Cheek

Posted on by gmfx

Music, lights, a warm smile: the moment was right, he was certain. Felix cupped Madison’s cheek, leaned forward, and—

She jumped, eyes wide, and squawked like a chicken.

“Uh . . . what?”

“Sorry,” she said, forcing a chuckle. “Er . . . what were you just doing?”

“I thought . . .” He hesitated, wondering how he had misread things so badly, “I was going to kiss you?”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

“Is that okay?”

She tried to nod, tried to smile, but couldn’t quite do either. “It’s just . . . you didn’t eat the garlic bread.”

Felix glanced over at his plate of cold bread, and his face grew red. “I . . . well I was worried about my breath.”

“Right,” she said. “Of course.”

“Can we try again?”

Madison nodded with a smile that seemed completely genuine. Once more Felix leaned in, reached toward her face and—

“Don’t touch my neck, hellspawn!”

Felix nearly fell backward in his chair, arms raised in alarm. Yes, he had definitely misread this whole situation.

“Oh god,” she groaned, flush with embarrassment. “You’re not a vampire.”

“No?”

Madison winced.

“Look, maybe another time we can—”

SMACK!

Felix reached up to the red handprint on his cheek.”

“Had to make sure you weren’t a ghost.”

* * *

Vulnerable

Posted on by gmfx

Mara’s jaw dropped. “You’re seriously breaking up with Ally because you think she’s a vampire?”

“I mean not really,” Dillon answered. “It’s just an idea that got stuck in my head, but it’s ruining the whole relationship.”

Arms folded and eyes narrow, Mara asked, “What about her is so vampiric?”

“Well, she hates garlic.”

A shrug. “So do I. Lots of people don’t like garlic.”

“But my family’s Italian. All my favorite foods have garlic. Oh!” he added, growing animated, “She wouldn’t go into my family’s church at Christmas either.”

“Do you even go to that church anymore?”

“But think about it,” he insisted, “holy water… crucifixes…”

“And have you tried talking to her about her own beliefs?”

“Fine,” Dillon grunted, “but what sort of woman doesn’t carry a mirror in her purse?”

“A confident woman with relationships built on trust.”

“Huh?”

Mara rolled her eyes. “My point is that you have a habit of sabotaging relationships once they get to a point where you might actually have to be vulnerable.”

Dillon winced. “Harsh… but maybe you’re right. I… should probably give her a call.”

Mara smiled encouragingly, revealing sharp fangs, then lunged forward and bit Dillon in the neck.

* * *

Story by Gregory M. Fox

Promised

Posted on by gmfx

Lucy used the spare key hidden on the porch light to get into his house. What she found was a disaster. Smashed furniture, the smell of rot, a shape curled up in the darkness. A long, low moan. “Nooooo.” As she swung the door open, that shape began trying to drag itself away. Away from the light.

Away from her.

“William?” Lucy said, afraid of the answer.

“Go,” the voice hissed. Then, in a pitiable whisper, “Just . . . just go.”

She looked at the debris scattered around her, saw the broken chair leg with its jagged point next to where she had first seen him. He had stopped trying to crawl away. Instead, from that misshapen mass, two eyes stared back at her. Dark and beady, Lucy could only catch the smallest glint of light reflected in them. Gradually, as her eyes adjusted, she began to make out more details: bony hands, clawed fingers, back twisted into a hunch, papery skin, sparse white hair in lank clumps. Fangs. They caught the light too, vicious, dangerous things.

“What . . . happened to you?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

The vampire answered anyway. “No blood,” he said. “I promised . . . for you. No more blood.”

* * *

Story by Gregory M. Fox