A deal Forged in Blood (Closed)

[Captainsassypants]

In a world where the existence of vampires is common knowledge humans can be paid to be living blood banks for vampires. When one is girl struggling just to get by after the death of her parents. With no where else to turn she resorts to entering the blood donor program where she will be handed off to a vampire in order to be their private source of food

 

[Captainsassypants]

Melody sucked in a deep breath as she was led into a dimly lit room that looked similar to a hotel lounge. She had spent the last few days at the blood donor clinic being poked and prodded to ensure she was in top shape to have the blood sucked out of her. Now the day had come for her to finally be chosen by someone. She pulled at her forest green cocktail dress, that had been given to her earlier that day, feeling nervous and uncomfortable. She couldn't believe she was going through with this. What if no one wanted her? Did vampires even care what package their blood came in? Her head was spinning with all the possibilities. If she was being completely honest she was terrified. This was not what she had wanted for herself but what other choice did she have? Her parents were dead she had no home, no job, nothing. This was her last hope as much as she hated it she supposed it was better than living on the streets.


Working up her nerve she stepped farther into the room heading towards the edge, leaning up against one of the walls while she eyed the other people all dressed up just as she was. As she looked over each person she tried to tell whether they were human or vampire. Sometimes it was was easy to tell, particularly if they laughed, other times it wasn't so easy. For the moment it seemed she had gone unnoticed for which she was grateful. She knew eventually she was going to have to socialize. If she wanted somewhere to stay and money to pay off her parents debt, then she was going to have to get someone to choose her. At least she got a say in the pairing, she wasn't sure if she could handle just being handed off to anyone without getting to choose if she wanted to go.


It had only been a month since her parent's accident and it still hadn't sunk in. She felt like she was walking around in a daze she felt empty and numb. She had hoped this was all just a bad dream, that she would eventually wake up, call her parents and her mother would be there so tell her how silly she was being. This wasn't a dream though, she wasn't going to wake up, and her mother couldn't comfort her anymore. This was her life now and she was just going to have to get used to it.

 

[Scriven]

The room had the atmosphere of one of those heinous social hours set up by dating services. Humans were milling around nervously, trying to smile and pretending they hadn't just signed up to have a vampire feed off of them repeatedly. It was all so cordial. There were even little cocktails, and it was apparent whoever planned them thought they were cute. Bloody Marys for the humans and glasses of real blood for the vampires, but with disgusting little stalks of celery thrown in to make the drink seem like something other than what it really was.


Ross removed the leafy green stalk with distaste and tossed it in a waste bin, then gazed at the people around him while he sipped his lukewarm beverage. Blood was something better fresh, any vampire would agree. Not all could afford a round the clock blood bank though, and for those poorer vampires there was canned blood that had to be heated. Ross had tried the stuff, naturally, but didn't care for it. He'd rather shell over some of his hard earned cash for a human vending machine.


"So what do you think, Ross?" asked one of the organizers of the blood donor program, Heidi. She was a vampire, but she was as tame as they came. Her own pet human was her lover and husband and they had been together for so long that he now looked a great deal older than her. Ross gave a tight smile and shrugged.


"Not sure. Is there some kind of criteria I should be using to choose? Can't I just bite a few and see who I like the taste of?"


Heidi laughed as if that had been a joke and swatted his shoulder. "Why don't you find a nice girl you like talking to? Or a man you share some interests with?"


Ross determinedly resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but it was difficult to suppress. "I'm not looking for a friend, Heidi. Really, what am I supposed to be looking for?"


Her thin shoulders shrugged elegantly. "Everyone has different tastes. Some like innocent young women, some like the corrupt. Some are looking for love-"


"- and some are just looking for a meal," Ross interjected, interrupting a tangent he felt might go on for a while. Heidi smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Her fangs were visible with that smile and it was a warning gesture if he'd ever seen one. Perhaps not so tame, Ross thought.


"Oh, Melody!" Heidi called, waving a woman in a deep green dress over. "This way, dear. I have someone I want you to meet! This is an old friend of mine, Ross Chapman."


