She stared at me. “Could you be any more vague? How old is he?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe eighteen.”
“Robbing the cradle, then?” she asked with a grin.
“Age is just a number,” I replied glibly. “I look exactly his age. But it doesn’t matter. I can’t see him again. That’s the strange part. I touched him on accident and I felt so drawn to him that I could barely move. I almost couldn’t control myself. I wanted to inhale his soul.”
“So what did you do?” Gaia asked with interest, her ghostly eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
“I ran.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. What else could I have done?”
“Maybe you should have just taken his soul? Clearly, something was drawing you to him. Maybe you should have had a nice romantic moment and then sucked down his soul. Then you could have had a nice cigarette afterward and you wouldn’t be quite so bitchy now.”
“I don’t smoke,” I leveled a gaze at her. “And I’m not bitchy.”
“Debatable,” she declared. “But that’s just a detail. Why do you always try so hard to fight your nature? You’re supposed to drink souls. And I know that you drink blood in between. So, why do you fight it so much?”
“Because that’s not who I really am,” I snapped. “This is how my father has made me and I hate it. This is his curse to carry. I shouldn’t have to carry it for him.”
“And you wouldn’t have to,” Gaia answered calmly. “If you simply stood in front of Hades and asked him to reverse it.”
“Easy for you to say,” I grumbled. “You’re already dead. You don’t have to worry about someone killing you.”
She laughed, a tinkling sound in the dark. “Regardless. You wouldn’t have to drink blood
or
souls if you handed the curse back to Hades. Let your father deal with it.”
“If only I could.”
“This topic bores me,” Gaia announced. “Let’s get back to the mortal boy. You liked him?”
“Yes,” I whispered and I watched her eyes glitter with interest.
Gaia knew it was against my rules to
like
someone, although she never could understand why I imposed rules on myself. In her opinion, gods were above the rules and shouldn’t fret with them. But Brennan’s face haunted me even now…that vulnerable, sad look. And he was so handsome that it made my stomach flutter.
“By the gods,” Gaia murmured. “Our little Empusa is growing up.”
I scowled at her. “I’m over a thousand years old. I’m quite grown.”
“Didn’t you say that age is just a number?” she asked innocently.
“You’re awfully smart-mouthed for a ghost,” I told her snappily. “Just so you know.”
“Oh, I know,” she confirmed. “What is the boy’s name?”
“Brennan Delacorte.”
“Delacorte? Wasn’t that the name of the man who…”
I nodded. “Yes. I took Daniel’s soul. He was Brennan’s uncle.”
“Oh, the tangled webs we weave,” Gaia murmured. “It’s probably best that you not see Brennan again. He might not be very understanding about the fact that you killed his uncle.”
“Daniel was dying anyway!” I snapped.
Gaia knew I was sensitive about my situation, and she sometimes chose to rub it in just to annoy me. She had lost just a little of her mortal compassion since she had been dead for so long. Nothing bothered her anymore and she didn’t hesitate to tick me off. She kind of liked it, actually. It spiced up her day.
She grinned. “Oh, I know. But that doesn’t change the fact that you killed him prematurely!”
“Gaia, I swear to the gods—“ but she was gone.
I looked around, but the only thing that surrounded me now were the empty sand dunes, silvery white in the moonlight. I sighed. She loved doing that- getting me worked up and then disappearing.
I trailed my hand through the sand, letting the fine grains fall between my fingers. Watching the tiny pieces fall into a pile onto the ground soothed my mind and I allowed myself to calm. I wasn’t really sure why I was so worked up in the first place. Yes, it had been an odd incident. But I had been around for a very long time. In the scheme of things, it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Right?
Then why was Brennan’s face imprinted into my mind as if someone had burned it there?
Shaking my head, I crawled to my feet and stared once more out at the water. Because water was an element of the moon, I drew strength from it, as well. I knew that my mother would be searching for me next to the water but she would look in the coastal regions. That is why I chose to be near the Great Lakes instead. The lakes were large enough that they gave off a significant amount of energy, but I was counting on the fact that it wouldn’t cross my mother’s mind to search here…at least for quite a while.
