Till the Break of Dawn (2 page)

The wrestler everyone was waiting to see was Nightmare. He wasn’t completely undefeated, just at the P.F.C.’s headline event known as Monster Mash. He’d lost a match here and there to someone cheating or other interference. But at Monster Mash he was always the champ. And tonight’s event was leading up to the Mash. I tried to pretend all of this didn’t excite me, but the truth was I’d been watching since I was a kid.

As soon as Nightmare’s entrance music started to play my heart fluttered. His music sounded like something Beethoven had written, but the melody was better suited to Dr. Frankenstein than the famous composer. Everyone in the bar stopped to watch, including me. I couldn’t help myself. You could feel his presence it seemed, even through the screen. He was six-foot-seven, but when the camera got a close up he looked seven feet tall. Darkness hung about him like a cloak. The lights dimmed when he entered the arena. Not because of special effects, but because that was one of his powers. He could control the shadows. His pale green eyes became a solid, glowing, emerald fire as he made his way to the ring.

He removed his long cloak so slowly that it looked like a mini striptease. I noticed he had a few more tattoos since I’d last seen him and it made my heart ache. He added a new tattoo down his arm for every family member or loved one he outlived. All of his tattoos were tombstones of sorts, but some were beautiful angels while others looked more like gargoyles. His left arm had a nearly complete sleeve of tattoos. He had started the collection when he was alive and it only stood to grow now that he was dead.

I knew all of this because I knew him. He ran a hand through his long dark hair and I gasped.

“I know, he’s scary looking, right?” George said from beside me.

Truthfully, I’d forgotten the other man was there. I’d forgotten everyone was there except him.

When the announcer said, “Good evening ladies and gentleman and welcome to the FANG event,” I had to look away.

Terry had come out of the back and was standing on my other side. He’d removed his hairnet and I did a double take. It had been a while since I’d seen his shaggy brown hair without the net.

“Hey,” he said, pointing at the screen, “didn’t you used to date him or something?”

Shit. That’s just all I needed, George knowing something about my personal life. I knew Terry enough to understand he didn’t mean any harm, but he might as well have hit me. It would have been less painful.

“You used to
date
Nightmare?”

George was looking at me now instead of the screen and his eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets. I wanted to slap him.

“Mind your own business.”

About that time the bell rang and everyone’s attention was drawn back to the screen. The man across the ring from Nightmare threw back his head and howled. In an instant a werewolf stood before the six-foot-seven vampire.

One of the coolest things about Nightmare was not his undefeated streak, it was the fact that he’d never had to show his true form in the ring. All vampires, no matter how good they might look, do have a second form. For some it’s turning deathly pale (even more so than usual) and having glowing eyes. For others it’s stuff like sprouting wings and having even longer fangs. They’re stronger in their true form. But Nightmare had never had to use any of that stuff. The thing he did with his eyes was just for show. They were back to their natural pale green as soon as the match began. Other fighters, especially the werewolves, resented him for this reason. He was just a natural born badass.

Chapter Two

I tried to watch the fight, but had to keep looking away. When I walked back to the kitchen, Terry followed.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said. “But you guys did date, right? You have to admit, the prospect of knowing someone who dated Nightmare is pretty awesome.”

“His name is Marcus,” I said softly, before walking to the fridge and taking out a beer. I felt like I’d earned one.

I spent one night with Marcus and it had changed my life. All I was, all I’d ever be came into being in his arms that night. He was only the third man to ever touch my body. Never before had I truly given all I was, not even the first time. Not like this and not since.

I laid myself bare before him in so many ways. My body and soul were like an empty canvas. Like clay to be molded. He taught me things about myself I hadn’t known. And once known, some things cannot be forgotten. His memory burned within me, flaring painfully to life every time I heard his name.

After I took a few gulps of beer I realized Terry was still there. I also realized he looked unsure of what to say. His eyes offered an apology. He knew how much I hated nosy people like George knowing anything about me.

“We dated for about three months,” I answered finally.

“Wow. What happened? I mean, why did he dump you?”

