Thank you so much for your comments. Again enjoy ο
***
Back at home in her familiar surroundings Eirini felt somewhat strange and empty. She invited James in but he said his job was to be outside. They continued to chat occasionally with their minds.
Eirini threw herself back into her work. Chantelle and Kate had been upset that she had to leave the club early, but they were dying to tell her about their night with the gorgeous new men. Eirini listened and 'oooed' and 'ahhed' at all the right places but she was glad that her friends were safe. Since graduating top of her class at Harvard, Eirini was head-hunted by many firms. She chose Peterson-Cook because they offered her version of the dream job.
Eirini was working with a team of people as a child advocate, specializing in family law and adoption. Being an orphan herself and adopted to a great family, she wanted other children to have the same opportunities. Mr Cook also allowed her to work on the charitable division of the firm. This was mainly fundraising for various causes, donations for tax breaks and similar. The firm saw it as good business and public relations; Eirini didn't care as long as the charities got the money and continued their good work.
Eirini had a particularly difficult case at the moment where an abusive father was trying to regain custody of his children. She didn't like using her powers as part of her job. This time she was worried that the father would continue the abuse and she was right, he was a sick, sick man.
At the moment she was trying everything in her power to prevent him from gaining custody. It was a tricky process gathering evidence that would stand up in court. She was researching precedents when she felt a brush on her mind, it felt familiar. 'Reece' she thought. He hadn't broken his promise. He hadn't tried to gain access to her thoughts, he was just checking in. In an odd way she was comforted.
Over the next couple of weeks Eirini went from work, to the Randall estate to research, to home, to bed. Every night there was a guard outside her house making sure it was safe. Many nights it was James and she'd have a good laugh, but often it was another security guy. Over time, however she got to know most of them so she was pretty comfortable.
At the Randall estate she was often greeted warmly by security and by Charles. She also met his son and grandson in her research endeavours. They found her case as fascinating as she did and they were now actively helping as oppose to just guiding. She was starting to get a real feel for what was going on with her but there was no real confirmation.
While at the estate she hadn't ran into Reece as yet, she felt his presence but she hadn't seen him. His mind, however, had often touched hers. As she was sitting at a laptop in the basement that housed the archives, she thought about the fact that she had often felt his presence at her home as well. She often woke up with the strange sensation that she wasn't alone in her bed. One morning she even thought she felt arms around her, but she convinced herself that she must have been dreaming. She shook that thought away and continued to hunt through ancient texts.
Reece was knee deep in work himself but he couldn't help spending a moment to just reassure himself that she was all right. He was agitated and cranky the first few days after she left. He couldn't even rest in his bed without her in it. This obsession with starting to scare him, even worse was how he was spending his nights.
At first he made excuses that he was just checking on her to make sure she was safe, but he now had to admit that it was more than that. He couldn't sleep without her. He would come late at night when she was deeply asleep and hold her; he would leave before she woke in the morning. This was a dangerous game. He knew when she was on the grounds but he deliberately didn't see her because he didn't know what he would do.
James had noticed that Eirini was running herself into the ground. He had also noticed his boss' odd behaviour. He wondered why Lord Randall just didn't take her and be done with it. He supposed he had his reasons. He found her hunched over a computer screen as usual. He stood next to her and said "Come on, time to play hooky. All work and no play, makes Eirini a very dull girl." He chided.
Eirini laughed and decided he had a point. "Where to?" she asked.
"I thought I'd give you the grand tour if you like." He said. Eirini was thrilled she had been dying to see the estate. James showed her through the gardens, pools, tennis courts and golf course. All areas were well lit of course, so the vampires could play at night. There was the office wing were many of the day to day business dealings were run. He even pointed out Reece's office but they didn't go in. He explained that there was a large contingent of human staff as well to keep things running.
It appeared to be a well contained community with sleeping quarters and a gym. As he was showing her around Eirini was peppering him with questions about vampires in general. James was happy to comply. He explained that vampires were either made or born. Most of Randall's family were born. Turning a human was seriously frowned upon. Vampires were required to stand by and let someone die rather than turn them without their permission or a full understanding of what they were getting into.
They were walking past one particular wing that looked like a long corridor with doors coming off either side. "And what is this?" Eirini asked.
"Oh this is the 'play room'." He said off hand. Eirini fit in so well that he sometimes forgot that she was human. 'Crap, how do I explain this one' he thought. Eirini was making her way to a door before he stopped her. "Um not such a good idea." He said. She looked at him questioningly. "Look, I shouldn't have brought you here." He said looking distressed.
"Explain James." She ordered, her curiosity now working in over drive.
"Its complicated." He stalled. "Oh well. Vampires are, um, very sexual creatures. We seek out pleasure constantly, even in feeding. Most vampires are unattached and like to enjoy each other's company. Some are 'mated'. That means they have fallen in love and chosen a partner for a period of time. The single and the mated often come down here to, um, enjoy each other and others." He explained uncomfortably.
Eirini giggled, he seemed like he was trying to explain the birds and the bees to her, and it was amusing. "You see, we don't have the same concept of monogamy humans do. But consent is important and a vampire. Particularly a mated one will not stray without the permission or even participation of his partner. Humans play too on occasion but that usually involves feeding. Our bite is designed to give maximum pleasure in return for what we get. I hope I'm explaining this ok and not freaking you out." James said with a worried look.
"You're doing great, go on." Eirini reassured him, surprised at how little she was freaked out. 'Spending too much time with vampires' she chuckled in her head.
"There is also the True Ones." James continued. "Very rarely a vampire will find their true other half. Something like soul mates but more. It is every vampires dream to find a True One but it happens so rarely. The True Ones don't play with others as much but they do sometimes come down to watch." He winked at her.
