The trilogy Something in the Blood series

Available on Amazon.com and Kindle 

 This trilogy is something I've worked on for well over two years and I'm very proud of it.  I finally finished the last episode of this book and I rather liked how it turned out.

Cheryl, a young woman who, until she met Duncan, lived a pretty dull life as a teenager in a small city in America.  She had a summer, nowhere, job, trying her best to save up money for a down payment on a car of her own.  While working the ice cream stand, and feeling bored because there were no customers that day, she just knew nothing ever happens in her small part of the world.  Seriously?  Well, well, little did she know all that boredom she had been experiencing most of her life, was about to change, and change drastically.

Cheryl has always felt over shadowed by her BFF, Karla.  Karla is beautiful and seems to have her act together.  Karla is all the things Cheryl would like to be.

Cheryl meets some new friends, one in particular, a guy named Duncan.  Cheryl cannot believe Duncan takes an interest in her instead of Karla, even with Karla standing right there.  Duncan and her new friends help Cheryl evolve into a person she never knew existed.

Together, Cheryl and her friends end up fighting off a powerful enemy, giving Cheryl more confidence than she ever knew she had inside of her.  With that enemy defeated, she and her friends can live in peace.  But, can they?  You should read the series to find out how it ends.

I hope you will explore this series and find it as much fun to read as I did writing it.  Thank you and Happy Reading. 

A rough life

"Sebastian wants to see you in his office."  Daisy was smiling but quickly added................

"Tread lightly today, Sebastian is in a foul mood."

"Why?  Something I did wrong?"

"I don't think so, but then, he never shares information of a personal or business nature with me.  I could just tell when he ordered a drink earlier, he's pissed about something."

I nodded:  "Thanks for the heads up."

I climbed the stairs, slowly, I could hear voices coming from Sebastian's office.  Sebastian's voice was pretty loud............a habit he has when he's really pissed about something.  I knock:  "Door's open, get your ass in here."

I slowly opened the door and eased my way in.

"Ahhhhhh  Sorry, Kid, I thought you were someone else.  I'll be with you in a minute."  Sebastian turned to Phil, his right hand man, at least when he needed a leg broken or someone roughed up.

"That damned Carlos is trying to ruin my businesses.  He's been shaking down my business owners so they have no money to give me now.  I'd give anything to have him put out of commission."

Phil lit a cigar:  "Well if I can get him alone, I can take care of the problem, trouble is, he has bodyguards all the time."

"Well you better figure it out soon, he's a pain in my ass."

Phil swallowed his drink and headed for the door.  "See ya Kid.....have a good one."

Sebastian turned his attention to me:  "I need ya to do something for me, Kid."

"Sure, what is it?"

"I need ya to do running for me again."

"I don't run brown paper bags no more.  Don't you have kids for that job?"

"No, no, not bags, shit, small potatoes, kids do that for chump change these days.  I mean real stuff, large amounts.  You said you'd like to make more."

"Yeah, but I never said I wanted to run that stuff again.  How about that conversation with Phil?  How much did you mean by you'd give anything to put him out of commission?"

Sebastian looked me up and down.  "You?  What in hell is a skinny kid like you gonna do?"

"That's not what the question is here.  How much?"

"OK Say I pay, uh, $30,000?  Interested?"

"I'd be more interested if it was $45,000."

He scratched his head.  "You do it, then $45,000 it is.  I say this because I doubt you can get it done.  Hell, if Phil is having a hell of a time, you sure will too.  Phil's been doing this for 30 years now."

"Maybe Phil is getting too old now, maybe he needs to change professions."

"Don't be cheeky, Kid.  Phil still has a long ways to go before being put out to pasture."

"I'll get it done, trust me."

We shook hands and I left the office. 

What's in YOUR blood?

Cover of the final installment of Something in the Blood

Something in the Blood................

Just another vampire story you say?  Nope, this series is yes, about vampires, about a young girl who falls deeply in love with one, but there's much more to it than that.

Cheryl:  A young girl, living a somewhat sheltered and, what she would sum up, as a boring life.  She feels awkward, gawky and not popular.  To her, popularity is something to be admired, to strive for.  After all, her best friend, Karla, is beautiful, a bit spoiled and, oh yes, very popular.  

Karla:  Cheryl's bff, very pretty, self-assured, everything Cheryl wishes she was.  Karla knows how to get into odd predicaments and often brings Cheryl with her.

Duncan:  The mysterious young man, a new face in town.  Is he part of a cult?  Is he part of something bigger?  This is the man who will change Cheryl's outlook on life forever.  Cheryl has no clue why she is so attracted to Duncan, she just knows she is.

Jenkins: The detective who has been hired by the local police to help solve a series of mysterious murders taking place in the city.  He is an expert, he's pretty sure he knows who is doing the killings, he aims to bring the killer, or killers to justice.

Those are just a few of the interesting characters you will meet in the Something in the Blood series, plus many, many more.  There are plots, and just when you think you have figured it out, there's often a new twist.

I am finishing up the final installment of this three book series.  I hope you will seriously consider these as great gifts for young and old alike.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed creating them.  

So come with me, into a land of mystery, romance and intrigue.  I'm sure you won't regret taking this wonderful journey.

Something in the Blood, series, with the other two books I have written.  I hope one day soon, you will enjoy them all.

Something in the Blood, Chapter 7

I just barely got downstairs when the doorbell rang. I heard Rachel talking to someone and then she came into the kitchen with a cop in uniform. I looked up and the cop said I was needed downtown, at the station. I asked him what this was all about but he said he wasn't at liberty to say. Rachel had a worried look on her face as I followed this guy to the police car.

As I entered the police station I noticed a lot of people milling around, some in uniforms, some in regular clothes. The cop led me into a room with a big glass window, a table and two chairs. He told me to have a seat and someone would be right with me. I wondered what in hell the police could possibly want with me. I soon found out.

A man, looking like he had slept in his suit, entered the room. He introduced himself as Detective Jenkins. He asked me if I'd like a soda or water or coffee, I declined and asked him what this was all about.

He began by asking me if I had been on Gossamer Road on the night of April the third at eleven at night. I told him yes, I was going home from a party and had lost my bearings and gotten lost. I asked him why he wanted to know. He told me a Mr. Clement had placed me there at that time of the night. I said I didn't know any Mr. Clement and Detective Jenkins said the gentleman in question had come in recently and gave a report about something happening to his friend.