“Motherfucker.” I laughed as I said this and tossed a tomato slice at Terry. “For your information
I
dumped him.”

The look on his face said how truly baffled he was by my admission. “No shit? How come?”

He was killing me. But I took another sip of beer and a deep breath and told my friend the truth. “Because he was going to live forever … and I wasn’t.”

“Damn, that’s deep. Why not just enjoy the ride while it lasted?” Terry took another look at me and must have seen that I couldn’t answer. The emotions were still too raw, even after all this time. “You loved him, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“B-but, he could have turned you or something.”

“No, he couldn’t. It’s part of his contract. He’s not allowed to turn others.”

We stood there in silence for a few minutes. Terry took a beer out of the fridge too and downed it in a couple of big gulps.

“Dawn, you and me, we’ve known each other since we were kids. How come you never told me about this?”

“Because it’s painful you dumbass,” Jamie said. She slapped Terry on the arm as she pushed past him and made her way toward me.

“I’m really sorry. When I heard a rumor that you two had dated—” He shrugged. “Hell, I just figured you hooked up one night or something. I had no idea you had feelings for the guy. That’s gotta suck.”

I laughed at the pun he didn’t realize he’d made.

“I won’t say anything,” he said very seriously. “If George asks about it later, I’ll say I made a mistake.”

I walked over and hugged him, the top of my head just barely reached his chest. “Thanks, Terry.”

“How long ago was this, anyway?”

“Seven years ago.”

“Seven years and you never said anything?”

He seemed hurt and I didn’t want that. Terry was like family to me.

“You were going through a divorce at the time. You had enough to deal with. By the time you got things straightened out it just never seemed like the right time to bring it up.”

He nodded. “I understand. Your secret is safe with me.”

I laughed softly. “It’s really not a secret, Terry. It’s just something I’d rather keep to myself.”

“Come on,” Jamie said, putting her arm around me. “I’ll follow you home.”

“You mean the fight is over? Did Nightmare win?” Terry asked.

“Of course he won.”

If it weren’t for his prosthetic leg, I think Terry might have danced a jig. “Holy shit. I just won five thousand dollars!”

Jamie laughed. “You said you quit gambling.”

“Don’t nag me, woman.” This was a common joke/argument with them. Terry turned to me then. “If you ever see him again, tell him thanks. I always win when I bet on Nightmare.”

By the time we walked back out front our two waitresses, Angie and Rachel, had the place mostly clean. There were still a few other people hanging around, talking about the fight. But, Our Place was officially closed for the night. George and a few other regulars were finishing their drinks before they left. Nightmare’s music was still playing and when I looked at the screen I got one last glimpse of him before he disappeared behind the heavy black curtain.

“Where the fuck is Earl?” Terry asked.

Earl is our dishwasher and he and Terry almost never get along. I could see him in the far corner of the room stacking up plates. His long blond ponytail was pulled back tightly and as usual he looked damn good in the jeans he was wearing.

“I’m out here collecting dishes. What did you think?” Earl shot back.

“You might as well be jerking off for all the help you’ve been tonight.”

“Terry,” Jamie scolded. “There are still other people here.”

“Fuck you,” Earl yelled.

“No, fuck you!”

She sighed. “Like I said, other people still here.”

It was no use. Those two just did not get along. But they did both work hard, despite what Terry might say about Earl or what Earl might say about Terry. Once the rest of the cleaning was finished and everyone else had gone, Jamie and I left Terry to lock up.

When Jamie offered to follow me home that normally meant she had a bottle of whiskey in her car and didn’t want to drink alone. That was fine with me. It had been a while since we had shared a drink together and I didn’t want to be alone either.

As soon as we stepped outside I was drenched. George hadn’t been kidding about that rain. Sure, I had an umbrella with me. In the car.

“I needed a bath anyway,” Jamie yelled above the downpour.

The drive home nearly put me to sleep. There is nothing quite like the gentle patter of rain when it comes to relaxing sounds. At least, that’s my opinion. The rain had gotten so heavy that I could barely see my mailbox at the end of the driveway. If I hadn’t been living there for a while now, I probably would have missed the turn.

