PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (25 page)

“What is it you want to know?”

“You’re going to answer my questions?” he sounded surprised.

“In exchange that you keep what I tell you between the three of us.”

“I will. I promise!”

“Okay then, ask away.” He laid back and tried to get comfortable.

“Okay, um how old are you?”

“Two-hundred and six years old.”

Chris’s eyes shot up. “Little old to be dating a twenty-four year old wouldn’t you say?”

“Chris.” That one word held a world of warning.

Chris put his hands in surrender. “Relax big guy, I’m just saying.”

“Say something else quickly if you want answers.”

“Hmm, where were you born?”

“London.”

“You don’t have an accent.”

“I lost it seventy-five years ago. Next.”

“How did this happen to you?”

“You mean how did I become a Pyte?”

“Yes.”

“My father was a vampire and my mother was a human. Somehow she became pregnant with me. I think he feared for her

giving birth to me so the last month of the pregnancy he did a blood exchange with her. It worked. She lived and I lived.”

“Did you come out with fangs?”

“No!” he said, chuckling. “I was a normal boy, well a little weak and I didn’t age properly. Until I was your age I looked like a

small boy.”

“Really? What changed?”

“I went into a coma.”

“For how long?”

“A month. Then I woke up looking exactly as I do today.” He looked at the handcuffs and smiled wryly. “Actually I woke very

much in the same situation. I was chained to the bed after biting a maid.”

“So, I’m guessing you can’t die.”

“No.”

‘That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“Why you shot yourself. You knew you weren’t going to die so you did it. Didn’t hurt you much, did it?” He guessed.

“Chris, it hurt very much I can tell you that. I felt every single movement of that bullet as it broke through my skin, my breast

bone, my heart and then when it stopped in my spine. If I had been a human there would have been an instant death. That pain

wouldn’t have been felt. Trust me when I tell you that I do not want to repeat that particular event again.”

“But you passed out!”

“No, Chris, I didn’t. My eyes may have closed my body might have gone limp, but I was not entirely out of it. I couldn’t focus

on anything going on around me. I was in the beginning stages of bloodlust when I realized I was hurting her. If I hadn’t reacted

when I did, when I had some semblance of control, I would have been lost and Madison would have died.”

“The blood lust keeps me from thinking straight. If I’m deep in bloodlust the only thing that will stop me is blood or violence.

When the bullet shot through me my body appeared to be shut down but my mind was kept in a haze. I was aware of all the pain

and the scent and taste of Madison’s blood. Time and blood were the only things that kept me from waking up still in bloodlust.

If I had I would be right now tearing through the house in search of her.”

He sat down on the edge of the bed, taking in what Ephraim was telling him. “Did you know it was going to hurt like that?”

“Yes.”

“But you still did it.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“I mean why did you purposely put yourself through that much pain if you knew how badly it was going to hurt?”

“Because I was hurting Madison.”

“Why didn’t you just let go? I know she said her blood was your weakness and all, but if you knew you were hurting her you

could have let go.”

“Not with bloodlust I couldn’t. I wasn’t in control.”

“But you were able to shoot yourself.”

“I had to while I still had that little amount of control on my arm.”

Chris looked at the bedroom door. “What happened to those others things? They were vampires, right?”

“Yes, they were after my blood. I’m what you would call a day walker. Living forever is a plus too I suppose. They wanted my

blood and it killed them.”

“So, that’s why you let them do it.”

“Not so much as let them do it. They trapped me.”

“You mean when you kissed that skank.”

Ephraim sighed, “I didn’t kiss anyone.”

“Are you sure? It sure looked like that to me.”

“Does she think I kissed her?”

Chris stood up and paced the room. “Don’t know. She wouldn't tell me what she thinks happened.”

“That would explain the handcuffs I suppose.”

“You think she plans on keeping you there until you talk?”

He sighed, “Yes. I still owe her two hours of answers.”

“She has two full hours of questions?”

“Well, probably not anymore.” He looked thoughtful.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because she’s been standing outside the door for the past ten minutes.”

“Is that why you answered my questions because you knew she was listening?”

He nodded. “That and you had a right to know if you’re going to keep my secret.”

Madison stepped into the room. “What gave me away?”

Ephraim raised an eyebrow. “I heard and smelled you.”

“Hey, where’s my cake?”

“It’s in your room. Go eat up and take a shower. You have school in the morning.”

“I have to go?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it.”

“Goodnight, Chris,” Ephraim said.

“That cake better be worth it.” He closed and locked the door on his way out.

Ephraim gave her a lopsided grin and tried to look innocent. “Happy Birthday, baby.”

“Don’t try sweetening me up. Why didn’t you tell me that vampires were after you?”

“Well, in all fairness you never asked your questions. I can’t very well be in trouble for something you didn’t ask.”

She pressed her hands to her forehead. “You know what, it’s been a very long day, a very scary long day. If you’re going to

joke around let me know now so that I can go to bed. I just want this day to end.”

“I’m really sorry, baby. I did try. I was trying to surprise you with a nice dinner and cake with your friends. I had to stop off to

get your gift. I didn’t know she was there until it was too late.”

“What was she to you?” she asked softly. She was afraid she wasn’t going to like the answer.

“Nothing. No one. She was the servant of a Master.”

“So, you never slept with her?” She met his eyes. They were a bright blue.

“Is that what this is about? Why you have me chained? I did not kiss her. She kissed me quickly before I could push her away.

She did it to pin me to the car so the others could grab me.” He frowned. “I take it they're all dead.”

“I don’t know. We didn’t stick around to check. You know you just avoided answering that question.”

“What question is that?” he snapped. “This is getting a little old, Madison. Just ask the fucking question and get it over with.”

She pulled back a sob. “No need. I think I just got my answer.” She turned her back on him. “Goodbye, Ephraim.”