I recalled the newspaper headlines and then I recalled one of the guys who had attacked Karla and I was named Clement. I told the detective two guys had attacked us but that a car came along and the lights must have scared them off because they ran. He told me Mr. Clement said some guy had attacked him and his friend, Bubba, and that he hasn't seen Bubba since. The detective asked me if I recalled seeing anything suspicious at that time. I told him no, and something must have happened after the attack. He said Mr. Clements had been arrested and that he was ranting on about some guy, possibly with me, had attacked them and he was worried his friend might be dead. I told him I was sorry I couldn't help him but that I was glad this guy was in jail. Then the detective asked me why I hadn't reported being attacked and I told him since they got scared off, I didn't come in to report it since nothing bad had actually happened. He asked me about Karla, it seems he had gotten the hospital report about my friend having stitches. I explained to him she had gotten the cut from falling because she had too much to drink. He scolded me for us drinking under age and then thanked me for telling him what I knew. He called in the officer who brought me here and told him to take me home.

As I was leaving, I saw Karla in the waiting room. She shot me a look and I gave her a 'don't say a word' look, kind of a scowl actually. I thought: “For heaven's sake, this once, keep your big mouth shut.” I made a phone gesture to my ear, an indication for her to call me later. She nodded in acknowledgment.

At home, Rachel decided to grill me about why the police wanted to see me. I made up a story about something happening at the party Karla and I had been to and they wanted a report from us. That seemed to satisfy her, except for the small lecture concerning hanging out with Karla too much. I assured her I haven't been seeing Karla as much lately. I'm sure she took that as I was working harder on my grades. I wondered what she would say if she knew I was hanging out more with Duncan instead, a vampire. I smiled inside at the idea of her knowing that.

I decided to go to my room and wait for Karla to call me. My phone started playing music and it was Duncan. “Hello?”

“What were you doing at the police station?” I wondered how in hell he knew that. When I asked, he just said he has his ways.

I explained to him that some detective was asking me about the night of the attack. I told him how I had said I knew nothing much about that. Duncan asked me what the detective looked like. When I described him, Duncan suddenly fell silent. He said my description fit the assassin who has been hunting him and his friends. When he said that, it was my turn to fall silent. I told him that Clement guy had filed a report.
“I should have hunted him down and killed him when I had the chance. That creep.”

I was a bit shocked, I'd never heard Duncan talk like that before. I could feel the venom dripping from his every word. It kind of scared me that Duncan could hate someone so much. It also scared me that the detective was trying to kill Duncan.

Just as I hung up, Karla called me. “What did they ask you?” She sounded out of breath. I told her what the detective asked me and what I had told them.

“I told them close to the same thing then. I said I hit my head because we were on a back road, lost, I had too much alcohol and had to pee. I explained I stumbled when I went to go pee, then those two guys showed up. I also told them a car came along and must have scared them off or something. Do you think that detective believes us?”

I told her I didn't know, but I was glad her story and mine were the same. I was worried though, worried what that detective was up to and what he might do next. Those two men were the bad guys, not Duncan. If it hadn't been for Duncan, Karla and I would have been coyote food or something. I told her not to worry. Besides, I was doing enough worrying for the both of us.

Duncan texted me and asked: “You want to come over tonight? We won't have the place to ourselves, everyone is back, but we can swim and hang out, if you'd like to.”

I sent back: “Sure, that sounds fine to me. What time?”

“How about eight or so?” I told him eight was great and I'd be ready. I was hoping to be alone with him, at least by the pool, to talk to him more about that detective guy. I wanted to know what he wanted me to do now.

Duncan picked me up and we went to the mansion to hang out. Everyone was home, like he said and of course everyone acted glad to see me but Blade. He was his usual aloof self as far as I was concerned. I wondered why, I certainly hadn't done anything to offend him at least nothing I knew of. Maybe he just doesn't like humans.

Duncan and I changed into our suits and went up to the roof to swim. The night air was chilly but the warm pool water felt good on my skin when I got in. We were swimming for a while when Blade came outside too. He motioned for Duncan to come out of the water. They stood over in the corner talking when it looked like Duncan got an angry look on his face and started raising his voice. They were too far away for me to tell what was said, but I could tell they were both quite angry. They looked like they were arguing.

Duncan came back to the pool and got in and Blade went back inside. But in a few minutes Blade came outside again. He also had his swim trunks on this time and got in the pool.

“So Duncan tells me you were at the police station today talking to Detective Jenkins.” Blade had a hard look to him, like he hated the world or something.
“Yes, yes, I did.”

“What did he want?”

“Blade, knock it off!”

Blade shot Duncan a look: “What? I'm just trying to make conversation. You told me to get to know Cheryl, now you're telling me not to?” Duncan shot him a disgusted look and started to swim.

“He just asked about an incident that my friend, Karla and I were in the other night. That's all.”

“The one when Duncan saved your asses?”

“Blade! I'm warning you, man.”

But Blade continued. “Was he asking about Duncan? Was he asking about us?”

“Why would he ask about you? He doesn't know I know you at all. I'm sure of it.”

The next thing I knew, Blade was right in front of me, nose to nose. “Good, let's keep it that way, shall we?”

His breath was hot and his eyes were flashing, almost red. He scared me, he looked like Satan himself. Then Duncan was right behind Blade. He grabbed Blade's arm and said: “I warned you to let it go. Now leave Cheryl alone.”

Blade narrowed his eyes and looked at Duncan. “Just because you think you're in love with some damned human could get us all killed. Jenkins isn't one to give up easily and he's very dangerous. Your beloved human could very well slip up and Jenkins finds out where we live and kill each of us. Is that what you want?”

“Cheryl would never tell him where we live. She'd never lead him to us.”

“Yeah, right. Maybe not on purpose, but Jenkins is cunning and he could easily figure it out, using her.”

“That's not going to happen, Blade, he's not going to find us, especially not through Cheryl.”

With that, Blade shot me a look that made me understand the term; if looks could kill, and started to go back inside. At the doorway he turned to look at me, “You better hope that's true.”

His last remark made me shudder and it felt like someone had walked across my grave. I literally shivered thinking about how he looked at me and what he said.

“Blade hates me. Does Blade hate all humans or just me?”

Duncan gave me a hug and climbed to the edge of the pool and sat down. “There was a time Blade didn't dislike humans. I'm not sure he liked most of them back then, but he did tolerate them. In fact......” Duncan's voice trailed off.

“What, what were you about to say just then? What? Tell me, I want to know.”

“There was a time he loved a human. A beautiful woman.”

“When, recently, a long time ago, when?” I kept prodding Duncan to continue.

“It was a few centuries ago; three hundred years to be exact. He met her in France at a masquerade ball on All Hollow’s Eve, Halloween, to you. He got to know her and fell deeply in love. They were together for five years and she was even going to turn, for Blade, she loved him back too. But it wasn't meant to be.”

