Lewis Aleman - The Anti-Vampire

“Yeah,” the word runs out my mouth in a sigh.

He smiles, “Yeah. It’s a little nicer than milk, isn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t know,” I respond puzzled.

His face looks wounded, “My kiss is that forgettable, Bright Eyes?”

“No!” I shout a little too loudly, “No, I was talking about blood—didn’t know you meant kissing.”

Sneer-smile slides onto his face, touching me from several feet away, as he says, “Well, we could revisit it again and see if it sparks as well in the daylight as the moonlight.”

He’s before me in a flash, our lips moving to embrace each other, his nose slowly passes over mine, heat wave pulls my lids shut—his lips feel like plush love.

My eyes crease open the tiniest bit—strange fangs are outstretched and threatening over his neck.

A voice slides past the dark red lips and imposing teeth, “What fantasy keeps the most alert of vampires with his guard completely down?”

Releasing his lips from mine, Simon says, “Not fantasy, but overload.”

“Overload of what, dear boy?” sliding her blood-red fingertips along the line of his jaw—she’s just as beautiful and horrible as I remember her from ‘80s Night, and just as focused on Simon.

“Exhaustion. Paranoia. The incessant buzzing of the insects—take your pick. I’ve had my share of all of them,” he answers, pushing her back a step.

Pressing her lips together in a pout as if she were kissing him through the air between them, “And not love, delicious boy? Have you not had your fill of that too?”

She turns from him and walks away.

“When has a vampire ever had a surplus of love?” he replies.

“Then, care to split that pie one more way?” coos her voice over her shoulder.

I’m sure she only walked away from him to make him watch her backside.

As the bile rises to my throat while I struggle to suppress my sharp thoughts, Simon says, “Told you before, Maxine: not good at fractions.”

Smiling pointedly and swaying her body like she is the breeze itself, she says, “Well, I’m excellent with division. Let me know if you need some assistance,” each word spilling smoothly past her dark red lips into the air, sending her enchantment spreading around us. So smooth, so sure it would mesmerize any man, it sends panic through my hand that squeezes Simon’s forearm.

He looks to me, absorbing my emotion, his face becoming full of how I feel.

Looking to Maxine, God, even her name is intimidating , Simon says, “Maxi, we’re gonna need a minute alone.”

She raises an opened palm with the grace of a ballerina but talks with the smooth bite of a Bourbon Street Madame, “The forest is made for wandering, darlin’.”

“We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Grabbing my hand, he leads me into the wild. After a few paces, he turns back to her, and I’m surprised at how much my entire being hates his eyes looking on her again.

“Keep alert—make sure no one followed you in here.”

Smiling, always smiling with a different smile for every emotion, “Don’t insult a lady’s finesse, darlin’. No one can tail me unless I want’em to,” her eyes flickering at the end.

We walk another twenty yards into the woods—a hundred yards wouldn’t feel far enough from her.

He turns to me, and the words spring from my distress, “What the hell, Simon? Her? What’s she doing here?”

“Told you—I have to get some information from Edgar tonight.”

“And what’s she got to do with it—she’s going to take us to him?”

“No, too dangerous for you to go back to the city. You have to stay here.”

“So, she’s bringing you to Edgar?”

He sighs, “No, Bright Eyes, she’s here to protect you while I’m gone.”

“Wha—why her? She’s who you brought out here to watch over me? Why don’t you bring me straight to Roderick, or just kill me now? She hates me, Simon.”

“Couldn’t trust a male vamp around you.”

“Imagine that.”

“Can barely trust myself around you.”

“Uh huh,” I grumble, so angry I’m having trouble focusing on what he’s saying.

“But female vamps are no picnic either. They’re addicts too. Wild emotions—mood swings—especially jealous of human girls hooking up with vamp men.”

“Good thing we haven’t hooked up then, huh?”

I wish I could take those words back. Flew out so fast. Choking on fear and anger, they slipped away in a hot breath that didn’t come from my heart.

Simon swallows heavily and says, “Yeah.”

Hesitate, panic runs cold through my body, deep breath, “I didn’t mean—”

“No time now. I’ve gotta get to Edgar before his cravings become too strong, and then he’ll end up spilling his guts to Roderick to get his next hit.”

He turns and walks faster than I can possibly keep up—at least fifteen feet away already.

“Simon, wait—”

He stops, looks over his shoulder, “I know, Ruby. I know you didn’t mean it.”

“But—”

“I have to go. To keep you safe I have to get to Edgar.”

“She’ll kill me, Simon. You know it.”

“The only thing she’s more passionate about than sex is her hatred of Roderick. Trust me—she’ll help us tonight.”

“Then, why didn’t she help you at the bar? Why was she going to let Roderick and his two goons fight you all by yourself?”

“I’m sure by then she was on her way home with some guy she thought would be tasty.”

“You mean feeding?”

“No. Well, yes—feeding and other things.”

She appears out of the brush behind him, fangs glance over his neck.

Seductive voice spouts, “Not talking about little ol’ me, I hope.”

Neither of us says a word, and she continues, “Crept up on you twice in one day, Simon. Better get your head clear before you lose it.”

She looks at me and then to him, but his eyes are on me, paying her no attention.

Maxine says, “You already got my ears burning talking about me like that—wanna try for another body part?”

“Watch her, Maxine. Might be a long night.”

“Whatever you wish, darlin’.”

“Wait!” I call after him.

Pained, “There’s no time. You two have to let me leave.”

Laughing in a tone that sounds like singing, Maxine says, “Oh, I think there’s time. Aren’t you forgetting something, sweet Simon?”

“Now?”

“Of course, now. Maxine doesn’t keep promises until she gets hers first.”

My voice cracks, “What are you getting from him?”

“Relax, princess,” she says, “Nothing physical—just a little taste. That’s all.”

“Ruby, I’m sorry. There’s no other way—there’s no one else.”

“What? What’s going on?” I shout.

She slides her body around him, grabbing his neck, and pulling it down before her. Before I can shout, her lips slide back, unsheathing her hideous fangs, and she dives them into his neck.

His eyes stare at me sadly. No question he hates this, but his gaze stays focused on me, not on what she’s doing to him. He raises an arm out in my direction, still at least fifteen feet from me.

I run toward them, fighting the bushes and branches that separate us. His arm drops down—eyes roll back.

Her left hand slides over his chest.

“That’s enough! That’s enough—let him go!” I scream out.

She pulls her fangs out, like a shark releasing its prey. Simon stumbles, trying to hold his head in my direction. Eyes barely open now.

Her right hand runs through his hair, grasping him at the back of his head.

“Let him go, you witch!” I shout, so close, just out of reach.

She looks to me, smiles in a flash, and moves her head close to his, her tongue rising up to touch his lips.