"Liar," Ross muttered under his breath. He had only met her a few days ago.


"Ross, this is Melody."


"Melody. Like a song?" he asked the woman, draining his glass.

 

[Captainsassypants]

Melody was still looking around the room looking like a deer in the headlights when a woman's voice snapped her out of her daze. Looking around startled her eyes finally landed on the woman from which the voice had come from. She recognized the woman to be one of the people who worked at the clinic, Heidi. She was the same person who had given her her dress earlier that morning .Heidi was nothing short of gorgeous and Melody could only hope to be half as pretty as she was. Despite her intimidating looks, she was very kind and she was one of the only people Melody actually felt comfortable around. She actually believed the woman honestly cared for her well being, unlike some of the other people she had met at the clinic.


With a small smile she made her way across the room weaving in and out of the groups of other people standing together mingling. It wasn't until she was a few feet away that she had even noticed the man with dark hair standing next to Heidi. Swallowing hard she closed the distance between them and offered a polite smile as Heidi introduced them.


"Hello Heidi. Hello Ross, it's nice to meet you" She began to say nodding to them both before he made the musical reference to her name. Obviously it was not the first time someone had pointed that out.


"I suppose, but most people just call me Mel. " She said with a shrug as she eyed him trying to figure him out. He obviously didn't seem to be the warmest person in the world.


Fidgeting nervously she brushed her strawberry blonde hair from her shoulder letting it fall down her back. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to say in this situation, so she opted not so say anything at all. Instead she cast a glance around the room to see how others were handling the situation, but everything felt so forced no one seemed to be really comfortable. So why were they all pretending to be?


Turning her attention back to Ross she noticed the empty glass of what she could only assume to be blood cleverly disguised as a cocktail . The realization of that fact made her turn her nose up. Was that how they drank it? she wondered. In an instant she had an image of him holding her punctured wrist over a glass letting the red liquid drip out and fill it until he was satisfied. The image made her shiver and she had to quickly force it from her head before she decided to back out of this whole thing right then and there.

 

[Scriven]

"Mel." Ross rolled the word around on his tongue like he was tasting it and trying to decide if he liked the flavor. He eyed the strawberry blonde and decided it best to reserve judgement. She was fidgeting, he noted. Probably nervousness, which meant perhaps she had an ounce of common sense. After all, she was a delectable little mouse in a nest of hungry vipers. He couldn't give her too much credit though. Even if she was a scared little mouse, she was a mouse who had willingly come within reach of many sharp fangs.


A waiter passed nearby and Ross handed off his empty glass, but declined another. He just couldn't tolerate the taste of celery ruining his drink. Heidi, on the other hand, was in full host mode, even going so far as to drink a glass of champagne. Ross wasn't sure how she could stomach the stuff. It wouldn't hurt them, but the things he had enjoyed a hundred years ago now tasted foul in his mouth. The smiling blonde almost managed to make it seem as if she didn't mind, though he saw a tightness to her eyes every time she took a minute sip. He was almost certain she would be whisking her husband off to a dark corner somewhere soon to get the taste out of her mouth.


"So, Mel, have you been a donor before?" he asked. Heidi practically glowed at his initiative.


"Well I see you two don't need my help! Phil, why don't we go check on, ah, the drinks."


Bingo. Ross shook his head at her transparency, but nodded politely as Heidi and her husband slipped away. He saw her leave her almost full flute of champagne on a nearby table with a grimace.

 

[Captainsassypants]

The moments of silence that passed between them did nothing to make her anymore comfortable, if anything it did the complete opposite. She felt like she was under a microscope with the way he ,and everyone else in the room for that matter, was looking at her trying to figure her out and decide if she was worth her time. It was like she was a puppy behind the glass at a pet store, and she hated it. Right now she wanted to be anywhere else but there, which is why she had to constantly remind herself why she was there in the first place.


Watching as a waiter came near, allowing Ross to rid himself of his empty glass, Melody took the chance to take a glass of champagne for herself. She downed it quickly and grabbed another, thinking this whole experience would be much easier if she was intoxicated. The second glass she sipped more slowly for lack of anything else to do. Besides the waiter had already walked away with the tray keeping her from having anymore. A few moments later she felt a warm tingly feeling start at her toes and work its way up. She was by no means drunk just slightly buzzed helping her to relax slightly in this extremely stressful situation.