“Did she fall out of love with him? Did she find someone else? What happened, Duncan? Was she a princess or something?”

Duncan laughed when I mentioned the princess part. “Hardly royalty. She was a maid, serving drinks and food that night. Her family were pretty much indentured servants to the rich family throwing the party. What happened was, she led Jenkins, he called himself another name back then; right to where Blade and his family were staying. Jenkins killed everyone, Blade narrowly escaped the slaughter.”

“Why would she do that if she loved Blade? I don’t understand, Duncan.”

“Jenkins offered her a great deal of money. Enough money so her family didn't have to be servants anymore. Apparently her human ties, blood ties, to her family were stronger than her love for Blade.”
“That's awful. But my family members aren't indentured servants. I'm not going to do that to you. Did she just disappear then?”

Duncan looked down at his feet swishing the water around. “No, she didn't just disappear.”

“What then? There's more to this than you are telling me. Please finish. Tell me what happened.”

“She didn't know Blade's family had been killed over what she had done. She met Blade, like they planned, for him to help her turn so they could be together, forever. But instead of turning her, Blade killed her for betraying him. Blade has never gotten over it. So you see, it's not you at all. It's what you, what we, remind him of.”

“Oh my gawd, I'm so sorry for Blade. To live forever with that sorrow must be awful. What about you, all these centuries, you've never loved any humans?”

“Yes, yes I have. I'm not going to insult your intelligence and lie and say, no, I never did. I have, a couple of times.”

“So? Why aren't those women with you? Why didn't they turn?”

“Frankly, the other women didn't want to turn. Oh, sure, they said they did, but they decided, at the last minute, they really didn't want to, so we always broke up. I never saw any of them again.”

“Oh. That's why you told me I have to be sure and that's why you didn't help me turn the other night? Even though I said I did want to turn.”

“Yes, Cheryl. We all say things in the heat of passion we really don’t mean. I wasn't going to turn you then. I want you to be rational at the time, if you decide you still want to. Not in the heat of passion. I want you to think it over and be absolutely sure. If you're not sure, you would regret it and eventually grow to hate me.”

I looked down at the water then. I could never imagine hating Duncan. I had fallen too deeply in love with him to ever imagine not loving him, for any reason. I must have been quiet for quite some time because Duncan put his robe on. “Maybe we had better be getting you home now. Are you ready?”

I got dressed and I noticed the ride to my house was very quiet. Maybe I was just pondering what he told me about Blade. Maybe I had an awful lot to digest in my brain. When we got to my house, I started to open the hearse door. Duncan reached out and took my wrist. “I do love you, Cheryl but as you know now, it's more complicated than just being in love. Think over all you know and don't be too hasty to turn. But remember, whether you turn or not, your decision will not change my love for you.” With that, we kissed and I went inside the house.

Something in the Blood Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I woke to my cell phone playing that wretched Madonna song. I picked it up to check and saw it was Karla. Gawd, Karla before coffee.

“Hello?” I knew my voice sounded groggy and I squinted at the clock. It said one in the afternoon, I had slept all morning.

“Hey, Sleepyhead. Did you see the headlines in the paper?” Her voice sounded like she'd just discovered gold or something.

“Yes, I saw it. What about it?” I decided to feign ignorance. No sense fueling her suspicions any more than I had to.

“Well, did you see where that missing guy's car was found?” Before I could even answer, she gushed on. “It was on the same road we were on. Do you realize Duncan probably saved our lives?”

“Well, since you got a gash on your head and the other one grabbed me, I pretty much figured they meant us no good will.” Really, how hard was that? She ignored me and rambled on anyway.

“Duncan is our hero. I'm feeling fortunate he likes us so much.” Likes us? I didn't have the heart to tell her she might not have gotten saved had she not been with me. But then, I might not have been in that situation, had I not been with her either. I just let her ramble on while I tossed in an occasional grunt to acknowledge I heard her.
“Do you think Duncan has anything to do with that guy disappearing? I mean, he took pretty good care of them, from what you said.”

“I really don't know. Duncan said those guys took off. Maybe they pissed someone else off and got done in. They are ex cons after all and up to no good that night. Could have been anyone they made mad.”

“Yeah, I guess you're right. So how did his meeting your family go last night? They like him, he like them?”

“Karla, I have to go. I haven't even had my shower yet. I'll call you later. Byeeeeeee.” I decided I didn't want to deal with her without a cup of coffee first at least. But I couldn't get what she said out of my mind. She was just voicing everything I had been thinking. Could she be right?

I went to the kitchen to make coffee since no one seemed to be home. I looked at the calendar. Just the weekend and spring break would be over. What would I do in school? I felt like the events of meeting Duncan, nearly being killed and wanting to make love to him, had matured me way beyond my 17 years. I felt like I'd outgrown school and school friends, just over break. I definitely felt like I was outgrowing Karla.

The smell of coffee was so inviting. I figured I may as well shower while I was waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. The wall phone rang, it was Duncan.

“Hey, want to do something today?” He sure sounded bubbly today.
“Sure, what you have in mind?” I really wanted to say, yeah let's sleep together, but I kept my cool.

“There's a great exhibit at the local art museum. Wanna go see it? They're featuring some great street artists.”

“You mean like Banksy? That sounds like fun. Sure, what time will you pick me up?”

“How about you pick me up in the Mustang? Say, around 2:30?”

“Sure, give me the address again? I'm not sure I remember it.”

“Come on, you were here. You said you put it in the GPS, I'm sure it's still there. If not, call me on your cell and I'll guide you.”

“Okay. I'm going to take my shower. I'll be there by 2:30 then.”

I enjoyed the hot water running over me. I wondered if his house was visible today or not. I couldn't see it the other day from the road. Strange, to say the least.

I dried off, got a cup of coffee and it tasted so good when I sipped it. I searched the cupboard and found a do-nut, so I consumed that too.

“Well, Sleeping Beauty, you finally woke up?”

I jumped a foot. “Gee, Rachel, you sneak around much? You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought no one was home. Where did you come from?”
“I was in my room, working on my laptop. I have a term paper due after break. Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. You have plans for the day?”

“Yeah, Duncan is taking me to the art museum. There's a new exhibit there.”

“He's a fine young man. It's nice to know he's in to culture too. He's good for you. Don't mess it up.”

What in hell did she mean by that? She think I was going to make the same mistakes she did? I instantly felt guilty for thinking that way. I felt my face flush hot.

“Yes, he's a good guy, I agree. I like him a lot.”

I looked at Rachel to see if there was any disapproval on her face. None. Usually she would give me a stern warning about the 'evils of men' if I said I really liked a guy. But this time, nothing. I found that to be quite odd, for her especially.

