My name is Veronica.
“You’re mine, always,” I heard Devon whisper over the guitars.
I swung around, almost knocking over the chair next to me, but there was no one there. I took a few deep breaths, knowing my imagination had created Devon. He hadn’t been following me on the streets at all. I cursed him for the fear he had instilled in me, but that was in the past. Now I was free, just a tourist in a strange city that captivated my imagination.
“This is for you,” the waitress yelled above the din.
“I didn’t order anything.”
“It’s from her, over there.” She pointed at a woman several tables away.
Following her extended finger, I gazed at the woman. Her hair seemed to writhe like copper snakes. The cranberry redness of her lips stood out as she smiled. The shape of her face was more oval than round, but the way her hair hung gave her chin and cheeks a square look. The chalk-white smoothness of her skin gleamed like polished marble, but it was her eyes that drew me. They twinkled like stars in a crisp winter sky. I caught myself before I lost my balance.
She raised her glass to me as I lifted the drink to my lips and sipped, not taking my eyes off her. The taste of warm and cold hit my mouth as bitter tomato juice, horseradish, and vodka slid down my throat. The celery bumped into my nose, but I swallowed the awful concoction. She kept smiling as I forced myself to take a longer drink. I hated vodka in general, and I never could stand tomato juice. I made myself gulp the drink in two swallows because something in me didn’t want to disappoint her. I didn’t understand why I wanted to please this strange woman. Maybe because she was another goth or just because she bought me the drink. I felt drawn to her across the space. I yearned to discover what secrets she had hidden. Her eyes bored into mine, unearthing long buried emotions. One of them was hope. Hope that I could actually be someone again. As I stared at her, her will went into mine. I started to lose my breath and my heart sped up. By sheer force of will, I tore myself from those eyes.
Then the band started playing again, the same type of music, but heavier. The melody was so insistent it pulled my attention completely from her. It reached into my soul, tearing out everything I had buried. I glanced at the man playing the washboard as he dragged the spoon slowly.
Listening to the rasping of the spoon, I caught a glimpse of Devon’s face as it had appeared the first time I met him. The sun played off his skin as he reclined against a tree, a slight breeze catching my dress and blowing up my skirt. He looked over at me with stencil shadows of leaves on his face.
His honey-brown eyes caught me first. They made me want to fall into them. When I regained my composure, he was by my side. His smile was a warm relief in the cold wind, and I wanted to have him forever. I would do anything for him. However, something more sinister lurked under the light exterior. I wouldn’t find out how bad he was until I discovered the courage to leave him, but then it was too late.
When I drew my thoughts back to the present, I looked down at the table and discovered a folded napkin. Instantly, I knew the token was from her.
How did she get it here without me seeing her?
I wondered, carefully unfolding the napkin.
The handwriting was old-fashioned and flowery, something from the eighteenth century when women learned penmanship, sewing, and nothing else. Now women were liberated—as they didn’t need a lord and master telling them what to do. Then again, even in this day and age some women made the wrong choices.
Veronica,
I can awaken what you’ve kept hidden. I know you understand the shadows but yearn to rejoin the light. Meet me at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square after sunset if you wish to consider my offer.
Brenna
I looked up from the note. Brenna had risen from her table. Her eyes were focused on me. I smiled and tried to hide my apprehension as she came a few steps closer. There was a look of anticipation on her face, but then it was marred by fear. I wondered what had happened and was about to say something, but Brenna was gone. My gaze shifted around the restaurant, searching the faces of the patrons, but nothing. I stood up, hunting for her outside. There was a hot dog vendor babysitting a Harley, but no signs of her. Blending with the other drunkards and wild college students, she had become just another body in the throngs of people.
My name is Brenna.
The temperature had dropped since I had been inside. People crowded the streets, walking with drinks in their hands as the hour grew late. Here in the city of shadows, anything could happen. Ghosts walked along rooftops, unwary psychics predicted impending doom, and unsuspecting monsters lurked in the darkness. Because of my attire, some gave me a second glance, but I didn’t care. They knew nothing of the world I aligned myself to. Their thoughts pressed against my mind, just like Veronica’s had, and that had awakened my hunger. I knew my fascination would have to wait as my stomach rumbled and my gums ached even more than before. It was time to find something to eat.
