Vampires Bite

Vampires Read Minds

     I didn’t get much sleep the night before. His last words kept playing in my head. I spent most of the night looking up more things about vampires. I assume, like most tales, there is some truth behind every story I read.

I was tenser now than ever about taking this case after he told me he would’ve killed me. I kept telling myself he was joking, but deep down, I knew that was why he didn’t reveal himself to humans. Still, he left me no choice to represent him in that case. It was life or death. I wasn’t sure why me either. There are many capable lawyers out there, and many with more experience than me.

I avoided giving any answer about assistants and took the day off. I promised to report in once my meeting was over and discuss it. They weren’t so mad, considering they knew the research needed and time to prepare for this case. They also believed my reasoning for turning down their help. This was my first big case, and I wished to do it alone.

At seven in the evening, I arrived at Auxillio. The receptionist, in casual dress, is filing her fingernails behind the desk. I wondered why a company such as this would be so lax in their company’s image before being interrupted.

“May I help you, dear?” The woman asked. Her hair was silver and pulled neatly behind her head in a chignon. She wore little makeup and her eyes showed signs of her aging. Her fingernails looked freshly done in a baby blue that didn’t seem to match her plain clothes.

“I have a seven o’clock meeting with Mr. Morros,” I gave her my best smile.

“You must be Miss. Warner. Sundown is at seven thirty-three today. Mr. Morros will meet you in the Library soon,” She sidled out from behind the desk, and I noticed there was a slight regalness about her.

“Sundown?” What did that have to do with anything?

“Yes, dear. Many of whom will be present cannot make the trip here until sundown. The sun is very bothersome,” she explained.

“So your a...”

“Vampire, yes dear, though be careful, many who work here are just humans. At this time of the evening, though, there will be no humans or very few. It would be wise to never assume before opening your mouth, though,” She said.

We stopped outside of a set of double doors, and the woman unlocked the door, then led me inside. The library wasn’t huge, but a decent size. All four isles had bookshelves, wall to wall, and five or six rows in the middle. Antonio had mentioned that there would be some stuff I could read, but it surprised me he would just store them here where humans could access them.

“The humans don’t have access to this library at all times, nor does Mr. Morros store the books he promised you here. They are here today because he brought them in for you,” She pointed to a bag on the table.

“Wait, how did you know I...” Did she read my mind? I wasn’t sure I enjoyed having my mind read.

“Don’t worry, few shares the gift. Every Vampire has a gift. You’re projecting too much and need to relax. Your mind is all over the place, and open,” She said. She walked off, and I realize I didn’t even ask her name.

“Excuse me. I didn’t get your name,” I called to her.

“Where are my manners? You may call me Joan,” She answered back before leaving me alone in the library.

***

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I heard the library door open, interrupting the book I am engrossed in about vampire politics. 

They had a government system, as humans did, and I found it interesting to read all the dynamics. Multiple Kings represented different parts of the world. A few Countries had multiple kings, and some kings ruled over more than one Country. Then there were the Lords and Dukes who served below the kings, though I was still unsure which rank was higher in their hierarchy. I was on the chapter about The Duchess and her duties when I looked up to see who had entered.

Antonio was standing a few feet away with another man. The man with him had his back to me, however, and I couldn’t get a good look.

“Cassie, I hope you found the reading material to your liking. Please excuse the wait. I had a couple of last-minute things to handle, and many could not make the trip yet,” He smiled.

“Yes, the whole sundown thing. I heard.” I said.

“Yes, well, there are those like me, that can venture in it for a while with no ill effects, but many of my underlings cannot,” He leaned over, me making me aware of the smell of his cologne it was like a woodsy vanilla smell and it engulfed me making me hold my breath a few seconds. “Ah, politics. A boring read for most, but a good start for you,” he added.

“Antonio, the others will arrive soon,” A man with a very pronounced accent said.

I found his accent very sexy, and I mentally slapped myself. Here I am surrounded by a sexy man with his come f**k me cologne and now a sexy accent. Any normal girl’s dream. It only made me nervous.

