Bright Lights and Dark Blood (On Hold)

Chapter 12

Ella has been swooshing all over the house for an hour now. She made an excuse in her head that she needed to look good in case they got spotted by shutterbugs and not because she genuinely felt a connection to Nicholas. Yes, that was it.

Two outfits laid flat on her bed while she bit her finger. One a flimsy white top, Pastel blazer and faded jeans, the other was a white knee-length dress with gold details on the neck.  Nothing too sexy because this was a simple ‘dine and mind-wipe’.

“God Elizabeth! You’ve been flashing all around the house and you’re not even dressed yet!!!” Libby barged in. She was going out too, interestingly with one of those minions who took care of the bodies. “hmmm. . . sweet sophisticated or casual chic” she pointed at the two. “Where’s your vamp vixen look?” Libby tried to find the tight red dress they bought yesterday. Ella scrunched her nose and shook her head. “Whatever El!” Libby was already downstairs. She checked the time and hurried up.

7:15pm

Nicholas glanced at the dashboard while tapping his hand on the steering wheel. He impatiently stared at the red stop sign. As he drives closer and closer to her house he felt that familiar slurry of emotions. Nicholas is on a date with a vampire. A real vein-eyed fanged BEAUTIFUL vampire who happens to be one of the most sought after women today. It might be her supernatural allure or just her eyes that makes him weak, hell! Makes every single man weak.

The gates where open and he drives right to Ella Matthew’s house. It hits him hard, why does it feel like he’s stepping to a deathtrap? His own personal deathtrap. His heart races as he steps into the stone entrance. Nicholas straightened his grey button down shirt and his blazer before he knocked. The door swings lightly. It wasn’t locked, well figures. Thieves are the least of their worry right?

He nervously steps inside. “Hello?” his voice echoed. The house is fully lit but there’s an emptiness in it. “Anybody home?” he said again. Was he in the wrong address? Or did she stood him up? He was in the living room now and Nicholas can’t figure out why his feet can’t stop. He turned and saw a blur of blonde hair.

The blonde was looking at him eye to eye with intense curiosity. “I don’t see it” she said like she was talking to someone he can’t see. She puts her hand on her hip “I AM looking hard enough!” she answered an unheard question. He lets a weird sound from his mouth. “Oh I’m Libby, Ella’s friend. Sorry if Ella’s being rude. Please sit down” She pushed his shoulders so he could be seated.

“I would offer you a drink but you only have a choice between B neg or A plus or just. . . ” Libby whirled her fingers. “uuuumm. . .w-water would be lovely” Nicholas suddenly felt his throat dry and Libby came back in a blink putting the glass of water in front of him. “Soooo. . . you’re an actor?” Libby flipped her freshly curled blonde hair. Nicholas gulped the ice cold glass of water and puts it down empty. The ice clinked as the glass touches the table.

He felt like a teenage boy picking up his date to a school dance and he’s waiting for her to finish up while her police father interrogates him. “Yes, I’m currently working on different projects, a movie, a television show and some theater” he managed to not mumble. “As a matter of fact, the show I’m in is about your kind” he smiled to lighten the mood.

“Our kind? That’s so offensive” Libby gave a disgusted look and Nicholas gulped. Suddenly, she laughed. This vampire is mental! He thought. “Nicholas I’m just joking!” He was surprised she knows his name.

“You are right El, his accent is just contagious”

A gush of wind and there stood Ella. The air went thin and he couldn’t breathe. “I’m sorry for Libby here. She has a thing for torture” she smiled and walked with hips swaying neatly hugged by her white dress. Ella gives a little peck on the cheek. “Sorry for keeping you waiting”. He touches her arm; with a jolt of electricity he felt her goosebumps. “I didn’t mind” his smile reached his blue eyes.

“That’s my cue” Libby said and she went upstairs in a flash.

“Your friend’s kind of. . .” he struggled for a polite word. Ella laughs and puts her hand to her cheek and with a whisper “A bitch?” he would never say that but yes, yes she is. “that’s a harsh way to put it” he agrees.

“I HEARD THAT!” Libby screams from upstairs.

They burst into laughter. Ella elbows him in the stomach and forgets her own strength and makes him gasp for air. A coughing Nicholas just felt like he was hit in the gut by a moving truck. He was led to a nearby seat and another glass of water clinked in front of him. “I need to remember to be gentle with you” Ella bits her lip as soon as the words came out. It sounded wrong like she has some innuendos in mind. She shakes it off and hoped it didn’t sound like that. Too late, Nicholas gave her a weird confused look. “You know, just in case I give you a high-five and I break your hand instead” She tried saving the situation. He gave an understanding nod “of course, high-fives” a smug look on his face.

Libby suddenly appeared and interrupted yet another deadlock stare they were sharing. She clears her throat and waited for Ella’s reaction. “You stole my dress!” Ella waited for an explanation why Libby was wearing her Bright, tight and tiny red bandage dress. “Well since you bailed on using this dress to seduce your date so I’m gonna serve its purpose and seduce mine so. . . “ and she was gone.

“Unbelievable” she muttered to herself. Nicholas was left dumbfounded with what happened in two minutes flat. Ella planned to wear that for him? He shook the mental picture of her in the dress out of his head. “So, are we leaving?” he managed to cough out. They quickly leave and find themselves in awkward silence as they drive to the restaurant.

The orange lights fly by out of Ella’s view from the passenger’s seat. It was unkown to her why she is fidgeting on her seat. Nervous? She shouldn’t be nervous. This is just another date in a restaurant with a human guy that she finds a connection with or she thinks she has a connection with. Just another date. She will eat and drink and pretend the human food is just divine and make conversation then after it all drag him out back maybe feed a little and wipe him of his memory. Make as little attachment as possible and hope those ‘Phillip’ eyes won’t get in the way. This ‘date’ is simply a means to an end that is a month in the wait. That’s all there is and she’ll resume the way she’s been living her undead life.

When they arrived at the restaurant Nicholas was screaming in his mind. His choice of a restaurant might not go well with her white dress but he came baring his soul and this was it. A quaint little seafood restaurant at the seaside complete with series lights and an acoustic band.  He picked it for two reasons, one; no photographers and two; who doesn’t like seafood well and there might be a third. Nicholas knows she has probably been to a lot of fancy restaurants, he wants to be different. A few still seconds past and he was flushed with relief when she smiled and joked around. “I feel absolutely overdressed” she grinned.