The next day, shortly after I fall asleep, I have another dream about this stranger. I wake with no memory of the dream, only knowing that it is about him and I’m left with a feeling of emptiness, as if something has been taken from me, something vital, leaving a gaping hole in my life. But nothing has changed, my life is just as it has been for over a century. Unsure of why this man has invaded my dreams, I decide to satisfy my curiosity by going back to the club to find him, going on my own so that I can observe him without distraction or judgement.
I approach the club but remain hidden in the shadows. He is nowhere to be seen. Assuming that he has the night off, I turn back and leave, only to return the next night. Again, there is no sign of him; the inexplicable feeling of emptiness growing stronger with each passing evening. This sudden infatuation is so foreign to me that it is unsettling. What is it about him that haunts me? I have come across millions of people over the years, but none have affected me in this way. Why him? Why now?
This goes on for weeks; my virtually stalking the club, with no sign of the beautiful stranger that occupies my dreams day after day. I’ve even taken to going inside in case he is in there somewhere; sitting off in a corner, where I am left undisturbed by all but an occasional drunk who stumbles over looking for a place to sit. From time to time, I snack on these stragglers, drinking enough to satisfy my hunger, but not enough to kill them. And still, there is no sign of him.
From my vantage point in the corner, I spy several mortal couples at varying stages in their relationships. Watching them only makes me acutely aware of how long it has been since I’ve felt anything more than tolerance for the men I take to my bed on occasion, men who are nothing more than playthings to help me pass the time. It has been far too long since I’ve experienced the thrill of burgeoning love.
I share, what can only be described as my obsession, with Gwen. “He’s beautiful Gwen, but there’s something more. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but he’s taken over my dreams. If I can just see him again, talk to him; maybe I’ll be able to understand this irrational attraction that has me going insane.”
“Wow. I’ve never seen you like this before. I hope for your sake he shows up soon.”
“So do I.”
As time goes by without any sign of him, the dreams begin to lessen; my obsession slowly fading away. I start going out less and less, until finally, I agree to go out with Gwen one last time before I retire from these outings altogether for a while. This is not uncommon for me, having spent years at a time without venturing out of the complex or even my house for that matter.
“Yaaay! This is going to be fun,” Gwen claps her hands.
I don’t quite share her enthusiasm tonight, but I try not to let it show. “Any night out with you promises to be nothing short of interesting.”
Unfortunately, she knows me too well. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you excited? Please don’t tell me this is still about that bouncer.” The look on Gwen’s face lets me know that she really doesn’t want to hear the answer that she suspects I have to give her.
“No, at least I don’t think so.” I say, unsure. “This whole thing just got me thinking. I haven’t loved anyone since Jack. Spending almost a century without a mate can get pretty lonely. Maybe that’s why he intrigued me so much.” I shrug my shoulders, brushing off the notion.
“You haven’t been alone all this time,” Gwen states matter-of-factly. “I can recall a few tasty morsels you’ve had over the years.”
“Yes, but that’s not what I mean,” I tell her. “They were just something to pass the time. I need more. I don’t know. Let’s just go out and have some fun so I can forget all of this nonsense.”
Gwen perks up. “I have a surprise for you tonight. We are not doing our usual hunting,” she says with a sly look on her face.
“So what are we doing then?” I ask, eyeing her.
“You shall see when we get there,” she practically sings at me, on her way out the door.
“What the heck, why not,” I concede, following her out. If there’s one thing I can say about Gwen, she never disappoints.
Gwen has arranged for Nigel, our chauffeur, to take us to the Plaza Hotel and I can’t help wondering what she has planned. When we get there, I notice women arriving in lavish Victorian style ball gowns; carrying fans and wearing masks, some even donning large wigs with curly tendrils. The men, decked out in tailcoats, cravats, and top hats are carrying walking sticks and also wearing masks.
I look at Gwen, wondering how her plans have led us here. Clearly there is some sort of a party going on that we are extremely under dressed for. A slow, knowing smile creeps onto her face.
“What are we doing here? We can’t go in there wearing this,” I say pointing out our attire.
“Well, you’ve been so down lately, I thought a night at a masquerade charity ball would cheer you right up.” She pulls me into the lobby and we stop at the concierge desk.
