The Vampire from Hell

Chapter 8 - Awesomesauce

Chapter 8 - Awesomesauce

The doorbell rang. Ah yes, the supplement lady. Humming "The Pretender," like a small child delighted her relatives were visiting for her birthday party, I got up from my office chair. I couldn't believe how rejuvenated I felt. My day was awesome! No! It was awesomesauce! I laughed out loud, grabbing the doorknob and making a mental note to check urban dictionary.com to see if that word existed. 

"Yes?" I pronounced the word deliberately accenting the syllable, letting my voice go down and up in pitch, almost singing it as I opened the door. 

A woman close to my height stood in the doorway. She carried two large canvas bags stuffed with an assortment of small boxes and cartons in each. "Blick asked me to check in on you today, my child." A whiff of ginger mingled with cigarette smoke hit me, making my nose twitch. 

"Ray, is that you?" 

I observed a tall figure, standing in the shadows extinguishing a cigarette. A surge of affection took hold of me. 

"Death? Oh my god!" I flew by the lady and jumped into his arms. He fell back a bit, recovering quickly, and scooped me up, returning my hug. 

"Oh wait!" I scrambled out of his grasp. "Have you come for me?" 

"No? Does it look like I have?" His smile broadened in amusement. Glancing down at his dark slacks, he examined one leg, and then the other. "No, I don't think so. Have you been naughty, Ray?" He reached out and tenderly traced the line of my cheekbone and jaw with his finger. 

"Oh gosh, you don't know the half of it." I beamed, ignoring his sexual innuendo, but enjoying the playful flirtation. I took his hand in mine, leading him to the door. 

"So what is my ex-girlfriend doing so far from home?" 

"I could ask you the same question, ex-boyfriend," I responded. 

"Shall we compare notes?" He motioned for us to go inside. 

"The lady, where is she?" I interrupted. 

"I think you scared her off," he laughed, and then shook his head. "She's the supplement lady. She's probably stocking the kitchen with the items she brought. Are those all for you?" 

"Let's go see," I said, shutting the door behind me. "The kitchen is this way." 

"I'm fine. I'll wait here." He plopped down at my desk. 

Leaving Death in the living room, I made my way to the kitchen. Hopefully he would be more interested in viewing Blick's modern art collection displayed throughout the room than what was on my computer monitor or chatting with Lynn. 

The supplement lady was bustling around the kitchen. Her steps slowed as she pondered where to put each item. 

"Can I help you with anything, ma'am?" 

"No, thanks. Just don't call me 'ma'am.' I'm not that old," she said and offered me a sudden, arresting smile. 

I smiled back but didn't answer. 

She gave me a brief nod and continued her work. 

I couldn't get over the fact that she looked familiar to me. She was a lovely lady with long, raven hair tied up in a bun, revealing her slender white neck. She wore an ivory-colored pant suit that accented her curving, regal figure. Her apricot satin chiffon blouse glimmered under the room's recessed lighting as she moved. She strolled around the kitchen confidently putting away the items. Immediately I admired her. 

"Are you feeling better?" she asked as she worked. 

"I haven't been. But right now, I am. Yes." Feeling the urgency to put myself to use, I rearranged the bowl of fruit on the kitchen table a few times. Then I fidgeted with some cartons of spices on the counter, which she had yet to put away. A sparkle around her neck caught my attention. I moved in closer for a better look.