Jamie had lived with me for years because the rent was cheap and easier to split between two people. The rent was so cheap because the old house was practically falling down. Well, it had been before I bought it from our landlady. I used the majority of my winnings to fix the place up while Jamie chose to buy a smaller house across town. It wasn’t that she didn’t like living with me, she was afraid of ghosts.

Since the house was built in the early 1900’s she was convinced that it was haunted. Every time the floor creaked or the roof settled a little bit she thought the dead were watching her. Needless to say, she bought a brand new house. She didn’t think it was possible for new places to have ghosts.

Honestly, I didn’t think my old house had anything in it besides a little bit of dust because I’d been too busy to give it a good cleaning lately. I had been in love with the house ever since I laid eyes on it, even when it was in complete disrepair. I’m not sure what architectural style you’d call it, but it is a two-story with three baths and four bedrooms. And thanks to me it now had a fresh coat of white paint and new green shutters.

Home looked particularly inviting on this drizzly night and I couldn’t wait to get inside. As I suspected, Jamie dashed through the rain carrying a brand new bottle of whiskey. Once we were inside we both kicked off our boots beside the door. I tossed my cowboy hat across the back of the sofa on my way through to the kitchen while Jamie hung hers on a coat rack.

The night was warm and I had no real desire to change out of my wet clothes just yet. Actually, it was kind of refreshing. It was only May the second and already I dreaded summer. Jamie sat at the kitchen table while I got out a couple of shot glasses and some beers.

She slammed back the first shot and made a face. “I’ve got to tell you something,” she said.

“Well, that sounds ominous.” I reached for the bottle and tried not to be uneasy. I hate it when people say things like, “I need to tell you something.”

“It’s not about either of us,” she added, taking a sip of beer.

“Then spill it, you’re making me nervous.”

“Fine. You remember Amanda? Used to work in a salon downtown? I think she went to school with you too, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, I remember Mandy. She moved several years ago. To Texas I think.”

Jamie downed another shot. “She’s back to visit family and friends. I saw her in town yesterday and she wants to have lunch with both of us tomorrow.”

I shrugged. “Well, that sounds like fun. What’s the problem?”

“She’s pregnant.”

That was fine by me, but I could tell it bothered Jamie. “I don’t understand,” I said softly.

“It’s just another reminder that I’m getting older, I can’t find a decent man and I’ll probably never have any children.”

At this point she started to cry and put her head on the table. I reached over and put my arm around her. This wasn’t the first time we’d had this discussion either. It wasn’t something we sat around and talked about all the time. However, for someone who once made a living based on her looks, getting older weighed heavily on Jamie’s mind.

“I understand. Turning thirty last month was hard. It brought home the fact that I am no longer twenty-something … and I’m alone. I don’t know of a way to be with the only man I’ve ever loved and I can’t stop comparing everyone I date to him.” I sighed and Jamie lifted up to put her head on my shoulder. “I don’t think I’m old and I don’t think you’re old. I just think it’s time I made a decision of some sort. Maybe you should do the same.”

She sniffed and went back to pouring another shot. “What kind of a decision are you trying to make?”

“I’ve got to find someone who can make me forget Marcus and make a life with them.”

“Or?” she prompted.

I reached for the bottle and poured myself another shot. “I’m not ready for that part yet.”

“Do you want kids?” she asked.

It just occurred to me that in the nine years we had known each other I had never answered that question. I was well acquainted with what Jamie wanted out of life, but she’d never asked if I wanted kids before and I never felt the need to discuss it. Maybe that was because I wasn’t sure.

I shrugged. “I thought I did. At one time I wanted it all, nice house, sexy husband, a dog, and a couple of kids.”

“We’ve got that one stray cat that keeps hanging around the bar,” she teased.

“You’re an ass.” I laughed at her words, but still confessed, “That was part of the reason I decided to break things off with Marcus. The undead cannot create life. I thought that life
–
kids and the whole lot – was what I wanted.”