Cross Bitten

Interview with a vampire

I walk in the room and I feel a hand grab me and spin me around. It startles me causing a scream to escape my lips. Pete is by my side instantly.

“What is going on here!?” Pete says staring at the man.

“Sorry, Vincent startled me.” I reply with a smile.

“Wow! You even remembered my name!? Lovely to see you here Annie.” Vincent says with a grin, before turning to a very unpleased looking Pete.

“The meeting has been rescheduled to tonight, and don’t be late. Ruby will be there and you know how she gets.”

Pete squints his eyes at Vincent and nods his head, “Not a problem, now if you don’t mind I have an important meeting with Annie here.”

Vincent turns toward me “Enjoy, and good luck, I am quite sure I will be seeing more of you my dear.” His words send a shiver down my spine, but I shove my feelings aside and walk over to Pete’s desk to take a seat.

“So Annie, how is it you know Vincent?” Pete says as he leans back in his chair arms folded over his chest.

“Well I met him briefly at a club in town a couple of nights ago, we ran into each other as I was leaving.” Pete rubs his chin and gives me a thoughtful look.

“Interesting, he must have been there for work.” Pete stares off almost as if pondering something before continuing. “Speaking of work, what interests you in working for my company.”

“Well to be honest, I love my job, but there is only so much you can do in a small town. I thrive in action and working for you I can imagine there’s no limit to that.”

Pete let’s out a small chuckle. “ You would be correct. As governor and head of the top transfusion company in the country there is no shortage of action and entertainment.” He replies with a wink. “I have seen your work and you are quite frankly one of the most engaging, maybe even one of the best in the field.” My heart rate quickens and I can’t help but let out a small breath.

“Wow that’s quite the honor coming from someone of your stature Mr.Vondervelg!”

He sets his hands on the table and looks me right in the eye. “Remember just Pete please.” I bite my lower lip, “Sorry Pete.”

He smiles before continuing, “Annie I am not one to tip toe around things, I have read your resume, and studied your work and I know you would be the perfect fit for the position, but before I offer you this job I have just a few very important questions.” I’m a little shocked, I never expected things to go this smoothly, my heart is racing my hands are clammy, do not screw this up Annie I think to myself.

“How are you at keeping secrets?”

I do my best to keep my composure at his question, but im sure curiosity is written all over my face. I take a deep breath before responding.

"Well to be fair my job usually requires me to find out and release secrets. However, if the assignment involves secrecy I am more then capable of keeping information to myself." I reply with a grin, and a wink. Pete studies my face as though I am taking a poligraph and he is the lie detector.

"Being who I am comes with alot of responsibility and public opinion, so understandably I need much of my business kept close to the chest so to speak." I nod my head in understanding.

"Speaking of business, how do you deal with tough situations?" He folds his hands on top of the desk making direct eye contact.

“I am always studying my surroundings, I am adaptable, and calm. Through my career I have been thrown into some very hard situations so I’ve learned to think quickly and act rationally.” Pete gives me a thoughtful look before offering a charming smile.

“Wonderful Annie, you will encounter many challenges working here, but I have no doubt you will adapt and adjust accordingly. I will be here every step of the way to help you navigate. Now I have one final question before offering you this job. Should you accept you will have to move in and live here on site.”

I swallow, my mind starts racing, it’s one thing to accept a job but to up and move? Now my nerves are building, I need to calm down I need to focus. I look up and stare into his eyes, and suddenly that is all I can focus on, his beautiful emerald eyes, I get lost in them in a trance like state. I don’t even realize I’m starting to lean forward almost if being pulled by an invisible string, and before I can even gather a thought I hear myself replying. “I’m ready to do what it takes.” Suddenly I’m aware of everything again, like iv been dropped back in my body and I can’t believe I said yes.

Pete clasps his hands together, “Fantastic! There is a contract to be signed, I’ll have it prepared while we take a tour of everything, after that we will send you to collect your things.”

“Wait, you want me to start moving today!?!?”

“Yes today, no time like the present, I have a big job that needs to be started immediately.”

i look at him in shock, "What about my other job? My roommate? I need time."

He stands up and walks toward me, "You have a new job, I promise job security, your roommate is more than welcome to visit, or we can get her temporary housing near by, or even help pay rent on your behalf. However, she can not live on site without being an employee and signing the contract."

