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  “So what was the punishment?” He looked out the window at the lights moving quickly now as we sped along. He shrugged,

  “An equal punishment…”

  “We’re not the only ones that saw her tonight.” He shook his head,

  “She didn’t look like she was hiding. I should call Klaus.” I put out my hand as I said,

  “Wait, maybe we should see what she wants.”

  “What? You’ve got to be kidding me…see what she wants? She wants to put you in your coffin for good this time.” I pulled off the freeway as I shook my head,

  “No, she looked shocked to see us both. Samara wasn’t good about hiding her feelings.”

  “Oh I know what this is about…you want to figure out why she attacked you. You cheated on her and she went insane, how’s that for closure.” I looked at him as a car pulled up beside us teaming with drunk girls hanging out the car windows,

  “Woo! Hey guys where’s the party?” Octavius smiled as he yelled out the window,

  “If you can make it to First and Chestnut…” I sped off before he could finish, “Hey I was trying to get us a meal for later tonight!”

  “Not tonight, Octavius.”

  “You know anyone that didn’t think we were vampires would think we were a couple of old life partners.” I drove down St. Charles as I turned onto First,

  “Octavius, we are life partners.”

  “Not in the eternal way, my friend.” I thought a moment then gagged,

  “If I was to look at a man, it certainly would not be you.”

  “I’m hurt,” he said with a laugh then followed with, “but I agree you aren’t for me.”

  The house sat on the corner looming before us. It was dark save for the porch light. I pushed open the gate as I headed up the walk. I wandered around the side of the house to the backyard. I stopped before the lap pool it had been drained by the previous owner. I looked back at the house to notice the backdoor was ajar. I nodded to Octavius as we headed indoors. He followed me into the service entrance. I saw the laundry room was bare save for a box of detergent. Through another door and we were standing in the kitchen. It had been remodeled for the sort of person that loved to cook. I remembered the mention of a ballroom as I said,

  “I’d imagine they needed a massive kitchen.”

  “Yes, I was here for a Halloween party a few years back. The ballroom was amazing.” He moved ahead of me as he headed down the long dark hallways, I followed as I took in a small library as well as a parlor room and a formal sitting room. I felt a bit of guilt knowing this house would not hold the sort of person meant to enjoy it. I heard the groan of a door deep in the house as I followed the sound. I found Octavius standing in the ballroom he turned to look at me as he smiled,

  “This is nice.”

  “I agree I cannot believe I was living in that slum of a place.”

  “How many millions did you squeeze out of it?”

  “Not many with the repairs it needed. Apparently the carriage house had a small termite problem.” He wrinkled his nose as he stared up at the chandeliers above us,

  “Imported crystal…this is lovely.”

  “Yeah, here’s the best part – two bedrooms upstairs.”

  “Is that so? Well someone was feeling selfish.” I nodded as I replied,

  “I was told the wife didn’t want her husbands children to feel too comfortable when they visited. The carriage house out back was turned into storage.”

  “Yikes, paging Wicked Stepmother! So I take it they divorced?”

  “Nope, they bought a house back East.” He nodded as he headed for the door I followed him as he said,

  “Well, good thing you don’t have anyone annoying like that around.” I nodded as I looked back at the ballroom and shut the doors.

  The sun was rising when we returned to his place. I waved him off as he headed for his room,

  “I haven’t stayed out that late in ages. I don’t know how Marc does it.”

  “He has the whole age thing on us,” I said as I headed for my room. Shutting the door behind me I collapsed on the bed fully clothed. She was still on my mind but I knew I had to rest if I wanted to think clearly. My head was still swimming from the absinthe I had drank and I realised I had not fed entirely enough. I felt weak from the day and promised to visit the blood bank when I awoke. Pulling the covers over my head I was fast asleep without any thoughts.

  When I awoke later in the day I could hear Marc dropping a shopping bag inside my door,

  “What have you got there?”