Hearing his question Melody's eyes shifted back to Ross. "No, I haven't" She answered thinking it was obvious she hadn't done this before


When Heidi announced she and her husband would be leaving Melody sent a desperate look in her direction silently pleading her to stay, but it became apparent that would not happen. All she could do was watch helplessly as she left leaving Her and Ross alone together. Without Heidi there, she felt even more helpless and vulnerable. Sucking in a sharp breath she regained composure and looked back towards Ross "Have you had a blood donor before?" She asked boldly

 

[Scriven]

Mel downed a flute of champagne then grabbed another before the waiter could depart. Ross was unsure whether to be disgusted or impressed. He raised his dark brows but made no comment.


"Yes, I have. It was with another agency though and things worked differently. I paid her to come when I needed blood and she didn't live with me. Things didn't really work out though. She became a drug addict and I prefer clean blood." His eyes fixed on her champagne for a moment, then met with hers. "Anything in your blood stream is transmitted to the vampire who consumes your blood, you knows. Drugs, even alcohol. I don't mind the occasional buzz, but I don't care for blood contaminated with drugs. Do you ever do drugs, Mel?"


His question was sharp as glass and his gaze was hard, as if daring her to try and lie to him.

 

[Captainsassypants]

melody noticed the man's look he gave as he watched her drink her champagne but payed it no mind. She didn't feel she had to defend herself to him. She was an adult and she could do as she pleased.


She looked at him with some interest as she Listened to him described his previous experience with a blood donor. She frowned deeply when she heard the woman had become a drug addict. She didn't like the accusing look he gave her as he glanced from her to the drink in her hand. When he then began interrogating her to see if she used drugs her eyes narrowed on him. "Aside from aspirin and cold medicine, no" She answered flatly. She didn't think she liked him anymore, if she had even liked him in the first place.


"Besides, I already took and passed all the tests I needed to pass so I really don't appreciate you questioning my life choices" She said cooly. The Alcohol had obviously boosted her confidence.


Looking around the room she tried to find someone else she might be able to talk to instead, but at that point everyone was already engaged in conversation so she was stuck with Ross for the time being whether she liked it or not.

 

[Scriven]

So the mouse fancied herself a tiger! Ross crossed his arms over his stomach and looked at Melody with a smile that was anything but friendly.


"You're awfully defensive, aren't you?" he asked. "This is a business transaction, sweetheart, not a date. I've paid a hefty sum to come and find a donor here tonight, and the health and habits of the donors is very much my business."


He wasn't about to share a dwelling and pay the high price tag of having his own personal donor for a drug addict, alcoholic, or someone with a promiscuous lifestyle. Sure, she had been tested and had come up clean, but so had his last donor. Ross was intent on finding one who would stay that way.


"Maybe you don't realize how this whole process works. If a vampire finds you to his or her liking, they are going to take you home and feed from you. Bite you. And then they're going to pay you. Everyone gets what they want. But you're foolish if you think your life choices aren't of interest to the vampire who takes you. We're a selective species, you see. If we were interested in just any blood we'd pick someone up off the street."


His cold smile never wavered.

 

[Captainsassypants]

Everything about him had become irksome to her. His high and mighty attitude, false smile, and condescending tone all worked together to annoy her.


"Then perhaps you should look else where because I don't have to do business with you if I don't want to" She said hissing the word he had use only a few minute prior " And I really don't enjoy being treated in such a demeaning way" She added only a moment later her eye aflame.


The way he described the whole situation made her shiver despite her attempts to appear uncaring. He made her sound like she was a common whore, and that smile! She couldn't stand it for a moment longer. Shooting him a sharp look she turned on her heals and walked away towards the other side of the room. What she would do there she had no idea. She just needed to be away from him. She wasn't going to let him talk to her that way anymore.