I stand up, my heart sinking, I know this is a huge opportunity but I am giving up my whole life for it. I bite my bottom lip.

"I will call and quit my other job, but I have to talk to Olivia first, she is like family to me." Pete nods,

"I completely understand, but do keep in mind my offer for her while you talk." I smile as he heads for the door motioning for me to follow. "Lets start with a tour shall we?" He walks me out to the pearlescent colored lobby bright and vibrant with marbled flooring, strategically placed plants filling up empty corners and spaces. We walk through to the elevator where we go down several floors before it opens to a small hallway with a set of doors. One reads transfusion bank, another reads laboratory, and a third door that says authorized individuals only. Pete points to the transfusion bank and the lab first.

"This is where we receive blood and fuse it to those that need it, and over here is our lab, we study the effects of varying blood types on different people to figure out what will sustain and give the longest lasting results. Soon you will have your own passcode to come and go." Pete begins to walk down the hall still talking, I decide to give into my curiousity and peak through the window on the door. Inside is a dim lab, I see some people working, as im scanning the room I notice someone laying on the floor, and then in a flash something flys by the window and the person is gone!

Before I can try and make sense of what I just saw, I feel a pair of strong arms slither around my waist lifting me up and spinning me down on the floor away from the door. My heart begins to race, I feel his lips brush my ear before he whispers, "Now, now Annie no peaking, you will learn and see all of this soon my dear." He spins me around to look into his beautiful eyes, and I get lost in them for a moment. Something about this man. I bring myself back to reality, "First of all, who gave you permission to grab me like that!?" He smiles his charming smile, "My appologies, but no one gave you permission to snoop either, by the way your blushing." He says as he motions for me to follow him. Damn him! I think to myself.

We get to the third and most mysterious door, and he presses a button before saying "Vonderrvelg, Chrimsim, Vincent and Stone, Barret, and Ruby, the counsels home." The door glows slighly revealing all sorts of ancient looking carvings on the door face that were not apparent before, then it unlocks and opens. We walk in to a large room, with old victorian decor and chairs made of velvet and a couch make of marble and stone. There is a single chaneldier alluminating a red and white glow. On the walls are more carvings, with words in a language I can't understand.

Pete clears his throat, "I have a group of my most trusted advisors, they council and givee me advice and help me make tough decisions. This is our meeting place, and you should feel honored as not just anyone can come in here." I bite my lip and tilt my head to the side, "Lucky me, why do I get such a privlage if I haven't even agreed to work here?"

Pete walks over to me and looks deep into my eyes. "I already know you will accept, and when you do, you will become my closest confidant and most trusted ally." He says with a wink. My heart races again and my cheeks begin to flush, but I am no love sick puppy! Two can play this game,I walk close to him i put my hand on his chest and stand on my tip toes and put my lips next to his ear,

"I don't accept." His smile turns serious and his eyes drop as if I have foiled his plans.

"I will not make you stay, you may head right this way." Damn he called my bluff, we leave the room and get into the elevator.

"Before you go Annie I must show you the best part." my breath hitches a bit.

"Do tell what is the best part?" I ask raising an eyebrow, genuinly curious. The doors open to a beautiful room black couches and red rugs sit atop beautiful marble floors. There is a huge kitchen and living room. The wall is just one giant window overlooking the city, to the left is a huge bathroom with a large shower, stone walled with glass doors, and a beautiful glass sink. to the right you can see two rooms, and an office space. My mouth parts slightly in awe of the sight before me.

"It is quite a shame you don't want to stay, this could have been yours." My heart sinks."

"If you think that I am the perfect candidate for the position, then why are you willing to let me leave so easily? Why not bargain to make me want to stay." Pete lets out a deep laugh and continues to laugh until he is almost brought to tears.

"Darling it is very simple, I beg for no one, you want it or you don't. I feel you are the best for the position sure, but that doesn't mean there aren't others dieing for the chance to work for me. I can mold the right person. The choice is yours, and always will be." I stare at him and let out a sigh. This man isn't lieing, I can just sense it.

"I can quit or leave at any time?" Pete smiles.

"As long as you don't break the contract, we have no issues. I hold no one prisoner, you may leave at any time."

I mull his offer over in my head, I already knew I would accept I just had to talk Olivia into moving, and see the conract.

Suddenly the elevator door opens and out walks Markus, Olivia unconcious completly limp in his arms.

"What have you done!"