Vampires Bite

Vampires Like Chex Mix

     I was making a snack and getting ready to finish the last few chapters in the book he asked me to read when Alissa finally came in. It was almost midnight, way past my normal bedtime. I had to adjust my work schedule since Robert insisted I dedicate all my work time to this case. I still took the occasional will or trust cases, but I didn’t have to go in as early. 

“You're still awake,” she stated.

“Yea, he dropped off some discs for us to go over, and I was finishing up with the book I was on,” I sat my homemade Chex Mix down on the counter and sat in one of the high stools in front of it.

“Do you want to watch them now?” she asked.

“No, it’s rather late, we can do that tomorrow,” I said.

“Yeah, sorry I ended up at The Lounge for a while, and he didn’t mention any discs,” she shrugged.

“So is that where you... fed?” I asked.

“No, I met the guy from last time there, and then we went back to his place and well...you know,” she teased.

 “Tell me about Leif,” I asked, remembering Antonio’s last words to me.

“Leif? He’s a good guy. I mean, you wouldn’t want to cross him, but you can say the same for Antonio or even me for that matter,” she smiled and looked at me closely for a moment, “why?’

“I don’t know, Leif is going to be teaching me to block you know mind invasions or whatever you guys call it,”

“Augur’s,” she said.

“Yes, and Antonio seemed upset I was going to his house tomorrow to learn. He accused me of not being cautious basically,”

“Was that really what it was?” she asked.

“What else could it be? I mean one minute he told me to get Leif’s advice on the network interviews the next he thinks I’m stupid for going to a guy’s house I don’t know,”

“I doubt he used the word stupid but come on, Cass, he’s a guy,” she took a handful of the Chex Mix and shoved a few in her mouth. “These are good,” she added.

“Well, he needs to worry about his own life, not mine. The guy is unbearable,” I said.

“Look, you seem to lack in this area, so I’m going to give you some advice here. It’s clear he’s interested in you in more than business, which is why he doesn’t want you spending too much time with  Leif,” Alissa said.

“He’s got Trish,” I said.

“Trish, and whatever or whoever else fancies him,” she laughed.

“Well, he doesn’t have me,” I stood up, leaving the snack bowl behind for her to enjoy, and went to my room.

“Sure he doesn’t,” I thought I heard her say before I closed my bedroom door.

Leif lived quite modestly considering. He lived in a small Victorian-style home. It was no mansion and no penthouse, that was for sure, but it was homely. The walls were painted in neutral tones with a few paintings on the wall. There were no pictures on the wall. I suspected he had no family to have pictures of, though.

“Give me just a minute to finish up this phone call, and we can get started,” He walked towards the back of the house, and I heard a door shut loudly. I guess that would be his office.

The house didn’t really feel like a place a vampire would live, let alone Leif. However, I didn’t know him well. I took the extra few minutes to review my emails and respond to a few before Leif returned.

“Sorry about that. Can I get you anything to drink? A soda, maybe some tea or coffee,” he added.

“No, thank you,” I said.

“Very well, let’s get started. Do you meditate?” He asked.

“Not religiously, but I sometimes do,” I shrugged.

“Good, you know the basics then. The first thing is to clear your mind of your daily thoughts. Please do this every day. When you get home from work or before bed, meditate keeping this in mind,” He said.

“How will that help?” I asked.

“When you clear your mind like that and let go of your thoughts most times, you are refreshed, and those thoughts aren’t sitting at the forefront of your mind. Of course, it doesn’t always work. The next thing is training your brain not to sit and openly think when you don’t want it to.”

“Openly think?”

“Yes. Humans are so bad at it. They walk around wondering this or that or what they will cook for dinner. Their brains are constantly thinking, which isn’t bad normally only with people such as myself. They leave their mind open the more open like that, the better I can dig and find out things that aren’t open,”

“How will I manage that?” It didn’t sound easy.

“The meditation helps, and I will teach you some specific meditation techniques. I’m gonna be honest, though. This isn't foolproof. It will only help you not to be so susceptible. If it is pertinent, we will need to give you more of the potion you drank the other day,”

“So, you mean it doesn’t always work?” I asked.

“No, what I mean is, if you learn not to project your thoughts, most vampires won’t intrude. In general, they don’t unless they have a reason to. Listening to you think about how hot you think someone is or what you want for dinner isn’t their thing unless it interests them. If there is a reason to believe someone may want to pick your mind more deeply, that is where the potion comes in handy. Your mind would be blank,”

“So, you will still be able to pick my mind?” I asked.

