The Vampires' Last Lover (Dying of the Dark Vampires Book 1) (12 page)

I cracked a wry grin. These five gorgeous former humans would make one hell of an act, like some heavy metal band with a metaphysical twist. “America’s Got Talent” could do much worse. Maybe “America’s Goth Talent.” Too bad they were just visiting.

“You are quite humorous.” Chanson chuckled, alluding to my latest musing. A moment later her demeanor turned solemn. “We have a proposal for you… something serious to consider. Alas, as time is against us, you do not have the time to mull it over. It is getting harder to protect you here. We ask tonight that you return immediately with us to Europe.”

Wow. Part of me was flattered by all of this attention. But, I couldn’t even consider leaving my country… my homeland. I loved Virginia, and my second home of Knoxville had already found a place in my heart. Aside from not wanting to leave my friends and be any farther away from my family, I had a slew of homework and several tests to study for before Thanksgiving break began in a couple of weeks.

I took several deep breaths before answering.

“I can’t,” I said, lowering my gaze. I worried that this might piss her off enough to rip my head from my shoulders, and then the five of them would share my precious blood amongst themselves. “I need to stay here.”

She nodded in response. The look on Chanson’s face was one of intense concentration. Perhaps, she searched my thoughts for a truthful confirmation of my words to her, or more likely some weakness she could use to twist my arm into going.

“It’s far too dangerous for you to stay, Txema—I
won’t
allow it!”

Everyone turned toward Garvan. Distressed, his green eyes flashed even brighter than Chanson’s. As he regarded me, I sensed intense longing emanating toward me like a powerful magnet. My pulse began to rise, and I could feel my face flush.

It drew an amused laugh from Armando, who clapped his hands approvingly.

“While I certainly share Garvan’s opinion for urgency, I can only admire his infatuation with our cherished guest,” he said, moving up to Garvan and grasping his shoulder in a show of brotherly affection. Garvan scowled. His face flushed as it had the other night, only this time from obvious embarrassment. “Perhaps you fancy this young girl—this young
human
—as your vampire bride, no?”

“She needs to be safe and none of
us
can afford for anything tragic to happen to her!” he seethed in response.

Apparently, there were limits to his subservience to Armando. A glance at Chanson confirmed that he needed her approval instead to go on. I gained another insight into the hierarchy of the vampires – I filed this away in case I needed it later. She nodded slightly, and Garvan continued.

“Armando, you should be just as passionate as me in getting her to agree to leave with us—
tonight!
You should
all
be helping me convince her!”

He looked at each of his companions individually, his eyes and quivering mouth imploring them to aid him. Everyone nodded quietly while a slight snicker escaped Armando’s mouth.

He ignored Armando.

“Come, Txema.
Please
, come with us back to France!” Garvan practically begged me. “It’s the surest way to save your life, and I guarantee
every
comfort imaginable will be provided to you!”

The way he looked at me pulled on my heart and almost made me say ‘yes!,’ but I caught the word before it slipped past my lips. I felt like I was sixteen all over again, experiencing my first taste of love. I also knew the treachery of infatuation. Such infantile attachments often lead to empty promises and assuredly a broken heart. Not to mention the blatant betrayal of Peter’s devotion.

“I’m not ready for this… I’m sorry,” I said, with finality. I knew I couldn’t leave, but I was struggling to control my heart’s sudden desire to do just that. My growing attraction to this gorgeous vampire stirred my heart and alarmed my conscience.

“Then we must wait!” Chanson announced. She raised her open hand to quiet one last protest from Garvan. “We will continue to watch over and protect you, Txema. Contrary to what you might presume, you have no say in regard to our surveillance of you. Know that we
will
interfere if necessary to save your life.”

She nodded her head and then motioned for Garvan and Armando to lead me from her presence. Right before we stepped out of the cave, I heard her call to me one last time.

“Make sure you avoid the shadows, Txema! The
monstres glabres
are growing in number and will continue to hunt for you, following your blood scent! You can call us anytime, and we will be there quickly. Stay safe! Stay
alive
, Txema!”

As her words finished, Armando and Garvan pulled me into the air, and we again traveled through the surrounding darkness at incredible speed. The return trip seemed even faster than the journey to the cave. Once we reached Knoxville’s city lights, everything became an indiscernible blur. I feared we’d crash into Massey Hall as it came up suddenly into my field of vision.

Then we slowed. My window opened, as if some unseen hand loosened the latch and pulled the pane aside. I floated into the room in much the same way I floated out.

Peter still snored, unaware of our return, and thankfully there remained no sign of my roommate nor her boyfriend. I didn’t want to consider what might occur if Tyreen and Johnny awakened to find two members of the undead guiding my floating body through our dorm room.

“Good night, Txema!” Garvan and Armando whispered together, after they positioned my body next to Peter’s.

