PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (11 page)

power to grab a man, woman or child from the street on a whim and throw them into a cell. He mostly followed orders from

the noblemen, but sometimes he was the highest ranking nobleman in the area.”

“Innocent people were thrown in the cells?”

“Yes.”

“Well, what if they proved they were innocent?”

Ephraim chuckled without humor. She watched his hands shake harder. Something was upsetting him. Without thinking she

reached over and covered his hand with hers. His hand almost immediately stopped shaking, but he didn’t look at her. He

continued speaking instead.

“They didn’t care. You were in that cell until someone paid on your behalf or someone higher up with more powerful blood

spoke on your behalf. You were starved, deprived of liquid. If you were lucky you were placed in a cell with a small opening

for a window so you could count the days. That was one of the worse things about being in a cell without light. Days and nights

went by and you couldn’t keep track. It was torture not to know how long you were in the cell.” He spoke as if he knew. She

could feel the dread of his words.

She didn’t notice his thumb caressing her hand as he spoke. “If you were smart you could follow the hours by the sounds of the

guards changing shifts or figure out when night came based on the rats.”

“Rats?” Mrs. Adle asked, sounding horrified.

“Rats rarely came out during the day. They mostly came during the night when the guards were asleep and no one was walking

the corridors with a candle or oil lamp. Rats hate light.”

“How did the prisoners get rid of the rats?” Joshua asked.

Ephraim turned his hand over so he could lace his fingers with Madison's. He continued to run his thumb over her skin. He was

surprised he could be this close to her and control his hunger even with her blood screaming for him. He wanted nothing more

than to taste her, but he controlled it. Every now and then his fangs would begin to lower and he would run his tongue over

them sending them back. She had so much control over him and she didn't even know it.

“If you were in there long enough you would pray for a visit from a rat,” he said casually.

“Why?” Brad asked.

“Food. The guards didn’t give much food, not enough to live on and not often and most families couldn’t afford to feed a

relative in the cells. A rat provided liquid from the blood and nourishment from meat.”

“Gross!” Jill’s boyfriend said.

“So, they just sat in their cells?” Joshua asked.

“No, they were often taken out of the cells for the amusement of the guards or punishment from the magistrate.”

“What did they do?”

“The prisoners were whipped, caned, tortured in any and every way possible or they were killed. Most didn’t survive a

beating. The cuts became infected and that’s usually how they died if starvation didn’t get them first.”

“How sad,” some of the women said.

“That sucks.” Joshua said plainly.

David laughed. “He’s kidding. It wasn’t that bad and it wasn’t like that with the nobility at all. The nobility cared deeply for

the lower people. They were the backbone of the society after all. They would want to keep the workers happy so they would

produce.”

Madison saw Ephraim’s jaw clench. “You really believe that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I’ve studied it for years.”

Ephraim released her hand and sat back. “You’re the expert.” He picked up his fork and continued to eat. After a minute

everyone else returned their attention to their plates. She could tell from their expressions that they trusted and believed

Ephraim.

She looked down at her hand. It felt very warm. She could still feel the hot path where his thumb caressed her skin. Her entire

hand tingled from his touch. What was it about this man?

David could hold her hand and all she felt was discomfort. She didn’t like his touch, but he was polite and attentive. If she was

honest she'd admit that he was a little arrogant. She knew from some of her own research that Ephraim was correct. The justice

system back then was inhumane.

Everyone ate, but kept looking back at Ephraim, hoping he would talk again. Joshua leaned in. "Are you okay?”

Ephraim forced a smile. “I’m okay.”

“I believe you, you know,” Joshua said in a loud whisper.

“Thanks. Eat your vegetables. I heard your Grandma made a chocolate cake.”

Joshua dug in. The boy loved cake. Ephraim ate slowly and kept his eyes down. Madison noticed Grandma watching him. She

looked worried.

“Joshua, I was planning on taking your sister to Boston next weekend. The museum is holding an exhibition on nineteenth

century art if you want to come. It depicts what life was
really
like back then if you want to know.”

“No, no thank you. I was hoping to go fishing again with Ephraim.,” Joshua said without looking up from his plate.

Ephraim nodded, keeping his eyes on his plate as he pushed his food around. “You’re always welcome to join me as long as

your Grandmother and Madison say it’s okay.”

“Why wouldn’t he ask his mother?” David asked, looking confused.

Madison opened her mouth to answer, she really needed to tell him the truth, when the door to the dining room opened.

“I’m so sorry I’m late. One of the other bartenders called in sick and….David? What are you doing here? Crystal is looking

everywhere for you!”

“Who’s Crystal?” Joshua asked.

David opened his mouth and then shut it. All eyes moved between David and Candy.

“Crystal is David’s girlfriend of course. She works with me at the, er..club.”

All eyes fixed on David. Candy walked around the table, oblivious to the change in the room.

“Oh, before I forget, she told me that if I ran into you tonight to ask you to pick up more diapers for the baby.”

Chapter 6

Ephraim dropped his fork onto his plate. He leaned back in his seat, keeping his eyes on David. David fidgeted in his seat. He

was sweating profusely and looking around nervously.

“Everyone, leave now,” Ephraim said in a cold level voice.

David stood up.

“Not you. Sit down.”

“What’s going on?” Candy asked, sounding confused.

“Why don’t you stay, Candy?” Ephraim’s voice was gentle, but everyone knew it wasn’t a request. It was an order.

“Okay.” Candy sat down in the seat Brad vacated. The men threw David a glare as they left the room.

“I want to stay, too!” Joshua said.

Without taking his eyes away from David, Ephraim pulled his wallet out and opened it. He pulled out two fifties. “Since it’s

my fault that no one was able to finish this lovely dinner that your grandmother cooked I’ll treat, go order enough pizza for

everyone.”

