Star Gazing with a Vampire

The crunch of tires entering the parking lot below snags my attention, taking a quick glance out my windows. A black car pulls up to the stairs to my apartment. I snag my blood red wool coat and small purse before checking my makeup in the short oval mirror beside my front door for this purpose.

By the time I unlock the door and step out onto my landing, Alexandr is halfway up to meet me. Alexandr a blur, and then he’s in front of me on the steps, his vampire speed transporting him there. The speed or the night but something sparks my heart to race, my hands to shake, and lungs to constrict, stealing my breath. I back up and I’m ready to rush back into my apartment, not that it would stop him. The door is not strong enough to keep him out. I should talk to the manager about that.

Do they make vampire proof doors? Maybe Hunter would know the answer to that question.

“Avril, my darling, are you with me?” Alexandr’s voice seems to come from underwater.

“Please answer me, my darling.”

“Alexandr?”

Why is he here? I need to call Hunter to find out if they make vampire proof front doors.

“Yes, my Avril. You’re safe, I promise. I will be more careful next time.”

Why will he need to be more careful, what did he do?

That question is the one that brings me back to reality and out of my mind. Blinking, I look up at Alexandr, his dark hair rippling down, blocking out the night. All I see is his eyes checking me over. Embarrassed, I push him to stand to my full height and get some of my dignity back.

“Where did you go, my sweet?”

“I think it was a flashback, I’ve not had one before.”

“It was my fault, we can stay in and I’ll hold you.”

“No, let’s go, spring will be here before we know it.”

Dates out will be few as the winter dies out and daylight savings time hits again. So we’re taking full advantage tonight. It’s still a new notion I’m adjusting to dating someone long term and not meet ups to get our jollies off. I’m not sure where we’re headed, but it’s nice to be going to some place besides his large Goth club, Fleur de lis, on Lancaster.

“Ma petite amie.” He whispers against my skin and he takes me into his arms, blocking the wind and wraps his arm around my waist, and ushers me to the waiting car. 

I experience a sense of vibration through my muscles and a knot in my stomach as we descend the stairs.

His chauffeur opens the rear door of the Cadillac Brougham, the moonlight giving the chrome work a silver gleam. Alexandar assists me with getting into the back seat and lingers while I shift over to leave space for him. The harsh call of a raven sounds in the night's quiet.

He asks me questions pertaining to my week as the driver takes us into the cultural district filled with museums and art galleries.

I describe how frustrating it’s been being on forced leave from work. He kisses up my neck and then focuses on that spot right behind my ear that causes me to shiver.

“You aren’t listening.”

“Of course I am Ma...”

I interrupt him before he can use his litany of endearments, I’m still shaken from earlier and my mood is biting.

While I understand the lives of mortals may sound like something out of a melodrama to you, I'm actually a detective. Not a bar owner. I don’t have any support systems. The only perk I have is that at least I’m still on payroll.”

“I’m sure that your part in the case will be over soon and you’ll be back at work in no time, catching bad boys and girls and solving cases.” His tone is not quite contrite enough.

I’m itching to be back at work doing my job. This forced leave from P.I.R. because of the federal case against an underground favor ring is frustrating.

“Don’t do that.” A growl in my voice.

“Do what?” His voice is deeper than I’ve heard before.

“Don’t belittle my job.”

We sit in silence, the tension between us a physical thing. My body still feels out of sorts from the rush of adrenaline. Until he reaches out and offers his hand for me to hold. I inhale, feeling the air fill my lungs, and focus on the present moment rather than my discontentment on work, which neither of us can solve.

“We are here, my darling.” He says before giving me a kiss on the neck.

I can’t help the attraction between us and my body’s response to it.

 We come to a stop as a moan for him, and his soft chuckle fills the air. 

Getting out, I consider up at the massive Science and History Museum with its central tower. In amazement, my eyes shifted from Alexandr to the entrance. Part of me expects something akin to a private showing, but I catch sight of a line of parents and their middle-grade children. The families have large cases and others with long boxes. He escorts me to the line and finds space behind a family with two kids. 

