Forbidden Days (The Firsts) (6 page)

“Oh,” said Park.  Her mind was reeling now.  Genetic research was her life’s work.  And her professional curiosity just got whammed.   Huh.  A super virus that changed a living animal into another life form.  Ah, hell, this she had to study.  She was no longer along for the ride.  It was a mission, her life’s calling just got ramped into something likely no scientist had ever explored.  God, she couldn’t wait.  She glanced at him.

“Bas, has anyone ever studied this DNA altering virus?  I mean, do you have scientists who understand the medical aspect of this change?  For geneticists, this is the holy grail.”

“I don’t know the answer to that question.  I was serious before when I told you secrecy is sacrosanct.  They will destroy any threat to the race.  You know yourself what people are capable of, so if we were discovered, our lives would be over.  We would be guinea pigs.  Or cast as unholy abominations and either hunted down or imprisioned.  Or worse, the virus would somehow get weaponized.  There are too many scenarios that make it critical that we remain a tiny invisible minority. 
That
, your movies get right.  You understand what I’m saying?  I am trying to protect you, Park.  And a community of beings that have been around for a very, very long time.”

“Do you kill?”

Silence.  She felt bad for asking.  “I need to know, Bas.  Is it typical that you, or any of your race, kill when feeding?

He still didn’t answer her.  She knew that was her answer.  They did.  She felt his eyes on her even though it was too dark to see him clearly.

“It happens.  It isn’t necessary to kill to feed, but it happens.  Most of us don’t, if nothing else than to avoid detection or conflicts.  Dead bodies and missing people create conflict and suspicion.  And our method of feeding leaves a pretty distinct mark.  So, yes it happens, no, it isn’t typical.  And no, I don’t.”

Her small sigh wasn’t a release of relief, she hadn’t thought he did.  He’d been fair with her, kind, and her link with him had been growing by the hour.  Her read of him showed him to be a hard man, but not a cruel or even mean one.  She smiled to herself in the dark.  She could just picture him with a puppy.

A sharp snort drew her attention.  She swung her head over to see his white teeth illuminated by the LED lights on the dashboard panel.

“Puppies, I eat.”  Then he rolled over toward the window and closed his eyes.  She didn’t believe him, but thought maybe it was a good thing she didn’t have a pet when he broke into her home earlier tonight.

It wasn’t too long when Bas told her she needed to take an exit, and they continued a few miles off the highway to the left.  They were now at least an hour past where they’d been the last time.  But she knew.  He had to get out of the coming day.  It still blew her mind that this was happening to her, and that her companion was not human. 
Bad sci-fi
, she thought.  
This is not my world.  I’m stick in the mud, dyed in the wool, dull, dull, dull.  How did I end up traveling with a supernatural being that is supposed to be only an urban legend?

The “ultraviolet” free room for tonight was a cabin that had a basement located in an isolated camping area.  As they pulled up to the managers cabin, Bas asked her to keep the engine running.  Park turned to him.

“Do you want me to come with you?  I promise I’ll behave.  It might just look more legit if it’s a man and woman checking in.”

Bas tilted his head.  “You’re not getting this, are you?  It’s not a problem.  Alright, come with me.  I want you to see how we deal with the world.”

Slipping the keys in her pocket, Park followed him into the office, which was dismally lit and had too many taxidermy decorations.  An elderly man sat on a shabby, ancient, hideously patterned couch, stained from years of beer and god knew what else.   The whole place smelled like dirt and old smoke.  A curling column from the man’s cigar was a testament to the room’s aroma.  He startled when he saw the two people standing behind him.

“Ah, hey, didn’t see ya there.  Let me put this down over here…”

Bas stepped forward and caught his eye.  The cigar stalled halfway to the ashtray.  “Don’t bother,” Bas said, “You will give me the keys to a cabin with a basement, then you will go over and finish your television show.  You will not remember anyone being here tonight.  Even if someone questions you, the only thing you know is that you saw no one.”

The cigar smoking manager said nothing, reached up for a tarnished key that was attached to a small wood placard that had an 8 on it.  Bas glanced at the cabin map on the wall and steered Park out of the cabin, letting the door close with a small snick.

“And that is how we register for lodging.” 

