“Blood Bound”

2011 © All Rights Reserved

Chapter 2

It was a simple notion, the hierarchy of the food chain that is.  He who is the strongest is the one that survives, Leo mused.  After a century of roaming the lands of this great vast earth he had come to accept that simple fact of life.  Albeit was much easier to do when you were the one that sat on top of that food chain.

Ricardo Marino stood in the shadows of the alley way watching his Master. “I can’t believe that you are actually going to go through with it” he spat the words out with disgust.  The two of them were creatures that belonged to the night; predators that laid in wait.  Not beings that took up with a lesser species to play Betty Sue homemaker. 

When Leo made no response he continued to egg him on, “You are seriously going to take a bride with..with….her?”  he asked not even able to say the girls name.  It was as if it was the most despicable thing to ever be done, Leo consorting with a human of all things.

Leo glanced over his shoulder and glared back at Ric.  How dare he belittle his bride to be.  It was eleven years ago that he first set his plan into motion.  He took great care in picking the candidate and in less than twenty four hours he would go to her as promised and complete the ceremony, making her his for eternity. 

“She has a name but you will refer to her as your Mistress and you will treat her with the same respect that you show me”  Leo stated with an air of dangerousness surrounding him.  “She will be your superior and I expect you to bow to her as you bow to me.  Understood?!”

The warning was in the words and Ric heard them well.  He was not happy with his Masters decision but he wouldn’t dare to challenge him either.  He was no fool.  “Yes master” he answered bowing his head and taking several steps backwards.  He could literally feel the anger emanating from his Master, the fury that cautioned him to shut his mouth and give him some much needed space.

After searching his servants face for any sign of disagreement Leo stated, “Good” and  turned back around to peer out into the street.  It was time to hunt.  Time to choose his next victim so that tomorrow he would be at full strength when he went to his bride to be. 

It had been hell staying away from her all of these years, sticking to the shadows only watching her from the distance.  As a little girl she mesmerized him with her unruly blond curls and soft dove grey eyes.  As a woman she completely captivated him in every way imaginable. Yes, Leo thought to himself, he chose his bride very well when he saved little Shelby Tanner.  Very well indeed.

“I’ve found our mark” Leo said quietly zeroing in on a younger couple walking down the street.  It was a male and a female holding hands.  Young love, it was too bad they had no idea of how soon that love would come to an end.

“Follow me” he told Ric wrapping himself in a cloak of darkness disguising himself from the human eye.  The two stalked their prey down the street and around the corner to where the young couple stopped at a navy blue Toyota Camry in the back of a parking lot.  The light that should have lit up the parking lot had long since been blown out leaving only the dim glow of the moon to see by.  For beings such as him self and Ric it was no big deal, their eyes adjusted well to night vision.  Not such a good thing for the unexpecting couple just feet from them now. 

The situation couldn’t have been more perfect if he had imagined it himself, Leo thought.  Not another soul in sight, this was going to be like taking candy from a baby.  

Removing his cloak Leo stood just a step behind the couple, “Hello” he said, his tone both inviting and warning at the same time.  The female squealed at the sudden appearance of the two dark men while the male shoved her behind him; as if that would do either of them any real good.

“What…..what do you want?” the male said his teeth audibly chattering.  “Money?” he asked taking his wallet out of his back pocket and then pulling out a wad of green bills.  “Here” he stated nervously thrusting the cash in Leo’s face, “this is all we have.  Take it and just go- please”

Leo stared down at the male.  He was scared shitless, but yet he had enough nerve to try and stand up to him of all people.  The fear coming off the couple was only an appetizer.   It was the males liquid life force that would be the main course.

“You silly human, I do not want your money” Leo told him stepping forward so that he was now towering over him.  Leo was a good six inches taller than the male and had no problem letting him know exactly who was in charge.

The males eyes widened with surprise, “You don’t?” he said his voice quivering slightly as he spoke.  Leo slowly shook his head back and forth at the male offering up what could only be considered the true smile of a predator getting ready to strike.

