The Vampire House

The seventeen room Gothic mansion was beautiful. High points and beautiful windowing, a true work of art, built on the Beringer vineyard in Napa Valley, California.

"It's been sitting there a while and need some major work, and the vineyard was burned up in a fire a few years back." The real-estate agent told Lilith. "But the house itself is still intact. The outside has seen better days but the inside was sealed up tight."

"That may be true but no one has been inside in" Lilith paused to check the paper she was looking at. “Close to twenty years."

"Hence the low asking price." The Agent added.

It was a steal, with the inheritance had left for her; she could buy the Beringer estates and a little left over to fix up the most important stuff. Like the roof and the pluming that would more than likely need repairing.

"Alright when can I go see it in person?" Lilith asked, pushing the paper and pictures back towards the agent. His fat palm picking up the papers and shuffled them nervously before answering.

"Well I have quiet a few more clients schedule today. However if you don't mind looking around by your self I can give you the keys."

"That sounds find to me."

"Okay then, I'll need you to sign some papers saying that you have the keys someone and so forth. Just sign right here." The chubby finger pointed a dotted lined at the bottom of the page.

With Keys in hand Lilith headed for her comfy black Viper. She had no sooner started the engine and pulled into traffic when her cell phone started ringing.

"Hey Lil its Tom. We have a small problem." said Tom, her right hand man at the advertising agencies she had started six years ago. She was still in collage when Lilith entered a design and jiggle contest. By the time she had graduated Big Ideas was up and running, doing well too. At twenty-nine she is now owner o one of the biggest in the Ad business. Finally opening an office in California.

"What kind of problem?"

"A deal breaker kind."

A nasty four letter word started to slip out when she caught her self. "If it's the Cooper account I will be killing someone later today."

"Relax, the Cooper Company sent their contract signed and ready for filing an hour ago."

Lilith let a breath she didn't know she was holding." Okay so is being a trouble maker?"

"Horizons, the photo company we took on the retainer last week. They want triple the amount for the photos for the Trinity account. They refuse to hand over the photos until they get paid."

"Call Dale, the attorney we have on the retainer and have him go over the contract again for any loop holes. There won't be any because I drew it up myself, but still have him check then have him start on a breech of contract suit against Horizons."

"Okay got it. Have a nice rest of the day house hunting."

"I was suppose to have it all off."

"I already said sorry before when I called about the computer system crashing on me."

"Speaking of computers have you found a technology class yet? Because if you crash the computers one more time your new office will be in the basement with a mop and bucket."

"What no broom?" He asked sarcastically.

"Oh I'll give you a broom alright." Lilith said in a mock threaten voice.

"Talk tomorrow Boss, bye."

"Yeah yeah yeah, bye." And closed the phone.

As she drove toward the Beringer house she remembered why she was buying a house. It was because with the death of her Mom and Dad she couldn't bear to live in what use to their home in New York. The car accident had been six months ago but the pain felt like it was just yesterday. The only way Lilith had made it this long was submersing herself into work.

But last month it had hit her and she broke down. For a week she had just stayed at home crying and drinking. When she finally got it together again she decided it was time to move. What a better place than where the new office was going to be. So she did, sold the house packed up her stuff and moved away from all she knew. Now as she pulled into the mile long drive of the Beringer estate she felt the first glimmer of hope that she had made the right choice.

The sound of a car into the drive was alarming to Drake whom was sitting in the house library reading the latest by Stephen King. Soon foot steps fell on the porch followed by the jingle of keys and the turn of the lock. Moving soundlessly into the corner of the huge room Drake hid among the shadows. The steps were soft as they wondered around the mansion. After exploring most of the down stairs the foot steps stood outside the library doors.

She was small, maybe 5' 4" at the most, and slender for the point of fragile. Capped with blond hair so light it looked white she looked around the room. The hunger filled his veins reminding him he hadn't fed in a week. She stopped at the spot he had given up be she entered and picked up the book he was reading. Cursing himself for being so clumsy he made a mental note to start picking up his stuff from now on.

