Hunger

by Karen E. Taylor

Genres: Urban Fantasy

Synopsis

Hunt, feed, repeat... Deirdre Griffin didn't choose to be a vampire. But she is. And she's determined to make the most of her fate. For Deirdre that means surrendering to the raging hunger ignited by even the slightest whiff of blood—a hunger that pulses through her body like a fever, demanding release. It means making friends in dark places-and savoring every hot, salty, bitter, revitalizing drop of life force the night has to offer...

Release date: July 1, 2011

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 545

Sample

I stood at the window, staring at the late night streets. All too soon there would be those first tentative walkers, anonymously muffled against the chilled morning air. They would be joined by others, growing bolder and more confident in their destinations. I thought myself thankful I would not have to join them.

I turned and surveyed the room. The remains of the work of the last month lay strewn around the suite: discarded papers and sketches, emptied wine bottles and brimming ashtrays. “God, what a wreck,” I said aloud. The echo of my voice, in a room that had been so long silent, startled me. For the past month, I had lived on room service, solitude and my work.

The final results of this feverish month were neatly stacked and labeled for my secretary Gwen to pick up in the morning. Gwen was anxious to see the new summer line; her enthusiasm was almost overwhelming. It was her wide-eyed approach to life that caused me to hire her. All city people must have seemed odd to her then. In our initial contact I must have appeared as one of them; powerful, polished and no less eccentric or inapproachable. If after ten years she realized my life style was more bizarre than most, she let no condemnation of it affect our friendship.

The answering machine light beckoned me, but I decided that the phone messages could wait until after I showered and slept. It was far too long since I had attended to personal needs, so immersed was I in my designs. I laughed to myself about how I would appear to the fashion world at this moment. Disheveled and unkempt, I couldn’t be that same person known for her elegant and romantic fashions, her fastidious attention to details. “You’re old enough to know better,” I addressed my mirrored image and appraised the damage done as I removed my jeans and shirt. I distrusted mirrors; one of my greatest fears, especially after one of my extended work periods, was that I would fade away to nothing. I was pleased to find that I was not as insubstantial as I felt; I was perhaps thinner and paler than usual, but still very much alive. I turned out the light, removed my contact lenses and stepped into the shower.

Some light filtered into the room from the hall, just enough so that I could see small tufts of steam rising. A hot shower had always been an almost religious experience for me; I enjoyed the feel of the water flowing over my body, relaxing, caressing and renewing. A new twist, in these later years, was the almost pitch blackness of the bathroom, a condition once made necessary by my extremely light-sensitive eyes. Now with new and improved contacts, I could shower in the light, but I had found the combination of darkness and water so intimate and sensuous that I could not bear to violate their union.

Afterwards, I wrapped myself in a towel and prepared the suite for my sleep. The outer rooms would need to be left single locked only, so that the hotel staff could get in. Whoever has tomorrow’s shift will have quite a job, I thought to myself, remembering the condition of the room, but shrugged the guilt away knowing that sleep was what I needed most.

Picking up my lenses from the bathroom, I entered the bedroom and triple locked the door behind me. Only I had a complete set of three keys in my possession; the hotel had one of them, Gwen had a second and Max had the third. Privacy in sleep is essential to me. I closed the blinds, pulled the heavy drapes shut and crawled into bed. It was almost sunrise.

“Please, God, no dreams,” I prayed. I felt my body relax, and I slept.

My slumber was burdened by interruptions that day; I felt, rather than heard, the sounds of life all around me. The cursing of the maid cleaning the outer rooms, Gwen’s tentative knock and entry, the rustling of pages and her call of “sleep well,” as she left, the traffic from outside and the elevator bell further down the hall, even the insistent whirr of the telephone answering machine; all these noises filtered into my sleeping consciousness. I wondered if people in a coma felt this way, semi-aware of life continuing around them, but powerless to make a response. I envisioned myself, lying on my back on the bed, eyes wide open yet seeing nothing, seemingly dead. A moment of panic ensued; if I should die, how long would it take to be discovered? Almost as soon as the thought entered my head, I dismissed it. I was not dead, and although there was a time when I desired death, it would not come now.