By one, I was dressed and ready to go pick up Duncan. I decided to wear my jeans and a sweatshirt. I guessed it was good enough for the museum art show. I followed the GPS directions I already had in there and sure enough, there was Duncan's house. On the hill, just as I remembered it in the moonlight. Why could I see it today, but not the day Karla and I drove here? I decided I was going to ask Duncan and wait for a decent answer this time.

I drove up the winding driveway and up to the front door. Duncan came dashing out of the house to the driver side window.

“You want to come in? You can meet the friends I live with here.”

I was hesitant, but I admit I was dying to see what the house looked like inside, so I agreed. I climbed some huge steps leading up to a wrap around porch. The front area of the porch was held up by two massive pillars. The front door swung open and the girl I first met at the ice cream stand was standing there, smiling at me.

“Come in, welcome. Duncan has told us a lot about you.” she reached out and hugged me, her skin felt like Duncan's, cool and soft, like a salamander's. “I'm so happy you decided to come in.”

The inside seemed dark, not completely, but like the outside looks at twilight, just before the sun sets. I had to adjust my eyes. I saw three guys standing there. The same three who were also at the ice cream shop when I first met Duncan.

“Oh, I'm forgetting my manners. I'm Ophelia, this is Blue, that's Drake and that solemn looking young man over there is Blade.”

I smiled and said: “Hi, I'm pleased to meet all of you.” Everyone came over to give me a hug. Everyone that is but Blade. I smiled at him and said I was pleased to meet him too.

He looked at me, lowered his head and said: “Yeah, whatever.” Then he turned and left the room.
“Don't mind him, he's been grumpy for a few days. Off of his feed I suppose or something.” Ophelia chimed in when he left.

“Is he on a special diet or something?”

Duncan laughed out loud. “I guess you could say that.”

“Well I suppose we need to be going. They're serving sandwiches and tea if we are among the first museum visitors. You ready to go?”

“Uh, yes, okay, let's get going. I hope the sandwiches aren't those nasty little cucumber thingies.”

Duncan smiled and placed his hand in the small of my back to guide me to the car. Once inside I decided to ask: “So how come I can see your house now, but the other day it was invisible?” There, I worked up the nerve to ask him.

“I'm not sure what you're implying. It looks fine to me.”

“Duncan, come on, stop acting like I'm a fool or crazy or something. It's pretty insulting you know, when you do that.”

He frowned and reached for my hand. “Come on, Cheryl. Is this really that important?”

“Yes, it is, to me anyway. We aren't leaving until I get a satisfactory answer to my question. I hate feeling like I'm going crazy.”

“Okay. But this is another area you have to promise not to freak out on me. Agreed?”

I shook my head, “Agreed. I promise. But I have to know.”

“The house, mostly in the day time, is invisible to most humans.”

“Humans, what in hell do you mean, humans? What in hell are you then?” I waited for an answer, wanting to know and not wanting to know at the same time. But I had asked, so now I waited for an answer.

“We sleep a lot during the daylight hours. We're most vulnerable when we are asleep. We have to protect ourselves from an assassin who has been hunting us for a very long time now.”

“Assassin? What kind of assassin? Why would this assassin want to kill you? I still don't understand.”

“I'm a vampire, we're all vampires. We share this house because all of our families have been killed by an assassin who has been chasing us for over 300 years now.”

I blinked, looked at him and tried to wrap my mind around everything he was telling me. Vampire? Duncan? Everyone in that house? I didn't know if I should run or just continue to listen. I decided to continue to listen.

“Years ago we lived pretty much in peace, in another country. But there is a family of assassins who have dedicated their lives to killing all of us vampires. The assassin’s families were killed by vampires. Not by us, but that doesn't matter to the assassins. They hate us all. They have vowed to kill us all. Good vampires and bad ones.”

“There are good vampires? So you and your friends are good ones? How can that be, don't you all suck blood from people?”

“Well, yes we do. But we good ones don't just kill in order to kill. We don't kill just anyone. We feed on the bad people, the scums of the earth. Those who really deserve it.”

“You telling me some people deserve to die? How can you just decide that?”

“I'm telling you some people don't deserve to live. Some people, like the two guys who tried to kill you and Karla. Those guys were let out of prison, but they did kill innocent women, for a long time.”

“But if the courts decided they were not supposed to stay in prison, how can you just determine they are guilty, they deserve to die?”

“They were let off easy, for lack of evidence. They had smart lawyers. Courts and juries don't see all of the evidence. They cannot read the heart.”

“But you can?”

“Yes, Cheryl, we can. Remember you asked me and I told you about my ability?”

“Like knowing Rachel's past? Yes, I recall.”

“Those two men had left a string of dead women across 4 states. Most of the bodies have never been found. Those two guys were good at hiding evidence.”

“So you killed them?”

“Well, I killed one of them. The other guy got away. He's still out there someplace. But trust me on this one. Both men are terrible people, nothing but evil on their minds all of the time. They'd have killed both of you and then kept on killing. They had to be stopped.”

All of this was almost too much to absorb. Duncan, my Duncan, a killer. A blood thirsty vampire. No, vampires only exist in horror films and books, not in real life, not in my city. But here he was, sitting next to me, explaining he is one.

“Why haven't they found the guy's body? Won't you just get caught one day?”

“I told you those guys and many like them, are good at hiding evidence, but I'm better at it. So, no, we won't get caught by the police, but the assassin, well, he's entirely another matter. A force to be reckoned with.”

“I think I want to go home now. I don't feel like going to the museum after all. I'm not sure I'm feeling all that well. Is it okay if we just skip the museum and I go home?”

“Cheryl, are you going to be okay? Do you hate me now?”
I wasn't sure what I was feeling, but I said: “No, Duncan, I don't hate you. But maybe it's best we don't see each other for a little while. I have a lot to think about now. I'll call you sometime. Okay?”

He had a disappointed look on his face. “Sure, Cheryl, you do what you feel is best for you. I've lost a few wonderful friends, who were human over the years, once they found out. I understand.”

I felt like a total creep, but I just left once he was out of the car. I could hardly see to drive. I started to cry and I cried all the way home. I had to have some space between us. Space and time to sort out all he said to me just now. I parked the car and went straight to my room. I suddenly decided that the remaining two days of spring break would be spent in my room, in bed, sleeping. I didn't care to think about what Duncan had told me. I just felt confused and depressed and I wanted to sleep.

The weekend seemed to creep by slowly, too slowly it felt like, until it was Monday, time to return to school. Dragging around, getting ready for school, made me realize the weekend had gone too fast, not too slow. I looked in the mirror, I just didn't care how I looked.

