Chapter Three: America at Last

 

The Majestic pulled into port five days and nine hours after they left Southampton. Nikolai was awake for the exciting festivities, and almost took Regan’s arm off pulling her from their room up on deck.

He had to see the Statue of Liberty for himself. He smiled as the Majestic was slowing down. He looked up at the statue, looked at Regan and said, “We’ve made it.”

Regan smiled and allowed him to kiss her. Not long after the kiss, they smelled Dimitri’s vampire blood once again.

He looked at the statue, and asked, “Is your paperwork in order? Do you have the necessary passports?”

“We’re fine,” Nikolai answered.

“Good,” Dimitri said. The former friendliness in his voice almost gone. Nikolai missed this sudden change in Dimitri’s demeanor, but Regan didn’t. This only would enhance her previous mistrust of him.

“I will be leaving after you do,” Dimitri said. “Make your way to my house when you are ready. Twenty East 88th Street is my address. My house is between Fifth and Madison, three quarters of a block away from Central Park. By the time you get there, I will have told my master about you. I will be certain you are accepted, and not killed.”

“We will be there as soon as time allows my friend,” Nikolai said.

“If you decide not to come right away, make your way to Brooklyn. There, within the walls of the Hotel Margaret, they’ll accept you as a mated pair. Many immigrants from all over the world live there. I’ll see the both of you soon.”

“Soon, my friend. Thank you for all of your help.”

“It’s been my pleasure to be your guide. Make your way to my house soon, and we’ll celebrate your arrival in America.”

“We will. Goodbye Dimitri.”

Dimitri smiled. “Goodbye Nikolai, goodbye Regan.”

Dimitri was gone. Nikolai felt a bit of a loss, but he knew Regan was not comfortable around him.

“He’s gone beloved.”

“I am glad.”

“Are you certain he didn’t touch you in an unacceptable manor?

“No, Nik. He did not. I am fine. There is something about Dimitri Cane, which makes me feel weird. Now that he is gone, I will be fine.”

“We may have to look to his clan to help us in the future.”

“I understand that. For now, I am glad he is gone.”

 

Nikolai and Regan made their way through customs with very little problem. Nikolai had to declare everything they had worth over one hundred dollars, including the clothing Regan bought them in Southampton, which meant he had to fork over even more money. After conversion, their money was going fast.

They stepped onto the New York streets, slightly poorer than before, but for Nikolai, it didn’t matter. He was free. Free from his clan leader, free from his king. Nikolai saw these things in his new country that only mattered to him, but there were also things Nikolai and Regan had not seen before.

The four-wheeled vehicles they knew as carriages in Europe, in America, were known as cars, or automobiles, depending on who you asked.

Streetlights that once lit up the countryside of east Sussex with candles were replaced by a piece of formed glass that contained a filament. This was known as the light bulb.

The buildings, which were as tall as castles, were called skyscrapers, or high-rises. It was all new to them. As they stood around taking it in, Nikolai was excited. Regan, on the other hand, was frightened. She wished and longed for the simple life. What was this brand new world to bring them? She could only wait and see.

“Regan, beloved, isn’t this wonderful?”

“It is nice, Nik,” Regan said unenthused.

“I’ve read that it gets very cold here, a lot like home. Winter is coming. Do you not look forward to that?”

“I could not stand the winters at home, you already know that.”

“We’ll be comfortable in winter. Don’t you think so?”

“Whatever you say, Nik. Let us get to our room. It has been three days. We need to feed.”

“I’m happy I have you beloved. You’ll keep my head on straight.”

“I do not understand your excitement. Have you forgotten what has brought us here?”

“No. I’m just happy we’re here. Let’s find this Hotel Margaret, so we can rest. We’ll feed tomorrow.”

“I am hungry now, Nik.”

Nikolai suddenly became agitated with her new attitude. “Regan, we can’t feed until we’ve established somewhere to rest, you know that.”

Regan sighed. “Beloved, forgive me. Perhaps my hunger has taken over.”

Nikolai stepped close to her, pulled her in the comfort of his arms, and asked, “What did he do to you?”

“Dimitri was a perfect gentleman the entire time we spent with him. It is nothing, Nik. I am fine.”

“I hope so. I don’t wish to leave this country before we get a chance to enjoy it. You know I’ll kill him for violating you in any way.”

“Dimitri has done nothing to me. Beloved, I believe my anxiety stems around our new environment. I will say nothing more. You lead the way.”

“You’re not happy to be with me?”

“It is as I said. Things are new. I will just simply have to adjust. I am glad you are happy to be here.”

