My Fair Vampire, Chapter 4
Title: My Fair Vampire
Fandom : Moonlight
Characters : Josef, Simone, Mick, Beth
Rating : R, for some sexual content and strong language.
Spoilers: Post "Sonata"
Summary : 9th entry into my post- "Sonata" series. Josef agrees to turn Simone, but naturally it's not going to be that simple. Simone has a mind of her own. Could she be Eliza Doolittle to Josef's Henry Higgins?
Disclaimer : I'm using these characters for fun and not for profit. No infringement intended.
Chapter 4
“Next!” I called to Niles, as Mick carted the third unconscious freshie from the living room. He took them into the adjoining library, where cots had been set up and other freshies attended to them with orange juice and cookies. I’d also hired a nurse in case we had to give anyone a transfusion. Simone was having a little trouble with self-control.
“It looks like the Red Cross out there,” Mick said dryly when he returned to the room.
“Yeah, well I pay more than a t-shirt and a baseball cap,” I replied absently. My eyes were glued to Simone, who was understandably frustrated.
“I’m tho thorry, Jothef,” she was saying over her fangs. “Thothe poor people. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Mick wasn’t looking too happy either. “You know, maybe this is a little too soon. I mean, blood bags aren’t in any danger of passing out.”
“This is the most basic thing a new vampire learns, Mick. Blood bags aren’t always available. She’s getting it. On the last one she used perfect technique with the wrist method. A few more of those, and we’ll move on to the jugular.”
“But I can’t theem to thtop in time,” Simone lamented.
By this time Niles had led another male freshie into the room. We’d run out of the burlier guys, and I had my doubts how the skinny kid who came in next could hold up to the blood sucking machine that was Simone. He looked a little nervous. I think he was a recent recruit; I hadn’t seen him at any vamp parties lately. He sat down beside Simone and me on the couch. Mick had propped himself against a wall nearby, looking on in concern.
“Okay, sweetheart,” I said to Simone, “Easy now. And listen for the change in heart rate.” She looked at the boy-about twenty-and softly asked for his name.
“Zack,” he said, his voice a little shaky as he looked at her fangs and eyes.
“Let me know if you thart to black out,” she told him kindly. He nodded solemnly, gulping once. She gently picked up his wrist and brought it to her mouth. She’d been on the other side of this before, so I guess she understood pretty well how a freshie likes to be treated. Her fangs slid in after the initial breaking of the skin, and she began to drink. Zack groaned at her first touch, then his eyes closed and he began trembling uncontrollably, his back sinking into the couch. He moaned again in ecstasy-Simone said it was a very sensual experience-and then was silent. I figured it was about time she stopped; given the guy’s weight he was likely in danger of losing consciousness.
“Okay, I think you should stop now,” I told her. But by this time her eyes had taken on the lustful look we vampires get when are turned on by bloodlust. When she didn’t let go, I reached out to separate them, but she wasn’t giving it up. “Simone-honey-let go!”
It was like she hadn’t heard me. Mick was there at our side in a flash, helping me to pull her off, leaving a jagged tear in Zack’s arm. He was out cold. I called for the nurse so she could stop the bleeding before he bled out.
Simone suddenly came back to herself, bursting into tears when she saw poor Zack passed out and bleeding. “Oh, my God! That poor kid! Jothef, I can’t do thith anymore!”
Mick helped the nurse get Zack settled in the other room while I tried to settle her down.
“It’s okay. He knew what he signed up for. He’s just a freshie, Simone. A dime a dozen. You just need more practice. We’ll go for the jugular on the next one.”
”No! I’m done with this! Thethe are people, for God thake. I’ll thtick with bagged blood, Jothef.” I wasn’t about to let her give up. She was a vampire now, and she had to learn the proper way to do things.
Mick was trying to stay out of it, but his crossed arms and grim expression left no doubt of his feelings. I ignored him.
“You can do this. It’s just trial and error. Trust me, baby. I’ve been doing this for centuries.”