  “Oh, I brought you some clothes. I wasn’t sure if you had time to get out and shop.” I sat up as I nodded to him,

  “Thank you, I did manage to pick up a few things yesterday. Do you know if Octavius is awake?”

  “Uh, yeah he was down in his office when I came in. He said not to wake you,” he smiled as I waved him off.

  “Ok, well thanks again for the clothes.” He smiled as he shut the door. It was good to know he had turned out alright. I thought about his mother for a moment as I recalled her coming into Octavius’ life at a time when he was lost. Amelia had been married to a man that would beat her within an inch of her life daily. I only recall her meeting Octavius when she was beaten and left on the side of the road. He had taken her in and healed her. They had made a great couple until she grew tired of losing him to those in need. He had refused to take time away from his work,

  “You have a family to care for now,” she had begged him but it was his calling he would counter all the while. I hadn’t seen her in ages, I thought to myself as I got out of bed.

  Outside the blood bank I looked down at the time on the cell phone Octavius swore I needed. I ran my fingers over the screen only to find it didn’t respond to my touch,

  “Six hundred bucks down the drain because the damn phone can’t react to cold fingers.” I shoved the phone in my pocket as I got into the car. It was late afternoon and the sun was already behind the clouds. It would rain eventually as I drove toward the new house. I had received a call that the keys were available if I wanted to take a look and the seller was enthusiastic about my interest.

  “You made an impression on the owners of the house. They are eager to unload the property just as soon as the documents are filled out.” I rolled my eyes as I thought to the night before and my private tour of the house.

  “Yes well I just want to wrap things up so I can move in. I’m staying with a friend and while I love his family – I need my own space.”

  I stopped at Igor’s on Magazine to pick up a burger before heading over to the house. I looked to a girl standing outside holding a laundry basket. I had forgotten the bar had a Laundromat around back. Her hair was pulled back away from her face, she was talking on her phone as she looked up at me. She wore jeans and a cashmere sweater. I managed a smile as she looked away nervously. I watched her from inside as she paced with the basket and spoke on the phone. Her skin was tanned from the sun I could hear her laugh over the music in the bar. I nodded to the bartender as I placed my order and took a seat,

  “No, I’m here for another week and then I head back home for the holiday.” It took me a moment to figure out that Christmas was around the corner. I leaned forward in my seat as I listened in,

  “Well, I still need to find a roommate since the last one decided partying was more important than rent. So can I call you later tonight? I want to get back before it starts raining again.” I sat back as she walked in and asked about the machines,

  “Are they working tonight?” He nodded as he gestured,

  “Yeah, they were jammed with nickels last time. They look pretty good now though.” She nodded as she headed to the back room.

  “You know her?” The bartender looked my way as he nodded,

  “Nice girl, she’s from Phoenix. I think she’s studying law at Tulane.”

  “That’s interesting,” I said as I sat back in my chair. I waited for my order as I looked to the door for her retu
rn.

  “What did you say your name was again?” She broke away from our kiss long enough to get the words out as I pushed her against the wall. I lifted her legs up around my waist as she pulled off her top. My mouth was moving against her throat as she reached down to my pants. I opened my mouth but stopped short of tearing open the vein throbbing against my teeth. I pulled back as she stared into my face. She held my face in her hands as she smiled,

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” I smiled as I parted her legs and pushed myself inside her, she let out a slight moan as she tightened her thighs around my waist. She threw her head back as I thrust against her I looked to the spilled laundry basket in the doorway to the house. I realised the door was not fully shut and we were in view of the street. I pulled her off as she looked around confused, I pointed to the door as she nodded. We moved into the parlor where we both collapsed to the carpeted floor. I thanked the snobby wife for the seventies era shag rug that I was now lying upon as the girl rode me now. I stared up at her chest as I reached out to touch her. She leaned over me as she whispered into my ear. I nodded as she climbed off and I turned her on her stomach. I saw a smile creep across her face as I pulled her onto me. I stared down at her backside now as she began to moan, I rode her quickly now as I felt my body growing hot. I held on tightly as I began to cum. She looked back at me as I pulled away from her. We fell to the rug as I stared up at the ceiling. I was staring into a cloud filled ceiling now as I looked at her, she lay motionless. I waved my hand over her face as she whispered,

