The Fourth Horseman

Away In The Night

"Yea Nic, I want to mark you. Let the whole fucking world know your mine and if they ever cross me I will make them pay with their life. What do you think?"

"Can we do it somewhere other than this grimy office? I don't really like the thoughts running through my head of what debauchery you've done in here."

He laughed out loud. My eyes widened as I watched him laugh at me, beautiful smile with fangs peeking and sharp green eyes smiling back at me. His laugh made my heart skip a beat. It mended and pieced together my ravaged heart. The first time I hear Jameson Cain laugh my breath hitches. It's one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. 

"So you want to go back to my place or....?" 

Jay grabbed me in a warm embrace and said "how about we go to my place. It's not far from the club. I have whiskey" 

I laughed at his feeble excuse for a lure. I would most likely follow Jay anywhere. So I shrugged my shoulders and said "sure that sounds good. But what am I going to wear? I'm not walking out of here in just my panties and bra!" 

"Oh no worries, I have a shirt and some sweat pants here you can wear. He walked to a closet door I had missed on my way in, opened it and threw me a white t shirt and some sweats which were all much to big for me but I didn't  care. I'm sure I wouldn't be wearing them long anyway.

We made our way out the back door and the club was still busy with dancing and drinking. No hint at all of the death and destruction that happened a short while ago. He opened the door for me and we made out way through the parking lot and got into his car. From there he took a right out of the lot and sped down the road, getting on the highway and before I knew it were were entering downtown Charlotte. I was so busy talking to Jay I didn't recognize at first we were so far from my home. He stops at a large apartment complex and someone comes out to valet his car. We hit the elevator and go all the way up. Top floor penthouse to be exact.

Jay's home was exquisite. Floor to ceiling windows on two walls. In the middle of the room a black leather couch and a chefs kitchen to my right. "Damn Jay nice fucking spot. Bet you felt like a pauper when you stayed with me. This makes my place look like a fucking shanty. Where's the bathroom?

He pointed down the hall and said door to your right then walked over to pour two drinks. I went in to the large bathroom in all black. It was beautiful. Soft dim lighting shinned off the gleaming black tiles on the floor and wall. Bright white sink with a huge mirror above. 

 There was an extra light switch you could use in front of the mirror that turned on more light to make it brighter. I turned it on but found it to be a bit harsh so I turned it back off. I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked horrible. Eyes dark with smeared makeup, clothes hanging off me. Hand starting to bruise like I promised. I decided the best thing to do was hop into the bathtub.

 There were soaps and fresh towels so I made my way to the tub and started to fill it with hot water. I went to the door and locked it. I would prefer some time alone to think away from Jay before he marked me. I looked like a drug addict as I peered at myself in the mirror in passing on my way back to the tub. 

Truth. I am a drug addict. 

No crack, heroine, meth, fentanyl or cocaine. Just vampire blood. The worst of all. The highest sin you could commit when you chose from the poisons. You don't come back from it.  See, if one gets hooked on vampire blood for too long, the blood acts in service of the vampire, leaching away at the precious soul of the body. Vampires bite, drink and drain. Vampire blood lingers, scratching away at whatever gives us the life force to breath. As long as we have the blood in our system we cannot feel the gradual slow death of our brain, heart and organs. The euphoria of the blood tricks us. It's smart and does its job well. They are both lethal killers, one in the same.

I take off my clothes and slip into the bath. The hot water soothes my tired bones and offers relief to my bruised hand. I slid down and go under the water. It is warmth all around me, a hug from an old friend. I loved the water. I came up from under the water and looked around for some shampoo to wash the blood and God only knows what else out of it. I then started to use the soap and went down my legs and arms, cleaned my face and dunked under again. I felt like I could stay here all night. Under the water. Silent as a forest when the predators are out hunting for prey. Nothing to be heard. I can feel my heart beating strong and fast, vampire blood still cycling through my flesh. 

Did I want this? Was this something I wanted for real? My true self?  Not this strung out junkie of a woman. I was being harsh on myself I know but I wanted it to sink in. This road would lead to me being a junkie. Did I love Jay or did I love the way his blood made me feel? What plan did Jay have for me? Was he going to mark me and feed off of me until I grow old? Did he want a relationship with me or was he in the same mindset as me.... did he only want my blood? 

I wanted to go home. 

The urge hit me hard. But how the fuck would I get home from here? I'm a good two hours away from my quiet little house in the woods. How could I escape? 

I had a plan. 

I got out of the tub and dried off, put on the same ragged clothes I had before. I stepped out of the bathroom and Jay was stalking the door. 

"What took you so long Nic, I was starting to get worried."

"Oh I just used your tub to take a nice bath. It was excellent! He bent low and smelled me and a low growl emitted from his chest. " Why don't you jump in the shower too and I'll go wait for you in the living room and have a drink?"

"OK ill only be a minute." 

As soon as the door closed behind him I ran to grab my purse and silently went out the door. On the elevator ride down I called a cab and went to the nearest bus station. As luck would have it a bus to Asheville was leaving in less than 10 min. I bought a ticket and hopped on.

 The bus took a slow left out of the parking  lot and I was on my way home.