My jaw hangs open at how normal this is as his driver pulls away. I’m here in line among families and the Master Vampire of Fort Worth, he represents and polices the vampires of Tarrant County, an area the size of Rhode Island.

I peer into the night; the darkness amplifies the strange sensation left over from my flashback earlier. Thoughts of Rafe dying in my arms a few weeks ago, chills my blood. The air is alive with the excited sounds of children in the chill of night. The breeze whistles around me, making my bare legs tingle and my wool coat rustle.

“I'm enamored with this color on you.” He says, bringing me back a bit.

He inquires if I'm comfortable, and despite my nod, I'm still bundled up with his arms around me. A delicate woman with a slender silhouette opens the door, inviting us in for their night of stargazing.

Our host shows us to the roof of the museum, where they’ve placed telescopes. The moderator then tells us what wonderful things we can see in tonight’s sky.

Alexandr ushers me towards a large round telescope. He takes a moment to search through the eyepiece, adjusting the nobs and objects, and then motions for me to see. 

Placing my eye to the plastic viewfinder, I wait for my sight to adjust and then exclaim at the precise image of the moon's surface. 

Even though I can’t distinguish the part of the moon I’m looking at or the craters, the view leaves me in awe. I wish I could preserve this moment in a picture and display it on my wall. 

Tingles climb up my back as he drapes his body along mine. I tense and shy away from the touch.

“Shh, I won’t do anything inappropriate.” His deep Cajun voice rumbles in my ear, causing me to shiver. 

I attempt to pay attention to Alexandr and the date he picked for us.

“You are such a mix of restraint and sensuality. It’s intoxicating to watch and experience, cher.” He says against my throat as I study at the surface of the moon through the eyepiece.

"Alexandr..." I let out a drawn-out sigh, the soft sound of my voice broken by the sound of a child's whine. I pull away from the telescope, and Alexandr gives me space. If it wasn’t for his unnatural speed and reflexes, we would have collided. The sight causes me to sway on my feet, I fist my hands and dig my nails into my palm to keep me still in the moment. I won’t fall back into a flashback here among these families enjoying the night sky.

“Should we continue on with the rest of the date, my dear?” He says with concern in his eyes, I have a private wish to remove.

What do you do when someone knows you too?

“Yes.” I say with constraint in my voice.

The pressure of his hand on my spine is soothing as we excuse ourselves and head back the way the guide led us. The waiting automobile sits idling by the curb in the brisk night. Yellow chemical light shines off the side of the car and the puddles on the pavement, giving everything an ethereal, otherworldly quality. 

The same lights follow us as we ride along, watching the night pass by the windows. Despite my efforts, I fall into my memories of Rafe’s death. His blood shining on the dark grass like bloodstone in the moonlight. The ruin of his throat was a gory second mouth that I rush to cover with my hand as I held him in my lap. Pain and a strange light of desperation lit his eyes.

“Avril?” Alexandr asks.

I come back to the here and now and the memory fades.

“Do you ever miss your life before you were...?” I ask, to cover up my lack of attention.

“Before I became...” He motions at himself as if he is the example of the Eastern European Vampire. I know that he’s aware of what I’m doing, but I do not know what else to do.

“Sometimes I long to see a sunrise and long for its colors. I’m not fond of relying on someone else for basic needs.”

I shudder at the thought of giving up control and trusting someone that thoroughly. We hug closer in the rear. Recollections of his last Red Tie, the helpers P.I.R. assigned Others that need daytime representation for business and daytime needs. How the unrequited love of his late helper leads not only to our meeting, but to several murders and a Hail Mary save of Alexandr’s life. My personal grief mixes with those memories. Again I see Rafe’s eyes imploring me, the weight of his request heavy on my shoulders. I swear I hear the bells toll far off and can’t tell if it’s part of the memory or reality.