Eventually the sounds ceased and sleep came, magically deep. When I finally awoke, I perceived that the sun had already set. The noise from outside seemed sharper and more distinct; the smell of the air crisp and cold. The alarm clock read 6:30 P.M. I stretched, yawned, and listened to the wind buffeting the windows. As I listened, I became aware of my growing hunger. Once recognized, it threatened to overwhelm me, an engulfing need that must be met soon. It had been too long, I knew. I needed music and talk, a drink, a man. I would find all these things at Max’s.

Unlocking the bedroom door, I went into the bathroom. In the medicine cabinet, I found another pair of lenses, dark amber, as close to my original eye color as could be found. They would be fine for tonight, enough to shield my eyes from headlights and barlights. My needs urgently prodded me as I washed, brushed my teeth and applied my makeup. My hair, snarled from the day’s sleep, took longer to comb than I wished. The blood in my veins pounded the count of each endless second. It took no time to choose my clothes; I knew what it would be. “Black leather,” I smiled to myself. “For Max.”

Before I called the doorman to arrange for a cab I checked the mirror. The black leather jeans were supple and tight, like a second skin, but the lace blouse softened the effect. I wore high heels to enhance my height of 5’3”—I liked to look people in the eyes. My hair, a deep auburn, almost mahogany, curled around my face and fell below my shoulders. My skin was pale, almost translucent, but the makeup helped to disguise this pallor. One final critical glance in the mirror told me that I looked good, even better than I should. I removed my coat from the closet, the one I called my wolf coat; the fur was shaggy and coarse and the color was a shadowy gray. It was a huge fashion success for me last season. I put it on and went for the phone.

I was surprised that when I picked it up there was someone already on the other end. “Yes?” I said, my voice rough and my manner abrupt.

“Deirdre, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks. What’s the use of that damn answering machine if you never listen to the tape?”

“Sorry, Max,” I said indulgently. “I’ve been working.”

“Your obsession with your work will kill you one day. I know you haven’t been taking care of youself. Get over here now and I’ll fix you up. But hurry, we close early tonight. It’s Thanksgiving, you know.”

I didn’t know. “I’m calling the cab now,” I said, hanging up and then dialing the doorman.

He greeted me as I got off the elevator. “Miss Griffin, the cab will be here in a few minutes. I’d advise you to wait in the lobby as it’s a very cold night.”

I didn’t mind the cold, but I smiled my acceptance at his suggestion. The smile was all the encouragement he needed. “You’ve not been out for a while. Are you well?” He had perfected the obsequious manner, courteous yet subservient, and the hotel patrons tipped him well.

I was no exception. In fact, I had become even more generous with the staff since I began hearing the whispers about me. Innuendos and speculative comments about aspects of my life had begun to filter through partially closed doors. This always made me nervous, almost paranoid, so I tipped well. I discovered that people would be unlikely to ask questions or turn on you if you did. “Never bite the hand that feeds you,” I murmured to myself.

“Miss Griffin?” he questioned. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, Frank, I was thinking of something else. I’m fine. I’ve just been working too hard.”

The cab pulled up to the front door; he ushered me outside and into the backseat. I thanked Frank and instructed the driver, “The Ballroom, please.”

Over ten years ago, Max had purchased a small nightclub in midtown. He had christened it the “Ballroom of Romance” and had retained me to provide the decor. Thrilled at the prospect of leaving a bad situation, I jumped at the chance. We decided on a Victorian approach; lace and hearts, black and white silk wallpaper, heavy fringe on the small lamps adorning the walls. The dance floor was surrounded by the bar and individual heart-shaped tables. It became one of the most popular clubs in town, an instant success for Max and for me. My services were suddenly very much in demand and after several years of interior design work, I was able to move into my first love, clothing. I could never quite believe my good luck, and always suspected that Max was much more involved in my initial jobs than he would admit. Over the years we had become the best of friends; he became my sole confidant and knew everything about me. His understanding of my needs and desires and his sympathy for my problems were boundless. I would have married him, but he never asked.

“Hey, lady, there’s a crowd. Want to go somewhere else?” I came out of my reverie at the sound of the cabdriver’s voice.

“No thank you,” I said with confidence, consulting the meter. “They’re expecting me.”

