The Second Male Lead

Juliet

Louis had let me more into his life in the past three I had with other men than he did in the real world. My pride was driving me to this life, or rather Louis… I wanted to see if he would've chosen me if it weren't for my family's interference or if he would've even noticed me during everyday life.

I woke up too old for my thirteen-year-old body. It was strange being in one that didn't even have breasts yet. I lay twirling my hair through my fingers, thinking about my life choices. I had gotten more done and found out more secrets in the last three timelines than all of us together could do in only one life, which is obvious, but still, going back in time is so useful.

I enjoyed every minute of the time I had with each of them, and of course, that was also obviously easier. Marcus always said I was too immature to handle my harem… Too influenced by the other men in my life to really put all my energy into that system our life had become. On the other hand, I was so much older. I sat up, not at all feeling like jumping around anymore. My youth was over. I was officially an adult. Old… I got up and went over to my desk to take out a piece of paper. I wrote a message on it with a marker.

Michael

I need a teleporter plate.

Here is the location for my room.

Please put in the farm.

I need to talk to Samuel.

Thank You.

He would see what I wrote and either get it done after talking to Sam, or I'd have to change my plans… I walked outside to burn it in the fire pit. My father came out and looked at what I was doing. I met his eye, and he joined me, "Are you going to burn the place down?" I rested my head on his shoulder. He leaned in and kissed my hair, "Will you talk to me?"

"Dad, can you give me ten minutes without interrupting me?"

"Sure, what's on your mind."

It took Liam half an hour before he was calm enough to have a decent convo with.

"What did Samuel think he could do to En-gannim? What were your plans for the place? Mom is so… What do you call a citizen of En-gannim?"

"Vampires." I laughed. "Juliet, we just didn't want to be forced into camps anymore… I can't tell you how it feels to be pushed down for a hundred years and then driven into service… And then it's a future they choose for you… For the women, it's much worse. Sold to men like cattle… Your mom was lucky, and it's the only reason she doesn't have the realization of the fascist mentality. She was too shielded from the hurt and darkness."

"I understand... Like you wanted to shield me from the compound."

"It is my only goal in life… One I myself had to get used to… I was on En-gannim for a hundred years and your mother for two hundred… It was a long time to be one way and then to see there is another way… Your grandfather wouldn't let her marry me until she was sure… I feel horrible that she had to follow in my stupidity."

"It would never have worked if you branded her… She would never have fought with you… If the age wasn't a problem… It is a requirement, right? You guys didn't lie to us, and here in our galaxy, we could do it at a later stage."

He chuckled, "You'll be surprised how violent your mom can be… You'll see it when we start killing people for you… I guess you already know… When she has a purpose, the gloves come off." I smiled, thinking about all the nights my mom had to step in after I missed my first bite to subdue a bulky man.

"No, Juliet, the age thing is real… Agatha was already too old… And Qadir didn't want to listen to her when she told him about it… Would it have worked when they just got together, and she was twenty-one? Maybe… He was different for a time on Earth… Consumed with her… The new life… Then Marcus came… She did love him…"

"I don't think the brandings care whether your true love is dv offender."

He laughed again, "If your mother and I tried it… before you were born, we would've been sent back, killed… For only thinking about it… Testing the waters… We couldn't really do anything… even with the knowledge." Liam scuffed his shoe in the dirt… "Then you were born, and your mother and I had to make the decision ourselves if we would find you someone before you're twenty-one."

"Is that why you raised me the way you did…"

"No… I wanted the best for you. This place is not the best… I still can't believe Qadir's son was the one to make it all happen… Your mother is unable to share."

Disgusted, I turned to him, "Don't tell me you ever asked her if you could take another wife."

He smiled and shook his head, "The other way around… Samuel… We thought that maybe we could, you know… If the age thing was a lie…"

I laughed again, "Mom didn't want two Furrow's." I laughed some more. Liam ruffled his hair. "Who would've been the third?"

My dad looked up and bit his lip nervously, "Your mom had many suiters and offers and men dangling after her on that Island." My dad manifested, and his nails dug into his hands, piercing the skin. Liam would never have shared her… "There was another man… But anyway."

"No, please tell me." I pulled him into the house and pushed his hands underneath a cold stream of water, rinsing away the blood. I carefully dried them while he spoke.

"Ian…" My eyes grew about the size of saucers. "He didn't want to join the coupe, and… he was one of the reasons… our cause got leaked."

"You didn't tell Ian everything, did you?"

"No! Nothing! Some other things happened to set us on this path, Juliet… Things only Sam gets to share with you."

"I figured there was a catalyst scenario on En-gannim that sent you all spiraling…"

My dad's head jerked to my room's door, hearing something. I smiled. Michael. "Oh, that's for me." I turned and tossed the towel on the counter. Liam followed. No, Michael. Only a plate. "Coward."

As I picked up the plate, Liam took two quick steps to stand next to me, "Where are you going? And who is a coward?"

"My watcher."

