Chapter Three
The mist surged down the stairs and pushed through the lock, flowing down the door to the concrete floor. Inching ever closer to the recumbent figure, the mist spread across the floor slowing as it neared the bed frame.
Bic moaned and turned to lie on his back. His eyes batted open for a moment and he stared at the ducting near the ceiling. Exhaustion soon reclaimed him in sleep.
The mist crept up the bed legs and covered the prone figure, settling around the neck. With the touch of a feather and speed of a lightning bolt, the deed was accomplished. As quickly as the mist appeared in the room, the cloud dissipated. The restless form on the bed sighed and settled into a deep sleep. When he woke mid-morning, Bic bounded out of bed.
He checked his face in the bathroom mirror surprised at the glow of his cheeks. The previous day, he’d resembled several of the statutes around town-a bit grey and peaked looking.
“Wow! Guess a good night’s sleep was all I needed.” Opening the mirrored medicine cabinet door, his gaze was captured by a spot on his neck. Bic closed the door and leaned in to examine the spot. He lightly fingered the two tiny pricks on his neck.
“Mmm. Must be a spider bite. I’ll have to get some insect repellent.” He continued with his morning routine. A pot of coffee and a plate of eggs and bacon later, Bic stood and stretched. “I’d better slap on the runners and get in my mile before I finish my project.”
He dressed in running gear and headed to the front door to start his jog. As he opened the door, an envelope fluttered to the ground. Bic picked it up and glanced at the writing. He wrinkled his nose.
“A note from the Franks. I’ll read it later.” Tossing the envelope inside his apartment, Bic closed and locked the door then took the steps two at a time out to the front. A light rain fell as he picked up his speed for his daily run.
An hour later, Bic ran up the stairs and unlocked his front door. Taped to the middle was another note from the Franks.
“We need an answer to our notice before noon today. If we don’t receive a written explanation, we’ll be forced to give you a 72 hour notice. Paula and Gilbert Franks, Managers”
Bic ripped the paper from the door. “Jerks.” He checked the clock above his work station and noted it was 11:30. He had time to shower, write a note to the as-yet-unopened demand letter and get back before Larissa came to work. When he’d showered and dressed, he picked up the letter from the floor and opened it. Scanning the contents, Bic felt his blood pressure rise. The managers of the building had the audacity to imply he had a woman living with him—not that he wouldn’t have liked to have Larissa as his roommate—without checking the facts first. They were threatening to evict him as his lease only listed him as the tenant. Pulling air slowly into his lungs, Bic sat at the computer and replied to letter, noting he was sending a copy to his lawyer.
He printed the response which he placed in an envelope and clumped to the managers’ apartment. His first knock went unanswered. The second time he pounded on the door until it opened.
“Yes?” Paula opened the door just a crack.
Bic shoved the envelope at her. “Before noon. Next time, call first. You’d be surprised what you learn if you ask.” He turned on his heel and stomped up the stairs fuming with each step. He threw open his door and stumbled over his feet as he looked into the dark eyes of his new secretary.
“How…?” His brow furrowed.
She cocked an eyebrow and her lip to one side. “You gave me the key?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Where’ve you been so early this morning?”
Bic humphed. “Flippin’ building managers left me a little present threatening to evict me if I didn’t move out the woman living with me.”
Larissa frowned. “I didn’t know you had someone living with you.”
He pushed a sigh from his lips. “I don’t. But they apparently saw you come in yesterday and assumed you were staying here. That’s the only thing I can figure.” He shook his head. “They’ve been trying to get me out of here since they took over.”
“Why?”
“My publisher arranged for me to move here. He and the building owner went to college together and I guess the building owner owed my publisher a favor. The managers have this convoluted idea the building is theirs and they hold all the power. This struggle between us has been going on for nine months. It’s very tiring.”
Larissa moved to the desk. “Did you straighten them out?”