“Suit yourself,” he said after I paid him.

There was a crowd, even on Thanksgiving. My stomach tightened with an anxious anticipation; I hoped Max told them I was coming. I should not have worried though, for Larry was there to greet me at the door.

“Miss Griffin, so nice to see you.” He smiled, and as his handsome face lit up with that smile, I regretted my promise to Max not to fraternize with his employees.

“Thank you, Larry. It’s nice to see you, too.”

“We have your regular table reserved. Just follow me.” He parted the crowd and I watched the way his body moved as he walked in front of me. The smell of his cologne floated back to me and I inhaled it appreciatively. Of course, Max was right; I came here too often to get involved with the help. So, although tempting, Larry was off limits.

“What a shame.” I sighed as I sat at the table. Then, loudly enough to be heard over the music, I ordered my usual—a special burgundy Max kept reserved for me. I lit a cigarette while I waited, and began to watch the dancers. The dance floor was crowded with the usual types: mostly rich and bored young people anxious to show off their latest fashions and their latest lovers. Some, however, were people who had saved for months to be here this evening. I could tell who they were by their clothes and by their obvious delight of finally being here. They were continually glancing around, to find any celebrity they could. They must be disappointed, I thought as I looked around the club myself. Since it was Thanksgiving, the most famous and glamorous had better things to do. Still there were a few, who like me had no family or friends with which to celebrate the occasion. God, I thought bitterly, how I hate holidays.

The band changed to a slow plaintive love song. One of Max’s rules was that out of every musical set only two songs could be fast. The rest had to fit the club’s theme—romance. “People come here to grope and grab,” he told me in one of his cynical moods. “They will do things on the dance floor they would never do anywhere else but in the privacy of their own homes.” He was right, of course. You could almost feel the heat exuding from the dancers. Some couples barely moved, so engrossed were they in the fit and feel of each other’s bodies. Other nights this exhibitionist behavior offended me; tonight it merely intensified my mood. Max would come through for me, and provide a vibrant young body I could grasp and caress, while anticipating the final moment of rapture and release. I could, for a short time, be like one of the people on the dance floor.

I jumped, startled by the hand suddenly placed on my shoulder. I spun around in my seat to find Max standing there, an apologetic look on his face and my wine in his hand. He set the wine on the table, and brushed the hair from my neck to deposit a light, teasing kiss on the nape of my neck. I shuddered and he moved away. “Please don’t,” I said, smiling to remove some of the sting of the words and the shudder, “you know how ticklish I am.”

“Sorry, love. I was just thinking how lovely your neck is. You should wear your hair up.” He sat in the chair next to mine, a challenge in his eyes. I didn’t want to rehash the same old arguments tonight, didn’t want to get involved in the discussions of how Max thought I should dress or style my hair, or even live my life. I looked away and ground out my cigarette. He received no response; my silence was answer enough.

“I know,” he said, sounding chastened, “you like it that way. Let’s just drop it, shall we?” I looked up from my study of the wine. He was dressed in a black tuxedo impeccably tailored and correct, accentuating the lean but muscular body underneath. His teeth were white and even, and his hands, resting on the table, were strong. His dark hair, I knew, was becoming streaked with grey at the temples, although his face showed no sign of aging. It saddened me to think of Max growing old; how could I survive without him?

“You’ve been away too long, Deirdre.” His teasing manner was gone and his concern for me showed on his face. “You should stop doing this to yourself. You look ghastly. I know your work is important, but you’ve got to live a little, too. If you’re not careful, you’ll lose your touch. I don’t think you can exist very long as a hermit.”

“No, I suppose not,” I admitted to him. Sometimes, I felt that Max knew my needs better than I did. “So, what do you have lined up for tonight?”

“A tasty little number that I think you will enjoy immensely. I’ll bring him over and introduce him now.” With a graceful ease, he rose from the table, hugged me briefly and left. I watched him work his way through the crowd, speaking to several people on the way. Max was a lot like me; he too had many acquaintances but very few friends.

I drank my wine while I waited for his return. The wait seemed long, but in reality was only a few minutes. He soon arrived, bearing two glasses of wine, followed by my partner for the evening.

