PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (12 page)

Ephraim placed the man down. “You need go see a doctor immediately.”

“What?” He hadn’t expected that.

“Tomorrow go see your doctor,” Ephraim said. His rage was doubling. If this son of a bitch touched Madison he would have

given her a death sentence.

“What’s wrong with my blood?” David pleaded. He held his finger against his chest as if it were a life threatening wound.

“Just go see a doctor. Take your girlfriend with you to get tested and anyone else you’ve been with.”

David’s chin trembled. “You’re not going to tell me?”

“No, just go.” His body was still trembling. He prayed to god Madison didn’t do anything with this man. She was still a virgin

but that didn’t mean they didn’t do other things.

“You’re letting me go?”

Ephraim turned his back on the man and faced Madison. She was hugging herself tightly and staring at him. She'd seen

everything.

*******

make sense.

Then he turned around. This couldn’t be real. Her body screamed for her to run, but she couldn’t. She watched as Ephraim ran

faster than any human she’d ever seen. She watched in horror as he picked David up with ease with only one hand. This wasn’t

happening.

This was so not happening.

He looked like a vampire. They weren’t real. This was a game. Someone was playing a joke on her. This couldn’t be real.

She’d watched enough movies to know the rules for vampires.

She went over the list of what she knew in her head and compared it to Ephraim. He just ate for one thing and vampires

couldn’t eat food. Granted this was the first time she ever saw him eat food. He also went out in the sun. Vampires were

supposed to fry in the sun. She didn’t remember the logic behind that, but she was sure it had something to do with them being

dead and all.

Then there was the whole dead part. He wasn’t! He breathed air for Christ sake’s and he was warm. She could still feel his

touch on her skin. He wasn’t dead and vampires were supposed to be dead.

Then he went and proved it. She was a foot away, watching. She watched in amazement as his tooth sliced through David’s

finger. If it was fake it would have fallen out of his mouth and it certainly wouldn’t have cut his finger. He tasted the blood!

That was disgusting. She couldn’t believe this. She had to get it together.

She was about to turn and run for it when Ephraim started to tell David to go see a doctor. As she contemplated that, David ran

out of the room leaving her to face Ephraim.

“What the hell….” she murmured against her better judgment.

He gave her a lopsided grin. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance that you didn’t see that?”

She shook her head. His smile disappeared as he sighed, “I didn’t think so.”

He turned to face her. “I need to taste your blood.”

She backed away from him. “I’m not letting you sink your teeth into me, you bloodsucker!”

As her back hit the table she reached back for a weapon. She found the roll basket and picked it up quickly, hugging it to her

chest. She began throwing rolls at him while she retreated away from him. “Get back!”

He ducked out of the way easily. “Or what? You’ll throw butter at me?” he teased.

“I’m not kidding….I’ll….I’ll…” She looked around the room, there was nothing around that she could use, no crosses, no holy

water. Damn it, why hadn’t her Grandmother found religion? That would be really helpful at the moment.

Ephraim held his hands up. She was out of rolls. “Listen, I know you’re frightened and I understand that. I’m not trying to scare

you, but I need to taste your blood.”

She threw the basket at him. “Are you crazy? I’m not letting you bite me!”

“I don’t want to bite you. Your blood is the last thing I want.” He looked pained.

That stopped her short. “My blood’s not good enough for you?”

“That’s not it at all.” He didn’t try to walk after her. Ephraim remained where he was, but they both knew that he could get to

her before she made it to the door so she didn’t try to run, yet.

“Wait, you do drink blood, don’t you?” This was getting really confusing.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Yes!”

“You don’t have to snap it was just a question.”

He held up a hand. “My apologies.”

She nodded her acceptance. “Why isn’t my blood good enough? I bathe, I eat healthy, I don’t use drugs, drink or smoke. I’m not

a vampire or anything, but I would think that would make my blood attractive.”

His jaw dropped. “Are you trying to get me to bite you?”

“No!”

“Then why-“

“Because you insulted my blood!”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and laughed.

“You think this is funny?” Madison demanded.

“No, I think this is the most trying conversation of my life.”

Madison grabbed the bun from her grandmother’s abandoned plate and chucked it at him, hitting him in the chest. She pulled a

chair in front of her to keep it between them in the false hope that it would be enough to stop him. She knew it wouldn’t. It just

made her feel better to do something.

“Hey! What was that for?”

“You keep insulting me when really you should be explaining to me why I shouldn’t scream at the top of my lungs for help.”

He sighed as he pulled out a chair and flopped down on it. “You want an explanation?”

“Yes, I think,” she waved frantically around the room and then at him, “that I deserve one don’t you think?”

Ephraim shook his head slowly. “No, I think you owe me a thank you.”

“A thank you?” she asked in stunned disbelief.

“Yes, a thank you. I just got rid of that douche bag for you.”

He was an arrogant son of a bitch. She half stepped out from behind the chair to tell him so when she remembered what he was.

Something was different. “Hey, why are your eyes blue again and where did your teeth go?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that none of that happened and that you were hallucinating?” he asked, sounding hopeful.

“No!”

He sighed heavily. “I didn’t think so.”

“And
you
didn’t get rid of him. Candy did when she spilled the beans.”

Ephraim cocked his head to the side to study her. “You really think so?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! How many ways are you going to ask me? Now tell me about your eyes and teeth?”

He shrugged. “I believe you said they’re blue and my teeth are white. What’s to tell?”

She groaned and stomped her foot. “You are so infuriating! You know what I want to know?”

“No I don’t,” he said innocently enough, frustrating the hell out of her.

“Yes, you do!”