“Hello. I believe my friend here has a reservation and some packages were delivered for us this evening,” she informs the man behind the counter.
“Name please?” asks the concierge almost lazily, as if we are putting him out.
“Lila Ferdinand.” Gwen’s tone carries an air of haughtiness that is unlike her. I cast an inquisitive look in her direction, but she ignores me.
“Ah yes, here you are Ms. Ferdinand. I see you will be staying in our Royal Plaza Suite and the bill has already been paid.”
He stands a bit taller and looks up to meet our gazes. “Your packages have been placed in your suite and your staff is awaiting you. Will you be needing anything this evening?” he asks, his tone no longer aloof, handing us our suite keys.
“No, that will be all for now thank you.” Gwen takes the keycards. To me, she whispers, “Come on, you’re going to LOVE this!” Her excitement is contagious and I find myself getting swept up, looking forward to the rest of the surprises this night surely has in store.
A bellman escorts us to the private elevator leading to our suite on the fourth floor. The suite has 3 large bedrooms, each with a king size bed and its own private bath. There are a slew of other rooms and features that are more than anyone would be able to use in a single night’s stay, especially someone that does not have a need to eat.
In two of the bedrooms are garment bags laid out neatly across the beds, shoe boxes set on the floor, and jewelry and masks made of silk with ribbon ties on the dressers.
“How on Earth did you get all of this on such short notice?” I ask Gwen.
“I had Jessica make a few calls and get everything set up,” she says with a devilish grin. Jessica is my head chambermaid and Gwen finds enjoyment in tasking her with menial work every chance she gets.
“Did it have to be so extravagant?” I look around the opulent bedroom. “I mean, it’s not like we’ll even be in the suite for very long.”
“Oh hush woman. It’s not like we can’t afford it. And we will be guaranteed privacy. No one would dare disturb the eccentric, wealthy woman or her companions for fear of upsetting her. Now, what are you waiting for? Go on, get dressed. We have a party to get ready for.” She gets a faraway look on her face, her mind transporting her somewhere else, “Remember when going to a masquerade ball was a typical night out on the town? Boy did we have some fun!” And with that, she is off to her own room to get ready.
Taking my dress out of the garment bag, I can’t help but remember all of the balls that Gwen and I went to just after she was transformed. That period is by far, my favorite; everything was done in excess, from the clothes, to the food and the elaborate balls.
Just then, Jessica enters the room. “Hello ma’am. I am here to help you get ready.”
I enter the bathroom, via the walk in closet, where I change out of my clothes. Once I have the petticoat and corset on, I step back into the room so that Jessica can tighten the corset for me. When she is done, she holds the purple silk dress so that I can step into it and fastens the buttons in the back. Jessica then takes the shoes out of the box and I see that they are vintage lace-up boots that are the same color of the lace on my dress. I slip my feet into them and wait for Jessica to finish tying the laces.
My long brown hair is done in big, bouncy curls that hang halfway down my back. A large cream colored feather is tucked into the barrette at the back where it keeps the hair from my face. I put on the pearl teardrop earrings and pearl cameo choker. Looking at myself in the mirror, I am instantly transported back in time. I raise the mask to my face and Jessica ties the ribbon to hold it in place. Everything is perfect and I can’t wait to get down to the party.
I meet Gwen in the living room and she is similarly attired in emerald green. These dresses were clearly chosen to complement our eyes. When she sees me, she says, “You look awesome. Now let’s go find us some mortals to entertain us for the evening.”
We take the elevator down to the ballroom in high spirits. “You were right. I SO love this.”
When we reach the ballroom, it is full of men and women hidden behind masks. It is a benefit of some sort and being so close to Halloween, the committee in charge of organizing the event, decided to go with the masquerade theme.
We arrive at 11:30 and the unmasking will take place at the stroke of midnight. This gives us half an hour to seek out and enjoy a bite to eat. Gwen and I make our entrance and begin to scout for potential playmates and meals. She spots a target almost immediately.
“Mmm…that one will do nicely.” Gwen says, eyeing a girl in her mid to late twenties. She has clearly had too much to drink and is flirting with several of the male guests, including those that are accompanied by dates.