Nikolai felt her pull away, and let her go. “Regan, what is it? Tell me.”

Regan turned her back to the man she loved, sighed and said, “Nik, forgive me if I do not share your excitement. I long for the simplicity of home.”

Nikolai crossed his arms to show his agitation. “If you didn’t want to come with me, you should have said so.”

“I could not have allowed you to die. That is the real reason I came with you. I knew you would not have run without me. I could not be without you, so I came with you.”

“You tell me this now? If I’d known you would’ve been unhappy, I would’ve faced my grandfather’s wrath. It’s never been my desire to make you unhappy.”

“But you have not made me unhappy. America makes me uncomfortable now. It is not, nor has it ever been you, Nik. I am happy to be close to you, I am most happy in your arms. It is the people we have met on our journey and this new country that make me yearn for home. If you were to go home with me now, and you were allowed to live, I would be the happiest there.”

“We can’t go home.”

“So you have said. Give me some time to adjust. I will be fine. Do not be angry with me beloved. I promise to make do. As long as I am with you, I will be fine.”

Nikolai sighed. “All right. Come. Let’s go to our hotel. From there we’ll decide when we are to feed. Afterwards, I’ll make love to you, and we’ll rest. I’ll go look for work tomorrow.”

Regan couldn’t believe her ears. He was ready to run off in this new place and leave her alone, afraid and with no friends. “You do not need to work right now. We have a lot of money. Nik, stay with me. Do not leave me for hours on end with nothing to do. I will go crazy.”

“We must blend into our surroundings.”

“I realize that, but please do not leave me so soon. Can we wait a few days before you become an American?”

Nikolai took offence to her words. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Regan didn’t back off. “Listen to you. You have already abandoned the way we have learned to speak. What is next?”

Nikolai grew angry as well. “I’ll not spend anymore time with you when you’re acting like this. When you decide to accept the cards dealt to us, I’ll come back. I’ll see you to the hotel, check us in, and from there, you’re on your own. You’ll soon learn to appreciate what I’ve done for you, or you’ll be without me.”

She tilted her head to the side and let him have it. “You expect me to let you into the room when you are acting like an ass? No, Nik. It is not I, but you, who will learn to appreciate how much I love you. Go. Do what you want. I will find the hotel on my own.”

Regan walked away from Nikolai. It reminded him of Angeline walking away from him at Byron’s birthday party. He didn’t want to lose her, especially since they were in a new country, so far away from home.

“Regan wait.” Regan stopped in her tracks. “Beloved, forgive me. I will do everything you wish me to do. Including speaking the way you wish me to speak. I will not talk in contractions as Dimitri suggested I should. I do not wish to be without you.”

She turned to face him. “You do this in memory of the one you have decided to love a little less,” Regan said. “It is your memory of Angeline that drives you to do such things. I am not her, nor will I ever be her. I am different from her. Because I know you love me, I will not take any shit from you. I have seen Nikolai the whore. I have seen Nikolai the selfish, and I will not put up with it as Angeline did. I do not desire the throne. We no longer have one. You have brought me three thousand miles away from my home, and you will not deny me of my happiness.”

Nikolai was beside himself. “What do you want beloved? I will give you anything.”

Regan walked up to Nikolai and looked him in his eyes. “I want you to slow down and just love me. We are in a new place, and no longer have the protection of the coven. I want you to move slower and use your head. You are a smart man Nik, and I trust you to protect me. Slow down beloved, please. I do not wish to die so soon and away from my family.”

“I will not allow you to die. All right Regan, whatever you want. We will do what you want until you are comfortable.”

“Thank you, Nik. Now, let us go get a room, and then we can feed. I think once I am full, and you make love to me, I will be fine.”

 

Nikolai and Regan survived their first fight. Nikolai wanted so badly to be the obvious dominant one in their relationship, but now found himself taking a backseat to the woman he loved. He could not afford to lose her. He left the life he had known for so many years to be with her. Now, so many miles away from his home and his family, he had no choice but to be at her disposal. Regan was the only family he had left.

 

Two months later, Regan adjusted and went back to being the sweet and loving woman Nikolai originally fell in love with. Nikolai found a job as a carpenter and worked six hours a night, Monday through Friday. To occupy her time, Regan became the first babysitter in the neighborhood who did not mind working on the weekends. She was available three nights a week to parents who wanted to go out on the town. She worked Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights while Nikolai was at work, and only took care of children less than six months old.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, she would go to the neighborhood washhouse and wash the neighborhood clothing for eight hours a day. On Wednesday, when she returned from work, she would sleep in order to be ready to babysit on Thursday night. Regan’s only day off was on Sunday, and it was during this time that she also slept.

