The Last Vampyre Prophecy (6 page)

He stops
in front of my building and I pass some cash through the divider. The feeling of dread and disappointment loom over me as I stalk up the stairs. There are three new messages.

Two from my brothers and one from my mom
each are wishing me well today. I smile then frown at the utter disaster I’ve turned it into.

So much has
happened in the past three days. I graduated from college then interviewed with the biggest company on the east coast.

I smile as I think about the graduation ceremony…

“Adonia, you have to stand still or this is going to poke you.” Mom said as she pinned my dress underneath my gown.

I huffed. “I hate dresses.”

“Well, you should get used to them because you will be wearing them a lot more in the business world. People don’t flit around all day in jeans and flannel, Adonia.” She scolded.

I sighed and decided not to retort. Arguing with her is like
going toe-to-toe with Bill Maher. You’ll never win.

Finally I was presentable and I made my way through the house. Ryan was lounging back in the recliner drinking a beer while Sport’s Center droned on in the background.

He whistled. “Well, look at you all dressed up. What happened to our lil’ Andie?”

I flipped him the bird and he chuckled but mom smacked my arm as she passed by. “Watch yourself little lady.” She warned.

I turned back and he smirked at me taking another long pull from his beer. Dean walked in from the garage, no doubt working on his crappy motorbike and punched me hard in the arm. “What’s up college girl?”

I rubbed the sting on my arm then balled my fist and gave him one right back. He grinned, which pulled a smile to my lips. Man those two annoyed the shit out of me.

Mom placed the plates on the table and laid the bacon and eggs in the center. Dad trotted in and kissed her on the cheek before he opened the fridge and pulled out a beer twisting the top and taking a long chug. “Are you excited, Andie? This is a big day for the Kostas’s?”

I smiled at him. “Bring it on.”

“That’s my girl.” He said walking over to me and kissing my forehead. “Now, let’s eat so we can get to the university. I want to get a good parking spot.”

I groaned. “Oh dad, we have like four hours.”

He shook his head at me. “Traffic will be murder and I want
to
see
my only daughter graduate.”

I sighed and pulled my chair at the table. We ate and I listened to Dean tell stories about a current case they were working on at the station. He
had made detective last year and was one of the youngest ever in his division. He’s sort of a bad ass. But he and Ryan bicker constantly and swap whose is bigger stories between Ryan’s job at the firehouse and Dean’s at the station.

The arguments get pretty colorful and Sunday dinners are always lively.

Dad scrapped his chair across the linoleum floor. “Boys clear the table. We’re leaving in ten.”

They each groaned and stood carrying plates and glasses to the sink. Mom filled the
steel tub with warm soapy water and began scrubbing the plates then handing them to Ryan for rinse.

Dad reached into the fridge and handed me a beer. “Today is your day, drink up and watch your brothers work.”

I smirked and tilted the bottle back enjoying the hell out of it. Just as I drained the last of my beer dad clapped me on the back and shoved me to the door pulling our jackets off the rack.

I opted to ride with Dean in the cruiser because the heat worked and I didn’t want to spend my graduation a solid block of ice. We made it two hours early and I was surprised to see how crowded it already was.

Dad found seats fairly close and I sat with them until I noticed some of my fellow classmates congregating below. I kissed mom’s cheek and waved goodbye as I walked down the stairs to join my friends.

I heard my name shriek across the crowded room and I giggled. Tiffany came barreling through the mass of people and nearly mowed me down with a bear hug.

I chuckled. “Whoa! Easy there, I’m not Iron Man, I can break.”

She laughed. “Can you believe
it? We’re officially grown-ups!”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re so
lame.”

“Come on. Let’s go over here.” She began pulling me through the crowd when an arm
jutted out and stopped me. “Adonia! Hey.” Benton said.

I winced thinking about the weak excuse I gave him for bailing on studying the other week. “Hey!” I said pulling Tiffany back.

He smiled wide. “So, what are you doing after?”

“Probably go home and get out of this stupid dress.”

“No way! Hey, a few of us are going to O’Malley’s to celebrate, you should come with us.” He said inching his eyebrows up in anticipation.

I grinned at him. “Maybe. That sounds fun.”

He beamed and I smiled back as Tiffany yanked me back through the crowd.

Finally it was time to take our seats and I left her with a big hug and walked to my row. I was stuck between two blubbering idiots. These girls cried and gushed and cried some more.

It was all I could do not to smack them both. The hour turned into two when my name was finally called and I walked wobbly across the stage and gripped my degree. Just like that, it was finished. Four years of blood sweat and tears.

Tiffany was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs and we walked back to our seats. Another hour later and the
sky was filled with a mass of black caps raining over the ground.

We ended up at O’Malley’s and Benton’s face nearly split in two smiling when he saw me. He pulled a chair beside him and we sat down. Tiffany was already hot in conversation with a cute fellow grad.

Over the next three hours we drank beer after beer and I took his money on the pool table.

Finally I was dead on my feet in the ridiculous heels and decided to call it a night. Benton asked to walk me home but I told him Tiffany was coming with me. I hated lying to him but I just wasn’t into taking any next steps.

He kissed my cheek and promised to call me soon for a real date. I smiled and pulled an unwilling Tiffany from the bar. She sulked the entire cab ride. I hugged her when we pulled in front of her building and watched her walk inside.

