My Beloved Vampire

Duly Noted

Scarlett’s Point of View

I hardly slept I was so excited. Besides having had such a great time at Beloved’s, what happened at the speakeasy might have been the greatest night of my life. It was like living a dream, Stacia and Cecil rigged Laa’s crystal ball to do all kinds of wild things, sometimes visions of pretty flowers would appear, other times a scary skull or just explosions of colors. Laa read tarot cards or the palms of every single person lucky enough to get into the speakeasy, Laa was a bonafide hit, the people couldn’t get enough of her. We danced and drank all night to the nitty gritty blues band that was playing and just when I thought the night couldn’t get any better, I got on stage and sang ‘Fever’ with the band! I think Cecil did something to make my voice sound better than it actually does because I’ve never sounded that good in the shower. We both wanted to start my lessons right away, so we agreed to get right to work first thing in the morning. I had been up and rearing to go for over an hour, but I wasn’t sure if it was to early to go over to their apartment. That was the problem with making new friends, you still haven’t learned each other’s boundaries. With Dylan I didn’t care what time of day or night it was, I called or showed up whenever I felt like it. I took my coffee out to the balcony and thought I should call Dylan and ask when she thought an acceptable time to go over was until I heard a voice above me.

“Hello Scarlett.”

“Akito! You startled me!” Sometimes he would climb to the roof and shimmy down to our balcony.

“If you worked on your vampire senses the way you should, you would have heard me coming young lady. I completely understand your excitement to learn the Faye ways and traditions, but you must also become one with the part of you that is vampire. You are as rare a find as Dylan, what would you tell Dylan if she embraced her witch more than her vampire.”

“I would tell her that they’re as equally important” I hung my head, he was right. Ever since I found out I was Faye I stopped developing my vampire side.

“That’s right. Now, on that note, I thought you were going to start your lessons this morning.”

“I am, but I didn’t know what time I should bother him.”

“Bother him?” He smiled and laughed at me. “Scarlett, he is your teacher, and he also has been pondering when he should ring you to start your lessons.”

“He has?!”

“Indeed, he has.”

“He’s waiting for me? I should go! Thanks, Akito! I’ll see you later.” I said good morning to our security guy on my way over to the apartment, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Good morning! I was wondering when you would show up” Stacia greeted me when he opened the door.

“I didn’t want to be annoying and show up at the crack of dawn.”

“You two are peas in a pod. That’s exactly what he said.” Stacia laughed at me.

“Good morning, Scarlett!” Cecil said cheerfully. “Are you ready to begin?”

“Absolutely!” I followed him to the balcony where he had books stacked on a table. “I’m surprised Faye write things down, as guarded as you are.”

“That’s a very good observation but only Faye can see the writing. To anyone else it simply looks like blank pieces of paper but even if a non-Faye were to get their hands on our spells it would be futile. Only Faye’s can do Faye magic, hence Remy’s obsession with us. Unfortunately, she is not the only one and that is why we isolate from others. Being hunted for your powers makes it difficult to trust outsiders.”

“I totally get that, even if I hadn’t seen it for myself firsthand.”

“May I ask you a question?”

“Of course, you can ask me anything.”

“You’re an extraordinary designer, why didn’t you follow through on your plans to launch your clothing line?”

“Oh,” I was bummed every time I thought about it. “It’s not because I’m not dying to but for me to do that I would have to travel and after Remy we decided it wasn’t safe for me to be here, there and everywhere. So, for now I just make clothes for supernatural’s.”

“Understandable. But why not open a boutique here in town? I have no doubt it would be all the rage. You could hire someone to run the store for you.”

“You sound like Dylan and Danny” I smiled at him.

“Well, it’s just a thought. Are you ready to hit the books?”

“I am so ready!” I was so excited I couldn’t stand it.

Dylan’s Point of View

Rowan was so excited to learn how to bake he insisted that we stop at the grocery store on the way home from Beloved’s to get what we needed. We were quite the sight in the grocery store in the middle of the night, sequin jumpsuit and all. Thankfully I convinced him to wait until morning to start baking.

