The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

I have no Choice

Ch 8

I was going to call my father today. I wondered what he would say to me. I was supposed to have been home a week ago. Javier had done as he had promised. He had backed off considerably. He was listening however on the other end. I heard it ring once, twice, then a voice, “Hello?” “Dad?” I whispered. “Brandy?! Where are you? School is starting soon.” “Daddy, please, listen! I’m not coming home. I’m in a very awkward place over here. Daddy I’ve fallen in love.” There was a long silence after I said this. “I can’t come home. I’m going to go to school here. A very private school I’ve been invited to join.” “How much is it?” “I’ve already taken care of that dad. Well I love you, but I have to go. I’ll call you some time soon, ok?” “I guess, but…” “Bye. I love you, daddy.” With that I hung up.

I started sobbing into my silver comforter. I heard Javier enter the room. He sat on my bed and pulled me close. “Brandy, you did the right thing. You had to let him go.” I pushed him away. “I can’t let him go!” I screamed. “He’s all I have left of my family. My mom is dead, and it is all LaTefia’s fault. I won’t let you take away my father!” I was shaking I was sobbing so hard. He grabbed for me again. I let him embrace me. “Ok, I won’t be the one to take him from you.” He promised into my hair. I hugged him. I was so glad that he wouldn’t make me hurt or hurt my father. I did know, however, that because I was destined to rule the world that others would try and kill him.

I lay back in Javier’s arms on my quilt. I didn’t want to think. I wanted to sleep, but vampires can’t sleep. The closest we’ve come is a dream like state. We’re not sleeping nor are we awake exactly. It was one of the many things I missed about being human.

I sighed aloud. Javier nuzzled my neck. He had become very restless lately. I think my blood had had an affect on him. I could tell he wanted to bite me again, but he didn’t want to hurt me. “Javier,” I whispered, “it’s alright. You can bite me. I don’t care if it hurts.” He looked up at me shock filling his eyes. “If you don’t care, I have to. I will not allow anyone or anything to hurt you, including myself.” “It won’t hurt me.” I insisted. I nuzzled his neck since he was convinced he wouldn’t bite me. I scraped my teeth seductively over his exposed neck. I looked up into his clouded eyes. “Bite me.” I whispered in his ear. He tried to fight it, but he was weak, and my blood was strong. He breathed on my neck before his teeth sank deep.

I held his head to me as if I was holding a new born baby, gently and comfortably. When he was done, his eyes were clouded. It was times like this that I know he wished he could still sleep. Well…. I thought. I can give him one gift. I used my growing power to send him into an actual sleep. Before he succumbed to sleep, I could see the shock and gratitude in his eyes.

When I knew he was sleeping, I snuck out of my room and closed the door quietly behind me. I stalked down the corridor towards the stairs. Someone was coming to the door. All the others were out. I practically flew to the door. If the person knocked loud enough Javier would wake from his spell induced sleep. I opened the door and saw a group of people at the door. “May I help you?” I asked sweetly. A man in his twenties stepped forward. “Yes, I believe you can. My name is Irvin. May we come in?” “I’m afraid my boyfriend is sleeping at the moment.” I replied just as sweetly as before. They were witches or had the blood in them. “Irvin,” came a familiar female voice, “let me handle this. Mahsa stepped forward. “Mahsa,” I said happily, “it has been a couple of days. How are you?” “I’m fine thank you. What has happened to you?” She asked in a horrified whisper. “Oh, that is right last time you saw me I was human.” I laughed. “Forgive my humor. I got turned into one of the bloodsuckers you hunt. How may I be of service to you?” She stared at me before saying, “You must come with me.”

“Why would I do that?” I asked perplexed. “You will be the ruler and must choose your closest circle carefully. I would hate for your closest circle to be full of …. them.” Her nose wrinkled in disgust as she said that. “What is wrong with them?” I asked heatedly. “N-Nothing,” she stammered, “I only meant that you should integrate some of us in there as well.” I glared at the group surrounding her when I noticed someone was missing. “Where is Christian?” I asked to no one in particular. A skittish looking girl in her teens answered, “He didn’t feel up to it. He just told me to tell you that he’s sorry.” I looked away. “Go. I’ll see you all at another time and place of my choosing.” With that I closed the door gently.