“I’m not hungry,” she pouted, retracting her fangs obstinately and turning her face away from me.
I sighed, running my hands through my hair impatiently. “Just one more, and we can be done for the day, okay?”
She lifted her chin like a recalcitrant child.
“Next!” I called to Niles. The woman who entered was very familiar to me-a blonde who was frequently part of the refreshment service at my poker games. Before things had gotten exclusive with Simone, Cassie had performed other…services for me as well. She sauntered up to me in her sexy black dress and sat beside me, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek, the touch of her tounge a sensual reminder of what she thought would be in store for the two of us. I glanced at Simone and saw she was no longer ignoring me. Her eyes flared silver again in angry recognition. I saw Mick’s lips twitch with his own remembrance of Cassie. She and Beth had almost gotten into a catfight over him when Beth and Simone had crashed my poker party one time.
Cassie looked up, her eyes widening when she beheld the newly turned vampire. She apparently recognized Simone as well. “You turned her?” Cassie asked in surprise.
“Yeah. You’re here for her, not for me. You don’t mind, though, do you sweetheart?”
She smiled prettily at me. “Hey, if you’re into the threesome thing, I’m game.” She eyed Mick hopefully. “Or is it a foursome?”
I laughed while Simone fumed. “No. No extra services required today. Just let Simone have a taste of you, and you’ll have more than earned your standard fee.”
I looked at Simone. “We’re trying for the neck now, honey. Just find the vein like I told you. It’s larger than the one on the wrist, so it’s easier to find. The blood flows faster, so you have to be very careful.”
“Wait-this is her first time?” Cassie said suspiciously. “That will be double, Josef. I’m not risking permanent scarring or even death from some inexperienced vampire using me for her pin cushion.”
“Fine. Double it is. Simone?”
“Gladly,” came Simone’s fangy smile.
I suddenly didn’t like the evil look in her eyes. Mick picked up on it too, but it was too late to stop her once she’d pounced on Cassie. The freshie struggled and cried out as Simone bit her harshly, drinking for all she was worth. It was literally like getting a pit bull to unlock its jaws. Mick and I finally were able to dislodge her before Cassie passed out, and the girl stumbled from the room, hand tightly clasping her bleeding neck. Simone sat back with a satisfied expression, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“That’s for Beth, bitch!” she called to the freshie. I sighed and put my face in my hands.
~~~~~~~~
It had been a long night. I’d finally gotten an exhausted Simone into the walk-in freezer off the kitchen-her new bedroom. I’d never had use for it, since I had no food to store there; it had come with the house. I’d had the thing serviced and cleaned, and it had just enough room for a full-sized bed and a small bedside table. While it was still a small room, at least she said it didn’t feel like she was being buried alive in it.
I was tired myself, but after partaking of a remaining freshie, all I wanted was to kick back with a drink and a chat with Mick.
We went into my study, relaxing with our drinks in the leather easy chairs.
“This is a little harder than I expected,” I said, deserving the award for understatement. “You think she’s going to be okay?”
Mick covered his hesitation by taking a drink of single malt. “I have new admiration for responsible vamps who take care of their sires. I don’t think I could do this, man. I guess Simone is finally is competent enough to use a freshie if she has to. But you know how I feel about that issue.”
“In other words, you don’t approve.”
“I’m not judging you, Josef, or I wouldn’t be here. It’s just not what I want for myself. And she overdid it with some of them, you’ve got to admit.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’m going to have to be on the lookout for new recruits now. Blood bags may be our only options for awhile.” We were both lost in thought a few minutes, then Mick got up to leave.
“Can you come tomorrow?” I asked hopefully.
“What’s up for tomorrow?”
“Vampire acrobatics,” I grinned.
“Uh-huh. This from the guy who hires people to do his jumping for him. I suppose you’re counting on my expertise in this area?”
“If you’d be so kind. You know how you like me to be in your debt.”
“That’s true,” he replied simply. I walked him to the door, noting the light on the horizon that signaled it was time for all good vampires to go to sleep.