Antonio moved away from me as I let out my abated breath. I turned my head to get a better look at the other man. The gray suit he wore fit his tall, muscular body so well. Damn! I bet he looks good in jeans.

I then remembered what Joan could do and tried to keep any thoughts from my head.

“Cassie, this is Leif, my Vice,” Antonio said.

“Nice to meet you, Leif,” I extended my hand. Instead of shaking it, he took it in his hand and kissed it, gently.

“That will be enough, Leif,” Antonio seemed annoyed.

“What’s a Vice?” I asked.

“I see you have not gotten very far yet in your book. A vice is my right-hand man. Though some Kings have females as vices, most don’t,” He said.

I made a mental note to read about vices later.

“Put the books back in the bag and follow me,” Antonio said.

I carefully placed them inside and grabbed the bag in my hand.

“I will have the books delivered to you. For now, leave them there,” Antonio motioned towards the table. “I have someone I would like you to meet.”

I followed the two men, stealing glances now and then at their behind. Hey, I was a normal woman, and those behinds were sauntering right in front of me. I saw nothing wrong with looking now and then. I wondered if all vampire men were this good looking.

As we rounded the corner of what seemed like the umpteenth hallway, a woman with long brown hair shouted, “There you are!” she shouted so loud I wanted to smack her. It wasn’t like we were far away or in a crowd.

The woman sidled up and entwined her hands with Antonio, and I couldn’t stop staring. She looks like a SuperModel. When her blue eyes fell on me, I felt small as if I was a peasant beneath her. I had no problem with my confidence; I thought of myself as pretty, and others always made comments too, but this woman was something else.

“Antonio, you didn’t meet me for dinner,” she whined. Antonio’s eyes fell on her, and I saw a hint of lust before he recovered his short lost composure.

“Trish, I’m busy running a company, and you know better than to get clingy,” He removed her arm from around him.

Leif and Antonio seemed to be in some brief conversation before Leif motioned me to follow him, leaving Antonio and his model girlfriend behind. No doubt he was going to be late for the meeting now.

“So I take it that’s his girlfriend? Is she human or a vampire?” I asked Leif.

He stopped and leaned against the wall. His head c****d sideways, and his deep blue eyes focused on me quizzically, like I was a puzzle, “I’m going to give you some advice and a remedy. It would be best if you didn’t concern yourself with Antonio or his ‘girlfriend’. We spent a very long time finding someone to help us and cannot afford to have silly human emotions come between that. You will only get hurt in the game. To answer your question, Trish is a vampire. More reason to steer clear.” He said.

“I was only curious. Joan said I had to be careful with who is human and vampire around here and...”

“Listen, I have seen it many times before, and besides that, my next point brings me to the remedy. I had procured it anyway as I thought it best things discussed with you were not open to other’s minds. I will teach you to block your thoughts from the Augur’s but for now, drink this. It will wear off in a few days. I have more if needed after that,” He handed me a small vial with a thick lavender-colored liquid inside.

I eyed the vial as if it were the plague. I just met this guy, and he expected me to drink some vial he gave me. He had some nerve. He just laughed, no doubt reading my mind some more. This made me even angrier, “Take your vial, I’m not drinking this. What’s an Augur?”

“You can keep your mind open to me, and others with my gift and all your thoughts of my ass or my muscular body can be on display. It will make for an interesting meeting,” he smirked. “An Augur reads minds,”

“Just because a girl thinks you got a nice ass means nothing. Your nice ass is not attractive when you have a poor attitude,” I rolled my eyes for emphasis.

“Oh, and will you now pretend you didn’t love having Antonio bent over...” He tipped his head back and roared in laughter.

“Fine. I will drink your vial. Just don’t tell Antonio what I was thinking of him,” I pleaded.

He nodded his head, and I closed my eyes and drank from the vial. Once I swallowed it, I waited. I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for, perhaps death, or sickness, but nothing happened. I hoped his vial worked. Only one way to test it out and that was Joan. I hoped she would be at this meeting.

