We managed to get back to the US without a problem. We had a change of clothing and documents waiting for us on the sail boat where it made it easier to get to the airport in Rome and then England.
There were few choices for us to make once we arrived at the airport to purchase tickets so I chose the familiar.
Sebastian had made arrangements for two people. Those two were me and him. But now it was Terry and I, and Terry enjoying her new found status as half vampire and half human couldn’t wait to be changed into the status of full time vampire, which would come later because it was her job now to protect me. Sebastian had confidence in Terry. More than I had.
After a long ride we arrived in Seattle. Not knowing what to do next and where to go, we stood looking at each other.
“I guess we should get a cab,” I said.
“Where are we going?”
“To a hotel. Sebastian said go where no one could find us,” I said to Terry not knowing if this was the right thing to do. We entered the cab and asked for the best hotel in Seattle and the cabbie dropped us off at the Four Seasons Hotel on Union Street in downtown Seattle.
When we arrived there, “Now what,” Terry asked.
“I’ve always wanted to stay here and now we get some sleep and have something to eat. The jet lag is draining.” But what I didn’t realize, Terry’s eating habits had changed. As we settled into a suite on the twenty-third floor, I immediately called for room service.
“What are you having, Terry?” she glanced up at me from the chair she plopped down in.
“I thought I’d have that guy at the front desk,” she said with a sly grin.
“What the fuck are you talking about? You can’t go around picking up a man and then feed on him.”
“So what’s the big deal?”
“What’s the big deal?” My voice raised to a ten on the panic scale. “We’re talking about people. Just because you made this choice to become one of the undead they didn’t choose this. Did you at least check to see what you could eat? You can’t go roaming the streets and biting people and sucking out their blood.”
I hoped with that sermon I had gotten to her, but then again she had always been stubborn.
Terry slumped in the chair facing the Seattle skyline. She lowered her head to sulk, “Then what the fuck good is it being an immortal?”
“It’s not good at all. And you’re not really that. You’re somewhere in between. Until Sebastian sees you again, you will have to settle for what you have now,” I said.
In a huff Terry gritted her teeth and crossed her arms and her shoulders slumped forward. Her mood changed. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth curled downward.
“Then I rather be dead.”
“Don’t say that. Sebastian feeds on animals. Maybe you could go out and find an unsuspecting little animal to suck dry.” I said that as a joke because I didn’t want to think about that. Finally the thought of becoming an immortal didn’t quite please me. There would be consequences that I hadn’t thought about, like killing helpless animals.
It had all sound so romantic, the vampire thing, but now the reality had hit me square in the face and I had woken up to the horrible idea of it all.
Terry glanced up at me with her big brown eyes. At least that was an idea bad as it were, and I had run out of ideas.
“What would you suggest?” She asked.
“How would I know? I have enough trying to stay alive. I don’t have time to think for you, too.” I had raised my voice at Terry. I didn’t like doing that and I had used the F word which I promised Sebastian that I would curtail. But it’s hard trying to be something you’re not and Terry can attest to that. She was just trying to get used to a life she hadn’t anticipated or wanted. I couldn’t blame her because the blame lay with me.
It was because of me that she found herself among the undead. She’s in the middle of living and dying, and until Sebastian takes her over to the other side she is teetering between being human and not being human.
All this is becoming painfully aware with her and I can’t do anything to help. Hell I can’t help myself. Terry sat crying and I looked over at her. She didn’t know what to do. This was new to her. No one had told her what’s expected of a vampire. Well not a full vampire.
“I tell you what, Terry,” I walked over and touched her on the shoulder, “we can go visit my father and along the way we can stop at a butcher or pet shop and let you choose your dinner.”
“Do you hear yourself? How can I go into a pet shop and choose one of those innocently little creatures?”
“I was just making a suggestion for fuck sake.” There I go again. This whole thing was getting on my nerves too. She looked up at me as if I had given her an idea and thank goodness for small favors.
“There must be some wild animals in the park or at the zoo,” she said smiling, “I would be doing a mercy killing if I stalked one of them. Like that we would both benefit by it. I would get to feed and they would be put out of their misery. Animals shouldn’t be in a cage.”
Her eyes brighten at the thought. She calmed and took a large breath. I guess there’s nothing more comforting than to know that there is food. It is something we have to do every day to survive.
Then I realized; what was so repulsive for me to watch Sebastian feeding on that human, wasn’t so repulsive after all. He was only doing what was natural and that was to eat.
Under those conditions I would have done the same. He must have been very hungry to do such a thing. I forgive him, but now it’s too late to tell him. I will never see him again. But then he has to see Terry and then I will get my chance to tell him how I feel about him.
“After we visit my father, then we’ll go to the zoo,” I said.
“How about we go to the zoo first,” she said.
“Then we’re going to need a car. I have to call for a rental.”
