Chapter 18 – Aurora
When we return to the party, the air is electric. Excitement mixes with the magic exuding from these mystical creatures.
Millie has arrived, and she stands next to Teddy as he animatedly speaks with Locheran.
The golden retriever man pauses whatever he was saying when he spots us and gives us a gleeful wave before diving back into the conversation.
He has one hand on Millie’s nape. I noticed he was always touching her when I first met him.
Touch is most definitely his love language.
We join their group, which also includes Farrah, Evangeline, and Xander, and make casual conversation while waiting for the announcement.
A few supes who haven’t spoken to us tonight glance our way.
Eyes fall to Rorik’s hand embracing mine.
Some offer us sad smiles; others snarl, but it’s not quite judgement. Maybe concern.
I want to ask what the problem is, but our attention is pulled to the massive projector screen as dramatic music plays, paired with an animated red graphic.
“We begin tonight’s broadcast with breaking news,” an authoritative voice says before a handsome man appears on screen. “Thank you for joining us tonight, I’m Rick Garner. The president of the United States has called a late-night press conference, live from New York City.”
The camera shot of the anchor with perfectly styled salt and pepper hair and bright blue eyes changes to a wide view of a packed room with an empty podium at the front.
A group of people walk in, led by a Black woman in an impeccable suit.
The president of the United States.
Guess that memory wasn’t taken from me either.
There are at least ten other people standing behind President Davis, but three are slightly separate from the group: a tall, modelesque woman with blonde hair wearing a red power suit.
A short, plus-size woman in a gorgeous purple wrap dress.
And a tall, muscular man in all black who looks like he could kill you with just his pinky.
“That’s Layla and Vara and Thorne in their human forms,” Rorik whispers next to my ear.
He wraps his arms around me from behind. I lean into his hold and hum when he kisses the side of my neck.
“Good evening,” the president begins. “Tonight is historic. Tonight, our world opens to what we believed to be impossible. Tonight, we learn… we’re not alone.
” She pauses dramatically, taking a deep breath as if to prepare herself for what she’s about to say.
“I’m not talking about aliens. I’m talking about supernatural beings.
Monsters, some might call them. And tonight we’re here to tell you… they’re real.”
The room erupts in chatter; questions were hurled at the president left and right. She holds up her hand and waits until the press quiets down.
“We will answer all your questions after the… presentation.”
She looks back at Vara, Thorne, and Layla. They nod, and the president faces the room again.
“What you’re about to see is real. It’s not an optical illusion, a hologram, or any other type of technology. I just ask that you stay calm. Keep an open mind. And know that they’ve been here longer than we have.”
Another long, dramatic pause.
“Now, I’d like to introduce you to Layla Sophia Aldana.”
“I thought Vara was going to make the announcement?” Rorik asks.
Millie answers. “After meeting with the president, they decided having a vampire make the announcement would be better. Ease the humans into our world with a human-presenting monster.”
Layla steps up to the podium. “Good evening. My name is Layla Sophia Aldana. Beside me are Vara Gamal.” Layla waves her hand toward the sphinx then to the gargoyle. “And Thorne DuPont. We are all over 700 years in age.”
The room fills with scoffs and laughter. They don’t believe her.
Layla smiles at them. She’s such a beautiful woman that the chatter quiets nearly immediately, almost as if they’re in awe of her.
“I was born 709 years ago. I was turned into a vampire at age thirty-two.”
Nothing. No response to that. Maybe that means they’re interested in hearing her out.
They’re intrigued.
“I was turned against my will. Now we have rules against non-consensual turnings. Rules that have been in place for decades. Over the past several months, we’ve been working with human lawmakers to create new rules and laws that will not only protect humans, but supernatural beings.
There are over 10,000 in New York City alone. ”
Some exclamations of shock ripple through the crowd. Layla doesn’t wait for their reaction to die down.
“The woman on my right is a 2,056-year-old sphinx. And the man to my left is a 712-year-old gargoyle. I could speak about our existence all night, but I know you want proof. Would you like to see our true forms?”
There are murmurs, but it’s hard to understand what anyone’s saying through the podium’s microphone.
“Very well. We’ll start simple. With me.”
Layla bares her fangs, her eyes turning black.
