I hope you enjoyed First Sight. Here is a sneak peak at Book 2, in the Ivory Series, New Beginnings. I hope you enjoy.
1
The clock ticked over to midnight, the date was August 26th, exactly one year to the day I thought my world had ended. The day I thought my beloved had been taken away from me, by a blood lusting sadistic vampire seeking revenge for the death of his partner. One of my own kind. My gut still churns at the thought of losing her. Even now as she lays here beside me sleeping, any time I cannot hear the rhythmical beating of her heart. Anytime I cannot hear the sensual timbre of her voice or smell her sweet intoxicating scent, the fear is almost too much to take.
A strand of dark hair slips over her porcelain face and I tuck it behind her ear as I listen to the sound of her breath and watch the rise and fall of her chest. This is all a comfort to me. For I know she is still human, still my Nicola. Right down to the pink blush on her cheeks and the pout of her rosebud lips.
Nicola shifts in her sleep and reaches out for me. Her green eyes flutter open under a canopy of dark lashes as she smiles sleepily and stretches.
“Go back to sleep my love” I whispered, kissing her forehead. She rolls over and quickly falls back to sleep.
Every night for the past year as I watch her sleep, I have replayed over and over again in my mind the scene which haunts me most. The repulsive thought that moves in slow motion like a horror movie, Nicola under attack from Dante. It begins with the chase through the old abandoned miners cottage, on the escarpment of Peak Hill. After I had killed Dante’s partner Elisabetta. I had driven a stake through her heart and then decapitating her, as Dante watched. I have no remorse for what I had done. She had helped kidnap Nicola and taken her to that foul place. Therefore she had to die. Dante moved away swiftly, a madman in a broken hearted rage. In my pursuit I could hear Nicola’s heartbeat accelerating; her breath came out in broken gasps. As I rounded the corner and stood in the doorway where she was being held, I could smell her blood as it ran down her arm. The precious droplets falling to the dusty floor and exploding with the warm sweet smell I crave most. Splintered timber and plaster scattered the floor. Her face was calm and the warrior cry that escaped her lips haunts me the most, the lack of fear in the face of danger. Dante falls backwards as Nicola follows, under the weight of his body pulling her down. She pushed the stake further into his unbeaten heart, a fountain of blood gushing over her. The smell of her blood makes my throat ache even now in my memory, but I did not want to taste the blood that taunted me for so long. The thought both tantalized and repulsed me, I could never hurt her. It only affirmed to me that I wanted nothing more than to be human again.
I turned the two gold rings over in my hand and rubbed my thumb over them. This was the only remnant of Vaughan Murray, my former self that existed. It was barely a month ago that my brother, my human brother, had left this world. He was the only family I had left. Age and dementia had finally claimed him. He had left behind his sons, Vaughan (whom he named after me. He told me on one of my monthly visits to his bedside in the nursing home in Abermain) and William jnr. Both I had never met.
When the nurse called me to tell me my “Grandfather” Will had passed away and had left some possessions for me. I felt the last piece of my humanity die too. The two gold wedding rings were left for me in a yellowing envelope. Inside was also a picture of the two of us as children. The grainy sepia image showed two happy brothers, oblivious to the destinies that life held in store for them. One of the rings belonged to our Mother, the other to our Father. The rings had been passed down to Will and Marion when they married. This was the final nail in the coffin, as it were, that affirmed my choice. This would be my legacy.
“I have made a decision,” I started; I have had this discussion with myself many times over the last year. I wanted it to sound right, plausible to even myself before I told Nicola. She stirred again, moving closer to me this time. “I am going to Egypt.”
“That’s nice baby” she murmured dreamily.
I watched her reaction, making sure she was asleep before I continued. “I’m going to find The Creator, ask to be changed back.” No that didn’t sound right.
“Don’t forget sunscreen” she mumbled again as she shifted closer to me, her hand touching my chest for assurance. I couldn’t help smiling; she was peaceful in her slumber, safely locked away in her dreams. This was the reason I was doing this, for her. So she could sleep peacefully always knowing she were safe. I wanted to sleep by her side, hold her and warm her. Not watch the faint blue carotid artery pulse in her neck as I listened to the sound of her blood pulsating in her veins, and have my teeth ache that sensual longing ache. Not have my throat burn with a white hot fire, or have the voice in my head telling me Take her! Put your mouth on her throat and take her. Drain every last drop of blood from her body. It’s what you were born to do.
This was not the life had chosen for myself.
“I have made enquiries,” I started again “The story Ivan told me, about the vampire who became human again, it seems to have some merit to it” No, that doesn’t sound right either, why was this such a hard thing to say? She knows how I feel, that I want to be human, that I want to be with her. Going to Egypt did not guarantee I would be granted my request. The Creator may refuse me; even kill me even for such a betrayal to our kind. I may never see Nicola again. This was a fate worse than death.