If you had asked, then if I’d ever date, much less date, the Master Vampire of Fort Worth. I’d have smirked in disbelief. I don’t date, well that was before a few weeks ago. In this world of ours, I’m a nobody, too strange to be Normal, and too unrecognizable to be Other. I have no clue why he would want to date me.

“I know where you crave to lose control, my dear.” His voice is silky and deep with lust, and my body tightens.

His words and touch are electric as he attempts to seduce me. He’s successful at changing the mood from my encroaching grief. 

The car pulls into the rear lot of Alexandr’s building and I shiver with anticipation. 

Standing in the doorway is a towering half-giant with grey skin in a black shirt and jeans. They welcome us into the dim passageway. Since I can’t be positive what glamour they are using, do to my curse, it’s easier not to assume gender for the Others. Low lighting along the baseboards of the hallway illuminates the walkway leading to his private freight elevator. 

The paint peels off the metal gate and catches my attention as it’s drawn away from the grate that needs to be lifted for us to enter the cavernous space. My brain grabs onto the notion that he’s revamped the entire building but hasn’t restored this elevator to its former glory. 

He ushers me into the car with a light touch along my arm and shivers of awareness rush up my spine. As we head up to his penthouse apartment, he stalks me with a hunger in his eyes that I’m not sure is all sexual.

I shift until my body is flush against the back of the elevator. The cushioning is gentle against my rear as he crouches low enough that our mouths nearly meet. He murmurs words in French Creole, caressing my lips and sending shivers through me. I clutch at his shoulders as he moves on to whisper along the skin of my neck. 

“Come, Ma petti.”

He lifts me up into his arms, and his voice vibrating through his chest. As he strides through the library, I sense the softness of his shirt against my body, and smell the aroma of his cologne as he hugs me. He goes past the black and white room we’ve had sex in before, continuing until he steps into a big, open bedroom.

Its decor is like his library where he meets guests, in coloring and features a huge fourposter bed with wooden columns large enough to hug my arms around. He lays me on the mattress and stands. He removes his clothes and I lose sight of everything else in the world except for this man in all his glory. His black hair ripples in waves past his shoulders. His pale olive skin glided by the moonlight filtering in through the open windows. 

We make love, at least I guess that is what we do. He takes sips of my blood several times until I’m too exhausted to keep my eyes open and my limbs grow heavy. 

I appreciate his strong arms around me as he pulls me closer, sinking into the warmth and comfort of his bedding.

A few hours later, I’m woken up by kisses on my face. My eyes flutter open and find Alexandr’s handsome features above me.

“Ma Belle, it’s close to dawn.” He smiles at me and its glow fills his face.

The comprehension that he doesn't wish me to stay here in his territory while he's unprotected strikes me.

“Right.” I shift to get out from under him and off the massive bed. 

“Avril.” His voice pleads.

“No, I understand. I’ll get dressed.”

“I have a driver ready to drive you home.”

“Thank you.” I rush around, trying to find my clothes.

Of course, he wouldn’t want me here in his space, while he’s dead to the world, literally.

Once I find them, he comes up to me and kisses me senseless. His way of trying to gain my compliance, but I’m not giving it. He takes the unnecessary action of drawing air into his lungs and sighs.

“Night ma belle, until next time, please think of me.”

“Night Alexandr.” My voice is curt and bitter.

He is true to his word, and a black sedan is waiting for me outside.

It is a bleak, quiet, and dark drive to my apartment. The pink stain of the sunrise isn’t even brushing the horizon, yet.

The driver follows me; which I am sure Alexandr ordered him to do it.

“You can go back. I’m fine, I won’t tattle on you.” I tell him and hate myself for taking my sour mood out on him.

He nods and walks to the car and pulls away.

A few moments later, when I get to the top of my stairs and I see the unmistakable white shape of a flower box. Turning, I head back to the pavement and search for any sign that I’m not alone as I pull out my phone from my small purse. I dial my boss, the Sector Chief, for P.I.R. Tarrant County, Hunter.