Jeffrey & Rose

A storm was coming and Jeffrey knew it. He felt it in his bones. Dark clouds were beginning to invade the sky, covering the already fading sun. Within minutes daylight turned into a pervasive darkness. Jeffrey glanced up and smiled feeling his spirits lifting. He went down the steps of his apartment, jumping over the last five like a little kid, and headed towards his favorite lounge down the street called A Taste of Madness. Just when he thought it was going to be another boring evening, the storm surprised him.

That’s when he saw her. She was beautiful at first sight. Jeffrey hesitated before entering the lounge hoping she was coming in as well. He held the door and smiled. She stepped inside. For a brief moment their eyes met. Jeffrey’s heart fluttered as a rush of sensations spread through his body like wildfire. He felt himself being pulled into the deep ocean of her green eyes. A feeling so profound that it almost knocked him over. This was definitely a woman he wanted to meet. There was something about this beautiful stranger that he found most intriguing. This enigmatic presence captured his attention at first glance, and that didn’t happen very often, if at all. He followed her inside. Her long black trench coat worn over her shoulders almost looked like a cloak. Jeffrey more than liked what he saw and silently vowed that before the night was through they would meet. Just then it started to rain.

Rose knew it was time again. Her life depended on it. Her life. She laughed at those words because her life, in all reality, was no more. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she breathed life. And the thirst. The relentless thirst returned this time with a vengeance. Soon another unsuspecting soul would surrender to her spellbound beauty and become the sacrifice, which ultimately kept her alive.

She was tired. Very tired. And it never got any easier. Never. Especially when she felt something for the poor soul. But alas, this was her undying fate to exist exactly as such. Immortal. It was time and she hated it. She shuddered at the mere thought of all who had suffered just to quench the thirst. Who would be next? Yes, it was time to play the game again and find out.

She walked the streets without any particular destination in mind. The coming storm offered little comfort tonight. Each flash of lightning seemed to send her to another place in time. Images of brief moments of happiness that turned to darkness all too soon. A darkness she’s never gotten used to. Unlike the others who embraced this darkness without a second thought, she was somehow able to feel. It was almost as if her soul held on through the change. Was that even possible? Rose didn’t know. All she knew was that everything always leads back to one thing and one thing only. The hunger. A hunger that controlled her day and night. A hunger that left her no choice.

With that in mind, Rose headed towards a place down the street, whose name caught her attention. A Taste of Madness. How apropos she thought, especially for a night like this. Unaware of what this place was, Rose decided to check it out. A handsome man held the door for her. Rose smiled at him, getting a glimpse of his dark eyes that conveyed a kind of warmth she hadn’t felt in a long while. The expression in his eyes was full of compassion and trust but something else was there. Something stronger. This both confused and intrigued Rose. As she walked toward the back she could feel his eyes on her. Suddenly there was an image of them touching, kissing, and writhing together. The feel of his flesh. The taste of his blood. But then the image was replaced by something else. His warm smile. The sound of laughter. Something on the verge of being emotional. Feeling overwhelmed she sat down on a reclining chair sinking into the soft leather, wanting nothing more at that moment then to just disappear.

The dark atmosphere was like home to Rose. This was the perfect place for her right now. No glaring bright lights staring down at her. Only darkness. How long had it been since she felt the sun shine on her face? Childhood memories still remained. Everything was different then. Colors were seen with such clarity and the sun was a comforting guiding light. She was young, vibrant, and so full of life. Until she was embraced. Blinded by love she never saw the darkness that lay just below the surface of her lover’s charm. Now, being exposed to the bleeding sun could prove fatal if she wasn’t careful. Every now and then she would allow herself to go back to the days of freedom and bliss. Those long summer days of her childhood. A time of innocence. A time before the monsters came. Rose kept those special moments safely tucked away in a secret place inside her. No matter what happened to her, those memories would stay with her forever.

What she could never understand was why she hadn’t completely changed. Yes, there was the hunger and the need to feed but her soul... she shouldn’t have one, and maybe she doesn’t, but she can still feel compassion for others and perhaps even love. She closed her eyes for a moment and saw the handsome man’s face. For a little while she forgot about the need gnawing at her insides. She tried to concentrate on the warmth this man conveyed but when the waiter came to take her order she was forced back to reality and the hunger.

* * * * * * *

Jeffrey made sure he sat close enough to see her, but not too close. His main purpose in coming tonight was to try and get some reading done. The place was known for its darkly alluring (and sometimes melancholic) cryptic décor. Walls were constructed of brick with built in fireplaces sitting on either side of the large room. All the artwork captured the darkest of intentions. Edvard Munch’s famous “Scream” was one of his favorites. An enormous eighteenth century chandelier hung from the midsection providing soft twinkles of light. Each table was garnished with a candelabrum that only burned black candles carrying with them the faint scent of patchouli. The mahogany tables were antiques, at least a hundred years old, accompanied by matching chairs. Leather reclining chairs with small side tables were also available for those who didn’t want to be confined to a table. There was also a selection of sofa’s to choose from if one were so inclined. The choice of music was different each day. Tonight’s selection was classical music. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata was playing. He liked places like this.

Jeffrey was a book publisher, which required many hours of reading. He brought along a manuscript given to him by a friend looking to get his first book in print. Jeffrey was the decision-maker. All the books that fell into his company’s hands were first read by him, and once approved, sent to the editors. He published the kind of stories that were exciting, passionate, thought provoking, and even heart-felt. Erotica was always welcomed. Horror was encouraged. Basically, he was open to any type of genre. His company represented those types of books that were a little eccentric with a definite flavor for the forbidden. But as of late, the stories he received were rather monotonous, leaving little to the imagination. The last one he read would have put an insomniac to sleep. Where was the mystery and passion? He needed something seductive, something dangerous. The kind of story he could get lost in and even be in, if it was written well enough. Maybe this one would be different.

