Karolina Life as a Vampire chapter 20

Karolina Life as a Vampire chapter 20

TWENTY

My arm was heavy and stiff from staying in a stationary unfamiliar position all day long. I gave it a stretch but didn’t remove it from were it rested on Erik’s back. He hadn’t moved all day while we slept. Erik still looked angelic as he slept, raven haired angel. I laid my head back down on my arm gazing at him. He really is beautiful. From what I’ve seen he has inner beauty too, but I don’t think the others know that. If they do they deny it. My fingers played with his hair, flicking the ends or allowing the silky strands to fall through my fingers. He stirred and I quickly removed my hand. Emerald eyes drew their attention to me. He cracked his neck and yawned.

“Good evening.” He greeted groggily.
“You didn’t get to see the end of the movie.” I propped myself up on my elbows, I rubbed at the sleepiness in the corner of my eyes.
“I almost made it.” He yawned again. “I remember seeing Lincoln and Jordon talking about going back for a holoscreen or something.” Erik turned on his side, holding his head up with his hand, looking at me.
“We could finish it, I mean there wasn’t that much left.” I looked back at him.
“Fine by me.” I nodded and turn on the T.V. and DVD player.

When the menus screen came up I used the scene selection option to find the place in the movie that Erik had left off. After I set up the movie for Erik I left his side to feed, I offered him one but he declined the offer. I returned to his side to sit crossed legged on the edge of the bed and quietly sipped the crimson liquid up the bendable straw.
I heard a door open and close. It had to be Colken’s. I wondered what was going through his head. Another day Erik spent with me. Neither one of us were at fault this time or last time. I hope this didn’t affect the progress Colken and I had made on our friendship.
I wasn’t paying attention to the movie, I had seen the end last night, my attention was focused elsewhere. Katja and I were suppose to go to the mall tonight to have a girls night out. And to buy Evol some new clothes. I was excited but at the same time a little weary. It seemed that every time I left the house there was always something bad that ended up happening. Raven nearly gave me a heart attack, making me believe that she was Chris and the night at the club seemed like a good idea until the special drink came my way. Maybe I was the problem. I probably just have that aura about me.

“Something on your mind?” Erik asked. I looked at him, he was still watching the movie.
“No.” I lied.
“I can tell he’s one of our favorite actors yet your not watching the movie.” Erik cut me off before I could say something. “I don’t think the fact that you watched it last night would make a difference.” Hit the nail right on the head.
“It’s really nothing and I have been looking up now and again.” I lied again but he seemed to believe it this time. He watched the movie for a few minutes before sitting up abruptly.
“I could go with you if it would make you feel safer.” Erik situated himself so that his body faced me, his one leg extended out behind me and the other folded inward.
“Evol will be with us, I’m just being the worry wart that I am.” I had finished feeding and got up to throw away the empty pack. Erik watched my every move, his eyes never left me, even when I returned to my side of the bed. My eyes stared back into those emerald pools, oh how I could get lost within them. He reached out for me, pulling me into his body, into a warm embrace. He buried his nose in my hair. I held him to me. His intoxicating scent drifted into my nose, the spiced earth and night mixed together making my eyes roll into the back of my head.
I was fooling myself.
I felt something for Erik.
His lips pressed, feather light, against mine. I melted against those lips. I clung to him feeling my body go limp. I kissed him back and not so gently. He smiled against me and ran his tongue along my bottom lip. I let out a small moan from deep inside my throat. He left my lips to explore my jaw line and neck, leaving tender kisses and nips here and there. My skin began to prickle with goose bumps as I felt his teeth graze the tender part of my neck. The same place he had bit me the night of my changing. Erik’s fangs pressed against my skin, the sharp tips scraping the flesh, making me tingle. I gave a small squeak when he bit down hard, but not hard enough to break the skin. He returned to my lips crushing me against him.
Our consciousness’ licked at the edges of each other. Just like at the club Erik’s emotions flowed into me like a damaged dam. To feel that connection between us was heaven, the ultimate closeness. I closed my eyes, an image flashed before my vision. It was Alex.
I pushed Erik away, his face confused, the connection broken. Words piled up in my throat with nowhere to go. I escaped to the bathroom, slamming the door shut, I cried leaning over the sink. The blood staining the white marble bowl. I felt Erik at the door, worried. It wasn’t his fault. I felt sick to my stomach, disgusted with myself. I wanted Alex home. I needed him to be home, where he belonged. He would never come home if he knew what I had done with Erik just now. The scarlet tears poured off my cheeks creating rosy lines draining to the center and then into the blackness. I ran the tap to get rid of what was in the sink and wiped my eyes, splashing water in my face cleared away the rest.
The door opened revealing Erik, I was still hunched over the sink crying small rivers of red. He was fighting with himself, I could feel it. So was I. I wanted him to comfort me but at the same time I wanted him to stay where he was for the fear of what I might do.
“Lina…what’s wrong?” Erik’s voice cracked. It hurt him to see me like this, he flinched, I could only assume he remembered back to my depression. The last time I cried he was my object of hatred. My voice was lost, trapped within a cage deep down, it hurt and I failed to free it. Erik approached me cautiously and soothed my shoulders. My tears slowly ceased their flow, I kept my head hung over the sink not wanting to brave looking up at the mirror.

