Chapter 2
TWO
sometimes it’s better to be rude
“What do you do to keep busy, Mr. Chamberlin?” I ask, looking at the spotless gloves on his hands. My question is meant to keep the conversation flowing, rather than an honest one.
“I dabble in trade,” he answers.
“How interesting.” Lily chimes in. “What do you trade?”
“Whatever I can,” he answers without answering.
“I…we work at Southern Bell as telephone operators,” Helen adds. “Do you own a telephone, Mr. Chamberlin?”
He sits back, crossing long arms in front of his chest. “I don’t. I find that modern technology is only here for a short time, then something new takes its place.”
Ramona laughs. “I don’t believe the telephone is here for a short time.” She turns around at the sound of a vehicle passing. “Do you believe automobiles are on their way out?”
“No, ma’am, I do not,” he answers. “Point taken, Ms. Ramona.”
Harrison stands. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I’m afraid I have a meeting in a few hours that I cannot charm my way out of.
” He turns toward me after returning his chair to its rightful home.
“It’s such a lovely day. Seems a shame to waste it with city air.
Would you care to walk by the river with me, Violet? ”
An audible gasp escapes from Carol at his words. Looking at Ramona, I ask for silent help. Do I want to walk with him by the river? She smiles, lifting an eyelid with a quick nod and answering my unasked question. I take a breath and stand. “I’d like that, Mr. Chamberlin.”
He offers me an elbow. “Please, call me Harrison.”
“I’d like that, Harrison.”
He turns toward my friends. “Do you ladies mind if I escort Violet to the river?”
Ramona, Lily, and Helen answer a quick “no” and giggle in unison.
Carol looks around the group. “Are you all serious? Did your mother not teach you anything?” She turns toward me. “Violet. This is not a good idea. He’s a stranger.”
“Thank you for your concern, Carol, but I believe Mr. Cha…Harrison will take perfectly good care of me.”
“Indeed,” he answers as I wrap my arm through his elbow. The two of us leave my friends sitting at the table in awe.
“Thank you for walking with me,” he says as we move closer to the river.
“The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for asking.”
“Of course.” He pauses. “You’re different than your friends.”
I feel my forehead wrinkle. “How so?”
“You have an open mind, Violet. Your intelligence is obvious to those you speak with.”
I laugh at his words. “I don’t believe I’ve ever been described that way. You tease me, but thank you.”
“When you’ve lived in New Orleans as long as I have, you learn how to read people. You are more than you believe.”
My cheeks turn warm with his words. I’ve never had so many compliments…especially from a man. Hoping to change the conversation, my mind reels over a list of questions that are appropriate for times like this. I settle on something safe. “Are you from New Orleans?”
“Originally, no. But I’ve been here for a very long time. Yourself?”
I smile. “Born and raised. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.” I sigh, knowing my answer wasn’t truthful. “That’s a lie. I can’t wait to get out of here. I’m made for more, more than just answering phones and pushing cords into the correct spots.”
“I knew there was more to you. Sounds like you have dreams, Violet.”
“I do…it’s silly really.”
“No dream is silly. If it’s something you want to do, do it.” He chuckles. “Some of the best things come out of silly dreams.”
“If only it were that easy.”
“It is easy. I’ve lived many different lives. Some were more fun than others.” He turns toward me. “What is it you want to do, Violet?”
I stop walking. “I want to go to New York and be a fashion designer. I want to travel around the world, designing ball gowns. I have always loved fashion and dressing up. I’m quite good at creating the perfect dress for the perfect occasion.”
“What’s stopping you?”
I scoff. “Where should I start? Money, family, friends, societal expectations…the list goes on.”
“I like you.” His words throw me off slightly.
I smile, not sure how to respond. “Likewise.”
“Shall we continue?” He nods upriver, where fewer people are walking around. My stomach does a few flips at the thought of being alone with a strange man and no one to ensure my safety. God, I sound like my mother— and Carol.
