"Good morning, Master Stanton."
James opened his eyes as he heard his butler, Nelson, address him. Nelson Ashford never seemed like a butler but more like a friend which evolved into a grandfather figure while being in employed by Mr. Staton for over sixty years. Yes, the old reliable butler knew of his secrets as did all the other servants and staff of his house hold knew. To serve a vampire wasn't unusual for the Ashford clan they pledged themselves and their offspring to serve the Stantons faithfully in return for shelter and safety from the world's fickle ways.
"Good morning to you too Nelson." James replied back sitting up in bed as he glanced over at his alarm clock that read 9:00 AM.
"I did not notice you come in last night, Sir." Nelson stated as he walked closer with a silver tray in hand which contained his master's breakfast, the essence of life.
Taking the glass from him, James drank the blood in a matter of seconds before setting the glass cup on the dark oak nightstand. "Sorry if I kept you up waiting for me old man but I was out in Winchest town... with my soul mate," he hesitantly said as he hoped out of the king size bed heading towards to his master bathroom.
"You found her, Sir? Does she know about your secrets?" Nelson asked curiously as he straightened the dark blue silk bed spread.
Taking a deep sigh James pops his head out of the bathroom replying back, "no old friend she doesn't know. It was very hard to confront her in the first place. She keeps her guard very high up so it's best that I not tell her right now. I think if I did though it would most likely scare her way instead of rushing to my arms."
"So she's human then. Ha, like when your father met your mother. Looks like history is repeating it's self all over again. And what's with old man? You're what five times older than me." He stated bluntly losing all formalities as he finished tidying up the bedroom as James jumped inside the shower.
After a few minutes passed James walked out, with a towel around his waist, heading straight to his walk-in closet. He stared at his clothes like a child in a candy store trying to determine what he wanted. It finally came down to an Armani suit or just his usual dark blue jeans and a black button up dress shirt. Suit would be impressive but just scream: hey I'm rich and stuck-up, plus it'd be way too hot and uncomfortable in this weather. Looks like jeans and shirt were the winner this time around. As he started to dress he called out to Nelson, "Could you go prepare my Chevelle? I'm having lunch with Maria, Oh I forgot to tell you that. Her name is Maria. Maria Mancini."
"Italian?" He asked as he pulled open the midnight blue velvet drapes open to let the sunshine in.
"I pretty sure she is. I have a picture stored in my iphone if you'd like to see." James mentioned as he walked out of his closet to retrieve his phone to show him. "Oh that reminds I have to make a copy of this picture."
Adjusting his eye glasses before looking at Maria's birthday photo Nelson curiously asked, "Master Stanton, does anyone else know about her like for instance your friends or family?"
'God my family' he thought to himself as he hooked his phone to his laptop to print the picture. He didn't know what they would think honestly, times were different, people knew back then that mythical creatures existed but now a days it was just made up fairy tales or box office hits. Not only that but his family just shows up whenever they feel like it, constantly putting their two cents in everything, and trying to control how his life should be. Then his friends oh God, how would he explain to Maria why some of them had butterfly looking wings, some flying around with broom sticks, and while others shifted into giant wolves. "I trust you to do that for me. I know how you tell your wife everything like a good little hubby, then she tells all the staff, who tells my parents, who tells EVERYONE else."
With a chuckle Nelson retorts, "Shall I tell Virginia the news now or shall I fetch your vehicle to the main entrance first and then tell her. You know she thought you and Vera would marry but then again I hear from her that Vera tries to do that with all vampires of your high status." And with that the old butler left his master's suite.
Glancing again over to his alarm clock he noticed it was already 10:00 as he called his Italian Princess, "Hello Maria."
"Oh hi James."
"I was just calling to make sure our lunch date is still on." He replied back trying to be calm and cool.
"Yeah you think I would cancel on you, Mr. Stanton?" She said with a little giggle, almost sounding flirtatious which she never was but for some odd reason he was brining that out of her.
"No not at all I was just wondering if 12:30 would be a good time to pick you up for lunch."
"That would be actually perfect. It would give me enough time before my family gets home from vacation." She replied absent mindedly while looking through her closet for clothes.
James couldn't help himself being sarcastic as he retorted back, "Why are you embarrassed of me to introduce you to your parents?"
"Oh heavens no, that's not it at all! I just didn't want to be gone when they come home that's all. I'm sorry to be rude but I have to get ready so I'll see you at 12:30 at my place."
"Alright just making sure. See you soon." James replied back before he hung up and walked out his room with her picture in hand.
Feeling like he was on top of the world he hopped on the staircase banister and slid down the railing as if he was a child. As he reached the bottom of the stair case, he jumped down gracefully before, walking toward his front entrance getting the occasional smiles and greetings from his staff. Once he closed the front door he laid eyes on his cherry red 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS, named Cheri. James quickly walked down the steps and jumped in his Cheri, he revved up the engine thinking of the birthday when his parents bought it for him when this type of model first hit the dealership lots. As he drove down his long driveway James knew that he only had only a little over two hours to get Maria's dream present. He just hoped she'd like it but was more interested in knowing what she was up to right this moment.
"Maria we're home!"
Maria was startled when she heard her father shout to her from below the stairs. Stress ensued Maria as she thought to herself, 'oh dear Mother Mary they weren't suppose to be here yet.' She wasn't worried about her parents meeting James but the twins. She felt so unequal to them they were 5'8", slender, with straight long blond hair, and everyone thought they were so perfect. Maria knew she was good looking for being Italian and all but guys preferred tall blond cheerleaders not average looking devout catholic girls. One look at the twins and she had a feeling James would be following them like a love sick puppy.
"Hello Daddy. I thought you were coming home later in the afternoon." Maria said as came down stairs to greet her father.
"Well sweetheart you must of forgotten about the time difference." He replied back as he brought in some suitcases.
