It Had To Be You

Chapter 10

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright © 2023 Cassey9

Jillian lapped her tongue over the two pricks on his wrist sealing the bite wound with the healing pheromones in her saliva. She dropped the hand which fell on her lap and sagged against the drowsy man.

"Thank you," Jillian said in a grateful tone. Her head lifted and she gazed at the man at her side. Dominic Millers. An associate attorney at a high end in a law firm in the city had joined her for the night. They'd met at the bar. They were alike, kindred spirits. Lonely but not really alone.

On their fourth round, he'd agreed to come home with her at the promise of a wild night. He too, was swamped with work and had no time to build 'meaningful, long lasting relationship' as he'd described it with anyone. They'd bonded over drinks and their lack of lovers. Jillian had lied though, she had someone, her mate, someone meaningful and eternally hers.

"Wow," Dominic murmured to himself. "Vampire's. Those are real?" His mind still found it hard to decipher what he'd just witnessed with his eyes. The woman seated right next to him was a living and breathing paranormal creature. A myth come to life. With the lightheadedness and alcohol now fading from his system, a sense of fear sprouted within him. Had he signed his own death sentence by following this alluring woman home. Was this his last night alive.

"I won't hurt you," Jillian spoke out loud. The fear permiating from the man seated at her side was choking. Rubbing the back of her hand against her mouth to rid it of blood remnant she sat up and looked at him. His rigid posture and wide eyes told Jillian her assurances was not believed. "I won't Dominic, you're a friend now."

He nodded faintly and watched the woman sag back on the couch. "How are you... how is this even possible? You? Existing?"

"Witchcraft," Jillian answered bluntly.

"What?" Dominic let out surprised. "Witchcraft? Now you are lying to me, Jillian. Witchcraft, ouija boards, hexes and vodoos aren't real. They are made up stuff."

"I'm not. I'm a result of hatred that was born from an broken heart," Jillian said thinking back to her Aunt Cecilia's actions. "Never jilt a woman. It's true what they say, there is no fury like a woman scorned."

What he was hearing felt unbelievable, "So someone cursed you?"

"Cursed and poisoned my family into these beings. Witchcraft was very potent back in my times."

"How's long ago?"

"I've lost count. But we could use a calculator," Jillian answered. With eternity and blood lust as consequences of her aunt's anger, she'd lost count of the many years that trickled by. Why torture oneself counting when you had an eternity before you. The number of years that had passed were trivial to the eternity awaiting her.

"Do you like it? Being... Being like this," he asked. Whilst drinking at the bar, Dominic had noticed a strain, something hard that seemed to be hanging over his drinking counterpart's head.

"Yes and no at times. It's hard actually." The first few decades had been difficult, she missed her old life, her friends, the freedom of eating actual food and not having to suffer through insufferable stomach pain. Surviving solely on blood was the hardest part to acclimate to.

"What exactly is hard?"

"A lot. One you can't enjoy a good salmon or steak. No fries, burgers, fried Kentucky chicken just water, blood and alcohol. That isn't a fun life, Dominic"

"So no fast food for you? Or is it no food at all? Why?" he asked completely appalled by the thought of never eating any of his favorite dishes.

"Different digestive process."

The other hardest part was the endless time on her hand. She had lots of it and after while the monotony of it became a tedious, lonesome task. Friends were never kept for long, some died, others aged and it had become difficult to tell them the truth about her true nature. So, Jillian hid it from them. Avoided the questions of her age and shifted when it became hard to hide. The manor, her family was her only safe haven.

"Partner? Do you have any?"

"We mate for life," Jillian said. "We have one person that we dedicate our entire lives to. Our souls are intertwined, we are meant to be. Mates give us purpose and make the half of us whole. We are destined to love each other for all eternity."

"So like a soulmate?" Dominic asked to which Jillian nodded. "Do you have yours. Your mate?"

"Yes. She's beautiful," The vampire said proudly as warmth and love flooded her chest.

"Where is she?"

"She doesn't know. We can't be together."

He noticed the bitterness in her voice and sat up to look at her. "Why?"

"It's complicated and the last thing I ever want is to hurt her?" Jillian answered in a low heartbroken voice. What would Lea think? Them? Together? The odds of that happening were at a naught.