He laughed to himself, suddenly realizing the many similarities between reading a book and meeting a woman. With a book there has to be something in the first few pages to grab his attention, and that’s sometimes the easy part. It’s often maintaining interest throughout the story that becomes most difficult. Like when he meets a woman. Although what initially attracts him may vary, it only scratches the surface. Until he gets to see how a woman’s mind works, whether in conversation or watching her interact with others, the attraction’s only physical. Lately, the women he’s been meeting, although very attractive, are quite boring intellectually, extremely self-absorbed, and down and out bitches. Rarely does he meet a woman who can captivate his interest, much less his heart, long enough for him to fall in love with her. Women. Books. A good one is definitely hard to find. Being the optimist that he is, Jeffrey picked up the book and like with the next woman he meets, hopes this one will be different.

After ordering the largest cup of their special house blend coffee, Jeffrey made half-hearted attempts to read but any effort was fruitless. His mind was somewhere else, on someone else - on her. Once the steaming black liquid arrived he spilled in some sugar and sipped it slowly nodding in satisfaction. They made a great cup of coffee. He quickly glanced around the room but his eyes helplessly fell back on her. She radiated pure beauty, which was flawlessly natural, not artificially constructed like with so many women. She was stunning to look at. Her long dark hair, still damp from rain, was slicked back with the help of a glittering barrette. She had a distinct widow’s peak, something Jeffrey always had an attraction for. Her skin was very pale. She definitely had the goth look going on in full force. Her fingernails were painted a dark shade of scarlet which matched perfectly with her full lips. What really made him stop and stare, along with every other guy in the place, was her dress. The full-sleeved dress was sheer black, clinging to her body like a wet towel. The dark shadows of her nipples revealed she wasn't wearing a bra. Damn she was sexy. The more Jeffrey stared the more he became entranced by her beauty. When she licked her lips he felt a twinge of pleasure rise between his legs.

* * * * * * *

Rose took a sip from the glass of red wine but it didn’t even begin to quench the thirst. She thought about all the places she’d been to lately. From obscure bars to poetry readings to underground sex clubs. There wasn’t much she hadn’t seen. And though the places have certainly changed throughout the years, the people have pretty much stayed the same. Especially the men. They were so predictable. The married ones were much too eager and overweight, offering her nothing but a free drink, literally. Sometimes she’d just take them in the back alley or down some dark side street and rid them of their pathetic lives. The rich one’s were arrogant, obnoxious, and like a dog in heat when it came to sex. The young ones were generally sweet and way too trusting. She tried to stay away from them.

When she was first embraced it was more than difficult. It was unbearable. This world of darkness and desire was completely new to her. The first time she felt the hunger it both frightened and aroused her. Yet through it all some part of her remained. Sometimes it hurt knowing that other people had to die in order to satisfy the thirst. Many times she begged for death but at the same time was terrified of the blackness and finality of death. And she was alone. So terribly alone. The ache of that loneliness sometimes drove her to madness. Others like her didn’t feel anymore. Others like her only cared about the blood. So she had to learn to play the game, and she played it quite well. For her it was more of a mind trick. First there was the hunt, then the seduction, then the kill. It was the only way she could deal with the reality of what she had to do. Sex just made it easier, and of course, much more pleasurable.

The chosen one of the night, would take her home, pleasure her body, and then ultimately suffer the consequences. The sexual ecstasy often awakens the dark one within. Her body shudders with anticipation and all control would be lost. When the change is complete the feeding frenzy begins. The sounds of their pleasure-filled moans turn to screams as she sucks the life right out of them, all the while continuing their dance of desire as their hardness still thrusts inside her.

Women on the other hand were a little different and a lot of fun to play with. The look of envy mixed with resentment is something she relishes. Especially when she approaches an unsuspecting husband, or boyfriend putting them under her spell and leaving the wife or girlfriend alone. But that jealousy can quickly turn to lust if they catch a scent of her desire. Once in a while a woman’s sweet blood does attract Rose and if she felt sadistic enough she’d burden them with eternal life. Let someone else suffer an endless existence with a hunger that can never be abated. It empowered her.

She glanced around the room and saw him sitting there. He was reading and had a deeply concentrated look on his face. She wondered what his name was. She wondered what his voice sounded like. She wondered what cologne he wore or what his favorite restaurant was. Rose noticed his attractive facial features; long eyelashes, a cleft chin, and beautiful full lips. His shoulder length brown hair had such a nice shine to it. He was nicely dressed too, wearing a black cardigan sweater and black slacks. Rose was surprised by the attraction, even taken back a little. She wanted him in a way she couldn’t explain. And it wasn’t the hunger talking, it was, dare she even think it, her heart. Though it stopped beating long ago, Rose still felt its presence.

He was staring at her again. She could feel his eyes melting into her skin but it was more than just momentary lust. She felt warmth again. The same warmth that flickered in his dark eyes just moments before. That scared her. Loving a mortal was unthinkable. The hunger was too strong. A relationship like that was doomed from the start. Loving someone like her was unimaginable. All of those men were hardened and angry, full of revengeful intentions. Their hearts were frozen and their bodies soulless. That’s the way she should have become but didn’t. What they lost in the change remained alive inside her. And it was during her weakest moments that she longed for the warmth of another. The kind of warmth that could only be found in a human’s embrace. Rose needed love. It was a desire of hers that never subsided, just like the hunger only less powerful. Love could never survive the hunger. The hunger would always win. The hunger could never be stopped. Shaking her head as if to rid herself of the haunting reality that is her life, Rose focused back on the man now walking towards her.

Part Two
The Introduction