group as they walked by. Someone tossed a muffled, “Hey Pete,” in greeting and then they were gone. I let out my breath, not realizing I had been holding it.
“They won’t do anything here,” Peter said softly. “Like I said before, they are just pulling pranks to make life difficult for me, they aren’t bad people.”
I didn’t reply. I really doubted that burly guy was good people. One of the group had lagged behind, and she joined us silently, startling me when she spoke. “Hello Peter,” she said in a rich, even alto. “I’m glad you could join us tonight.”
Peter didn’t pause or seem surprised. He had known she was there. “Good evening Leah,” he said politely. “I wouldn’t miss your party for anything.” We made it to the soft glow of the porch light and I shifted so I could see the woman that walked with us.
“Hello,” she said, extending her hand. “You must be Melody. I’m Peter’s good friend Leah.” I shook her hand firmly and gave a tentative smile. She was beautiful, in a sort of earthy way, with long, wheat colored hair and chocolate brown eyes. Except for her flawless skin, she looked like someone who spent a lot of time outdoors. She was wearing faded jeans and a white tank top. My eyes lingered on the pretty bracelet that glinted in the light as I shook her hand. It was made of shiny silver, but it fit her down-to-earth vibe- two snakes linked in a circle with their noses touching and their tales entwined.
Seeing my eyes on it, she smiled “It’s beautiful isn’t it? It was my present from Peter.” She gestured up at the old house and winked at me. “Today is my birthday.”
I smiled back, wondering just what this woman was to Peter. “Happy birthday,” I said genuinely. She was different than the other vampires I’d met- not that I’d met that many. She was so soft and mellow. She didn’t have that buzz of nervous energy the others seemed to have.
She frowned, looking up at the house. “I’m afraid there isn’t a ramp,” she said apologetically. “This place is old, I suppose, but I love it.”
I nodded agreement. You could feel the space around you, even in the dark, the wind through trees and crickets chirping in the long grass. “It’s wonderful.”
She glanced down at me. “May I take her inside, Peter?” I noticed that Peter had been awfully quiet throughout this exchange. It was a little odd that she was asking his permission, and not mine.
“She is mine,” he said quietly. I glanced back at him. What? Leah’s gaze flicked over my neck and I blushed. Oh, his human. My snack, not yours. There was an odd tension between them, and it was making me uncomfortable.
“Good,” she said, still smiling kindly. “Let me take her in.” She scooped me up without warning and I instinctively wrapped my arms around her neck, expecting her to drop me. But she was a vampire, not the slender human she appeared to be. She carried me as if I was a baby.
I should have been alarmed after that last little exchange, but I wasn’t. Everything about her was very soothing and peaceful. She wouldn’t hurt me. Behind us, Peter snapped my chair shut with a click. He didn’t protest as Leah carried me up the stairs and into the house.
There weren’t many people here, but they all looked at us when we came in the door. Peter followed with my chair, and Leah set me in it like a doll. “Hi everyone.” She waved to the room at large. “This is my guest, Melody. Please treat her well.”
Peter cleared his throat uncomfortably behind us and Leah laughed. “And don’t be too hard on Peter tonight, it’s my birthday and I don’t want to talk about politics.” She glided away to take a drink from the brown-haired guy, giving him a meaningful look before she snatched his beer and headed off into the biggest group of people. I shook my head. Vampires.
Peter seemed to relax as he took me around and introduced me to his friends. He was right; I wasn’t the only human there. I noticed several people I thought must be humans. I wanted to talk to them, but they were always glued to their respective vampires. As the night wore on, I saw why. They were here more for food than for companionship. I tried not to stare after I saw the first