I thought about the taste of Christian and the last place that I had seen him. In the blink of an eye, I was in the same room where I had found sustenance when I had refused to take it from another female or vampire. He was no where in sight. I looked around the room. It was sparsely furnished. I walked towards what I assumed was a kitchen. I saw days’ worth of dishes. He was a poor house keeper, I thought absently to myself. It seemed like he hadn’t been home in a while. I touched his things hoping to find some insight as to where he would go. I saw glimpses of places. An airport, a cemetery, and Javier’s house.

He was heading over to my home. Why? I had to get there before him. I looked out the window that I had hastily excited through what seemed ages ago. There was a man in the street staring at the window I was looking out of. He smiled up at me and waved as if he had known me all my life. He was not a witch or a vampire, but he had strength. He jumped up to the window which was on the second floor and slid through the open window. “Who are you?” I asked making my voice emotionless. “I am what you would call a shape shifter. My favorite form is that of the wolf.” He answered quickly. “That is not what I meant, but it is good to know. What is your name?” “Aw, my name. That would be Stephen. You are Brandy, right?” I nodded my head. I could not get this guy. I could not read his mind which was a problem.

“What can I do for you, Stephen?” I asked all business. He looked at the room he was in then back at me. “Well, you are to be the ruler of all that is unnatural.” He had an accent. It sounded Romanian. “I would like to get to know you and maybe be accepted into your inner circle.” “Where are you from?” I asked taking control of the conversation. He grinned an incredibly wolfish smile, “As you can tell from my accent, I am from Romania. I came for the event of a lifetime.”

I heard the sound of someone coming up the stairs and unlocking the door. Stephen heard it too. “We will be watching you, your highness.” I saw him shed his skin and bound out the window in the fur of a wolf. A couple of things happened at the same time. I gasped, Christian walked in, and I heard Stephen howl. “Brandy, did you get my message?” He asked a little edgy. I nodded. He watched me as I walked over to him. “I truly am sorry about what happened. I thought that I could take your blood and not be affected by your memories, your thoughts, your mind. I didn’t want to remember our childhood together, but when I bit you, it all came roaring back. The only difference was I saw it through your eyes. You’ve loved me for a while.”

He sat on the couch stunned by my revelation. I heard what was going through his head. She knows. After all these years, she finally knows. She has a horrible task ahead of her. I know a wolf had been in here. Damn! There are so many people vying for her attention. Javier, Tari, Stephen (for it could only have been him), and not to mention me. I withdrew from his mind. Not wanting to feel like even more of an intruder than I already did. I sat next to him on the couch. I could hear his heartbeat accelerate. I chuckled under my breath. I scooted closer and his heart beat faster and faster as I got closer and closer. He blushed knowing very well that I could hear his heart accelerating. I leaned my head down to his and gently touched my cold lips to his incredibly warm ones.

He grasped my head in his hands to attempt to hold me. I let him hold me against him. He seemed to really need the closeness, even if I wasn’t human. He came up for air, and I took the opportunity to move. He moaned as I moved out of his lap, which is where I had ended up. He raked a hand through his tousled hair. “I’m sorry Brandy. I couldn’t stop myself.” I looked into his beautiful green eyes, “You’re only human.” was my reply. He looked shocked at my words, and I wish that I could have taken them back. “Is that all I am to you?” he asked unable to conceal the hurt in his voice. “No,” I whispered, “you’re much more than that to me.” With that I turned my back on him and started for the door. The door slammed in my face and would not open for me. I felt

Christian’s breath on the back of my neck. “Let me out, Christian. I don’t want to hurt you.” His hands circled me from behind. “Brandy, I’m a witch too. I can tell that you’re hungry. Will you let me feed you?” he asked his mouth moving up my neck.

“I don’t want to use you like that.” I turned around in his arms. His pulse was good and strong. I moaned. I didn’t want to see into his mind or heart anymore than I already had. I could feel my teeth lengthening in my mouth. “No.” I groaned as my head involuntarily lowered to his neck. “Yes.” He whispered quietly yet fiercely. As my teeth pierced the soft flesh of his throat, a wave of love hit me like a tidal wave. I tore myself away. I couldn’t take it I had to get away from him before the love he felt for me smothered me. “I can not.” I cried as I flung myself from his window.