"Your what?

"Michael."

I slowly turned to my dad and looked up at him. "I'm going to go see Sam. You want to see your brother."

***

After thoroughly talking to Sam about the consequences of going back in time and, if I didn't, how they thought it best to solve our predicament—I abducted Chris when I left for Zoreah to make the time go by faster—in a way…

I dropped him at Ira's door. For the next five years, I was planning on watching him from afar to see how his life played out with no—Juliet there to muck it up. Really, I wanted to see how many women I'd have to make disappear right from under him and the number of murders there would be on Zoreah… But no, Chris fortunately couldn't acclimate. For months, he went into a depression, saying he felt his life was back on Earth. I'd been sleeping in Caleb's room for two months, and I couldn't watch him sit and stare into space anymore. Seventy-five years was a long time for him to wait for something that would never happen—and eventually, he would sleep around… I couldn't handle that either.

Ira was not there, and Silvanus was out hunting. Chris was on the little porch watching the many people walking by. I pretended to be another riphath and made eye contact with him. He at least noticed me… I didn't wait for him to snap out of it and make a move. I climbed the few steps, sat down next to him, dug in my pocket, and held out a packet of cigarettes. His face lit up. He threw his arms around my neck… I apologized for dumping him there and told him everything. I also had to confess that I wanted to see if he would sleep with anyone. We went into the house and on his bed smoked and got really drunk with my secret stash outside his window.

Ira found us passed out. Before Silvanus could take us to the barracks, I made us disappear, and Chris traveled us away out of the city.

I was almost nineteen when I left Zoreah and traveled to France. It wasn't easy… leaving Chris, and he begged me to take him with me. So I did and left him with Marcus on the compound to help him with Qadir's campaign… I could've told him about Satya… Let him meet Charlene and play out that scenario… I decided against it… The two of them could figure it out in our regular timeline once I found Michael. I gave Chris his own back-channel plate; I don't know what he and Marcus got up to. It was time I focused on Louis.

I went straight to his house in Paris. He wasn't there. I didn't expect him to be, but I needed money. I logged onto Louis's accounts and transferred Chris and me—large amounts into a joint account Chris needed to open because I didn't have any identification. We racked up a hefty sum, enough for me to buy an apartment.

It took only two days for Louis to slam open the door and come running up the stairs into his study. I left a note on the table.

You've been hacked. Congratulations.

He never did go to the authorities. Louis also never told me how many of his revenue streams were illegal. I had found Jack to keep an eye on Louis, watching in the background. I invited him to stay with me so we could both be a little more comfortable. It was dull work because Louis wasn't really busy. It took months of waiting for him to go out for the night. Anything where we could meet. Louis eventually got cabin fever and jumped in the shower.

"Here we go," Jack said.

I made myself presentable while Jack checked where he would be headed for the night. I arrived a little after him so it didn't look suspicious. Louis had made himself at home at the bar. We sat across from each other on either end. He was very dull. A few girls made their way over. It was pretty comical to watch how easy it was for him to put them off. He only had to read them for a few seconds to know what would make them leave all on their own. And I guessed by then he had read some of the girls there or all of them... Yuk… I was keeping a tight lid on my thoughts, so even if he did try, he would get nothing.

After some time of no bite on my line I went dancing. Louis didn't come to the floor once and sat tossing away drink after drink. I had to sit down to catch my breath and refresh. The first guy came up to me and tried his luck. I very civilly declined. He left, which I thought was refreshing, and asked the bartender for another drink. I was probably too young, but it didn't seem that they cared all that much. My uncle had sent me a fake ID. I was Sheila again. 

Louis had not once looked at me. Or of what I could see. I couldn't read his thoughts… Another few guys came around to make 'conversation.' It was getting late, and they were plastered. One was a little more demanding and intrusive and reached out to touch me; I kindly grabbed his wrist and pushed his face into the bar. Disgusted and angry, he left.

"Well done!" the barman complimented in French. "I didn't even have to call the bouncer."

"A girl can never be too careful," I answered in French.

"You are not French."

"No, American… Is my accent that bad."

"No, it's very good," he pushed a drink toward me, "On the house."

"Thanks." 

How long would I have to sit there? Maybe it would even take a few nights before he noticed me. Months? Goodness, Louis must really be holding out. Celibacy his mantra… I turned in my chair to look out over the dancers and desperately wanted to join them—decided against it and turned back to take a large sip of my drink. Another lady approached Louis and sat down next to him, trying her luck. Every time, I held my breath. Would he cave? What vow did he make to himself to stop his deplorable behavior?

At the same time, another dude tried his luck walking toward me. With one hand stretched out, I said, "Non!" before he was even close. He turned around, and I laughed. The barman looked from me to Louis and shook his head. "He is a bit old for you, or I would've introduced you…" I glanced at Louis, still deep in thought. "Why are you here?"

"Business."

"You? But you're so young."

"Talented."