I did miss her like crazy, though.
Turning, I trudged down the worn path back to the beach, then crossed the soft sand to climb the weathered wooden steps to my little cottage. The tiny gray Cape Cod home was nestled in a little patch of trees on a bluff overlooking the lake. I had been incredibly lucky to happen upon its owner in a tiny shop in town and had overheard him saying that he was going to be in Europe for a year and wanted to rent it out, fully furnished. I had jumped on that the second that I heard it. Like all men, he was immediately drawn to me and within five minutes, we had a handshake.
Flipping on the light, I entered the living room and dropped into the chair by the glistening bay window. Every window on the back of the house faced the lake and moonlight poured into each one. But this one was my favorite. I could curl up in the comfortable chair and bask in the moonlight all night long, if I chose. And from this vantage point I could see the stairs leading up to my house. If anyone walked up them, I would know.
I settled into the fluffy leather cushions of the chair and leaned my cheek against my knees as I drew them up to my chest. I had taken a soul tonight, so my weariness was gone. Daniel’s soul would keep me thriving for a few weeks. But that wouldn’t stop my actual hunger. To do that, I would need blood. Holding out a hand, I examined it. My skin was getting paler, a clear indication that I needed to eat. My stomach had been empty for a while and it burned right now from the emptiness.
Damn it all to hell. Once again, I cursed my father. This was so unfair. I had never, in my entire life, done anything to deserve this. Putting my agitation aside, I ran through a stack of various scenarios. Where could I eat? It didn’t take long to figure out. It was 11:00 pm on a chilly October Friday. There would be teenagers building bonfires on the beaches. With a sigh, I uncurled myself from my chair.
Throwing open my closet, I pulled out a soft sweatshirt and warm cozy boots. If I had to go back outside, I was at least going to be warm. But for this mission, I needed to look sexy, too. Sighing again, I replaced the soft old sweatshirt with an off-the-shoulder gray sweater and skinny jeans. The boots, though… they could stay.
Pulling my hair out of the high ponytail that it was currently in, I ran a brush through the long dark length. When I was finished, it hung in a glossy sheen that just touched the middle of my shoulder blades. I didn’t even look in the mirror. I knew what I would look like. My sweater would emphasize the fact that my eyes were gray, my shoulders were slender and my breasts were full. My skinny jeans would showcase my slender legs and hips. My complexion would be perfect, my lips soft and full.
Most women enjoyed being beautiful, but to me… well, I didn’t enjoy it as much. It was just one more tool in my arsenal. My beauty drew men to me for a purpose that I didn’t enjoy.
I slipped out the door and back down to the darkened beaches, quietly hunting for a bonfire like a hungry lioness. As my boots sunk in the soft sand, it didn’t take long to see the tell-tale orange glow of the first fire. The kids around here so loved beach parties. I was fortunate, I appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen- the perfect age to attend either high school or college parties, whichever the need might be.
As I sidled up to the sprawling get-together, I was conscious of the fact that I was arriving alone. The teenagers around me were clumped into noisy groups of two or more. But there had to be a loner here somewhere. There always was. I scanned the perimeter and focused in on a skinny boy standing alone, holding a cup of beer.
Bingo.
I made a bee-line for him, sliding up to stand very close to his elbow. He looked at me in surprise and was immediately flustered, not quite able to make eye contact. It was apparent that he was an outsider. He wanted to be here at the party, but he didn’t have anyone to talk to. Until now.
“Hi,” I murmured softly, moving closer to him. He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t handsome, either. He had light brown hair, blue eyes and pale skin.
Math geek
, I thought. He clearly didn’t go out in the sun much.
“Hi,” he stammered, his cheeks flushing crimson. He was definitely awkward around females.
“I’m new here,” I continued, getting as close as I could to him without touching him. The wind picked up and I could smell my own perfume on the breeze, soft and feminine. He inhaled it, closing his eyes for a second. My nearness was already affecting him.
“You smell nice,” he replied, re-opening his eyes. “Where did you move from?”
“From quite a ways away,” I laughed. “So I don’t know anyone. What’s your name?”