It became Nikolai’s job to hunt after work. He would find someone who lived on the street that no one would miss, offer them food and shelter, and bring them back to their tiny apartment. It was there the unsuspecting homeless person would meet their demise. They were fortunate they did not have to feed daily, or it would have certainly looked suspicious to their neighbors.

 

Nikolai woke on a Thursday night to find Regan had no children to babysit. This meant they finally found themselves at home together, a rare occurrence over the past months.

“Beloved, are you not going to work tonight?”

Regan shook her head. “I had a couple cancel because the baby is sick. What about you? Are you not going to work?”

“Our project is finished. I will be off until we get another contract.”

Regan smiled. “Well then, it looks like we have nothing to do.”

Nikolai smiled back. “So it does. Are you hungry?”

“No. What about you?”

“No.”

“So what do we do?” Regan asked.

“Passionate kisses and my rock hard dick?”

Regan smiled coyly. “Your dick is not hard.”

“It can be. Give it a minute.”

Regan laughed aloud and replied, “Beloved, how about we do something we have not done since we have been here?”

“What is that?”

“I have heard the women talking when I go to work at the washhouse. They speak of a nightclub that has opened in Harlem, called ‘The Cotton’.”

Nikolai’s face lit up. “We have not danced since we have been here.”

“I know. The music is jazz.”

“We can rumba.”

“Only if the music is right for it. We do not want to share our love life in public, do we?”

“I will rumba with you on the street with the music that plays in my head to get me started.”

“The rumba plays in your head?”

Nikolai smiled. “Only because I think of you constantly, my dear.”

“We will rumba then.”

 

That night, Nikolai and Regan took the long ride to Harlem. Nikolai, being the one of fairer skin, got the most stares, but no one bothered him personally. It seemed that Harlem was a community of those with dark skin. Regan fit in, so they accepted Nikolai.

Most viewed her as a kept woman. Some looked at her as if she was desperate to meet a man. Some looked at her as though they should rescue her from her apparent slavery. It was amongst them that Nikolai got the worst of their personalities.

Being vampire, neither Nikolai nor Regan had to deal with prejudice, until they came to America. In Europe, if you were vampire, no matter the color of your skin, you were vampire and accepted, no matter what you looked like. The prejudice was hard for Nikolai to deal with.

They entered the club, and sat at a dark and secluded table. They attempted to hide Nikolai’s skin color the best they could. They ordered wine, but instead, brandy was placed on their table.

Nikolai looked up at the waiter. “This is not what I ordered.”

“This is what we have. Take it or leave it.”

Regan looked at Nikolai and said, “Drink beloved. It is from grapes, like wine. We must fit in, remember?”

Nikolai nodded and sipped the bitter, yet sweet drink. After taking a sip, he said, “Quite good. Grandfather should have some of this. Perhaps when I am ready, I will send him some.”

Regan smiled. “He would like that.”

They sat and talked amongst the stares and whispers. They didn’t care. They knew they could kill everyone in the room if they chose to do so.

As they sat and talked, a very bizarre looking man who played the trumpet took the stage. When he blew, his cheeks grew so large it would frighten the average small child. The adults knew what he was doing, and when he played, it was masterful.

Regan and Nikolai sat in their corner and listened, while others got up and danced.

“This man is a genius,” Nikolai said.

“Shhh. Nik, I am trying to listen.”

Nikolai knew Regan finally was in a place she wanted to be. It had been two long months of nothing but work and feeding, and finally, she began to relax. Nikolai loved this about her.

After three songs, the band slowed the pace down a bit. Both Regan and Nikolai felt a rumba coming on, even though the song that played was obviously a jazz tune.

The crowd at the club moved to their seats to hear the famous band leader sing. Nikolai finally moved to dance with his woman, held out his hand, and Regan took it. They were the only two on the floor as the band leader belted out his song.

They danced to show the world the love they shared for each other. They danced the rumba in slow motion, which made it even more erotic than the dance already was. Nikolai and Regan were into each other, and did not care what went on outside the touching of one another. They could not wait until they got home so they could rip the clothing from their bodies and make mad, passionate love to one another. As they danced, the crowd in the club was mesmerized. When the song ended, Nikolai kissed Regan ever so gently, and the club went crazy with applause.

Nikolai pulled Regan close, kissed her on the cheek, and whispered in her ear, “Let’s go home.”