I ran straight into Stephen. He had been listening to the whole thing. He seemed very happy about the obvious tension between Christian and I. I snarled at him and he morphed back into human form. He caught my hands and held them behind my back. “Brandy,” he whispered, “stop fighting me. Someone else is here. They’ve been watching you the whole time.” I grew still in his arms. “You know,” he joked, “I like you from this vantage point. You know when I’m in charge.” He grinned a wolfish smile down at me.

“I don’t know you that well,” I whispered vehemently. He kissed me on the mouth just to get me to shut up. I squealed in protest. I knew who was watching me. It was a presence that I knew all too well, Tari. I spoke through my mind to him, Why are you spying on me? I heard his chuckle in my mind. What else is there to do on an evening such as this when there is a blood ring around the moon? I looked up at his words. Sure enough the moon had risen and there was a ring of red around it.

I’m sure most of you know what it is like to have a guardian angel. But have you ever had a guardian vampire? I’m sure a lot of you don’t believe in vampires or the undead, but was I asking you to believe? No. All I want is for my story to be heard and here it is.





I’ve had one, ever since I was 10. I lived in a pretty town back then. You know the type, where everyone knows everyone else. I had just been at the mall at the pet store where I spent a lot of my time. I loved animals, but my mom was allergic to dogs. I always had to go straight to the bathroom whenever I got home to take of my clothes.

It had been getting dark. Like most ten year olds I was still just a little afraid of the dark. I remember hearing a noise. I ran of course. Who knew what type of boogeyman could have been after me. I ran for so long that I got turned around and didn’t know where I was. I turned down what I had thought was a street being so scared that I didn’t realize it had been an alley. About half way down the alley someone stepped out of the shadows. He looked to be about my age. He had been scary looking.. I could have sworn that I saw his eyes glowing in the dark, but then again I had been a scared 10 year old with a very active imagination. “What’s the likes of you doing down this way?” The boy asked. “I got scared. I thought someone was chasing me.” I whispered meekly. “Ptth. Figures. You probably have a nightlight at home.” He snickered at his own joke. “The name is Morgead. Who are you?” “My name is…. I’m not allowed to talk to strangers.” I said decisively turning around. “That’s a funny name. By the looks of you, you look to be about 10. Am I right?” “Yes, how did you know?” He shrugged his shoulders. I stared at this boy who seemed older than he really was. He had a dangerous air about him, and I really needed to get home. “Well it was nice to meet you Morgead. But I really must be going.” With that I turned to leave. He grabbed my arm with surprising strength. “Don’t I get a name?” He asked earnestly. “Ummm my name? It’s Brandy.” With that he let me go and I scurried away. That night I dreamed of the little street urchin. I’ve met him several times since then.



When I turned 16, my parents got a divorce. I ended spending my summers in L.A. with my mom. The winters were spent in Pasadena with my dad. He was a real big shot at JPL. I saw Morgead a lot over the summers. It seemed he knew exactly where I’d be and at what time.



One summer I had been staying with my mom when she got very ill. I stayed at the house all by myself. I heard rustling in the bushes under my window and almost called the police. But I heard a voice softly call out my name. “Brandy?” He had whispered so softly. “Who is it?” My voice trembled despite myself. I heard a dark chuckle. “It’s me. Morgead.” I looked out my window and there he was standing in the moonlight. His hair was still a little too long, his eyes still a beautiful green; he was still handsome. I heard myself sigh. Before I knew it he was up the tree staring into my eyes. “Brandy,” he breathed, “will you come with me for a while? Your mom won’t be home for a long time.” I nodded absentmindedly. All I could see was his big green eyes. They were so starved for companionship. I grabbed my sweater and ran out the front doors and right in to him. “Oh I’m so sorry.” I began to apologize. “Don’t be.” He whispered in the silent way that was only his. I blushed for seemingly no reason at all. “Is this like a date?” I blurted before I could think of the words. His face split into a breathtaking half smile. “You could call it that, but don’t worry I’ll protect you.” I walked down my sidewalk towards the street. “How did you get here anyway?” I asked. He pointed with his index finger at a black Harley. I had never been allowed near one. My parents actually agreed on how dangerous they were. He handed me the only helmet. “Wait if you don’t have a helmet, won’t you get hurt?” I asked not wanting to risk one of my only friends. “Of course not,” He snickered. “Hold on tight,” He warned as we speed off. We had gone to a park and walked around for a while. Towards the end of our stroll around the park, he kissed me. I had been expecting it, but I had not been ready for it. It was as soft as his voice. I remember him kissing me on the neck and waking up hours later in my bed. I was mortified by the fact that I didn’t remember if he had left or not.



