Maxwell
An overextended stretch wakes my body up. My joints twinge with pain and my muscles ache from malnourishment. Looking around the hotel room that’s been my home away from home, my patience wears thin. It’s as if staying in a stranger’s home and having to watch your every step. The thick dark curtains that line each window are the only thing to resemble my home, the only thing to give hope to this wretched place. The only thing that’s pleasing is the fact that the streetlamps are beneath the fourth floor room, keeping any light at night nonexistent.
I find myself pacing the entire length of the room, entering a room and immediately exiting it. Boredom eats at me. I need to see Charlie even though I’ll have plenty of her soon enough. Within minutes, I stand outside her home. All the lights are off and her friend Juliet continually pounds on the front door. Her panic settles into every inch of my body. If she has no idea where Charlie is when she should be at home something may be wrong.
More than thankful that I started the connection between us last night brings much relief to my strained body. I know exactly where she is. A grueling five minutes later, I stand outside an office building. The name of the business is in large black letters above the door, Little Miss Creative. A breath I didn’t realize I was holding finally leaves my dead lungs as I stand outside of Charlie’s business, her pride and joy she talked so fondly of the other night.
Bending down just outside the front doors, I pick up a fake rock that’s mixed in with an abundance of real rocks. Occasionally, I peek through the glass doors of the brick building to make sure she doesn’t spot me while I fidget with the stone. The back compartment on the rock opens easily to reveal a key that’s hidden inside. There’s an identical rock just like this one outside her house as well.
Flipping the spare key in my hand, I recall when it was placed here seven months ago. Charlie was unable to come into work due to an illness, leaving Morgan in charge. Instead of giving her a permanent key, Charlie requested that a spare be placed.
Unlocking the door as quietly as possible, my mind wanders back to her sick body. The flu attacked her immune system for days, leaving her helpless and immobile. Juliet and Morgan took turns checking up on her, along with bringing her soup. As soon as she accepts me, she’ll never have the burden of illnesses again, but the way her attitude is, you would think she’s willing to endure illness after illness to stay away from her fate.
Slow, steady steps lead me to her personal office. The door’s wide open, but no lights illuminate the interior, indicating that she fell asleep before the sun went down. The lack of lights doesn’t stop me from viewing her sleeping body hunched over her large desk, making her appear small in size. Papers litter the tabletop, along with a mug stained with coffee. Helplessly, I lick my lips due to roaming thoughts about her caffeinated bloodstream.
Before I know it, I’m sitting contentedly in one of the chairs across from her. My hand slowly extends toward her arm that’s lying above her head. Papers are still clenched between her fingers and strands of hair stick to her forehead. Inches away from touching her, a dim pool of light brightens a small portion of the room, followed by a blaring ringtone, which forces me to leave.
As she becomes startled, the sound of her crashing into the wall behind her fills the room. Grunts of pain can faintly be heard as she struggles to answer her phone. When the office becomes fully engulfed in light, I decide to leave the grounds entirely, wanting to keep the knowledge of knowing where she works to myself. If she suspects that I’ve been spying on her to this extent, she’ll push me farther away, and the longer she fights me the harder it is for me to abide.
Reluctantly, I go back to my temporary home. With the door shut and latched, I head to the couch. My legs give way and I fall harshly on the cushions. Flipping the light on just out of habit, my hand brushes against paper at the base of the lamp. Now engulfed in a pool of light, an ivory envelope with curvy letters stares back at me.
I’ve been found and they know about Charlie. The High Council calls, making this ten times harder than I’m ready for. Then what Charlie’s ready for.
CharlieThe impact from me crashing into the wall makes the drywall sound as if it’s cracking from the force. With hands flailing in the air scrambling all the papers, one piece somehow remains stuck to my cheek, which slowly falls off and lands in my lap after a few seconds of barely hanging on.My dazed and confused voice answers the phone without knowing who it is since my eyes are watery from the bright light of the screen. “Hello.”“Charlie, where the hell are you? I was banging on your door for like fifteen minutes. I’m on my way to the police station to file a missing persons report.” It isn’t the concern or anger in Juliet’s voice that makes me cringe, it’s the sheer loudness of her voice shocking my eardrums, causing them to ring.“Juliet, calm down, I fell asleep at the office. What time is it?” I rub at my eyes, trying to wipe away the blurry vision in order to see the clock myself, but it’s just easier to ask.“It’s past nine. What are you doing at the office anyways? I th
MaxwellJust the thought of The High Council in town puts me on the brink of insanity. The group of men that make up the council are considered elders. All of them are harsh, cold-hearted killers that are the oldest vampires alive, and I have a history that’s not so pleasant with them. I reread the letter that was left for me several times, allowing memories from the past to fog my thoughts. The words that are written on the cream paper echo in my head.Dearest Maxwell, We’re so delighted to hear you’ve found your bride. We’re more than excited to meet her. To ensure that you follow through and collect what’s yours for the taking, one member requests your presence at Junction 22 tomorrow evening. We expect to be impressed. Best wishes and happy drinking, The High Council.There’s no doubt in my mind that Benjamin, the main enforcer of the council, wrote this heartless letter. Is he the member I’ll be meeting at this Junction 22…I hope not. All I can think about is the repercussions