He pouted his lips in an agreeing way and took a few orders. I glanced at my watch. I didn't want to get drunk, and I couldn't figure out how Louis had done it so many times over and over. I would not make the first move, and I didn't think he would either. I pushed the money I had across the bar and got up, pulling my dress a bit down, "Thank You."

I waved and made my way outside, waiting for a ride. Since Louis had been in Paris, there were a few days I went to his estate and lived there. Tonight would be one of those nights—I only needed to get to my plate, and I would be in the Alps. I couldn't wait.

I heard his familiar tread behind me. A small smile played on my lips. He came to a stop next to me. I looked at him fleetingly and smiled, averting my gaze out to the street again—acting my heart out. I lifted my hand when I saw a cab. It wasn't even that late; nonetheless, I was getting tired, and humming or singing was my next move. The car stopped. "Can we share?" he asked.

I closed my eyes quickly, thanking the universe, and looked back at him. "Sure."

We both got in, and I met his eye. I thought all the typical thoughts. His handsome. The cab driver seemed friendly. The streets were busy. How much I liked France and let my thoughts ramble on and on so he thought I was only an average human person. I had used my five years to practice and was getting good at it. He smelled so good. Louis chuckled, and luckily, I saw a cute dress in a window and thought about where I would wear it to—the following night—casting another line. The cabby dropped me off first at a fake location. I took a walk to cool down.

The next evening, I waited in anticipation at the new restaurant with a bar I wanted to try. I lit a cigarette outside before I went in. The counter had a few chairs open, and I chose one with a good view of the place. It wasn't long before he came strolling in—stylish like always—hot as hell. Was he contemplating eating me at the end of the night? I would be his first in a few years. Maybe I was that tempting. He sat down, and a waiter told me my table was ready. I left without even looking at him.

Ten minutes later, he stood next to my chair. I looked up in surprise and recognized him, "Cab. Last night. Fancy seeing you here."

"Yes… I recognized you, too, and thought it couldn't be a coincidence."

"It has to be. Or how else do you explain it?"

"I'll tell you when I know."

"Would you like to join me? I'm not meeting anyone, and it is horrible eating alone."

He looked down at me for a moment and pulled out the chair. The waiter came, taking our orders. We sat in silence for the rest of the meal. It was excruciating keeping my thoughts in check, thinking about how good the food was, how awkward it was, and how I wished I had never asked him to sit down. He looked up at this, and I smiled, looking away. My fingers were digging into my palm to control myself. I placed down my napkin and asked the waiter for the bill.

I took it and paid for the whole meal, "Maybe I'll see you around."

"You don't want to share a cab again."

"What would be the point?"

Louis was fighting with himself. He looked deep into his wine glass, swirled the red liquid, and took a sip. I turned and walked out. Come on, Juliet, you can do this. No one said it was going to be easy.

"You paid for our whole meal, even my part," he said, taking his place next to me.

"Well, I did ask you to sit down and then didn't make conversation. My way of apologizing."

"I chose to sit down and also didn't talk to you."

"It's fine," I waved my hand at another cab.

"How are you so well—blunted?" I suppressed my laughter. "The barman couldn't stop talking about your tip. As with the waiter just now."

"I have my ways of making a living."

"Vague."

"Dangerous out there. You never know who's going to rob you. Or hack your accounts."

He scoffed but opened the door for me. I scooted over the back seat to the other side, inviting him to join me; he saw the gesture. Again, he hesitated. Louis got in anyway. On the inside, I was all smiles. "Pretty dress."

"You like it? I bought it today."

"Mhhm."

Rude, I thought. Not even a compliment. "You look gorgeous."

"Heavens a compliment. I was just thinking you were the rudest bloke in France."

"Yes… I'm getting sick of the place. I want to leave… It's making me—" he didn't finish his sentence.

"You seem like the type to have a… holiday home. Why not go there."

Louis's eyes left mine to look out over the blurred scenery outside, "I can't… Work."

I screwed up and said, "Trying to find a wife is not work?" Louis's eyes came back towards mine, intrigued. I thought about his lips, just for effect. He smirked. "I mean… you look so old… shouldn't you have met someone by now?" He sighed and rested his head back against the pillows. I thought about kissing him, but he didn't react. He was not reading me. Louis was really lonely. Samuel said he often got into these spells and built the house in the Alps for a wife. He would only go back when he found someone. "Don't give up hope. You never know who might get in a cab with you."

Louis opened his eyes and turned his head toward me. "You're not trying to make a move… You mean."

"Life is random, and those chance encounters are what makes it interesting."

The cabby stopped, and Louis went for the door and pushed it open. He didn't say anything but hesitated outside before closing the door. I thought, 'What a pity.'

He leaned down, "You want to come up? Or what do the kids say these days?"

I paid the cabby. "I don't know… Wasn't in any civilization for a long time," I scooted out the door, taking his hand.

"Where were you?"

"Africa," I said, laughing.

"I can't tell if you're lying… It's refreshing having someone pay for me. Thanks, by the way."