At my locker, Karla found me, as always, and tried to start up a conversation. She told me I had dark circles under my eyes and I looked like hell. I didn't care, I couldn't find any interest in her teenage prattle anymore. My first class, science, held about the same interest as Karla's incessant talking.

By lunch, Karla was getting fed up, losing patience with me and so, of course, she said so. I must have not shown much interest in that fact, she said I seemed different, and she also said something about giving up on me.

Different? Did she say, different? I wanted to yell at her how she didn't know from different. I just found out my boyfriend, maybe the guy I loved, is a killer, a vampire who sucks blood from people. Yeah, yeah, granted from only bad people, but he still is what he is. I was glad when the school day was over. I couldn't have taken much more of it.

My life went on pretty much like this for two weeks. I was getting skinnier and Karla asked me if I was Anna or MIA because I was getting too damned skinny. I told her neither one, which was true. I was getting skinny simply from worry.

One evening, at about eleven at night, my cell rang. I picked it up, it was Duncan.

“You still mad at me? You hate me now? I miss you so much, please, please let's talk.”

Texting back: “I don't hate you, honestly. Do you want to get together sometime soon?”

Duncan: “Soon? How soon? What about, now?”

I heard tapping on my bedroom window, I pulled back the curtain, it was Duncan. I opened the window. “What in hell are you doing here? How did you get here so fast?”

“I was just outside anyway, hoping you'd say you want to see me.”
Seeing him made all the fears and doubts of the past two weeks melt away. I ran into his arms, hugging him as if we'd been apart for months. What in hell had I been thinking? I did love him and I needed to stop fighting my feelings for him.

“You want to do something tonight?”

I looked at him and I smiled. “Yes I do. You know what it is I want to do?”

He said: “Here?” I laughed a small little laugh, not wanting to wake anyone in the house.

“Can we go someplace else? Maybe someplace more romantic, a place where we won't be interrupted?”

“We can go to my house. Everyone else is gone for two days. They have some business to take care of, we'll be alone in the house, just the two of us.”

I reached for the car keys. “No, not the car. You might wake everyone up when you start the engine.”

“You got a better idea? You have the hearse down the street?”

Holding out his arms for me to climb on; “Here, I didn't use the hearse. Come fly with me.” He was smiling and out the window we went. We sailed far above the city, kissing each other along the way. The night breeze was blowing in my hair and softly across my skin. I felt like I could do anything at that moment.

I could see the rooftop of his house. We landed, gently, on the veranda outside a bedroom window. “This is my room. Come on in.”

He opened the double glass windows, we walked inside and I gasped. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw his room.

“What is it? Are you okay? You seem frightened.”

“I'm not frightened. On the contrary, I feel like I've come home. I know this room.”

“You do, how?”

“I saw it in my dreams. You were making love to me, in my dreams, in this very room.

There it was, the four poster bed, the satin sheets and velvet blankets. This room is exactly as it looked in my dreams when we were making love. I couldn't believe it.

Duncan took me in his arms. We kissed, that long, sexy, electrifying kiss just like the night he kissed me in the car. I kissed back, remembering the last two weeks of hell without him.

“Do you want to take a swim? We have a heated pool on the rooftop. It's very pretty in the moonlight and very relaxing.”

“I have no suit, nothing to wear but my underwear.”

“We can swim nude. You have a beautiful body, just take off our clothes and swim.”
So we did. He led me to the rooftop pool and I stripped off my clothes, so did he. Strangely enough I didn't feel the least bit embarrassed to be naked in front of Duncan. When I mentioned that, he laughed. “It's because we're really soul mates you know. You and I. It's why you knew what the bedroom looked like even before you set foot inside of it. We were meant to be together.”

I floated on the warm water, lying back looking at the stars in the black sky. They shone brilliantly and I had never felt so alive in all of my life. I could get used to living like this, with Duncan, being his soul mate forever and ever.

After a long swim, Duncan climbed from the pool. He held out a soft looking purple, velvet robe. It was exquisite looking, with a lovely white sable collar and cuffs. I climbed out of the pool and he wrapped my body in the robe. He placed his arms around me and held me for a while, kissing me with so much passion I thought I'd faint.

“Shall we? Are you sure you're ready for this?” Duncan's liquid voice, reassuring, soothing.

“Yes, I'm ready. I've been ready for a long time now.” I meant that too. I'd been dreaming about this for a long, long time. I was not only ready, I was eager.

He picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all and carried me to the big bed. “It's not too late to change your mind. I will understand, you know.”

I answered his remark with a kiss, a very passionate kiss, letting him know I had no intentions of changing my mind.

“Are you going to bite me? Will I become one of you now, when it's all over?”

“Is that what you want? To become as us? To live forever as we do?”

“I don't know, no, maybe, I'm not sure.”

“Shhhhhh. Don't worry about that. I know how to be careful.”

I closed my eyes, letting this moment, the feelings, wash over me. Duncan kissed my neck and then a small sting and then a feeling I'd never felt before. I felt like I was floating, floating above the earth, seeing things I'd never seen before. They say your first time hurts and isn't that pleasant. But with Duncan, no pain, only pleasure. Pure, unadulterated pleasure like I had never imagined. Afterward, I felt weak, I fell asleep and was glad my first time was with Duncan. It was like I'd been saving myself for him all these years.

When I woke up, I smelled bacon, and coffee. I sat up in bed, taking in all the aromas. Duncan came through the door, pushing a cart covered with a white linen tablecloth. On the table was a silver cover and a wine glass, some juices, and a beautiful black rose in what looked like a crystal vase. I was impressed.

“Your breakfast awaits, my beautiful one.” Duncan approached the bed, offering me a hand. I grasped his hand and he led me to a Victorian-looking table by the window overlooking the most beautiful garden I had ever seen. Duncan seated me, bent down for a kiss and removed the silver lid from the platter. On the platter was bacon, eggs and sweet rolls galore. I looked at him and smiled.

“You never eat, so why do you have food?” I was curious.

“I took the liberty of shopping for some food. Yes, I was hoping you would come with me last night, here, to spend the night with me. I admit it was a bold move on my part. Are you upset with me?”

How could I ever be upset with Duncan? He was treating me like a queen. Treating me like I'd never been treated before. “No, I'm really very flattered. No one has ever called me beautiful before. No one has ever treated me like this.”

He took a seat across from me and watched me eat. “So, now, am I like you are?” I remembered him gently biting my neck and I recalled the feelings I'd experienced. Recalling those feelings actually made me blush.

He smiled. “Do you really want to be like us? Truly?”

“I, I don't know. So much has happened. I just know I've fallen in love with you and want to be with only you, forever and ever.”