"So you've found your soulmate, but you refuse to be with her?" Dominic asked in sheer disbelief. Deep inside he could feel anger growing towards the vampire seated next him. If asked, he would swap everything he had for the chance of being with someone that would love him for him and for all his life. Despite his many accomplishments, loneliness always beckoned at him. It was his closest companion and Dominic hated that life.

"Yes, I refuse to be with her. I only want to protect her," Jillian said despite her vampire's internal protests. Lea had almost died under her watch once. The mistake always haunted Jillian and further proved she wouldn't be good enough for her mate.

His incredelous laugh felt like an insult to Jillian. She snarled, low, predatory like. "Protect her? From what? Jillian, you don't know what I'd give to be in your shoes. To have someone and not push them away," he uttered angrily. "I would seize the chance and for once... for once in my life be happy. It's sad you can't see it like I do. Luck is smiling down on you but you've chosen to ignore it's gift."

"You don't know..."

"I don't know you or your situation, right?" Dominic questioned but didn't wait for her to answer. "But still, I can't help but feel that you can do things a little differently if only you stopped being afraid.""

"I'm not afraid."

"Yes. Yes you are, but, I won't judge. I gather it's hard enough being a vampire already. But still, I can't believe you actually exist and everything...it's just...it's just wow. My buddy Brian would never believe it. He's a scientist. Wait till he actually sees you and..."

Jillian laughed at the man's short sightedness and naivety. The heaviness and depth of their prior conversation quickly dissipating like it was never present from the start. The vampire snickered, as if she'd let him leave with the nights events intact in his mind. She was creature of the shadows not one to that liked the spotlight lest she wanted to put her entire family in jeopardy. "Sure," She agreed as her vampire side took over. "Dominic Millers."

He turned and was met by red, sparkling orbs. "Yours eyes. They... they are..."

"Dominic Millers, you will forget parts of our night together. You will forget about ever talking about vampires and my feeding or anything to do with it. You will remember me taking you home and us having more drinks then blacking out on my couch."

Jillian broke the mental link and watched Dominic's eyes roll back as he collapsed on the sofa. The integral parts of their night had been wiped clean from his mind. He wouldn't remember much aside from them drinking and passing out. Instead of straight out draining her feeders, Jillian compelled the integral parts of their memories away. She loved this part of being a vampire, it made feeding like this far easier. Getting rid of a body though, entailed so much work and she wasn't cut out for it.

Jillian reached out for the remote and started unwinding the curtains open to view the night's skyline. Her penthouse was in a city skyscraper. It was located thirty storey's high and gave a magnificent view of the lively lights below. The vampire closed her eyes and as usually was met by her angel's lovely face and her breathtakingly blue eyes that always seemed to sparkle like sapphires when focused on her.

"Lea," Jillian called out to the night. Her hand went to her chest, rubbing the spot over her hurting heart. She was right, life wasn't some giant wishing well that she'd throw quarters in and wish away. Life was screwed and for most parts it was critical to make difficult decisions for the greater good.

Lea. Her angel. Was her greatest good.