Reaching for the phone on a nearby table I called the front desk and National rental brought over a car. I was informed that it would be waiting for us. When I had taken my shower, ordered new clothes and shoes from the boutique downstairs and ate it was dark and about eight pm.
Terry waited patiently through all of my rituals, and I could see her face turn pale as I walked into the living area.
As we stepped out of the elevator and walked into the lobby to go to the parking area where the rental company parked the car, Terry passed a man in his late twenties standing with a few of his friends.
“Terry?” She stopped. This guy was tall, muscular, and blond, but not like most of Terry’s boyfriends, but somewhat resembling Aare in build and looks. Maybe that’s what attracted her to Aare in the bar, I thought.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“Blake. How are you?” Terry smiled a wide friendly sexy smile.
“You look great,” he said initiating the hug, and he held her tight to him.
“I’m good,” she said pulling away from his embrace. “You’re looking great yourself,” she said her eyes beaming.
“Are you staying here?” She asked Blake.
“Yes, I am. Just checked in.” I stood around away from them because the last thing I wanted was an introduction. However, his friends were eyeing me as if I was a fresh cut steak.
“What do you say if we get together tonight? Say about eleven thirty. Have some drinks and talk over old times. You tell me what you’ve been up to, and I show you some of my trophies,” Blake said.
He smiled at Terry when he said show her his trophies. He did look like a jock. Blake looked pass Terry as if he wanted an introduction. But Terry knew better. The fewer people who knew where I was the better. In fact no one was to know. I thought I was being clever by going to a hotel where there wasn’t a chance to run into anyone.
“It’s a date,” she said. What I didn’t know was that they had a history together. But I would find that out later.
Walking to the car and getting in, I left Terry talking to Blake. They appeared to be very chummy. Finally Terry sauntered over to the car and climbed in.
“What was that about? He looks like a jock. I’ve never known you to date jocks. I thought you only date nerds and sometimes bad boys but not jocks.”
As Terry turned to me, I started the car and drove out the exit and into traffic.
“He is I mean he was a football star. We were in high school together. He was the quarterback in this small suburb of Denver, Colorado. Sharpstown.”
Her dark almond eyes opened wide, and she gave out a small happy moan with a small smile as if remembering her small town life growing up there. “And I was the head cheerleader on our squad,” she said proudly.
As I drove, Terry continued talking. She wasn’t one to hide her feelings like me. “I was in the eleventh grade and crazy about Blake. And I thought he felt the same way about me. We were the most beautiful couple in that school and in that town. It was only right that the quarterback and the head cheerleader should date.”
I watched as Terry’s eyes sparkled as she talked glowingly about Blake and then her voice and tone changed to something dark.
“Blake raped me on our first date. I was still a virgin.” Terry looked away as if it was too painful and I wouldn’t understand. “I was afraid to say anything to my parents. He told me that he wanted me too much and he couldn’t help himself. So I didn’t tell anyone and went out on another date with him, but this time he brought a friend with us to the movies, I don’t remember what we saw that night.” She glanced my way to see the expression on my face. I kept my eyes on the road and held my breath.
“After the movie was over, he took me to a spot in a park where all the high school kids would go to look at the lake and pitch rocks, or make out. I did wonder why he didn’t take his friend home, and after both of them raped me and sodomized me it wasn’t a question anymore.”
I watched at Terry as her face changed to a hard cold pale artificial stone like expression. She looked out as she continue to tell me all the unbelievable things she experienced at Blake’s hand. Maybe that’s why she was immodest and promiscuous when it came to men.
And I thought my life was shit. Mine was nothing compared to hers. I was too young to know that anything was wrong, and happily I soon forgot about my abduction and my parents. I was treated as if I was royalty. Everything was done for me and I guess you could say I was somewhat spoiled.
Everything I ever wanted was provided. I still don’t remember Sebastian’s mother and father, they were like a dream where you can’t quite make out the faces and the experiences you had when you wake up.
Terry’s confessions left me sick and exhausted but she felt better.
When I parked at the zoo, Terry had let go of those memories and her only concern I thought was that of her desire to feed. I sat in the car a mile from the front gate. That gate would have guards and with Terry’s new strength she was able to climb the wall without much trouble.
Sitting strumming my fingers on the dashboard, listening to soft music, and ducking when I saw a car for a half hour, finally she returned to the car. I took a look at her.
Terry was sweating and her sweater was stained with blood. “You will have to change.”
I couldn’t believe I had fallen into this kind of life, but then I had better get used to it if my best friend is to become a vampire, and the love of my life is a vampire. The only thing I knew and held on to is that sooner or later Sebastian would return if not for me, but to make Terry what he had promised.
“You can get some fresh clothes from my house. And please don’t hold a long conversation with my father and tell him something ridiculous like you were out hunting.”
“Why would I say that?”
“Because you are you, remember. You haven’t stopped being Terry just because you are becoming a vampire.”
“I guess you are right,” Terry said, “I do talk too much sometimes.”
“You think?” I said looking at her with a quick closed smile.