“No, you aren't like us. I would not want you to be anything but absolutely certain. Do you realize all you would be giving up to become like us, like me?”

“But you bit my neck, those feelings, I assumed that well, maybe.”

“Let me explain about vampires. What you don't know would fill a book. What you don't know is a lot. Yes, I bit your neck, but gently, a love bite, not enough to turn you into someone you aren't ready for yet. It's tricky biting someone enough to turn them. Too long and the person is dead, not a vampire. Do you understand? Explaining this to a human isn't easy you know.”

“I think I understand. So last night's biting was just affection, vampire style?”

He laughed that wonderful laugh again. “Yes you could say that. Just enough to make your experience enjoyable, not to hurt you, not to turn you into anything but my love slave.”

I looked up. “Really?” I must have had an astonished look on my face, because that question made Duncan laugh out loud.

“No, that love slave part, I just threw in for good measure. To see your reaction. I like how you assign me powers I really don't possess, yet find it hard to accept those I do. I find it refreshing and very cute.”

I have to admit he had a good point. I had been catapulted into a world I knew nothing about. A world I never knew existed, except in fairy-tales and horror stories. But here I was, smack dab in the middle, up to my neck in this strange new world. Odd as it seems, I wasn't frightened, not with Duncan as my guide to it all.

I ate breakfast and Duncan suggested I should probably get back home. I knew I couldn't just walk in the front door, since my family, specifically, Rachel, would probably be up by now. So Duncan delivered me to my bedroom window, as mysteriously and quietly as I had left it.

Something in the Blood; Chapter 3

Chapter 3

As I pulled up in front of our house, I saw no lights which, hopefully mean, no one was home or at least not still up. Mom would be at work and I was hoping Rachel was not here either. When it came to be nosy and interrogation techniques, Rachel has Mom beat by a mile. I didn't want to tangle with her tonight. I was tired and happy and I knew an altercation with Rachel would quickly ruin my happy buzz. That's it, I thought. Being with Duncan was like a drug, producing a euphoric high that was hard to explain. I just knew that afterward I had a kind of high and it lasted for hours.

I turned my key in the lock and let myself in.

“Where have you been?” I heard Rachel's voice coming from the kitchen table. She was sitting in the dark, in order to spy on me? I guess so because there she was, in the dark, the only light coming in the window from a street light.

“I went to dinner with a friend.” I answered, probably with some surprise in my voice. “Gee-sh, Rachel, sneak around much? You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing sitting in the dark?”

“Don't try to change the subject. I asked you a question. What's that you're driving and where did you get it?”

“I told you I went to dinner with a friend and I'm just borrowing the friend's car is all. It's not mine, I didn't steal it or anything, if that's what you're thinking.”

“This friend wouldn't happen to be a guy would it?”

I shifted from one foot to the other. “Why do you ask that?”

“I just wondered who you had to sleep with to get that nice car is all.”

“Rachel! That's pretty unfair, even for you.” I immediately felt guilty when I said it, but what she just said stung pretty deep too.

I know I wasn't studious like Rachel and I also knew I probably wasn't as compliant as her. In fact, I was probably a bad daughter and sister in a lot of ways. I just wanted to live my life, enjoy my youth. Was that so bad?

“So you weren’t out with a guy then?” Gee, she was being persistent.


“Well, yes I was. But we're just friends. I didn't have to sleep with anyone to get the car. What are you, Mom now?”

“Cheryl, I'm not trying to be mean or anything. I'm just trying to save you some heartache. I don't want you to make the same mistakes some girls make. Some mistakes you pay for the rest of your life. I'm not trying to be a hard ass.”

The way she said some girls made it sound almost personal or something. Maybe she has a friend at school who was having problems, but I brushed that thought out of my head. I had bigger fish to fry, like explaining about this damned car. I felt my elation over the car waning now.

“You ashamed to bring this guy home to meet Mom and I?” She had an accusing tone to her voice when she asked that.

“No, it's just that he's not my boyfriend or anything. We're just friends and he's letting me borrow his car. I didn't see any reason to bring him home is all.”

“We've met Karla, she spends a lot of time here. You usually bring all your friend home for us to meet. You know, most guys are out for one thing in this world.”

“Yeah, yeah, so you always say. Maybe some aren't. Maybe some guys can just be friends with girls is all. Ever think of that, Miss Know it All?” I know I was the one who sounded sarcastic now, but Rachel was beginning to work on my nerves.

“I'll bring him around to meet your approval, if that's what you want.”

“Look, Cheryl, I'm simply looking out for you is all. You're still pretty young and in many ways, pretty naive yet. I'm not trying to piss you off.”

“I can call him on the cell and find out if he could come over tomorrow night when Mom has a night off then.”

I sat down at the kitchen table and hoped he was still up, it was after midnight. He picked up the phone on the second ring.

“Hi, it's me, Cheryl. I hope I didn't wake you up or anything. But I want to ask you something.”

“No, I was up, I told you I'm a night person. What can I do for you? I hope the car isn't giving you any trouble already.”

“Oh no, the car is wonderful. Ran like a top all the way home. I was wondering if you'd like to come meet my mom and my sister, Rachel?”

“Tonight?” He laughed.

“No, not tonight, Silly. But would tomorrow night be good for you? My mom has tomorrow night off. I mean, if it's too short of a notice, we can make it another time.” Rachel kicked me under the table when I said that.

“Sure, tomorrow night will be good. What time?”

“I guess around eight in the evening, if that's good.”

“That's a great time. Should I bring anything?”

“No, just bring yourself is all. Oh, and thanks Duncan for being so understanding.”

“Hey, I'm looking forward to it. Till then. Night, Cheryl.”

“Night Duncan, and thanks again.”

I hung up the phone and thought how when Duncan answered the phone, he sounded kind of breathless or something. Not like he was out of breath, but like he'd been running and was panting just a slight bit. I decided to brush it off and looked at Rachel.

“That wasn't so bad, was it?” She wasn't exactly smiling, but her facial expression had softened a bit, like she was relieved or something.

“I'm going to bed now. It's been a long day and I'm tired.”

“Goodnight, Cheryl. Thanks for being so good about us meeting Duncan and all.”

I smiled as I rose from the table and headed to the stairs. I really was very tired. My phone was vibrating as I laid down, I looked to see if it was Duncan, but it was Karla. I wasn't in any mood to answer her questions, so I turned off my phone. I know I'd been neglecting her a lot lately so I figured I'd call her in the morning. Boy, was she going to be envious of that Mustang. I fell asleep with that smug thought in my mind.

