Present Company

Present Company

 Her name was Rosaline—a sweet girl with pale, rose-flushed cheeks and long, curly locks that bounced whenever she laughed. Her smile was alluring and her body as lush and delicate as a flower in full bloom.

How fortunate I was during that visit to her home village of Thearas to discover her walking alone. For months, we’d met privately for only a few moments at a time, but our small relationship blossomed into something more than even I had hoped. She was a caged bird yearning to spread her wings. And tonight, I would set her free.

We held hands as we trod the winding, muddy road leading away from the village. So great was my eagerness to return to my home that I pulled her along, heedless of her fatigue.

“Not too much farther, my dear,” I assured her.

“Sir Dagg, my legs grow weary from all this walking. Can we not stop and rest for just a few minutes?”

I smiled. “No, dear Rosaline. What I wish to show you cannot wait.” I glanced sidelong at the slender legs visible beneath her short petticoat. Mud and dead grass were spattered on those beautiful, pale legs and had stained the hem of her dark-violet gown.

“How far have we traveled?”

“Far enough from your home—and your father.”

“I hope he never finds me. I don’t want to go back. He will force me to marry some rich, uncouth man who cares only about bedding me.”

“Don’t worry, my dear. Where we’re going, no one will ever find you.”

The sounds of civilization began to fade. The air became cool and muggy, and the scents of the woodlands were soon eclipsed by the rank, fetid aromas of the swamp. Our feet sank deep into soft, muddy earth, and I smiled.

I pulled her closer, curling my arm around her waist. “Welcome to my home.”

Rosaline made a face and clenched my hand. “But, Sir Dagg, this place is a swamp!”

“True beauty is expressed in all forms, dear Rosaline.” I lifted her above the mud.

Her smile returned, warmth and beauty spreading across her face. “But you said you were a noble.”

“And that I am, but I do not spend money on needless fancies. This place belongs to me, and I rather like it.”

She gazed at me with her alluring green eyes. They sparkled like emeralds—my favorite gem. “You are truly an intriguing man.”

“Indeed.” I smirked. A “man” like no other.

She nestled her head against my chest and closed her eyes. “Thank you for letting me come with you.”

Running my tongue along my fangs, I briefly relished the warmth and softness of her body against mine. “I saw a helpless girl in need of rescuing from a life that was never her own. Now, you will have the freedom you deserve.”

I carried her until, at last, we arrived at my cave, which was well hidden beyond a veil of withered peppervine and surrounded by dense clusters of dead cypress and tupelo trees. I set her on her feet, then escorted her inside. We walked through the main cavern as I pointed out the various side rooms and alcoves, most of which were empty.

“There is naught, not even a bed or a place to cook food,” Rosaline said, looking at me oddly. “How can you possibly live in a place like this?”

I chuckled. “I do not need those things to live comfortably, my dear.”

I led her into the main room—my beloved laboratory. Though small and quaint, it was my peaceful refuge. Bottles of all shapes, sizes, and colors lined the walls, filled with various chemicals and solutions. Testing tools and apparatuses lay neatly stored in their proper places. The wooden tables were mostly bare, but in one corner, upon my desk, lay my journal and a syringe full of clear liquid—benzene.

Rosaline’s face lit up. “This is all truly amazing! Are you by chance a doctor?”

“Something like that.” I locked my gaze onto hers and gently brushed my fingers over the creamy skin of her cheek. “I am very glad you like it, dear.”

She flushed and embraced me, pressing her body against mine. She felt so soft, so delicate—I could easily break her. My hands traced her curves, seeking the lines of heat that marked her veins. Slowly, I brought my face close to her neck then indulged in hungry kisses over its length.

She shivered. “I want to stay here with you,” she whispered.

I pulled back and studied the side of her neck. I pressed my fingers to the strong, steady pulse of her carotid artery. She was healthy. She was perfect. “You shall be mine.”

I kissed her soft lips, sealing her into her own ecstasy. My arms encircled her waist, and I backed her against the desk. Not breaking the kiss, I lifted her onto the desk and grabbed the syringe, cupping it in my hand. She relaxed, but the smell of her blood intoxicated me. My kiss deepened. I could taste her eagerness, her sweet desire. I brought the needle to her neck and plunged it into that thick artery.

She flinched, then her lips fell away from mine. She emitted a heavy sigh, and her grip on me slowly loosened.

I held fast to her as her body went limp. I carried her to the examining table where I carefully laid her and studied her beautiful, pale face, now devoid of life.

She was mine.

I searched the shelves for flasks of formaldehyde and ricin, and two bottles of vampiric blood.

“Now, my dear Rosaline,” I whispered into her dead ear, “the experiment begins.”

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