Dark Stranger

Alex - Part 6

Case 2 - "Blood Bank"

I went into the kitchen and showed Scott how to open the hidden fridge. "You and Deirdre are the only ones who know about this Scott. The guy who installed its deceased now and Deirdre usually stocks it up for me. She mothers me and Alex both. Anyway, it's mostly B+, there's something about it that I like best. But I'll pretty much drink any type."

"Can you tell if there's anything wrong with it?" Scott asked.

"Pertinent question." I said. "Actually all Vampires can tell if there's something wrong with our food. Sometimes we actually go looking for specific things too."

"What like?" Scott asked.

"Well, diabetics taste sweet!" I joked. "Seriously, I might like B+ best, another might like AB- we can tell if there's something wrong with whomever we're considering drinking from, we can smell a particular blood type too. We'll usually reject them if they're sick or have certain conditions, in favour of someone healthy. It makes more sense today to use that to our advantage. People who can survive a feeding and walk away are less likely to cause headlines."

"You let them go?"

"I let you go didn't I?" I said.

"Did you really?" He asked blushing sweetly.

"Oh, Scotty, I don't think I can." I admitted.

..........................

After we had breakfast, I decided it was a good thing Zass was a Vampire and could get ready in double quick time, because even though I only needed a couple of minutes to brush my teeth, throw some clothes on and run a comb though my hair, Zass seemed to need quadruple the amount of time to make himself 'presentable'. And by presentable I meant totally stunning. Not that I thought he needed anything but a smile. But he went in for the whole outfit thing, the matching accessories, bag, phone case, and make-up too. I couldn't help but smile when he asked if I thought he should wear an earring.

"You don't even have holes." I smiled.

"Ah, yes, that's the issue," Then he pulled a stud gun out of one of the drawers. "Stings like a bitch every time, for a second anyway."

"Wait, you have to pierce your ears every time?"

"Yes, if you don't have pierced ears when you turn and want to wear cute earrings, you need to put them in every time. As soon as I take them out, they heal over. The things we do for fashion!" He shrugged and handed me the gun. "One tonight I think. The Diamond stud Scott. Thanks."

"Um, OK." I held the gun up to his ear and when it was placed where Zass wanted it, he gave permission for me to pull the trigger and snap it in. I knew I could do it no problems, but I didn't want to hurt him.

"Go on Scotty. It's cool. It'll only sting for a second then I'm all good."

"OK."

'Bang.' I cringed at how loud the silly thing was. But Zass thanked me and looked at his reflection in the mirror (Another myth dispelled!). He grinned at me and admired himself again. Finally we could go and see Alex.

Alex greeted me like a long lost friend and even kissed me on the cheek! He couldn't talk long, but Nero had come in to see if the order was ready for collection. His "Partner" was going to need the blood soon. Nero's validation for requiring that amount of blood so regularly was that his partner had kidney disease and needed regular transfusions. We knew otherwise.

Zass warned Alex to watch what he said if Lynx ever came to the Blood Bank with Nero. She was unpredictable, ruthless and would slit his throat in a heartbeat if he let the cat out of the bag that he was one of Zass's people.