The people, who watched them almost make love on the dance floor, gave them a standing ovation. They wanted more. The band leader, who sang for them, was happy his lyrics could move at least two people in the room, so he also clapped for them.

Regan agreed they should go home. Nikolai wanted Regan more than he had in at least a month, so they politely took a bow, and left the dance floor. As they did, the crowd, who had never seen anything like it, continued to clap for them because they desired to see more. Nikolai and Regan denied them, and promptly left the club.

When they got outside the front door, Nikolai pulled Regan close and whispered “I love you,” in her ear and proceeded to give her a deep kiss. He pulled away to gauge her reaction. To his surprise, Regan was crying.

“Beloved, what is wrong?” He asked. Regan shook her head, pulled away from him, and turned away. For whatever reason, she missed Byron, and did not want to discuss it. She knew it would make Nikolai angry.

“Regan, you danced so beautifully. Why do you cry?”

Regan shook her head. “Nik, it is nothing. Forget about it.”

He was not about to let it go. “Beloved, something has made you upset. Please tell me.”

Regan paused. “It will upset you. I do not wish to talk about it.”

“If it will stop your tears, please tell me. I promise not to be angry.”

With her back to him, she sighed. She thought about what her next words might do to their wonderful evening. “Nik, drop it. I do not wish to talk about it.”

“Your tears, I did not cause them. What makes you cry?”

“Nik, please. Do not push this.”

Nikolai, moved close enough to touch her. He grabbed her, turned her around to face him, and asked, “What is it?” The passion behind the question made her give in. She did not want to tell him, but seeing the love in his eyes forced her to.

“Byron,” she said, almost in a whisper. “Thoughts of your brother make me cry. Now I have said it. Leave me alone, Nik.”

Nikolai was surprised, and wondered did she ever cry for him this way. Even though he was angry with her, he understood. Every now and then, he missed Angeline as well. Nikolai pulled her close and held her tight. “Let’s go home,” he said quietly.

Before Nikolai could let her go, three dark-skinned, well-dressed men approached them.

“Hey mister, let her go,” one of the gentleman ordered.

Nikolai continued to hold onto Regan. “Excuse me?” he asked in his British accent.

The stranger smiled and said, “Ah boys lookie here, we got ourselves an immigrant. What you doing up here? Ain’t you supposed to be in Brooklyn somewhere?”

“I do not want any problems. If you will please leave me and my wife alone, we will go.”

The man looked at his friends and then back to Nikolai. “Did you say your wife?”

“I did.”

The stranger looked at Regan. “She’s a pretty little thing. Is it true? Is he your husband?”

Nikolai already was angry, and this man was making his temperature rise even more. “Do not address her. If you have something else to say, you only will speak to me.”

“Listen here, immigrant. You are in my country now, and currently in my neighborhood. White men with black women ain’t common in Harlem, and they certainly are not welcome.”

“What is your point?”

“My point? We’re going to kick your ass, take your money, and your woman.”

Nikolai smiled, and let Regan go. “If you think you can do it, my good man, why don’t you give it a shot?”

The stranger looked at his friends, and they charged Nikolai. Three on one was going to be easy for them, or so they thought. They had no idea Nikolai wasn’t human.

Nikolai took out the two quiet men with speed and precision. The talker suddenly found himself in Nikolai’s grasp. What he saw scared him. Nikolai pulled the man close to his face, and showed off his pretty, white fangs. “What was that you were saying about my woman?”

The man’s eyes were as big as saucers. “What are you?” he asked, his voice trembling.

Nikolai raised him off the ground slightly. “I didn’t hear you. What about my woman?”

The man shook his head. “Nothing, nothing.”

Nikolai looked around to find a dark alley nearby. “Beloved, are you hungry?”

“Nik, we cannot feed here.”

“Feed?” The man asked while still in Nikolai’s grasp. “What are you?”

Nikolai looked at the man. “We are vampire. You are very fortune my wife is not hungry, or I would help her drain you dry. I suppose the next time you want to rob someone, you will be sure they are human.”

Nikolai put the man down, and let him go. The man ran for his life and didn’t look back. This little encounter with the strangers did nothing for Nikolai’s anger.

Nikolai took Regan by her hand and firmly said, “Let’s go.”

Nikolai was as angry as he’d been in a long time. He didn’t know why he couldn’t calm down. By the time they got home, he was still angry.

He sat down in the only chair they had, and put his hands in his face. Regan put their coats away, and knelt in front of him. She quietly reached out to touch his soft wavy hair, but he slapped her hand away.

“You are still angry with me,” Regan said.

