48. Rune
Rune
Somewhere beyond my consciousness, something beeps.
I slide my eyes open and blink at the wall.
The beeping stops, and whatever truck was reversing outside drives away.
With wakefulness comes awareness.
Did last night really happen?
I feel… warm. And… I clench my thighs.
I feel messy.
Lifting my head, I look around my apartment.
Looks empty. Feels empty.
I don’t actually know what’s more likely. That I imagined the whole thing. Or that Vameer is real.
My chest aches even thinking that.
Vameer is real.
Rolling out of bed, I look down at my nude body.
He has to be real.
I never sleep naked. Then I stand and clench my thighs a second time.
He’s definitely real.
The ache in my chest sharpens.
He’s real. And he’s gone.
Storm clouds dance over my senses as I breathe in his lingering scent.
He can’t have been gone for long. There’s no need to panic.
He’ll be back.
He’s my vampire.
Reassuring myself, I shuffle naked to the bathroom.
Morning rays are just starting to ease in around the curtains, but I leave the lights off. My night vision, or whatever the hells is going on with my eyesight, seems even better today than it was yesterday.
I let out a sigh as I sit on the toilet.
My muscles don’t feel sore exactly. But I can tell I experienced some exertion last night.
I can’t stop my grin as I reach for the toilet paper.
My vampire is hung.
My grin freezes.
I pull my hand closer to my face.
My pulse gives a hop.
My nails are black.
I look at both my hands. Then I bend forward and look at my toes.
All my nails are black.
I hurry to finish, flush, and move to the sink.
I turn the water on and scrub my hands together. And the color stays on my nails.
Then I glance at myself in the mirror. And jolt.
Black eyes stare back at me.
“Holy shit.” My words come out slightly slurred.
And for the first time since waking up, I realize the ache in my jaw… is gone.
My heart starts to race as I lean closer to the mirror.
Then, in the dark.
In a room with no windows.
I stare at my mouth as I part my lips.