Vampire Lane (6 page)

“I went out with some friends from work.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

They walked inside together, and Maureen took off her robe. She had on a tank top and shorts underneath. “Where would you like to feed?”

“In my room; I’m exhausted.”

“I will make you a drink and be upstairs,” Maureen said.

Natasha climbed the stairs. She didn’t realize how tired she was until she walked to her room. She immediately striped off her clothes and put on her favorite silk nightgown. She pulled back the covers, pulled out her e-reader, and tapped on the book she had started reading. Maureen walked into the room carrying a drink of some kind, and had put her hair up for easy access.

“Do you like the neck?”

“Yes, that would be fine.”

Maureen sat on the bed and waited. Natasha leaned over. She could smell the blood flowing sweetly though her veins. She licked the area and her fangs descended and ached with hunger. She sank her fangs into the flesh and started swallowing. Natasha had been on a bagged blood diet for so long, it was nice feeding live again. It was like comfort food for a vampire, so warm and sweet with a slight copper taste. Maureen moaned with pleasure as she drank. She continued until she knew she had to stop, and licked her lips then the wound. It quickly sealed up since vampire saliva had healing powers.

Maureen pulled up her robe and smoothed back her hair. “Did you have enough?”

“I haven’t fed live in quite a while. I need to take it easy. I will have a synthetic if I get hungry before my next feeding. I want to thank you. I always hated feeding live, but you make it very easy and enjoyable.”

“Natasha, I know I moved in and we became friends quite fast, but I just want you to know you can trust me. I am your companion and will do what you ask.”

Natasha didn’t like the way that sounded. She wanted to help Maureen become more independent and not make her a vampire minion. As soon as Maureen left, Natasha’s phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and picked up.

“Hello?”

“Natasha, this is Tanek. Are you free to talk?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I want to remind you, I will be at your house before sunset for our walk."

Natasha groaned over the phone. She really did not want to go on that walk. She liked being around Tanek, she just liked it better at night, with the sun safely tucked under the horizon. "Maureen should be able to let you in. Remind me again why I need the Vamp 101 training?”

“Your sire was a traditionalist, and I need to fix the damage he has done. I think it is commendable you have retained your humanity the way you did. Make sure your companion is awake to let me in.”

“Good night, Tanek. Dream of me.”

“I certainly hope so.”

Natasha hung up the phone, and wondered how her life got so complicated. She heard the floor creak and saw Maureen peeking through the crack in the door.

“Come in, Maureen. Stop creeping in the hallway.”

“I’m sorry, Tasha.”

Natasha wasn’t upset; she was happy that Maureen was so attached to her, but she wondered if that was an indication that something was broken with her, too.

Maureen entered and smiled nervously. “I was wondering if I could sleep with you again. My rooms seems so cold and lonely.”

“Come on; I prefer to sleep with someone, too. It’ll be like a slumber party. Oh, before I forget you need to be awake before sunset to let Tanek in for our walk. Can you do that?”

“That’s no problem. Should I plan a meal for after the walk?”

“That would be nice. I will be starving for food by then.”

Natasha lifted the covers and Maureen crawled in. She felt cold against her body, but she didn’t mind.

“Tasha, can I ask a question?” Natasha was falling asleep but nodded her head. “I know you like Tanek, but I wanted to know if you ever sleep with women?”

The question seemed easy enough to answer, but it brought back images of having to have sex with women against her will. She hated Godfryd for making her do those things. On her own, she might have indulged and experimented, but being forced to do something like that had ruined that possibility forever. “I’m sorry, Maureen, I don’t feel that way about other women. Are you asking for yourself?”

“I was hoping we could become lovers. It’s not a big deal. I like you and wanted to become closer."

Natasha sat up and took in Maureen’s hopeful, youthful look. "I am closer to you than I have ever been to another human since being turned. You are my best friend, as sad as that is. I'm sorry this will not ever turn sexual, but I care for you like a sister.”

Maureen started crying, and Natasha felt her heart break. She didn't want to hurt her. Maureen hugged Natasha and laughed. Now she was really confused.

"I never had a best friend, Tasha. This is way better than just being lovers."

Natasha was relieved. She snuggled back into the bed and under her blankets. Maureen wrapped her body behind Natasha like a spoon. Before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 11

Natasha sat at her desk, entering months’ worth of receivables. She wondered how he kept up for so long without any help. She had elected to wear a fitted, black, knee length shirt with a white blouse with sequin trim, and cut black strappy heels. Luckily, her vampire speed helped move things along. It was 3:00 a.m. Most of the human world was fast asleep, but she was still going strong. Laya came running in the office and slammed the door shut.

“Natasha, oh my goddess … it’s Gretchen; she’s here and she wants to meet you.”

Natasha looked up from her pile of bills. “Okay, so what’s the big deal?”

“She’s the one. The one Tanek wanted for a mate the one that broke his poor vampire heart.” She continued a million miles a second.

“I still don’t understand why you are having a witchy freak out. We both agreed to help plan the baby shower. I thought she was your best friend?”

“She is and I love her more than anything, but it’s just that I don’t want you to hate her for what she did.”

“Laya, it’s not a big deal. They dated, it’s over.”

Natasha watched Laya as her face changed to that of confusion. “You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what, Laya?”

“Gretchen is the one that broke him. Tanek, he liked her, like really liked her. He wanted to mate with her. He found out she was in love with another man. I’m sorry, Natasha. I thought you knew,” Laya added softly.

Natasha listened to Laya, trying to take in everything she just heard. It made sense why he said he was incapable of loving her. He was hurt so badly he didn’t want to risk being hurt again.