“Yes, but not as angry about how we appear to other people. Because you are of darker skin, I cannot love you in this country. I do not understand that Regan, and it just pisses me off. Are we going to continue to go through this the rest of our lives?”

“I will quit my jobs, and we can return home if you like.”

“No. We cannot go home. We will just live with it for now until I think of something.”

“Nik, I do not like seeing you like this. Make love to me.”

Nikolai looked up at Regan with his sultry blue eyes, grabbed the back of her head, and forced her lips to his. The kiss was not his usual tender, ‘I love you’ kiss. This kiss was hard and rough. This kiss told her he was angry about her crying over his brother. Regan was trying to back away from him, when she fell to her back. This was Nikolai’s chance to take her right there on the floor. He didn’t bother peeling layers of clothing from her body. He ripped them off her. As she lay there in what was left of her dress, Nikolai removed his pants to his knees, raised Regan’s legs, and pushed into her hard. He filled her up as much as he could. Then when she began to cry from actual pain, Nikolai turned up his powers full blast. He hadn’t done that to a woman since Jayde. Not knowing how this was going to affect Regan, he pushed even harder and faster. When he was finished, he put his mouth to her neck and bit her. He tasted her blood, and finished his passion.

He looked down at Regan, and she was crying. Nikolai, now angry with himself for hurting her, pulled his pants to his waist, picked Regan up from the floor, and laid her in their bed. “I’m sorry beloved. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He kissed her on the forehead, went to the bathroom, washed his face, and headed for the door. “I will be back tomorrow night. And if everything goes the way I hope, we will have someplace else to live.”

Nikolai did not wait for her response. He slammed the door behind him, went down the stairs and right out of the front door. He stormed the streets still angry, daring anyone to bother him. By the time he finished walking, he found himself at Dimitri Cane’s front door.

He rang the bell, and to his surprise, the butler opened the door. “May I help you sir?”

“I am looking for Dimitri. Is he home?”

“The master is in the drawing room. I will tell him you are here. Might I have your name sir?”

“Nikolai. Nikolai Thorn.”

“I will announce you, Mr. Thorn. Please wait here.”

“Thank you.”

Moments later, Dimitri entered the foyer. “Nikolai, it’s good to see you. How have you been? Would you like a drink?”

“Hello, Dimitri. It is good to see you as well. I would like to speak with you. Is that all right?”

“As long as you don’t mind talking in front of my new girlfriend.”

Nikolai smiled. “You work fast.”

“I’m not accustomed to being alone. I must always have a woman. Come. Have a drink with us and I’ll introduce you.”

Dimitri put his hand on Nikolai’s back, and led him to the drawing room. There, Dimitri introduced Aubrey, a beauty of medium height with brown hair and green eyes. Aubrey was human, and obviously had no idea of what Dimitri really was.

“It’s nice to meet you Nikolai. Dimitri has told me you are an old friend of his from England.”

Nikolai smiled and lied. “Dimitri and I have known each other for ten years. We went to school together in Bristol.”

“How have you come to America?”

“Dimitri’s letters have brought me here. He told me this is a wonderful country. When I saved enough money, I made the trip myself. I’ve been here for two months, and will never go home, I am afraid.”

Aubrey also taken by Nikolai’s good looks had to ask. “Are you married, Nikolai?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact I am.”

“Where’s your wife? I would love to meet her.”

“We live in Brooklyn. She is tired from work, so she chose not to come with me this time.”

Aubrey smiled. “Oh that is too bad. Perhaps I’ll meet her the next time you come for a visit.”

“Perhaps.”

Dimitri handed Nikolai his drink and sat down. “Nikolai, please sit and tell me what brings you to my house.”

Nikolai sat down in the chair opposite the loveseat. “Regan and I went to The Cotton tonight.”

Aubrey had not been to the newest club and was excited to hear all about it. “The Cotton? Tell me, did you enjoy yourself? What was it like? I’m a lover of jazz. I heard a fairly new band leader was playing tonight. Was he good?”

Nikolai was taken aback by all of her questions, but answered every one. “Yes I enjoyed myself. It is a wonderful club, with a nice atmosphere. The band was fantastic. However, I will not be going back.”

Dimitri tilted his head sideways. “Not going back? Why not?”

“When Regan, that is my wife, when we left, someone tried to rob us.”

Dimitri and Aubrey were surprised. “What happened?” They asked in unison.

“The both of us are fine. I managed to scare them off. Dimitri, I must ask you a question.”

“What is it my friend?”

“What is so wrong with a white man being with a woman who is different from him? In this country I have gotten nothing but trouble from people who meet us.”