Glancing around the streets, I noticed a boy in his early twenties. He looked all-American and something akin to the prey I had lost earlier that evening. I scanned his mind. He was alone and didn’t have too much on his mind, save food and exploring the sights. I withdrew my tether and licked my lips. I followed behind him, knowing him to be the perfect catch of the night.
He entered a small diner, sat alone at the counter, and ordered a burger. Moving in beside him, I made sure the velvet of my sleeve rubbed against the bare flesh of his arm. He looked over at me, assessing my appearance. He didn’t seem too pleased with my intrusion.
“Sorry,” I said, giving him the biggest grin I could.
The look on his face was cold and set, but when I smiled, his harshness melted away.
“That’s okay,” he said, his voice thick with a northern accent.
“Where you from?” I asked.
“What do you want?” the waitress asked me.
I glared at her. She gave me a death look and left to wait on another patron. I patiently turned back to my prey, waiting for him to answer.
“What’s her problem?”
I shrugged, trying to fawn over the man’s big, blue eyes, playing the part of an interested human. After a moment, he picked up on the vibe. I ignored the waitress as she dropped his burger on counter.
“I’m from Boston,” he said.
“Oh, really! I went to college there. How do you like it here?”
“It’s great. I’m not used to this heat, though. Man, the sun can kill you.”
I laughed. “I’m a night owl myself, but I understand. This place takes getting used to. Once you do, it’s hard to leave.”
“It’s wonderful.” He paused and took another bite of his burger. I noticed that it looked like it could still moo as he put it down. “I’m Cain.” He stuck out his hand and I took it. The firmness of his grip surprised me, but it was his slender, delicate fingers that stunned me more.
“I’m Brenna.”
“You want to get out of here?”
I nodded. This guy was a tourist and probably thought I was a whore. If he thought that, then I’d give him the night of his life.
“Good.” He slapped some money down on the counter and got up. He fought his way through the incoming people and pushed out chairs.
Already I envisioned myself sinking my teeth into his warm, salty flesh. The taste of him lingered in my mind as the smell of his musk rose in my nostrils. The whispering of the rivers of blood called to me underneath his fair, freckled skin. I sighed inwardly, letting myself fantasize about what physical feats both of us would accomplish while I had my fill of him. Just the images got me wet. I smiled and licked my fangs.
Yes, he would be tasty.
* * * *
Cain was asleep when I awoke. The sunlight splayed yellow bars across his chest, making his skin slightly red when I rose. I drifted out of bed quietly, wondering what it would be like to see this boy in the full light of day. Sadly, that was impossible. Being awake, I had to fight the dangers of the sun. Just the thought of its rays on my skin made me shiver. I’d have to be careful when I met Veronica, so I had to dress accordingly. Like any good goth girl, I was going to dress in style.
Choosing to wear a black miniskirt and peasant blouse, I threw my black leather corset over it all. When I finished lacing it up, the corset pushed up my tits. I looked through my closet, found long, satin opera gloves, and slipped on my floor length cloak, pulling its hood low over my face. Before I left, I needed one last moment with my midnight tryst. Leaning over, I nipped at his neck to feel the blood rushing underneath his perfect skin. The scent of him filled my nose: sweat, body odor, and the hint of aftershave from the day before. I lingered a moment at his jugular and took a deep breath, steadying myself as the beat of his heart drew me in. I knew better than to become entranced by the soft, slow sound. I licked his throat, sampling a small taste of myself on him, and then moved to his lips. Those I parted with my tongue, taking his bottom lip in my teeth. The curve of my fang caught the inside of his cheek, drawing blood. I savored the small amount of coppery sweetness as it clung to my canine and then mingled with my saliva.
As the sensors in his body sent pain to his brain, he jumped out of a sound sleep. Cain opened sky-blue eyes and cringed at the sudden brightness. He put his hand up to block it until I could close the shutters. I almost laughed, but held my tongue. My lover’s lips were soft against mine, and he made my heart speed up, wanting to stay with him to pass the rest of the day. Difficult as it was, I pulled away as his hardness pressed against my thigh. He wanted to keep me, while I wanted to possess him.