CharlieCuriosity only grows as I stare at Maxwell and the unfamiliar guest who joins him at the table. The older man keeps on talking even though it’s apparent that Maxwell isn’t paying attention. As Maxwell ignores his friend, he also refuses to look at me as he sits stiffly in his chair. He only glances over in my direction once and it’s a half assed glance at that. Maybe he got the hint, maybe he moved on?Memories of his stone-like body with lack of emotions, not to mention lack of blood torment my thoughts. Deep heavy pants hinder my breathing as beads of sweat accumulate along my hairline. It feels as if the world is crashing down and I need to escape. Rushing to the bathroom to breathe through my panic attack alone, flashes of his messy dark hair and deep brown eyes play behind my eyes.The cold water that splashes on my face barely keeps me from falling completely apart. It’s just a coincidence that he’s here the same time I am…right? Patting my face dry, I examine my reflect
MaxwellIt’s easy for me to keep my eyes off her when she’s across the room. However, it doesn’t stop my senses from getting on edge when I feel her response as she finally realizes I’m here, in the same building as her. It takes everything in me to stay at the table and not chase after her when she bolts. My feet shuffle in anticipation of her reappearance.Against my will I become even more rigid as she reenters the room, and my muscles twitch when she heads this way. Prayers sound in my head that she doesn’t confront me, at least not right now. Keeping my eyes locked on Eugene as she walks past takes every ounce of self-control I have in order to not to grab her swinging arm.Eugene seems oblivious to my inattentiveness as he talks about his bride. It’s always the same, compliment after compliment in order to make others jealous of his well tamed bride. My eyes might be on Eugene, but my ears are on Charlie. The tips of my fingers dig into my knees from a tight firm grip that squee
CharlieI tell myself encouraging and positive thoughts to help me get through my day. Nothing but relaxation and relief flow through me as I recline in my office chair with a coffee mug in hand. The silence of the empty office building adds to my comfort, although it doesn’t last forever.“Good morning, Charlie,” Morgan sings as she pokes her head into my office.“Must you say that every morning?” I say, annoyed.“It is morning and your name is Charlie,” Morgan retorts.“It’s how you say it, not why you say it, but anyways, good morning to you too, Morgan.”“Well, we have a big party on Saturday, so there’s a lot to do. I’m going to get to work at the front desk.” She ducks out of the open doorway.“Not so fast,” I yell, patiently waiting until she stands in the doorway again. “I need to talk to you about something. Sit down.” My index finger points to the chair that sits across from me.The discontent on her face as she solemnly drags her feet to the chair and restlessly plops herse
MaxwellWith my attention being put toward Eugene and The High Council, I don’t have time to see Charlie within the week. It feels as though every cell in my body is on fire knowing that she’s so close but yet so far from reach. I take the risk in trying to escape watching eyes to see her tonight at the dance club, recalling Juliet expects her to show up.Doing everything inhumanly possible, I try to convince Eugene to make himself comfortable in the hotel he’s staying at while I spend some quality time with my bride. He accepts my offer after much bribing and I instantly head out.Sitting in my usual corner, I search the dance floor. It’s later than I wanted to arrive, but when there’s no sign of Charlie or her friends, I take a breath of relief. There’s just something about witnessing her enter the large overcrowded room that pleases me.With what feels like eternity later, I see her friends, including Juliet, arrive and indulge themselves with drinks. They dance to the music withou
CharlieThe blanket snuggly around my head is the only escape from the loud ringing of my cell phone. I toss and turn, trying to find a comfortable spot again after being woken up. However, a shuffle of papers coming from the kitchen sets my nerves on edge. Someone’s in my house…snooping. As gently as possible, I slip out from underneath the blanket and tiptoe out into the hall.My teeth clench together as I watch Maxwell dig through my papers that I left lying out on my kitchen table. You want to play dirty, fine, I say to myself. Making my way back to my room, I throw on some clothes. With my nerves on edge and my senses spiked, I hear the soft click of my front door. Waiting a few extra minutes before following him, I remember to keep my distance several feet behind as I duplicate his fast paced walk down the unlit sidewalk.The night air has a slight chill and I’m thankful when he finally enters a hotel. It’s one of the fancier ones in town, which makes me slightly grunt in respon
Maxwell The sight of her perfectly still body in a music filled room is disturbing considering every other time I saw her surrounded by music she was dancing. Although, tonight she’s standing stick straight with her arms crossed over her chest. What a workaholic. Creeping up behind her, I can’t help but to admire her body in yet another skintight outfit. The black and white dress gives an illusion of extra curves to her hips. Careful to not touch any part of her, I lean in close. Unwillingly, the tip of my nose and lips brush her neck as my whisper startles her. “Oh, how I have missed you, Charlie.” Her shock and sheer stiffness disappointment me. All it does is push away any happiness I have in seeing her. The sound of hatred in her voice as she asks me how I found her makes anger of my own start to bubble to the surface. My reply of always being able to find her doesn’t make her any more content with my presence. When she accuses me of being in her house last night, I can only sh