Bic nodded. “Yeah, I wrote a letter of explanation about your presence in the apartment and sent a copy to my lawyer, but I don’t think it will stop them from trying to get me to move. I sure wish there was a way to make them disappear.”
She sat at the computer and brought up the day’s calendar. “Maybe there is.”
Bic shook his hands to loosen them then sat at his work station. He turned to Larissa. “The problem is if the Franks leave, their replacement could be just as bad or worse. The only way for me to eliminate this problem is to move or buy the building. Since I haven’t hit the lottery yet, I think I’m going to have to move; but not today. Today, I’m finishing this strip.”
“And going to the doctor as soon as I can set you an appointment.”
Bic put down his pen. “Funny about that… I feel 100% better than I did yesterday. I can’t explain it but my energy level is high and I got a great night’s sleep. I don’t think I need to go to the doctor today.”
Larissa leaned back in the chair. “Really? What about the life and death part? Should I just set an appointment for next week?”
Bic unconsciously rubbed the mark on his neck. “Can’t explain the change. Next week should be soon enough.”
The hint of a smile touched Larissa’s lips as she licked them. If he only knew how tasty his life force is… A line formed across her fair forehead. However, there is the matter of the managers. I’ll have to provide a workable solution.
The hint of a smile turned to a full blown grin. I believe a feast is in the offing.
Chapter Four
One month later
Bic sat gaping at the television, not believing what his eyes were observing. On the screen was a shot of the bottom of the cliffs at the Oregon Coast, two figures crumpled on the jutting rocks. People falling off the cliffs wasn’t unusual; what was unusual were the names—Paula and Gilbert Franks. The reporter on the TV was remarking on the bodies’ unique condition. A casual comment made by the coroner’s assistant as he peered over the steep edge of the precipice leaked the fact the bodies at the bottom had been drained of all blood.
Bic pushed the off button and sat in his lounger. Who would want to take the time to drain the blood from a body before tossing it over a cliff? His mind immediately jumped to recollections of Dracula movies from his childhood.
“Not possible.” He settled at his workstation and buried the bizarre thoughts in work. Leaning back and considering the panel he’d just drawn, Bic sensed a presence near him.
“Hi, Larisse.” The essence of midnight swirled around his chair.
“Did you hear about the managers?” She oozed around the chair and leaned against Bic’s work desk. He watched her eyes twinkle.
“Why do I get the feeling you had something to do with this?” He narrowed his eyes her direction.
Larissa stood and twirled Bic’s chair around to face her. Her hands on the arms prevented his escape. “What if I did? Haven’t I heard you mutter you would like to see them in the depths of hell? I just arranged an early visit.”
Bic’s face drained of color. “What about all the blood?”
Larissa pursed her lips into a bow. “There was a great deal of it, to be sure, but I can guarantee you it wasn’t anywhere close to the quality of your own.”
“Wha-wha-what?!”
She leaned close to his face, her warm breath brushing against his cheek; the smell of midnight engulfing his brain. “Don’t you find me attractive?”
His eyes widened. “Of course, but I didn’t want to ruin our working relationship. You’ve completely organized my life.”
Larissa slipped out her tongue feathering lightly down the side of his neck.
Bic shuddered. His eyes rolled back and his head lolled against the chair. He felt her nibble at his neck and he allowed a moan to escape his lips. A quick stab of pain and his ears began to roar, white spots popped in front of his closed eyes and his breath came in short, fast spurts. The glow of warmth spread from his neck through his limbs and he allowed his body to completely relax.
Larissa pulled back and turned around, licking her lips and wiping her mouth. When she faced Bic again, his eyes were still glassed over, his mouth hanging open.
“I think this could work for both of us,” she smiled shyly. “What do you think?”
He moved his head up and down. The arrangement might be a little—unorthodox—but he could see a positive for both of them. He needed bleeding, she needed blood. It didn’t hurt that she was gorgeous and a great secretary.
Bic smiled. Life was turning out to be very good.