"I'm doing it, so you'll have a harder time killing me at the end of the night." He slammed the door and seemed taken aback. "Joke. A young girl can't be too careful."

"Or that lucky. I don't sleep with children."

"Ohhh," I clutched my stomach. "That hurt my feelings. No wonder you didn't approach me last night."

"Were you waiting?"

I sighed and nodded, "The whole night, pining away for the hot guy across the bar."

"I apologize, mademoiselle, but you were so mean to all the other men, and I don't like to embarrass myself."

I chuckled, "Unless you're sure." We were ambling toward his door, and he had taken out his keys. "Nice neighborhood."

"Yeah, bought it… a long time ago… I'm so old, you know."

"Yes, how old are you?"

"Forty-two or something. I don't count anymore."

Louis allowed me to step in before him. I thought all the appropriate human thoughts. Nice house. Rich. Décor. His job and what car he drove. Hung my clutch on a hook as he took my coat. "Do you mind?" I pointed at my shoes.

"No. Go right ahead." I made the first move because he talked to me first—seemed only fair. I placed my hand on his shoulder to steady myself and unlaced my buckle on the stiletto's. I caught him staring at my breasts. I was also significantly shorter, "Thank you."

Louis met my eye, thinking, "How old are you?"

"Almost nineteen. In a few days."

"Family?"

"No. No family. They did leave me with a huge trust fund."

"Ahh, now the truth comes out."

"I don't think anyone will miss me."

"Why so? No friends?"

I thought about Charlene and then imagined her funeral and how I didn't want to have friends after that. I had prepared many backup thoughts to lie with. "No. No friends. Too busy spending money."

"Someone has to keep the economy going."

"Yes! That's how I feel about it."

"Can I offer you a juice box?"

I laughed out loud. "A glass of wine, please."

"Coming up."

I opened my clutch and took out my cigarettes. "Do you mind?"

"No, not at all." Louis didn't even look back to make sure what I was talking about. He was distracted.

He came in a few minutes later and handed me the glass. I wished I could drink a beer, but I didn't want to seem uncultured. I had to put it out there to make him drop his guard even more. He laughed at my ramblings. "Anything wrong? You don't like red?" Agh, Louis was too easy. No wonder he killed so many women.

"No, thank you…" I took a hesitant sip and turned away from him to pull a face. Whoever drinks red wine should jump off a bridge.

"You want to sit down?" he asked.

"I'll go finish my cigarette on the balcony." Before I knew it, I had opened the curtain and the door and stepped through. I started singing immediately. It was my cue. I needed to get out of there. You were also distracted, Juliet. So I thought about my parents and how much they would've loved the house. Music echoed from inside. Oooh, moody music. I took a big sip and turned to see him coming outside. I smirked. "You seem to want to sleep with me. You're pulling out all the stops."

"I don't know; there is something about destroying a girl before she's even had a chance to live a happy life."

I sat down, draping one leg over the other, "I think you should let the girl decide for herself."

"Children don't know the first thing about consequences… When they are older… They know what the adults are talking about."

"Like getting in a stranger's cab."

"Yes! How can you be so irresponsible?" I drank another big sip of my wine. He eyed me suspiciously, "For someone that doesn't like wine, you do seem to gobble it down."

"I am no coward."

Louis laughed, "No, that's for sure. You made so many mistakes tonight."

"No… I'm always myself… I like to let life be—"

"Random," We both said at the same time.

I smiled suggestively and held his gaze. "Can I kiss you?" Louis broke our eye contact and swore. "What? Did I say something wrong? Another mistake?"

"It's a bit forward. You should wait for the man to make the first move."

I had to laugh again, "Can I kiss you now?"

Louis laughed as well, and he held out his hand. I took it. He pulled me to my feet and closer to his person, placing his hand around my waist and keeping my one hand in his. We danced; I went along. He led me into the house. It felt so good to be in his arms after so many apart. "Can I kiss you?"

"First, tell me your name."

"Juliet."

He lifted his torso from mine and looked into my eyes, "Juliet?"

"Yes, I know. Don't know what possessed my mother."

"It's better than Louis."

"I bet back in the eighteen hundreds, Louis was a very good name."

"Yes… Juliet, too." I smiled, and he pulled me in, twirling us around. It made me laugh lightly. I wanted to say something… "Don't ask again," he cut me off.

"Why? Ready to fold?"

"I'm trying really hard to break a bad habit."

"Then use me to do it."

He let go of my hands, slowly let his arm slip from my waist, and stepped back. I made another mistake—too much, too fast—I thought, so he would have sympathy for me. It worked. He moved in again, and that time, I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair. He swore in French, and I went on hoping he would at least think about it. Sensually, I let my hand drift down his neck, over his shoulder, and up and down his arm. He swore again. One more. I slid my hand around his waist—pulled him in, and gently tugged on his shirt to get it out of his pants. He stopped dancing. I let my hand slide in under his shirt, "Mm." Louis lifted his head to look into my eyes. That time, I didn't ask and closed the distance, pressing my lips to his. He responded and slid both his arms around me, bent his knees, and picked me up, moving over to the couch while our lips moved together.

