Ilena and the Mate that Nearly Broke Her

4

After sleeping most of the day away, when we weren’t sleeping or having s*x, Charles was telling me all about vampire life and what I should expect now that I was one and working for the famous Kent Masters. He was rich and powerful and very highly regarded in the vampire community. There was The Guard that kept it in check and all members of The Guard had to be of relatively high age, since the only real thing that got you respect was how old you were and the older the better. They policed all vampire activity and therefor oversee all of Kent's businesses and affairs especially since he is such a pinnacle point in age and the community. And because he is one of the largest blood suppliers for the east coast, and for some places even further in than that. And now that I was working for him, I was expected to dress and be professional at all times and even in my free time I could not act in a way that might attract negative attention because it might track back to Master's and since I was newly made, him and Charles were responsible for me and I only received respect because of them. I would only receive respect of my own once I reach at the very lease a hundred years of age or mated someone with significant age, because with the intertwining of our blood upon mating I would receive all the power and strength that my mate already has because of his age. I also found out that most vampires came to develop at least one power or extensive skill, gift type of thing. Matter of fact it was very unusual for a vampire not to develop a gift of sorts, though it was unfortunately true that most vampires don't come to develop that power until it is triggered by something and it could be years or even decades before that can happen. Though mating could force it out.

The next thing I learned was that there are laws held up by the vampire guard, which I had figured since he had first mentioned the guard. Most of the laws spoke of how we fed and the knowledge of our existence: Humans must consent to a feeding and even after they have consented after feeding we are to heal the wound with our own blood and spell them into forgetting that anything happened at all. No human may know of our existence, if a human were to find out about us the human would be spelled to forget and the vampire in question would be punished. But of course he wouldn't tell me about the punishments. No biting or drinking the blood of another vampire except in mating. The punishment for that being death if turned into the creatures Charles had spoken of before, a Griever.

At six the following night I stepped into my new apartment, which was beautiful, hard wood floors, granite counter tops. Everything was beautifully updated and contemporary, just to the left as I walked in was the kitchen and eat in area, just passed that was an eight seater dining table. After that was a large seating area, with two couches facing each other and a coffee table in the middle, an arm chair sat at one end and a T.V. stand with sunken T.V. sat at the other. On the other side of the apartment was a hallway that lead to two bedrooms and a hall bath. One of the bedrooms and the bath were set up as a normal guest bed and bath. The other was the master bedroom, red and black sheets on the bed with sheer canopy curtains, hung along the rich mahogany wood bed rails and bed post that rose all the way up to the twelve foot ceiling. Black out curtains on the floor to ceiling windows. Mahogany wood, furniture was strategically placed throughout the room, on the opposing wall from the bed was a huge walk-in closet and an equally large master bath. The closet is fully stocked with clothes and shoes, purses, jewelry and more. I walked around it just taking it all in, feeling the soft fabrics and trying to feel relaxed with the size that they were and that I now was, even though it felt so weird for me to be so small.

"Do you like it?" Charles asked from the closet doorway, surprising me. Startled I turned towards him and smiled.

"Very much." I said smiling, "All this is just a perk of the job?" I asked skeptically.

"What can I say, we take care of our own." He grinned as he folded his arms and leaned against the door frame.

"What am I supposed to wear tonight?" I asked looking over an entire section dedicated to evening gowns. There were blues and purples, red and black and they were all gorgeous and floor length.

"I think we can stick with a cocktail dress for tonight." He said and walked over to me, in the section of dresses before the evening gowns were cocktail and business dresses all between thigh and knee length, in a variety of colors and designs as well. He looks me up and down as if contemplating something else and then reaches for a dress. Smiling he pulls out a black, knee length, spaghetti strap dress, it looks like it will fit like a second skin on top and flow out a little at the waist. I know I’m giving him a skeptical look, like 'really you want me to wear that'. But I can’t really help it, I’m not used to being skinny.

"Just trust me, you will look amazing in it. Now I’ve got to run up and get dressed myself, I’ll be back down by seven thirty to take you up to the party." He said and gave me quick kiss on the cheek as he handed me my dress and left just as quickly.

I looked down at the dress, "Oh, I am so screwed." I huffed but headed for the shower after throwing the dress on the lounge chair in the middle of the room.