“Thanks, Mick. You went above and beyond today.” His eyes were drawn to the approaching sunrise as well.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. “ He started toward his convertible, then turned back to me in afterthought. “And don’t think you’re off the hook for that little display with Beth yesterday. We are gonna talk about this.”
I just laughed. “Bring it on, Mick. I’ll see you later.” And I shut the door between us.
~~~~~~~~~
“Okay, repeat after me: seven smiling succubi suckled several screaming sycophants.” Such was my speech therapy for Simone to help her overcome her vampire lisp. She laughed at the little tongue twister I’d come up with.
“Thath thutipd, Jothef. How about theven thilver thwanth thwam thilently theaward.”
“Seven silver swans, eh? How boring. I like mine better, but whatever works for you, you have to get rid of that ridiculous lisp.”
“Ridiculouth?” She turned back to human face in frustration. “You’re right. I know I sound like an imbecile, but you don’t have to keep bugging me about it.” She regarded me with annoyance. “You’ve become quite the taskmaster, Josef. Why do I have to do all this all at once? I’ve learned the important things, haven’t I? My jugular technique is perfect now.”
I kissed her cheek indulgently. We were sitting in her freezer/bedroom on her bed, and she was drying her hair from her recent cold shower. Niles had moved all her things in there from the human bedroom we’d used, and she’d made herself at home in the unorthodox sleeping quarters. “Yes, you’re incredible, and learning a lot very fast. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it’s fast enough.”
She stopped rubbing her hair with her towel. “What are you talking about? What’s with the timetable all of a sudden?” At my silence, her face became firm. “Josef Kostan, spill it right now.”
Yeah, there was something I was keeping from her. It had arrived in the mail today. I don’t know why I thought I could keep this matter private from the world outside my house. It was an invitation to a reception given by the Vampire Council, set for next week. They wanted to welcome her into the fold, I suppose, and since I was a fairly prominent vampire in LA, they couldn’t resist seeing my new creation. I’m sure it was as much out of curiosity as it was security for our community, but I did a lot of business with vampires so I didn’t want to offend any of them. I briefly explained the situation to Simone.
“These are the same people who executed the Monaghans?” she said in disbelief. “Why do I need to parade myself in front of them? I’m not a trained monkey to be gawked at and show off the new tricks I’ve learned. I don’t want to follow their archaic laws.” Here was my little lawyer, making her appearance at last.
“If you’re going to survive in this town as a vampire, there’s a certain amount of ass-kissing you’re gonna have to do, just like anywhere, Simone, you know that. And these are the most powerful vampires. Befriending them could open lots of doors for you businesswise, not to mention offer backup should you ever need it.”
She didn’t sound convinced. “I have you and Mick for that. Oh, and Guillermo, Logan, Daryl and Carrie.”
“Simone, my sweet, we are all on the Council ourselves, except Daryl and Carrie. But even they follow the rules. It’s not wise to offend the rest of the Council, and they won’t hesitate to destroy any wayward vamp that threatens our secrecy.”
“But I wouldn’t do that, Josef. I’ve kept your secret as a freshie for years. I think I’ve proven my loyalty by protecting your way of life.”
“How can I make you understand this? You are a fledgling vampire, prone to make mistakes. If you don’t have the Council on your side in this, you won’t have anyone to stand up for you if something goes wrong. And trust me, punishment from them is always either death or banishment. I for one don’t like either of those outcomes for you.”
I guess I’d finally gotten through to her. Simone was nothing if not logical, and I guess my words as well as my seriousness had swayed her that maybe I was speaking the truth.
She sighed in defeat. “Okay, so what does this reception entail? Do we put on black robes and huddle round a human sacrifice?”
“If only,” I said, trying not to smile. “No. Likely we huddle round cocktails and live freshies. They’ll want to see how you’re adjusting to your new life.”
“Next week, eh?” She began combing her long hair in resignation, seamlessly changing eyes and fangs before reciting dutifully: “Thevin thmiling thucuubi…”