“This is great!” he smiled as he watched the cookies and cakes bake in the oven. “I learned how to bake, and I learned when we go out you should always be wearing a skirt or a dress.”

“Why?” I laughed.

“Because, if I would’ve had easier access, we would’ve had at least five more of those exhilarating quickies.”

“Duly noted” I pinched his butt.

“I wonder if they taste as good as they look” he said still watching them through the oven glass.

“There’s only one way to find out.” I called Scarlett but she didn’t answer so I tried Lucky’s phone.

“S’up D?” Lucky answered.

“Hey, your friend wanted to start baking first thing this morning. The first cake and cookies will be coming out of the oven soon. I thought Scarlett would like to bring Cecil and Stacia over to try Rowan’s creations.”

“Ahh, they already started their lessons but I’m sure Stacia would be more than happy to be the guinea pig.”

“They already started the lessons, how exciting but not surprising. I’ll call Stacia, pass along the invitation when they’re finished.”

“I sure will. Tell Rowan’s crazy ass I’ll see him later.” I hung up and called Stacia.

“Dylan, how are you this fine morning? More importantly, how is my good friend Raffa?” Stacia and Raffa were quite fond of each other, I think that was a big reason why Bastien and Rowan began to trust him, because Raffa loves him so much.

“Why don’t you come over and see him and while you’re at it you can be the first to try Rowan’s first crack at baking. If you’re brave enough” I made a face at Rowan.

“Don’t play with my emotions this early in the morning” Stacia said flatly.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you think I would turn down the opportunity to eat cake while I hang out with Raffa?”

“I didn’t know if you’d want to wait for Scarlett and Cecil.”

“Pfftt… The early bird gets the worm. I’m on my way!”

“No, you’re not, you know damn well you can’t come over by yourself. Raffa didn’t have his morning run down the beach. Give me five minutes and Raffa and I will meet you in the private garage. It’s a lovely day for a stroll down the beach with an ancient warlock.”

“Fine. But if you’re not down there in five minutes I’m going to start walking.”

“You’re a pain in the ass Stacia.”

“If you wait until these come out, I’ll go with you” Rowan offered.

“He’s chomping at the bit, he’s bored. I can tell, we’ll be back before the next batch goes in.” I kissed him goodbye and Raffa and I set out to meet Stacia.

Stacia’s Point of View

I felt like I was being watched while I waited in the part of the garage that was closed off to everyone except us. This was the first time I regretted not having my powers. I chalked it up to feeling vulnerable without a vampire next to me. I started to relax when I heard Dylan talking to Raffa.

“Five minutes on the dot!” Dylan laughed when she walked in the garage. “Are you alright? You look kinda nervous.”

“Yes, I’m okay. I felt like I was…” Raffa started barking like mad as he positioned himself in front of Dylan and me. I knew before I saw the four figures in the doorway that we were in trouble.

“Stacia, grab Raffa and run!” We were surrounded before I could move a muscle, I panicked. Not for myself, but for Dylan, Raffa and Akito. I was completely powerless to help. My only hope was that Rowan and or Akito would sense that we were in danger. Dylan sprang into action; she twisted the first guys head off like it was nothing before she moved on to the next one. Raffa stood his ground in front of me barking and snarling at the men that had come to kill us. The third man hit Dylan so hard he knocked her down, she was up on her feet in an instant, but he was back on her right away. The last man kicked poor Raffa so hard he landed clear on the other side of the garage; my heart broke when I heard him let out a small cry when he landed. Dylan and the third guy were in full on hand-to-hand combat, I wasn’t sure if they were vampires, but they were just as powerful. I looked the fourth sonofabitch right in the eye, I spat at him as he drew his fist back to drive it through my chest. I might not have my powers anymore, but I’ll be damned if I was going to go out cowering. Just as he prepared to finish me a blade severed his head and neck off. Before my eyes could focus, he impaled the motherfucker that was trying to kill Dylan on his katana and held him above his head. Dylan was confused, she struggled to her feet preparing to attack the incredibly imposing man that stood before her.

“Dylan, NO!” I fell to my knees as I came face to face with the man I believed was only a myth, but now I could see with my own eyes that he was real, and he just saved mine and Dylan’s lives.