Park started the car and headed to the right down a heavily treed lane.  “So, you guys steal everything?”

“You didn’t get my point.  We move through life in a manner that makes it easier.  We leave no trail if possible.  And no, we don’t pay for mundane services when we don’t have to.  It’s easier, and like I just said, safer.  The point of the lesson was that we use compulsion to control the world around us.  That way no one ever remembers who we are.”  He put his hand to his forehead and massaged his temple.  “Well, no one is supposed to.  That’s why you are where you are
.  You
are a special case.”

“Oh, lucky me.”

“That might be truer than you ever know.”

As they went deeper, the only light was the headlamps from the car, although daylight threatened, the sky was still dark.  It was eerie and Park felt a little panic rise up at the idea of being so isolated with someone who she trusted mostly on the faith of her bizarre talent she had not ever really understood.  As she got out of the car and went toward the back to get her overnight case, she felt his hand on her arm.  An instant calm overcame her.

“You have nothing to worry about, Park.  Relax.  You’ll get some good rest and we will continue tonight.”

“I have to give my lab a call when it gets later.  I’m usually in place by seven each morning, and I’ve already missed one day without notifying anyone.  So I’d better call.”

“I agree.  Do you have your mobile phone?”

“I do.  So I’ll keep it with me and give my staff a call by seven thirty.  That’s when my receptionist comes in.”  She gasped softly.  “Bennie.  Oh, hell.  She set me up for a blind date the night you abducted me.”

“I wish you wouldn’t use that word.”

“Why?  It’s true.  Anyway, I hope she didn’t accuse Zachary of anything.  He is such a nice guy.”

Bas stood there for a moment while she pulled her bag out of the car.  Why did it bother him that she was talking about dating another man?  To start with, she was nothing other than a blood-bond to him.  And the “date” was human, hardly competition for a vampire.  Competition?  Where the hell did that idea come from?  Other than his desire to find out what she was, and ultimately, hopefully, to get her home safely, and out of his life, she meant nothing to him.  She was sexy, he admitted he wanted her, and would have her before they parted, but that was nothing unusual either.  He was a very sexual being.  His conquests numbered in the thousands over his centuries of life.  She would just be another notch.  So, why the irritation?  It hurt his head to try to figure anything out tonight.  He still hadn’t caught up enough rest to be at his one hundred percent, and he had to be by tomorrow when he arrived home.

Park had opened the door to the cabin and switched on a lowlight faux candelabra in the main room of the cabin.  She dropped her bag on cushions thrown on a bench made of rough-hewn wood, then slipped off her shoes, wiggling her toes in gratitude for the freedom.  Driving was far more exhausting than working.  Bas wandered in, glancing at her.  She was chewing a piece of gum she’d found in her purse.

“You’re hungry, I’d forgotten. We can go get something for you.”

“No, I’m alright.  While you’re sleeping, I think I’ll go get some breakfast.  It’s too early now.”

“No, you shouldn’t be out there alone.  It isn’t safe.”

“Who’s going to hurt me?  Your vampire buddies have to go to ground, too, right?  Like you, they have to find shelter from the sun.  I’ll stay near the window, I promise, where I’ll get a hundred percent sun rays.  Really.  I’ll be safe.”

He had to admit she was right.  “Okay, but don’t take off.  You know I’ll find you again.  And I really will be pissed off then.  You don’t want that to happen.”

“I don’t.  I won’t leave.  I’ll get some breakfast, maybe a magazine, call work, then come back and nap for the rest of the day so I’ll be up to the next leg tonight.  How much longer is the trip?”

“Vancouver is probably another sixteen hours.  Another two nights.  Get a couple magazines.”

“Hmm.  Maybe I should just get a good book.  Maybe a post-apocalyptic thriller.  Bad guys, aliens.   No vampires.”

“Funny.  Okay, I’m going to check out the basement.”