“Vaughan” a voice called me, so quietly that only someone with my immortal abilities could hear it. I knew the owner of the voice immediately. Gerri, her Irish lilt was unmistakable. Hesitantly I moved Nicola’s hand away from my chest and crept to the balcony door. Throwing open the velvet curtains and sliding open the glass door. “It’s about time” she scolded as she stepped inside and hitting my arm playfully. “I was calling you for ages. You were blocking me.”
“I wasn’t blocking you.” I reassured her, gesturing my head to the bedroom where Nicola slept.
“Ah” Her face softened “Have you told her yet?”
I shook my head.
“Still can’t find the words?”
“No.”
Gerri nodded her head sympathetically “She’ll understand you know. She wants this as much as you do. She’s just too scared to tell you.”
“We share the same fear Gerri” I said as I leaned back against the glass dining room table, letting out a frustrated sigh.
“I know. But you have two options. One, tell her and whatever happens happens or two, don’t tell her and watch her get older as you don’t. I’m sure she’ll be real pleased when you have to be introduced as her grandson.”
A hiss escaped my lips. Gerri knew she has crossed the line, even though she did not say anything that was not true. I hated to be reminded of the obvious crossroad I was facing.
“What if my request is denied?”
“Then you stay a blood sucking monster for all eternity.” She laughed reassuringly.
“Or be killed.”
Gerri shook her head “You don’t know that for certain Vaughan.”
“Sekhmet is not known for her compassion.”
“Urgh, you are glass half empty. You won’t know unless you try.”
I knew she was right and arguing was fruitless. Conceding defeat I nodded.
“So you will tell Nicola?”
I let out a long sigh “Yes, I will tell Nicola.”
Gerri’s face became concerned as she took in my appearance. I knew my skin was gaunt, sinking over my bones from lack of blood. I felt weak and tired. “You need to feed.”
“I’m fine.”
“She’s asleep; she won‘t even know you’re gone.”
I shook my head. My throat ached with a burning hunger, but I hated to leave Nicola alone.
“I will stay with her. Marcus is waiting outside for you.”
Marcus was impatiently pacing on the foot path below. His steps were heavy and inconsistent. There was the occasional kick of some object on th
e ground.
“Go!” she ordered, crossing her arms over her chest. With a looked that dared me to defy her order.
I nodded my agreement and stepped closer to the door. “Thanks Gerri” I said before leaping over the balcony. The night air rushed over me I descended the eight stories below and I landed lithely on my feet, feline like.
“It’s about time” Marcus complained as he leaned against his car. “I thought I’d have to go up there and drag your ass out here myself. Get in.” He indicated to his car. My door had no sooner closed than the wheels were spinning and we were racing along Cannon Drive, following the beachfront of Belles Cove.
“Are you seriously going to go through with this?” Marcus asked.
I looked at him without comprehension “With what?”
“This whole Egypt thing.”
Anger simmered away inside me towards Marcus. His lack of seriousness at what I was about to do “You know I hate this life.” I murmured.
“I know, but what if you don’t get what you want?”
My plan B had entered my mind and I cringed “Then I would stay with Nicola for as long as I were able.”
After a moment’s pause Marcus prompted “And then?”
“What would you do, if you could only be with Gerri for a human lifetime?”
There was silence; he seemed to be contemplating this situation in his shoes and shuddered “Fair point. It’s a big gamble though.”
“I know.”
“You could always…change her” his voice was softer now and he didn’t look toward me; he knew he was touching a nerve.
A growl simmered in the pit of my stomach, this was not an option. I had made it clear to everyone that Nicola was not to be made into a monster like myself. This was something neither of us wanted.
Marcus’ changed the subject “So, what do you feel like tonight?”
I shook my head as I gazed out of the window “I don’t care.”
“You know what you need? The thrill of the chase, that invigorating blood that comes when adrenalin has pumped through someone’s veins. I’m thinking pimp.” Marcus had always made fun at my reasoning behind the victims I chose. His rationale was ‘bloods just blood,’ he accepted his fate of being a blood drinker as nothing out of the ordinary.
After 30 minutes the shiny silver Nissan GT-R turned into the industrial area of Glenbrook, where the working girls were known to frequent. The streets were lined with warehouses and storage facilities, hidden alleyways leading off into a labyrinth, perfect to escape for a few moments of despicable pleasure. Marcus and I had no interest in the drug addicted whores of this neighborhood; it was the ones who forced them into this life of degradation we were after. The women huddled in small groups of two or three, shivering from the cold in their revealing clothing as they waited for someone to approach. Someone to offer them a small amount of money or drugs, in exchange for meaningless depraved sex, to feed their habit and escape from reality. We pulled closer to the curb and a man approached. He was tall and thin, with slicked back hair braided down his back. A wispy moustache grew like peach fuzz above his lip, and his neck was adorned with heavy gold chains. He flicked his cigarette into the gutter as he knelt down beside the car, blowing the smoke in our direction. I opened the window.
