Part 3 (1/2)
”Good thing you have him locked up. He could be dangerous to the good vampires as well as the bad ones.”
”You mean there are good ones?” she asked.
”Eh-hem. Excuse me. There is yours truly.” William spread his arms wide. ”The majority of the vampires live among the humans.
It's vamps like Luke who make problems for us all.”
”Should I be worried about this rogue vampire? I mean, he's already done the damage.” She turned her head to the side and stared at the wounds.
”Only if he comes back for you. Sometimes, when a vampire turns you, he can claim you as his mate. That hasn't happened in a long time. But I'd stay away from Luke if I were you.”
”No problem.” If memory served her correctly, he was a pretty scary kinda guy. ”Won't my superhuman strength help me out where he's concerned?”
”Some. But he's been at it longer. He'll be twice as strong as you.”
Julie snapped her fingers. ”d.a.m.n.”
William pushed a hand through his wavy blond hair. ”I'm beat and it's about time for some sleep. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.”
”Thanks. I don't know what I'd have done without your help out there.”
”You'd have fried.”
”Yeah.” She stood and strode for the door. ”I guess I'll get cleaned up and get some sleep. That's what vampires do during the day, huh?”
”Pretty much. Although some get around in their day jobs with a lot of prior planning and S.A.T.s”
Julie's mind whirled with the new terminology and rules. ”S.A.T.s? What are those?” ”Sun avoidance techniques.”
For the first time since she'd known William, she noted the closed blinds and drawn drapes over the windows. Why hadn't she noticed before? ”They really can get around during the day and hold a job?”
”Yeah, but I don't recommend it for the neophytes.”
”Okay.” She hated to step out the door. All this was new to her and William was her only ally in a world gone bizarre. ”Thanks again.” With nothing left to say or any reason to stall, she stepped across the hallway and into her apartment.
Sunlight streamed through her windows and she squinted, her eyes burning. First things first, she'd have to close all the blinds.
After accomplis.h.i.+ng that task with minimal scorching, she headed for the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror examining her neck. The puncture wounds were already healing, but still visible.
d.a.m.n. She was a vampire. Tears welled in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. d.a.m.n.
How was she going to tell her folks? Her boss? Kim?
The phone rang.
What should she do? Should she answer like nothing out of the ordinary? She could say, ”h.e.l.lo, this is Julie. I'm dead. How are you?”
On the third ring, she grabbed the receiver with no idea what she was going to say to whoever was on the line.
”Hey, beautiful.”
Oh geez! ”Roger?”
”You sound surprised. Did I wake you?”
”No!” What should she do? What should she say?
”I just got off work and remembered we didn't set a time.”
”Time?” What was wrong with her? Did becoming a vampire take away her brain capacity?
”For our date?” Roger chuckled. ”You didn't change your mind did you?”
Change her mind? She wanted to shout, ”h.e.l.l no!” But, given the circ.u.mstances, shouldn't she cancel? ”h.e.l.l no!” she said before she could think beyond those two words.
”Good. For a moment there, I thought I'd lost you.”
For all intents and purposes he had. She was a dead woman. He was a living, breathing, vegetable-and-ice-cream-eating human.
What the h.e.l.l did they have in common after the events of this morning? Nothing! ”No, you didn't lose me.”
”I'm glad. Because I have plans for a special dinner followed by dessert at my place.”
Dinner? Oh G.o.d! Hey, could she say that? Wasn't she one of the d.a.m.ned? Would G.o.d ever forgive her? Was she going to h.e.l.l when she died? Oh wait, she was already dead. Would she go to h.e.l.l when she got dusted?
Thoughts tumbled in Julie's head, refusing to take root, become coherent. With a decided yank, she pulled her mind back to dinner. What the h.e.l.l could she eat? She scribbled on a pad by the phone, ”Ask William what vampires can eat besides blood and am I going to h.e.l.l?” Both questions made her s.h.i.+ver. ”So I'll pick you up at six?”
”Sounds great.” No wait. What was that one rule? ”Will the sun be down by then?”
”I don't think so. Why?”
”Uh, no reason.” Six was not an option. ”Could you pick me up at seven? I'm thinking I could use an extra hour of beauty sleep.”
The sun should be down by then. The days wouldn't get longer until closer to June.
”Not that you need the extra hour. You're beautiful just as you are. But I'd be happy to pick you up at seven.”
”Oh and Roger?” Should she tell him before the date? That way he had a choice as to whether or not to go out with a dead woman.
”Yes, gorgeous?”
Her toes curled at the endearment. Maybe telling him now wasn't such a good idea. A subject like ”I'm a bloodsucking vampire”
might be better broached in person over a gla.s.s of wine. ”I can't wait to see you.” Make that an entire bottle of wine.
”Me too. Finally.” He laughed again. ”I thought we'd never actually have a real date.”