Reaching the other side of the room she took a seat on one of the empty couches, feeling slightly silly since now she was just alone and that was getting her no where. However that did not last long as she was soon joined by an attractive tall man with blonde hair so light it was almost white.


"What's a beautiful young lady like you doing over here on your own?" He asked with a devious grin that made her feel slightly uncomfortable.


Shifting her weight Melody cast a spiteful look in Ross's direction before turning her attention to the man beside her. "Oh, you know..." She said trailing off not exactly sure how to answer his question.


"Well allow me to introduce myself, My name is Christian" He said taking her hand, but instead of just bringing it to his lips he turned it over and instead pressed his lips to her wrist. His eyes locking on hers with a dangerous glint. His lips lingered there a little to long making her feel that much more uncomfortable.


"I'm Melody.." She said apprehensively as she cast a nervous glance around the room.

 

[Scriven]

Had he treated her demeaningly? Ross watched Melody stride away, her back stiff with anger. He shrugged, turning his gaze away. It didn't really matter in the scheme of things. What was one human woman to him? The room was full of humans that were willing and even eager to sell their life force. Surely there was someone more tolerable than the prickly strawberry blonde.


Ross discovered that night that finding a new donor was a lot more like speed dating than he would have liked. Heidi practically paraded him around the event, introducing him to a host of different humans. None seemed quite right. There were the vampire groupies, naturally, who lusted after vampires as a form of the ultimate bad boy. There were those he sensed were secretly longing to become vampires themselves, though that was strictly against the rules. There had been pages upon pages of paperwork he'd had to sign saying he expressly would not turn a human. Such an act was punishable by law now that vampires were legal and recognized members of society.


He couldn't stand the ones who simpered and curled their hair around their fingers, or the men he could tell were in it not only for the money but also for some sort of bragging rights. Ross preferred females anyway. Biting wasn't inherently an intimate act, but he'd always preferred pretty, young flesh under his fangs.


In the end he didn't find anyone that night that he was willing to sign a contract with. It took a lot of trust on his part to allow a stranger into his home, and he was paying a lot of money for the privilege of a donor. He wanted to find just the right one.


"You're too choosy," Heidi hissed quietly as the group began to break up and people started leaving. Many were leaving in pairs, their contract beginning that very night. "It's just a meal, for Pete's sake."


"Look who's talking. You married yours."


Heidi smiled wistfully, her eyes finding her husband who was talking to a vampire across the room. They made a strange pair, thought Ross. She was eternally young and beautiful. He had been young and possibly handsome once, but now he was in his late fifties with greying hair and the beginnings of a small potbelly. It was as if Heidi saw none of that though, blinded by love somehow.


"Oh look, there's Melody- your little song. Did you two not click?"


Ross snorted. "She didn't like the way I questioned her life choices. No, she's certainly not the one for me. Having her in my home would be a nightmare."


Heidi sighed dramatically. "You're such a stick in the mud, really." She raised her arm and called out to the gingery blonde. "Oh, Melody!" She waved her over then draped a cold arm over the other woman's shoulders. "I'm so sorry you didn't find a match tonight. Ross didn't either, it seems. He's such a doll though, he insisted on hailing you a cab."


Ross raised his brows. "Did I?"


Heidi shot him a wicked, gleaming smile. "Hail the woman a cab, Ross."


The vampire sighed but offered his arm, turning his eyes to Melody. "Alright then. Shall we?"

 

[Captainsassypants]

Melody had spent the night going from one person to another, not seeming to find anyone she could stand having near her. She had thought possibly Christian would do but in the end she couldn't stand the way he eyed her like a cat did a mouse. After only a few short minutes talking to him he began to make he skin crawl. So she conveniently excused herself to go 'powder her nose'. By time she got back he had already moved on to some other poor girl, which was quite alright with her.


The rest of the night had gone by much the same way. She would talk to someone for a while before finding some sort of fault which kept her from agreeing to a pairing. Perhaps she was being too picky, or maybe she just wasn't cut out for this kind of life. She wasn't sure, but either way it didn't change the fact that at the end of the night she was leaving alone. Where she was going she wasn't all too sure but she would find some where eventually. She would just have to try the whole blood donor thing again the next time there was one of these things.


