Who knew you'd taste so sweet: A vampire murder mystery

A pretty pink gift on my doorstep.

My eyes shot open and I found myself staring into the pitch black of my bedroom. The only sound was that of hot air pushing through the vent in the floor. It was a constant calming whoosh of warm. I was cocooned in a thick black, duck feather comforter and peered over at the clock to read nine-thirty-two pm. I slept the day away and it was night again which was normal for me because I worked nights. But I awakened nearly thirty minutes before my alarm went off and that wasn't typical. What was it that woke me?

The drapes were open over the bow window like I had left them before I went to sleep. I didn't have neighbors so I didn't worry about shutting them often. But now I had an overwhelming feeling that I was being watched.

Slowly, I sat up in bed and threw my legs over the edge. My pistol was tucked away in the bedside table where I always kept it. Maybe that was me being paranoid but it brought me comfort being so close. Now armed, I got up and stalked slowly across the room towards the large window. And as I inched closer my eyes adjusted to what I hadn't been able to see from my bed.

A figure, maybe a man, it was hard to tell. They stood there outside the window as I approached with my gun pointed at the floor. I raised the cold pistol and aimed for their head but suddenly they took off running until they were out of sight. I lowered my weapon confused. What was going on?

Did I lock the back door? My heart started pounding.

Before I knew it I was sprinting down the hall trying to make it to the back door before they could. My feet slapped against the hardwood floors leaving me with stinging pain. I mazed around the furniture through the dark living room and slid the next corner to find the door shut.

I closed in and eased my ear against it to listen. I was trying to hear anything, whispering, breathing, even the c**k of a gun, but there was nothing, silence.

I stayed with my ear to the door for what felt like an eternity. My pulse began to calm and I started to relax. But I didn't let my guard down, actually, I was beginning to feel a bit ridiculous with my gun still in hand. I didn't have my claw on which meant if I had to fire I'd have to shoot left-handed. I shoot  fine with my left but it wasn't something I preferred.

This was absurd, nothing was going to happen. Had anything actually happened to begin with? Maybe I'm going crazy? I took in a breath and lowered my gun.

A knock came then. It was quiet and quick. And my heart did one harsh beat to the sound of it. My gun was back up and pointed at the door.

I'm not crazy. Good to know.

I readied myself for anything as I unlocked the door and slowly eased it open. I was surprised to find nothing. I surveyed my large backyard for any movement and scanned the tree line for any motion but there was absolutely nothing, not even the lake threatened to sway.

It was then that I looked down at my feet to find a box. A present with powder pink wrapping paper. I picked it up carefully and darted back inside locking the door behind myself.

In the kitchen, I turned the lights on and placed the present on the marble island. I stared at it as it sat so innocently waiting to be unwrapped. I'd never seen a cute, pink package that also seemed so sinister.

There was a small card tucked under the big red bow. I pulled it out and opened it. "For you, Eden" was all the card read. And isn't that just grand? Whoever they are, they know my name and that makes me uneasy.

Against my better judgment, I pulled at the ribbon unraveling the bow and I cautiously unwrapped the box. I lifted the lid and peered down into it not expecting to see what I saw.

My first instinct was to call Edwards and that's what I did.

"There is what inside it?" Edwards said shocked. That seemed like the appropriate reaction. Hell, it was my reaction too.

I peered back into the box and grimaced. "A heart," I repeated. It wasn't the inner of the present that made me feel a little sick. No, it was the fact that someone thought it was a great gift to leave at my doorstep. Someone, I didn't know.

And it wasn't one of those fake stuffed Valentine's day hearts either. This was the real deal. A genuine heart straight from someone's chest. It rested center of the box swimming in thick red blood that had begun to seep through the thin cardboard to soil my countertops.

I really hope that doesn't stain or I'm going to be pissed.

"I'm on my way, " Edwards said. "I'll tell the forensic team to get their asses down there too."

