I lay in bed for the 9th night in a row, not being able to sleep. I was so very lonely. It's hard to believe that on a world populated by millions of people, one person could feel as lonely as I do. Once again I closed my eyes, reaching out with my mind to anyone who could hear me.
I had wished for someone, anyone to hear my cries. My mind crossing over mountains, clouds and continents before stopping and listening to someone else crying out in the night sky. Veril was standing on the side of a very large mountain, the cave he was in looked as if went back into the mountain a long way. He stood there looking out over the cliff, his mind reaching for someone, something. I stood there in my mind watching him, listening to his thoughts, thinking he didn't sense my presence at all I thought I could get closer. That was my first mistake. My second being getting close enough to be caught looking straight into his coal black eyes as he looked right at me. I wasn't sure how or if he saw me but it was enough to scare me right back to my body.
I got up out of bed, my body covered in sweat, and I was shaking all over just thinking about that man. He was powerful in a physical sense as well as intimidating in stature. He must have stood 6'7 and had a thick mane of straight black hair that went all the way to his waist. His muscles bunching and flexing as he stood there on that cliff. My body reacted just thinking about how powerful he looked standing there.
Who was he, I wondered?
Once again another night had come and gone. Where would it end for him? . . . He had given up wondering centuries ago . . . It was just a day, like any other day, melding into so many damned years. "Damned" being the operative word. Veril had been stuck in a deep blue funk for the past one hundred years, ever since -. He viciously clamped down on the painful memories, but not quickly enough to prevent the tears from pooling in his eyes. He was one of the oldest of his kind, but all that meant was that he had lost more than most -too many friends, so many wives, and a string of lovers as long as the old testament, the list was never ending, and the idea of adding another name to that list was utterly abhorrent to think about doing.
He hadn't cared about his appearance in decades. He hardly ever left his mountain side cave. He rarely left to eat, but the occasional drunk did nothing for his appetite. He knew he had grown soft, weak and utterly smelly. But he didn't care, not until last night that is. Last night he felt her presence. He had no idea who she was or how she became to be standing beside him on his mountain, but here she had been, that is until he scared her away. But, he would find her again. Of that he had no doubt. For the first time in a very long time, he felt hungry. He felt the stirring of pleasure and he smiled. He would find her, but first he had to clean himself up.
I tried to sleep but it just wasn't going to happen. As morning rolled around, I thought I might as well get up and do something. I got up, got dressed and went for a walk. I ended up at the coffee shop around the corner from my place. Of course the coffee shop would be open for insomniacs like me, more coffee, more caffeine, less sleep. It was a vicious cycle, but as I tasted my frothy drink I knew it was worth it. I looked up as the bell from the door dinged, someone walked in. I was sitting near the back, but the hairs on the back of my neck rose and a shiver went down my spine. I watched as the jean clad legs made their way to the back, where I was. When I had the presence of mind to finally look up, there he was. The man from the mountain.
He smiled and my mouth went dry. My eyes must have been very large as I stared at him. I must have stared at him for a few minutes and I blushed fire engine red and laughed nervously as he put out his hand and introduced himself.
"My name is Veril, and I am very pleased to meet you, My Lady." His hand was still out and I put my small hand in his to shake, but to my surprise he took my hand brought it to his lips and kissed it. When Veril looked up at me and smiled I knew he had felt the shiver that had gone through my body at his touch.
When he straightened, meeting my eyes again, I barely articulated, "Mary, my name is Mary."
It took me a long moment to realize that he was standing there looking at me. Good God, did I not have any manners anymore? I shifted my position in the comfortable leather chair, then cleared my throat nervously. What was with me tonight?
"Would you like to join me?" I waved at the empty chair across from me.
"Yes, thank you. I very much would like to join you." He slid into the leather chair effortlessly, now sitting across from me he could see my hands shaking nervously, no doubt wondering how I had come to be on his mountaintop with him the night before.
"Yes I am wondering how you came to be there." He said, after reading my mind.
The little gasp was all the sound I could make, my throat closed up, no other sounds came. "How did you..." was all I got out before he placed his hand over mine, stroking it with his own.
"I can hear your thoughts, just as you heard mine that night. But you are human and I am not." He told me.
"What do you mean you're not human?" I asked, not truly understanding.
"Can we go somewhere else to talk more privately?" He asked me as his fingers stroked mine.
"Yes, we can go back to my place." I said as I stood up, his hand still in mine.
When we got back to my place and as I went inside, he was still standing outside my door. I looked at him, he said, "You have to invite me in, but before you do I should tell you what you are inviting into your home." He sighed slightly then in a low voice said to me, "I am a Vampire."
"What do you mean, Vampire?"