It has been a long time since I have seen him. I’ll be 21 on the 31st of October. I can’t believe how normal it feels. I go to the University of Science and Art in Chickasha, OK. I work at a McDonalds. I have my own apartment and a black kitten named Morgead after my friend. I’m dating a guy named Justin. He also happens to be a bouncer at this club that I’m going to start working at. I was going to the same club for my birthday. I arrived at the club and looked it over the day of my Birthday. The club was called Hot Blooded and seeing how it was Halloween, there was to be a costume contest tonight. I was going as a vampiress. I had my Elvira dress and black ballet slippers. I had my blond hair teased up in a fancy design. I knew I looked good. I got to the bar and ordered my first alcoholic drink ever. It was a Vampire’s Kiss. I found out that they needed me to start right away. I actually worked that night. It was the first night I had seen Morgead in a while. He came up to the bar looking like he was a little lost.



“May I get you a drink?” I asked not realizing who it was. “Sure, Brandy. I’ll have a Brandy.” I looked closer at him. “Oh my god,” I gasped as I realized who it was, “how did you find me?” He leaned across the bar to trace a finger up my neck. “I could find you anywhere.” “Are you going to get a drink?” I asked still a bit shaken. “No, what I want doesn’t come in a bottle with your name on it.” I looked over at Justin briefly. He was watching the exchange between Morgead and me. I saw him start making his way towards us. “Listen,” I whispered hurriedly, “that bouncer coming towards us is my boyfriend. I do not want you to get hurt because of me. So do us both a favor and go.” “Not until you agree to meet me. At the place and time of my choosing.” I sighed, “I do not know you well enough. What we had as kids was great fun, but I’m an adult now.” “So am I!” He whispered back fiercely. “Say you’ll meet me or something bad will happen to Justin. You know I can do it. All these years and you still haven’t guessed who or what I am.” At that moment I could see Justin coming up behind Morgead. “Ok when and where.” “One a.m., the cemetery closest to your house. See you then.” He slipped away from the counter and disappeared in the crowd just before Justin reached him. “Uh honey, I think I might be coming down with something. Could I go home?” He looked at my pale face and shaking hands and nodded. “Yeah I’ll talk to the boss for you. Be careful walking home.” “I’ll try to,” I muttered knowing how useless that would be. Morgead had been right. I had always suspected him of being something else. I had thought up some pretty crazy things, but what was running through my head was crazier than anything. Could he be a vampire?



At one that morning I found myself standing besides the Memorial Cemetery on Main St. I was hesitant to go inside. I however didn’t have a choice, for Morgead appeared behind me and led me into the cemetery. “So have you figured out who I am?” He asked against my neck. I nodded. He chuckled darkly as his lips found the base of my skull traveling the length of my neck. “What did you want?” I implored.He didn’t answer at first merely kissed me. I wriggled around until he had to realize that I was trying to escape. He let go of me abruptly. I stumbled and almost fell onto a grave.

“Why are you so frightened of me?” He asked incredulously. I stared at him in utter disbelief. “You have to ask. Now, tell me, what do you want?” He stared at me in silence for a while. I leaned against the nearest grave stone. He stalked silently over to me. “Brandy, you don’t know what it has been like. I’ve hunted down and killed every man who has ever had an indecent thought about you. Ever since I met you that first night, I had the impression that we had been made for each other. When you were 16, I tried to change you, but I didn’t have the heart.” He laughed as if he had just said the funniest thing in the world.

