Pounding at the door woke me up abruptly, and I squeaked as I sat up, jerking backwards in self-defense, trying to piece together where I was. Alexandre had me in his arms in seconds.
"Carys, look at me, it's ok. Yes, ok we're up!" He flung at the door, then turned back to me. "Carys, you're safe, you're with me." He held my face gently and the scent of libraries and gardens surrounded me as he pulled me in to his chest. I felt my body relax, until I realized I felt entirely too much skin on skin contact.
"Hey-where's my pants?" I accused. Alexandre chuckled.
"Oh, after my umm.. breakfast... you said something about it being too hot? And then you kicked them off. I swear I didn't lay a finger on them." Alexandre's eyes twinkled. I did vaguely remember him coming back and his skin feeling very hot to the touch.
"We choose to believe the knight's story of valor-this time." I sniffed, sticking my nose in the air. Alexandre gaped.
"When did I tell you I'd been knighted?" He asked.
"You were?" I was dumbfounded.
"No." He laughed, wrestling me down and tickling me mercilessly.
"Hurry up you two We have to have you at the precinct in half an hour." The cop called through the door.
"So where did you feed off of those two? I assume it was them? Or do I wanna know?" I taunted Alexandre ruthlessly.
"Hey, first of all, lived through those sexual revolutions, remember? You act like I would have even the slightest embarrassment about preference of male or female partners, and you would be very wrong. Secondly, that first guy quite enjoyed himself. You see this area on the inner thigh can be quite...sensitive..." And with that, he nipped at it with his teeth and I nearly squealed again, muffling the noise with a hand.
"Consent, CONSENT." I said, stretching the word out as I swung a pillow at him and wriggled out of his grasp, trying to avoid the inevitable fusion of pleasure and pain coursing through my body that the gentle bite had caused. Alexandre chuckled, but apologized to me sincerely.
"Come on you two-move it!" Came the call from the other side of the door.
"Should we tell him we're vampires and can be ready and waiting in the car in two minutes flat?" Alexandre asked, deadpan.
"Nah, he'd never believe us." I answered, and sighed as I went to fetch my bag. Within five minutes both of us were out of the room fully prepared for the day, sunglasses, jackets and all. Even the room was tidied.
"Uh jeez, I didn't expect you all to be done that fast or I wouldn't have rushed you like that." The cop said. "Partner's downstairs checking everything's in order, soon as we get the word we head out. Might as well sit down and relax a mo, I guess. You'all want some breakfast or drinks or anything?" The guy scratched the back of his head and as he did I saw a jagged puncture on his wrist peek out from his sleeve. I glanced at Alexandre as he answered in the negative with some small amount of amusement. I wondered if he was thinking of 'Dracula' like I was. I had seen nearly all the films in addition to reading the book numerous times, and a small smile was playing at the corners of my mouth. The minutes ticked by as we waited in silence. Finally, the other cop returned, motioning us to follow him. He led us down the hall and staircase, and out the door. I felt my muscles tighten as we followed him into the parking lot. I must have smelled of anxiety because Alexandre's head suddenly snapped in my direction and he dropped our bags and grabbed me quickly in a tight hug, halting our progress.
"Do you need a moment Carys?" He murmured. I shook my head.
"No, I want to get this over with." I said through bared teeth. Alexandre leaned back to look at me.
"Ah." He said quietly.
"Hey, what's the hold up?" One of the cops asked.
"Ah what?" I responded.
"Just one moment please." Alexandre smiled patiently at the cop.
"Hurry it up!" He snapped.
"I should have drained that fool." Alexandre grumbled.
"Ah, WHAT." I demanded angrily.
"It's nothing Carys." He said, tenderly pushing the hair behind my ear. "I just wondered when the anger would surface, and I see it has. We'll get through it like we have everything else." He picked up our bags with one hand, kissed me on the forehead and wrapped an arm around my waist. I crossed my arms. I couldn't think of an angry retort. Alexandre chuckled lightly and kissed the tip of my nose.
"You look like a petulant child Carys, let's go before they try to make us." Alexandre lightly tugged me forward, and though I resisted a second or two, I let him pull me towards the car. The car ride was silent, and I spent the majority of the time purposefully ignoring everyone, but Alexandre still kept his fingers loosely entwined with mine, a fact I was secretly grateful for.
The car approached an old brick building with no signs to indicate what it was even used for. If it wasn't for the various police cars parked in front, I never would have guessed it was used as a police station. A harsh faced woman in a crisp business suit was waiting outside, looking at her watch in irritation. When she saw us get out of the car, she threw her hands up in the air while walking towards us briskly.
"Finally! You do realize some of us have actual jobs to do, don't you?" She snapped at the men, then turned to me "Oh this must be her, you poor dear! You're so pale! Oh it looks like you've been sick a while, and you've had a bit of work done, too?" I blanched and bared my teeth "And your teeth have been fixed! This gentleman has been good to you, hasn't he? I'd stay with him too if he was doing the same for me." I cut off a growl building in my
throat. "Oh my name's Rhonda by the way, I'm sorry we have to put you through this my girl, but if there's any chance, any chance at all you can recognize her..." Rhonda prattled on as she led me by the arm inside. I looked helplessly at Alexandre, reaching behind me for his hand. I needed him to support me right now. He gripped my fingers lightly. The woman led me down a complicated set of hallways, with a brief elevator ride to a dark narrow room with a long dark window.
"Dear girl, what we're going to do is, you and your gentleman friend are going to be separated for this part, so you're going to have to let him go." Rhonda continued, reaching to separate our hands, I yanked Alexandre closer and she quickly withdrew, stuttering for a moment. "But what we're going to do is have some people come into the room behind this glass and see if you recognize any of the m ok?" Rhonda began ushering Alexandre out and I looked at him in panic.
"You'll be ok Carys, I'll be on the other side of this door if you need me. If you can't take it, tell them and I'll be here in an instant. No matter what." His voice was almost a growl at the end. I shivered and nodded.
"Are you ready dear?" Rhonda asked as they shut the door on Alexandre.
"No, but let's do this." I snarled.
"That's the spirit." She replied and told someone over an intercom "Send them in." A line of people paraded into the room opposite me, and I shut my eyes dizzily.
"Have a nice, long look dear. Do you recognize any of them?" Rhonda instructed. The room spun around me and I felt the warmth of my own blood soaking my clothes, the smell of mold in my nostrils, the crunch of broken concrete. My eyes jerked open to be confronted by a long line of women. I gazed at them all, took in every face, even though vampirism gave me enhanced comprehension I took my time, then I began to laugh maniacally. I slammed my fist into the glass. I heard a crack, and the women on the other side jumped. Suddenly I heard a commotion in the hall where Alexandre was.
"No, you don't understand, I need to get in there, NOW!" Alexandre roared, and the sounds of a scuffle intensified.
"None of them." I said quietly to Rhonda. "I don't recognize a single one." Outside the door, the commotion stopped. I think Alexandre understood from my expressionless voice that I was telling the truth.
She wasn't here.