Sitting in her expensive, uptown apartment staring out of the window Aubrey watched the sunset with a bittersweet smile. Only ten more seconds until the sun is completely set and the whole world is plunged into the familiar darkness she thought sighing to herself. “10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2...1...Hello Darkness” Aubrey mutter to herself. Slowly she got up from her favorite armchair and stretched her muscles, tense from the little movement she had done all day. I need a life she thought humorlessly. She stalked over to her closet and grabbed out a black leather jacket with stars stitched into it and pulled it on. Quickly she snatched her cell phone, wallet, and keys off a table not wanting to be alone in the apartment for a moment longer.

She rode the elevator down to the parking garage and strode through the lines of cars heading toward her own. Finally she reached her car and gave it a loving stroke, it was the most beautiful vehicle she had ever seen. Her friend, Braden, had painted her sleek black Porsche with an intricate design filled with crimson flames and hearts. She loved it and it suited her. She hopped in and started the engine, which immediately roared to life. Suddenly Aubrey hit the gas petal and sped out of the garage, ignoring the yelling and cursing she received from the garage attendant. She drove down the brightly colored streets, weaving in and out of the night traffic.

She pulled the Porsche up to an empty spot right outside her best friends night club, Fever. She quietly gets out and heads straight into the popular club. One glance around the place and she finds Braden behind the bar, flirting with all the female customers. Aubrey rolled her eyes at the typical sight before her and then starts picking her way across the semi-crowded room to her friend. She took a seat on a bar stool, while Braden was working on a few mixed drinks. He suddenly glanced up, like he felt her presence and winked at her. Rolling her eyes again, Aubrey let her gaze wander around the club. Just the typical crowd she thought to herself. Women all dirty dancing on the dance floor and tables of drunks getting rowdier by the minute. “What can I get you, Gorgeous?” Aubrey turned slowly once hearing the familiar voice to face Braden. He was good-looking with his chocolate brown hair flopping slightly into his warm eyes, while his muscular body was encased in a fitted black t-shirt. “Hmm, I think I’ll have the Bloody Mary” she replied with a smirk. He laughed at her sarcastic joke and starts to get her usual, a Strawberry Daiquiri. Soon he sets the drink in front of her and slides out from behind the bar, to sit next to her.

She drove through the familiar streets toward another one of her other nightly hangouts, Central Park. Once she reached the park, she shut the car off and started strolling down a path filled with fresh grass and ominous looking trees. At one time this place actually might have been creepy. Aubrey reflected as she walked off the cemented path, toward the small glittering pond in the middle of the park. Wooden benches surrounded the pond, Aubrey chose one right under the bright light of the moon. She gazed up at the full moon and watched the clouds slowly pull across the sky, trying to cover the shining stars and the luminous moon. As she viewed the night sky, Aubrey thought about the life she had chosen for herself and wondered if she had chosen correctly. Not that I had a choice really she thought bitterly.

She had grown up a rich kid and was used to doing everything and having anything she wanted. After high school, she had wanted to go to one of the most expensive colleges in New York, with some arrangements (bribes basically) she was accepted. She spent only one year at the college before growing bored of it. Aubrey then decided that she would like to travel about Europe. She loaded up her suit cases, filled her bank accounts, and took off on first class. She started in London, traveled through France until she finally made it to Italy. Italy was breathtaking. The most beautiful buildings, clothing shops and men she thought sarcastically to herself. She would never forget for as long as she lived, the fateful day she met “Him” the devil himself. She was sauntering through a crowded town square, when he bumped into her. She looked up into his gorgeous golden eyes and was forever doomed to the life of the damned.

He spoke to her in only Italian, his voice smooth and velvety. He led her to his loft which was filled with priceless art and expensive furniture. Looking around at the different masterpieces, she was oddly comforted. She was in the lion’s den and yet she felt charmed. Soon he was leading her toward another darker room and once they were inside he closed the door. He held her face in his cool hands, fingers stroking her features. Then he kissed her, starting slow and seductive, nibbling on her bottom lip. The more he kissed her, the more the room started spinning, making her dizzy. Suddenly he moved down to her neck leaving a hot trail of kisses as he went. He hovered over the strong pulse in her neck, he glanced at her quickly, and then he changed her life forever. He bit her…with his fangs. She screamed in pain and at the intense tingling feeling, coursing through her body.

