By
the time I had calmed and settled down I was not sure where I even was
anymore. I was wandering in a park of
some kind, but it was a human made one.
There were paths and lamps, humans jogging and pets running. I would have to find out where I was before I
could worry about getting back home.
(Tracking my own path there was not interesting when there was a new
place to explore.) It was early morning
and while the sun weakens us, it was not like a human was going to know that or
be a threat to me even so.
Someone
caught my attention just then. There was
a strange, pale man casually leaning against one of the light poles watching
me. He was lighting a cigarette – nasty
habit. His interest seemed strange since
I didn’t belong here, or even know where here was. I tried to ignore him as I walked on, hoping
to find the exit so I could discover where I had ended up.
Unfortunately,
walking towards the exit led me past the pale stranger. I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched
as I passed him. Still, why was he
staring so intently? That’s when it hit
me. He wasn’t human! He was like me, a vampire. Great.
But, why hang out in the light, at a park? While hunting, parks were often favoured but
not with this many people and not in the light.
I couldn’t manage to not look at him but refused to make contact. Except, then he did.
He
shoved away from the pole, smirking at me as he looked me up and down
carefully. I didn’t know if he had void
eyes or if he might be another aberration, his shades were too dark. What truly took me by surprise was when he
signed instead of speaking to me. “Who
are you?”
I
stopped and stared blankly for a moment but automatically signed in response as
my mind raced. “My name is Anya. Who are you and why sign?” Other vamps though my signing with Declán was
bizarre and a waste of time, so why was he signing instead of talking?
His
smirk grew into a full on grin, though it still seemed devious somehow. “Jason.
At your service miss.” He
paused to give me a small bow extending his hand to me. Cautiously I extended my hand to his. He took it gently and bent to kiss the back
of it. Straightening, he continued, “Why
not sign? I always do. I usually don’t have such beautiful hands to
watch,” he teased. Okay, this guy was
just plain weird. And they think I’m
strange.
“Nice
to meet you Jason but I need to be on my way.” Why is he not speaking? Vampires aren’t deaf. It’s not possible – is it?
I
started to move off again but he deftly manoeuvred into my path again. Seemed he was not interested in if I wished
to talk to him. Harrumph.
“What’s
the matter? You look lost. Just thought I might help.” The smirk was back, though there was
something compelling about him. Perhaps
just the novelty of signing with a non-human.
Looking me over, again annoyingly obvious, he continued, “You are
beautiful.”
“I
look confused. Since you obviously
aren’t interested in moving out of my way, maybe you would tell me where I am?”
“You
are in my park. The park I like to go
people watching.”
He gestured around as if I hadn’t seen the park I was standing in. “But you mean a general where, yes?
You are in a suburb of NYC.”
“That
far? Oh well, won’t take that long to
get back home. Thank you for your help.” I again started to move off on my own. Again, he didn’t seem to want to allow
that. What was with men lately? Really!
“Don’t
run away. Your Master won’t mind you
hanging out with a rogue.” The
casual stance and smirk were slightly grating but I had never met another
vampire that signed. He had made no
attempt to speak the entire time. My
curiosity was peaked but I so did not need more man troubles.
“My
Master?” I replied, face clearly showing my confusion. Communication isn’t just about the signs but
about the whole face and body too.
Considering I was always so animated, signing with him could get
interesting. But what was he talking
about ‘Master’?
He
looked puzzled for a moment before he shrugged.
“Your House leader. You’re not
rogue.
You’re too . . . interesting.”
I
couldn’t help the laughter that burst out of me then. He was trying to convince me to not run home
to my House leader? How funny. Seems he didn’t find my laughing at him to be
nearly as amusing as his comment had been to me. His smirk faltered and his lips turned down
into a scowl. “Why are you laughing?”
Sobering
my face as best as I could manage I tried to explain, “No one rules me. I am the head of my House. Thank you.
I didn’t mean to offend you though.”
Startled,
he quickly took a few steps back from me.
His features had gone wild. I had
to wonder at his reaction. When he
thought I was just some stray he was all into smirking and interrupting me . .
. now he looked nearly afraid. “You
are that Anya? Wow. The one that nearly destroyed Marcus’ House?” He started looking around quickly like he was
worried he would be attacked any moment now.
“Sorry
for bothering you. Where is your guard?”
With
a smirk of my own I replied, “Marcus?
He is lucky he was not there that night or he would not have a head to
lead with. As to my guard, Nicholas and
Declán are home.” Being he had no
choice about following me he was probably still there. “I don’t really consider them my
guard. They are my . . . boyfriends.”
Jason
took another step back before continuing.
“You really hate Marcus. Glad
I’m not one of them.” A sudden coy
smile played across his lips. “Did
you say boyfriends? As in more than one?”
This
creature was more and more entertaining all the time. With a grin of my own I tried to explain, “Yes,
and yes. How do you know of me but not
them? And can vampires be deaf?”
Now
it was his turn to laugh. He had that
slightly muted sound to his voice that most deaf had, intriguing. “Yes, it is possible, just rare. Just as if a human loses their eyes and then
is ‘gifted’ they stay blind, a true deaf person will be a deaf vampire. As to your question about your mates . . . I was
told you had a human and a vampire mate but I just thought it was a story to
make you more intriguing. Like you need
any help to be fascinating?” If I
didn’t know better I would swear he was flirting again.
Hum .
. . “I should be going. I need to get back before they think I was
kidnapped. You wouldn’t like to meet
either when angry,” I added as I began to move around him again. There was something unsettling about this
conversation, even if the fact he was deaf was so intriguing. But I needed to get back before something bad
happened. I shouldn’t have left Nicholas
and Louie together . . .
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