Rock n Roll Promises (YAE) (Rock n Roll Paraphantasy Series) (8 page)

“But you did that because you were mad, not
because you craved blood, and you could have
succeeded. In fact, I wasn’t so sure you weren’t
going to, that’s why I kissed you, to throw you off.

She smiled inwardly at the thought of having
scared him. Her tiny victory only lasted a moment
before reality reached up and slapped her. “What
happens now?”

“Well, when you are done with your bath, we
will work on finding out what you crave. You can’t
leave this house until we know that. I don’t want
you attacking people any more than you do.”

“But obviously I don’t crave blood, so people
should be safe from me.”

 

“Maybe...maybe not. It’s best just to find out
first.”

“Since you owe me—how about you start your
payback by fixing me something to eat? I’m
starving.”

“Whatever you want. If I don’t have it, I will
order it.”

 

“No, Sebastian. I want you to cook it yourself. If
you don’t have it, go buy the stuff and make it.”

 

“Fine, name it.”

Let’s see what is the most unlikely thing he is
going to have? Food, duh! He’s a vampire, so he
won’t have any food. I’m not going to make this
easy on him.

“I want a T-bone steak and eggs. I want the Tbone cooked medium and the eggs over easy with a
large glass of milk chased with a side of that French
Vanilla coffee.”

“Done! I have all of that in the kitchen.”

 

Her mouth gaped open. “What? You have all of
that in the kitchen?”

 

She couldn’t help but laugh when his laughter
danced around the room.

“Yes, I have all of that in my kitchen. I have to
keep up appearances, don’t I? I do have friends who
aren’t vampires and they don’t know I am one. You
can get away with a lot in low light situations. Is
that what you really want or is that just what you
though I wouldn’t have?”

“Now that I mentioned it, it does sound good.”
“Great. You finish your bath, and I will cook
breakfast.”

She tried not to smile, but he made it very hard.
Does he have to be so dang charming and look so
dang cute?

He jumped from the toilet and rubbed his hands
together, smiling the entire time and chuckled on his
way out the door. Shaking her head once, she
washed herself and got out.

Nice and clean. A relaxing hot bath always
makes me feel better.
Water pooled around her feet as she dried off.
Steam drifted off her red, blotchy skin as she ran the
soft, fluffy, and fresh from the dryer, cotton fabric
along her body. She dropped the towel on the floor
and dried her feet. After she wrapped her hair in a
towel, she looked at the clothes he had brought her.
Not bad. Hip hugger denim and an orange silk
top. Oh, look, he even brought me a pair of white
socks and underwear.
She stared at the small, lace panties.
These are cute and sexy, wonder where he
bought these. Hope he doesn’t think he is ever going
to see me in them.
There was a loud knock at the door. She jumped
and dropped the panties as if they burned her hands.

“One minute.”

 

“Breakfast is almost done, Sebastian sent me to
check on you.”

 

Jack is still here. What is his part in all this? I
would have thought he had left by now.

 

“I’m just finishing getting dressed. I will be out
in a few minutes.”

 

“OK.”

 

“Wait, Jack. Can you stay right there for a
moment?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Thank you. I won’t be long.”
“Take your time.”

She hurriedly slipped on her clothes, towel dried
her hair and opened the door.
He is mighty cute! Dark, scruffy hair, dark eyes,
a charming smile, and the rest of him isn’t bad
either in that solid white T-shirt, denim jeans, and
boots.

Clearing her mind of steamy thoughts, she shook
her head and cleared her throat. “Jack, what part do
you play in all this? I mean why are you here? Are
you a vampire, too?”

“No, I’m not a vampire. I’m completely
different. I’m here because Sebastian called me. We
have known each other a long time and we’re good
friends.”

“Oh, OK. The food smells good. Is he a good
cook?”
“An excellent one.”

“Great.” Her sock covered feet made little noises
on the wood floor as she walked to the kitchen.
Sliding the bar stool out, she sat down and watched
Sebastian. With his back to her, he piled food on
three plates.