Park threw herself down on the hard bench-couch and closed her eyes.  She didn’t wake up for another  hour, just as the sun peaked around the edge of the cabins front window.  A fluffy blanket had been laid across her.  It made her smile as she imagined him doing something so mundane.  She yawned and wandered over to the window, then stepped out the door.  It was a stunning morning.  Someone had cleared an area in front of the cabin so the sun would make it through to the small porch.  It was warm and delicious on her cool skin.  How awful it would be to never again be able to feel the sunshine on your face.  Dew covered the sparse grass that surrounded her bare feet, so she stepped back and went into the little kitchenette to see if there might be some coffee.  Maybe some little instant packets or something.   But the cupboards were bare.  That was okay, she intended to make her way to the little diner she’d seen about fifteen minutes down the road.  This morning she really was very, very hungry.  Another greasy fat-laden meal seemed inevitable.  Oh, well there was no end to how many minutes she could use the treadmill.

Bathroom facilities weren’t too bad, basic certainly, but more than adequate.  The shower nozzle provided a powerful spray and she was tempted to linger, but she wanted to get some food, get her call made, and get back here in case Bas needed her.  Like he would.  Well, you never knew.  Maybe vampires
did
occasionally need help.

It was an easy drive, the morning dawning warm with a coolness in the air.  Her favorite type of weather.  She was clean, rested, relaxed, and hungry on her way to eat.  There was a sharp newness to her life with Bas that brought a sense of worry, but also a sense of excitement and discovery.  The scientist in her was curious and impatient.  The woman was a little breathless and eager to see where this led.  Her life was good, but it had become very dull.   Lacked intensity and vitality.  So, on this lovely morning drive, she was feeling a little euphoric.

The diner was packed, likely the only one for some distance around, but she didn’t have to wait to be seated.  The waitresses here were busy, but they were friendly and seemed to like their jobs.  Two of them smiled warmly at Park as soon as she sat down and told her one of them would be right there.

Another waitress, slim, about Park’s age,with cropped shocking blonde hair passed by with a loaded tray.

“Take a look at the menu, sweetie,” she called out to Park.  “You don’t look like you’re from around her, and we got some really nice items.  Like stuff you likely never saw before. I’ll be right there.”

Park loved the friendly ambience.   Everyone here just looked so content.  It was infectious, as she realized she was feeling content, too.  Funny, the paths life sends you down sometimes.  So.  Food.

The waitress was right.  There were several unique dishes that were either regional or specifically unique to this diner.  Considering the large dining area and the filled seating, it must be pretty good.  She chose a breakfast monster, something that combined every food group and then some.  The blonde waitress grinned at her when she took the order five minutes later.

“You are gonna be puking that up, sweetie.  Did you see what’s in it?  They designed it for a lumberjack.”

“Yeah, I saw it, but I’m very hungry and it does look good.”

“Oh, it’s amazing.  A favorite, no doubt.  Okay, but I think I’ll bring you an alka-seltzer too.  You want some coffee with it?”

Park tilted her head.  “Um…no, I was thinking a large chocolate milkshake.”

Park’s waitress opened her eyes wide.  “Well, I don’t know where you’ll put it, but you got it.  Did ya hear we got the best milkshakes this side of the Rockies?”

“I hadn’t. Even better.  Can you put a rush on the shake?”

“See what I can do.”

Park just sat back and people watched, something she really never had done before.  She had been taught to avoid other people, to make herself unnoticed.  She had been taught that lesson through brutal punishment, like most of her other childhood lessons.  Lessons taught that strictly, you didn’t forget.  And yet today, she felt her own defiance…and the victory of choosing to do what she wanted to do.  Her mother was long out of her life, as well as the parade of nasty men that came and went weekly.  Mother held no power over her anymore.  And while Park would like to believe that, somewhere inside that little girl she used to be was still hiding in dark corners.

Not today.  Today, glorious rays of brilliant sunshine blasted through the very clean glass windows and Park felt like the other diners…happy.  When a few moments later, the blonde waitress came back with the shake, her eyes shined.  It was huge, a tower of whip cream well above the top of the glass.  And a shiny red cherry.  At that moment, Park believed she had never seen anything more beautiful.

The waitress smiled the entire way across the diner.  As she sat it in front of her guest, she whipped her hands into a presentation.  “Huh?  Did I tell you?  You know, if you drink this entire shake, and try to eat that Mountain breakfast when I bring it, I’m sitting right here and watching.  I gotta see this tiny body hold all that.”

Park reached for the overlong straw.  “Okay,” she squinted to make out the name tag on the waitress.  “Bernie.  Bernie?  My receptionists name is Bennie.  That’s funny.”