The Greater Darkness: A Dark YA Urban Fantasy Book With Vampires

Chapter 2

Sleep seemed reluctant to let Geoffrey flee its embrace. Even though he'd been dreaming of alternately being tortured and then being forced to drink blood again and again for hours, Geoffrey was equally reluctant to open his eyes. Having finally left his nightmares behind, he now floated in some kind of netherworld, not dreaming but unable to move or waken. When the transition to wakefulness finally arrived, it happened so slowly Geoffrey wasn't initially aware of it. It was actually the realization he wasn't alone that finally pushed him into full lucidity.

The sound of another person breathing was unmistakable, even when so quiet as to sound delicate. Equally telling was the smell of perfume, something incredibly pleasing, made more so by the fact that it bordered on the edge of being undetectable. Still, a woman could kill him just as easily as a man might.

An ethereal voice interrupted Geoffrey's thoughts. "As much as I would love to allow things to proceed at a more leisurely pace, I'm afraid our bloody time is somewhat limited today, so I'm going to have to interrupt your charade and ask that you open your eyes so we can be about the business of the day."

Somewhat hesitantly, Geoffrey opened his eyes and looked towards the corner of the apartment from where the voice had come. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was currently sprawled across the room's only comfortable chair. Even dressed in worn blue jeans and a form-fitting button-up shirt, she still managed to look like a runway model who just happened to be slumming in his apartment. Even the dingy paint and broken light fixtures behind her only served to highlight her perfection.

Geoffrey started to sit up, only to wince as his muscles protested.

The blue eyes watching him from behind incredibly thick lashes briefly flashed with something that he wanted to call sympathy. Only the goddess before him made no effort to offer aid.

"You're no doubt feeling a bit rocky. Especially considering the fact that you were all but running on empty there at the end."

She tossed her stylishly-arranged platinum-blond hair and rose gracefully to her feet, the businesslike demeanor that she'd been displaying vanishing as she walked over to Geoffrey's bed.

"So how does it feel, love? I mean, do you really not remember anything?"

Geoffrey slowly shook his head. "How do you know that?"

A sly smile accompanied the woman's response. "I know everything about you. I'm honestly surprised you can't remember me. After what we shared I thought some little memory of your beloved Venice would remain. I guess that part wasn't meant to be."

Venice. Geoffrey rolled the name around his mind, half expecting some recollection to make its way up from the dark depths of his memory, but nothing appeared.

Venice was closer now, inching his direction as if worried that a sudden movement would frighten him. As he took in the delicate features and youthful, perfect body, Geoffrey felt a momentary sense of incredible fortune. It seemed impossible that someone so gorgeous would not only know his past, but also be interested in him.

The moment of perfection was ruined as Venice came within arm's reach of Geoffrey and he suddenly got a strong sense of wrongness. It was as if an errant breeze had wafted a subtle scent of decay past him.

The impression lasted only a split second. Once it had fled Geoffrey could detect nothing wrong with the picture of beauty that was moving ever so slowly closer to his lips, but he couldn't shake the sense of unease. It felt like the lovely exterior Venice presented to the world had been peeled back affording him a glimpse of the real person underneath.

Pulling back slightly, Geoffrey tried to sort out his thoughts, but Venice was sitting on the creaky bed now stroking his face.

"Come now, no need to be so shy. I know you better than you can possibly imagine."