“You shouldn’t have to feel guilty for feeling the way that you do.” Erik kissed my shoulder and waited for me to clean off my face before setting myself down on the edge of the bathtub. “Tell me what’s bothering you so I can help you.” Erik kneeled down in front of me.
“I don’t know.” I croaked. I didn’t know how to form the words that would express the struggle inside me. “I don’t want to hurt him.” The words came out like a whisper as I struggled not to let the tears escape.
“Who?” Erik asked calmly, rubbing my shoulders. “Alex?” I nodded.
“Alex will never come back now.” A tear seeped out from my clutches. “He won’t.” Few more tears fell. Erik grabbed a towel and wiped them away.
“Then we won’t make anything of this.” Erik forced me to look at him. “You shouldn’t have to choose between me and Alex, I’m happy just knowing that you are happy. Your friendship means more to me than anything I’ve ever experienced. I won’t let you sacrifice someone who you care about because I love you.” He stood up bringing me with him. “Now go and get ready so when Katja comes to pick you up you can go and have a good time. I’ll get Evol ready while you do that.” Erik kissed the top of my hand and backed out, giving a small bow, like a gentleman.

I went back to my room and picked the clothes I was planning to wear to the mall. I returned to the bathroom to shower away all the negative, depressing, energy so I could have a great time with Katja and Evol. After I was done showering I dressed in my usual attire of black shirt and jeans. Today’s chosen shirt had the saying “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Then it’s hilarious!” I thought Katja would find the saying amusing. I brushed my hair and flipped flopped between putting it up in a high pony tail or leaving it down. I left it down after having a war with the locks that wanted to bubble up at the top no matter how many times I brushed them out. I put my ankh necklace on and put a few rings on. I put on my war paint, a black eyeliner and mascara, before leaving the bathroom. I deposited my dirty clothes in the hamper in my closet, turned on my phone leaving on the charger and made my way downstairs.
Evol was wearing men’s sweats. I laughed at her. She couldn’t go to the mall looking like she jumped out of a Renaissance painting. That would have earned us some nasty glares, not to mention the evil toned gossip whispers. Evol’s hair was still in tight ringlets which added another level of weird to the outfit. She was pleading with her eyes for me to save her from this torture. I couldn’t think of a greater torture than a corset which she wore for 300 years. I love my bra.
Vance and Colken were in the kitchen talking amongst themselves. Erik was arguing with Evol about her wardrobe and she was getting the upper hand. Erik held his hands up in surrender but he wasn’t going to give up entirely. I was going to say something when I heard my phone go off upstairs. I quickly ran upstairs, it was a text message from Alex.

Do u want 2 c a movie sometime?

I speed dialed his number, hoping he was still near his phone. It rang twice before I heard his voice on the other end.

“Hello?”
“Alex!” I was so happy that he answered that I had a momentary brain fart. They are delicious. “Umm…movie, what movie are you thinking about seeing?” I asked smiling from ear to ear.
“I was thinking about that Spartan movie.” Alex sounded relieved to hear my voice, and to hear that I was ecstatic.
“Totally, it looks really good! When do you want to go see it?” I laid back on my bed.
“Well, I was thinking tonight.”
“Katja and I made plans to go shopping tonight,” Alex was about to say something but I cut him off, “But I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you tagged along. We could still see the movie, Katja and Evol can go home and we can stay behind.” There was silence on the other end while Alex took in what I put on the table.
“If you’re sure Katja won’t mind, then I’m okay with that.”
“Great!”
“Why is Evol going with you?” He asked sounding confused.
“Katja wants to give the poor woman a complete and total makeover. I mean everything.” Alex laughed on the other end. “It’s a real sight to see downstairs, Evol is dressed in a men’s sweat pants and a sweat shirt, plus flip flops,” Alex snorted on the other end, “Oh it gets better, her hair is still in tight ringlets and I’m pretty sure she’s still wearing her corset under all that.”
“I wish I could see that!” He was trying to catch his breath.
“If I took a picture I think she would have me murdered.” I chuckled along with him.
“Do you need a ride?” He asked.
“Katja is coming to get me and Evol.”
“Alright.” I heard someone in the background on Alex’s end. “Dude I’m on the phone!” Alex yelled at the other person. “Sorry about that, Seth can be rude.”
“It’s okay, so I’ll see you at the mall?”
“What time will you be there?” He asked.
“I haven’t got a clue, I don’t even know when Katja is coming to get me.” I realized.
“Call me when you get there.”
“Okay then.”
“I’ll see you then, Seth wants to challenge me to Guitar Hero.”
“Jealous. Have fun.” We said our goodbyes.