I stood there shivering convulsively. It was really cold outside but that wasn’t the reason for the chills racing up and down my spine. Morgead however thought I was cold and handed me his leather jacket. I put it on grateful for something to do. I started to move ever so subtle away from the grave stone and Morgead. When I turned to try and run, he was there in my path. “I can read your mind, Brandy. I can read all humans’ minds. I knew exactly what your ‘boyfriend’ was thinking when he saw us talking. I knew what all the mortal girls were thinking when I walked past them. I know how utterly horrified you are right now.” “I’ll leave him,” I blurted, “just don’t hurt anyone. I couldn’t bear it if you hurt someone because of me.”

“Do you love me?” He whispered so quietly that I couldn’t be sure that I’d heard him right. When I didn’t say anything, he said, “Well?” I backed away from him and into a headstone. I was trapped. He advanced on me. When he had me pinned against the headstone, he asked me again, “Do you love me?” I didn’t answer, couldn’t. I could barely breathe with him so close. I stared panic stricken into his glowing green eyes. “I don’t know.” I whispered barely audible to myself. “Allow me to refresh your memory.” He whispered seductively, an enchanter’s spell. He put his hand on the nape of my neck and lowered his head to mine. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the flash of a camera phone.



Morgead walked me home at four in the morning. I was positively mortified with myself. I had actually enjoyed walking around the cemetery with him and talking. He told me all about his home country. He is originally from Romania. He can be whatever age he wants. He told me how when he had seen a frightened young girl running down the alley that he had changed into a little boy. It made me blush, how much I realized that I loved him. Sure it was scary and a little more than odd, but I did. I had promised to meet him the next night. He had a surprise for me. Yeah, I was a little nervous, but I don’t know something just felt right being with him. If you believe in all of that soul mate nonsense, you would know what I was talking about.

I went to work at McDonalds. I was only a little tired from my date last night. I was never going to tell Justin about last night. I would just have to break up with him for his own good. “Welcome to McDonalds. May I take your order?” I asked too cheerfully over the intercom. “Yes, I’d like a cheater to go please.” said the customer. “Excuse me?” I asked. The voice sounded again, “I know what you did last night with that guy in the cemetery. I hope that Justin doesn’t find out.” I called the manager over. “Mam, there is a woman on here harassing me.” “I’m sorry there is really nothing I can do.” She walked away to make sure the newbies were taking down orders correctly. “You better stay away from me.” I threatened quietly. “Oh it isn’t you I’m after. It’s Justin.” “Fine. You can have him.” There was a pause on the other end as if the person had to think it over. “Well maybe I want this new stranger. After all he does seem more my type than yours. Wasn’t he wearing leather and all black? Yeah, he is definitely my type, so give him up or I show Justin the pictures of you two making out.” I laughed this time.

“Have you looked at these pictures, Amber?” “Well no. Why do you ask?” “Look at ‘em, you’ll see what I mean.” I turned to take a different order. I heard a definite shriek from the drive through area and smiled to myself. Having a boyfriend who doesn’t appear in pictures could actually work to my advantage.

That night I had to go break up with Justin. I had been going over what I would say to him in my head all afternoon. I got there, and it seemed like he knew what was going to happen already. “You’re dumping me, aren’t you?” I sighed nodding. “Well, I guess I was expecting it after seeing you with that guy in the club last night, but maybe I don’t want to break up with you. We belong together. I refuse to break up with you!” “Now stop it.” I said as if scolding a five year old. “You are sounding very childish right now. I figured you’d take this more gracefully, but I suppose it is never easy for a jock to be dumped. Now this is what is going to happen. I’m going out tonight with my new boyfriend. I will not work here. We can still be friends, but you will not harass me. Am I understood?” “I understand you’re giving me the crap end of the stick.” He said walking away. “Don’t make this harder than it already is, Justin.” He whirled around, “If it is so hard than don’t do it.” He begged. I turned away from his pleading face knowing I was saving him a great deal of hurt. I could hear the sound of him crying in the empty bar. That sound will haunt me forever.

There were a lot of smashed pumpkins in the road seeing that yesterday was Halloween. Morgead was going to meet me at my apartment later, and we were going to go out. He wasn’t telling me where we were going, but I had a feeling it was out of town. He showed up after all of the light had fled from the sky. I recognized the same black Harley as before. He read my thoughts and tried to reenact the scene. It was funny watching him try and look like a 16 year old again. It made me remember how he had bitten me though. Before we started off, I asked him, “When you said you could find me anywhere is it because you have some of my blood in you? Will I become like you?” He didn’t answer me however, and started the bike. I was tempted to let go of him and jump of the back. But he read my thoughts and clamped down on my arms. “Do you want to hurt yourself?” He demanded. I shook my head no.