Three plates? Jack must be staying. Wait a
minute, why would Sebastian fix himself a plate?
“
Sebastian?”
“Yes, I eat human food, too. I assume that is
what you were going to ask?”

“Close enough to it. I am confused, though. I
thought you craved blood and sex…I thought
vampires couldn’t eat human food.”

“Most can and do.”

The smell of the hot food wafted into her face as
he turned and placed the platter in front of her. It
indeed looked as good as it smelled. Set before her
was a hot, juicy steak with blackened grill marks
and two fried eggs. A tall glass of cold milk and a
steaming hot cup of coffee, added a few seconds
later. Her mouth watered, it looked and smelled so
good. Something seemed to be missing.

“Do vampires eat with their hands?”

 

“I’m working on it.”

She tried not to laugh as she tested his patience.
He opened a small drawer and grabbed three forks
and a couple of knives. As he moved back, he held a
fork and knife out to her.
“Is this what you are after?”

She snatched the silverware out of his hands.
“Yes, thank you. Can we listen to some music, too?
Music keeps things from being boring.”

“No problem. I will go turn it on for you.”

“Oh Sebastian, I think you have your hands full.
I do believe this one is going to challenge you at
every turn. I also think it serves you right.”

Smiling, she turned to Jack and gave him a wink.

“Benny and the Jetts” by Elton John
filled the air
and helped to relieve some of the tension in the
room. She dug in, her silverware scraped across the
ceramic dish and she didn’t seem the least bit
surprised at how fast she ate.

Three days…I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks.

Her plate empty and her stomach full, she pushed
the plate away.
I have to admit, it was great. Jack was right, he
is a good cook.
Spinning in her seat, she turned and walked to
the living room to sit on the couch. With her eyes
closed, she listened to the sweet wailings of the
guitar in “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd
Skynyrd. To add to her annoyance, Sebastian’s
voice rang from behind her.
What now? I just ate. Can’t he let my food settle
first?
“Is there anything else you want?”

“Yes.” She popped her head over the couch. “For
you to leave me alone. Isn’t it enough you stole my
life and possibly my sanity? Must you steal my
patience, too?”

“I told you I’m sorry for that, but you have to
deal with this, Anna. It isn’t going away.”
She sprang from the couch and stalked him
around the living room. Hands waving and voice
high, she let him have it.

“Fine! Is this what you want, for me to deal with
it? How about this? I hope you rot in Hell for what
you have done to me. I have no freaking idea what
it is I am going to do now. I can’t ever go back to
my home, my friends, my family, or my life. All
thanks to you and your uncontrollable urges, as if
that is an excuse!” Inches from his face, she poked
her finger in his chest. The more she talked, the
louder she got. Her body trembled with rage and her
heart pounded with hate.

“I may forgive you one day for this, but I will
never forget, and I shall hate you forever. As long as
you pull air through those dead lungs of yours, I
will not make anything easy for you. You took it
upon yourself to screw with my life, now I will
screw with yours, and you will sit back and take all
I dish out, because you owe me for a lifetime. A
lifetime full of happiness, family, friends and
memories I will never have. A life I dreamed of, not
this nightmare you pulled me into.”

Her chest heaved with raw emotion as it coursed
through and caused her body to ache. She glared
into his eyes and dared him to snap back. He had it
coming and deserved every bit of venom she spit
out. She would not apologize for her hateful tone.
She eyed his face and his body language, waiting
for a response. His face wore a look of agony and
he reached out for her with his arms.

“Don’t you dare touch me!” She grabbed his
hands, spun him around and slammed his face into
the door. She found herself engulfed in a bear hug
as someone dragged her away. Her clawed hands
tore at her captor and her legs kicked wildly as she
tried to get loose.

“Let go of me, Jack.”

 

“Not until you calm down.”

She stopped kicking and scratching. Her anger
still boiling over, she took several deep breaths and
tried to calm herself. She felt his breath against her
back and heard his pulse thump in his neck. She
focused on its steady rhythm. Her arms were pinned
to her sides as he wrapped his arms around her. She
closed her eyes and searched for the calm within.
Slowly, her anger cooled and sank beneath the
surface. When she opened her eyes, she was semisatisfied to see Sebastian stood against the
doorframe looking miserable. Jack interrupted her
dark thoughts.