“Then what is it that you want sir?” the male asked with in trepidation.  The female still cowered behind her male with silent tears tracking down her cheeks.  Leo had no qualms about what he was getting ready to, nor regrets.  It was just merely a way of life.

In true vampiric fashion Leo smiled wide now showing off his fangs only a second before he struck.  With a speed that defied gravity he pulled the prey in his arms and sank his teeth into his jugular, taking what it was that he required.  Blood.  Sweet, warm and rich blood that flowed easily down his throat warming him from the inside out. 

The female let out a noble scream but all too soon it was cut off when Ric struck; cutting off all sounds except the quiet gulping of two predators devouring their meals under the darkened midnight sky.

Shelby sat in a booth by herself sipping straight black coffee and nibbling on a baguette smothered with powdered sugar.  While waiting for her friend she started to read Nicholas Sparks’ latest novel that she had picked up the night before.  Shelby loved to read, it was just that she didn’t normally afford herself the luxury of buying books.  This one time though she decided to splurge and bought it as an early birthday present to herself.

The door to the small coffee shop chimed when Anissa Warren waltzed in to meet with her long time friend of six years.  Her waist length brown hair was neatly pulled back into an exquisite French braid and she looked every bit of the famous Vogue model that she was.

“Hey there birthday girl” Anissa said cheerily while sliding into the booth seat opposite of her.  Pulling a small package from her purse she dropped it in front of her friend and smiled at her expectantly.

Shelby looked at the brightly wrapped box with the metallic bow taped to the top of it and frowned.  “What’s this?” she asked narrowing her gaze on her friend, “I thought we agreed no presents” she reminded her pushing the box away.

Anissa laughed, “No, you said no presents; I was just standing there when you said it.  I never agreed to anything” she said knowingly, “Besides, when was the last time that I ever listened to anything you said in the first place” she added pushing the box back to her friend, “Now, quit being childish and open it for goodness sakes.”

Sighing loudly in true drama Queen fashion, Shelby dog eared the place she was at in her book and closed it, sitting it on the table by her coffee.  Pursing her lips she studied the box before picking it up.  “You really shouldn’t have done this” she looked up at Anissa and said.

Anissa simply shrugged her shoulders, “What’s done is done; now open the damn thing why don’t ya!” she practically shouted impatiently.

Shelby rolled her eyes but started to meticulously unwrap the gift.  Relieving it of its outer shell she lifted the top and gasped at what she saw.  “This is too much” she whispered lightly tracing the diamond crusted rose pendant with the tip of her finger.  It really was the most gorgeous piece of jewelry that she had ever laid her eyes on and that was the very reason that she could not accept such an exquisite gift.

With regret she put the top back on the box and slid it back to her friend.  “I can’t take this” she told her determinedly.

Anissa arched her brows in amusement, “and may I ask why not?”  There was no way that she was going to let Shelby not accept the gift.  She had it specially ordered for her on her last trip to Venice and by God, after all the trouble she went through to get it delivered on time she was going to take it.

“Look at it” Shelby yelped as if she should have already known exactly why.  She waved her hand over the box frantically, ”You know that I can’t accept something that expensive from you“.

“Puh-lease” Anissa said sarcastically, “This is pocket change for me, you can and you will take the gift” she told her very matter of factly and pushed the box back to her friend.

Shelby lifted her chin defiantly and set it in that stubborn way that she tended to do when she was driven to get her way, “I’m not taking it” she said and crossed her hands of her chest, daring Anissa to challenge her. 

“Fine” Anissa said picking the box up and making a move to stand.  “If you don’t want it then I’ll just have to toss it in the trash”.  Anissa knew exactly what she was doing. 

“What?” Shelby asked sounding genuinely appalled that she would consider doing that.

“You don’t want it and I don’t need it, sooooo….” she said drawing out the word and pointing at the trash can, "I’m throwing it away”.  Anissa was hard pressed to hide the smile from the look on Shelby’s face, she knew then that she had her.

“Fine” Shelby snapped sounding very much like a put out teenager.

“Fine what?” she replied this time not bothering to hide her smile.