It was difficult, unfathomable, not claiming her mate but it was for the best Jillian assured her vampire nature. Her angel deserved happiness, maybe marriage, children and growing old with her partner. Lea deserved a normal life.

~~~~~~~~~

"You know what you need?" Maddie asked and playfully slapped a dejected Lea on the back. "You need to double down."

Lea blew out an exasperated breath and lazily looked her friend's way. "I don't know what else to do, Maddie," Lea retorted yanking at the strings of her grey hoodie. It was days like this she felt like a blind man walking through pitch blackness unaided. Doubt crept into her heart and mind making her more sad and despondent. Good thing she didn't have classes for the remainder of the day.

"Woo her then?"

The words and the idea of actually courting the woman made Lea laugh out loud. "Woo her?" she asked.

"Mm hmm," Maddie affirmed with a nod. "You remember Brady, right?" Lea nodded at the memory of Maddie's high school boyfriend. "Well, he wooed me from my no to a definite yes by the time prom night came around. It works."

"I know it does. Apparently you are a living testament of it," Lea teased whilst chuckling. "But how can I woo a person who's barely around. Honestly Maddie, at times I feel like she's avoid me. Like she travels a lot to avoid being around me. I know I sound stupid and whinny. But it really feels like that. It really does."

"Oh... You're right."

"Yes," Lea said her emotions taking a toll on her. She sniffled trying but failing to keep the tears from rolling down her face. "When I was little we were inseperable. She was always here, with me. But now, even seeing her around the house is a miracle."

"Is that why you snuck out of bed that night when I stayed over with Valentina?"

"I wasn't sneaking?" Lea chuckled as she rubbed her tears away.

"Well I did see you tip toeing from the bed and out of the room, Lea. Not very covert of you I'd say. You could use some..."

"Shut up. But yes, I did go to her that night and it was amazing. Best sleep I'd had in a while," Lea whispered the last part. She always slept better when she cuddled with her Aunt Jillian. Yet at the end of the day, her thoughts, her feelings remained taboo. What would her parents think? The fates, as her mother refered to them as, had to be laughing down at her pathetic situation. "Why... why do you encourage me anyway? I know my parents would lose their heads if they ever found out I was harboring such thoughts?"

"I'm your friend. Your best friend Lea and I want you to... 12 o'clock!"

"What?" Lea jumped back startled when she felt a stubbled chin rub against her cheek. The familiar cologne hit her from the close proximity before the kiss actually did. "Sam?" Lea turned to gaze at her friend surprised by his sudden appearance. The three red roses held out by Sam made Lea cringe internally. "Thank you. They... they are beautiful," Lea commented as she watched Sam move towards Maddie and greet her in the same was he'd done with her. Jake simply high-fived her and took a seat on the empty spot next to her.

"And my flowers? Don't I deserve some too?"

Sam face flushed as he stared at Lea then Maddie. "I'll get you some next time..."

"Yeah right," Maddie teased and bumped her friend's shoulder gently. "He's never stopping," Maddie commented in a low tone. Lea glanced at Sam who brightly beamed her way and Lea knew in that moment that Maddie was right.

"Because I like sharing I'll give you these. Here you go Maddie," Lea said handing her friend two of the roses. She set the remaining one on the table and chuckled when Maddie dramatically breathed hers in.

Sam looked on at the two friends and felt a tidal wave of disappointment rush through him when Lea willingly and eagerly gave away the roses he'd specially chosen for her. Sam mentally psyched himself up, he still had a chance and he wanted to take his shot before he got the jitters. "Now," Sam mouthed and covertly nodded at Jake to take Maddie away. Though not pleased, Maddie slowly left the table as the two went in search of snacks.

"Lea?" Sam called.

"Mm hmm?"

"I was wondering if you'd go out with me," he uttered the question quickly. Sam could feel the nervousness in his voice. "Go on a date... date with me, I mean."

The offer didn't surprise Lea as she finally looked up from the book that she wasn't really reading. "Sam, I don't..."

"Please," he hated begging, but for Lea, he would grovel if that got him the chance to finally take her out. His father would be very proud if he finally dated the Allegra heiress. Besides, Sam had already promised his parents that he'd be bringing Lea over to meet them over a family dinner. "I can be good company and I promise the food we'll be amazing. You can... you can even choose the place..."

"I already like someone, Sam!" Lea blurted out and immediately clamped a hand over her mouth. The confession had literally jumped out of her mouth

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Who do you like? Do I know them?" he asked whilst struggling to keep his voice neutral.

"It's nothing Sam. Just drop it," Lea stated. She really liked someone, but they were unattainable, hence there was no need to address a situation that wouldn't change at anytime in her favor.

"Fine," he uttered as he begrudgingly let the topic go. "So about the date? You can choose day that you want Lea."

"Sam..."

He reached across the table and held her hand in his gently. "Please? Think about it Lea."

Knowing that Sam would continuously bring up this particular conversation, Lea hesitantly nodded and slid her hand away from under his. It felt wrong, the way his thumb rubbed circles at the back of her hand. "I will. So can we talk about something else."

"We have a game coming up against the Panthers."

"No way. I hope we win."

Sam chuckled at Lea's enthusiasm, "I doubt we will. The panthers are top tier in the soccer league."

"Shut up, so are our raiders, Sam!"