“Sebastian, why don’t you run that errand we
discussed earlier and let me try and talk to her?”

She kept silent but glared at him. He glanced at
Jack, then to her, and he stormed out of the
apartment. A cool breeze gently brushed across her
skin, when he moved away.

Good riddance!
She stomped to the couch and
dropped herself onto it. With her body curled into a
tight ball and her anger gone, she had one emotion
left: Sadness. She let it fall freely from her eyes.
Lost in her fit, she vaguely noticed his hands on her
shoulder pulling her into him. Her arms wound
around his neck and she brought her knees to her
chest as she cried into his. She felt him rock her
gently and his soft words tickled her ear.

“It will be OK.”

 

“How is it ever going to be OK?”

 

“You will see. We have a theory about you.
Would you like to hear it?”

She leaned away and looked at him. “What
theory?”
“As to why you are so different.”

“Can’t be any worse than what I have heard so
far,” she said, wiping the tears from her face.
“I think it will help you to feel better.”

 

“OK, so tell me.”

“Keep in mind it is just a theory. We both have
been monitoring you since he bit you and well, you
don’t act anything like a vampire. At the same time,
we watched you heal, and we witnessed your speed
and accuracy…and of course, the fangs.”

She couldn’t help but rub her front teeth when he
mentioned the fangs.

 

“I gathered all that, but why? I know I am a
vampire. Sebastian proved that with his little tests.”

 

“He was very serious when he said it was an
accident—”

 

“That doesn’t change the fact he did.”
“No, it doesn’t, but I am trying to explain.”

 

“Fine, sorry. Go on.”

“In his heart, he didn’t want to change you. I
believe him when he told me he fought very hard to
retain control. He didn’t know how you would feel
about this life. He is very selective about who he
changes and always challenges their reasons. We
think because of his inner struggle, you were able to
keep almost all of your human traits. It is the best
gift he could have given you. I know you hate him
for what he has done, but not nearly as much as he
hates himself.”

“So you think I should cut him some slack?” She
fidgeted with her shirt.

“Yes, I do. As much as he deserves all your fury,
this is the best of worst-case scenarios. Look at it
this way, you can still mingle with humans, but
have all the good aspects of a vampire. You will be
fast. You will heal. You are very strong and you
won’t age as quickly. That, too, is a guess.”

“What do you mean?”

“As you know, it is true vampires don’t age. So
based on the fact that you heal slowly, as opposed to
instantaneously, we assume you will age, but very
slowly.”

“Well, I guess that is a good thing and a bad
thing. I have to say I like the strength thing. I have
never really been strong.”

“Speaking of strong, you do realize both times
you attacked Sebastian today, he let you? He is over
two hundred years old. He’s learned a thing or two.”

“To be honest, I didn’t really think about it. I just
acted.”

“There is a lot you need to learn. As I said, it will
be OK. You will adjust to this life and be able to
blend in and have a semi normal life.”

“Thank you, Jack.” She stared at him, caught in
his chocolate mousse eyes. They held wonder and
compassion. She felt herself lean forward and kiss
him. She pulled away quickly and covered her
mouth as she scooted to the end of the couch.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what has come over
me.”
“It is OK. Perhaps that is your vampire craving.
If it is, I will warn you, it is not safe to reject it.”

“I don’t think it is. I think it is a human thing. I
was upset and you were comforting me…your face
was so close…I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize.”

She fell into him when he pulled her close. Her
head on his shoulder and her eyes closed, she
listened to the music rock in the background. She
blocked everything out and let the tunes fill her
mind, body, and soul. It was invigorating. Her mind
felt dizzy and her body seemed light as air. It mixed
with her inner calm. She could feel it vibrate her
skin and meld into her bones. Lost in the rocking
sounds of Bad Company, she never heard the front
door open and close.

“Anna!”

She jumped and opened her eyes in shock. There
in front of her stood her best friend. Tall and lean
with bright blue eyes and hair the color of hay, she
looked just as flabbergasted.