The pent-up longing for the night had built up, and I deepened the kiss with more enthusiasm, touching every part of him. He lay me down, settling on top of me, kissing down my neck and over my chest. He hesitated again, reaching the v-neckline of my dress, barely covering my one nipple. The other breast was covered and draped in soft material flowing down to my ankle. "You are tempting…" he looked up, "Are you sure."

I slipped one sleeve over my shoulder, holding his eyes, thinking how sure I was… desperate even. He relented and lingered languidly over my breast, cupping the other one. I undid the top button of his shirt and kept going until he could shrug out of it—looking down at me while he did it.

I sat up, and he slowly unzipped my dress, grazing my skin as he moved up toward my shoulders. I was waiting, keeping his eyes fixed on mine. Two hands pulled the fabric forward and down my arms. His eyes left mine to take in all of me. With a little more passion and without a bra, all he had to do was stand up, taking me with him, letting my dress fall to the ground. I unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants, doing the same. He stepped out. I took my time to appreciate his body with my hands and my mouth. While I kissed him, I slid my hands into his underwear and over his ass, coming back following the hem to pull the material down to the ground, going onto my knees so he could step out. He was watching me as I made myself comfortable to take him in hand and mouth. He stayed my shoulders and clutched them to pull me to my feet. His lips found mine, and his tongue was heated against mine, fighting for possession and release. A kiss that held promise… He ripped my panties on both sides and reached between my legs to fling them to the floor. "This isn't your first time, is it…"

I shook my head against his lips and kissed him to the couch, dragging him onto me. Louis was beyond being cautious, closing his hand on my breast. I savored every touch, watching him as his eyes and hand moved up and down my body—drawn out with deliberate feeling. Our legs intertwined, soft and rough against each other. I opened for him. He moved closer, taking himself in hand, and hesitated again. He made contact with my core, teasing, "Sure?"

"More than sure," I whispered breathlessly. A second later, his head got lost inside my warm, wet entrance. I swore as he pushed forward, pulled back, and thrust in again—deeper and deeper every time. Louis looked down at me, and when he delved in rough and thick—to the last inch, I gasped in response. He stayed there and rested his cheek next to mine, "Are you lying to me?"

"It's been a while."

"I can't tell if you're lying."

"I'm not. Now start moving, or I'll take control."

He pulled out. "What are you doing?"

He sat down and dragged me onto his lap, "I like that idea much better."

I was consumed as I let myself slide down his entire length. Louis dragged my lips onto his, and his arms enveloped me while I enjoyed myself. Our mouths separated and came back together whenever I felt like kissing him. "You're not going to get there like this."

"It does not matter," I pushed him back against the couch. He watched me as I rode him to his release. Sat back and touched my body, grasping my thighs and ass. Firm fingers closed around my skin in a pulsating grip, reaching his end. His head rested back, and he moaned with every rock of my hips. 

Too soon after he calmed down, he grabbed the back of my neck, dragged my face towards him, and hovered over my lips. His breath was strained as he sensually—slowly—deliberately tilted my head with a thumb. I lifted my chin, exposing my neck even more. His lips opened, and I could feel his manifested skin—his teeth straining.

I was waiting for him to sink in, dreading how I would feel if he did and felt no connection with me. My breathing was as ragged as his, my thoughts on nothing so he could make the choice himself. It'd been fifty years since he last slept with someone. Broken his habit after Jacklin.

I had closed my eyes, focusing on every little muscle twitch. If he did kill me, I thought I'd just let him because what would've been the point. Louis took in a deep breath, stroking his thumb up and down my neck, hovering over me, his other hand touching every part of me—wavering.

***

Louis

Juliet's smell was intoxicating. A sweet yet strong and spicy perfume. Her skin was soft and smooth under my fingers. Still nestled inside her warmness, she surrounded me in every way. The smell of her core and our bodies together broke my every defense. My mouth watered to sink in my teeth and get it over with. Sate every desire in one go like I've done thousands of times. Sex and blood… She was young—willing—waiting, thinking about nothing, her heart beating fast in anticipation of what would come next. I was struggling for too many reasons.

Juliet's sudden appearance had pulled my tired legs out from under me. It would be easy to make it work. No, I couldn't build a life with a human girl, one who had no idea what I was or what her life would be like. I didn't want to go to the compound and buy a wife. The whole concept and process repulsed me. I'd been among the humans for too long. Alone for too long. In the middle of two species, I couldn't join. For fifty years, I'd not had sex or so much as entertained the idea of a woman. It was too easy with my capabilities to get lost in the manipulation and control… Juliet had kept control in every way, and I couldn't treat her like I would a vampire woman. She had made me feel—something.