We showed up in a big town. Well bigger than Chickasha anyway. We stopped the bike by some apartments. “Do you live here?” I asked quietly. He shook his head no. “Why are we here?” He thought a moment and then replied, “I want you to meet my mom.” I stared at him incredulously. He was hundreds of years old. How was his mom still alive. Reading the question in my eyes or maybe my head he responded, “She took care of me. When I found you when you were 10 I had to keep up the appearance of a normal person. She helped me do that.” I couldn’t help myself and had to ask, “Is she a vampire too?” he chuckled probably thinking I was jealous and maybe I was just a little bit. “No, she is just as human as you. Would you change for me?” the question caught me off guard. “What??” I spluttered.

“Never mind. Mom, I’m home, and I brought a friend with me.” “It isn’t one of your scantily clad friends is it?” an elderly old woman’s voice asked from the front room. “No mom this is the girl I’m always talking about.” “Brandy? The infamous Brandy? The one I’ve heard so much about since you were 10? Well I’ll be, come in child. I walked into the room to see a very pretty yet very old woman. “I swear that boy of mine must be in love with you. It’s always Brandy this or Brandy that. I’m surprised he is actually letting me meet you. Are you a whore?” “Mother,” exclaimed Morgead. “No, actually I’m not. I’m still a virgin.” “I like this one son.” The elderly woman whispered to Morgead. “What’s your name?” I asked politely. “Oh my name is Miriam.” “Mom I think it is your bed time.” “Oh why it is. Ok well it was nice meeting you my dear. Come by and don’t be a stranger now.” “Ok.” I hollered after the retreating figure. “She seems… um nice. So you bring scantily clad women over?” I asked quirking an eyebrow at him.

“So do you want me to answer your previous questions first or do you want me to answer the one you just asked?” “I want you to answer them both.” I replied heatedly. We stared at each other in silence. It seemed like ages had gone by before he spoke. “I can find you because I have taken your blood. I do plan to make you like me. Yes, I had scantily clad women in my room. I had to get blood somehow. Animals just aren’t filling.” I could have lived with everything he said except for the part about animals. I stepped back from him hardly realizing that I was doing so. “Don’t be afraid of me Brandy.” He said as he moved slowly towards me. I flinched when he laid his hand gently on my arm. There was no way how to tell how many animals that he had killed with those hands. “Please,” he implored. He grabbed my hand gently and led me up a staircase. I followed him up the creaky staircase that let out on an incredibly small landing. I was finally able to speak, “I don’t want you to use animals ever again or ‘scantily clad women as your mom put it. I want you to use me.”

He obviously hadn’t been expecting this, for he stopped abruptly and I ran into him. “Brandy, I have to feed often, and I could never endanger you like that. I love you too much.” “Then this relationship will never work.” I loosened his grip on my hand and started down the stairs. I was going to ride a Grey Hound bus home to Chickasha. I yanked the door open because I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I didn’t want him to see me cry. I knew that he would know I was crying, but I didn’t want him to see my tears of shame. I ran down the steps and across the street as fast as I could. I passed the hospital and ran into the park.

I wanted no one to see me. I wanted the whole world to just disappear. I could hear footsteps coming towards my place on a bench. “I want you to just go away and leave me alone forever. I came to realize that I loved you, and you tell me that you’re using other women. I could help you. It could be me you use and not some strange scantily clad woman. Did you use a woman before or after the last time we were together?” The pain in his eyes was my only answer. I couldn’t look at him any longer. “Brandy,” he whispered softly, “it isn’t safe for you to be out all by yourself..” “Before or after?” I gritted my teeth. “You are just torturing yourself, Brandy. I will not allow that.” I finally looked up at him. The fury was obvious in my eyes.

“You don’t own me! You can not ‘allow’ me anything because it is not your right to allow. I am a free person. I cannot believe… you arrogant jerk.” I swung at him and missed. I swung at him again, and he grabbed me. “Let me go!” I shrieked at him, “I never want to see your face again.” “Calm down!” he hissed, “You are drawing unwanted attention to us.” “Maybe I want to be heard,” I snarled at him. “There aren’t just humans listening. He was extremely gentle even though he was holding me so closely.

