10
Anita and I walked to the car park after work, we both stopped mid stride to take in the sight of a man leaning against my car, Vaughan. Anita saw my face light up when I recognised him and she let out a little sigh “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow Nicola?” she whispered. I didn’t break my stare from the gorgeous dark haired man before me. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a grey fitted t shirt. I bit my bottom lip and slowly walked towards my car “I told you this could be considered stalking” I joked.
“I thought you wanted me to make a habit out of it.”
“I do” then I gestured to the sky above, streaked with the dying rays of light. Vaughan, in turn indicated the long dark shadow being cast over the car park by my office building.
I nodded “Ah, shadows.”
“I hope that’s ok with you?”
I could not hide the smile on my face “I love seeing you at the end of the day.”
“Good. I’ll continue to make a habit out of it then” he laughed.
I sat on the balcony of Vaughan’s apartment and watched the last of the sun shining on the harbour. Reflecting a blazing orange glow though the water, fishing boats were settled on the water for the night. A warm breeze wafted toward me, moving my hair across my face, the taste of salt on my lips carried from the ocean below. The waves caressed the sand softly and gently. I could get use to this. The water seemed to be inviting me, calling almost. How I wanted to run downstairs and feel the cool water on my legs. The inlet looked like sheets of black shining satin moving toward shore, gold reflections of light rippling through the slow moving current. My head was resting against Vaughan’s chest as we sat on the balcony, his arm around me. “Ah, this is heaven” I mused “The water looks so inviting.”
“Why don’t you go for a swim?”
I turned to him in disbelief “I didn’t bring swimmers.”
I could feel his chest moving with laughter “It’s dark down there, no one will see you.”
“You mean skinny dip?” I asked, checking over the balcony to the water below.
He shrugged his shoulders “You can wear your underwear.”
I contemplated this idea. No one was around, except the occasional jogger or dog walker. The outdoor fitness clubs had long left and my stomach began to flutter with excitement. “Only if you join me.”
Vaughan nodded in agreement smiling, amused.
My fingers fumbled with the buttons of my shirt as I stood in the bathroom and undressed to my underwear, I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. My pulse quickened and I took a few deep reassuring breaths. In the mirror I fixed my hair, and then turned to leave, my hand hovered on the door knob while I composed myself. Why did I feel so nervous? I can do this, I told myself, and then I turned the handle and stepped through the door, leaning against the frame. “I’m ready” I called.
Vaughan turned and stepped inside the apartment, a smile on his face as he approached me. His eyes slowly making their way down my body. The look of delight on his face turned to a look of repulsion the further down his eyes reached. Slowly they turned dark and angry, he didn’t like what he was seeing, rejection flooded me and I wanted to curl into a ball and hide away. My chest hurt, and wiping the tears from my eyes I stepped backward. Slamming the bathroom door behind me and turning the lock, my body slid down the frame and onto the floor as I hugged my knees to my chest. Never before had I seen such a look, one of horror and rejection. Vaughan knocked on the door “Nicola. What’s wrong?” his voice was urgent and full of concern.
“Leave me alone!” I shouted back sobbing.
“What did I do?”
Anger flooded me and I reached for a towel and wrapped it around myself as I undid the lock, throwing open the door “Is my body really that disgusting to you Vaughan?” I shouted, the feeling of blood rushing to my face made me giddy, but I didn’t care.
He looked at me dumbfounded and took a step backwards “What? I don’t understand.”
“I know I’m not perfect, like Heidi or Gerri, or any of your previous vampire girlfriends, but you don’t need make me feel so inadequate.”
“Nicola, I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“You looked at me like I was the most grotesque thing you had ever seen. How do you think that makes me feel?” I slammed the bathroom door again and collected my clothes. My fingers stumbled on the buttons of my shirt, after the third one I gave up and threw the door open ready to leave. Vaughan was sitting on the floor against the wall, his head in his hands. I stood at the door ready to leave, and I waited for him to give me a reason not to, a chance to redeem himself. His voice was so quiet I strained to hear him “I was looking at the bite marks.”
“What bite marks?” I shot back, unable to look at him.
“You have bite marks on your body” his voice cracked with each word spoken.
My hands were shaking on the door handle and I leant against the door for support. Vaughan stood up and slowly walked towards me, I felt his presence behind me.
“Where are the bite marks?” I asked, slowly turning and trying my hardest to hold back the flood of tears that threatened at any second.
He took a long deep breath, closing his eyes to compose himself “There’s one here” he said as his hand hovered on the upper side of the left breast, too scared to touch me. “Here” he indicated over the right curve of my waist. “There’s also one on the inside of you right thigh and one on your left ankle” Then he backed away from me slowly. My fingers absently ran over my breast, where Vaughan indicated marks, trying to feel them and I started to shake. The emotion boiled inside me, working its way up from my stomach, through my chest and eventually I opened my mouth and cried hysterically, I doubled over with grief “Who did this, Vaughan? Who did this to me?” I demanded, knowing it was a hopeless question to ask.
He held me to him and we collapsed to the floor “I don’t know” he whispered, pain and helplessness echoed in his voice.
“What else have they done to me?”
A growl grew in Vaughan’s chest.
“I want you to promise me something?” I asked looking up at him. Vaughan brushed wet strands of hair away from the face “Anything.”
“When you find them, I want you to make them pay for what they’ve done.”
Vaughan’s expression didn’t alter “You have my word” he vowed without a moment’s hesitation.
We stayed on the doorway for what seemed like an eternity, my sobbing gradually subsided and my face starting to feel chalky from tears. “I’ll take you home” Vaughan said as he stood and turned for the door. “Please don’t leave me alone, not tonight.”
“I have to see Ivan.”
“Can’t you see him tomorrow night? I’m scared Vaughan, I want to stay here with you, where I feel safe.”
“You would be safer at your house.”
“Stay with me there, please” I pleaded.
“Ok” he reassured me “I’ll stay with you.”