The whole night, I was so tempted. Wanted her… When she walked into the club and sat down across me, she had already had my attention. Beautiful. Confident yet feminine… The whole night, we shunned person after person—somehow—going through the same thing. In a way, the night was comical. Even the barman wanted to tell us to just sit together and drink away our sorrows. Going to the restaurant to see if she was dining with someone was my only goal. Again, she was alone, and I couldn't resist. Easy prey. It had been difficult not to dive in and probe my way through her thoughts. I felt terrible that I already had. I was not ready for anything serious if I couldn't even let myself fall in love with anyone. I'd be with someone but alone, regardless—hiding secrets—with a woman too clever to let go because she saw—me!

In a split decision, I dropped my manifestation. Instead, I placed a languid kiss on her skin, letting myself off the hook and indulging in—hope. Juliet's shoulders dropped, and she held back a soft sob. I took her shoulders in my hands to see her face and to read her. Again, she had no thoughts about why she was upset. "Urgh, I feel so stupid." She carefully dislodged herself and reached for her dress, sniffling, "This has nothing to do with you. I… uhmm—it doesn't matter."

"Juliet."

She didn't listen and reached around to zip her dress. Her fingers fumbled. I stood and took over for her, "I enjoyed myself… The whole night has been a welcome reprieve… I've not been with anyone in a long time… You… I'm sorry if you feel used."

Her body stilled, and she shook her head. I tried to turn her around; she wouldn't let me and left the room, wiping away tears. The chains on her bag jingled. Her shoes clacked against each other as she picked them up. The door opened and closed. What in the world possessed me! I never brought anyone home. Why would I sleep with anyone so young! My meals were almost all in their forties. This! This was why. At least I broke my habit and had to bear with the feelings for the first time.

I slowly picked up my clothes and headed upstairs. As I climbed out of the shower, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, drying my hair, 'Samuel?' Did he really keep tabs on me. All those years ago, he told me if I killed another woman, he would lock me up again—not something I wanted to go through again. However, that is not the reason why I didn't kill Juliet… Why didn't I?

I answered, "Yello!"

Sam [ Your accent's getting better. ]

Me [ Thanks… Why are you calling? ]

Sam [ Told you I'd watch you. I still am and heard you had a—]

Me [ You can say it—a young woman over… ]

Sam [ What has age got to do with it… And? You didn't leave me a mess to clean up… so? Will you finally take the plunge and marry a human… You really don't have anything better to do for the next few years! ]

Me [ She cried after! Actually cried! What will happen if I tell her I'm a vampire… How will I deal with going into a relationship with a child and all their issues… Drama… Not to mention a human—spoiled… woman… You know my temper. If she freaks out, I'd have to kill her anyway… What will you say then? It wasn't my fault—I had to do it…. Hypocrite… What if she gets pregnant and leaves me with a baby vampire to navigate in this world? I'd have to kill the poor kid's mother because she freaked out her baby's face was deformed and ugly… Now you know why I kill them after! ]

Sam laughed in the background and couldn't hold his mirth.

Me [ I'm not kidding, Sam! Why are you laughing? ]

Sam struggled to contain himself, [ Nothing…! Okay… Let me know what you decide.] There was a long silence. [ I'll sort it out! If you decide against it! ] He almost yelled. For the next part, I took the phone away from my ear, [ Do not kill her! I'll let you know where you can pick up your next meal! ]

He killed the call.

Why did he always know when to insert himself into my life. How annoying being treated like a fifteen-year-old. Sam was the only family I had. Maybe I should go live with him for a spell. Over the years, I'd gone there to stay with him when it all became too much.

After a restless night of bad dreams and anxiety attacks of being hunted down by the authorities, I went out onto my balcony to smoke a cigarette, taking in the view of the sunrise over the city. From the corner of my eye, I saw movement on the balcony next to mine. The two balconies from two connecting buildings were a little apart, so I ventured a peek to see who had bought the place. It was an expensive, luxurious neighborhood, and not many young people could afford it. A young lady came out with a mug in two hands, her dark hair long and tousled over her shoulders, concealing her face. I sighed. Another family with children who moved in. Some diplomat with kids who would be living the high life in Europe. We stood together, watching the street come to life.

She leaned over the railing, resting against it. Excitedly, she gripped the metal and waved with the other hand. I leaned forward and looked down. Two men—one very dark Middle Eastern and small, the other as white as they come—both stylishly dressed. One waved both arms out at her. She spun and ran into the house. Shortly after, the two disappeared into the house.

I fell down on the couch and reached for the remote. The screen slowly came to life, and the news broadcast was very urgent about some bio attack happening in America. Some sort of rabbit virus. Well, there you have it. The world is coming to an end. The scenes were full of white and yellow hazmat men coming and going from a school building. Quarantine. It must be serious. I flipped through a few more, and everyone was talking about other attacks all over the world. Can't be terrorists.

I changed the channel; a vampire was manifesting on TV, exposing himself with a werewolf right next to him. WTF! I sat up, staring at the screen.