“Goodbye?”

“Yes, goodbye.”

“Look at me!” he snapped.

Madison slowly turned around and gasped. His eyes were red, his fangs were down, but that wasn’t the problem. He was free.

Somehow he escaped the handcuffs without making a sound.

He climbed off the bed and stalked forward. “Do you think this is a game for me? Do you think I enjoy playing these fucking

games of yours?”

She set her jaw stubbornly. “I’m not playing any games.”

“Aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not.” She refused to take a step back. She held her ground firmly. He stopped a foot away. Every muscle in his body

was flexing.

“You’ve been playing me since the first time that you realized that I wanted you.”

“How?” she demanded.

“You keep yourself distant from me and you look for every little reason to fight.”

“I do not!”

“Oh no?” His eyebrows arched. “You’re mad at me because I paid off your debt so that you wouldn’t have to struggle for the

rest of your life to fix your credit or scrape to get by.”

“I was doing just fine without your help.”

“Bullshit, I know the amount of debt you were facing.”

Through clenched teeth she spoke evenly. “I was doing fine. I didn’t need your help!”

“Oh no? I know you lied to your grandmother about using your savings against your student loan. If that was true they wouldn’t

have been threatening to take you to court for nonpayment. Four months Madison, four months you missed payments. You have

the same problem with the insurance company. They stopped your auto insurance four months ago. They just forgot to tell the

police that or I guarantee someone in my department would have come for your plates.”

She looked away. “This is none of your business, Ephraim.”

“The Jeep is the only thing you own outright. What happened to all that money, Madison? You had over twenty grand saved up.

The Jeep cost fifteen so what happened to all that money four months ago? Whatever it is you haven’t gotten out of trouble yet,

because you fell behind on all of your bills. You don’t spend any money on yourself. You don’t put money in the bank. Hell,

you never seem to have enough money to put gas in your car. Tell me where the money is going?”

He leaned forward. “Tell me.”

“No.”

“You’re sending twelve hundred dollars a month to an online account.”

She gasped.

“Yeah, I know about that. Who does it belong to?”

“That's none of your business!”

He pulled back, smiling. His eyes were hard as stone. “Really? Not my business? Then you can explain how you plan on taking

care of a sixteen year old boy on the meager two hundred dollars that you have left over after you send away the twelve

hundred dollars?”

“Shut up!”

“Is Chris going to have to continue getting his food in the same manner after all?”

“What are you talking about?”

He crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Oh, you don’t know? Here I thought you knew everything. Chris’s mother doesn’t

give a fuck about him. She won’t send a cent to help him out.”

“She gets food stamps and has a job at a bar,” she said, even though she wasn't counting on any help from her.

“Yes, she does. One would think she would use those stamps to buy the boy some food.”

“She doesn’t?”

“She trades them for money. For a lot less than they’re worth. Whatever she doesn’t spend on herself she spends on those

losers she drags into her bed.”

“He looks healthy. I know he’s eating.”

He shrugged. “He waits until dear old mommy is on her back keeping the men busy while he lifts their wallets. She takes a cut

of course and I've been dropping food off on their front steps when only he’s home for the past three years. He thinks the church

has been leaving it.”

“I-I didn’t know.” She backed up now. He stalked forward.

“Tell me something, Madison, since you’re intent on pushing me out of the picture, are you planning on fucking for your cut as

well? Might come in handy.”

She slapped him, hard. “I hate you.”

His tongue darted out to lick up the blood on his lip. “You didn’t answer me. How are you going to take care of a sixteen year

old boy when you can’t even take care of yourself?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I talked to Grandma tonight she’s going to give me some hours here.”

“Scrubbing toilets? Yes, that’s perfect for someone with a college degree and a full time job.”

“Candy offered to help me, too.”

“How?”

“She’s going to see if she can get me a position waiting tables.”

Ephraim didn’t dare move a muscle for fear that he would put his fist through something. In a deceivingly calm voice he asked,

“Oh, and what percentage of your tips does she want if you get the job?”

“Twenty-five percent,” she muttered.

“Wow, you have a great mother, Madison. First she overlooks you to fuck everything with a dick and then she leaves you to

raise her two kids. Now she’s willing to have you strip so she can make a profit. I can see now why you keep your legs closed,

she’d probably sell the grandkids on the black market the first chance she gets.”

When he expected another slap she scoffed, “I don’t think we have to worry about that when it comes to you.”

He suddenly turned his back on her. “Go away, little girl. I’m sick of these games and I’m done with you.”

She didn’t move as Ephraim viciously yanked on a black tee shirt and jeans. He sat on a chair, pulling on socks and shoes.

“What are you still doing here? I told you to leave.”

“Where are you going?”

“You don’t get to ask that question anymore.” He grabbed his wallet, keys and left her standing there feeling like her world just

ended.

Chapter 16

“I told you already that I’ll pay you tomorrow. It’s just been hectic at work. They screwed up on the checks, but I’ll have it by

tomorrow,” Jason, the man who moved in over a month ago, promised yet again from the hallway.

Everyone in the dining room pretended they couldn’t hear Mrs. Buckman in the hallway practically begging for the rent.

“She’s going to have to raise the rent,” Mrs. Adle said. “I heard her talking on the phone to someone from the bank last week.

She’s thinking of getting a mortgage.”

Madison dropped her fork. Great, just one more thing to worry about. Her grandmother was under too much financial pressure

as it was and they were adding more. She should be paying her way and for the kids. Her eyes shot to Candy.
She
definitely

should be paying for Jill and Joshua and her own way. Guilt twitched in her gut as she looked at Chris. One more mouth she

added to the already straining mix.

His cheeks flushed as if he knew what she was thinking. “Madison, do you think you can get the school to give me a work