"Maybe a vampire stronger than you will come and get me!" I snarled at him leaping to my feet and rushing away from him. i turned around a bend of rose bushes and ran right in to him. His arms snaked around me and held me solidly against his lean frame. I struggled in his hold. When I looked into his face, I was utterly terrified. His eyes were so bright and excited and hungry. "I wait till after you leave me to feed, Brandy. I could never come to you smelling of another." His whispered confession touched me. His gaze drifted to my neck. "Wait a minute," I stalled not wanting to be bitten, "I thought you said you'd never endanger me?" "I won't." He whispered softly seductively. i closed my eyes. His lips were warm and soft on my neck. Adrenaline was rushing through me. I felt the tips of his fangs on my neck. With a gasp, I felt them sink deep. I could feel my life being drained out of me with my blood.

I collapsed into him as my life slowly ebbed away. With a curse, I heard him withdraw. "Damn it, Brandy! I took too much. Here." He tore open his wrist and placed it against my mouth. I pushed it away as hard as I could. With all the blood that entered me i was able to see his memories. They all involved me! I saw through his eyes my first date, my first dance, and my first kiss. It was like watching a movie, but I could feel his emotions. Hatred, anger, and jealousy overwhelmed and scared me.

All too soon it was over. "You'll have to kick it here tonight. You are to sleepy to be able to hold on to me." I shook my head slowly, groggily. "I have classes tomorrow. I cannot stay here tonight." "I want to be with you, Brandy. I want to make sure I didn't give you to much. Tonight, when you sleep, I want to be next to you." It was very tempting, but I had obligations. I opened my mouth to tell him this, and he said, "Then I'll stay with you. There isn't enough time for a round trip." It would be my first night sleeping alone in my apartment with a guy. I had never even let Justin sleep over. Somehow it seemed right that it be with Morgead though.

He made me sit in front of him on the bike. I must have fallen asleep because I woke when he carried me through the front door of my apartment. He set me on my bed and left, so I could change into my night clothes. I saw the message button flashing on my phone and hit it. I had twenty new messages. The first ten were from Justin begging me to get back with him. One was from my best friend Kerri asking about my new boyfriend. God, news travels fast. There was a message from my mom telling me to call her. I had three messages from Amber. Boy was she freaking out about the fact that Morgead doesn’t show up in pictures. I had four messages from my sister. She absolutely loves the Marines. The last message confused me. “Miss Brown, Please call (580) 249-6699. I believe you have some information that would prove invaluable to us.” How odd! The guy sounded like he was in his late 20’s. I cleared my messages and picked up the phone to call Kerri.

The first thing out of her mouth was, “Damn, I have to hear about it from Justin!” “I’m sorry,” I laughed. Kerri was always making me laugh. “So,” she prompted, “who is he?” “His name is Morgead, and I’ve known him since I was ten.” I whispered slyly. “Oh my god, Brandy! You sound like you’re in love.” I looked up to see Morgead leaning against the door. He shrugged away, and I held my breath as he walked over. He took the phone from my trembling hand. “Hello, Kerri,” he whispered softly, “Brandy is really tired and must sleep now. Good night.” He hung up, but not before I heard a gasp of indignation and surprise from Kerri.

He put the phone down softly into the cradle. “It’s time for bed,” he said softly gazing into my eyes. I found myself leaning towards him. It felt like I was falling and only he could catch me. His arms wrapped around me and held me close. I heard a voice his voice I was scared this evening, Brandy. You scared me. I was afraid I had taken too much. He lowered his mouth to mine. I could feel the fear he had felt. This kiss seemed somehow more desperate than our previous ones. He pushed himself away. “I’m not being very good,” he mused. “You must sleep.” Who was I kidding, I had been enjoying it. I remember him holding me and whispering to me all night. It seemed he whispered to me even in my dreams.