"Thanks, Chief, " I said and I meant it. There was just something about receiving an organ that made me not want to be alone at that moment. Edwards and I may be in a fight right now but any company is good company.

I take that back. No company was better. I stood on my front porch in the frigid night air with nothing but a black, silk robe on. My arms were crossed tightly under my breast as I argued with Edwards in front of the whole forensic team.

"No, " I said firmly. "Anyone who doesn't need an invitation can go inside but I will not invite the bloodsuckers in." I side-eyed the vamp that was in Edwards office last night.

He leaned casually against one of the round, white pillars on my porch. He had more clothes on than I did. In fact, I was the only one underdressed at this bloody party. He was in fitted black jeans that tucked into boots and a leather jacket covered his dark shirt. His long blond hair was pushed back to reveal a smug face. Edwards had brought my "babysitter" with him and expected me to let the monster into my house willingly. Well, it wasn't going to happen, buddy. I ignored him and his unwanted staring and focused on the forensic team.

There were about twenty of them scattered around my yard combing for evidence in their jumpsuits embroidered with "SIB Forensics", a mask, gloves, and booties covering their shoes.

"Half the forensic team is supernatural, Eden, " Edwards pointed out the obvious. "And half of those are vampires. Valuable vampires who's expertise I need in that house looking into that bloody box this instant."

I sighed. This wasn't a fight I was going to win. And it was a truth I have a hard time excepting. Some of them may be vampires but all of them were good at their jobs. I had to give them that.

Everybody able had already entered the house. I now had a line of vampires waiting at the front door for their personal invention into my home.

There is a discussion about why vampires can't enter a home unless invited. Some speculate that it goes back to a time far beyond mine where people had more manners and courtesy. It was considered impolite to just enter someone's home uninvited. And that transferred to vampires after death. Could you imagine that? Vampires being polite, that's a laugh.

It was a horrible, terrible, awful idea, I knew that but I was left with no other options. The first two vampires in line were Cade Vickers and Seth... I'm not quite sure what his last name is. Both of them were fairly new to the job and I hadn't so much as spoken a word to them until tonight.

Next, Candice Crane, she was in her early hundreds. A good forensic investigator but a bad gossiper. It was like her addiction was talking s**t about people behind their backs instead of drinking their blood. I tried my best to distance myself from her because she tended to step on my nerves. My trigger finger always inched when she was near. Sadly, tonight I invited her into my home. She entered with a grin. A grin I would love wipe clean off that pretty little face of hers.

The next one I didn't know well, some woman who followed Candice around the office like a lost puppy. I didn't even know her name until I was forced to say it.

And finally, I got to the last vampire. This one was different because I knew his name, David Thompson, to be exact. I had known David, we worked together for five years before his accident. And I say "accident" because that's what it was. He didn't just wake up one day and decide to be a vampire like most of them do.

When I look at him it's hard to not see him for what he is now. But if I squinted hard enough I could almost imagine him human again. His once tan skin was paler and his soft brown eyes seemed sharper. His dark hair would never gray and his skin would never wrinkle.

David was attacked outside of a club on the south side of the city. The vampire who did it to him had left him for dead. He didn't ask to be what he is and I think that's why I pity David. We used to talk when he was human and he seemed like a pretty decent guy. We don't talk now but I don't go out of my way to give him a hard time. The man has to live eternity being the thing that tried to kill him. I think that's punishment enough.

"Please, come inside, David, " I said and that was the only invitation into my home that I hadn't completely regretted tonight.

"Thank you, " he said before he rushed passed me and out of sight.

"And what about me?" My bloodsucking babysitter asked.

"Oh, you thought I was going to invite you in?" I arched an eyebrow. "You'll never step a foot inside my home."

He grinned flashing pearly, rattlesnake fangs. "Are you sure about that, Eden? Never is a really long time."

I was more than sure. Actually, I was one-hundred percent certain, that vampire would never cross the threshold into my home.