A second story in the same 'universe' as my first... different characters. In this case, an old lover suddenly returns bearing gifts... and fangs!
*****
Brant Jarvis had been a vampire for about 300 years. However, he enjoyed the company of humans, even though he had friends among the others like himself. He'd had several human partners in his life, though they never knew about his 'condition' since the supposed telltale signs such as aversion to sunlight, holy relics no reflection and garlic were complete BS! Even if he fed on them, he'd make them forget. He never settled down with any of them, because no one he'd been with could be turned. It was an issue of genetic compatibility, and his people kept track of the lineages that carried the trait, but so far, no one he'd been with was listed in the genealogical records. So he would stay with them for a while, until it started to become obvious that they were aging and he was not. At which point, he would find some excuse to distance himself physically, and eventually all together from their lives.
Unfortunately, over the years, between selectively pruning the compatible family trees by turning people, as well as a combination of fewer offspring and diluted gene pools, the number of genetically compatible humans had dwindled dramatically over the last century or so, making it even harder to find someone to partner with, that wasn't already among their kind.
Brant still stays in contact with his last human partner, Ann Templeton. He met her about 10 years prior, and the two had been a couple for nearly seven of those years, longer than he'd stayed with anyone before, but he realized he had to move on before she became the wiser. He made the excuse of a job offer out of state, knowing it would be hard for her to leave her elderly parents who live nearby. He also planted a suggestion in her mind that would strengthen her resolve not to leave them behind. They remain friends, though he's been slowly stretching out the times between contact, hoping she would move on and find someone else. He hated seeing her alone and lonely.
One day, Brant gets a call from one of his friends who works with the genealogical archives.
"Hi Brant, it's Jen...got a second?" she says.
"Sure Jen, what's up?" He asks.
"Weren't you seeing a woman named Ann Templeton for a while?" she asks
"Yes, I'm still in touch with her off and on...was just trying to wean her out, so to speak... making contact less and less frequently.
"Well, you might want to wait a bit on that. I sent a file to your email. Our genetic researchers have been finding some 'new blood' to add to our compatibles list-you know, the project searching all the various DNA databases that have sprung up in recent years? It seems there is a woman in one of the databases, with that very name, and she's in the right part of the world as well! Can you take a look at the file and confirm if that's her?"
"Of course! Give me a sec." he says, pulling up his email with the data regarding the compatible Ann Templeton, and sees an all too familiar address on her information. She is his Ann.
"It's her! My God! All that time, and she was compatible!" he exclaims.
"I thought maybe you'd want the first option since you know her? We're supposed to make the lists available in general, but under the circumstances, I didn't think you'd want someone like Jackson or Ivan going after her...you know they've been eager to find someone new, and they're not likely to wait long to act." She says.
"Thanks Jen, you're a good friend! He tells her. "I'm going to get in touch with her a.s.a.p. Can you put in an official claim for me to keep those guys at bay?" he asks, as he plans frantically what he needs to do to make things happen.
"You know they aren't team players-they don't always respect claims, and it may even make them move on her faster; that's why I'm giving you the heads up. I'll delay posting her in of our regional listing, but I can't guarantee that she's not in the national or international listings. You'd better get going before anyone finds out about her, you know that sooner or later, someone will claim her, once she is 'public' knowledge among our kind, even if Jackson or Ivan don't. If you were attracted to her, others likely will be as well." She says, seriously.
"Yes, her mind stands out like a supernova! Brilliant and gifted! I'm on it! I think I'll surprise her tonight with a visit." He says, hanging up.
*************
Brant runs by a local Chinese carry out, ordering a wide variety of delicacies and a few of Ann's favorites. After paying, he heads into a nearby alley and disappears, reappearing in the shadows outside Ann's apartment, food still piping hot. He can sense that Ann is home, so rings the doorbell and waits. Ann opens the door.
"Brant! Wh...what are you doing here?! What's it been? 3 years?" she gasps in surprise. "Come in!"
"Let's just say I was in the neighborhood and had to come see you!" He says, nodding toward the large bags of Chinese food, he asks "Hungry?"
"Do I smell hot Asian cuisine?" she says, taking some of the bags.
"Yep, got some of your favorites too! Moo shoo pork, shrimp eggrolls, wonton soup..." He says, grinning.
"You remembered! Well, you do know the way to a girls heart, don't you!" she says as they make their way to the kitchen. "I wish you'd given me a heads up! I haven't had time to clean up or anything!"
"Don't worry about that! I came to see you, not your apartment! Now, go clear off the table and I'll get the food ready." He tells her, shooing her out of the kitchen with plates and chopsticks. He comes out with a tray covered with Chinese food boxes, open, with spoons in them.
"Wow! You went all out! Didn't you?! Trying to impress me or something?" she asks, as he heads back into the kitchen for a second load, returning with saki, sweet wine and glasses.
"Actually, we have something to celebrate!" he says smugly.
"Oh? Besides you coming for a rare visit?" she quips, starting to load up her plate with a sample of each entre.
"Yeah, unless you object, those visits are going to become much more frequent, actually. I'm transferring to a company out here again! I was just there settling the details and signing a contract and wanted to surprise you once it was finalized. I've missed you, and knew you weren't up to moving...so...I managed to make a few calls and do a few tele-interviews and voila! I'm back!" He tells her.
"What?! You're actually going to be living here again? You've got to be kidding me! That's ...that's FANTASTIC! Of course I want to see you as often as possible! I've missed you too!" She says, and takes the largest, juiciest shrimp from the pile of Sweet and Sour shrimp and pops it in her mouth."
They continue to eat and catch up, until more than full. When they've eaten their fill, she carries the tray back to the kitchen to make room for it all in the fridge. She yells from the kitchen:
"I can't believe you brought so much food! We'll have leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow!" She pauses; suddenly worried he might not be staying for leftovers. "You are staying for more than just dinner, aren't you?" she yells, hoping he would. She closes the fridge and backs up, bumping into Brant behind her. He puts his arms around her, holding her, and she leans into him.
"Geez! I didn't hear you come in! You nearly made me jump through the roof!" she says.
"Of course I'm staying... Ready for desert?" He asks, kissing her hair.
Shivers go down her spine. She feels a little light headed and fuzzy, but figures it's just a rush of hormones. She turns around to face him and tilts her head up, waiting for the kiss she knows is coming and has missed for so long. Keeping his arms loosely around her while she turns to face him, he leans down and does not disappoint, kissing her deeply.
"Hm..." she mutters, "maybe we should find some place better than the kitchen to finish this?"
"Who says we're going to be finishing any time soon? I've got a bit of lost time to make up for..." he says.
