When I finally opened my eyes, the sun was shining brightly through the windows, glistening off the contours of Zac's smooth, beautiful skin. I turned over, draping my arm over him and smiled, closing my eyes. "Good morning, sleepyhead," Zac said with a smile, and then kissed me gently on the cheek. I yawned, stretching before sitting up. It really felt good to relax and rejuvenate my body, especially since Zac was safe and our case was over. "Did you sleep?" I asked, not wanting the moment to end. "No," Zac replied, trailing a finger along my cheek, "but I enjoyed watching you sleep." I rolled my eyes and turned over."Here," Zac said, pulling me to a sitting position. "Time to get up, sleepyhead." "Why?" I asked in protest, then turned over with a smile and curled up on the pillow, shoving it under my head. Zac tried to pull it from me, but we ended up tearing it in half as feathers flew over the bed and I tackled him, laughing, then pushed him back onto the bed with a sm
"Come on, everyone!" Rick announced, heading toward the door. "Let's not keep Abbott waiting." He looked at Zac, and added, "Uh ... sorry ... your father." "Hey, don't change anything on my account!" Zac replied with a shrug then took my hand as we walked out the door and climbed into the back of the van along with John. Rick and Annie took the front.Soon, we were on NY-28 S headed toward Washington D.C. when Annie announced, "Hey, maybe we can go shopping in D.C. after we see Abbott." Rick laughed, rolling his eyes and smiling. But this time, I couldn't argue with her. "Sounds good," I replied, as Zac laughed, watching Rick as he moaned and shook his head, rolling his eyes again. "I need some clothes badly." "Oh, goodie!" Annie replied, joyously clapping her hands and bouncing up and down in her seat as I laughed. "Annie, you'll never change," I replied, secretly glad of it. I'd really missed her over the last few years and was glad we were all together again. "But you w
"You can have a seat, Ms. Star." A pretty receptionist in her mid-twenties greeted me with a friendly smile. "I'll let Dr. Abbott know you're here. He's expecting you." Nodding curtly, my stiletto heels tapped rhythmically as I walked toward the seat she had indicated. I like heels. They make me look older. I know, usually women want to look younger. But I'm not like most women. Most women aren't vampires. Once seated, I looked around the sparse, metallic room and breathed in a sigh, feeling the rush of air fill my lungs. I really don't need air to live. In fact, I can go for long periods of time without the lifegiving substance; hours, possibly a day if I have to. But to go without it for an extended period of time feels more and more uncomfortable the longer I go without it, until finally, my lungs feel as if they might explode if I don't breathe in. Breathing deeply now, feeling the air rush into my lungs, feels comforting, life giving. Although I don't need air to live, blood
As I said before, I work for a covert branch of the CIA that doesn't exist, and Dr. Sam Abbott is my contact. Or, at least, that's the name I know him by. This branch is so secretive and covert that we are only called in times of dire emergency to do a job. It doesn't take many of us. Yes, don't be so shocked, I'm not the only one. Anyway, a few of us can go in without anyone knowing and create the devastation of a whole army. Ten of us can take down a human army with ease. Then, of course, humans take the credit. That suits me just fine, since our existence must remain secret.Also, vampires are not made frivolously. For one thing, most of us do not want to take over the human race. Notice I said most. But every few years, a sadistic idiot comes along that wants to take over the human race and thinks he can rule the world. Then we're called in to take him, or her, down quietly. Does Hitler ring a bell? Another oxymoron. He wanted the perfect human race, but if they only knew what he
Rick steered his Mercedes SUV onto US-50 E on our way to Maryland. Great. I wondered where we were going, but didn't feel the inclination to ask. "Clothes?" I asked Rick, who was concentrating intently on the road even though he didn't need to. His reflexes were so great that he could deflect an accident in the time it takes to flutter an eyelash. "Packed," Rick responded. His bright green eyes never left the road. All vampire's eyes are green. He must have a lot on his mind. Out of anyone in the world, he was the one person I trusted the most. I would give my life for him, since he once gave me mine. I nodded. Not that it mattered. I could always get something when we arrived. But if we were going to some remote area, it might draw attention if I started receiving weekly deliveries from Sacks Fifth Avenue. I leaned back, settling in for a long ride, thinking of Rick, and how it all began. ***My father and I lived in Boston, Massachusetts when we first met Rick, Fredrick, as
Although I was supposed to be in the other room actively working on my embroidery sampler, I stood with my ear pressed tightly to the door, listening and intrigued. I so much wanted to join in their cause. It didn't seem fair that I should be left out, as I was as ardent a patriot as my father and Fredrick. The lights grew dim in the firelight as I listened silently to their plotting through the door. Suddenly, the sound of horse's hooves pounding against the dirt, the roaring of burning torches, and the shout of men's voices created a great commotion outside. Immediately, I jumped back as the solid oak doors of the drawing room flew open. I looked at the men with wide eyes. The horse's hooves dug into the dirt, stopping abruptly outside our door. "Douglas Starland!" a man yelled from outside, not bothering to knock on the door. "I know you're in there!" My father held a hand to his lips, then spoke quickly in hushed tones. "Stay here and be silent," he told the men and I. "I'll
Outside, I heard screaming as I struggled to open the door. Men screamed as they flew from their horses and thudded deftly against the house and upon the ground. A few of the men inside jumped out the back window, while another pushed me forcefully out of the way and opened the front door. Immediately, he was shot down in cold blood by a British soldier. Crimson blood spewed from his chest within the cold night air. I quickly flew to my father's side as I rushed out the door. His starched white shirt was drenched in maroon blood, muted in the moonlight. I held his head in my lap as the fighting continued, for he was in no condition to be moved. "Father ..." I struggled with the words, but they wouldn't move past the lump forming within my throat. Tears coursed down my cheeks and onto my father's shirt, mixing with his blood. "Abigail, run!" Father said as loudly as he could, but it was more of a whisper. Crimson blood trickled from the side of his mouth. He coughed, and more blood s
"Go ahead," I replied, leaning back in the seat. "Have your fun." Rick was laughing so hard he was crying. "Oh, thanks, I needed that!" he said, now dabbing at his eyes. He knew how much I hated small towns. Boring. Not enough action. But if we were trying to protect someone, that's the best place to be. In a small town, you can hide in the open and no one will notice a thing. Cooperstown was in upstate New York and as small as small town gets. "Okay," I said, having had enough. "You've had your fun." A second later, Rick was still trying to suppress a smile. "If you were anyone else ...""Yeah, yeah ..." Rick replied. "You'd miss me too much." "Yeah, like a hole in the head," I mumbled, then changed the subject. "What's his name?""Who?" Rick was still dabbing at his eye, trying to collect himself. I punched him in the arm. "Okay, okay! I surrender!" Rick was still smiling, but managed to pull himself together. "The kid's!" I said, trying to get Rick to focus, which