“Maybe, but you will know when someone is doing it. Now let’s get started,” He began stretching and sat down on the living room rug, and I followed suit.

A few hours later, I felt much more relaxed. I had forgotten how relaxing meditation could be. Leif taught me a few techniques, and I was eager to use them.

“So Can You Read My Mind?” I asked him.

“You’re not projecting, but remember I’m very experienced and can get into your mind. Remember what I told you about the mental push. When you feel me in your mind, try it,” he said.

I sat there quietly, waiting for the tug he said I would feel, but felt nothing.

“Are you going to try?” I asked.

“Oh, I have you didn’t feel it?” he smirked.

I slightly nodded my head and shut my eyes, trying the visual route he taught me. I concentrated hard, and after a minute or two, I could feel a slight itch like feeling. I concentrated hard on pushing him out until I no longer felt the itchy feeling.

“I did it!” I jumped up excitedly and hugged him.

He jumped back slightly but recovered and wrapped his arms around me, “You’re an easy study. You did great.”

“Have you taught other humans?” I let go of him and sat down, crossed legged next to him again.

“No,” he simply said.

“Have you ever dated a human?” I asked.

“Yes,” Again, his answer was simple, giving no explanation. I was getting nowhere here, though I was unsure where I was trying to go.

“Well, I should get back. Alissa will wake up soon, and we are going to watch the interviews Antonio dropped off,” I stood and stretched, stifling a yawn. I was so relaxed I was almost sleepy.

“Save yourself and go with CMNO,” he too got up as well.

“But Antonio said...”

“Yea, yea, and I’m the one with the mind-reading capabilities. CMNO is the better choice,” Antonio said, to get his opinion on it. I was curious about what he read in their minds but was sure I would just get another one-word answer if I asked.

“Well, I guess I will get home then,” I shrugged my shoulders.

“You did better than expected, so how about we only meet every other day? You can take tomorrow off.” I guess he complimented me.

“Projecting again, tsk, tsk, and yes, a compliment,” he laughed.

“I guess it’s going to take some getting used to,” it embarrassed me. I failed minutes after being taught. Maybe he would take my compliment back.

He walked me to the door, and I fumbled in my pockets for my key fob. It was a little after eight and dark already. Alissa would surely be up by now, perhaps even out looking for her daily food. I turned to Leif, curious about how he ate. I asked, “So, you drink blood, right?” stupid question, I told myself.

“Yes,” his lips turned slightly into a smile, and I knew I was projecting again. I took a few seconds to put up my mental blocks and clear my mind again.

“I mean, where do you find the blood? Do you have a... donor?” I hoped this time he would answer me in more detail.

“I suggest you don’t concern yourself with vampires and donors. You wouldn’t want to be one, and vampires are dangerous despite the impression you think you have Cassie. Now go home,”

That was my cue to leave. Without another word to the grumpy vampire, I walked to my car and got inside. I hope Alissa wasn’t grumpy too.

Alissa was sitting on the couch, watching Buffy laughing when I walked in. I wanted to feel upset since we watched it together, but I had watched all the episodes before. She found the show funny.

“You know, just when I thought Angel was too wishy-washy, he goes and turns into the beast he is,” she pointed to the screen, and I see Angel’s dark side, the murderous vampire Buffy didn’t like on the screen. Leif’s words briefly playback in my mind, and I shrugged them off.

“Oh, he is essentially both sides. I mean, sure his dark side exists, but he is also sweet and caring,” I felt like I was defending this character on TV. Perhaps I needed to remember vampires had the dark side. Antonio was right; I would never have gone to a human man’s home I barely knew, yet I went to a vampire’s home, much more dangerous.

“Is everything alright?” Alissa turned and propped her elbows on the back of the couch and looked at me.

“Yes, I was just thinking. I mean, we’re friends, right?” I didn’t wait for her to answer, “Am I too trusting of people?”

“I mean sometimes, but rather human or vampire, we all are. Look, don’t let Antonio get to you. He’s just mad he hasn’t gotten in your pants,” she rolled her eyes.

“What did you just say?” I picked up one of the black decorative pillows off the couch and hit her playfully with it.

“Oh, please, it’s obvious. Last night he actually tried to talk me into going to Leif’s with you. I had to agree, but since you left before I woke up, I’m off the hook,” she shrugged.

“I don’t need a babysitter. I think it’s time I go talk to Antonio. Let me guess; he’s at the club?” It pissed me off. He had no right to order someone to babysit me.

“Oh, I’m coming with, no way do I want to miss this one, besides I’m hungry,” she jumped up and stood by the door. Damn, she was quick and always hungry.