The man picked her up and threw her down on the bed where she stayed for the next few days until finally the pain stopped. She stood up, feeling stiff and went to the vanity mirror. She gasped at what she saw. Her normal spray-on tan was gone, her skin was now so pale it was almost translucent. But the things that scarred her the most about her reflection was her typical bright eyes had a red hue and when she smiled, she had two sharp little fangs. She backed away from the mirror horrified and quickly strode from the room. She looked around the room filled with portraits and sculptures to find no one else there. Aubrey then ran from the loft and back to her Hotel. It was dusk when she had everything packed and a flight booked back to New York. What an ending to her of fun round trip about Europe she thought angrily. Formed by her sudden anger, her small fangs pressed down into place. Aubrey let her tongue trace the outline of each fang.

She needed food, the monster inside her told her. Slowly she got up from the bench and headed back to her parked car. Once inside her car, she debated about where to get her nourishment from. “I went to the hospital last week. I can’t go again this week” she mumbled to herself. Finally an idea popped into her head and she drove back along the lighted streets to a closed portion of town. She stopped her car outside a building that had the word “Butcher” marked on it and got out. Aubrey glanced down the shadowy sidewalks before pulling out a hair pin and a credit card. After a few turns and jiggles, she was inside the building. She headed to the back of the building and opened the refrigerator door. Raw meat hung from the ceiling and lined the storage shelves. Aubrey stepped forward and picked up a bloody, succulent looking steak out of a packaged box and started her dinner. Until finally she was full and felt completely tranquil, her eyes lost all their redness and where blindingly bright again. As quietly as she came, she left the store and got back in her car. Its still early she thought to herself I’ll stop at Braden’s house for awhile.

Her car purred as she cruised downtown to where Braden’s brownstone was. She pulled up outside his home and stared up at the weathered building. Aubrey loved the feel of the house, it was comforting and made her happy. Those weren’t feelings she had often anymore. She got out of her car and traveled up the narrow stone steps leading to the door. Just as she was about to knock, Braden pulls open the door. She smiled as she stepped inside. Its funny how perceptive he is about me, she mused to herself. “Well your looking better. Where did you eat this time?” He smiled as he sat down on the leather couch, pulling her with him. “Why do you always want to know? Doesn’t it freak you out that one of your best friends is a blood-sucking vampire?” He gazed at her so intently, she felt spellbound. He really is gorgeous Aubrey thought, biting her lip. We have been friends for a while, but recently he is giving me these feelings that I just don’t need. She came back to focus when she noticed that he was talking to her. “You know I want to look out for you and I’m interested. Not all of my friends can fly, see perfectly at night, and like to sip on blood.” She shook her head, “I don’t like to sip on blood, but unfortunately I have to survive. At least I don’t have to kill humans to get enough blood to live.”

Aubrey shuddered at the horrible memory of her first attack. Right after she had returned from Italy, she had felt really sick. She could no longer go out during the day, she had to stay in bed with the curtains drawn closed. She would get nauseous and lethargic when she was out in the sun. So she would stay in her room during the day and then go out at night. After two days of being back Aubrey started to feel a deep intense hunger a feeling that she had never felt before. She had gone to Central park to clear her head and sort everything out. She was just sitting on a bench thinking, when this young guy went jogging by. He had the intoxicating scent to him, his scent called to her. So she got up and followed him. When he finally stopped for a breather, Aubrey’s thirst had intensified, her eyes glowed red, and her fangs where in place. All she could do was whisper “I’m sorry” before she attacked him and drained all the sweet blood from him.

Aubrey hugged her legs tightly to herself as if to keep the monster inside her locked in a cage. That night was the reason she went to Central Park every night and why she became a “Vegetarian”. Braden grabbed her and gently placed her on his lap, holding her close. “It’s okay” he said in a soothing voice. “That was the first tome the monster took over you, now you have control.” She did her best to control her urges, but at times it was extremely difficult. Aubrey took advantage of his hold on her and snuggled close to his warm, muscular body. He could always sooth her fragile nerves and raw emotions. Gosh his scent is intoxicating she thought sighing to herself. She lifted her head slightly to gaze at his neck. Aubrey watched the wonderful pulse, the blood pumping through his veins. She leaned closer and placed her lips against his pulse, feeling its pace become quicker.

Realizing what she was doing, she jumped up and out of his embrace. She strode across the room, cursing herself and then glanced back to see his face. He had this little smile and his eyes were a deeper shade of brown, husky-looking. Aubrey blinked trying to clear her jumbled thoughts, but he had already changed his expression. Braden got up from the couch and walked over to her and held her for a moment. “You mean a lot to me, Aubrey. You know that?” He whispered gently in her ear. Smiling slightly, she whispered back “really?” He step back and gave her a genuine smile. “Of course, me and you are like milk and cookies. You can’t have on without the other.” She smiled at his analogy for their friendship, feeling foolish that she was willing to complicate that.