Coming to my senses, I scrambled to get my clothes on and pack a bag. I was not staying there if the world was going to know about us. Juliet. My hands abruptly stopped moving. What do I care? She might be pregnant! Sh—! Horse—!

My phone dinged.

Sam [ Stay put! No need to panic. Will come over in a day or two ]

Come over? How will he make it if the airports will close?

I reached for a cigarette and found an empty packet. I cursed and crushed it in my hand, letting it drop on the couch. I hated uncleanliness, but f—it, I'll throw it away later.

I pulled on a shirt, headed downstairs, and pulled on my shoes at the door. I stepped out into the street and walked toward the corner with my hands in my pockets. At the tabac, I pushed open the door and stopped dead in my tracks. Juliet's French was good. Her accent almost perfected. She left without looking up—and as I moved out of the way, I held the door so she could step through. "Thanks," she whispered. I followed her movements. She met up with two men, the same ones from that morning, waiting outside in the street. The one guy was as old as I was. The other a good ten years older than her. The Middle Eastern guy nudged in my direction, and she turned. Juliet's eyes widened, and the unlit cigarette fell from her lips. The guy grabbed it mid-air and held it out to her. The gesture caught her attention, and she smiled at him.

I wanted to kill him. Both of them. My jealousy was as instant as my erection had been last night. Only thinking about her soft whimpers had my cock straining. Her eyes came back to mine and I tried to read the two men but could get nothing. Juliet was thinking about last night, and I reached for the door, "You didn't even see me."

"I… Have you seen the news? I'm a little distracted."

"I have—"

The white guy cut me off, "Juliet, we have to go."

She turned to him, "Yeah, okay…" Juliet looked at the other man and again smiled too seductively for my taste… Although… she was thinking about me… she was happy they were leaving—interesting. "Good luck," she said.

He bumped her nose with a bent finger. Juliet flinched back and struck out at the same time. The guy ran for it, "Come on, Chris! We gotta go!"

Chris waited for her to look at him. She walked into his person, took his face in her hands, and kissed him. "Thank You."

He fleetingly glanced at me, "Be careful."

A black town car honked at the man, unwilling to let her go. Chris stepped away and got in. The car disappeared around the corner. Juliet didn't look back at me and walked down the road. I laughed a little at her—shy attempt to lure me in. Still, I ran after her, "Hey! You live next door to me?"

"I do."

"Your boyfriends?"

She snorted, "No."

"Where are you going?"

"Pastries."

"May I tag along?"

She abruptly stopped walking and spun around, "What do you want?"

"A repeat of last night would be—"

"If you say nice, I'll kill you."

I laughed. Juliet's thoughts focused on my lips. My easy smile. "I was going to say—would be earth-shattering… The world is ending anyway… You want a friend for the end of the world?"

Juliet's thoughts fluctuated from a hug would be nice. Comfort. The release she missed out on the previous evening. My hands all over her and the custard-filled tart waiting in the shop around the corner. I laughed and reached out a hand. She took it. I pulled her into my arms and enveloped her in a tight embrace. Juliet was a tall girl; she didn't fit under my chin, so I rested my mouth at her ear, "I don't know what happened last night… You should be repulsed by my age alone… Do you regret it? You left so quickly."

"What did happen… for you last night? Was it only… a one-time thing?"

"I've been alone my whole life… I've never even considered… anything serious… If I say I want to get to know you a little more, will that be okay?"

She lifted her head and kissed me. I closed my eyes, and my lips met hers with fervor. For a while, I lost myself in the innocence of it all. Giving something to someone and receiving in return. For the first time, I kissed someone and meant it. I pulled away when her hands reached for the hem of my shirt, "Oh, no…" I grabbed her wrists and held them. "Pastries or my place?"

"Both!"

I chuckled and pulled her in under my arm. We received a few stairs at the age gap between us. People were curious and jealous on both fronts. Everybody else had seen the news and was freaking out about what the government revealed.

"I'm very jealous," she said out of the blue.

"Well, I am too… Who were those guys in your flat this morning?"

"Friends," she laughed.

"With benefits? Do you always hang out with older men?"

"There were two boys once… Both broke my heart. Never again!"

"Older men will break you to pieces if you're not careful… both were really handsome… Why don't you go out with one of them?"

"I have… Didn't work out," she laughed again.

"You're lying! You're barely nineteen."

An hour later, I was looking down at a sleeping Juliet next to me in bed. Naked. Her perfect ass up in the air. She still had flour dust on her cheek. We enjoyed our pastries at home while enjoying each other. She didn't seem innocent; her personality was a weird mixture of adult and girly-ness…

I pointed the remote to see what was going on. I swore when I saw the same guys I'd seen in the street in an interview with a room full of generals and foreign ministers surrounding the two. There, in Paris, in a large hall. Another man in the stands fully manifested. Marcus and Chris answered questions as they were bombarded from every angle. In the end, Chris manifested, and my head jerked in Juliet's direction. She… Was she not human? My breathing was shallow as all the implications came crashing down. Juliet snored chokingly, and I laughed. I leaned down and licked her cheek, kissing away all the evidence. She complained, "Again?"

