The Vampire (THE VAMPIRE Book 1) (12 page)

Mysterious things happened in that library.

Jason had had to acquire the habit of standing still in the doorway for several minutes or more, letting his gaze travel the room, always several times at least, before he entered.

If he did not immediately see Augere, he would slowly and deliberately scan the room again. A casual glance was never sufficient. For, at first, he had only ever taken cursory glances around and had believed himself to be alone there. Then he would be startled moments later, to find that Augere was there also. And not as if he had just suddenly appeared. He would be right there: beside the fireplace, nestled in one of the cozy chairs, reading. Or settled in one of the corners, at a small writing table, making an entry in a leather journal, with several pens and ink wells in evidence. One moment he was not present, and the very next moment he was. He could not have quietly slipped into the room, not with Jason still standing in the doorway. And Jason would have noticed movement if he had been hiding somewhere in the room. This strange event had already occurred several times, much to Jason’s embarrassment and chagrin. He could not just casually accept it. It was as if Augere could appear so completely still…as if he were not even breathing…as if he could be right there and yet Jason would somehow fail to notice him, even as his eyes would have passed over that same spot just a moment ago. It began to seem to Jason that unless he was intently and purposely focused on seeing Augere, it was truly as if he was not there.

At first it was just unsettling. It gave Augere an otherworldliness; an ethereal, transient quality as if he had no real substance at times; a seemingly solid form, vividly present one moment, but which might shimmer and disappear completely the next. Impossible, of course.

Jason was not quick to suggest something supernatural. But it did unnerve him. With his experiences in the paranormal realm, investigating all manner of unusual phenomena, he had always sought out rational explanations first for things he could not explain. In this situation, he tended to blame his own perceptions.

But he could not explain how he was unable to even sense Augere’s presence. That to him was the mystery.

In college, he had participated in psychology experiments involving sense and perception. He had sat in a room he knew to be empty, and he had then been blindfolded and fitted with ear plugs. He had been able to sense, accurately, when someone had quietly entered and then left a room. He had been able to pinpoint and confirm their approximate location in the room and their proximity to him. Other students had been able to duplicate this feat as well. Merely normal human responses at work.

There had been other experiments—and actual reported experiences of people—who had been sound asleep and had awakened suddenly after somehow sensing the presence of someone else in their room, near their bed—and then had confirmed the actual presence of such, having somehow “perceived it” while still sound asleep.

There had been other experiments too: Jason learned humans have a keen sense of being stared at; the ability to perceive the attention of another person focused on them even from a distance and even though not readily observed. It appeared to be a kind of defense, an ingrained warning of possible danger. He had taken part in these kinds of tests also.

So it disturbed him now that he wasn’t able to detect Augere’s presence with all of his senses engaged, and when he was actively looking for him, when in the past he had been able to sense the presence of others with two of his senses impaired. What was going on?

He began to wonder if maybe he needed a physical exam. He tried to pinpoint when these symptoms had first begun to appear. He could recall what might have been perceptual disturbances since that day at the Maspero when he had first encountered Augere, but he quickly dismissed that.

Now Jason was skeptical. Before seeking medical advice, he decided to contact one of his former professors in the psychology department at Boston University. He asked if there was any chance he could volunteer for any sensory experiments during the current summer school session, to test some theories he was working on. He received the name of a contact who was able to get him access to the kind of thing he was looking for.

The result, after once again participating in similar experiments, was that Jason was convinced—but not relieved—to learn his senses were working as well as ever.

What made it all the more strange was that, on the occasions when Jason did not immediately notice Augere, but then did so after a short while, he caught the faintest hint of a smile from Augere when he was finally observed. Jason had to think this was only his imagination, however. He didn’t believe Augere could have had any awareness of what Jason was, or presently was not, perceiving correctly. And Jason was not about to share with Augere something that was so odd, so puzzling and embarrassing to him.

Being on his old college campus at B.U. again had an energizing effect on Jason. The classroom setting and the experiments had engaged him with others in a good way.

“I really am alone too much,” he realized. ” I’ve become too obsessed with Augere. Still, I would rather have limited but quality contact with him, even sporadically, than daily contact with strangers, who would certainly mean a lot less to me.”

The mystery surrounding Augere was causing Jason to focus even more on him. Every time there was an encounter Jason knew he was staring too intently, that the attention he paid was too direct and purposeful, almost to the point of being rudely so. But he really couldn’t help it. He had become so absorbed that at times he even risked embarrassing himself. He tried to appear casual and to discreetly observe Augere whenever he could but that didn’t always work out well.

Augere wore many different wrist bands, bracelets, and cuffs; many of them were black, silver, or some combination of those. A few had various small dangling adornments, which to Jason looked particularly gothic. He thought he spotted some Celtic symbols; Egyptian ones; some that looked like keys, bats, skulls; maybe a fleur de lis. He wanted to get a closer look at these. He couldn’t just ask; that felt too weird. But he liked the look of these and hoped to be able to find some of them for himself.

One day he had an opportunity to see some of these again and he was staring intently at Augere’s wrists as he sat as his desk reading a French magazine.

When Augere bent to pick up a fountain pen that had rolled to the floor he straightened up and found Jason leaning over the desk trying to get a closer look at his left hand, specifically his wrist, as it rested on the desk.

It was bad enough that Jason was caught mere inches from Augere’s face, but then he had a sudden episode of weakness and dizziness, as if he might pass out. It felt as if all of his energy was suddenly drained out of him and he half lowered himself, half dropped involuntarily back into his chair on the other side of the desk.