Aubrey looked at Nikolai. “Your wife is negro?”

“If you mean, dark skinned, then, yes.”

Aubrey stood up. “It was nice to meet you Nikolai,” she said leaving the room.

Nikolai looked at Dimitri. “This is exactly the kind of thing I am speaking about.”

Dimitri got up and closed the drawing room door. “I’m sorry, Nikolai, I had no idea she was like that. She’ll either be turned or gone the next time you visit.”

“She doesn’t know what you are?” Nikolai asked, confused.

Dimitri took a sip of his drink. “No. I have been pretending to be human for quite sometime. I’ve gotten good at it. So tell me what really brings you to see me?”

Nikolai paused for a moment and then said, “When I ran from my home to be with the woman I love, I had no idea this type of prejudice even existed or I would have stayed and faced the consequences.

“Where I’m from, a vampire is a vampire no matter the skin color. I have done some thinking, and I wish to join your clan. Have you spoken to your master yet?”

“As a matter of fact I did. He would like to meet both you and Regan.”

“When?”

“As soon as you have time.”

“I would like to move away from Brooklyn as soon as possible. Regan and I previously lived privileged lives. We had daily chores of course, but we did not want for anything.”

“Being the great-grandson to the king, I understand why you didn’t. If you wish to leave Brooklyn, I can offer you and Regan temporary residence here. If accepted into our clan, my master will get you a place of your own. We’re the Upper Eastside Vampires. All of us live well, and take care of one another. I personally think you’ll fit in just fine.”

“Thank you, Dimitri.”

Dimitri looked at his watch and realized the sun would be up soon. “Since you’re not a Daywalker, and won’t make it back to Brooklyn before sunrise, I have two spare bedrooms. You are welcome to either one.”

“What about Aubrey?”

“She doesn’t live here with me. Before you arrived, we just got in from a night on the town. I was about to get her drunk, and lay with her. Since you’ll be here, I’ll send her home.”

“You don’t have to do that on my account.”

Dimitri smiled. “My friend, I am a monster in bed, and Aubrey is a screamer.”

Nikolai chuckled. “Point taken.”

“Up the stairs, down the hall to the right, you will find my two spare bedrooms. Both are equally comfortable. I’ll see you when you wake. I’m going to have a conversation with Aubrey before I send her home.”

“Thank you, my friend.”

Dimitri went upstairs and found Aubrey already in the bed waiting for him. He smiled. “Ah my dear, you look beautiful laying there under the sheets, but I’m sorry, I have to ask you to go home.”

“Why?”

“Nikolai is going to stay here for the night, and I don’t want him to hear us making love. You can’t be quiet to save your life.”

Aubrey smiled. “It can’t be helped. You’re a good lover.”

“Thank you, my dear. Come on get up. I’ll have my butler take you home.”

Aubrey paused for a moment, and the ends of her mouth curved slightly towards the ground. “You’re sending me away because of the way I acted towards your friend.”

Dimitri began to walk the room. “You heard him say he didn’t understand, yet you showed a side of yourself I didn’t even know existed.”

“I could’ve said what was going on in my head, but I didn’t want to disrespect you, so I said goodnight, and left the room.”

Dimitri stopped pacing and looked at the gorgeous woman in his bed. “Aubrey, can you answer a question for me?”

“Yes, Dimitri, sure.”

“Why are you with me?”

“There are several reasons. You’re handsome, rich, and you are a good lover. You also know many things, and can teach me.”

“Is that all you care about? I mean, we’ve been together for a month and a half, and you never once asked how I got to be a wealthy man.”

“Honestly, Dimitri, I don’t care how you got your money. All that matters is that we’re together.”

Dimitri paused for a moment, and took a sip of the drink he still held in his hands. “Do you love me?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Just answer the question.”

“It is too early in our relationship for me to know that.”

“Very well then, do as I ask. Get up out of my bed, get dressed and go home. I’ll see you another day.”

Aubrey looked Dimitri in his eyes. “You’re dumping me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Three reasons. You’re materialistic, superficial and prejudice. I don’t want a woman like you. I’m looking for a wife, and simply put, you don’t measure up to my standards. Now if you want a ride home, I suggest you go now.”

Aubrey glared at Dimitri with as much hate as she could muster. “No thanks. I’ll take a taxi,” she said getting out of the bed.

Dimitri left the room to allow her time to get dressed. When the door opened, he grabbed her, pulled her close, and kissed her deeply. “Goodbye, Aubrey.”