Holding out her hand, palm up Shelby said “Give it back”.

Anissa teasingly waved the small box in front of her face, “You mean this?” she asked.

She audibly growled in response, “Yes, what else would I possibly be talking about.”

Anissa  glanced down at her friend, “I’ll do you one even better” she told her taking the lid off the box.  Carefully she pulled out the gold chain that the pendant was hooked to and held it up to admire the expert quality of the piece.  When the light hit the pendant at just the right angle it let off a cataclysmic prism of rainbow colors.  It was magnificent.

Turn around, Anissa told Shelby while holding the necklace.  She turned around begrudgingly and offered Anissa her back.  “Come on now” Anissa said with a smack of her lips, “A little more enthusiasm would be greatly appreciated here”.

Shelby chuckled but conceded.  She held up the back of her hair and let her friend place the necklace on her neck.  “There” Anissa said when she was done.

Turning around Shelby fingered the pendant and smiled, “Thank you” she said tentatively.  No one had ever given her something so special in her life, not even her own parents.  She knew that she would treasure this for as long as she lived.

“Your welcome” Anissa answered back proudly.  “It suits you” she added reaching down to pick up her purse.  As much as she would enjoy sitting and chatting with her friend for hours on end, it just wasn’t possible.  So many places to go and people to see, a models work is never done.

“Your leaving?” Shelby asked not bothering to hide the disappointment in her voice.

Anissa frowned at the look in her face, “I’m afraid so sweetheart.  I have a plane to catch in….” she glanced down at her watch and scrunched up her nose, “Now, thirty minutes.  I have to  be in London before sunrise for the new Gucci shoot and If I’m not there on time, my agent will have a cow- literally.”

Shelby didn’t like it, but she understood.  Her friend made it big and was living out her dream.  She couldn’t fault her for that.  Standing up she hugged her friend good-bye and fought to withhold the tears threatening to spill from her eyes, “Thank you again” she whispered at her ear.

Anissa sat her back from her and smiled, “You take care of yourself, okay?  I’ll call you and we can do lunch when I come back to town”.

“Sure” Shelby agreed nodding her head, “that sounds like a plan to me“.

Anissa left and Shelby sank back into the booth.  It was nice seeing her friend even for the brief encounter that it was.  Staring at her now cold coffee and hardened baguette she sighed.  Twenty one years old and she was sitting all alone.  Alone in a coffee shop like an old bitty.  She was probably going to grow up as one of those old spinsters surrounded with nothing but a houseful of cats for company.  Yep, her life was looking real rosy if it continued on the straight arrow course that it was currenlty on.

Depressed, Shelby stood with her new book in one hand and her trash in the other.  If she was going to feel sorry for herself she might as well go back to her apartment and do in the comfort of her ratty old night clothes and bed.  At least there she could wallow by herself and not worry about making an humiliating public display.

Ten minutes later Shelby was digging her key out of her purse while balancing her book under her arm.  It took a minute but she finally found it, “A-ha, there you are” she stated aloud talking to herself. 

Unlocking the door she stepped into the apartment and was instantly struck with an uncanny feeling.  Someone was in there, Shelby could sense them.  She didn’t understand how she knew, just that she was certain she wasn’t alone.  For a moment she silently debated with herself the concept of fight or flight when a familiar voice filled the darkened room.

“Hello my sweet”  he said his voice sounding as smooth as honey on a hot summer day.  It washed over her like a hot wave of awareness.  “It’s been quite a while” he said snapping his fingers and the room suddenly coming to life with a dozen lit candles. 

Shelby took one look at the mans face when recognition hit.  “It’s you” she said sounding completely and utterly shocked.  The man stood  and started for her when she began to slightly sway back and forth before eventually passing out stone cold.

Leo lunged and reached for her just as her head would have hit the floor.  That wasn’t exactly the welcoming he was expecting but it didn’t really matter though.  She was here, in his arms and that was all that counted.  A century of waiting and a whole lot of patience has led him to this point in his life.  The time has finally arrived; he was taking his bride home.