There was only one way to be sure if she wasn't going to tell me who she was. I went downstairs, got a blood bag from a fridge, and went back upstairs. I cut it open and dipped my finger into the thickness, sliding it through her lips. She bit down with very sharp fangs; her manifestation was from a horror show. Her white eyes popped open—she grabbed my wrist, shoving my finger into a mouth full of hundreds of crammed-in teeth, "Careful! Juliet, baby, can you wake up."

The bag was out of my hand and shoved into an oversized—too-large mouth for her face. Her skin was tough and pulled tight around her features. As she emptied the contents, I stared at her. "This is cheating and going to make me feel like crap in five minutes… How did you know." She saw Marcus and Chris and smiled.

"Marry me!"

"Like this?" I shook my head. "So that's it. Because you know I'm also a creature—it changes everything." I shrugged. "Honestly, now! Why didn't you marry Jacklin?"

I frowned… "How do you know—Samuel—Who are you? What are you?"

She squeezed every last drop out of the plastic. Although with no lips, it was a messy affair I wanted to clean up for her. "I was a vampire… There was some experimentation…" she gestured to the TV.

Horrified, I turned to see what she could've looked like. I would kill them all. "How did you get off the compound? If you tell me Qadir did this—"

Juliet dropped her manifestation and used my sheets to clean her face. "No!" I groaned at the stains completely diverted off the topic.

"I'll buy you new ones." She waited because she wasn't going to let Jacklin go. Her thoughts were open yet very controlled. Did she know?

"I… Yes, she's beautiful. Yes, she is a vampire… But call me crazy, I'd like to be wanted for me… and not because we were the only ones in the wild."

"How did you know she wasn't in love with you?"

"I know when someone is in love with another person… and Jacklin didn't look at me once the way you did in the car… Now who are you?"

She smiled wickedly, "Sam's niece." My eyebrows lifted. "His brother is on the compound, stuck for two hundred years, and I have an ability… So I left. Walked out."

"You know Marcus Ahmed."

"I know Louis Ahmed, too."

I stuttered, "Well… it means… nothing in the end."

"No! Look! I'm here because we are really the only ones in the wild. The vamps on the compound will never leave… We do have a shot here, and I've been watching you for a while… I'm already a little in love with you… or else last night would never have happened."

"You've been stalking me? Manipulating me? Your thoughts were all controlled, so I'd think you were human! Coming to the club?"

"Call me crazy, but I'd like to know someone likes me for me."

"Marry me."

"Okay."

"What will we do with ourselves?"

"I want to go to the Alps. Stay there and never leave… I want to wake up next to you and be happy… Bored out of my mind… Fight… Maybe kids, if we're lucky… My mom only had me after four hundred."

"What will we fight about? We'll have nothing but peace."

"Ha! I can turn anything into a brawl… Unless you want to go back and work for Marcus… I won't mind living on En-gannim… There is an island… Is that the problem? You're bored here?"

I got onto the bed on my knees and kissed her back into the pillows, covering her mouth with mine, sliding my tongue over hers, meeting in the middle. And licking off every spot she missed.

Juliet and I moved permanently to my villa out in the middle of nowhere. I had never felt so contented in all my life. We were born for one another and meant to be… Things could not get better, but they did. A year later, she gave me a son. A beautiful baby boy… She named him Basaam.

The three of us didn't just sit and do nothing. As a delivery gift, she asked for a cat. I was going to get her one, but the following day, Sam and a guy dressed in white knocked on the door. She was happy and spent the rest of the day playing and cuddling with the little kitten and begrudgingly spending time with Michael and Basaam as a little family.

By then, from her thoughts and dreams, I had figured out what was going on. It was painful and excruciatingly difficult to know it would end. However, I saw everything she had gone through and how she felt… It was more complicated for her, and I gave her—this little bit of time. Our simple life she cherished with all her heart. Memories no one could ever steal from her. Something to hold on to in the time to come, whatever she chose to do.

When Michael babysat, we traveled with her piggybacking plate all over the Earth and other planets. Juliet and I met up regularly with Marcus and Chris at the Embassy in France. Juliet was happy to see Carl working his way up in the watchers, and the two became close friends.

Juliet and I also robbed a bank. Something she had wanted to do since the first day. A challenge to see if we could do it. Once we were done and took the money back, the French police asked us to help with some of their criminal cases. The two of us could infiltrate any situation. She was never in danger, and I liked the thrill of following bad guys and disguising ourselves. I would follow for a while, reading them, and when they caught on, I would disappear with Juliet's help. She would keep stalking the targets after she knew I was safe.

Nearing the time she would leave, Juliet had been crying for three days straight. There was really nothing either of us could do. She finally took Basaam in her arms and said, "This is where I want to be… I should never have sat down in that room."