I did not want to get up, but the light from my window fell directly onto my face. I rolled over and into Morgead. “Oh my god! I’m so sorry.” I stared at him in confusion for a minute. “Wait, shouldn’t you be in a death like sleep right now?” He laughed at this. “Like any nocturnal creature, I can move about during the day.” Well now I felt stupid. “Good morning.” I said finally grabbing the glass of water off of the nightstand. “Yes, it is,” He chuckled darkly. “What?” I asked apprehensively. “You are very interesting when you sleep. You move around quite a bit. You talk in your sleep too.” I dropped the glass I was about to drink from. He caught it in one fluid motion. “How bad is it?” I moaned putting my hands over my eyes. He shrugged his shoulders and quickly changed the subject, “What classes do you have today and at what times?” Now this was a safe subject. “At 2:00 p.m. I have Chemistry. At 7:00 p.m. I have Latin and at 9:30 I have Spanish. Why?” He looked at me as if I had sprouted a second head. “Well, I’m coming with you of course.”

Great. Now I have to think of a way to explain him to my teachers. He laughed, “I can be very charming and get my way when ever I want, Brandy. If I can read minds, what makes you think that I cannot manipulate them?” I stared at him wondering why I hadn’t thought of that before. “Well, I need to go take a shower.” I started towards the door when I heard a noise outside my window. I raced over to the window to see Justin standing next to a guy in a suit. Justin was yelling at the guy. I heard Morgead hiss from behind me. “A friend of yours?” I guessed. “He is a hunter of us.” I looked into his eyes and saw the fury that was so carefully concealed in his voice.. A chill ran down my spine, and I shivered with the impact his eyes had. I looked out the window, and the guy turned to look up at me.

“Hello,” he called waving. He had a very distinct accent. “My name is Jamore. May we speak in private Miss Brown?” I disappeared from the window and ran down the stairs. Justin looked like he was about to hit someone. I opened the door. I could see Jamore’s eyes riveted on my window still. Jamore looked over at me with horror filled eyes. “Would you like to come in?” I asked politely. He shook his head vigorously. “No, I’m fine out here Miss. That is if you could get your guard dog to back off.” I looked at Justin and at the moment he did seem to resemble a big guard dog. “Justin, what are you doing here?” Justin turned his red eyes to me, “Why doesn’t he show up in pictures, Brandy? Why did you leave me for him?” Not again. So Amber had gone to Justin with the pictures after all. I noticed Jamore’s intense interest in this. “You’re there and you’re kissing thin air! Is that what you left me for, someone who doesn’t appear in photos? What kind of freak is he? What is he a vampire or something?” he laughed at this last one. I laughed too, but for a whole different reason. He had no idea how right he had been.

Jamore however did not laugh. He was looking at my house calculative. I could hear Morgead’s whisper in my mind He is trying to see how easy it would be to break into your house. He plans on killing me and getting you to safety. I could hear him snort. What am I, I thought back to him, a damsel in distress? This caused a roar of laughter to emit from the house. Jamore looked over at me. “Who is that?” he asked politely. “That is the reason why Justin here is over here. That is a he which is my boyfriend Morgead.” I turned to see him standing in the door way with some thick sunglasses on. “Hello, Jamore.” He whispered softly menacingly. I had never heard his voice carry such a promise of death. Jamore heard it too. “Hello, Morgead. Been to Romania lately?” he asked pleasantly. “Listen, Jamore this line of work is not for you. Get out while you still can. You’re what 24?”

I saw shock flit across his face for a moment. “Would you be willing to meet with me elsewhere?” He asked returning his attention to me. I opened my mouth to say something when Morgead answered for me, “She will be busy for a long, long while.” He gazed pointedly at my neck. Jamore looked furious when he left. That is how people always seemed after talking to Morgead, furious. Morgead, however, looked grim. I’ll have to run again. I really don’t want to kill anyone. He sighed exasperated. Morgead, I’m sorry. I had no idea that it would be so hard on you. I wish I could ease some of your pain. Justin was just looking from me to him. “Well, I can see how much in love you two are. I’ll be biding my time, Brandy. And at the first opportunity I’ll take you back.” Justin retreated with sagging shoulders.

Having exchanged blood with Moread had given me a little something extra. Some of you might call it a sixth sense others might have said I was going crazy. But I could see things that no one else could, and I could hear peoples’ thoughts. Can you believe how many people had a thing for Morgead at first glance. My first professor.