Audible gasps are heard through the television, but she doesn’t stop there.
She disappears, only a blur of movement as she zips around the room.
There’s a bit of a commotion—some chairs scraping across the floor or thuds from things tipping over.
The camera pans around, attempting to follow her, but she’s too fast.
When she finally stops, she has the biggest secret service dude I’ve ever seen lifted over her head like he weighs all but ten pounds.
Well, damn.
Layla slowly sets the beefy guy down. He adjusts his suit and earpiece but otherwise has no reaction. As if he’s lifted by a vampire queen every day.
“Vampires like me have been living amongst humans for the past 3,000 years.” I glance up at Rorik.
He straightens a bit taller behind me, swallowing hard enough I can hear his gulp.
“While we do survive on the blood of humans, we do not kill. We do not attack. We can only… ‘feed’ when given permission. We have blood banks across the world, and we’ve worked out a deal with the lawmakers of this country that we will provide hospitals with blood whenever there’s a shortage.
It’s just one of many new laws we’ve created. ”
Layla pauses, then she turns her head slightly, nodding. The president, secret service agents, and other important people standing behind the podium back up, giving the three supes a wide berth.
“Over the years, most supernatural beings have gained the ability to mask their true forms. It not only kept us safe, but it prevented panic amongst humankind. Vara?”
Layla waves to her mate, and Vara winks at her. Then she drops her human appearance. She falls to all fours, spreads out her golden wings, and shakes out her fur. Her tail whips back and forth behind her.
At this point, there are no longer shouts or sounds of shock. The room has accepted that what they’re seeing isn’t an act. It’s real. Monsters are real.
The camera shot changes to a view of the media. Faces of awe stare at the beautiful creature before them.
“Yes, she is magnificent, isn’t she?” Vara makes a chuffing noise, clearly proud of that comment.
Layla waves her hand at Thorne. “My love?”
The gargoyle drops his human shield. Massive wings unfold behind him, horns appear on his head, with a tail, and clawed hands and feet to complete his form. Thorne takes his pose, crossing his arms and plastering a scowl on his face.
The podium microphone picks up a few ‘whoa’s’ and ‘holy shit’s.’
“Gargoyles are special,” Layla begins. “They protect humans from evil beings and entities. Here in New York City, they’ve been doing the job since this land was called New Amsterdam. They patrol at night and sleep during the day.”
“What do you mean by evil?” someone off-camera yells.
Layla holds up her hand. “I know you have a million questions, and I plan to answer every single one. For those who don’t want to wait, informational packets are available to read online. Just scan the QR code on your screen to access that packet. So you want to know about evil—”
“Has anyone checked social media to see how the world is reacting to this announcement?” Evangeline asks, pulling our attention away from the television.
“It’s been a mix,” Teddy responds while scrolling through his phone. “A lot of posts calling it ‘bullshit.’ A few people claiming they knew all along.”
“Is this happening just here, or are other countries making similar announcements?” I ask.
“This announcement is being made in similar countries with their own leaders and supernatural royalty,” Xander answers.
When my attention returns to the television, Layla has just gone through the list of supernatural creatures that exist.
“… And beginning tomorrow, free classes will be available in person and online for anyone who wants to learn about the different types of monster species. To sign up, please scan the QR code on the screen.”
“They’re really pushing this QR code,” Rorik grumbles next to my ear. “Technology is the worst.”
He huffs, and I squeeze his arm before giving it a sympathetic pat.
“Poor baby.”
“Careful, Little Lamb. You should never taunt a vampire.”
“Hmm. Don’t taunt a vampire. Never run from a vampire. Anything else I should know? Also, aren’t there laws now to protect me from you?”
He chuckles, the sound deep and vibrating throughout my body since his chest is still flush with my back.
“It’s cute that you think I follow laws.”
He grazes his fangs over my neck and I gasp… loudly. The conversation around us pauses, heads turning our way.
I elbow Rorik in the stomach, which only causes him to laugh again.
“Nothing to see here, folks,” I say, twisting around in Rorik’s arms and tilting my head up slightly. He’s taller than me but not by much. He’s still a big, muscular dude who makes me feel small. Something that I don’t experience often as a big woman. “Stop it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You know exactly what you’re doing, and if you keep it up, I’m going to get turned on around all these monsters. I just want to enjoy the night and not get fucked in front of people I’m trying to be friends with.”