She pulled away from him, walked down the stairs, out of the front door and out of his life. Dimitri decided that out of boredom, he would sleep.

 

The following evening, Nikolai woke, pulled on his pants, and went downstairs to find Dimitri reading by the fireplace.

“Good evening, Dimitri.”

“Ah, Nikolai. Did you rest well?”

“I did, thank you.”

“Have a seat. I wish to discuss some things with you.”

“What is it?”

“Before you meet my master, I need to know a bit more about you myself. If you’re not ready to tell me, then you won’t be ready to meet my master. He’s…inquisitive.”

“Well, what do you want to know?”

“Explain Regan to me. How is it that she is by your side?”

Nikolai paused. “I stole her away from my brother.”

“That’s why you ran.”

“Amongst other things.”

“Tell me.”

“I am the oldest of four sons. My three younger brothers are Kristopher, Lucas, and Byron. I love all of my brothers very much, and miss them dearly.

“Kristopher killed himself for the love of his woman. Lucas, well, Lucas and I did not get along for a time. He did things against our family, and my father disowned him. Not long after that, the king arrested him for criminal mischief. His punishment was to become a mad man.”

“How does one become mad?”

“He was bitten by one who is mad. When I saw him again, his new master was abusing him, and he asked me to kill him, so I did. He is at peace now.”

“Regan was your youngest brother’s woman, am I correct?”

“Yes. When she came to us six years ago, she was human. Byron fell in love with her when he was only sixteen. When he brought her home, I loved her on sight. I kept this a secret, even to myself, until she was turned. By that time, I was a married man myself. I married my childhood sweetheart, and thought nothing could get in the way of my love for her.

“One day, I approached Regan and told her how I felt about her. She kept pushing me away, but I did not give up.”

“I’m confused. If you already were married to the love of your life, why did you keep after Regan?”

Nikolai shook his head. “To this day, I don’t know. When I finally made love to Regan, it was the sweetest moment of my life. I couldn’t give her up after that. She had a little taste of me, and she loved me as well. However, she still married my brother. After they married, they moved away.”

“That must’ve broken your heart.”

“Dimitri, I was so heartbroken, I became angry with her for leaving me. She tried many times to write to me and tell me how much she loved me, but I rejected her time and time again.”

“When did you give in?”

“Every time I saw her, my heart ached. I yearned to touch her. I wanted to make love to her so badly; I couldn’t take not being without her any longer. Therefore, when I went to the castle to kill my brother, I had already planned for one of two things to happen. Be found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death, or I could take Regan, and run. I didn’t get caught, and here we are.”

“That’s an incredible story. What do you think has happened to your family since you’ve been gone?”

“The only one that really matters to me is my mother. She is, I’m certain having a rough time, but it couldn’t be helped. I had to be happy, and running was the only way.”

“Well, if you’re accepted into my clan, you’ll have a new family, and you’ll not have to worry about the prejudices of the silly human race any more. You’ll once again belong to the vampire race, the superior race.

“Now, go collect your woman and your things. I’ll go see my master and let him know you will come to see him in a few days.”

“I appreciate this Dimitri, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

 

Nikolai put the rest of his clothes on and made his way home. When he walked in the door, he found Regan feeding on someone she’d lured to the tiny apartment. Although she heard him come in, she didn’t stop, and Nikolai didn’t disturb her. He went to take a shower and change his clothes. When he was finished, so was Regan. She already had disposed the body, and was sitting in the chair waiting for her turn to shower.

Nikolai stepped out of the bathroom, into their bedroom, and waited for her to scold him. Regan said nothing. She simply got up and attempted to walk past him. Nikolai grabbed her by the arm.

Regan looked up at Nikolai. “Let me go,” she said angrily.

Nikolai let her arm go as she requested, and waited until she was finished. He knew she was extremely angry with him, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle.

Regan stepped from the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around her. She went to their dresser to get some clean underwear. Nikolai thought he would attempt to apologize. “Regan-”

Regan did not let him finish his sentence. “How dare you do that to me,” she said, still very angry. “I asked you to make love to me Nik. Instead, you fucked me like a common whore. Then you leave me to hunt alone.”

“Beloved, I am sorry. I was angry about the way we have been treated.”

“What did you expect Nik? We are not at home, surrounded by people who know us. You no longer are favored amongst people, because to these people, you are just an ordinary man.”

Nikolai glared at her, and wanted to be angry with her, but she was right. “We are moving.”

Regan stopped getting dressed. “Where? We will not be accepted anywhere else.”

“I went to see Dimitri. We are going to live with him temporarily.”

