Vampire World (VAMPIRE WORLD #1)

Part 27 Decisions

Chapter 26: Decisions

            I did feel a bit better, though it hurt like hell when I looked at my phone and saw there were still no messages. I wondered if he even wanted me any more.

            On the way to work I seriously thought about ditching my messenger. It made a whole lot of sense to do so. And if I wanted Brett’s love, which I certainly did, this was something I would definitely have to do. But I was not going to be the one to make the first move. If he truly loved me, he had to do that.

            I tried my best to keep my composure as the working morning dragged along. I was asked for help from what felt like a million customers. Some wanted shirts with knives sticking out of them. Others were more interested in bloody pants. Quite a few asked about 3-D T-shirts with three-headed dogs on them as well.

            With all the crap going on, it was hard to love my job today. The temptation to cry again was high as I thought of Brett and his wonderful face.

            “What’s wrong, Janice?” Mira asked, noticing my mood.

            “Oh nothing,” I said. “Didn’t sleep well. Had a rough morning.”

            I somehow smiled, even though it was hard to do. I really did love my job. I couldn’t allow anyone, including my unofficial boyfriend, to make me not love it.

            After that I felt a little better for a while. That was, until I checked my phone again and saw there were still no messages or calls. For the rest of the morning I tried not to think about it, concentrating instead on climbing up and down the ladders and searching for clothes.

            Around lunchtime Mrs. FangCut told me to come to her office. I feared the worst. She was going to grill my ass for a poor performance that morning, even though I didn’t think I'd done such a bad job. But hell, I was out of it today.

            Stepping into her office, I grew increasingly nervous. My job meant a lot to me and I didn’t want to lose it.

            “How are you doing today?” she asked.

            I faked it the best I could. “Fine,” I told her.

            “Well, I wanted to present you with an offer, Janice.”

            She smiled before continuing. “You’re one of the finest workers I’ve ever seen at Vampire Supermarket. You’re great with customers, kind and hard-working, and your sales for a starter are unbelievable. So, I’m asking you if you’d like to be an assistant manager.”

            I told her most enthusiastically that I would, and how honored I was to have this opportunity.

            “There is one warning I must give you,” she advised. “You’ll be required to know not only the women’s department by heart, but the men’s as well. You’ll need to study the inventory every day, here at work and in your own time, so you can tackle the complex problems that managers have to face. Are you sure you’re up for this?”

            “Yes,” I assured her.

            “Good. I knew you’d be up for the challenge. You’ll start at the beginning of the next sun cycle. Your pay then will be doubled. In the meantime, I suggest taking one of the inventory books home with you to study. It may seem daunting, but I know you can do it. I have faith in you, Janice.”

            I left her office with spirits soaring. Now I had something to be happy about once again. I thought back to the pitiful job I'd had at the mall. I’d grown so much out of that nightmare. And now I was on my way to running the best damn clothing store in all of Vampire World. Hell yeah!

            My phone buzzed. Bloodflies danced chaotically around in my stomach as I parted the teeth and read the message from Brett: 'Janice, I’m sorry. I want to make up. Please.'

            Damn. I'd gone from feeling inconsolably sad to top of the world in almost no time at all. Would life ever be easy and predictable?

            That evening, Brett and I lay down together in my coffin with Garlic Moon filtering its beautiful rays in through the window. It felt so good to be close to him again. I don’t think I’d ever felt this close before. I'd almost lost him. But now we were back together.

            I held him tightly. We kissed, and it was incredible. Just when I thought kisses couldn’t get any better, they did.  I was so grateful he was still mine. All mine.

            “I’ve made up my mind,” I said. “I’ll stop following the secret messenger.”

            “Great,” Brett responded. “I want you to be safe, baby. That’s because I love you.”

            “I love you too,” I said, feeling so high.

            I told him how I couldn’t stand being away from him, and how Vampire World wasn’t the same magical place without him in my life. His response was pretty similar.

            “Look, I apologize for not taking you to the grave yet,” he said. “It’s a big commitment, and I want it to be at the best time. Can I make a deal with you?”

            “Sure.”

            “Tomorrow after work, I promise I will take you there. I would take you tonight, but I have to get to the hotel. Father needs his medicine.”

            I grew excited. “That’s great, baby. I can’t wait.”

            After another steamy kiss we said goodnight. He snuck quietly out of the house so Mr. FreeCut wouldn't see him. I felt reborn, knowing that I'd reunited with my better half. And I was not going to lose him again. Ever!

            But there was also something else on my mind. I'd discovered that life in Vampire World wasn’t some straight and narrow bloody brick road that was easy to follow. There were lots of unexpected twist and turns. I couldn’t allow even the best relationships to get in the way of self discovery and knowledge. I was going to call Rob and find out from him what my secret guide wanted me to know. And no one was gonna stop me because Brett would never get to hear about it.

            I peered out my room window and spotted another black box sitting in the middle of the lawn. I crept outside and carried it to my room. As expected, it was from my messenger.

            With much anticipation, I opened the box. Inside was a black orb small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. There was also the usual note.

            'Janice, because I have the ability to track your location at all times, if I sense you are lost or in danger, I can talk to you through this device. However, you will not be able to speak back to me. Keep it on you at all times. When I want to make contact it will vibrate and a light will blink. Now, contact Rob immediately. You need to go with him tonight to a special event.'

            Though I had no clue of where I was going or how I was going to get there, I didn’t waste time. But halfway through dialing Rob’s number I hesitated. Great care was going to be needed. I was about to call one of the rudest and most hateful vampires in the world. He'd even tried to violate me. Was I making the right decision? If Brett found out, he’d kill me.

            After a moment or two of further though, I dialed the number anyway.

            Rob answered.