DEAD SEED (AKA "Vampires Don't Exist")

NINETEEN: The Night Out

Soft stroking on the small of her back woke her up. She had been sleeping on Aimeric's chest after a long morning of making love. It seemed Aimeric had had something to prove to her after so many sessions with Darren. He had kept her up all morning, letting her rest periodically but then starting another round.

She was exhausted and had slept all day. It was already nightfall again.

"I would like to take you hunting with me tonight," Aimeric said to her when he saw she was awake. "Claire mentioned you've been asking questions about our ways. I would like to show you some of them, so you have an idea of things before you become one of us."

Claire had only been gone that one night she didn't come back with Aimeric. Aralyn was happy to see her when she had returned the next day. It seemed Claire had given up her ways of running off for weeks at a time. Perhaps she didn't like leaving Aralyn.

When they spent time together, Aralyn would ask questions about the vampires. She had asked what it was like to hunt, how different one's senses were as a vampire ... what might kill a vampire.

Though Aralyn had tried to be inconspicuous with the last question, Claire had seen through her and refused to give a real answer. She just said they avoided the sunlight. Surely there were other ways to kill vampires. Aralyn had never gotten into the lore but the most common was a wooden stake through the heart, right?

Not that she had the guts to try anything. Especially not on Aimeric. But maybe one day she might get the chance to try on another ... perhaps Morgan. But what if it didn't work? Then he would tell Aimeric....

"Yes, I'm trying to learn all I can before it's my time," Aralyn said quietly, trying to keep from thinking about the real reasons she had been so inquisitive.

"Then I will show you. But you must promise to stay with me at all times. Where we are going is a hotspot for vampires and you," he licked at her lips, "are perfect prey."

They dressed and got ready for the evening. Aralyn wore a red, low-cut sweater with a black mini skirt and red leggings. She curled the ends of her hair and did her makeup for what seemed like the first time in years, painting her lips to match her sweater and making her blue eyes pop with black liner.

While she got ready, Aimeric made a phone call and ten minutes later, a car honked in the driveway. Aralyn slipped on a pair of black boots and Aimeric led her to a limousine waiting in the circular driveway. Light snow sparkled in the headlights. The driver must have been Aimeric's human servant. A tall man with burly shoulders and thinning blond hair. He held the door open so they could climb inside, then went back to the driver's seat.

"Your sister will meet us at the club. I'm having Frederick take us to the park first."

Claire and the others had already left to go to the mainland since they didn't need the protection of a car; Aimeric didn't want Aralyn exposed to the snow and cold.

As the car pulled away, Aimeric eyed Aralyn, starting at her exposed neck and going down to her cleavage. He used a finger to command her over to his lap. She obeyed, crawling onto his legs. She ran her fingers through his dark hair as she touched her lips against the cold, pale flesh of his throat.

"Did I tell you how voluptuous you look this evening?" he whispered seductively against her ear. "If only I had brought a snack."

Aralyn made her way up to his mouth, kissing him hungrily as the car continued on. They stayed on one another until the car lurched to a stop. A few moments later, the door opened and Frederick waited for them to climb out.

"We won't be long, Frederick."

"Take your time, Sir." The man gave a slight bow and then went back to sit in the driver's seat to wait for them.