ball up and inspect it, even coaxing a little magic from his fingertips in hopes of detecting some kind of sinister energy permeating around it.  Fortunately, it made no indication of being haunted.

Perhaps Persephone had actually helped rid them of their ghost problem.  Merritt knew he was quick to judge Bloodworth’s ex-wife, but he just couldn’t wrap his wand around why she’d help him if they divorced.  He supposed it might’ve been an amicable separation.  Yet the way she looked at him showed how much she still cared for him.  Maybe he had it all wrong about her schemes for vengeance and she only wanted to win his heart over again.  

It was absolutely none of Merritt’s business. Despite how much he repeated that to himself like a mantra, he couldn’t help but overthink things.  He’d always been that way back in school too, never satisfied until he had the answers he desired.  Merritt was too curious for his own good, but he knew sometimes, he had to just let things go.  

So, to keep himself preoccupied, he moseyed over to the coffee pot to brew himself a fresh cup.  They were scheduled for court in about an hour, but since Bloodworth didn’t specify whether he wanted him to meet at the office first, he figured he’d put his new protective charms in place.

While brewing his coffee, the front door blew open with the wind. Merritt was just about to greet his boss when he strode through the room until he noticed a new client trotting close behind him.  The lady’s black hair shimmered like the night sky itself, with her lips painted a shade that made it look like she’d eaten too many licorice-flavored cupcakes before meeting with him.  Although it was freezing, the poor woman hadn’t even bundled up in many layers and dangerously left her pale neck exposed.

Merritt barely muttered, “Good night, sir” before he escorted the young woman into his office and closed the door.  When she’d passed him by, she’d giggled softly under her breath and Merritt noticed the faded pinpricks still etched into the tender area of her neck.

Phantom pains burned his own skin, and he couldn’t resist cradling his own neck like he could actually feel their sharp pinch. Bandit nudged at his ankles underneath his desk, as if sensing his discomfort, just when Bloodwork cracked his office door back open to say, “I’ll be a moment, but you’re free to head to the courthouse and wait on me.”

Before he could even respond, his boss closed his office door once again.  Merritt wanted to believe the young woman was genuinely someone in need of their services, but he had a feeling she was being used to quench Bloodworth’s own bloodthirst.  Considering all the rumors he’d heard about his new boss, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.  At the very least, he’d given Merritt an out to escape.  

So why wasn’t he out the door and flying to the courthouse already?  What possessed him to remain at his desk like a fool?  He considered moving, but his limbs resembled jelly when he tried.  He remembered how they’d left him behind with that wretched vampire back then.  Nobody thought to help him or check on him.  Not until he nearly died from the blood loss.

Merritt wanted to believe his boss was different from that reprehensible bloodsucker who’d attacked him.  He knew vampires would always be controlled by their cravings.  Bloodworth would be no different.  However, Merritt found himself unable to just walk out the door and leave.  

With a deep, collective breath, he rose from his desk and marched over to his office door on trembling legs.  He clutched his protective charm tightly in his hand.  All he wanted to do was make sure the woman was okay.  Nobody had ever thought to do that for him, and he couldn’t bring himself to leave her behind without ensuring her safety. 

It didn’t occur to Merritt that the door might be locked, but much to his surprise, it was not.  All it took was a gentle coaxing of magic to crack it open, casting an extra sound-proof spell on the hinges so it wouldn’t give him away.  His heart roared in his chest, like it was begging him to get the hells out of there.

Honestly, what was he thinking?  What if Bloodworth raged at him for interrupting his meal? Or worse? Merritt cringed deep within his soul as he peeked through the tiny crack, espying the young woman perched in his boss’s lap like she belonged there.  

The lascivious moans she made with Bloodworth’s fangs deeply penetrating her neck had all the blood rushing to Merritt’s face.  Yet he couldn’t bring himself to look away.  He’d heard of vampires using their venom to relax their bloodbags, but he’d only ever known of the kind who’d thrilled to make their victims feel pain.  

Warmth caressed his entire body like he’d stepped into a delightful sauna.  He stood unwaveringly still as his boss snaked a hand up the young woman’s blouse to cup her breast.  So transfixed by the whole act itself, Merritt had not even noticed Bloodworth’s gaze shifting away from his lewd blood donor.  Those vermillion eyes pierced right through his very soul.  

Merritt inhaled a sharp, raspy breath.  He should’ve closed the door.  He should’ve sneaked away to the courthouse and pretended like he’d never noticed anything.  Just like a moment ago at his desk, he found himself rooted to the spot with Bloodworth still staring straight at him.

One of his hands drifted to the doorframe, as if to hold himself steady.  His body floated on clouds of dark desire, but in the back of his mind he knew it was terribly wrong to stay and watch.  Bloodworth squeezed the young woman’s breast, earning another soft moan from her as he kept those slanted, red eyes focused on him.  He groaned against her skin, like he was savoring every drop of her.

A carnal image of himself in that woman’s place flashed through Merritt’s mind so suddenly, he nearly tumbled right inside face-first onto the hardwood floor.  He would never let Bloodworth grip him like that.  He’d make sure to straddle him to that chair and then-

Tendrils of silvery embers crept along his arms, halting just at his neck where his protective collar covered the scars beneath.  Unable to caress Merritt’s neck, his magic alighted on his cheeks like tiny kisses.  

Merritt found himself relaxing at his magic’s touch, but that desperate part of him refused to give himself away so easily. 

Not even when Bloodworth only teased him. 

He would never let any vampire have such control over him again. He could indulge in something frivolous like this and keep control. Despite how fanged up it was. 

When Bloodworth released the woman with a wet pop, Merritt shuddered where he stood. Blood dripped down the lady’s shoulder, but he moved with the stealth of a snake about to pounce on its prey and dragged that sinful tongue along her bare skin. All the while, never breaking eye-contact with him. 

Only when the lady reached up to try and kiss Bloodworth did reality rain down on Merritt like an ice cold shower. He gently told her he couldn’t. Merritt heard him tell her something about how foul her own blood would taste from his lips, but his boss’s voice could barely be heard over the thunderous beating of his heart. 

Back at his desk, Merritt took a moment to compose himself. He didn’t even need those heated charms anymore. Heat still flushed his face, traveling to more unmentionable places as he beckoned Bandit to follow him out the door and summoned his broom. 

A chilly flight to the courthouse was exactly what he needed to cool off. Anything to rid himself of those wicked thoughts.