He wasn’t looking at Augere now—but he was aware Augere was standing and quietly watching him. He was quite certain of this but he wouldn’t allow himself to meet Augere’s gaze. The dizziness seemed to pass just as quickly as it had come. And then Jason realized that it would have been to his advantage if he had just passed out, because he had no explanation to offer Augere for this bizarre incident. Well, none he could share anyway. He had to excuse himself then and leave the library. Augere made no comment. Jason was glad he had not witnessed Augere’s facial expression.

Once alone in his quarters, Jason perseverated about what had just happened. His obsessive ruminating took over: his own perceptions…the embarrassment of the whole experience…and of course what Augere wore…

“Okay. That’s it,” he told himself.
I need other diversions besides him. I cannot be this obsessed and keep focusing on him like this. It is just not healthy and it is going to cause problems. I need to do something about this
.

His visit to his old campus again had stirred up possibilities. Why not take some courses? He had always wanted to continue his studies. But he had never been able to find the time or the extra money to do so; if it wasn’t somehow work or career related, he could never justify the expense or take the time for more classes. Now he had both time and money. So why not study whatever he wanted?

The main obstacle was his job. He didn’t feel like he could just ask Augere if he could have off time to take college courses. His first obligation was to his employer. But—if he could find some early morning classes—if he could be back home by 11:00, especially on Thursdays. He could always switch his gym days around; he would have his phone with him at school, and he could leave class if he had to. It was certainly doable. Augere would not even have to know.

His first choice of study would be anything involving parapsychology. He had no luck there upon looking into it. He did find some local paranormal investigating groups, however, and he could probably hook up with one of them, thinking that might be worthwhile.

There was an early morning summer session cinema studies class. He would have to register for it immediately though. It started right after the 4th of July. On impulse he signed up online. And he felt good about it. It seemed to be just what he needed.

The next morning he awoke craving a spinach and cheese croissant. He knew just where to find one in the neighborhood. By the time he had showered and dressed he had made the decision to linger at his favorite patisserie for a while having coffee and juice while he read the morning Globe.

He sat near one of the large windows which overlooked passersby on the street, sipping a second cup of coffee, now sated from the delicious breakfast croissant.

An attractive woman, late forties possibly, looking somewhat high maintenance with her tousled Italian haircut, French manicure, Prada scarf and expensive looking caramel colored leather handbag, Coach maybe, approached his table with a mug of steaming coffee in her hand. Jason glanced up with casual interest. He thought her overall style—the jewelry and the expensive looking fabric of her outfit—suggested a strong European influence.

She was smiling at Jason as if she knew him. He had never seen her before.

“I just love what you guys have done to the place!”

She focused on him as she tossed back an errant reddish gold curl with her free hand. As she took a sip of her coffee Jason noted she was fashionably slim, with a warm smile and azure eyes. She had what Jason called a “cultured Boston accent,” but there was some European accented influence present there also, which didn’t surprise him. Her comment did surprise him, however.

“Pardon?” he asked politely.

“Beacon Street? I’m your neighbor. I live in the high rise condos off to the left side of your building.” She extended her free hand. “I’m Seraphine Westenra.”

Jason shook her hand, still feeling somewhat confused. “I’m Jason.” he said. Then added “Sterling,” a little uncertainly. How is it that she knew him?

“I’m not one to come knocking on your door, but I thought since I recognized you I should come over and say hello. Especially since I can see most of your back patio from our high balcony. So if either of you guys are ever thinking of getting naked out there—you go right ahead.” She laughed.

Jason blushed and took a sip of his coffee. She had a very pleasant laugh. An engaging manner. He wasn’t at all offended at her approach or her comment; just taken off guard a little.

“I was so surprised when I saw the results. It is just beautiful.”

“You mean—the courtyard—patio— the landscaping?” he asked.

“Well, yes, that too. It looks just fabulous. I mean the whole outside though, the new facade of the building. It wasn’t exactly an eyesore before, but now it looks so elegant! I had heard the building had sold quickly; that didn’t surprise me. And then my husband and I left to go to Europe for a few weeks—we’re both artists—and when we left the renovations had just started. And then on the way home I stopped in Canada to visit my sister for a while, so I was gone even longer. And when I got back I didn’t even recognize the place. How long have you two been together, may I ask?”

“Uh…not too long…but—”

“I’ve seen your companion a few times; right when the work started and then of course, more recently. He is just beautiful.” She gave Jason a wink. “And now I see you up close and see just how good looking you are too—you remind me of someone famous, by the way.” She studied him for a moment, and then frowned slightly, failing to make a connection with Jason’s famous double. “Well, anyway—what a gorgeous couple you are!”

“Uh, well—we—”

“I’d love to have you both over for cocktails sometime.” She reached into the leather handbag slung over her shoulder and withdrew a business card. “Here is my info,” she said, handing it to him. “My husband and I are connected to many of the arts and the venues in town. We are always getting free tickets to different things, and we can’t get to use even half of them; we don’t mind sharing the wealth. So call if you ever need anything—and don’t worry—I’m not hinting for an invite—I’m not at all the clingy neighbor type. I just have an appreciation for really good looking guys.” She gave him a charming smile. “A pleasure to finally meet you, Jason.”

“Same here.” He nodded as he put her card into his jeans pocket. “And thank you.”

She seemed nice enough, though he was a little bewildered as to what she was talking about.

She turned to leave the patisserie and fluttered her hand in a little wave to him as she passed by his window outside.

After a few moments, he asked himself,
And why do people assume I’m gay?…not that there is anything wrong with that
. He laughed out loud as he shook his head and then drank the last of his coffee.

Chapter 6

July

Jason started the Cinema Studies class the second week of July. The class met three days a week, and by the end of the first week it had already delightfully exceeded his expectations. He was learning something new in each class and connecting with others who shared his passion for movies. The conversations and discussions were lively and always insightful. It may not have been the one interaction he wanted most, but it satisfied some of his interests.