The women are staring daggers at her and the men are doing their best to ignore her rude behavior. “Excuse me while I go have my dinner. I’ll catch up with you once I’ve found a toy for the evening.”
I watch her glide across the room and she begins to guide the girl away from the group, apologizing for her behavior. “I’m so sorry. It looks like she’s spent too much time at the open bar tonight. I’m just going to take her up to her room where she can sleep it off. Again, I’m sorry if she was disturbing you.” Glad to be rid of the girl, they say nothing and the two disappear from the ballroom, unnoticed by anyone other than me.
I then begin to scan the room to see what tasty morsel I might find for myself. Sitting off to the side watching the festivities, is a rotund man. I cross the room and sit down next to him. He instantly tenses up, clearly not used to having a beautiful woman acknowledge him, let alone seek him out.
“Hello there. What is a handsome man like you doing sitting here all alone?” I run my finger down his arm and feel him begin to relax a bit, falling victim to my charm.
Our eyes lock, my own now a shimmering shade of light purple. Once I am sure that I have his full attention, I test our connection, ensuring that he is receptive enough to be my puppet. “Would you be a dear and accompany me outside for some fresh air? It’s awfully stuffy in here, don’t you think?”
“Of course.” Immediately standing, he offers me his arm. I take it and we leave the ballroom, the mask helping to keep my eyes shielded from anyone we pass along the way. Once out of sight, I direct him into the bathroom down the hall, shutting the door behind us. “Do be a dear and unbutton your sleeve for me won’t you?”
Obediently, he unfastens the two buttons on his right sleeve and rolls it up, revealing the meaty flesh of his forearm. He then raises his arm so that his wrist is directly in front of my mouth. Running my tongue across my upper lip, I feel my fangs emerge. Before I can sink my teeth in, there is a knock at the door. I look into the man’s blank stare and silently instruct him to get rid of whoever is on the other side of the door.
“Occupied,” he calls out in a dull flat voice.
“Oh sorry,” comes a female voice in response. I hear her turn to walk away, but there is a pause where it seems like she may be listening for something and then shifts back toward the door. “Are you okay in there? I don’t mean to pry, but you sound a bit off.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine. I’ve had a bit too much to drink and am feeling a bit queazy. You may want to find another bathroom. I don’t know how long I’ll be,” he dismisses her. I wait patiently, watching the door in silence, listening for her departure. When she is finally gone, I turn back to my meal.
My mouth latches onto his wrist, my teeth gently sinking into the throbbing vein. I hear him gasp and am instantly rewarded with a steady flow of his warm blood. The iron liquid tainted with the taste of the wine that he must have consumed this evening, but not overpowered by it. From the images that flash through my mind’s eye, I can tell that this man leads a glutinous life; enjoying everything from his food to his cars and his homes in abundance, nothing that warrants a death sentence.
He is large enough that I don’t need to drain him completely in order to satisfy my hunger. A hunger, which has greatly declined over the years, requiring less and less to sustain me. I drink my fill until he is unconscious before releasing him. His heart has slowed, but not stopped. Carefully, I lick any blood that is left on his wrist and doing so, I can see the wounds beginning to close.
I set him down on the floor next to the toilet so that it looks as though he is praying to the porcelain gods. Should anyone find him before he comes to, they will just think that he fell down in a drunken stupor and passed out. I check my reflection in the mirror to be sure that my eyes have returned to their usual dark color and that nothing is out of place before rejoining the party.
Leaving the bathroom, I make sure to lock the door behind me so that it will be a while before anyone finds him. Then I steal my way back to the ballroom, making sure no one sees where I came from.
Upon reentering the ballroom, I see Gwen has returned from having her dinner. “So how did it go?” I ask her. We walk to a private corner so as not to be overheard.
“It was just too easy,” she grins. “I took her out to Central Park to get some fresh air to ‘clear her head’. As she was stumbling around, I pushed her into the bushes and bent over her, pretending to offer her a helping hand in case anyone was looking. Then I sank my teeth into her neck, draining her of her alcohol infused blood.” She makes a face, wrinkling her nose at the thought of the taste. Although we mix blood with other liquids, such as wine from time to time to mask the scent, too much can spoil the taste.