I put my cell phone in my pocket just in case Katja decided to call before she came over. I headed back downstairs. Evol was now sitting down on the couch with an expression that could break glass. I’d never seen her like this. I sat next to her, cautiously, and smiled at her. She looked at me as she picked at the hem of her oversized sweat shirt.

“Why did I let you talk me into this?” Evol muttered.
“You need new clothes, how can you go out when you look like you’re from another time?”
“That’s precisely what I am.” Evol growled.
“Evol, I want to go out and spend time with you outside this house. Think about it, when you get new clothes you’ll be able to go to the library with me, we can get lost together in books. Wouldn’t that be fun?” I saw her smile come back to her beautiful face.
“It would be nice dear, but I’ve been this way for so long…”
“Give the new clothes a chance, your boobs will thank you.”
“Excuse me?!” Evol put her hands on her chest, shielding them.
“You’ll see what I mean.” Erik came in from the kitchen with a cup of tea for Evol.
“Here, this will make you feel better.” He handed the cup to her. She sniffed it before pressing the thin porcelain to her lips. She nodded her head gesturing that it was to her liking. Erik turned his attention to me.
“Anything for you Lina?” He offered.
“No thanks.”
“I suggest you feed once more before Katja gets here.” Erik left the room. He was right, crying drained me a bit, I followed him into the kitchen to go down into the cellar. He opened the door for me. Each step groaned under my feet’s assault. I spotted the huge medical freezer and made a bee-line for it, the dry ice smoke curled like ghostly fingers over the edge of the freezer. I reached in and pulled out a fresh pack. I didn’t have my bendy straw with me so I did the vampire thing. I sank my fangs into the plastic and tore open the holes I had made. I swallowed it all in one feed, there was no need to swallow and pause, I just downed the whole thing. It was enough to satisfy me. Emerging from the cellar I heard heavy footfalls on the stairs leading to the upstairs. I looked through the door way to the entrance hall and found boxes piled by the door, Colken was carrying a box and Vance as well.
They must be moving Alex’s belongings tonight. There wasn’t that much, two boxes labeled clothes and the ones Colken and Vance were carrying labeled, Misc. I went through to the parlor Erik was there with Evol now, she was in an entirely different mood. She was more cheerful and pleasantly chatting with Erik, he must have drugged it with something because a minute ago she wanted to kill him. My phone rang as I sat down.