Aubrey walked back to the couch to grab her things. “Well I better go, you’ve got work in the morning.” He looked depressed and asked “your not staying?” “I can’t, you need your sleep and I can’t stay. I don’t want to be caught by the sun.” She glanced at her watch, 4 A.M. the sun would be up in a couple hours. “I didn’t tint your windows for nothing, you know. Come on, stay with me.” He pleaded. She shook her head, “I told you I hate going out in the sun and if I stay, I’ll have to spend all day here.” “So?” He asked her stubbornly. Aubrey sighed Gosh he is a pain in my ass, “For one you won’t be here, so I’ll be bored and two, you don’t have any good food.” “I can call Nate and tell him I’m taking the day off.” He replied easily. During the day, h worked for a car service place called Nate’s Auto Shop. “You can’t do that, Braden. You’re his best worker and you need all the money for Fever.” She started towards the door while Braden followed her, shuffling his feet. He opened the door for her, “I wish you would stay.” She hugged him tight for a moment, “I would love to, but not tonight.” He gently held her face in his hands and then gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek. “See you later, Bree.” She blushed a little then turned and walked down the stone steps, over to her car parked on the corner.

Braden watched Aubrey speed off down the road and sighed heavily. He loved her and he wanted her to be with him forever. He didn’t know when his feelings changed, but every time he saw her his heart pounds against his chest. But that wasn’t the only part of him that reacted to her like that. The throbbing he felt when she was on his lap and kissed his neck nearly drove him insane. He wanted more than anything to be with her, to feel her body next to his. But he was supposed to be her friend and he couldn’t screw that up. He also knew that she didn’t want to hurt someone she got close to and hadn’t dated since her change. Most importantly how could be with her when he was a freak, who shape can constantly shift. He shook his head and walked back into his house, to his kitchen where he poured himself a glass of water. Sipping his drink, Braden headed down a tiny hallway to his room. He set down the empty glass on his dresser, slipped out of his clothes, and climbed into his king-sized bed. He starred out the window, watching the moon until he fell asleep.

 Aubrey arrived back at her apartment with only a few minutes to spare. She watched as the sun was starting to paint the sky with pinks and yellows, kicking out the black and gray. She snapped her curtain closed. After she had left Braden’s house, she went for a drive through the city. She didn’t know where she was going, she just kept driving. She was thinking about her life , evaluating it actually. Was this the life she had planned? Well no, how many people plan to be a vampire? She sure didn’t plan on it. She knew she couldn’t sate her thirst any other way unless she wanted to be a murderer. But she felt her life was lacking something, something very important.

Looking around her apartment, at all the expensive furniture and rare collection of art left by her parents, she realized what she was missing. Life. There was no life in her apartment. No animals, servants, and her only friend was Braden and he never came over because she never wanted to stay at her house longer than necessary. There used to be so much life in this place Aubrey thought sadly to herself. Her parents had always been successful, her father worked for a stock company, while her mother was an art collector. The apartment would constantly be buzzing with important clients, foreign servants, and the most elite New Yorkers. There was a party happening almost everyday in the apartment, Aubrey rolled her eyes at the memory. But all that stopped 4 years ago when her parents took their yacht on a trip to the Bahamas and never came back. Though their bodies were never found, the yacht however was abandoned with signs of a struggle. She had been devastated when she heard the news, no one could comfort her. She fires all the help, stopped all the parties, and almost never left the apartment. Braden was the one who helped her through the rough time. Once again Super Braden saves the day she reflected smiling to herself. Anyway needless to say, Aubrey was given everything left behind by her parents including this apartment.

But how could she liven this place up? She couldn’t have a pet, what if she got too thirsty? Maybe she should start dating again. She shivered in fear at the thought. She wasn’t afraid to date, she has always been confident around guys. She just didn’t trust herself with anyone anymore. Look what almost happened with Braden, what if she had lost control listening to his blood pushing through his veins? She couldn’t live with herself if she ever hurt or killed someone who got close to her. But she was selfish, she couldn’t give up Braden. He has always believed in her and he wasn’t even afraid of her once he found out her secret. He was a completely loyal to her and loved her on some level. Being a vampire sucks, Aubrey deemed silently.

She walked into her gothic-style room with a canopy bed created with dark stained wood and walls painted ebony. Pulling aside the canopy veil, she hopped on her bed and settled into the folds of Egyptian cotton. He mind continued to wander as she feel into a tormented sleep.

Ashlie Ellithorpe, age 18, Contact: tennisgirl3904@yahoo.com

Copyright 2008 Ashlie Ellithorpe