“She was one heck of a party girl. Her actions tonight were mild compared to what I saw. It was a satisfying kill, but not an enjoyable meal.” Before the words are out of her mouth, her eyes are already looking for dessert to supplement her inadequate meal.
“Excuse me,” she says zeroing in on a target. “I’ll catch up with you in a little bit.”
I make my way back towards the dance floor looking for someone to keep me entertained for the evening. I stand there scanning the room for a playmate when a gentleman approaches and asks me to dance. He looks impeccable in his cravat and tailcoat; almost as if he stepped out of my memory. This is the last dance before the big unmasking. Deciding that he will do quite nicely, I accept and take his arm, allowing him to lead me out to the dance floor. The song changes and a waltz begins. He dances gracefully and whisks me around, such that I get the feeling of floating across the floor, until the song ends.
The band stops playing and an announcement is made that the time to unmask has arrived. “Ok everyone! Get ready…10, 9, 8, 7…,” The room is charged with excitement, everyone’s attention is focused on the band. “6, 5, 4…,” I look around but do not see Gwen anywhere. “3, 2, 1!” Everyone removes their masks and looks to see who is standing beside them. I turn around to see my dance partner who is standing behind me.
As I look him in the eye, I am frozen in place. Looking down at me with his beautiful green eyes is the bouncer from the other night. “Thank you for the dance,” he says. Taking my hand, he bows and presses it to his lips. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. If you’ll excuse me…” He turns and leaves me standing there still frozen in place.
It’s a good thing that I don’t need oxygen to survive, because I forget how to breathe at the moment. Just then I hear someone calling my name.
“Lila, there you are. I’ve been looking for you,” Gwen says. “I want you to meet…” She stops mid sentence and looks at me. “Are you alright?” she asks waving her hand in front of my face; I continue to stare after the green-eyed stranger.
All those nights I went to the club looking for him and here he was, holding me in his arms as we danced. How could I not have realized it sooner? “It was him.” I stammer, grabbing Gwen’s arm.
“It was who? Where? What on earth are you talking about?” she asks. I point in the direction that my dance partner just went. Gwen follows with her eyes and then comprehension dawns on her face when she sees him. “Well what happened? Did you talk to him?”
“No,” is all I can manage.
“Well, did he talk to you?”
I nod my head, my tongue suddenly too heavy to move to form words.
“Well what did he say to you that has you in a daze?” I can tell that she’s starting to get annoyed with me.
“We danced. I was in his arms and didn’t even know until it was too late.” I blink a few times and then turn to look at Gwen, feeling completely defeated. “I froze like a complete idiot when we took our masks off and realized it was him. He must think me a moron the way I just stared at him!”
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.” She tries to console me.
“You saw me! Just standing here, staring…”
“Well, that wasn’t great…What was he even doing here?” she asks trying to change the subject. “This is a pretty ritzy charity event. How could a bouncer afford to be here?”
“I wouldn’t know. I was clearly too dumbfounded to even say hello.” I turn back to look for him, but he is long gone.
“Come on,” Gwen says, putting her arm around my shoulder. “Let’s find you a distraction. There are plenty here to choose from. Just look at the one I found.” She points to a middle aged man across the room.
He is one of those men that is clearly clinging to his youth, with his fake tan and hair dyed to hide the grey. I will admit that in certain lighting, he looks good for his age and I can catch a hint of the virile young man he used to be.
“Not bad. Go on, you need not worry about me.”
“Are you alright now?” She still looks concerned.
“I’m fine. I was just stuck on stupid for a moment there. But I’m all better now, see!” I flash her a big, toothy smile and we both laugh.
“Ok then. But find yourself something to do. I don’t want you mentally berating yourself all night. Find a distraction to help you take your mind off of what happened. I’ll see you later.”
Maybe she’s right, I think. Maybe finding a pet will make me feel better. I go back to scanning the room. Now that everyone is unmasked I have a better view of my options. But the feeling is hard to shake, knowing that he is still here somewhere close by and after all my nights of searching, he is finally within reach. Now is as good a time as any to engage this stranger and find out what it is about him that has captivated me, if only I can find him again.