Peter stirred slightly as the window closed and the latch clicked shut, announcing my companions’ swift departure. The coolness that slipped into the room brought a shiver to him, and he pulled up the comforter to cover us both, despite the parka I still wore. A moment later, he snored again, completely oblivious to what just happened. Clueless and innocent… a state of being I coveted, fearing it was gone forever. Life had quickly become so complicated.

t was almost eight o’clock when Peter woke me. By then, bright sunlight filled my room, and a busy Saturday morning was already underway. Yet, it felt as if I had just gone to sleep an hour or so earlier.

“You had better get up, babe. The best of breakfast will be over and done with if we wait much longer,” he said.

My only response was to roll away from him and the harsh light pouring in my window.

“Tyreen and Johnny have already left, and they promised to save us a couple of seats in the cafeteria provided you wake up and take your shower.”

I really wanted to sleep, especially since I felt light-headed. A headache would be coming soon. These late night vampire visits weren’t such a good thing for my health. Sleep while your persistent boyfriend tries to wake you up is by no means an easy proposition either.

Peter had already showered, and was dressed in a faded pair of Levis and a Tennessee Volunteers sweatshirt. I wished I had my cell phone handy, so I could’ve taken a picture of him dressed this casually. His hair was still wet, combed back from his forehead to reveal his regal hairline. Peter’s thick head of hair often has reminded me of Hollywood. Or royalty. Or maybe even Hollywood royalty.

“I’m up,” I muttered, slowly bringing my leg over so I could step down from my bed.

He grinned while he watched me slide down from my bunk and stumble to my dresser. “If you want to rough it today, just throw on some sweats and a ball cap and we can go eat first, and come back here afterward. It’s up to you.”

“Let me take a quick shower, and I’ll be right back,” I told him.

My head throbbed, and I thought for a moment I’d have to lie back down. But after I grabbed my shampoo and body wash much of the throbbing passed.

“Go ahead and text Tyreen to let her know we should be there within the next twenty minutes.” I felt like sticking my tongue out at him just out of general grumpiness, but I refrained.

“All right.”

I watched him pull out his handset and plop down in a beanbag chair in front of the TV. Before he could look over at me again, I was already on my way to the showers. The expressions on the faces I passed along the way were a curious mixture of worry and tension, and just a few smiles. Classes had been canceled for Monday, and UT’s Regent Board of Directors were discussing the possibility of closing school until after Thanksgiving.

“Ha! You look like a drenched Cousin It like that!” teased Peter, once I returned to my room with my dripping hair hanging over my face.

“Careful, buster, or it could be Broom Hilda instead!” I countered. The confused expression he made told me he had no idea who the comic witch I mentioned was. I decided to help him out. “You might end up turning into a little horny toad with a wart on its head!”

“Well, at least the horny part would still be here!”

“Ha! You’re
so
terrible!”

Time was wasting. A glance at the clock on the vanity confirmed more than twenty minutes had passed since I asked him to text Tyreen.

Shit!

“Did Tyreen get your text?”

I hurried to finish getting ready. Deciding that wet hair would have to suffice, I moved on to a quick makeup job. Applying my lipstick as we scurried out the door, Peter acted as my mirror, to make sure it was straight with no smudges.

“Yes, she responded right away,” he said. “And, she just sent a message a moment ago, asking ‘where the hell are you?’” He snickered until he saw my frown. Not the time to be teasing his darling Txema. “Okay, I guess we should just hurry, huh?”

“Yes, we should,” I said tersely. “But you could do me a big favor and text her back that we’re on our way.”

I forced a superficially sweet smile and Peter pulled the keyboard out on his phone, ready to send a reply. But he also started slowing down, almost to a full stop.

“Never mind, I’m dialing her now,” I told him, shaking my head as I dialed her number from my handset.

She answered my call while Peter ran to catch up with me before the elevator door closed.

“Yeah, I know we’re running late, but we’ll be there in just a few minutes,” I told her.

“You’ll be lucky to be out of the building in a few minutes thanks to the security problem, but we’ll wait,” she said with a huff.

“What security problem?”

She hung up on me without answering.

Once we reached the main floor, I soon understood Tyreen’s comment. It seemed as if there were cops everywhere, making me wonder if the rest of campus looked like the main lobby of Massey Hall.

It took nearly fifteen more minutes to make it through the security checkpoint at the building’s main entrance. The female cop who finally let us through was none too happy about Peter’s presence in the building, especially after he readily admitted that he spent the night. The look of disappointment she gave me may as well have come from my mother.

“Damn, it took you two long enough, we’ve already finished eating!” said Johnny. He made room at the cafeteria table so Peter and I could sit down with our scrambled eggs and pancakes.

Tyreen sat across from us, shaking her head at either how late we were, or her man’s weak attempt at sounding pissed.

“I guess I’ll just have to grab another pumpkin muffin to tide me over for the day. You guys want anything else?” He said as he got up from the table.