“Jason,” he answered shyly, his cheeks still pink. His blue eyes were glued to mine now. He was hanging on every word. This would be so easy. I sighed. I grew tired of this process. Boy after boy after boy.
“Well, Jason. I love the water. Would you like to take a walk with me?”
His surprised gaze flickered over mine. “Really?” he asked, then quickly followed up with, “Yes. I’d love to.”
Nice save
, I commended him silently.
I felt badly for him, actually. It was clear that he was painfully shy. This would be like taking candy from a baby. I laid my hand on his arm and the moment that I did, he was consumed with wanting me. I knew because that is what always happened. I knew because his eyes glazed over and became slightly unfocused.
I led him through the throngs of people and found that I slightly enjoyed the stares. At the very least, these kids would be talking about Jason tomorrow. They would wonder who the hot girl was that he had been with. I could at least do that for him. It was a small thing, but it was something.
I walked just far enough away from the water that I didn’t get wet and I stared at the moon as we walked. I just needed a little bit of isolation. Just a little bit further.
“Why me?” Jason asked curiously, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Why did you choose me?”
I smiled. “Because you seem sweet.”
He blushed again and fell silent, but stayed very close to my side. I looked behind us. There was no one in sight now so I wasted no time. I pulled him behind the nearest clump of brush. It was bristly and dry, but it would hide us from any straggling party-goers.
“Let’s sit, okay?” I suggested as I tugged him to the ground.
But rather than sit, I pushed him softly onto his back into the sand and straddled him. His eyes widened and he fell slack as he waited for my next move. His hopeful breath froze in his throat. I reached out a hand and stroked his cheek, bending to whisper into his ear.
“You really are sweet, aren’t you, Jason?”
He nodded, unable to speak. My close proximity was working its magic. I kissed his cheek and he closed his eyes.
“I need to tell you something, Jason, alright?” He nodded slowly with his eyes closed. His hands were laying limply at his sides- his inexperience showing itself. He wasn’t even trying to touch me.
“You will probably fall asleep here in a little bit. When you wake, return to the party. You won’t remember anything that happened here.”
His eyes opened, un-focused and slightly confused.
“I won’t?”
“No, you won’t.”
He looked disappointed, but the confusion soon clouded his face once more.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered as I kissed his neck. “I’ll make it worth it.”
He smiled slightly, still lost in his haze.
Bending, I grazed his lips with my own and then inhaled, just a little. One small mouthful was all it would take to put him to sleep. And I was right. He was out like a light.
I picked up his wrist. Running my nose along his forearm, I inhaled. He smelled sweet, like a child. He couldn’t be more than seventeen. And he wouldn’t remember a bit of this. He would recall the walk by the beach, but after that, his memory would fade into nothing.
I sank my teeth into his arm and sucked. Warm, sweet blood filled my mouth and in his sleep, Jason moaned. I couldn’t help but smile. It was a sexual experience for mortals when I drank their blood. I figured it was the least I could do for them.
I swallowed and then drank more, enjoying the taste, the warmth and the texture. I hated that I liked it, but I did. The curse made my body crave it. However, what I enjoyed the most was the strength that I felt returning to my limbs. I knew that mouthful by mouthful, my color was returning. After I few minutes, I was full. I gently laid Jason’s arm across his stomach and wiped my mouth.
His face was innocent and peaceful as he slept blissfully unaware. If I had to guess, I would guess that the experience had simply given him an erotic dream. And when he woke, he would only remember those sensations. Not the experience.
Sighing, I slipped out of the brush and back onto the beach. Jason would wake in a while and he would be perfectly fine, so I attempted to assuage my eternal guilt. I had only done what I had to do to survive. Like always.
As I walked, I noted the strength returning in my legs. I felt so much better now. I always put this off as long as I could. I allowed my energy to dip too low because I hated doing it. But it was done now for a while and I could bask in the afterglow.
I skirted around the bonfire and the partygoers and was just slipping into the shadows when someone called my name. I startled. There was no way that Jason was awake yet and I hadn’t even told him my name.