“You’re up! Sweet! I’m coming over early because Raven wants to come with us, I’m trying to escape.” Katja whispered the last part.
“Why does she want to come with us?”
“To torture you, why else?” There was silence on the other end, after while I heard a car door shut and the radio come on. It was so loud and sudden that I jerked the phone away from my ear. “Sorry about that, mission accomplished, I’m in the car.”
“Check the trunk, she could be in there.”
“Nah, not her style, she’s more of the killer in the back seat kind of girl.”
“Hey I hope it’s alright with you that Alex comes along with us.”
“The more the merrier, and the more hands to hold Evol down. Is she seething yet?” I could basically feel her evil grin from here. Erik looked my way but didn’t say anything.
“She was but now she’s calmer.” I looked Evol’s way, she gave me a look.
“Is that Katja?” She asked setting down her tea cup. I shook my head no, I didn’t want her blood to boil. She didn’t believe me for a second but stayed put.
“I’m speeding like Speed Racer to get to the plantation before Rae finds out that I didn’t misplace my wallet.”
“Nice.”
“She can be a blonde sometimes.” Katja yelled something obscene to another car on the rode, at least it sounded obscene, she screamed it in German. “Vampire on a mission here!” She said afterwards. I laughed at her. I was going to die before I reached the mall.
“So Lina, let’s map out or stops. I have to get some cool earrings so we have to stop by Claire’s. Where would you like to go?” She asked.
“Hot Topic and the bookstore.”
“Those are essential stores to visit.”
“How about a movie store?” Vance and Colken moved all the boxes from the hallway to the porch outside and closed the door.
“You are speaking my language fluently.”
“Raven doesn’t?”
“Oh she does but all the vampire boys look at her and it’s like come on I’m trying to buy some socks could you go somewhere else to spread the love?”
“The boys don’t look at you?”
“I tell them to bite someone else and continue to shop. I’m complete.” I could tell she took her hands off the wheel to make a circle, we were just connected that way.
“Lina tell Katja that I don’t want to look like a, what do you call them Erik?” She asked him.
“A hooker.”
“Yes that.” I snorted.
“Evol doesn’t want to be made over like a hooker.” I continued to laugh.
“If that was my plan I would have brought Raven along.” Katja told me, I re-laid the message to Evol while I laughed my brains out. I’m surprised that Evol didn’t need subtitles to understand me. Evol still looked worried though.
“How long until you get here?”
“I’d say about ten minutes-if this grandpa moves.” She exclaimed a huge ‘thank you’ and then said. “Oops it was a woman.”
“You are horrible you know that.”
“You’ll get use to it.”
“And I’ll love you for it.”
“Exactly, okay I’ll be there in ten minutes tops. I’ll see you when I get there.” I said goodbye and hung up.
“When will she be here?” Evol asked, fiddling with the bottom of her sweat shirt.
“Ten minutes.” The realization hit her face. “We’re not performing open heart surgery, Evol, don’t look so scared.”
“Look at me Evol, I’m perfectly fine in these clothes.” Erik stood up and turned around.
“Oh Erik, you’ve always embraced the change of times, me…I’ve always stayed the same.” I learned that Vance and Colken both had owned present day clothes but preferred to wear their period attire around the plantation. It kept them grounded to who they were without reliving the past completely.
“Oh I almost forgot.” Erik stood up while reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to me. My eyes widened. “This should cover everything.”
“Everything?” I asked counting the money Erik had just handed over. There was about five hundred dollars in my hands. I’ve never had that much money, all at once before, I could feel the urge to ravage a bookstore well up inside me.
“It should cover all of Evol’s clothes and if you three get hungry, let’s say dinner’s on me, anything that’s left you can spend.” Erik had just made the biggest mistake in giving me all this money.

I think it’s universal that you never give a woman your credit card? Well it should apply to giving out great amounts of cold hard cash to woman too, vampire or not. I recounted the money again and ran up to get my wallet and of course at that moment there was a knock at the door. I wished I could have seen Evol’s face when Katja walked in through the door. It would have been priceless. As I search for my wallet I heard Katja running up the stairs. She poked her head before flying onto my queen size bed, making the duvet and pillows leap into the air and land in disarray.

