She's Not Afraid

Chapter Four

Nicoleta jogged down the side walk. She had taken a nap and was running late for her shift. "Shit. Shit. Shit," she said as she ran for the door. The door was in her sight. Suddenly when she was about to go in the door someone knocked her over. Nicoleta glared up to see who the jerk was, but her stare softened when she saw him. "I'm terribly sorry, milady," Vlad said. He extended his hand out to her, and Nicoleta took it. He helped her to her feet, and she dusted herself off. "Thank you," she said. She hurried inside and threw her hair up into a ponytail as she was trying to get behind the bar. She quickly threw her towel over her shoulder. Vlad wasn't far behind her taking his every night seat. Nicoleta walked over to the middle of the bar taking a few orders and refilling drinks slowly making her way to Vlad. Every few seconds she'd tuck her hair behind her ear. She reached Vlad and tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked at the man who sat in the same spot as the night before with the same manner as before. She cleared her throat hoping that would get his attention. It worked. He slowly looked up and smiled a bit. "What would you like, sir?" Nicoleta asked smiling back. "Scotch," he said. Nicoleta found a glass for him. She dropped ice in it and poured the scotch into the glass in front of him. Vlad grasped it in his hand and took a drink. "That'll be a thousand dollars," Nicoleta said. Vlad nearly choked on the liquor in his mouth.

She started laughing, "I'm only kidding." He smiled and chuckled. Vlad stayed in the bar all night, and he did his best to flirt and talk with Nicoleta. When it was the end of her shift and the bar was emptying, Vlad walked Nicoleta out. "Could I take you to dinner some time?" Vlad asked. They both stopped on the street corner. "I don't know. My nights are kinda full since I switched shifts," she said. Vlad looked disappointed. "I'm sorry for intruding then. A pleasure seeing you again," he said. Vlad began to walk off. Nicoleta turned around about to head to her apartment, when something popped into her mind. His smile. She sighed. "Vlad," she called. She turned around to see Vlad facing her. "I'm not working tomorrow night," she said. Vlad smiled. "Tomorrow then," he said. Nicoleta gave him her address, and then wished him goodnight. Vlad turned around with a smile on his face. Nicoleta turned around and couldn't hide the smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

—•—

Nicoleta walked down the street with all five dogs whimpering and whining to stop and smell. The day was gloomy, and it looked like it was going to rain. Nicoleta wasn't paying attention when one of the leashes got free of her hand. "Oh shit," she said watching the beagle bolt down the side walk. Nicoleta ran down the side walk after the dog. She was about to give up the chase until she was met with a surprise. The beagle sat comfortably in someone's arms. "I believe this one belongs to you," Vlad said setting the dog down. She smiled. "Thank you. I would have been fired for sure if I lost their dog," she said. Vlad chuckled as he handed her the leash. "Are any of them yours?" he asked. "No. I don't have a dog," she said. Suddenly in the middle of their conversation, one of the dogs began to growl. The large dog barred its teeth and growled at Vlad. "Rudy, what's wrong?" she asked. She stroked the animal's head, but the German Shepard wouldn't stop growling. Rudy started barking at Vlad, forcing him to take a step back. "I'm sorry. He usually isn't like this," she apologized. "It's alright," he said. Nicoleta started to pull the dog away from Vlad. "I guess I'll see you tonight then," she said. "Until we meet again," he said. Nicoleta watched Vlad disappear into the crowd, and the dog stopped growling. Nicoleta took the dogs back to the apartment complex and back to their owners.

Vlad walked down the street. Scotty followed him. Vlad felt that undeniable thirst in his mouth and stomach. "I must feed before tonight. I won't be able to control myself if I do not," he said. "Why not feed on the girl, Master?" Scotty asked. Vlad snapped. He rushed Scotty into a side alley and held him against the wall by his throat. "If you ever suggest that to me again, I will not hesitate to kill you!" Vlad growled. "Yes, Master," Scotty coughed. Vlad released his servant. "Find me someone to feed on, or I will feed upon you," Vlad threatened. Scotty scurried off out of the alley and down the street. He felt like a monster. That's what he was. He knew he was. That's all he'd ever been since he made a deal with the devil.