Worlds Apart

By 10 the only person left in the office was Brooklyn; even the cleaning crew had gone home for the day. She leaned as far back as she could in her chair to look out the wall of glass behind her. It had taken her two years to get the corner cubicle. It was cold in the winter and warm in the summer but in her mind, it was worth it.

The Midland building was famous in Edenmore. The copper roof had turned green over time, and it had an art nouveau style. Even if it were nice to look at, she prized it for another reason. She wanted to work for the company that owned the building, Phoenix International. They were a true international corporation with their hands in everything from publishing to pharmaceuticals. The problem was, you had to know someone to get your foot in the door, and even then, you could still be rejected for any reason. So, for the time being, she settled to work for Regal and Blanes, a consulting firm across the street where she was stuck in the marketing department that had increasingly become more finance-focused. The building Regal and Blanes was in was called Technology Integrated Center and unlike the old Midland building, it was made of glass and was only about fifteen years old.

She turned off her computer and straightened up her desk before she walked leisurely along the wall of glass toward the lobby. The elderly night guard waved to her as she exited the building and crossed the street to the now-empty stacked parking garage. It was a nice summer night, though the garage was still warm from the day. She was careful to look around her, though her mind was at ease that there were no places to hide, and every step echoed like a cave. She made no attempt to catch her keys when they slipped out of her hand and yawned before she put her briefcase on top of her car.

“It’s dangerous to be out this late alone, lady.”

She froze and felt her whole body go numb and hot all at the same time. She could see a faint reflection of a young kid in the passenger window of her car. She felt her anxiety fade a little, his black hood was up but she could clearly see his baby face that told her he was still in high school. “Still young and stupid.” She thought and narrowed her eyes toward her bag. Her adrenalin began to rush through her body and rage began to make her stomach boil. She was in no mood for games.

He was short for a teenager and figured him to be about 16. “What do you want?” She asked and raised her hands up to shoulder height so he could see she held nothing but her keys. She also wanted her bag to be within reaching distance to use it as a weapon. “I don't have any cash or jewelry.”

“I want something... more.”

She turned her head a little to see him in her peripheral vision and her heart slammed into her chest. His voice was not that of a typical mugger, it was delicate and just a little breathy like he told her a secret. She took in a deep breath when he took a step closer, and she grabbed her briefcase with both hands.

He held up an arm to protect his head from the heavy leather bag. He hadn’t moved, only kept his eyes on her with the focus of a hungry predator. She shoved blindly towards him, but he caught her arm and pivoted her over his hip to the ground. She felt the air leave her lungs as he pressed his arm to her chest with what felt like bone-crushing pressure. He took out something from his hooded sweater pocket and pressed it to her side. She could see him clearly now, his pale skin and lips that seemed to look a little dry and his caramel-colored eyes narrowed with observation and not rage. Her mouth opened to speak but electricity surged through her body. She had closed her eyes so tight she thought she would go blind. The never-ending moment of pain faded, and she couldn’t catch her breath. The boy rolled her onto her back and tilted her head, so her shoulder was exposed. The last thing she felt was his cold hands brush away her hair from her neck as she lost consciousness.

Brooklyn’s eyes fluttered open and for a second she didn't know where she was but then she realized she was in the front seat of her car. It usually smelled like her leather seats but there was a citrus smell that hung in the air. Her shoulder ached like she had worked out, but it was mostly her side that stung. “Don’t be scared.”

That sweet voice from earlier came from her back seat. She checked her rearview mirror and saw the youth. “What the hell do you want?” She tried to get out, but she had her seat belt on.

“Can we start over? My name is Josiah.”

“Listen kid-”

He chuckled. “I’m no kid.”

“Oh what? Too cool for school?”

He rolled his eyes to the window before he scooted to the middle of the seat. “Sorry about tasing you.” He mumbled and fidgeted with his hoodie string.

“You what?” She scowled but seeing her forehead wrinkle in the mirror she softened her expression. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. “What do you want?”

“To be… friends.”

She started to laugh. “Heck of a way to start.”

“These things are never easy.” He leaned back and crossed his arms. She got a good look at him with his blond hair a little overgrown and wild from the hood and his baby face free of facial hair. He actually did look sorry for what he had done.

“Why did you tase me anyways?”

“You won't freak out?”

“Not more than I already have I suppose.”

“I needed your blood.”

“For what?” She laughed again.