“We shall,” I answer, ignoring my stomach. We continue our walk, staying close to the riverbank. We walk arm in arm until we’re away from the business of the French Quarter and my friends.
“May I ask you a question?” Harrison says after several minutes of silence.
“Of course.”
“Do you believe in fate?”
I stare at my companion. “To be honest, I’ve never thought about it.” I stop walking, pulling my arm away. “I think so. Why do you ask?”
“Fate has played a role throughout my lifetime.” He looks over the calm water. “Fate has brought me many things. Food, companionship…” he turns back toward me, “lust.”
My stomach begins to flip again, and I swallow the lump in my throat. I’ve never had a man flirt with me so openly before. Harrison Chamberlin is flirting with me…right? To be honest, I’m not sure that’s what this is.
“I believe fate brought us together, Violet.” Cold fingers brush a stray hair from my cheek. “Fate led me to the French Quarter today and to your table at the café.” He steps closer. “Not only did your beauty call to me but so did your strength.”
My eyes blink, and I step backward from the spell his eyes are casting. “Oh, my. Look how far we’ve walked. I should be getting back. My friends will surely be worried.”
He smiles, easing a little of the tension I’m holding. “Just a little further. I’m thoroughly enjoying our time together. Your energy is calming. Something I haven’t felt in a while.” He wraps my arm through his and continues to pull me away from civilization.
I’ve never walked with a man who freely gives compliments. I scoff at my thoughts. I’ve never walked with a man, period. “Thank you,” I answer, not sure if that’s an appropriate response. My stomach flips as we continue to move further away. “I’ve never met someone like you before.”
He laughs deeply. “I’ve heard that several times throughout my life. Although there’s nothing special about me. You just haven’t experienced much.” He bends down, placing his nose against my neck, and sniffs deeply. His actions are strange, yet somehow intoxicating.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“I do apologize, Ms. Violet. It’s just that you smell so divine. Surely someone has mentioned that before?”
I laugh at his words. “No, you’re the first. I would imagine in this heat, I smell more like sweat.”
“Not at all.”
“What do I smell like?” I ask, not sure I want the answer.
“Sweet, like an answer to a long-lost prayer, or a meal after weeks of starvation.”
I sniff my sleeve, unsure if I put on perfume this morning or forgot, like most days. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.” I laugh, hoping to lighten the mood.
“It is,” he answers as we continue walking. We move further away from the city and into the beginning of a forest.
Violet, what are you doing? You don’t know this man. I stop walking, listening to the voice of reason in my head. Turning toward my companion, I say, “Thank you, Harrison. I have enjoyed our time together, but it’s time for me to get back to my friends. Please excuse me.”
“Just a little further,” he argues. “There’s a particularly beautiful view of the river I’d love to share with you. It’s just through these trees.”
“I think it’s time to go back.” My argument isn’t convincing, even to me.
Harrison points to a clearing by the water. “Do you see the clearing? It’s just a few more steps. The view of the river is spectacular from that spot. I must insist you see it.”
“Okay,” I answer slowly. What could happen at a small clearing on the Mississippi River?
I follow his lead as we snake our way through the forest. Small saplings are slowly turning into large pine trees as we continue.
Entering the clearing, I take a deep breath.
Why was I so nervous? I resist the urge to laugh at my foolishness.
“This is beautiful,” I lie. The river has never been beautiful. It’s polluted and deadly, providing transportation and food through the years, while being the reason for many widows and orphans.
“Yes, it is,” he says, looking over the water. “I often come here when life becomes…too much.”
“I’m sorry. I get overwhelmed, too. I understand how that feels.”
“Since…” He turns away, looking over the water and wiping his cheek. “I’m sorry. It’s not an easy subject to talk about.” He takes a deep breath. “Since she died, life hasn’t been the same.” His words hit me hard. He’s lost someone very close to him. I long to reach out to him, comfort him somehow.