I got up the next morning and headed for the shower. After feeling clean and renewed, I grabbed a cup of coffee and a bagel and sat at the table. Mom was asleep and Rachel must have gone out because the house was quiet.

I decided to check my messages on my cell. One from Duncan: Sleep well and enjoy the car. I'll call you tomorrow.

Four from Karla: Come on, call me, text me, do something at least, I'm dying to know it all. You know me, Love ya, Karla.

Karla: Hey remember me? I'm supposed to be your BFF but you keep ignoring me.

Karla: Text me soon or I'll have to come over tomorrow and see you in person.

Just as I read that one, a knock at the door. Imagine that, so I went to open it.

“Where in hell you been all night? Don't you ever answer your tests or cell phone calls anymore? Who's car is that outside? Inquiring minds, mine, need to know this shit Girl!”

“With Duncan. Yes I answer my texts and cell, usually, but I was busy. The car is mine, as long as I care to use it. Gawd! Anyone ever tell you how nosy you are?”

Rummaging through the cupboard and fridge: “What you got to eat here? What's that you have? A bagel? Come on, give me a ride in that hot car of yours and let's go get something from the dollar menu. Maybe some of our girls will be there. Come on.”

Grabbing the keys, we headed to the Mustang and downtown to get some breakfast from the dollar menu. Karla was right, there were some of our friends there. They came running over, gushing over the car and I think I actually saw some drooling. I was surprised at Karla though. It takes a lot to get her jealous, but this car and my seeing Duncan seemed to do the trick. I have to admit, I loved it. Karla jealous over me for a change, instead of the other way around.

Once back in the car: “So where does this mystery man live anyway?” Karla was looking at the radio as she talked.

“Out of town, on a back road. I was there last night, that's how I got the car.”

“So let's drive by Duncan's house. I want to see it. Is it cool and is he rich or what?”

“It's a big old mansion, Victorian looking place. I suppose his family is well off. He has a fleet of cool cars in his garage.”

“OOOOOOOOH. Let's get going, I gotta see this.”

“I'm not sure I could find it on my own. I was only there once and it was dark outside.”

Karla fiddled with a small box on the windshield. “Hey, this is a GPS system, maybe it's programmed in here.” She turned it on and told me to put in his address. I did and sure enough, the voice repeated the address.

“Let's go. GPS Lady here will tell us how to get there.”

I started the car and off we went. Lots of twists and turns once we got out of the city on our way there. One really winding road and the GPS Lady said: “You have reached your destination.”

“I don't see shit, Girl.” Karla was blinking her eyes. “All I see is a big long drive leading to nowhere. Maybe the GPS is broken.”

“No, this is the address and last night, at the end of the driveway, there was a Victorian house. I was in the underground garage.”

“Well, it's not here now.” Karla had a doubtful tone to her voice. “I, I don't know, it sure seemed like this is the right address.”

“That's OK, maybe you just put in the wrong numbers. You know if you put just one wrong number in there, it'll screw it all up.”

“Yeah, maybe I did.” I wasn't believing it myself though. I was certain I put the right address into the system.

“Who cares? Let's go cruising and maybe to the lake for the day. I'd love to go to the beach, especially now you don't have to work and all.”

“Oh, shoot, work!” I remembered I didn't tell my boss I wouldn't be back. I also needed to pick up the money he owed me. I told Karla we needed to swing by there, right now.

“Where in heck you been? You were supposed to start work a half hour ago. Well, never mind, get your cap and apron on, no harm done.” Mr Clark was cleaning the floor as we walked in.

“About that, Mr. Clark. I'm here to let you know I won't be working here anymore. As you see, I have a car.” I made a sweeping hand gesture towards the Mustang.

“Wow, you rob a bank or something?”

My face turned red. “No, I just was able to score a car is all. I don't suppose I could get my last paycheck while I'm here?”

“Heck, I'm sorry to hear this. You’re a great worker. You might need this job to pay for gas and insurance you know.”

“No, I really don't. That's all taken care of too. About that check.”

“I don't have a check yet, but I can give you cash. Let me check your hours. I'll be right back.”

Karla and I sat at a table until Mr. Clark came out with cash in his hand. “Here ya go, I owe you $100 for last week. Sure I can't talk you into changing your mind?”

“No, but if I know of anyone else who needs a job, I'll let them know. Thanks Mr. Clark. Bye, bye.”

“Let's go out tonight, how about it? We can use our fake ID's to get into that hip new club that just opened.”

“No thanks, I'm probably going to see Duncan tonight.”

“Come on, you can miss seeing him for one damned night. Can't you? Please, pretty please?”

She looked so darn pathetic I told her I'd call him. After all, he was coming over to meet my family tomorrow night.

I dialed his number. He picked up on the second ring as usual. “Hello?”

“It's me, Cheryl.”

“Hi Cheryl, what can I do for you?”
How did he know he could do anything for me? But I loved it when asked that question.

“Did you plan for us to do anything tonight?”

“No, not really, why?”

“Well Karla wants me to go out with her tonight so I just wanted to check first. Before I made plans with her.”

“Sure, she's probably thinking I've been hogging all your time anyway. It's cool. I'll be over to your place tomorrow anyway.”

“Oh and Duncan?”

“Yes?”

“Karla and I drove by your house today and we couldn't see it from the road. Don't you find that odd?”

“No, not at all. It sets way behind those big trees and all, maybe you just couldn't see it from there.”

“Yeah, that must be it.” But I knew better, I knew those trees weren't covering it up. I decided to let it drop, at least until we were alone and I could inquire more, without Karla, Miss Nosy, listening in.

“OK then, I'll see you tomorrow night. Thanks, Duncan.”

“Hey, no problem. You ladies have a great time. Bye.”

I told Karla we could go out, but I also told her I really didn't want to use our fake ID's to try and get into some club either. She stuck her lip out in a fake pout.

“Well then, I know of a great party. One of the kids from school is throwing it. It's a ways out in the country, but there will be booze, live music and loads of food. Wanna go there instead?”

I really didn't but I agreed that a party was better than trying to sneak into a club and possibly getting in trouble, or tossed by a bouncer.

“Cool then. Let's go to your place and hang out and we can get dressed there. We can stop by my house and get my clothes and makeup. Lord knows you could use my expertise with your makeup and hair.”

I hated it when she said things like that. But we swung by her house to get her stuff. Her dad was home, in his t-shirt, beer and cigarette in hand. Karla lives in a trailer, her mom works and her dad drinks. Sometimes I think that's why she's kind of brash, she doesn't exactly have a great home life. Actually he's her stepfather, her mom's boyfriend to be exact. They just live together and aren't married. Karla once told me he can't work because he's a felon or something. I know she's kind of scared of him and she said her mom wants to break up with him but he's threatened to kill her if she did. I just know he gives me the creeps. He looks at me like I'm naked or something.