He shrugged. She glowered. He glowered back. Finally she threw her hands up in the air. “Fine! You’re obviously playing a

game so just tell me what you want and then answer my questions.”

“You’re awfully demanding,” he commented.

“And you’re annoying!”

“Fine, I have a few questions for you before I tell you anything.”

She held her hands. “Wait, why do you get to ask your questions first? I’m the one with the information. I know what you are

and could tell everyone.”

He raised one arrogant eyebrow. “Go ahead.”

“What?” She hadn't expected that.

“I said go ahead. Open the door and go tell them that I am a bloodsucker. I’m sure you’ll give everyone a good laugh.”

“But….” He was right she would look insane. “Fine I’ll get David to back up my story.”

Ephraim laughed. “David will never be able to look at you without pissing himself and running the other way.” His expression

became serious. “Besides, you should really leave him alone. He’s going to have enough to deal with.”

That reminded her. “Ephraim, I need to know what's wrong with his blood.”

“No, first I need to know some things.”

“Like what?”

“I know you didn’t sleep with him. I need to know if you did anything short of sleeping with him.” It pained him to ask her.

Her mouth dropped open. “You what? How would you know I haven’t slept with him and wait where do you get off? It’s none

of your business what I’ve done with anyone!”

He seemed unconcerned with her questions. “I know you’re a virgin. I can smell it.” He tapped his nose. “Heightened senses

and all that.”

She didn’t think it was possible, but she was more embarrassed now than she was twenty minutes ago at the dinner table when

Candy made her announcement. It made her angry that he knew. It was none of his damn business.

“I’m not telling you a damn thing. If your sense of smell is heightened then you tell me what I did or didn’t do,” she challenged.

Mistake. It was a mistake.

She saw a flash of color and then felt a cool breeze. Ephraim stood directly in back of her. She shrieked and tried to run when

two large warm hands gripped her shoulders. “Hold still. This was your idea, remember?”

“I..I…didn’t mean…”

“Shush and hold still. I’m working here,” he mumbled, his tone filled with amusement.

He shouldn’t be doing this. He really shouldn’t. She was his weakness in so many ways, but she challenged him and refused to

answer his questions. He didn’t have the patience for this game. He had to know if she was sick too.

Holding her still by her shoulders, he used his face to push her smooth hair away from her neck. The feel of her hair against his

face was erotic. He closed his eyes and fought for control.

“No biting!”

“Shh, I’m trying to focus.” He ran his tongue over his fangs, sending them back. It was too tempting to be this close to her neck

so he needed to work fast. He skimmed his nose down her neck, ignoring the impulse to run his tongue over her skin. His nose

skimmed down her back and then over her backside.

Thank god she couldn’t see his huge grin as he did
that
. He considered staying there for a minute, but felt her tense beneath his

hands. She would probably slap him or throw those damn lumpy potatoes at him. He released her shoulders and ran his nose

down her leg.

“Finally-hey!” She yelped as he took her hand into his and smelled it. He released it and walked away from her.

“Well?” she asked expectantly.

He didn’t turn around as he made his way to the door. “You’re fine. That’s all I wanted to know. Thanks,” he said

dismissively. He opened the door, keeping his eyes lowered as he disappeared to the left.

“What? Hey, that’s not fair! Get back here! You didn’t answer my questions!” She ran after him, but he was already gone.

That’s fine. She knew where he would eventually end up. She turned to the right with every intention of going there to wait for

him when she literally ran into Grandma.

“Whoa!” Grandma grabbed her to steady her before she fell backwards. “What’s going on? Where’s Ephraim?”

Madison looked past her. The foyer was empty. “Where is everyone?”

Grandma waved a hand in the air. “They’re in the living room watching movies and eating pizza. They settled down once they

saw David leave.” Grandma studied her for a long moment. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” Her eyes ran to her destination, the stairs.

“Because of what that awful man did.”

Oh, that. She shrugged. “I’m over it.” And onto new things like finding out the answers to all her questions. He was going to

answer her and that was that.

“Hmm, you don’t look too upset.”

She shrugged. “I’m not. What I am though is tired. Can you tell everyone that I’m sorry about tonight and tell them that I’ll see

them tomorrow?”

Grandma looked reluctant to let her go, but in the end she nodded. “Okay, goodnight, Madison. Make sure you get enough

sleep.”

“I will.” And all of her answers.

Chapter 7

“Good,” he mumbled as he stepped away from her door. Her light snores were even. For the last four hours he drove around

waiting for her to get tired and go to sleep. He knew she would try and wait up for him. Sure enough for the first two hours

when he drove by the house he spotted their small hallway light on. She was waiting.

She wanted answers. Answers she thought he owed her. He didn’t owe anyone anything. As far as he was concerned he did her

a favor tonight and that was the end of it. She could ask as many questions as she wanted. He wasn't going to budge. This was

none of her business.

He only hoped that she didn’t get obsessed with him and start sprouting tales about him drinking the blood of babies or

anything. He would hate to see her locked up in some mental hospital.

It had been a long night and he was tired. He stripped out of his clothes and headed for the bathroom. Even after all these years

he couldn’t go to bed without washing first. The feel of that grime still haunted him. The few times he tried to go to bed or go to

work in the morning without taking a shower first were mistakes. He spent all night itching from the imaginary grime and all

day bitching and snapping at people.

The only good thing about taking a shower at two in the morning was the hot water. There was plenty of it. He stood beneath

the showerhead, savoring the feeling of scalding hot water running down his scalp and back.

A small click was the only clue he got that his night was not over with yet. Great. He sighed and shut the water off. “You’re

never going to give up, are you?”

“No,” she said in an offhanded tone.

“Are you going to hand me a towel?”

“No.”