She had just been about to leave when Heidi called her over for the second time that night. Seeing Ross beside her, she had to force a smile really wishing she had decided to leave just a few minutes earlier, but it was to late to do anything about it now. Approaching the two, Melody went stiff as Heidi draped an arm around over her slender shoulders. Hearing the woman say that Ross had offered to hail her a cab she looked at the man with a doubtful look. yeah sure he did she thought to herself.


"Did I?" she heard Ross question only a moment later confirming her suspension.


"Really, it's ok. I can find my own-" She began to say but was cut of by Heidi giving the man orders to get her a cab.


With a defeated sigh she looked back to Ross "Oh I suppose" She agreed but refused to take his arm instead she walked past him before stopping to look over her shoulder waiting for for him to follow.

 

[Scriven]

Melody strode past, ignoring the arm he had offered. "Bitch," Ross muttered under his breath, giving Heidi one last scathing look. He saw Melody turn and look back at him expectantly, waiting. He shook his head and walked quickly to the door, letting it fall closed behind him instead of holding it for her.


There was a cold breeze that night and the streets were wet from rain earlier in the day. The orange light shining down from the streetlights reflected off the almost glossy black roads. The street they were on wasn't particularly busy at that hour, but Ross could hear the drone of cars on the highway.


The cold breeze blew his dark hair into his eyes, which he brushed away impatiently. He pulled his coat a little tighter around him- a human trait which he had adapted and now did naturally. He didn't really need a coat in the first place, but he had gotten very used to trying to blend in among humans. Even now that vampires were no longer regarded as folk lore, he still didn't go around parading himself as a blood-sucker. After a hundred years of persecution he wasn't quite willing to believe this current civil rights movement for vampires was anything more than a passing fad.


Ross stepped to the curb and held an arm out, waving to draw the attention of a passing taxi. The vehicle slowed and pulled to the curb beside him.


"Here," Ross told Melody flatly. "Off with you."

 

[Captainsassypants]

Melody pretended she hadn't heard what he called her when she walked away. Asshole she thought to herself with a grimace. She was just happy that soon she would be away from him. When he walked past her letting the door close in her face she could do nothing but roll her eyes, shaking her head she stepped out into the cold night.


As she took a few steps away from the building she wrapped her arms around herself rubbing her hands over them in an attempt to keep herself warm. She really wished she had brought a coat with her. She was freezing in the short, sleeveless dress, and she was really beginning to hate the heals she was wearing as they were killing her feet, but unless she wanted to loose her feet, she would have to keep them on


She stood a foot or two behind Ross, bouncing in place as she waited for him to call her a cab. Right as the cab arrived and she began to step forward some guy on a bike came out of no where running right into her and sending her tumbling to the ground and sliding against the sidewalk scraping her up pretty good.


"Bastard!" She cursed as she push herself up a few moments later and looking towards the biker that had already seemed to have recovered from the encounter and was quickly peddling away, too much of a coward to take responsibilities for his actions. "Sorry!" He called lamely over his shoulder but kept on going.


For a while longer Melody just stayed sitting on the sidewalk looking herself over, as she was too sore to get up. She was sure she looked a mess, and of course it had happened in front of Ross. She just couldn't get a break that day. She swore the universe was conspiring against her.

 

[Scriven]

It happened too fast for him to stop it. One moment Melody was stepping toward the cab, the next a man on a bike had come too close, knocking her to the rough asphalt streets. She cursed, sitting on the sidewalk while she looked herself over. Ross's senses were pulled to the scent of her blood. It was suddenly prevalent, no longer contained within her fair skin. He had smelled her blood faintly before while it had pulsed in her veins, but now it ran freely, a delectable odor he couldn't deny. She had scraped her leg and her palms, and though there was no profusion of blood it was enough to make his pulse race.


"We'll be a minute," he told the man in the taxi. The cab driver glanced around impatiently, not wanting to wait.


"Look, I don't wait unless the meter's running."


Ross was aggravated. "Fine, we'll get the next one then."