“Let's go get my stuff in my room.”

Her stepfather looked up: “Hi there Cheryl.” He had been drinking probably all morning because he slurred his words when he said my name. I thought it was pretty early in the morning to be drinking already but I guess he does that instead of coffee.

“Hello.” I said as we walked past him to Karla's bedroom.

“I gotta say he gives me the creeps.” It's not like that was the first time I'd said that to her.

“Welcome to the club. He gives everybody the creeps. Including me. Imagine having to live here.”

I couldn't imagine that. I didn't even want to imagine that. As far as I was concerned, she couldn't get her things fast enough. I decided to help her so we could leave quicker.

“You going someplace?” Roy, her stepfather asked as we went past him.

“I'm going to Cheryl's for the night. That's all.”

“Well don't go whoring around with any guys, if ya know what I mean.” He had a nasty smirk on his face. I had an urge to reach out and slap him. He made my skin get goose bumps.

“Let's go, Cheryl.” Karla was trying to ignore him but I could tell she was embarrassed by the way he acted.

We drove to my place and listened to music, played on the computer and called some of the kids to see what time the party was starting. We had a burger for dinner, I fried two up and made french fries for us.
“Let's go fix your hair and makeup.” Karla helped me load the dishwasher and we headed for my room. I let her fix me up, but I didn't like it much. She dressed me in her sexiest outfit, actually all her outfits were sexier than anything I owned. I also let her fix my hair and makeup. I looked in the mirror thinking I looked like a hooker. But Karla smiled and said I looked wonderful.

Soon it was time to go so we headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Shoot, it was Rachel and I hated her seeing me in this outfit. “You going to a costume party?”

“Yes, we are. Some kids are giving a costume party. We're pretending to look like Lady Gaga. You like? Karla twirled for Rachel. Rachel just laughed.

“Well have fun and try to be back before one in the morning.”

The party was further outside the city than I realized, or more to the point, than Karla realized. It felt like we drove for hours but it was actually only one hour but it seemed much longer. Finally we found the place, a cabin on the lake, and by the looks of all the cars, a lot of people had already arrived.

We got out, me feeling totally uncomfortable in this sexy outfit, but Karla, as usual, was the social butterfly of the party. Someone tried to shove a beer in my hand but I refused, saying I'm the designated driver, so just a Coke would be fine. I sipped my Coke watching Karla down drinks and then participate in a drinking game. She was looking tipsy after only an hour and I thought she'd better not lose her stomach in my nice car or I'd have to resort to killing her. Not literally, of course, but I sure would kill her verbally and make her clean it up too.

After a while I was getting tired of just sitting around watching everyone get drunk and I urged Karla to get going. I convinced her we should head home now because it was a long drive. She was reluctant, but too drunk to give me much of an argument, so we left.

Out on the open road I realized I didn't know the exact way back to the city. I couldn't rely on asking Karla because she was so drunk I'm not sure she'd know her own name if I asked her, much less remember directions.

After driving for about twenty minutes, the road was dark and I knew I'd taken a wrong turn somewhere. I opened my cell and it wasn't detecting any service way out here. Suddenly I felt a thump and it got louder as we continued down the road. When the car started to steer violently to the left, I knew it was a flat tire. I'd never changed a tire in my life and I wasn't even sure if there was a jack in the back or even a spare, I had never checked.

I had no choice but to pull over to the side of the road. I decided I'd better get out and check for a spare and a jack and do my best to try and change the flat tire. How hard could it be? I opened the trunk and felt around for something, anything I could use.

I saw car lights in the distance. I was hoping maybe somebody could assist us with changing the tire. Maybe a kind elderly couple or something, I was hoping. The car pulled up beside us and my heart sank, two burly looking guys and the driver had an evil smile on his face.

“Hey, Baby, need some help?”

“That's OK, I think I can handle this by myself. But thanks anyway.” I was hoping by sounding sweet they'd just take off. I didn't want my tone to piss them off.

“Come on, Baby. I can help you out, don't play hard to get.”

I didn't like the tone of his voice at all. I backed up as the driver got out of the car and came towards me. The more I stepped back, the closer he tried to come.

The passenger was shinning a flashlight in the front seat of the Mustang. “Well look what we have here, another little cutie. We could have us a party.”

I was beginning to get scared now. I knew they weren't up to any good and I seriously doubted they were here to help us.

“You guys can go, thanks anyway, we'll be fine.” I hoped I could brush them off.

The flashlight guy opened the door where Karla was sitting. He reached in and grabbed her. I started towards her when the other guy grabbed me from behind.

“Relax, your friend will be just fine. We just plan on having a little fun is all. Don't get excited.”

I was crying and pleading to leave us alone when he placed his hand over my mouth. I could see Karla was fully awake now, on the ground where the other guy was trying to unbutton her shirt.

I thought to myself, this is it. We're in real trouble now. Why oh why did I let Karla talk me into going to that stupid party.

I closed my eyes so as not to see what would happen next when I heard another car approaching. Thank God I thought to myself.

“We better get out of here. Come on.” Flashlight guy was heading for the car.

Suddenly I heard a familiar voice say: “What's the hurry boys? No need to leave on my account.”

It was Duncan and he was looking different than I'd ever seen him before. Flashlight guy swung at him and Duncan grabbed him and tossed him into the ditch like a rag doll. The second guy was heading for the car when Duncan, moving faster than light, stood between him and the car, cutting off his access to the door.

That guy also swung and Duncan grabbed him, tossing him over the roof of his car. He hit the road with a sickening thud.

“What in hell are you girls doing out here this time of night?” Duncan was kneeling by Karla, she was bleeding from her forehead and I saw Duncan turn pale and reel back for a moment. I figured the sight of so much blood must make him woozy.

“We were coming home from a party and had a flat. I was so scared, I'm so glad you came along. How did you know where we were?” He scooped Karla up and ran to the hearse, placing her on the front seat.

“Never mind that. Take the keys to the hearse, Karla has a bad cut on her forehead. Take her to the ER and I'll fix this flat and meet you both there.”

“But what if those two guys come after you again?” I was genuinely scared for Duncan, even though, by the way he tossed those guys around, he obviously could take care of himself.

I heard the guy in the ditch groan. “Go on now, don't dawdle. Get going. I'll be just fine.” Tossing me the keys he turned around to look at the ditch guy. “Go on now.”

I caught the keys and I started the vehicle and gunned it. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I looked in the rear view mirror as I sped off but it was so dark I couldn't see anything.