“You have to get going,” I whispered, surprised to feel the sadness of being separated. Normally, I just used those who crossed my path, but something about this Northerner was different. He made my brain foggy and tingly, as if my psychic abilities were kicking in. I shook off the thought. I wanted him to stay. There was something intoxicating about him that drove thoughts of Veronica from my mind. I didn’t know if it was the subtle pinkness of his bare chest or the way his slender fingers traced the hem of my cloak. I stood silently, wishing to remain, but I had other business.
He stretched, pushing back the hood of my cloak so he could stare into the face of the woman he had gone to bed with. There were no signs of disappointment. The hood fell away, allowing some of my hair to tumble into my face. He brushed that away too. I caught his hand, my fingers encircling his wrist. I stared into his eyes and flicked my tongue over the soft lines of his inner wrist.
“If you want me to leave, you shouldn’t do that,” he said, his voice hoarse with impending passion.
I giggled, unsnaring myself from his hypnotic appeal and remembering my pressing business with Veronica. I licked his lips one last time, reluctantly moving off him. If I stayed any longer, I would miss Veronica. Pulling the hood back over my face, I stared at him from its darkened depths.
“Last night was fun,” I whispered.
He got up, tugging on his socks and his boxers. I didn’t remember where his pants were, but he found them under my bed. His shirt was nowhere in my room, but I was sure it was somewhere in the house, along with most of my clothes from the night before. Cain gazed at me, contemplating what to say. His emotions were easily read on his face and in his mind. He wondered if this one-night fling had some kind of potential. The sex was better than any he’d had before, and he craved that. I saw the lust in him as he undressed me with his eyes.
“It was more than that,” he finally whispered. “I think I’m in love. Don’t you feel the attraction between us? You’re something special. You could rule the world.”
I laughed. “You’re cute, and yes, you’re intoxicating. You make me forget I have places to be. I wonder if you have some otherworldly power over me.”
“You never know.” He smiled devilishly as he kissed me again.
I had a hard time pulling myself away from him. I looked into his eyes and was almost caught. “I’m not busy tomorrow night if you want to get together again,” I suggested.
“What time?”
I smiled, showing a hint of fang. “After sunset, of course.”
“Of course!”
He stood by the door, scanning the bedroom while waiting for me to say something, but an awkward silence settled between us. I smiled and looked at the room myself, noticing how much I needed to dust. My eyes met his and I followed his gaze to my deck of tarot cards, which I had left out from the night before.
“You’re psychic?” he asked.
“Yeah, since I was fifteen. You want me to pick a card for you?”
The corners of his eyes crunched up as he thought about my suggestion. I detected something stirring beneath his composure, but I took it as his indecision.
“Sure.” He smiled. “But just one. You don’t want to be late.”
I got up and ran my hands over the backs of the cards. I concentrated on them, but the cards weren’t alive beneath my palm. They had no energy, which was strange. I shook my head, took a breath, and closed my eyes, focusing again, but my intuition didn’t kick in. There was nothing, only a hollowness where it should have been. It was as if the energy around my Northerner was dead, as if he weren’t even in the room. Ignoring the deadness in my mind, I chose a card and pulled it out.
It was the Ace of Wands. My instincts told me nothing so I relied on the book definition of the card. It meant he had found a new passion in something and wanted more of it, wanted perhaps to possess the thing his mind was fixed on.
“Am I going to turn into a demon and ravage you? Or will I come to a horrible demise at your hands?” His arms came around my waist, and he pecked at my neck.
I smiled, settling back into him before I answered.
“Neither. It means you have a fiery heart and know how to re-root wherever you go.”
“Hmm…sounds promising. I agree with the fiery part, but…you smell so good. I could keep you busy for the rest of the night if you wanted.” His grip tightened on me.
“I wish,” I purred. “But for now, take this.” I wrote my number on a scrap of paper. “Call me if something comes up.”
“Oh, I will.” He kissed me one last time and walked into the other room, finding his shirt.
The apartment door clicked shut, and it was over until tomorrow night. A part of me missed him already, but that was only lust talking as I thought of the places he would ignite with his touch. I don’t know what it was about him that had all but pushed Veronica from my mind. Now she was the most important thing, and I couldn’t disappoint her.