The cab sped away, tires sliding on the slick road. "Let me help you up," Ross said, voice carefully neutral. He held his hand out to Melody, who was still sitting.

 

[Captainsassypants]

Melody was too preoccupied with making sure she was alright that she hardly noticed the scene between Ross and the cab driver. She only noticed when the cab suddenly drove off. She glanced up toward Ross when he offered her his hand. Carefully she took it, holding it limply as not to hurt her hands any more. Slowly she pulled herself to her feet hissing as she did so her legs and palms stinging from where they had been scrapped.


"Thanks" She said flatly looking towards her feet as her face became flush from both embarrassment and the cold.


"You really don't need to stay, I can take care of myself" She affirmed. It was obvious that they both weren't fond of the other so there was no point in pretending like they were.

 

[Scriven]

She took his hand and he helped pull her to her feet, but after thanking him she attempted to dismiss him.


"Fine," he muttered, letting go of her hand. There was blood on his palm now, which had transferred from Melody's. He turned and started walking down the street toward where he had parked, lifting his hand to his mouth. He licked the blood off, then froze.


Divine ambrosia.


The taste of her blood made him halt in his tracks. If before the scent of it had made his pulse race, now it hammered. He licked his hand again, hoping to find another trace of the rapidly cooling liquid. How cruel that such delicious blood should belong to one so unpleasant.


What did that matter though? It wasn't as if he wanted a donor for her conversation. Melody was willing to sell her blood, and it seemed he had a strong affinity for it. Only a few times in his entire long life had he encountered blood so delicious. It was a rarity that vampires coveted. To find a donor who was such a match seemed almost too perfect.


Ross turned on his heel and strode back to where Melody stood on the sidewalk.


"Let's make a contract."

 

[Captainsassypants]

Melody didn't say anything but only watched him leave breathing a sigh of relief. Finally she was alone. Wrapping her arms back around herself she stood near the curb and waited for another cab. Of course Ross had to send away, what seemed like, the only cab around, making it that much harder for her.


She was tired, cold, and now injured. All she wanted to do was find somewhere warm where she could sleep but that didn't look like it would happen. She was stuck standing on a street corner alone and with no place to go and no way to get there.


Hearing foot steps approaching her she wrapped her arms more tightly around herself. Expecting Ross to be long gone by now, she was surprised to hear his voice. What shocked her even more though was that he wanted to make a deal.


"What? No!" She said instantly dismissing the idea.


"Why would I make a contract with you? She scoffed as she scanned the street hoping that another cab would appear any minute now. Was he crazy? she began to wonder what could have possibly changed his mind and made him believe she would ever agree to make a contract with him in a million years.

 

[Scriven]

Ross was surprised by the way Melody adamantly declined.


"Why?" he repeated. "Why? Melody, are you not at an event to find a vampire who wants you as a donor?"


She had acted as if she were a stranger off the street he had suddenly propositioned, and not someone he had met at a blood bank event. He could still smell her blood. It was on her hands, her knees, even a little on her shin. It was cold, contaminated blood and still it smelled divine.


"Look, you want money and I want blood. Your blood, as it just so happens."


The fact that he was unhappy about that little detail was clear by the tone of his voice.

 

[Captainsassypants]

She faced him as he continued speaking, clearly upset she had declined his offer.


"So what? I don't like you. So why would I agree to be around you every day?" She asked her eyes narrowing "You aren't my only option. I can come to the next event and find someone better then you" She told him looking away again.


He did have a point though. She really needed the money, and who knows when the next event would be, or if she'd even find someone that time around. This really could be her only chance..


But that still didn't explain his sudden change of heart. "Why me hm? Why are you suddenly so desperate to have me make a contract with you because just a few minutes ago you hated my guts and were more than happy to leave me here." She said a sharp edge to her voice as she stared straight into his eyes waiting for the answer.

 

[Scriven]

What a snarky little mouse, Ross thought with distaste. Someone needed to teach her some manners. It seemed Melody was as passionate and hot-headed as he was dispassionate and cold.


"I don't hate your guts. I really don't have that strong of feelings toward you one way or another," he informed her matter-of-factly. "You do happen to have blood I find particularly to my taste though. I got a bit of it just now when I helped you up and it was heavenly."