“I just made that.” I scolded sarcastically.
“It’s much more comfy this way, so what do you want to do before we head off to steal Evol’s bra virginity?” Katja picked at her chipping fingernail polish.
“Bra virginity? That’s a good one.” I found my wallet and quickly put the stash of cash inside. “I thought we were leaving now?”
“The mall doesn’t open until eleven, it’s only nine.” Katja sat up. “Hey let me braid your hair!”
“That’s okay, you can braid your own though.” I pulled my hair to the opposite side.
“Come here, geez, you make it sound like I’m going to cut it off.” Reluctantly I sat on the edge of the bed with Katja on her knees so she could braid my hair.
“You have gorgeous hair, so smooth and silky.” She combed her fingers through my hair before beginning to separate it in half.
“They’re coming out before we leave.” I whined.
“Pssh let the master work!” She playfully tugged on my hair and began to braid one side.
“Do you want to listen to music?” I asked, she replied with a yes and I waved my hand, like a wizard, using my powers to turn on the radio. Rock music pour out of the speakers.
“It’s amazing that we are not sisters, we are so much alike.”
“If that were so our mother would have been in labor for a world record time, not mention having you in Germany and me here.”
“That would have been strange.”
“What’s it like in Germany?” I asked.
“Much like any other European country only we have better food.” I laughed. “I was born in Germany, created in Spain and have a mansion in France. I’m all over.”
“Spain and France? Wow, I’ve always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower.”
“The view is amazing but to see Paris at night is to die for.”
“Literally?” I laughed.
“Figure of Speech. Anyway where was I?” Katja stopped her braiding.
“France.”
“Oh yes, my mansion is the most coolest thing ever, there’s an underground garage with a winding road that leads up to the surface. Like Batman, but more stylish. No fancy waterfalls to make an entrance onto the streets just a big gate.” She demonstrated the noise it made. “Yeah I love it, but I’m living here until I feel like going back, there’s only so much you can take of the French before going insane.” We laughed.
“And what about Spain?” She plopped the finish braid over my shoulder. I frowned at it.
“I don’t remember much about Spain. Only Antonio. He was the vampire that created me.” Her fingers hesitated on my hair and her voice faded away. I turned my eyes up to her but didn’t directly look at her. It had to be traumatic for Katja to completely cease all communication. Snapping out of it she suddenly tug out the braid she was working on. “It has a bubble!” She exclaimed. I smiled. I hated that too, that’s why my hair is always down because it never wants to cooperate.
“So what happened to him?” I asked, almost afraid of what she might say.
“Oh…well…you know, he go tired of me and shoved me out to drown in independence.” Katja flipped over the finished braid. “Tada!” I heard her clap. I fiddled with the ends of the braids. I looked at the clock we still had a good hour and a half.
“So what do you want to do now?” I asked twirling the right one in my hand.
“I don’t know…” Katja shifted to lay down on my bed. “How about you tell me why China can pick up the love signals.”
“What?”
“It’s obvious that there’s something going on.” I turned to face her. “It’s written all over your face…and his.” Katja gave me the eye. “It’s a good thing Raven isn’t here, you know how she likes to stir up shit.”
“I’m not in love with him-sure I like him a lot-but that’s it.” I waved my hands in the air.
“Sure, like I’ll believe that when hell freezes over.” I undid my braids. “Just admit it, you’ll feel better.”
“There’s nothing to admit.”
“Then tell me why I smell Erik all,” she waved around the bed and extended the ‘awe’ sound while she did it. “around here.”
“Nothing happened, we watched a movie, that’s it.”
“Liar.” Katja stated.
“I am not.”
“Yes you are, it’s a power of mine. I can tell you’re lying.”
“Katja, please stop.” I got up and brushed my hair with my fingers. “I may love him but by doing so I hurt the other person that I love.”
“Feel better?” Katja sighed. In a way I did but knowing that Alex and I were suppose to go to the movies tonight tugged on the back of my mine, hindering my feeling of relief.
“Tell me it’s not that obvious.”
“Colken hasn’t killed you yet.”


Katja drove a VW Bug, the new model, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. It was the lime green metallic color with a sharpie of the same color hanging on the rear-view mirror. Like those commercials with the driving student trying to parallel park. The car was Dalmatian with rust marks. Katja corrected me. They were burn marks. Apparently Raven was insanely pissed one day and lit the poor car on fire. Yet it still had it’s smile on.
Evol went willingly into the car, not a word out of her. Which I thought was strange but didn’t question the matter for the fear that she would change her mind. I took my place on the passenger side and got comfortable. Evol sat silently in the back. Katja turned her keys in the ignition and the radio blared at max volume. Evol jumped so high she hit her head on the top of the car. We shared a good laugh while Evol turned a pale shade a of red. Katja took one last look around for Raven before we sped off.
The mall was deserted when we got there, a few cars littered the main entrance parking lot but nothing big. She parked the car, Evol piled out, signaling to us how bad she wanted this nightmare to be over with. Katja made the bug beep when she locked it just to double check before heading off in the direction of the mall. Not like the locks on the car would keep a vampire from stealing it. Hell if they wanted the vehicle that bad they could carry it off the lot and plop it in their driveway. No vampire is that stupid but it’s a funny image to think about.
Inside the mall the food court turned into one huge blood bar. They still served food but in small quantities and not in such a wide variety. All the stores we still open but vampires now invaded the employee space. From the outside the mall looks closed because all the lights are off but on the inside business is still in session. Katja and I pulled Evol onto the escalator, she freaked out when she saw it. As we walked down the hall on the upper level we saw other vampires shopping.
I still hate department stores.
We had an employee help us with Evol, her name tag read Jill.

