Four Centuries (Damned and Cursed Book 7) (21 page)

"You're not going to kill anyone."

She logically knew Victoria was right.
 
They were vampires.
 
Feeding from humans was what vampires did.
 
It was how they stayed alive and lived forever.

But emotions slowly pushed away whatever logic was floating in her head.

As Victoria guided their way, weaving in and out of cars, Zoey heard the beginning of sex.
 
She could almost visualize the act.
 
Two clothed bodies rubbing up against each other, whispered compliments, kissing and groping.
 
A shirt was removed, and a belt undone.

Zoey could only think of Steven, and what he did to her in that alley.
 
Images of the attack flashed through her head, her last memories as a mortal.
 
Kissing and flirting turned into him pinning her against the brick wall, forcing himself on her.
 
There was nothing she could do.
 
She was powerless.
 
Kylie had followed her, tried to help, and paid for it with her life.

Not long after, in one of her lower, thirstier moments, Zoey had tried the same thing.
 
Use flirting and seduction to feed.
 
She'd nearly killed the man.
 
She didn't even remember his name.
 
All she remembered were his sounds of ecstasy as she forcefully drank his blood.

The mystery couple not far away made similar noises.

Victoria squatted near the hood of a car.
 
She pulled Zoey down next to her.

"There they are."

Zoey blinked away the darkness.
 
Night vision was one of the few things she'd actually mastered about being a vampire.

She saw the young couple, in the back seat of the car.
 
The primal sight of it took her breath away.
 
Having sex in a car, in a mall parking lot, she thought that type of thing only happened in the movies.

The way the woman moved up and down, the moans and hitched breathing, Zoey could see they'd already moved past foreplay.
 
The man leaned back and held her breasts, matching her movements as best he could in the uncomfortable back seat.
 
Zoey was embarrassed to admit it, but the sight was arousing, and she didn't think of herself as a voyeur.
 
Vampire or not, she was still a teenager.
 
Did a teenage vampire's hormones respond the same way as that of a human?

"Wow," she said, turning her head.
 
"They're, uh, really going at it."

"Do you want the man or woman?"

She couldn't wrap her mind around the question.

"What?"

"The man," Victoria said slowly.
 
"Or the woman?"

"I'm not really into women."

"It doesn't matter who you're
in
to.
 
This has nothing to do with sex."

"Well…it looks like it kind of does.
 
You're the one talking about orgasms."

"You take the woman.
 
She's on top, so she'll be easier to feed from.
 
I'll take the guy."

"What if the door is locked?"

"As hot and heavy as they are, I doubt they remembered.
 
But locked car doors aren't a problem.
 
Here's a trick.
 
Take your claws and work them into the crack of the door.
 
We're strong enough to force them open."

Zoey had never used her claws on purpose before.
 
Only by accident, when she wasn't in control.

"We
just
drank inside the mall."

"And you're still thirsty.
 
We always are, to some level."

She had nothing else to stall for time.
 
Her eyes were locked on the couple, in the shadows in their own vehicle.
 
They were embracing now as they rocked up and down, their moans intensifying.
 
They were unaware that two predators lurked outside, preparing to strike like rattlesnakes.
 
Fangs and all.

"Okay, you ready?" Victoria asked.
 
Her eyes glowed ever so slightly red.

Steven flashed through Zoey's mind one more time.

"No.
 
Victoria, I can't do this."

"You'll be fine."

Victoria kept low and grabbed Zoey's hand.
 
She pulled, but Zoey didn't budge.
 
All Zoey could think about was Steven, imposing his will on her.

One more tug, and Zoey resisted once again.
 
She shook free and stood upright.

"No!"

The couple heard her outburst.
 
The sex stopped immediately, and the rear window rolled down.
 
When they saw Zoey standing several cars away they laughed and panicked at the same time.
 
They dressed as they climbed over each other, trying to get to the front seat.
 
The car sped away.

Victoria stood up and sighed, putting her hands on her hips.
 
Zoey was afraid of what might come next.
 
But Victoria didn't yell, didn't scream.
 
She simply shook her head sadly.

"Now I know how a hunter feels when a deer runs away from the deer-stand."

"I'm sorry," Zoey said.
 
"I didn't mean…."

She didn't know what to say.
 
Victoria turned around and grabbed her gently by the shoulders.
 
Her eyes were filled with compassion and understanding.

"It's okay.
 
I shouldn't have pushed.
 
I know this is all just so very new.
 
Hell, this is all new for me, too.
 
It's been a while since I've had a roommate."
 
She flashed Zoey a smile.
 
"But, this is something you're going to have to get.
 
Okay?"

Zoey nodded.
 
"Yeah."

"Let's get back to the house.
 
We'll enjoy that new Jacuzzi.
 
When it's time, we'll figure out the feeding part with a plan."

"That sounds good to me."

*****

The
time
arrived sooner than Zoey would have liked.
 
It was only a few days later, at dusk on Friday, when Victoria bounced down into the basement, dressed like she was ready for a night on the town in a short skirt and wide-necked blouse.
 
Zoey could barely wake up, and pulled the sheets over her head.
 
She'd slept in shorts and a tee shirt.
 
A bare leg dangled off the bed.
 
Victoria grabbed her ankle and shook it.

"Wake up," she said.
 
"You're supposed to be the young one here."

"I don't wanna," Zoey joked.
 