“Please don’t apologize. May I ask how she died?” I realize it’s none of my business, but curiosity gets the best of me.
Harrison looks down, kicking the sandy dirt with his perfectly shined shoe. “It was a while back. I’d rather not talk about it.”
“I understand.” I place my hand on his arm, hoping to offer comfort. “I can’t imagine losing someone that you love.”
He turns, facing me completely. “Have you ever been kissed, Violet?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Yes,” I lie. “A few times.”
“You have the most beautiful lips.” I watch as Harrison slips a glove off his hand and rubs a soft finger across my bottom lip.
The motion is raw,intimate, and makes me feel strangely uncomfortable.
“Do you mind if I kiss you?” His eyes stare into mine, hypnotizing me somehow, and drawing me into his world.
“No.” My words are no louder than a whisper. The hair on the back of my neck stands at attention, responding to something it doesn’t like. Internally, I’m rebelling. Externally, I’m relenting. He lowers his head toward mine, and I lick my lips in anticipation of my first kiss.
Soft lips touch mine, bringing chill bumps to the surface.
Strong fingers wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him, while his other hand wraps behind my neck.
He gently teases my lips with his, pressing hard, then soft.
I sigh, releasing the tension I was holding, and move even closer. This is better than I’ve imagined.
A few minutes pass before I feel his tongue separate my lips, forcing its way inside, teasing mine as he gently caresses my mouth.
His kiss tastes of something familiar. Sweet with a hint of metallic.
He presses in harder, pushing his tongue further into my mouth until it becomes uncomfortable.
What started out nice is turning not nice quickly.
I pull away and step back, putting space between us. “Where are you going?” he asks, closing the distance between us once more.
“I’m sorry. I…I need to get back.” I turn and begin the walk back to the café. In the blink of an eye, he’s in front of me, blocking my way.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Every alarm in my body goes off at the same time. What have I done? Why didn’t I trust my gut? Carol was right. “Harrison, thank you for the walk and the kiss, but I have to get back.” I focus on keeping my face neutral, not giving away the panic that fills me.
A smile covers his face. Not the one I’ve seen several times before.
This one is dark, evil, and terrifying. “Humans amuse me. Always trying not to offend someone, worried about how society will perceive them if they’re not bending over backward for their fellow man. Even when their life is in danger.”
“Is my life in danger?” I whisper.
“You went for a walk with a stranger, Violet. You should’ve listened to your friend. What was her name? Charlotte?” He waves his hand in dismissal. “It doesn’t matter.” His voice has changed from the iconic Southern gentleman to a mixture of accents, blended into one.
Staring into green eyes, reality hits me. He’s going to kill me.
“There it is,” he says with a sick smile.
“I can see it in your eyes. The realization of where you went wrong and that this could’ve easily been avoided, had you not been so worried about offending me.
This is always my favorite moment. You’re thinking of everything you did wrong and how stupid you were.
” I stare at my murderer, refusing to acknowledge that he’s right.
“You bastard,” I whisper. “They’ll never stop looking for me.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such harsh words from such a beautiful little thing. Don’t worry.
I’ll make sure you’re found.” I watch as his face transforms from the handsome stranger who followed us to Café du Monde to the face of the monster who’s about to take my life.
Sharp teeth form out of nowhere, and long nails cover the exposed hand.
“Goodbye, Violet. Thank you for the kiss. You’re mine now.
” He grabs me with unmatched strength, pulling me close.
Something sharp pierces my neck, filling my world with unimaginable pain.
What’s happening? Am I dying? Is he biting me?
My mind plays through all the possible scenarios, landing on the only one that makes sense.
My world begins to shrink. The water, the trees, the city…
all of it fades as my life is being stolen.
One word echoes through my mind as darkness overtakes the light.
One that seems ludicrous and impossible, yet, is the only one that makes any sense.
Vampire. Harrison Chamberlin is a vampire.