Dee slept in the next day. The last two nights had been deliciously exhausting, and she felt the need for a little beauty sleep. Eventually, though, hunger won out, and she untangled herself from the twisted sheets with a sigh. From the foot of the bed, she looked upon its two remaining occupants. Yukio and Dominic neither moved nor breathed. At least that meant they didn't snore. Both beautiful and dangerous, they were nearly the polar opposite of one another. Yukio with his exotic features and long black hair, and Dominic with his incredible size and shaved head. Dee sighed and smiled wickedly, considering the possibilities. But her stomach insisted on food. Had she eaten yesterday? She couldn't remember....
The fridge was empty of anything not bottled or canned. Crap. Dee hurried through a quick shower, dressed and headed out for breakfast. Or was it lunch? She wasn't even sure what time it was. Daytime. Her time.
Her pocketbook was as empty as her fridge, and Dee luxuriated in the warm sunshine as she strolled through the square toward the ATM. How could anyone ever give up the sun? Vampires were exquisite, but the sun was not on her list of things she could do without. No matter what Dominic said, insinuated or promised. Dee checked her bank balance and stifled a crow of delight. Dominic must've been quite pleased with Yukio to have augmented her monthly allowance like that. Who was she kidding? Her "finder's fee" had been doubled. Chuckling, she withdrew a handful of twenties and chose a table in the square based solely upon the pattern the sun made though the palm trees, not caring about the menu.
It was the pizza place, and she ordered a couple of slices at random, her mind on her bank account.
She and Dominic had never formally discussed her payment. He had always made sure she had enough to live comfortably without working. Unless she wanted to; but it was so much nicer to just drift from town to town, any place with a beach and a view of the ocean. Dominic always showed up at the right times, when she needed his strength or his companionship, never crowding her, but always just on the edge of her awareness.
Dee could always count on the busy metropolitan areas for good hunting, but sometimes these sleepy little places surprised her. She hadn't expected to find Yukio so far from the big cities, especially this far down the east coast. The dreams had started two days after she'd arrived, and it had been a full week before she'd been able to draw him out. Of course, he'd been sure he was hunting her. Vampires were always so damned arrogant. The one's she'd caught, anyway. Must go hand in hand with the black leather pants and animal magnetism.
Looking down at her empty plate, Dee realized she was still starving. She ordered a glass of wine and another couple of slices, basking in the sun and the sea breeze, all but oblivious to the tourists milling around her, sunburned and burdened with fitful children and overpriced trinkets.
A second glass of wine followed. She watched the shadows lengthen as the sun headed for its rendezvous with the horizon. Dee relaxed and enjoyed her time to herself, a requirement for good mental health as far as she was concerned. Blissful solitude. Dominic would be stirring soon; he was always an early riser. A shame he couldn't share a sunset with her. But he'd made his choice long, long ago. She didn't know his exact age, and she didn't care; anything past one hundred was just a useless number to her. Some vampires had boasted five centuries to her. Big deal. They still acted like spoiled children used to always getting their way. They were her favorites to catch.
Dee finished her wine and left a hefty tip, courtesy of Dominic, and strolled down to the water to watch the sunset. Perhaps tonight she would see the elusive "green flash" she'd heard rumored in this part of the country. She focused on that precise moment the sun met the sea... Nope. It was a gorgeous sunset nonetheless, the sky bleeding out its last moments of daylight in pink and crimson and orange. She watched the pelicans wheel and dive for a last few moments before heading back to her place.
She was almost reluctant to return indoors. Something was bothering her... Pretending to search her purse, Dee checked her surroundings more closely. He was so obvious; he could have been wearing a shirt that said PREDATOR across the front. Dee sighed. By the gods above and below, why were petty criminals so stupid? She headed directly for her place, keys in her hand as she climbed the stairs, knowing he was right behind her. She had just turned the doorknob to enter when he pushed her roughly inside.
"Boy did you pick the wrong girl," Dee said from the floor, not even bothering to look at him.
"Stupid bi-"
Dee rose, shaking her head, and turned to him.
Dominic held him by the throat with one hand, and Yukio was making a ludicrous show of cleaning his fingernails with a throwing knife. It was a real struggle not to laugh at their display.
"Now," Dominic rumbled, "I know, that you were probably helpless to resist her feminine charms. But your social graces are severely lacking."
Dee smiled sweetly and kissed Yukio and Dominic each on the cheek.
Understanding blossomed in his eyes, and he fought to free himself from Dominic's seemingly casual but iron grasp. Yukio leaned in close to inhale the scent of his rising fear, growling like a wild animal.
"No rough housing indoors, boys," Dee said reasonably.
"Yes ma'am," they chorused, escorting her assailant outside and down the stairs before he soiled himself and her carpet.
She closed the door and left them to their business. No need to witness the gruesome details; they would feed and the body would never be found. And one less predator would hunt tourists in her new town. Nice and tidy. They knew their business.