“An intervention I see.” She turned to her coworker. “We got a live one!”
“Sweet! I love these!” Her friend bounced her way over, her name was Kathy.” Both of them looked my age in human years but I suspected that they held immortal years over me. They smelled of the night but still grounded by the faint scent of human. I noticed this about newly changed fledglings, I’m pretty sure I could smell my going on two years immortal flesh.
“We’ll help you get started.” Jill reached into her pocket and pulled out a tape measure. They worked in a blur to get all of Evol’s measurements and then Kathy picked out the latest jean cut and stylish tops for her to try on. Evol was ushered away into a dressing room, kicking a screaming. I felt bad for her but she needed this. Kathy disappeared behind the curtain with Evol while Jill scoped out the perfect accessories and shoes. Numbers were yelled back and forth. Katja and I watched from the bench making side comments about how much she’s going to hate us and that the necklace that Jill just handed Kathy was nice. Kathy clapped her hands and giggled like a school girl.
“Come on out!” Jill hopped in place. We waited patiently.
Evol came out with a sky blue button down blouse, black dress pants and high heels. She was accessorized with a cameo black chained necklace and matching earrings. A chocolate leather purse was draped over her shoulder. She needed a new hair do but she looked amazing. Katja and I waited with baited breath for Evol’s reaction. She carefully walked over to the full length mirror studying herself. I watched her eyes skim over her new look taking in each detail before opening her mouth.
“I love it.” She turned around to us and came at us with a huge hug. For half a second I thought she was joking and was going to strangle the both of us. However she enveloped us both in an Evol hug thanking us. Jill and Kathy told us to have fun in the mall while they transformed her. We looked at each other and agreed. Before we left I told them both to make the total of clothes under 300 dollars. They nodded and we told them that we would be back in an hour or two.

“I think she’s going to be a changed woman.” Katja said while she combed through the DVDs in Suncoast.
“I give her a month before she changes back to full 1700’s drab.” I picked out a movie and added it to the other three under my arm.
“Slow down Lina, I haven’t picked out one yet!” Katja whined.
“It’s not my fault I came with a list already in mind.” I had one anime movie, and two Ewan McGregor movies, the one that I had just picked up was a horror movie that I thought Erik might like to watch with me.
“You should have warned me!” Katja dug deeper into the catacombs of the movie rack.
“WOOT!” I yelled, the other vampires in the store looked over at us. Katja playfully hit me on the shoulder.
“Stop you’re embarrassing me!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What?” She asked when she saw me dancing in place.
“I’ve been wanting to see this movie for forever!” I showed her the movie, the title read Snow Cake.
“Have you even seen it before?” She asked her eyes lighting up when she found a DVD she wanted. “All the way in the back I can’t believe they shoved it back there.” She mumbled to herself.
“No…I haven’t.” I put the DVD on top of my pile.
“Then how do you know you are going to like it?”
“Simply, Alan Rickman is in it.” I continued down the rack moving towards the end of the alphabet.
“Don’t tell me you like Alan Rickman?” Katja asked scrunching up her face, she wasn’t asking if I liked his acting, which I did.
“Yeah, the man can read the phone book and I would swoon.” I felt the blood crawl up my cheeks.
“He’s old enough to be your father…or grandfather…” Katja trailed off then squealed, she found two more videos.
“Erik is old enough to be my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather…” Katja cut me off.
“Whatever, you ready? I’m all set and ready to try another store.” Katja turned to head towards the check out. Spying the hot vampire cashier Katja turned head back to me and made the universal smile and eyebrow wave that translated to every girl across the country. That he was hot. I heard her give a small squeal before proceeding to the checkout. I rolled my eyes at her display but couldn’t help but realize that he was drop dead gorgeous and smiled too as I did one final scan of the movie rack.
If I had wanted to revert back to my middle school days I would have offered to try out the TRUE LOVE test but she would have laughed at me. However I began to wonder if she even knew or ever heard of it. The cashier, Tucker, rang us up and complimented on our choice of films. He made mindless chit chatter while one of my DVD’s had trouble scanning but I didn’t mind, it gave Katja more time to goggle at his beautiful violet eyes. When we were out of the store and out of vampire ear shot Katja grabbed my arm and squeaked. I laughed and asked if I should go back to get his number. She playfully hit me and told me that she would much rather enjoy my company.
After pillaging a music store and Hot Topic we took to the food court to satisfy the hunger I was suppressing in the rock aisle. The individual fast food restaurants were placed like church confessionals but now instead of Broad Walk fries there were endless variations of blood types and preparations. Every eatery had its own rare blood type and different ways of serving it. You could order it straight up with a straw or drizzled over a past life’s favorite dish. Katja ordered AB negative to be poured over a chicken curry. I just asked for the cheapest blood type to go. Eating food with blood covering it was still foreign to me but Katja told me that she didn’t do this all the time, she just liked to indulge once in a while. She offered me a bite of the red mass but I passed. I wasn’t hungry for food, no matter how much I wanted to eat Ramen noodles again, the scarlet liquid that resided in my cup made my stomach growl.
Bags in each hand we found our way back to the department store where we had left Evol in the hands of Kathy and Jill. They had down everything. Her hair was straightened, cut short and bounced about her face gracefully curling at the ends. A plum colored shirt was covered by a tan blazer with a black skirt flowing out from underneath it. She wore simple silver rings on her fingers and a stylish black beaded necklace accompanied by the perfect pair of high heels. She was glowing. I was happy for her, a smile plastered on my face, but it dropped into a frown when I saw the mountain of bags by the counter.