  “For a moment I thought I was in heaven.” I laughed as she turned to face me,

  “I hate to be rude, I said as she stared at me, “but I think we should do that again.” It was her turn to laugh and thinking I was joking. She started to shake her head just as I spread her legs and showed her I was ready for more. Her eyes grew wide as she whispered,

  “That’s amazing.”

  It was late when I dropped her off at her place. She waved to me as she went indoors. I smiled to her as she shifted the weight of the laundry basket to open the door then went inside. As I drove back to Octavius’ home, I had a moment where I had forgotten the girl’s name. And then it occurred to me that I hadn’t asked. It had happened all too suddenly at the bar. I realised that I had bumped into her while she was walking out then started to talk to her about my new house. She was hooked when I mentioned the pool and the ballroom. I think she was in the car before I could finish talking. I thought about the session in the hallway when she dropped her basket and pushed me up against the wall. I was angry that I hadn’t been more daring and tasted her blood. She had given me every opportunity to bite into her flesh and I hadn’t.

  “Mmm…someone has been doing naughty things today,” said Octavius as I entered the house. The house was alive with people in the living area. He nodded in their direction as he said,

  “These are some friends of mine from Miami.” I had never been to Miami and wondered when he had found the time to form new friendships. I nodded to the women standing off to the side holding glasses of wine. From their scent I knew they were human. I followed him as he took me over to the fireplace.

  “I met up with them before you awoke, they are sympathetic to our kind. I was going to take you to them if you didn’t wake up.” I noticed two men sitting on the sofa, they raised a glass to me. They wore dark suits and parted their dark hair the same way. They could be mistaken for twins if you looked at them wrong. I smiled as I walked over,

  “What is it that you do exactly?”

  “I’m a doctor, like Octavius, my patients are like you. They are mostly diseased by human blood. I have a machine that works like a dialysis. I cleanse the blood and make it good again. Oh, I’m Marcus by the way. This is my business partner, Manuel.”

  “Nice to meet you both. So is that what you would have done with me?” Marcus nodded as I took a seat across from them.

  “Well, yes, though your body was resting – you still needed fresh blood daily. I know that Octavius created the Styce but it does not have all the nutrients you need. I’m glad you woke up though. We all were worried for you.” I nodded slowly as I looked to the women talking to Octavius.

  “Are those your wives?” Marcus looked to the women as he laughed,

  “No, those are Manuel’s sisters. They were curious about you both and wanted to meet you,” he said as Manuel managed a smile.

  “They work in the office for us…you’ve become sort of an extended member of the family.” I laughed as the women walked over and introduced themselves,

  “I’m Josefina and this is Therese.” I stared at both women with their dark skin and hair, their features warm as I looked to Manuel and said,

  “You have a beautiful family.”

  “Thank you.”

  It was late when I retired to bed, I had ignored Octavius and his questions about the girl. I shut the door as he asked,

  “Did you even bother to get her name?” I sat on the bed and counted the days until the paperwork would get done on my house. As I climbed into bed, I wondered if the girl would mind my sleeping in her place. I stared at the blank ceiling as I forced myself to sleep. My thoughts on the girl as I shut my eyes, I felt badly that I hadn’t let her enjoy herself. I had been selfish and promised to make it up to her. I thought about the doctors in Octavius’ home tonight. What was their interest in us? Besides wanting to awaken me when I slept, what was their purpose now? I had been too tired to push Octavius for answers. I finally fell into a deep sleep without a care of the world outside.