The scene reminded her of mornings at home, with her mother, during much happier times.

"C'mon.
 
Shower and get dressed.
 
We're going to go out and have some fun.
 
Maybe we'll even learn a thing or two."

When Victoria first made the offer to bring Zoey to Baltimore, she drooled at the thought of Baltimore nightlife.
 
Dancing, parties, guys, fun.
 
Part of her still looked forward to going out, but Victoria had been going over the nuances of feeding over the past few days.
 
There were so many details.
 
Listening for pulses and breathing, drink slowly, keep a firm hold on the subject, be constantly aware of the surroundings.
 
Zoey wasn't sure she'd be able to have fun with so much swimming through her head.

She'd gotten to know Victoria even more, and found herself enjoying her company.
 
Whenever Victoria decided it was time for her to leave she hoped they would remain friends.
 
Zoey liked to needle Victoria about her age, although she had no idea how old the vampire was.
 
Victoria took the humor in stride, and unleashed her own sharp barbs.
 
The past few nights they relaxed in the hot tub while they fought over music to listen to.
 
Victoria listened to music Zoey never even heard of.
 
The only thing about Victoria that drove Zoey crazy was her seeming love of nudity.
 
She had no problem stripping down without a warning, and preferred her time in the hot tub to be swimsuit-free.

"I don't wanna," she said again.

"You lazy-ass.
 
Alex is supposed to join us."

Zoey threw the sheets off.
 
A dagger of excitement that she wasn't proud of poked at her.

"Seriously?"

"Not at all.
 
Now get in the shower.
 
Shit, I feel like you're the daughter I never had."

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up.
 
A yawn escaped as she stretched and ran a hand through her hair.
 
The thought of the bed-head she currently suffered terrified her.
 
The alarm clock next to the bed read six o'clock.

Zoey crossed the basement as Victoria settled on the couch.
 
They continued their conversation in a normal tone, something that was still odd to her.
 
Vampires could engage with each other across a crowded room.

"Did you ever have any children?" Zoey asked.

Victoria didn't answer right away.
 
Zoey thought her curiosity might have stepped too far, and was ready to apologize when Victoria spoke.

"No.
 
Vampires can't have children, and I didn't have any before I became one.
 
I can only imagine the hell that would be.
 
Watching your children grow up and die before your eyes."

Zoey agreed completely.

Something felt different as she made her way to the bathroom.
 
She couldn't quite place her finger on it.
 
Closing the bathroom door behind her, she let the shower turn hot before sliding back the curtain.
 
After stripping her clothes off, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she dipped her foot into the steaming water.

"Holy shit."

"Zoey?" Victoria said.
 
"Are you okay?"

She didn't answer as she approached the mirror.
 
It almost felt as if she were looking at another person.

While her complexion was still a ghostly shade of pale, her shoulders no longer looked like the bones would poke through the skin.
 
Her cheeks were no longer sunken.
 
Her hair, while still a mess, was full of body and color.
 
Her breasts and hips had returned, more so than ever.
 
The curves she loved showing off in hole-covered jeans and short tee shirts were hers again.

How did that happen?
 
How did she miss it?
 
She didn't make a habit of staring into every mirror she saw.
 
Her figure had been returning to her ever since arriving to Baltimore, and she'd missed it.

The bathroom door slowly opened.
 
Zoey reached out with blinding speed and grabbed the knob before Victoria could get an eyeful.

"Whoa," she said.
 
"I'm a little naked in here."

"What's wrong?"

"Uh, nothing, actually."
 
She smiled, and even her teeth seemed brighter.
 
"I'm just a little…
perkier
than normal."

"Your breasts?" Victoria asked directly.
 
"Your ass?"

"Yeah.
 
I know how this is going to sound, but I don't think I've ever looked this good."

"Blood," Victoria said.
 
"It does a body good."

Zoey didn't understand the reference.

"Huh?"

"Never mind.
 
It's what being a vampire is all about, Zoey.
 
Take care of yourself, keep yourself well-fed.
 
And you'll live quite a while, and look good doing it."

"How old are you?
 
Like one-hundred?"

"I'm thirty-five."

"Bullshit."

"Just get in the shower, young one.
 
The city is out there waiting for us."

Zoey sighed, but found herself not as terrified of what lay ahead compared to the day before.

"Can't wait."

After her shower, Zoey stepped out into the basement wrapped in only a towel.
 
Victoria waited patiently with a hand on her hip.
 
Dangling from her other hand was the black dress she bought for her at the mall the other night.
 
Zoey let out a tiny smile when it dawned on her why Victoria insisted on everything one size up.

"Are you ready to impress all those boys you keep talking about?"

Zoey laughed.
 
The truth was she wanted to wear a tee shirt and a tight pair of jeans, but maybe Victoria had the right idea.
 
It felt as if her old life had ended, but her new life hadn't begun just yet.
 
There wasn't a better time to try something new.

"You know," Zoey said, lifting her towel a bit.
 
"My legs might be better than yours now."

"You wish."

*****

The music hurt, like Zoey knew it would.
 
She closed her eyes, trying to tune everything out.
 
Her head pounded inside her skull.
 
Music.
 
Laughing.
 
Dancing.
 
Fighting.
 
Drinking.
 
She smelled and heard everything.
 
The sensations were almost too much.
 
Even Victoria seemed uncomfortable when they first stepped foot inside the club, but seemed to have a handle on it now.