“Laya, I didn’t know, but regardless, it happened before I even met Tanek. Tell Gretchen to come back and we will have a chat.”

“Okay, just wait here.”

Just as quickly as she had arrived, Laya rushed out of the office. Natasha put away her paperwork and shut down her computer, as she decided after her meeting with Gretchen to call it a night.

There was a soft knock at the door before it opened. Gretchen stood there with her hand on her enlarged baby belly.

“Don’t be shy; come in, Gretchen.”

Gretchen smiled and came inside.

Natasha sat next to her on one of the office chairs. She felt the awkwardness, but she knew she needed to get through it. Everyone had a past, including her. The more she knew, the more she could help Tanek get past it.

“I have to admit, I find this is a bit strange,” Gretchen finally said, breaking the silence.

“I know it. I feel it, too. So you went out with Tanek?”

“Yes, I never really dated and was flattered he asked me out. I was surprised someone as good looking as he is, was even interested in me.”

“But you weren’t really interested, were you?” Natasha asked. As much as she wished she could not have this conversation, she knew any information she got would help her with Tanek.

“Well, I mean, he’s hot and all, but I had met someone else at the same time. I was new to dating and didn’t think things through. I had no idea Tanek had thought of me in a serious way.”

“I know he’s hurting over it, but I hope to get him over this, and I think planning this baby shower will help.”

“I am so sorry, Natasha,” Gretchen said with sadness, and Natasha could tell she really meant it.

“You are young. We as vampires know all too well pain in relationships. It is our lot in life.”

“Do you really believe that? That vampires can never be happy in a relationship?”

“I hope not, but so far, it is what I know to be true.”

Natasha looked over when she heard a knocking at the office door. Laya peeked inside, waving her hand just inside the door. “Are you two getting along in here?”

Natasha and Gretchen looked at each other and gave each other a reassuring smile.

“I think everything is great,” Natasha said. “I think we need to go out and have some fun, just the three of us.”

Natasha, followed by Laya and Gretchen, entered the bar area. Maureen was behind the bar being trained for her new bartending job. She waved, but immediately went back to work. Natasha saw Tanek and ran over to him.

“Hey there, boss man, we need the rest of the night off to plan the baby shower,” Laya said happily.

Natasha stood shoulder to shoulder with Tanek. All she wanted to do was to take him into her arms and show him what love could really be like. “Is it okay?” Natasha asked sweetly.

Tanek nodded. “How could I refuse three lovely ladies? Where are you headed?”

“Just somewhere we can have a drink and talk?” Natasha looked over at Gretchen and realized with her pregnancy she couldn’t drink alcohol. “Better yet, how about coffee and some sweets?”

Gretchen smiled a huge smile. She could tell she liked the idea, and honestly, it would be a good change rather than the bar scene.

***

Natasha sat at a 24 hour coffee shop in the outskirts of New Orleans called
Bean me up, Coffee
Love the name.
. She had a steaming cup and sipped it slowly. She had ordered a Vanilla Latte. She wasn’t a big coffee drinker, but she really liked her drink. Gretchen and Laya choose the hot chocolate with extra whip cream. They were sharing a few apple pie bites and chocolate chip cookies.

“This is so much fun. I’m glad we’re doing this,” Laya said, taking a bit of food. “Oh my goddess, this is delish.”

Natasha took a piece and tried it, and she thought it had been way too long since she had anything with apples. It was wonderful. “We are going to definitely need more,” Natasha said to Gretchen, who was also snacking on the desert.

“So, Gretchen, we need to get your input on the baby shower. So far we were just planning a big party, one last blowout before you become a mother. Of course there will be presents, cake, and games, but more adult oriented.” Natasha finished speaking and waited for her response. Gretchen immediately smiled and looked very excited.

“I think it sounds great! I didn’t even want a baby shower, but now I’m really excited.”

“I think that’s enough baby shower talk, now for the real stuff.”

Laya and Gretchen both looked at Natasha.

“Why are you both looking at me? I thought this was a friendly get together.”

“It is, but we want to know what is going on with you and Tanek.”

Natasha was not ready to talk to them about Tanek. She wasn’t even sure she knew herself how she felt.

“I can’t really tell you much. He’s helping me get over my sun aversion. My sire was an old traditionalist bastard, he never exposed me, so I never was able to tolerate it.”

“That’s horrible,” Laya said with shock.

Gretchen took Natasha’s hand. “You can always talk to us. We are here for you.”

“You have no idea how much that means to me. I never had friends when I was with my sire. He kept me isolated, and thought it was all normal until I started talking with other vampires. I learned he was a freak and I tried to get away as soon as I could.”

“Well, I’m so glad you got away and now you live in the best subdivision anywhere with others just like you. And now you have Tanek, whatever that is that’s going on with you.”

“I like him. I mean, he’s so hot and mysterious and kind of grumpy in a cute way.”

Laya beamed at Natasha. “Sounds like the beginnings of love.”

Chapter 12

Natasha looked in her full length mirror, as she was once again questioning her dress choice. She looked good in her hot pink dress. She picked a color she thought would be different from the other vampires. It could be worse, she could be wearing black and that would just be laughable. She decided to leave her hair down. She never knew how to wear it up other than a pony tail. She slipped on her black pumps and headed out to the mixer.

Natasha looked around the elegant old home in the Garden District. It looked so much bigger than it did from the outside. Her eyes immediately went to the ceiling where a huge crystal chandelier hung and sparkled. She followed the music coming from a room nearby and found the party. Natasha saw Nora across the room, and she waved and Nora zipped across the room with vampire speed.