  I avoided Octavius in the morning as I left the house. The air was cool outside as I passed a house lit with Christmas lights. I could see the trees blinking behind glass windows as I made my way to the Rink. I stopped the car as I got out and headed into the small café. I pulled my jacket on, it was strange to feel the cold on my skin. I couldn’t recall feeling the cold before my sleep. I chalked it up to my willingness to force my death. I pulled open the door as I got into the line. Already there were people holding court at tables with other people. I sensed they were mostly tourists filing in from the nearby bed & breakfasts. I ordered a coffee as I waited patiently at the counter. I looked over to see a girl staring out the window. She had the scent of the girl from the Laundromat. I walked over as I said hello to her. She looked up startled as she said,

  “Hi, have we met before?”

  “No, but I think I know your roommate.” She wrinkled her nose as she said,

  “Oh, you know Nina? We’re kind of on the outs this morning.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, its not something you’d care about. How do you know her?” I realised as I looked down at the dark cashmere coat and dark pants that I must resemble someone much older. I smiled as I said,

  “We met the other night. May I?” I pointed to the empty seat as I sat down. Her dark eyes stared at me as she smiled,

  “Can I be honest here?” I nodded as she leaned forward,

  “Nina isn’t the type of girl to keep a guy around for long. She sort of gets around, if you get my meaning.” What a wretched girl! I laughed as I took a drink of my coffee, I bit my lip as I held back a few choice words.

  “I mean she’s a great girl and all but wow…I don’t think she’s had a steady boyfriend since high school. So what do you do?” I smiled again as I shook my head,

  “Absolutely nothing. I just am.” She backed away as she shrugged,

  “You sound like my dad.” I scoffed as she shook her head, “he said I would meet a guy with nothing to do. He was right, every guy I’ve ever dated has been wealthy enough to spend all his time with me.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Ava, you?”

  “Rent Tres, nice to meet you.” She smiled as she reached over and said,

  “Is that your roadster out there?” I nodded as she leaned over and picked up her backpack,

  “Aren’t you taking me for a ride?”

  I awoke to see
that Ava had left the hotel room sometime before dark. Her blood still fresh in my mouth as I lay back on the pillows. I inhaled her scent as I knew what was in her blood. I knew her intense hate for Nina and her father. Her jealousy toward anyone that was more attractive than her. Her insecurities and the anger she bottled up. I knew I could control her now. I smiled at the thought of having her at any time I wanted. I got up and quickly dressed. I had a home to furnish and things to collect from Octavius’ home. I headed out the door and for the exit.

  Octavius patted my back as I entered the house,

  “Nice work, two girls in less than a day. I’m impressed. But I have had two sisters in one evening. Who’s the winner this week?” I laughed as I leaned against the doorframe,

  “Josefina and Therese, I’m impressed. I thought they were only into me.”

  “You went to bed and they were lonely. Don’t worry, they have only visions of you dancing in their head.” I laughed again as I said,

  “Well, I think our days of rooming together are done. Please don’t be a stranger to my new home.”

  “Oh I should take every opportunity to visit, my friend.” I nodded as I headed up the stairs. Marc was standing at the top as he said,

  “Do you need my help with furnishing the house? I have friends.”

  “You know I think I might, I’ve been asleep for so long. I probably would have the place looking like this one.” I looked back at Octavius as he shook his head,

  “I’ll have you know these are antiques.”

  “And the skull in the fireplace?”

  “It was the idiot that poked fun at my furnishings!” Marc started to laugh as I headed up the stairs. He followed as I headed off to pack my belongings.

  In the morning I was tossing my bags into the trunk of the roadster. I waved to Marc sitting at the window watching me. We would meet later when the sun went down. Already I would be meeting several delivery people throughout the day with furniture for the house. I wished I could have someone sit and sign clipboards all day, I knew I would have to hire someone to take care of those things. My head was still in a cloud from the day before, I still didn’t think the idea of two girls hanging around my house was a good idea. I climbed into the car as I slammed the door shut. I went the few blocks to the new house as I was met with a delivery truck already pulling up. I nodded to the driver as he headed over with a clipboard,