“Lina, look at me, I look beautiful!” Evol hugged me and Katja while she apologized for doubting us.
“Wait until Vance sees you!” I said. Her eyes got wide and the worry set in. “I’m sure he’ll love your transformation.”
“Geez Evol did you buy the whole store?” Katja couldn’t believe the bags of clothes.
“We didn’t go over $300.” Kathy smiled waving the receipt in the air. I was absolutely amazed that they had stretched the money. Jill leaned over the counter and gestured for me to come closer.
“Interventions get a major discount.” She whispered. “Now she’ll be back to get a new wardrobe every season and make us rich.” Jill giggled.
“You both did a fantastic job.” I paid and gave them what Katja and I didn’t spend as a thank you. I told them that they deserved it after taking on her ridiculously curly hair. They nodded in agreement.
“Hers wasn’t as bad as that one vampire that hadn’t washed her hair since she was turned.” Kathy squirmed and pulled a disgusted face.
“Nightmarish I tell you.” Jill added. We thanked them again as they offered to help us bring the bags out to the car. I picked up a bulging bag when my phone went off in my pocket. The antenna of my phone caught on the lining of the pocket and I just barely answered before the voice mail kicked in.
“Lina?” It was Alex.
“Hey!” I put the bag down, everyone looked at me. “What’s up?” I asked not meeting their gazes.
“Are you still at the mall?” He asked. I heard the same voice that was on the phone last time he called me. Seth was with him.
“I’m still here, I’m in a department store.”
“You hate those stores, must be for Evol.” I heard Seth mumble something. “You still want to catch a movie?”
“Of course, but I-” Katja waved her arms and took the bag I was going to carry out and my shopping bag from me then shooed me away. I silently thanked her. “I’m leaving the store now, where are you?”
“Food court.”
“I’ll be there in a few.” I hung up the phone and ran out of the store and down the stairs. Rounding the corner I nearly ran into a couple holding hands, they separated to let me pass without an accident. The food court was in sight and so was Alex. His golden brown hair stood out next to the harsh black of the vampire standing next to him. Before we were introduced I knew who he was. Seth was what we would call Emo. Black eyeliner, applied thick to the top and bottom lids, hair styled short in the back and long in the front, skinny jeans and converse in the obvious color. A chain slithered from underneath his tight band tee to his back pocket where his wallet was like a road map to the treasure. Seth scanned me from head to toe before holding out his hand in a gesture of greeting. I smiled and glanced at his face. His features were smooth and his eyes were non-threatening. What I found most interesting were his eyes, the one not covered by a curtain of hair, was liquid brown with amber touching it’s edges, while the other was earthly green in color.

“I’ve heard much about you.” Seth said as we shook hands, he glanced at Alex then back at me. “Alex tells me that you’re an artist, so am I.”
“Really? What’s your medium?” I asked.
“Just pencil and paper I never strayed away from the classics.” He looked back at Alex who dropped his gaze. “Well, I’ll leave you two to your movie, I’m going to see if anything new hit Sam Goodie.” Alex nodded and hit knuckles with Seth before he left.
“It’s good to see you again.” I let out as I hugged him. His arm came around me and squeezed. “So what did you have in mind for a movie?” I asked as we broke apart.
“How about I surprise you.” Alex took my hand and I willingly followed.
“Seth seems nice.” I decided to start up a conversation. “How did you guys meet?”
“We met at The Coffin, he DJ’s there on Saturday nights.”
“I wouldn’t have pegged him for a club type.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Seth has a hard exterior but he’s a real pal.” Alex slowly let my hand fall from his. I hooked my arm with his not wanting to let go of him.
“How are things back at the house?” He asked, smiling as I he felt my arm curl around his.
“Things have been going great. Evol and Vance are getting back together and Colken and I have finally patched things up.”
“I’m gone for a week and things change.” Alex pulled a face. “Did I hear you correctly? You and Colken have become friends?”
“He wouldn’t tell you if you asked him and I sure he won’t change his attitude when there are others around but I feel that I can enter his room without worrying he would kill me.”
“Do you feel that?” Alex asked. I shook my head, I furrowed my brows.
“It’s hell freezing over.” We laughed.