She had narrowed her eyes at him and he sensed she was disinclined to accept his proposition. Ross could practically feel the opportunity to sip that delicious blood on a daily basis slipping away. "I'll sweeten the deal for you. I'll add an extra thousand dollars a month on top of the fees you've already negotiated. Cash. The agency won't take its cut, it'll just be a cool thousand in your pocket."

 

[Captainsassypants]

Hearing his explanation she felt almost violated and took a few steps away from him.Her blood? That was what he wanted so much? She hadn't though it mattered to much. She assumed every ones blood was all the same taste wise, not that she would know. It appeared she was wrong though because he obviously thought hers was really special, but maybe he was just hungry.


When he threw in the offer of an extra thousand she drew in a sharp breath. The deal was good, to good to give up, especially since she was desperate for money. The problem was she was going to be stuck with him and as much as she hated that, she could deal with it if it meant she got more money.


"Deal" She finally said a few minutes later after she had gone back and forth weighing the options in her head.


A breeze then blew by them causing her hair to stand on end, and shiver. "Can we go then? Because I'm freezing" She asked looking back in the direction from which he had come. She assumed he had a car somewhere in that direction and she was anxious to be somewhere warm. Apart from the scrapes that still stung, her body was going nub from the cold.

 

[Scriven]

Ross felt a thrill of excitement- not at having Melody, per se, but at having her blood available to him every night.


She asked if they could go and stated she was freezing, shivering in the cold wind. "Oh. Sure," he stated. "Why didn't you wear a jacket? Even I know that humans are susceptible to cold, and I haven't been one in almost a hundred years."


He shrugged off his coat and shoved it toward her, making it clear that this was not one of those gallant expressions that seemed to happen so often in the movies. And unlike in the movies, his coat would have no residual body warmth. It was as cool as if it had been draped over a marble statue.


"My car is this way."


He led her down the street to the parking garage where his car was waiting. He drove a classy but not flashy black Infiniti that was a few years old, though it was still pristine on the inside. He unlocked the doors with his key fob and got in. "Where am I taking you?" he asked once she had climbed in. "Does our contract begin tonight, or will you be coming at a later date?"


There was a certain eagerness in his silvery grey eyes and a hunger to his features he couldn't quite hide.

 

[Captainsassypants]

"I didn't have one" She muttered as he questioned her, acting like she was stupid for not bringing a coat with her. She was already beginning to regret her decision and it hadn't even been five minutes.


When he offered her his coat she paused before reluctantly taking it. "Thanks" She said with a neutral tone. It was obvious he had not offered her the coat in the spirit of being chivalrous so she did not take the act that way. Without a moments pause she draped the coat over her shoulders and pulled it tightly around her, shielding her flesh from the cold air. Even if the coat had not been warm it was enough to keep her from freezing to death which was all she really cared about anyway.


She followed only a few steps behind as he lead the way to his car which was much nicer than the ones her family had ever owned. Once the door was unlocked she opened the door and slid into the passenger seat pulling the coat even closer around herself. When began asking where he could take her or when their contract began she sighed and glanced over at him. "Well I don't have anywhere to go..." She admitted "So I guess our contract starts now" She said noticing the strange expression on his face and shifting towards the door more.

 

[Scriven]

She was homeless? Ross started the car and turned on the heat for his shivering passenger, then pulled out of the dark parking garage. Part of him felt the urge to mock her. She had nowhere to go, and yet she had turned down a contract with him? Where did she get the right to be so choosy? Besides, was he really so bad? As far as vampires went, Ross thought he was one of the more humane ones. Sure, he was no Heidi, but there were no doubt skeletons in her closet too, just like the rest of them.


"So you've never been a donor. Have you ever been bitten before?"


The streetlights passed overhead as they drove toward his apartment. He lived in the city, but more toward the industrial district. He had been lucky to find a landlord who was more than willing to have vampire tenants. Though the apartment was a high rise, it extended below ground too. Ross lived in one of the basement units where light couldn't reach him. It was an ideal situation.