A couple of minutes later I was enjoying the feel of the hot water cascading down my back, I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't receive the pain I did from the last shower I had but actually had a wonderfully relaxing shower. After a probably way to long shower, I stepped out of the shower and started to dry off. I was brushing my teeth when I looked up into the mirror, it really was quite amazing the transformation. My eyes were more gold now with only a little brown on the edges and my hair was long and full, now that it was dry, and golden brown. My skin was flawless, I looked down at my arms and stomach, they were defined with muscles that were delicate but strong. I could see that every curve was delicate and strong, I looked like one of those Victoria secret lingerie models. I had a perfectly round ass and my breast full and perfectly shaped. Now that I look closer, I barely looked like myself, before my nose had a wide bridge and now it was perfect and my lips were fuller, before they had been a little thinner. I guess I still looked like me a bit but it was irritating that the transformation had changed me so much. I did still have my birthmarks and scars but was it really me in this body and not just in mind.

I heard a noise from the other room and threw on robe, I guess I would have to critically analyze how I would look for eternity later. I walked into the other room and saw that a woman was leaving but there was a new box on the counter, that looks like it came in the mail. I checked the address; it had no return but had been sent to my old apartment. Curious, who would send me something without putting their name on it, I ripped the box open to find jewelry but not just any jewelry but the very ones I had been looking at in that store window three days ago. The huge metal and copper earrings and bracelet. I was stunned, who in my old life could afford, never the less want to send me something like this, fortunately for me there was a card.

Ilena,

No beautiful woman should be without jewelry that accentuates her.

So, to the most beautiful woman I have seen in my long life. I hope to be seeing you soon!

Nolan Creek

Staring at the card, I picked up the box and headed back to my closet. I set down the box and letter next to my dress and picked out matching purple lace strapless bra and underwear and a pair of black pumps with five inch heels. I got dressed and quickly did my hair but as it turns out I didn't really have to do that much to it, just brush it really. The entire time I was in a daze. I finally find a guy who's really into me and now I probably won’t be able to see him again and who says he would still be into me anyway, maybe he only likes bigger girls.

I sighed, now that I think of it I do remember thinking that he walked right out of GQ just like all of the vampires I've met recently. I wonder if Charles could find out if he was one too. I thought as I put on the jewelry he sent and reread the note once again.

"Who's that from?" I heard Charles ask from the closet door way, but I wasn't startled this time, I was starting to get used to using my new senses and heard him coming.

"A guy I met a couple of days ago, Nolan Creek." I said looking over at him, he crossed the room to me, looking a little perplexed. And gently took the card from my hand reading it and then staring down at the name as if he recognized it. "Know him?" I asked as I readjusted my bracelet and trying to act nonchalant.

Charles took a moment and then sighed, "No but I can ask around, maybe I’ll even ask Kent. He knows a lot of people." He said and smiled looking up at me, "You look stunning, I just knew that dress would look amazing on you." He put the note down on the box and held out his hand, "Are you ready?"

"Yes." I said and took his hand, we headed out to the elevator and once inside I expected to go down but instead we went up. "Where, exactly, are we going?"

"To Kent's penthouse on the top floor, he's having a dinner party on the roof for some of his clients, so pay close attention to everything and everyone tonight. You can learn a lot in a short amount of time by just watching how others of our kind interact with each other and specifically how Master's does business with them." Charles stated, a moment later the doors opened to a massive apartment, which took up the entire floor. The entire place looked like he had paid a designer to decorate and then never moved anything, ever again. As we stepped inside, we found Kent in the kitchen, only a couple of other people had arrived but they were all gawking at the view. Master's was preparing a few drinks on the massive island as he waved us over.

"Well, you’re even more magnificent than I thought you would be. Drink?" He said grinning mischievously as he made and then handed me a glass of red wine. Kent Master's was definitely a different person out of the office, I would have to keep a close eye on him.

"Thank you." I said quietly as I watched him, his sandy blond hair was swept to one side and his eyes were a gorgeous ocean blue, he wore a white button up that was left open a bit on the chest and black dress pants with black dress shoes. s*x on a stick is what I think my friends would call him. Charles was wearing nearly the same thing except his shirt was blue.

Charles gave me a peck on the cheek and wandered off to do something else, armed with his wine glass and remote to the music, or at least I guess it is because a moment later classical music came on and the sound level was being adjusted.

"How are you adjusting?" Kent asked coming to stand beside me, his deep voice stroking down my spine. It was hard not to notice his chiseled body so close to mine.

"As far as I can tell, I'm doing fairly well. Charles tells me that I have amazing self-control for being newly made." I said looking around the room, more people were starting to arrive now.

"Is that so?" He said sounding just the tiniest bit jealous, but shrugged it off quickly. "Would you like the tour, the views are quite beautiful.”