“I’m... “ He pressed his lips together for a moment. “I’m a vampire.” He said almost ashamed.

That sent her into a fit of laughter. “No way!” She smacked her steering wheel and wiped her eyes free of tears. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. Vampires aren’t real, ghosts or goblins or whatever.”

“But they are.” He leaned forward and kept his serious expression.

“Give me my keys and get out of my car.”

“But we’re not finished-”

“Then make me believe.”

He looked around and thought for a moment. “Do you have tire iron?”

“This is the most-”

“I’ll bend it if you give it to me.”

“This I got to see.”

She undid her seatbelt and got out to pop her trunk and dig for the tire iron hidden away with the jack. He got out of the car and she realized he was about her height and didn’t look very vampire-like. He wasn’t intimidating in the least with his soft eyes and gentle smile. She handed him the requested object and she stood back and crossed her arms with an eyebrow raised. “Go on then. Wow me.”

He bent it like it was a limp noodle and broke it at the bend. “Oops.” He said and looked at her, apologetically. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears. All she could do was stand there dumbfounded. Finally, she swallowed hard and looked him in the eye. “Are you going to faint?” He asked

He handed her the now broken tire iron and stuck his hands in his big sweater pocket. “I'm not sure how to react.”

“Everything ok here?” The security guard had come to make his rounds.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine.” She gave him a thumbs up. “We were just leaving. She tossed the broken tire iron into the back and shut her trunk. “Come on, kid.” He looked like his eyes brightened and he hurried and got into the passenger seat buckling his seatbelt.

She drove out of the garage unsure where she was going but they sat quietly for a few minutes. Finally, she broke the silence. “So, you’re a vampire and you want to be my friend.”

“Yes.” He nodded. “Well, friends with benefits.”

She laughed again and stopped at a red light. “I’m sorry. I just-”

“Go ahead and laugh. It's a lot better than you trying to burn me at the stake.”

“How many friends with benefits have you had?”

“6 and I’d like you to be lucky number 7.”

“And how old are you?”

“I’ll be 115 in April.”

“Wow.” The light turned green and she slowly rolled through it toward midtown. “What do you mean friends with benefits? I’m not going to sleep with you.”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t want you to. By the way, being a good-looking virgin at 26 is amazing.”

She pulled into a bank parking lot quickly. “How do you know that?”

“Virgin blood tastes the best. I would describe it akin to eating honey or cake. Very sweet.”

She gripped the steering wheel tight for a moment. “I just haven’t met the right guy…”

“Lucky me.” He turned to her in the seat so most of his body faced her. “I want us to have a give and take relationship. Is there something you want? Something you desire?”

She thought for a moment, thought about that job for Phoenix International but what could he do about that? “I mean I-”

“Anything you want.” His voice was buttery smooth. “Money? Fame?”

“I don’t really know.” She looked down to her lap. “But you give me what I want and then I give you… my blood?”

“Bingo.” He winked.

“Do you have to tase me every time?”

This time he was the one who laughed hard. “No. That was a one-time thing. If I hadn’t been as weak as I was and I knew you would as reasonable as you are I would’ve just tried talking to you. You are a rare breed, to be honest. Most people would have fainted or tried to run away when I broke the tire iron.” She remembered how he had bent it easily and shivered. “Are you cold? I tried not to drink too much but your blood is some of the best I’ve ever had. It was so hard to pull away.”

She laughed politely and half-heartedly before she started driving again. They hit a few green lights before she realized she was driving aimlessly. “Do I take you home or can you fly?”

“I would like to go home with you.”

“Uh…”

“Don’t worry I’m not going to try anything. Who knows how you’d taste if we sleep together? I wouldn’t want to ruin our arrangement.”

“I don’t think I ever agreed to-”

“Will you? Be my friend that is?”

She felt ridiculous but seeing him so innocent looking made her change her mind. “Does it hurt?” She almost whispered her words. She couldn’t even look at him.

“I promise it won't. I don't need to feed but a few times a month, so I won’t be too much of a bother. And you can terminate our agreement at any point.”

They hit another red light and she rubbed her forehead. “I must be an idiot.”

“Then you’ll do it?”

“Yes.” She breathed out hard as if trying to completely expel the worry from her body. “What am I doing?”

“I promise you won’t regret it.”

“Let’s hope not.”

The light changed and so did Brooklyn’s life for many years to come.