It's been a few, guys, but it's here, chapter 6! Real life has gotten to butting it's ugly head in the way, but I should get 7 finished pretty soon. As always, comments, reviews, and critiques are always appreciated. Pop a comment in the box below, or send me an email!
Chapter 6
Parker stirred, opening his eyes. He took in his surroundings. He was in a large bed, with the sheets strewn about. "Aw, fuck." He murmured.
The night rushed back to him. Of going to the bar, Alyse. He shot out of the bed, looking around. He was naked, and the cold air of the house made him grab one of the sheets. He rummaged around, and found his pants. He put them back on, and checked his pistol.
He heard a crackle come from outside of the room, and the smell of cooking meat floated into his senses. It was so vivid, incredibly sensational. It wasn't that the food smelled better, but it was the most intense scent he'd ever smelled.
Parker exited the bedroom, letting his nose lead him through the cabin towards the kitchen.
Alyse was already there A black robe was tied around her waist, with occasional peaks of ivory cleavage. Her chestnut hair was loose, and she cast a beautiful little vision as she looked back over her shoulder.
"Parker." Her voice was soft, almost lazy in its manner. "Did you sleep well?"
When she spoke, tingles rolled along his body, centering in his thumb and neck. Memories of what had happened last night rushed back to him, and he shuddered. "You...you bit me." He said.
"You seemed to enjoy it."
"How do you have the nerve?" He reached up to his neck. To Parker's surprise, he couldn't feel any wounds. "What are you?" Parker asked, confusion in his voice.
She moved the pan off of the burner, and chuckled. "I would think that would be readily evident, Parker. I'm a vampire."
Parker drew his pistol, chambering a round faster than he could think. It wasn't a matter of different actions. A single fluid motion had him ready. "Bullshit. You're going to tell me exactly what's going on, Alyse. No fucking around."
"What do you call last night?" A laugh slipped from her perfect pink lips. "But in all seriousness, Parker, put the pistol down. You saw what happened to Fisher last night. I will not harm you in any way, but I would prefer to not to have to restrain you."
Parker flicked the safety on the pistol, and then set it down on the small table. "Fine. I'll play nice if you will."
"Excellent. How do you take your coffee?"
"That's it." Parker remarked. "Coffee?"
"Your clothes smell like coffee. I don't think you're a tea drinker."
Parker rolled his eyes. "Uh, black. I think I need to sit down..."
She nodded. "Indeed. Parker, I suppose I have some explaining to do..."
"No shit." He said, and watched as she flinched. "I'm sorry, but this is a bit of an info OD here."
"Understandable." She walked over to the kitchen table, carrying a plate and a mug that had the words "Mornings Can Die" on it. She set it on the table for him. "You'll have to forgive my cooking. I'm not that good with an oven."
"I'm guessing 'vampires' don't need to eat." He formed air quotes with his fingers around the name of the mythical creature.
"We eat, but my butler usually cooks." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "You're not the most agreeable person."
"For a woman walking out of my dreams, you're a bit crazier than I expected. There's no such thing as vampires."
Alyse groaned, and walked back to grab a plate for herself. "I drink blood. I have fangs expressly for the purpose of piercing flesh."
"It's ten in the morning. You should be a pile of ash on the tiles."
"Oh, that's grand." Alyse laughed as she sat down at the table. "Old wives' tales, Parker. We are somewhat sensitive to sunlight, yes, but I just need to put on sunblock sometimes."
"A stake to the heart?" Parker asked.
"My, you are full of questions." She remarked. Parker thought about the way she spoke. It was antiquated, much like a movie star from the thirties or forties. The detective and the vamp, a part of him mused on the double meaning of the latter word, if what she was saying was true.
"So? If you're a vampire, will a stake kill you?" Parker asked after a minute.
"Let's save some questions for another time, Parker." She gave him a little smile, and took a bite of her bacon.
Parker finished his breakfast in quiet thought. He started to wonder, just to himself. If Alyse really was a vampire, what did that mean? Eric Standwell had been bled dry. What if she was the murderer? Had he really just slept with the woman who was his best prime suspect?
"So," Parker broke the silence after he was done with breakfast. "Are there others like you?" He asked.
She nodded. "There are about twenty of us in town. I'm the oldest of our kind here."
Parker hadn't even considered how that might work. "So, you're immortal?"
"For most intents and purposes. I'm eight hundred years old."
