Forbidden Fangs

Chapter 8

“So let me get this straight,” Joe said slowly. He was a big bald man, standing in Kylie's kitchen with his back to the damaged door. “Your door just happened to break on its own, and you called this man to fix it, and he arrived within minutes?”

“I was in the neighborhood.” Logan said sheepishly. He had positioned his heavy boots over top of the drying drops of vampire blood staining the floor. “Kylie and I are actually old friends, so I came over right away to take care of it.”

“And the broken dishes?” Joe asked, nodding at the counter top piled with shattered ceramic.

“The door was a bit heavier than I expected,” Logan said, a convincing blush appearing in his cheeks. “I staggered into the table and knocked it over when I first picked it up.”

“And how exactly did the door come off its hinges?” Joe wanted to know.

“I guess I just closed it too hard,” Kylie said. “You should go back to bed Joe, there's nothing for you to worry about.”

“Are you sure you don't need my help?” Joe asked, eyeing the smaller man.

“I can manage, thanks.” Logan nodded. “I do this stuff every day.”

“Okay then…” Joe trailed off and shook his head. “You have a good night Kylie. Holler if you need anything.”

“Thanks Joe, I appreciate it.” She walked him to the hallway and waited on the threshold until he was back inside his own unit. Then she turned toward Logan. “Can you really fix my door?” She asked.

“Not unless you have a drill, and your neighbors don't mind a bit of drilling at-” he glanced at the oven clock, “-four in the morning. My suggestion is you wait until dawn and call an actual contractor. I could go out and get the things I need and repair it, but I feel it'd be best if I stay by your side. For your safety.”

“Well I don't feel very safe in an apartment without a door,” Kylie said, “and I'm going to need a bit more of an explanation about… whatever is going on here.”

“Of course,” Logan nodded. “If you're okay with leaving your apartment open like this, I could get us some rooms at a hotel. It'd probably be better we don't stay here, anyway.” He eyed Kylie's pale legs, pausing as his dark brown orbs caressed the soft curves. “You should… change.”

“Right,” Kylie said, blushing. She was fairly comfortable in her skin, but the strange scene had distracted her from her current wardrobe. “I'm going to call my landlord and leave a message, he'll take care of the door first thing.”

“I'll be here,” Logan said in a steady voice. He pulled a handkerchief from his hip pocket and wiped at the vampire blood on the floor.

Kylie retreated into her bedroom and closed the door, letting out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. Her mind raced despite the ungodly hour, tripping over the evening's events at lightning speed. She shook her head forcefully, as if that could clear it, and changed her T-shirt and put on a pair of yoga pants and a sweater. She sat on her bed and stretched socks over her feet, and then called her landlord. He was already awake, and they had a short awkward conversation after which he assured her he'd drop by the building to make arrangements for a new door at first light. Feeling glad that at least one thing was taken care of, Kylie put her phone in her purse and carried the red leather bag out to the kitchen.

Logan had one of her wooden chairs tipped back on two of its legs, balancing effortlessly with his feet crossed and his arms behind his head. He stood up like a stretching cat when she walked into the room, taking his eyes away from the open doorway.

“So, what's going-” Kylie asked.

“Save your questions,” Logan cut her off, gesturing toward the door. “The vampire likely flew off to hide his ship somewhere for the day, but we don't want to risk it. For all we know, their technology may have advanced to the point where they can overcome their allergy to sunlight. We should get to the hotel. I promise, I'll answer all your questions once we're there.”

Kylie bit her lip and nodded, and then followed the man in coveralls into the hallway, down the stairs, and out the door into the parking lot.

“Let's take my car,” Logan said, indicating a long black Ford Crown Victoria. “The engine's still warm.” He opened the passenger door for Kylie and then walked around the hood and slid in next to her. As the heavy engine sparked to life, the young woman realized that she had just gotten in a vehicle with a stranger who broke down her door. She knew her instincts should have told her to get out and run… but she trusted something about Logan, and her curiosity was far stronger than her fear. She wanted to know about these alien vampires, and the slayers Logan apparently represented. She wanted to know why two men had burst into her apartment in the middle of the night. Most of all, she just wanted to know what was going on with her life.