Alex had bought tickets to the new Harry Potter movie. Even though he had swore up and down, backwards and forwards, that he would never get caught up in the wizarding world he found that the movies weren’t so bad. I’m a firm believer that the books are better and that he should read them he insisted on taking baby steps. I kissed him on the cheek to thank him and he looked at me confused for a fraction of a second. We found seats at the top of the theater close to the middle. Not many vampires showed up to see the film. I figured that when you could summon objects without muttering accio that fantasies like these became a bore. Alex and I chatted amongst ourselves about nothing in particular while the cinema’s joke reel played before the trailers appeared on the big screen.
Being a vampire in a movie theater for the first time was like a culture shock. To signal the movie was about to begin the lights would dim, I remember that part. Only there were no lights on, I waited for the room to dim before it donned on me that it wasn’t. The trailers rolled and Alex leaned over to tell me that he wanted to see a certain movie and I agreed that it had interested me as well. I felt the butterflies enter my stomach as the movie finally began to run. Alex, throughout the movie, found it necessary to stare at me. As distracting as it was I didn’t want to make a scene or embarrass him. I enjoyed the movie but was glad when it was over, the constant staring drained the fun out of the movie. Alex got up but I stayed seated and cheered all my favorite actors as I always did. The few vampires that were in there looked back at us and I could tell that Alex wanted to walk away like he didn’t know who I was. I didn’t care, this was a tradition that wasn’t dying.
I thanked myself for turning off my phone because I had two missed calls. One from Katja informing me that she had taken Evol back to the house and that I should call if I needed a ride. The other was Raven cussing me out for not inviting her to our shopping spree and that that Erik sends me his love. The pit of my stomach turned upside down. She was at the house. Alex made a quick call to Seth before turning his attention to me. The awkwardness between us was obvious but neither one wanted to acknowledge it.

“I can give you a ride back to the house, Seth left me the car.” Alex offered.
“If it’s not too much trouble.” I looked into his eyes.
“No trouble at all.” He walked me out to the car which wasn’t a P.O.S. that Erik said it was. It was a blue Mazda. I took shot gun and buckled up.
“Did you enjoy the movie?” Alex asked as he turned out of the mall.
“Of course I did.” I avoided the bit were he kept staring at me. “They cut out a part that I felt should have been in the movie but nothing I can do about it.” I then asked him the same question.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.” He replied.
“So were does Seth live? I would like to come and visit you, if that’s alright with you?”
“Seth lives in the same complex that Raven and Katja do and sure, you can come visit if you’d like.” Alex got over to make the right exit. “I have to warn you that Seth maybe an artist but had no interior design skills.”
“Bean bag chairs and a make shift coffee table made with a piece a ply wood and cinder blocks?” I asked sarcastically.
“Check on the bean bags but we don’t have a coffee table.”
“I think I can handle that.” Alex chuckled. There was a pause before I spoke up.
“I’ve missed you Alex.”
“I’ve missed you Lina, but I’m not coming home just yet.”
“I wasn’t going to ask you to, I need to sort out my life as well.” There was another pause, this time Alex broke the silence.
“I want to apologize Lina for acting like an immature high school student but in my defense I am.” He bit his lip and furrowed his brows. “What I mean is I’m sorry for lashing out and making you feel obligated to fall in love with me. I know I can’t compare with Erik. He’s your creator and there is a bond between you two that I will never have with you. I was trying to fool myself into thinking that maybe it would be different since we felt something for each other before we were changed. Seth and I could both feel that you’ve made your decision and I’m okay with it.” His eyes blinked rapidly and I knew it wasn’t from the high beams on the on coming car. He was trying not to fall apart. “Just let Erik know that if he hurts you I’ll kill him.” He gripped the stirring wheel hard but didn’t break it.
“Alex if you knew that I would form a bond with my creator why didn’t you change me?” It wasn’t mocking I just needed answers.
“I couldn’t do it, I wasn’t strong enough to watch the person that I love die before my very eyes, writhing in pain and agony as the blood set your insides aflame.” Alex shook his head as he stopped at the stop sign. “Deep down I wanted to see if our mortal bond was stronger than the immortal pact you made with Erik.” Alex looked at me, the pain was etched into his face he was suppressing the tears. I leaned over and pressed my lips to his. He didn’t back away or give me the cheek nor did he kiss me back.
“Our lives have just begun Alex, who is to say that we won’t end up together?” His hand came up to caress the side of my face and he smiled.
“A false hope.” He whispered.