“Deirdre Griffin, meet Bill Andrews.” Max never showed any jealousy of the men he introduced to me. They were carefully screened by him, he knew all about their careers, their habits, their personal lives. I knew that he had spent hours behind the bar questioning this man, delicately prying into his life. He was most likely married, or engaged, but looking for one night of excitement. Max and I both knew that no commitments would be formed; the way he set everything up ensured it. And I wanted it that way.

I smiled up at Bill. “It’s nice to meet you,” I purred, playing my part to the hilt. “Max has told me so much about you.”

“And he told me about you, but he should have warned me how beautiful you were. I might just fall in love.” The words were insincere, I knew; I had heard them all before, too many times. Suddenly I was overwhelmingly tired, sick of the entire situation, the seedy little drama acted out weekly here in the Ballroom of Romance.

“Deirdre?” Max was glaring down at me, an expression of warning on his face. “Are you feeling okay?”

I looked at the two of them standing there expectantly and suppressed my unexpected emotional reaction. “I’m fine, thank you, Max.” I smiled at Bill and gestured to the chair recently vacated by Max. “Please, sit down.”

As Bill did so, Max politely excused himself with a twisted smile. “Well, I’ve got a business to run. Enjoy yourselves.”

Now that we were alone, I had no other option but to proceed as I normally would. I looked over at Bill and smiled again, hoping that my sudden disgust hadn’t been too obvious. This was my life now and I could never turn back. It is too late, I admonished myself, for an attack of conscience. Too late to worry about how this evening would affect his life, his family. Too late for anything but this.

He returned my smile and I realized what a good choice Max had made for this evening; he certainly knew my taste in men. Youthful and attractive, but not devastatingly so, Bill Andrews was pleasant, unassuming and waiting for me to make the first move. I usually preferred being the predator, but tonight, for some reason beyond my understanding, I had no taste for the hunt. Maybe Max was right; I was losing my touch. I reached for another cigarette and as he lit it for me, I saw his wedding band gleam in the flame. In that instant, my heart hardened and I abandoned my rueful thoughts. He was just another bastard looking for some action. And, I thought vehemently as I gave him an appraising stare, he would get some.

He cleared his throat and pulled at his tie; my silence had unnerved him. Seeking to repair the damage, I smiled my most inviting smile and gestured towards the dance floor. “Let’s have another glass of wine before we join the crowd. I hate to dance sober, don’t you?” He agreed with a laugh that relaxed us both. We began to engage in the typical small talk that leads to seduction, my flattering attention to the talk of his career, his compliments on my appearance and body. By the time we finished our wine, we had moved closer together, our knees making contact under the table. His hand brushed my thigh and remained there; I could feel the heat of his touch through the leather. “Time to dance,” I said provocatively, took his hand and led him to the dance floor.

Making an effort to seem slightly drunk as we began to dance, I leaned against him and he held me tightly and possessively. I made no effort to pull back from him. This was what I wanted now; it was no longer just acceptance of the inevitable. I had become intoxicated, not with the wine, but with the flesh of this man. I put my head on his shoulder so that I could better savor his aroma, the cologne he wore, the muskiness of perspiration, the acrid smell of wine on his breath. I could feel his heart pounding next to my breast, the rhythm matching my own heart and the music. As he became more aroused he whispered in my ear, “Sweet, oh, sweet.” He kept repeating it like a prayer to a goddess. His hands were caressing my back and I was trembling with the urgency of my own need.

“Come with me,” I said, and he followed obediently.

The corridor outside the bar had a few secluded rooms known only to those intimately familiar with the place. I led Bill to one of these places; a lounge, seldom used, with a sturdy lock on the door and a comfortable oversized couch. The music from the band could be heard softly in the background and the bar was equipped with the burgundy I liked. I poured two glasses while he removed his jacket and loosened his tie. Sitting next to him on the sofa, I handed him his wine. He drained it in one gulp, then seemed embarrassed, so I followed suit. This was always the most awkward time, reestablishing the ardor that had developed on the dance floor. Bill was no different than the others; he seemed nervous, unsure of how to proceed.