“Well, they’re not people. They’re monsters.”
I sigh.
He winks.
The jerk.
“It’s okay, my sweet captive. We’ll have plenty of time to play once the excitement of reveal week dies down. I have so many plans for you.”
Goddamn him. Now I’m thinking about what these plans could be.
This vampire has distracted me for long enough that when I glance back at the screen, the announcement is over and the president is walking out of the room with Vara, Layla, and Thorne close behind.
Evangeline and Xander make their way up to the platform.
“Well,” Evangeline begins. “It’s official. Monsters are real!”
The crowd erupts in laughter.
“Now let’s party,” Xander adds, turning the laughs into cheers.
The music restarts and supes hit the dance floor, some grabbing a human to join them.
Farrah steps in front of me. “Let’s get drinks!”
She attempts to peel me from Rorik’s hold, but his grip on me tightens.
“Release her, Rory,” Farrah says.
The two face off for about ten seconds before the vampire stands down.
Good boy, I mouth to him before Farrah drags me away.
I order an apple martini from the open bar, then follow Farrah onto the dance floor where Evangeline meets us.
I sip on my booze while swaying to the beat.
I’m not very good at dancing, it clearly wasn’t something I could do before losing my memories, but that’s not going to stop me from having fun with my new friends.
I’m not sure how long we dance, but every time my martini glass empties, another appears in its place. By the end of the night, my mouth hurts from smiling and laughing, my body is covered with a sheen of sweat, and my vision is a bit blurry.
“Can you get drunk?” I ask as Rorik leads me to the elevator.
I’d said my goodbyes to Evangeline, Farrah, and Millie—even though Millie and Teddy disappeared for most of the night. Evangeline said it was probably to make out or fuck in a corner.
“I can… if I drink faerie wine. Or boozed blood.”
I shove my wrist to his mouth, and he swats it away.
Rude.
He pushes the button, and we wait for the elevator to arrive.
“Drink from me. I give you permission.”
“You’re not of sound mind.”
“You don’t know what my mind sounds like.”
The words come out a bit slurred.
Oops.
He shakes his head, but I notice his smile.
Fine. If he won’t willingly take my blood…
I reach into my clutch and pull out the dagger found in the box of my mother’s belongings. It’s gorgeous. The handle has a floral design that matches my tattoos. It makes me wonder if it belonged to me and not my mother.
I have no doubt she claimed items that were mine as her own.
Rorik turns his head at a supe behind us, chuckling loudly at whatever the gorgeous human he’s speaking with just said, so I use the distraction to take the blade from the sheath and scrape it over my neck. The elevator dings and the doors open.
We step in and when they shut, Rorik freezes.
“What did you do?”
“Drink from me.”
“Goddamn it, Aurora.”
In a blink of an eye, he has me caged against the elevator’s wall. His eyes darken, and his fangs drop.
“Do it,” I urge, the words sounding breathy and desperate.
He gently takes my head in his hands, tilting it ever so slightly… and licks the blood pooling from the cut.
I close my eyes and hum, ready to feel his fangs piercing my skin.
Instead, he’s covering the cut with something.
My eyes pop open and notice he’s lost his tie.
“Rory,” I groan.
“Not here, Little Lamb. Not tonight.”
I humph. “Why?”
Okay, that might have been a whine too.
“Because I won’t take advantage of you in this state,” he whispers, focusing on patching me up. “Trust me. I desperately want to drink your boozed blood.”
He closes his eyes, inhaling deeply.
“It’s so sweet. Mouthwatering. I’m struggling not to devour you right here and now. But I can’t. I won’t. Not in public. Not when we’re vulnerable.”
Once he’s sure the tie is secure and I’m no longer bleeding, he tugs, bringing me closer.
“So we’re not going to have sex tonight?” I pout. “You said we would.”
He kisses me. A promising kiss that only lasts a few seconds because we’ve reached the lobby of the building.
“Come on. Let’s get you home. I’ll make you something to eat and put you to bed.”
And that’s exactly what happens.