Page 32 of Into The Light

“I was. I had a few friends but by high school they had moved away. My senior year, my parents went out for a very rare date night. It was January. They hit a patch of black ice. I’m told they didn’t suffer. Their deaths were instantaneous.”

Pain flashed in the depth of her eyes. She had suffered the same loss as me. I understood how it felt although at least I had been older and surrounded by family and my clan. Emilia had been left alone. I fought an urge to reach out and touch her, comfort her, take away all her pain.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out. She nodded and continued.

“Since I was almost eighteen and without family, the courts emancipated me. I had a hundred thousand in life insurance and a few months before I had to move out of the duplex we rented. One night I saw a flyer that my favorite band was playing at a place called The Rave in downtown Milwaukee. I bought myself a ticket and went to the show. During the second opening act, I locked eyes with the lead singer. Jeff.” She rolled her eyes. “I was going through my bad boy stage and fell head over heels for his long hair and black eyeliner. He found me after the show, and we hooked up.”

Jealousy pumped through me, and I couldn’t mistake it. The thought of her wrapped up in the arms of a dirty, wannabe rockstar twisted my gut in knots.

“So young, naïve me falls in love and moves into his duplex the day I had to move out of mine. I was supposed to go to college that fall, but Jeff convinced me to postpone one year and work to support us while his band ‘hit it big’. Once he was a millionaire, I could go to school and he would support me. He blew through my parent’s life insurance building a recording studio in our basement. I was so in love it never even occurred to me to stop him from spending the money and use it for college.”

She tapped her head in disbelief. “Flash forward a few years, I’m still working as a receptionist to support us, he’s still promising this is the year he’ll make it big and I can pursue my own dreams. I threatened to leave, finally coming to my senses. He slapped a ring on my finger and like an idiot I tromped down the aisle with him. A few more years of me working, him partying and playing, he says he’s got a huge opportunity in Chicago. We spent the rest of my savings on a down-payment on an apartment he insisted was a great investment. I got a new crappy job in Chicago and he continued to play music and party. Finally, he does it. He actually fucking does it.”

“Does what?”

“Makes it. His band, the same one he’s been with since high school, gets a hit single. It’s on the radio, they have record labels banging on their door and we are on our way. I’m finally not going to be the sole income. Finally we catch a break.”

“So, what happened?”

“Sheena. Sheena fucking happened.” Daggers shot through her eyes. “I come home to find Sheena in my bed shagging my husband. I told him to get out and he barely even apologized. He left that day and has been with her ever since. I only found out during the divorce mediation that he had racked up seventy thousand in credit card debt. Since it’s marital debt, it’s half mine even though I didn’t buy anything with it. And because I couldn’t afford a fancy lawyer or legal fees, do you know what isn’t half mine?”

I shook my head while I watched her face scrunch up in anger.

“The record deal. He waited until after we got divorced to sign it, so I didn’t get a penny. Not. One. Penny. And right before he signed, Sheena and the label convinced him to ditch his band and get a new one so they don’t get a damn thing either. Now Sheena gets to enjoy all the fruit of the career that I made... and that his band made! Ugh!”

Rage flashed through her. Who could blame her? “What an asshole.”

My words stopped her in her tracks. She turned toward me and stared with wide eyes. “Did you, Mr. Prim and Proper, just say asshole?”

I shrugged. “It seemed fitting.”

Emilia laughed. “So fitting! Thank you! He is an asshole!”

I joined her in exasperated laughter. This Jeff character would potentially be the first casualty I’d caused in decades if I ever stumbled across him.

“So that’s my long, sad, pathetic story. And the reason I’m here. Though, I’m not complaining. This place is amazing. You might have to throw me out after five years. I’m not going to want to leave.” She laughed.

I don’t want you to leave either.

Not wanting to admit that illicit thought, I quickly changed the subject. “Can I get you anything?”

“No. I’m fine but thank you for asking. I feel bad. You must be starving and I’m just going on and on in here.”

I was starving, but I also loved hearing all about my new, intriguing guest.

“Here,” she said, slipping out of the water and settling at my side, her feet touching mine as they splashed beside them. “Eat.”

She tipped her head, offering her neck to me. It pulled me in and drew my fangs from their resting place. She didn’t jump this time when they made a sound as they popped out. Sliding my hand behind her head, I let them sink back into her warm flesh. The fire danced beside us as I sucked her sweetness and felt it tangle with my own. Her hand pressed against my chest, an instinctual touch as she moaned a soft tune.

Once again not just the exquisite taste of her blood flooded me with ecstasy.

She did.

Her touch that caused my heart to race and match her own.

Her warm breath ghosting my cool skin.

Her scent. An intoxicating blend of vanilla and lavender.