The meeting room is Underground. They set long tables in a square with a table in the middle. Leif directed me to a seat next to Joan, and I sat down. There’s about twenty present, and I assumed they are all vampires. They ranged in ages; they appeared. I still didn’t understand how aging worked with them. All I know is they are immortal. And although Leif and Antonio were very attractive, it wasn’t true of all of them. They resembled humans pretty much.

Much of the meeting he talked about the benefits of coming out and the repercussions. Some questioned him for revealing himself to me, but Antonio was tactful and had them all in compliance or putty in his hand by the end. We had exactly twenty-seven days before the big reveal, and I had to find the right news station to do this with.

After it seemed the meeting was winding down, I had wondered what the other vampire kings thought and asked.

“I have a question,” I raised my hand like a kindergartner.

“Cassie,” Antonio said.

“What about other vampires in the world?” I asked.

“Good question. They will reveal themselves as well. We here will be the spokesman for our kind, but representatives from the different regions will give their interviews afterward,” He explained.

I’m fairly satisfied with the answer, not knowing how else it would work, but I knew it was best to find a network that broadcast internationally.

“I adjourn this meeting. We will have a planned mixer coming up, don’t forget to mark your calendars for that,” Antonio added before everyone stood up from their seats.

Many stood around in circles, talking with others, and since I didn’t know what to do, I remained seated. Antonio was working his way around the room shaking hands and doing the political thing, Leif was skimming through his cell phone deep in thought.

I took this time to test my theory on Joan. I had to be sure that the vial of goo worked.

“Joan, do you mind if I ask you something?”

“Of course not,” she smiled a genuine smile, and I decided I liked her.

“Can you read my mind still?” I whispered.

“Whispering doesn’t help. They can still hear you if they choose, but no, I can’t. I assume Antonio gave you Nightingale,” she said.

“Yea, well, Leif gave me a liquid vial to drink,” I said.

“Just remember it will wear off in a few days, max a week,” she said.

“How will I know when it wears off?” I asked.

“You won’t unless someone comments on your thoughts. Most don’t. However, in our group, there are only a few with the gift. I don’t imagine you will spend too much time with them except for maybe Leif,” she said.

Before I could say anymore, Antonio headed towards me, with a woman I remember seeing sitting at the first corner table. She was about my height with red hair in pigtails.

“Cassie, I would like you to meet Alissa. She will assist you with anything you need. It would be wise since you live alone to have her stay with you during the next few weeks, but your decision,” he said.

So this was the assistant he was speaking of. I wasn’t sure about anyone staying at my house, especially a vampire I just met, and I told him so. “I have nothing against you, Alissa, but I prefer living alone,” I said.

“Very well then, you will stay in one of my guest houses,” Antonio is the type who’s used to getting his way, but he’s sadly mistaken.

“I have my own home. You may be my client, but you don’t own me,” I put my hands on my hips and stuck my chin up, head high. This is a battle I wouldn’t lose.

“Your choice, my guest house, or yours? I will give you a bonus of three hundred thousand,” He sweetened the deal.

“Why is this so important?” The money sounded great. I could afford to buy a new house with it, but I didn’t want to back down.

“Listen, Cassie, what Antonio is trying to say is it would be best that you had a vampire at your side. Many of our kind will know who you are and may seek you out. I doubt any would dare attempt any harm to you, but it's always better to be safe. We always like to be one step above the rest,” Leif butted in.

Finally, I caved, and though Antonio seemed relieved, I didn’t miss the look he gave Leif. He seemed upset I caved more to Leif than him. But Leif wasn’t demanding as he was. Leif gave a logical reason.

Tired of the evening’s events, I headed home with my new roommate in tow. I haven’t had a roommate since Madge, so it should be fun. Except, Alissa and I, on the surface, seemed to have nothing in common. She was flashy and hip and I dressed in business suits, even when I wasn’t working.