“You know,” he said, hesitating and staring at the floor, “I’ve never really gone in for this type of thing before. I mean, I know it’s a line, but I’ve been a faithful husband for over five years . . .” His voice trailed away.

No, I will not lose him now, I raged inside and I cupped his face in my hands. “Bill, look at me,” I ordered, and he snapped his head up, surprised at the tone of my voice. “We will not do anything here tonight that will affect your future life. I don’t want your tomorrows, I just want you tonight.” Our eyes made contact, and when I saw that his guilt and confusion were beginning to fade, I made my move.

“Relax,” I smiled seductively, “just relax a little. I can give you an evening you’ll never forget. You won’t regret it, I promise.” Passion began to flare again, in his eyes and in his body.

“Kiss me,” I whispered, not wanting to lose the moment. He turned to me abruptly, almost violently, as if he needed the momentum to carry him past his doubts. His mouth was hot on mine, evidence of a desire almost as deep as my own. He kissed my eyelids, my ears and my neck, all the while sliding my blouse over my shoulders. I helped him out of his shirt and tie and soon we lay, naked from the waist up on the couch. He made a move to take off his trousers, but I stopped him.

“Let’s take it slow,” I suggested.

Lazily I caressed his shoulders and back, feeling the tensing of his muscles; his skin burned beneath my cool hands. His hands busied themselves with the unfastening of my leather jeans. I permitted this and welcomed first his hand and then his kisses in the soft curve of my stomach. He began to move back up my body, concentrating on one breast and then the other, until he again returned to my mouth.

After the kiss, I buried my face in his neck. Now, I thought as I heard the blood pulse in his veins, Oh, please, now.

I nipped him at first, savoring the moment, my low moans echoed by his. Then when my teeth grew longer and sharper, I could hold back no longer. I bit him brutally, tapping the artery and was rewarded by the flow of his blood: hot, salty and bitter. He shuddered violently and fought to push me away, but his resistance was futile. Finally his struggles ceased and his body grew limp as I continued to draw on him, gently now, almost tenderly. I drank a long time, slowly, relishing the feel of my own body being replenished, then I withdrew.

Arising from the couch, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. No longer pale and haggard, my skin glowed with life and my eyes shone, victorious and demonic. A few drops of blood were trickling down my chin; I wiped them away with the back of my hand and turned from my reflection in disgust.

I knew that I had taken more blood from Bill Andrews than usual. He lay unconscious and pale. Dear God, I thought in horror, I’ve taken too much. He’ll die. I frantically felt for his pulse, and was relieved when I found it, faint but steady. He would be weak for a few days and bear a small bruise, but he would live.

I lifted him from the couch and put his shirt back on. He was not a small man, but I am much stronger than an ordinary person, especially after feeding. I dressed myself, walked to the bar for a glass of wine and lit a cigarette.

I watched him as I smoked, waiting for a sign of his awakening. Eventually his eyelids fluttered and he looked at me, puzzled and still slightly dazed. I discovered some time ago, that people in his state were highly suggestible and, whenever possible, I used this to my advantage. I again cupped his face in my hands and made eye contact. “You don’t know me,” I said softly and insistently. “You had too much to drink, found this room and passed out.” He nodded vacantly and I knew the suggestion would work. “You will sleep for a while, then be awake and alert when you hear a knock at the door.” His eyes slowly closed and he began to snore.

I went to the door and opened it. The noise from the bar was subdued and checking my watch I discovered that it was past closing hour. I could hear the faint clash of glasses and knew that the staff was hurriedly clearing tables so they could get home early. Bill should make his exit soon, I decided and knocked upon the door.

“Mr. Andrews?” I queried.

“Yes, that’s me.” He sat up and looked around. Seeing me, he smiled weakly and with no recognition in his eyes. “Sorry, I must have passed out here,” he said sheepishly.

“No problem,” I countered. “Max asked me to find you—we’re closing now. There will be cabs waiting outside if you want one.”

“Thank you, I will.” He collected his tie and jacket, checked for his wallet and with a final vague smile, walked slowly down the hallway to the exit. I heard Larry say goodnight to him then waited until I heard the cab drive away. I collected my coat and left through a side door.