“Oh Nik, why?” Regan asked, rolling her eyes. “You know he gives me the willies.”

“Would you rather be an outcast for the rest of your life or would you like to belong somewhere again? Personally, I choose the latter. Now pack your things, we are leaving tonight.”

“I don’t have a say in this?”

“No. No you don’t. I love you, I know you love me, and we are in this together. I will never let anyone harm you Regan. You know that. But I will not fight with these silly lowlife humans over something as simple as the color of your skin. Now get dressed and get packed.”

“And if I do not wish to go?”

“I will leave you here if that really is your choice. What will it be? I need your answer now.”

Regan looked up at Nikolai. “I will go with you, but know this. I love you very, very much, but right now, I don’t like you.”

“You are trying to hurt me.”

“No, Nik, I am not trying to hurt you. I am just telling you the truth.”

 

Three hours later, they made their way back to Dimitri’s house to find he was not at home. John, his butler, opened the door.

“It is a pleasure to see you again so soon, Mr. Thorn. The master isn’t at home, but he told me I was to take care of you upon your return. Please leave your things here, and I’ll take care of them. Let me show you to the drawing room. He’ll be back shortly.”

“Thank you.”

 

They stepped into Dimitri’s house and Regan was amazed with the cleanliness and all of the fine things. Everything was in its place and she suddenly felt as if she had lived a lie the two months she had been in America. Even though she was not comfortable around Dimitri, she felt at home in his house.

Nikolai saw the relaxed look in her eyes and could tell she felt better. This made him happy. As they went into the drawing room, Nikolai sat, and Regan walked around the room admiring all of Dimitri’s things.

“Do not touch anything, beloved.”

“Relax. I am not going to break anything, Nik.”

“To ensure this, do not touch anything.”

Nikolai watched her as she admired the room. He thought that for the first time in two months, he had done right by her. “Do you like this house?”

Regan nodded. “I do. Who knew Dimitri lived like this. Who knew he is just as we once were.”

“And will be again beloved, if you trust me.”

Regan continued to walk around the room. “Nik, forgive me. I am sorry for my ugly attitude these past months.”

“Does this mean that you can live here with Dimitri?”

Regan nodded. “Yes.”

Nikolai stood up. “Beloved, come here.” Regan walked towards Nikolai. When she reached him, he pulled her close with one hand, and gently stroked her cheek with the other. “I chose you over Angeline. One, who you said, I would love for the rest of my life. You were wrong, and so was I. It seems the maker put Angeline before me as a test. Could I love one woman all my life, even though a temptation as beautiful as you was in front of me? My conclusion is no. I don’t believe I was supposed to love her at all. I believe, and have believed since I fell in love with you, that you are my life, not her.”

“I think I was crying about Byron the other night because I felt guilty.”

“Guilty?”

“I feel the same as you. I now believe I met Byron so he could bring me closer to you. It is not fair to him that I lived a lie for so long. Your brother is a good man. He will make his true mate very happy one day.”

“So are we agreed? This will be the last time either one of us speak about our former mates.”

“Unless someone else asks, yes.”

“Will we love each other unconditionally?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Beloved, I am so very sorry I used my powers on you like that. I will never do it again. It was cruel to punish you. Will you ever forgive me?”

Regan smiled. “Eventually.”

Nikolai pulled her close and kissed her with all the love he felt for her. As they kissed, Dimitri walked into the room.

“Well, it seems I might have to get myself a woman to keep around here if the two of you are going to be so affectionate all of the time.”

Nikolai gently broke off the kiss, and looked up. “Dimitri. We didn’t hear you come in.”

Dimitri smiled. “Obviously. It is good to see you Regan. How have you been?”

Regan searched for the usual uncomfortable feeling she would get from him to find it was not there. Whatever was bothering her about him must have stemmed from the fact that she had no idea how he lived. In Regan’s mind, for all she knew, he could have been a thief out to kill her precious Nikolai, and constantly rape her. But when she saw that he was not what she originally thought, her tension about was gone. “I am fine. You have a beautiful home.”

“Thank you, my dear. However, it’s now your home as well. My master is anxious to meet you, and wishes to see you tomorrow. He told me he will allow you to settle in before you and Nikolai join us for a drink.”

“Will the entire clan be there?” Nikolai asked.

Dimitri shook his head. “No. It will only be six of us.”

“Six?”

“My master and his woman, Regan and yourself, me and whomever I choose to bring.”

Nikolai looked down at Regan. “Finally, somewhere to call home, beloved.”

Regan smiled at Nikolai and agreed with him.

 

~~~