Fifteen minutes later I was peeling off my dress and taking a near-cold shower. Then I padded down the hall and poured a glass of wine and stood by the window wondering what the beautiful stranger was doing at that moment…

              ***

Graduation had been one of the best days of my life. And the other best day of my life had been a
little mortifying. I just palm my face thinking about how stupid I must have looked just sitting there staring at him the whole time. It just couldn’t have gotten any worse then I plowed into one of the richest men in Manhattan to boot.

Oh Adonia,
you are such a fuck up sometimes, I think to myself. I walk to the freezer and grab a pint of ice cream and drop to the sofa digging huge spoonfuls and shoving them down my throat.

The phone w
akes me and I look around realizing I had dozed off with the ice cream still sitting on my chest. I look at the clock—4:45.

I contemplate
answering figuring it is my mom. It rings two more times and I groan as I shove off the couch. She’ll just keep calling until I answer.

I pluck
the receiver from the wall. “Hello.” I murmur.

A musical male voice vibrates
in my ear, “Miss, Kostas?”

My eyes wid
en. “Yes?” I whisper.

“This is Khai Garai. You interviewed with me earlier today.” He sa
ys amused.

“Uh
…yes, sir. Of course.” I mumble barely able to retain coherency.

He clears
his throat but I can sense his smile. “Yes, well reviewing your file and my notes from the interview I’m pleased to offer you the position.”

My throat closes and I nearly drop the phone from shock. He i
s offering me the job after the horror show at the interview. My mind is in a current state of mush.

I must hav
e checked out because he clears his throat again. “Miss, Kostas? Hello?”

“Yes, sir! I’m here, sir. I’m just—well… I’d be honored, sir. Thank
you for the opportunity.” I stammer on every word.

He chuckles and it i
s such an amazing sound. “Very well then. Amanda will brief you on the specifics. You start tomorrow, Miss Kostas, I hope that is amenable?”

“Oh yes,
sir. I’ll be there.” I squeak.

“Until then, M
iss Kostas.” He says. “And welcome aboard.”

“Thank you, sir.” I say
and the line goes dead.

I stand
in the kitchen with the receiver glued to my head staring at the wall. What in holy hell just happened? Did I just get a job at the most coveted company in Manhattan?

Oh. My. God. I did just get a job and not just any job,
the holy mecca of jobs! I jump in the air and scream at the top of my lungs. Finally, I will be able to breathe a little easier knowing my bills will be paid and I can have a little room to buy myself a few things.

Smil
ing like a circus clown I pick up my cell and blast a few texts with my good news. Moments later a ding alerts me and I glance down.

A text from Tiffany:

“No fucking way! OMG! Drinks on me
—Grove—one hour.”

I chuckle and text back I’d be there. I actually feel like going out and celebrating. I walk to my closet and pull out my slinky graduation dress and put a few curls in my hair.

The cab pulls in front of Grove and I step
out, head high because I am now a fellow working class Manhattanite.

Tiffany
has amassed a small army to celebrate. Her skills are incredible. She screams and everyone joins in when I round the bar. Half of the people I have never met and the other half are just acquaintances. But then I see Benton and I sort of freeze up inside.

He likes
me in a way that I can’t reciprocate. My mind is consumed with the man that I now know is Khai Garai, my current boss.

Fuck.

That thought had sort of slipped my mind until now. The only man to have ever affected me and made me wish for something more is completely off-limits. But like he would have ever wanted me anyway, I scold myself.

I sigh and walk
forward taking the proffered drink and toast to my good news. Only inside I am sulking. Heavily. Karma sure is a big ole’ bitch sometimes.

A few hours later I
am ready to call it a night and walk to the restroom where I stand frozen in my tracks…again.

He i
s here.

I look around the room and spot
him sitting at a corner booth—alone. He smiles and holds up his drink.

I blink
several times taking in his absurd beauty; he smiles and waves before I hurry to the restroom. Once inside I lean against the wall and calm my breathing. The things that man does to me.

I just c
an’t believe I am seeing him again. And tomorrow I start to work at his company! I wonder if I will see him while I am there, I know I will be working way under someone else probably on another floor.

Then I realize
the odds of seeing him are probably zero. I walk over to the mirror and stare at the hurt look in my eyes and realize I should be jumping for joy and ecstatic.

I sigh heavil
y and walk out. Just as I enter the bar room a tall shadow covers me.

“Miss Kost
as, we meet again.” He muses.

I gulp
and I am pretty sure he hears it because a wicked smile flits across his face. “H-hi Khai—I mean, Mr. Garai.” I stammer in horror. I just addressed him by his first name like we are good old buddies or something more.

I ha
ng my head in embarrassment.

He laughs
once. “I see you are out with your friends for the evening.”

I look
up. “Yes, sir. We are actually sort of celebrating my good news.” My voice is barely a whisper.

“Ah, yes. Well, I’m certainly glad you find the news worth celebrating.”

“You have no idea, sir.” I say sincerely and watch the amusement in his eyes turn soft.

He tilts
his head to the side and regards me for several minutes. I am like a snake in a trance; I can’t peel my eyes away.

F
inally he smiles. “Well, do have an enjoyable evening, Miss Kostas.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Please, call me, Khai.”

A
nd with one more smile he turns and disappears into the crowd. I realize my jaw has dropped open and I am staring in his direction. I shake my head and test the word on my tongue—Khai.