"I would love that, the view from my place is wonderful but I'm betting from yours its breath taking." I said as he lightly placed a hand on my lower back and guided me towards the hallway, past the living and dining spaces. Out of the corner of my eye I even saw Charles giving Kent an irritated glare but Kent didn't even seem to notice, just kept walking.

Once in the hall he opened a door to the right, "This is my library and office." There were books floor to ceiling on both sides and floor to ceiling windows on the opposing end, a large wooden desk near one side and a wooden spiral staircase that seemed to lead to nowhere. He quickly ushered me back into the hall and into another room, "This is where I meet most of my clients that is if I have to meet them here." The room had a wall book case on the right side but paintings on the opposite wall and in the middle was a coffee table with four comfy business chairs around it, there was a small bar against the windows. I walked to it and I couldn't have been more right, he must have the best view of the city, especially at night, with it all lite up. It was like an ocean of sparkling lights.

"The view is beautiful." I said in a hushed voice.

"Yes it is." He said and I turned to see him staring at me and not in fact the view. Now I had two options here, I could call him out on his blatant flirtation or I could play it aloof like I had with Charles. Of course I did, so far anyway, like Charles more that Kent, but then again I barely knew either of them. I only knew Charles better really because we had, had s*x nearly all day. He lead me into another room, "This is my bedroom...you can see the ocean from here during the day." He said guiding me over to the windows, looking out with my new vision I could indeed see the ocean, it just wasn't as bright as I would like.

"I can see it, I bet it’s very grand during the day." I said turning to look at the rest of the room. It was lush in deep browns and creams.

"I guess I’ll have to keep you until morning so you can see it." He said biting his lip, it was such a sexy move, I just hadn't expected it from him. It was so strange the feeling that came next, I started feeling over heated and turned on, it was almost instantaneous and I hadn't expected it at all. I grabbed onto one of his end bed posts and turned to face him, he was grinning mischievously. Was it him making me feel this way or did I just feel this way because I was attracted to him, I was just thinking about how sexy he was.

"So do you hit on all your new employees or is it just me?" I asked in an involuntarily husky voice.

"It’s just you, you’re the only one I've found intriguing enough to find attractive. Now don't get me wrong, we aren't mates but in my line of work it’s hard to find any time to find someone worth... playing with. I'm old enough to know by now that if we are attracted to each other and don't do anything about it, it may cause tension, but if we have an occasional fling here and there, it’s less stressful and we can control how it affects us in the work place, yes." He walked over to me and unexpectedly kisses me passionately, which I would have been crazy not to return. It was hot and his body pressed against mine just fueled the insatiable lust that had been controlling me since I had been turned. I really didn't need any help from him, I would have wanted it anyway. Gently he broke the kiss and moved away from me towards the door, "Take tonight and think about it, but I can promise that you won’t regret it." He said and walked out of the room.

I stood there staring out the window for a while, just sipping my wine and wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into. Charles stepped into the room and I didn't have to turn to know it was him, I recognized the sound of his steps and his scent that enveloped my senses. I took a deep breath, letting it calm me even though I know it shouldn’t. “Their sitting down for dinner.' He said sounding a little irritated.

"I found out what his real power is. You could have warned me." I said remaining calm, it would do me no good to get angry about something that could not be changed.

"What real power? I had no knowledge of any power more than what I told you already." He said sounding curious but still irritated but now for a whole new reason as he crossed the room to me.

"He can manipulate the s****l charge of a person." I said smirking.

"Wait, what do you mean?" He asked confused, as he looked back at the door to make sure we were still alone.

"One minute I'm thinking that he's got a sexy smile. Nothing to get my panties wet about and the next minute I'm overheating and ready to jump his bones. As if my own s*x drive wasn't enough, he had to go and throw it into overdrive and I had no say about it. And then he goes and kisses me and it’s not like I can’t say no but it’s not like his power and my s*x drive want me to." I spat out and took another sip of wine.

He sighed and the look on his face said that he was coming to understanding something, "It all makes sense now. Women have never been able to say no to him and if he wanted them he got them." He smiled as if everything was just hunky dory now. "Oh I asked Kent if he knew this Nolan guy and he said he didn't think so but if he remembered anything you would be the first to know, now come on, there waiting for us." He said and took my hand pulling me into the hallway and towards the dining room.

I guess now that I was a vampire it really didn't matter who I had s*x with or how many people I decided to be involved with as long as I hadn't met my mate, it was all free range. I guess the real party was about to begin.