Lilith picked up the book sitting on the arm of the plush arm chair, it was new. If no one had been here in twenty year then the book was a flaw in the space time continuum. As she was putting the book down she it, the set of invisible eyes boring into her back. Turning around fast she found the not so invisible person who was staring at her. Letting out a short scream Lilith jump back knocking the book onto the floor with a clatter.

"Great now you lost my page." He said.

He was tall, really tall. He had to at least 6' 5". As he stepped into the dime light in the room she noticed his wide shoulders and massive arm, he strong that was defiantly a given. Lilith was frozen in place for a second before the fight or flight response kicked in. He was stronger and taller; the only option would be to run.

Taking off as fast as she could Lilith ran to the front door. Wrenching it open she paused for a look back. She watched as he slid to a stop a fair distance outside the pool of light that flowed through the open door, with an arm covering his eyes.

"Wait!" He yelled.

"For what you to kill me or the cops to show up?" She asked pulling her cell phone the pocket she had stored it.

"Neither I swear. My name is Drake, what's yours?" He said still not moving toward the light. Still a little shocked she answered him.

"Lilith, Lilith Morris."

"Hello, Lilith. We seem to have a little problem here; you see I have lived in this house the batter part of seventy year. And now with you poking around I'd say we have a big problem."

"You're an idiot." That thought crossed his mind as soon as his previous words left his mouth. Even in the dim light of the house she would have had to notice was nowhere near seventy years old. Hollywood got damn close to the truth about vampires, of course the changing shapes and having to kill people to feed was a dramazation. Death while feeding was rare, but it did happen. Mostly by inexperices vamps without a teacher.

From the look on her face he thought that maybe she read his mind, though it was possible it was more likely he project his thoughts to her. Turning on her heel Lilith walked back out the door and got to her car and turned around again. Back at the door she said. “You’re crazy you know that right? See I'm going to buy this place obviously you have some issues so while I would just love to believe you're a vampire. I have papers to sign and wet paint watch dry. In short when I leave I'm going to the police station, meaning you have" She glanced at her watch." about Thirty minutes before they come here to take you off to the happy farm."

"But sun set isn't for another hour!"

"So find a cure for your "Vampirism" or get ready for some comfy padded rooms." She said.

Oh yeah telling her the truth was not the best idea this century. If she was serious he might just have to do as she suggest.

"Now come on, couldn't you even give the benefit of the doubt that I am what I say?"

"Dude you've got all the sympathy from you are going to get."

"You are not going to give me any other options are you?" he asked more to himself than to her but she answered anyway.

"Nope that's all you get."

"Fine have it your way."

She didn't give him any other choice, starring into her eyes he focused on her. "Sleep, sleep." He thought at her.

For the first time Lilith notice his coloring. Pale skin, bright red hair, commanding green eyes, his pupils seemed to grow as she watched they filled her vision. A force was pulling her in; fear streaked all of her thoughts. Trying to fight against the pulling current, but it only seemed to weaken her father.

"Let go Lilith, you'll be fine."

She felt her knees connect with the hard wood of the porch, but it didn't hurt. She couldn't really feel anything anymore as darkness ate up the rest of her sight.

Drake waited until sun down then went to the door and picked up Lilith's limp form. Setting her in his abandon library chair with ease he felt the hunger raise up again. Taking her wrist in his cold hand he brought it to his lips. It was warm, pulsing, and the skin smelling fresh. The skin gave way easily for his razor sharp fangs as sank into her veins.

It was sweet, sweeter than most. Soon his veins sang with her life blood. He pressed his thumb and over the two dots he had left. When he was sure it had finished bleeding he took away his thumb and licked it clean. With thumb still in his mouth he looked up to see Lilith's wide eyes watching him. Realizing she must have awaken during his feeding he felt stupid.

Swallowing the lump of fear in her throat she said." I think I owe you an apology. You are a vampire."

He gave a low chuckle and smile that seemed to light up his whole face.

"Yes, Yes I am."