Joshua looked at the money in his hand and back at David. He wanted to stay, but pizza was pizza after all. “Can I get a

meatball and mushroom pizza?”

“You can get whatever you want,” Ephraim said. “And if you keep everyone out of here then you can even keep the change.”

“Cool!” He ran out of the room, leaving David, Ephraim, Mrs. Buckman, Madison and Candy alone.

David started to stand up. “This is just a misunderstanding that’s all….I swear….I…I’ll just be going,” he stammered.

“Sit down, now!” Ephraim roared. Everyone jumped. David practically fell back into his chair.

Madison’s face was bright red. She’d never been so embarrassed or felt so used in her life. Part of her wanted to run, but she

needed to find out who this man was. The man she considered giving herself to. Oh god, she wanted to curl up into a ball and

die. This was so humiliating.

“Mrs. Buckman, if I promise to answer all of your questions later will you leave the room now? I promise to handle this

properly.” Still he looked at David.

Her grandmother sighed and nodded. She trusted him to handle this situation the same as any of her other problems. “Thank

you, Ephraim.”

“Come on, this is just a mistake!” David pleaded.

“Candy, I have a few questions for you and then you can leave as well, okay?” Ephraim asked.

Candy looked confused, but nodded. “Do you know this man?”

“Yes.”

“From?”

“He comes into the club most nights. He lives with Crystal and they have a baby. Why? What is going on here?”

“Where does he work?”

“A bookstore.”

“Did he go to college?”

Candy laughed. “Are you kidding? He just got his GED last month.”

David’s face turned bright red.

“What is going on here?” Candy demanded.

“Nothing. Candy, why don’t you go make sure that Joshua is ordering enough pizza, please.” She stood up and left, throwing

one last look at them. “Lock the door from the inside,” Ephraim softly ordered.

He waited until he heard the door click shut before he stood up. David jumped to his feet. He grabbed the carving knife from

the roast beef platter and held it up in front of him while he backed away and moved towards the locked door.

Ephraim gently took Madison’s arm and pushed her against the wall. Without hesitation he stepped in front of David. “You

owe the lady an apology and an explanation.”

David licked his lips. “I’m leaving.”

“No, you’re not. You’re apologizing. Why did you lie and date her if you had a girlfriend and a baby at home?”

David looked at her and gave her a weak smile. “I’m sorry it was just a bet.”

“A bet?” she asked, stepping forward. She was going to slap him!

Ephraim took another step, placing himself directly in front of David. David held the knife up with a shaky hand. “Get that

damn thing out of my face, boy.”

David shook his head. “No, you’re going to hit me!”

“Of course I am and you’re only pissing me off more with that damn knife!” Ephraim reached out and grabbed the knife by the

blade, ripping it out of David’s hands and tossing it behind him and away from Madison.

Madison scrambled to pick up the knife before either man could pick it up again. She grabbed it and stepped away quickly

looking at the blade, shocked by all the blood dripping down the blade.

“Now, you were telling us about a bet?” Ephraim prompted. If his hand hurt it didn’t show. He stalked forward as David

retreated.

“It was stupid. She came into the bookstore a month ago and the guys and I took a bet who could nail her.” He held up his

hands. “I didn’t know it would take this long! I didn’t mean to keep up this act this long. I swear it was just a bet!”

Ephraim shot a quick look back at Madison. She was crying. Ephraim fought for control as his teeth descended. “Your eyes…

what’s wrong with your eyes?” David asked nervously. Ephraim turned his head before Madison could see.

“Madison, please leave,” he said in a soothing voice.

“No.” Her voice broke.

“Madison, now!” he roared. He couldn’t control it any longer. He ran his tongue over his fangs, trying to send them back, but

they refused to go. His hands shook with rage and the need to tear this bastard apart.

Madison took a deep breath. She couldn’t leave, she just couldn’t. “No, I’m staying.”

“Damn it, Madison, leave now!”

“No!”

Ephraim opened his eyes and turned back to look at David. “Oh my God! What the hell is this?” He grabbed a chair and flung it

at Ephraim and ran for the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Ephraim demanded as he moved in front of David, cutting him off. David stumbled back

against the table. His entire body began to shake.

“Please, I’m so sorry…so sorry…I’ll never do anything like this again I swear!” He sobbed uncontrollably.

Ephraim grabbed David’s shirt with one hand, raising him off the ground until David was looking down at him. His arms and

legs flailed wildly.

“If you ever talk to her or about her ever again I will get you. I don’t care where you are I will come for you. There is no

window I can’t crawl through, no door I can’t open, no place is safe from me. I know your scent now. I can hunt you down

anywhere you go. Do you believe me, David?” Ephraim asked in cold calculating voice.

“Y-yes!” he cried uncontrollably.

“Good. I’m going to let you leave now. You are not to speak of this to anyone. If I find out you spoke of me I will kill you. Do

you understand?”

“Yes!” The scent of urine hit the room. Ephraim looked down at the floor and stepped back away from the pool of urine

forming on the floor, taking David with him. This man was not going to talk.

“Is this real?” David asked in a high pitched voice.

Keeping his eyes locked on David, Ephraim grabbed one of David’s hands and brought it close to his face. “Stick out your

finger.”

“No!”

“Do it!”

His hands shook violently as he stuck out his index finger. Ephraim brought the finger to his mouth and ran it over one of his

fangs.

“Ouch!” David whimpered. The man was weak. It was no more painful than a needle prick. Several drops of blood hit

Ephraim’s lip. As David pulled his hand away Ephraim licked the blood and cringed. He turned his head away from Madison

and spit the blood back out.

He turned his head back. Things were different now. He had to handle this differently. “David, I don’t know how to tell you

this,” he said in a much calmer voice than the emotions raging inside of him demanded.

“What?”