I did not need to take a cab. The cold was exhilarating and I was so full of stolen life that I wanted to walk and run and dance in the darkened streets. The night was my element. I, of all people in the city, could walk in its beauty without fear.

The next afternoon I ventured into the streets again, this time with more risk. The exposure of my flesh for just a few seconds to the sun would result in a severe burn and extreme sickness. It had happened a few times and was not an experience I cared to repeat. Still, the day was overcast and I had been rejuvenated through the feeding of last evening, and so, armed with sunglasses, gloves and a large hat to shield my face, I was relatively safe. Perversely, I enjoyed taking the risk, merely for the human feel of walking in the daylight.

As I walked I noticed that the store windows had been decorated for Christmas and I felt a wave of sadness at the season’s too sudden approach. The trappings of today seemed so garish compared to those of my youth: the softly glowing candles, the handmade decorations and the warm red fire, all against a backdrop of pure white snow. There was always snow, and ebony night skies, so beautiful and icy that they could make you laugh for joy. Now all was neon and glittering, even nativity scenes seemed gaudy, embellished with flashing lights. Christmas was, for me, a dismal time made bitter by memories, parents long dead, friends aged or aging, and others, more dear, irretrievably lost. A tear slowly snaked its way down my cheek and I brushed it away impatiently; it would be blood-tinged, I knew, and would stand out angrily on my face. With the practice of all too many years, I pushed my emotions aside, replaced them with considerations of here and now.

The walk to the office was short, only five city blocks. I entered the building, showed my I.D. and signed in. Once on the elevator, I removed my gloves, hat and sunglasses; any light that would reach me now would be artificial, and my lenses were more than adequate protection. The elevator jolted to a stop on the 29th floor and opened to the glass doors of our reception area. Griffin Designs had exclusive use of the top two floors.

Gwen was talking to the receptionist as I walked in. She smiled a warm welcome, but the other woman jumped guiltily, murmured a good afternoon and immersed herself in some work behind her massive marble desk. This desk was my favorite piece of furniture, supported as it was with two large onyx statues of griffins, but it was really too decorative for my personal use, so it stood here, to impress our customers. I laughed inwardly at myself; I was no different from the doormen of the world, I just made more money.

Gwen began filling me in on the details of yesterday and today as we walked together to my office. “The pattern makers have been working all day and have some preliminaries for you to see. The fabric suppliers have been contacted and I expect the swatches by courier almost immediately. The models have been called and will be here next Friday for their fittings, and the seamstresses will report on Monday for their twelve hour shifts. I promised the usual bonuses, okay?” She glanced at me for my approval.

“It’s nice to see you too, Gwen, only slow down a bit please,” I laughed. “Give me a chance to catch my breath.”

“Sorry, Deirdre, but I just get so involved.” She shrugged. “Coffee?” Knowing my answer, she filled a cup and handed it to me.

“Thanks, Gwen. Let me have ten minutes to settle in, then we can start.” I walked into my office, but left the door slightly ajar. Sitting down at my desk with a happy sigh, I warmed my hands on the mug of steaming coffee. It felt good to be back here again, to be among people for reasons other than those which usually drew me to them. I lifted my briefcase to the top of the desk and began to unload its meager contents; a newspaper, a sheaf of notes, and the phone answering tape I had not found the time or inclination to review. Any important calls would have come in to the office; the calls on the tape were most likely from Gwen. She often used the machine for leaving notes on items she might otherwise forget, knowing that she would ultimately be the one to review them. The other calls would be from Max. I smiled to myself; Gwen had once confessed to me that she thought that he and I had one of the most romantic relationships. She would be horrified to discover the truth of it—that Max was practically a pimp and my payment was in blood, not money. Unaware of this darker side, however, she seemed to get a vicarious pleasure in hearing his voice on the phone. I pushed the tape over to one side.

The newspaper was tempting, but I didn’t succumb. Later, after working out a thousand details: fabric, color, and accessory selection, work schedules and pricing, after the office had emptied of all personnel, I would curl up and read it all, not missing one item or advertisement, saving the crossword puzzle until last. Setting the newspaper down, I turned my attention to the summer line.

Fashion is a risky business; keeping a reputation and clientele in today’s variable climate is difficult. I had established Griffin Designs at a time when all others were showing