I walked into the house and Nelson was standing near the staircase in the front entrance hall. His eyes went huge and his jaw dropped. "Change." He growled. "You are supposed to be covered, not revealing your...your lady parts!" I batted my eyes.
"I'm sorry, I knew you wouldn't like it, but you forget where I grew up, sweetie." I stood in front of him and kissed his cheek. It was hard to fit myself into this mold, but I loved Nelson and I'd hid my unease at trying to reshape myself. "I'll got and change. I think the silver dress with the sparkles will do. Don't you?"
"Anything is better than that sorry excuse for an evening gown." He turned on his heel and stalked to the kitchen. I tilted my head. A bit grouchy, I thought, walking up the staircase. I slipped from the dress and held the silver one to me. I sighed, kicking the heels off and putting the dress on. It clung to me nicely, I realized as I turned in a circle in front of the mirror. Very nice. I pulled out the silver heels I'd worn when killing Henry. I carried them down the staircase.
Nelson was standing there, a cigar in his hand. For a moment, I forgot who I was trying to be and took the cigar out of his mouth. He frowned as I put it out in the plant to my left. "Why did you go and do that, Adrian?" He asked, grabbing at my arm. I danced away from him, as what I did took hold.
Shit, I thought. "I'm allergic to that smoke and that's a nasty habit you've picked up. It's time to get rid of it." I remembered I wasn't wearing my shoes so I bent to put them on. Nelson grabbed my shouldered and jerked me up half way through the first shoe.
"What in the hell do you think you are doing? Your lady parts are again being revealed. Grab a scarf or something. Cover them up." I tried not to roll my eyes as I slipped my foot into the shoes and Nelson laced them up and put a scarf around my shoulders. He kissed my cheek. "Much better, dove. Now, let’s try to think straight today. I think you are coming down with something. Vapors or something." I was taken back. Vapors? I was raised in Michigan by an old time Southern family that's never even heard of Vapors.
Nelson touched my arm and we walked to the car. I got in first and sat with poise my father would have disowned me for. I was raised to be a hunting and fishing girl with a free spirit. I was raised to follow my heart and this is where it leads me. "Nelson, darling, what do you say we got and see my parents this weekend?"
"No. I forbid you to go to that place. All the hunting going on the there, and the mud that could ruin your outfits? Not a chance, Adrian. Now, now, don't look at me like that. I'm just looking out for you." He put his hand under my chin and kissed me that slow and steamy way he does. My heart melted and I knew I could hold off seeing my parents for another months.
The car jerked to a halt and I slammed forward. Nelson looked at me then pounded on the window. "Hey! We are going to be late, and I don't want to be rude!" When there was no answer, Nelson got out of the car and stormed around it. His body was slammed up against the car and I thought, here we go again.
I stepped out of the car, my long black hair blowing in the slight breeze. "Okay, scum-bag, where are you?" I pulled out my gun and aimed it at the darkness. "I promise I'll try to take an easy if you show yourself, right now." It was quiet as the wind picked up and I smelled blood. I pulled the gun up to my face, pointing the butt of it toward the ground. "I know you're out here, show yourself." It was quiet still and I felt like I was in some kind of crazy action movie where I was about to be taken by some crazed man.
"Adrian, put the gun down before you hurt someone." The voice was coming from behind me, and I felt compelled to obey it, but I didn't. Arms wrapped around me. "Adrian, listen to your master." My eyes dulled and suddenly I felt like I was trapped in honey. My movements were slow as I spun around and I pointed the gun at the man's face. His eyes were black and his hair was the same pitch black.
Shit, I thought as he knocked the gun from my hand and shoved me to the ground. "You are mine. My little sex slave, and no matter how many vampires you kill, you'll never kill me, because I own you. You will be a full vampire and you will drink the blood of this man you have called a fiancé."
The lights winked out.