“Hey bro, lookin for a bit o action tonight?” He asked, the words seemed misplaced coming from his mouth as he tried to make himself sound gangster, only to be delivered like a try hard fool.
“Just looking” Marcus called from the driver side.
“Yeah well, my bitches aint here standing around to be looked at know what I’m sayin? So either picks one or fuck off.” He stood up and stepped back from the car, looking for the next car to arrive.
Marcus took this as the lead he wanted “Or what bro?”
The skinny man laughed as he lifted the front of his shirt to reveal a gun tucked into the top of his baggy low rider jeans. “You don’ wanna mess with me man. I take you and your boy down.” He gestured toward me in the passenger seat and pointed his hand at me like a gun, curling his thumb like a trigger.
Marcus opened the door and moved to the curb so he was face to face with the man. “Are you threatening me?”
The man’s heartbeat accelerated, his blood starting pumping quickly through his veins. I could smell the fear and adrenalin wafting from him. He straightened his posture and flexed his arms in an attempt to make his physical presence seem bigger than it was. “Whadda you a cop?” was his reply as he looked over Marcus’ shoulder. “Nah, you ain’t no cop. Can’t afford a ride like that on a cops pay, unless you on the take. You here to muscle in on my turf?” The three women standing behind him all started to back away for safety. Another man appeared from a car parked in the alley. He was much larger and dark skinned, his braided hair hidden under a red bandana “Yo Leon. Everything cool?” His low deep voice was casual.
“No Wes, these clowns think they can just look” his stare didn’t drop from Marcus,
Wes chuckled to himself and cracked his knuckles as he slowly approached Marcus and Leon. I took this as my queue and now stepped out of the car, standing side by side with Marcus. The women were scared, I could hear their hearts hammering with fear, and this made the ache almost too much to bear. I wanted to rip their throats and feel the hot blood filling my dry aching veins, nourish my starving body. My teeth tingled as they descended, ready for the kill.
Wes was now standing next to Leon “Did ya tell em what we do to fellas who only want to look?”
The women had now retreated to the safety of the car Wes had emerged from, one of them wiped the foggy back window with her hand, for a clearer view of what was to come. Marcus looked across to me “Two birds with one stone. Must be our lucky night.”
Wes laughed again “Lady luck is not looking down on you two right now my friend. You betta get outta here or else.”
Marcus laughed as he stepped closer to Wes. Leon’s heart was hammering in his chest, sweat beading on his top lip, the adrenalin almost making me lose control of myself. Wes on the other hand, remained calm. The thrill of the chase, the words Marcus had spoken to me rang in my ears. Leon was my target. Marcus had made his choice. “Or else what?”
Wes clenched his fist and took a swing at Marcus, who grabbed his fist inches from his face and crushing Wes’ fingers in his grip. The sound of the bones breaking and Wes’ pained wail seemed too much for Leon; he turned and ran down the street. I watched him run to the next corner before starting my pursuit, smelling the fear radiating off him. I made up the distance quickly, rounding the corner where I knew he was hiding. He took a swing at me and his hand made contact with the side of my face, but had no effect on my hard skin. Leon clutched his hand to his chest and looked at me. My eyes had now turned black, my fangs exposed. Leon whimpered “What are you?”
The rapid bang, bang, bang sound of Leon’s heart was too much. I had to do it now, my control was slipping away. Stepping forward, I taunted my prey as he taunted the women he forced to work for him, I whispered “I’m your worst nightmare” then I grabbed his hair, wrenching his head to one side exposing his throat. The blue pulsing carotid artery that held the blood that I craved so desperately teased me and my throat ached with a glorious pain. My teeth plunged into the soft skin and sank deep into his neck, piercing the exact point needed. An immediate relief washed over me as the hot flow of the life essence draining out of my victim and into my mouth, feeding my body. I could feel the heat spreading through me, gushing down my throat and seeping into my veins. The sweet sense of ecstasy was overwhelming me and my mind started to cloud. Leon’s body twisted in pain, and muffled gurgling sounds spat from his throat. I took him in my arms and lowered him toward the ground, so not to lose hold of the sweet blood. His writhing sent pulses of blood into me in dramatic spurts. Soon the movements stopped and I was able to drain the last of what I needed and let Leon’s limp body drop to the ground. My body felt stronger for the hit of succulent blood, my
senses were sharpening. The erotic sense of euphoria I always felt after feeding was overwhelming. I took a moment to compose myself before I stood and headed back to the car.
Marcus was standing over the limp corpse of Wes. “So what do you think, drug overdose?” he asked as he lifted Wes’ arm and slapped the inner side of his elbow. Reaching into his pocket he took out a syringe, removed the cap and pumped half the vile of cloudy liquid into Wes’ lifeless vein.
“Appears that way” I agreed and took the syringe when Marcus was done. I had made it to Leon’s body and back before he had compelled the first of the three working girls who were huddling in the back seat of Wes’ beat up Holden Camira.
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Other titles by Melissa Crowe
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