A vampire's Choice

"We are going to need a lot more eclairs, Lisa."

Sam's voice spilled over the chatter of the clients crowding the shop. Lisa dropped the dough she was molding to pop her head out of the door quickly. Dust covered her apron as she cleaned her hands but froze when she looked up. A sea of heads littered around while her two employees shuffled around, taking orders and giving them the goodies.

"What the..."

Lisa's mouth dropped open as she witnessed the chaos in her tiny little bakery. They had been open now for a week, and initially, it was quiet, so seeing this was amazing.

"Yes, I know." Sam gave a smile as she peeked over her shoulder at Lisa. "So how about the eclairs?"

"Coming up," Lisa shouted as she leaned back, focusing on her new task.

The day went by in a blur. Pastries were prepped and baked, sweet fillings piped and the final product placed in the counter window. As soon as they were put out, the people would buy them with more requested. Lisa knew she must look like a hot mess, hair escaping the bun and flour clinging to her face and other uncomfortable places, but she was happy. Owning her own business has been a lifelong dream, plus baking. Now, she was satisfied. Her love life might be non-existent, but at least this shop will be her new love.

"We just finished the cash up." Sam poked her head into the kitchen. "Everything is clean, especially the counter.” She gave a wink.

Lisa looked up from the paperwork she was doing, and she couldn't help but give a bright smile to Sam. "What does that mean?" She was curious.

Sam stepped fully into the room with Lisa following, getting up to give a hug to one of her best friends.

"Well, I don't know if you noticed, but it was busy today. We sold out everything, even the lemon squares." Sam propped her hands on her hips, a sense of pride filling her.

"That is impossible." Lisa pushed past her friend into the shop but suddenly stopped in her tracks. Sam was telling the truth; it really was empty, not even a crumb left.

"Told you." Sam spoke behind her.

Lisa felt like exploding with emotion. After days of struggling and stressing, it was a huge relief to know that she was becoming a success and hopefully open the path to more shops or even expanding the current one.

"Well, you know what that means." Lisa turned to her friend. "Loads of baking today.” She turned her mouth down to show a frown.

"Hahahaha." Sam gave a deep laugh, clutching her stomach. “Please, you love it. You feel more at home in front of an oven than actually people."

Lisa couldn't help but also laugh with her friend. Deep down, she knew it was the truth as she has never been comfortable around strangers. Ironic since she opened a shop that dealt with strangers every day. "I know. Sometimes it is a curse, but I don't hear you complaining when I need testers for new recipes."

Sam pretended to be shocked by grabbing her chest and dropping open her mouth. "Who, me?"

"You drama queen." Lisa grabbed her friend in for a hug, enjoying the feeling of holding her close.

"Love you too," Sam mumbled into her neck before pulling away. "I'm going to go now. Don't stay too late; you need your beauty rest for tomorrow."

"I won't. Have a good night.” She smiled at her friend and watched as Sam grabbed her bag from the counter, making her way to the door.

Lisa stood silent as she watched her friend leave. Sam was considered not only her best friend but also a sister. They might be complete opposites, but their chemistry was out of this world. Sam was tall and slender, her brown hair cut in a pixie style with light hazelnut eyes. In contrast, Lisa was short and curvy, with long blond hair that never stayed in place. The only particular trade she had was her eyes. Heterochromia iridium ran in her family as her one eye is dark blue and the other light green. Most people admired it, but she hated it. Anything that made her stand out from the crowd was unnerving, being the center of attention, not her cup of tea.

As she turned off the light, Lisa gave a final glance at her shop before returning to the small office she constructed in the corner of the kitchen. Money had been tight when she opened the bakery, so sacrifices had to be made. Not only was it a close fit, but she also couldn't hire more bakers, making her the only one who did the cooking and cleaning, while Sam and Mary focused on the front and the customers.

The paperwork was endless, so Lisa delved in headfirst, only taking a break hours later, when she noticed it was already 01:30.

"Shit." Lisa cursed herself. There went the promise she made Sam and the rest she deserved. Closing the books in front of her and turning off the lamp, Lisa got up. As she walked past the oven, her reflection showed back, and she had a little scare. "You look like a toddler who was left to their own devices." Her small chuckle filled the empty room. Lisa placed her phone and bag on the counter, making her way to the small bathroom tucked in the back, next to the flour and other dry supplies.

"It is all worth it." Her speech did nothing to lighten the mood as she admired herself in the mirror. Half of her blond hair had escaped her bun earlier and now clung to her neck, dried hard by flour and her sweat. The hot water felt amazing on her skin as she wiped herself clean with a wet towel before retying her hair. Her face was more straightforward as there were only a few blotches of white. As her hand glided over her features, she took the time to study herself. Her lips were full and pink, making her feel like she had plastic surgery, and her nose was small, just long. Mix it all in with her eyes, and you get an awkward picture. Her friends used to say she was beautiful, but she never saw it. Lisa left the bathroom with a final approving glance, grabbing her bag before turning off the light, basking the shop in complete darkness. Most people feared the dark, but not her. She felt safe in it, at home even.

Sweet temptations

Her shop name flickered against the night sky as she locked up, satisfied it would be safe until the morning. Lisa gave a final loving glance at her pride and joy, the feeling of satisfaction filling her every time she would look up at it.

"See you soon."

The neighborhood was considered safe, so Lisa always walked home. The fifteen-minute walk constantly cleared her head, helping to create new recipes along the way. The money she saved on fuel was also a plus.

The path to her house was clear, not a soul in sight. Houses lined up and down the street, with a few small shops littered between them. The light from the houses and the streetlight gave enough visibility to notice if anyone else was around. As it was this late, Lisa knew she was alone, as always, but something was different tonight. About halfway home, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as a chill ran down her spine. She quickly glanced around her but only saw an empty street and shadows cast by the lights. So, she focused in front of her and began walking faster. Not too much to seem suspicious, but just enough to get home quicker.

Crack

A branch breaking sounded behind her, but when she turned to look, it was empty. Maybe just the wind, she tried reassuring herself, but it didn't work. Her heartbeat frantically against her chest as sweat pooled at the nape of her neck. She clutched her bag closer to her body, her hand slowly sneaking inside as she kept on walking. Notebook, no. Glasses, no, Lipbalm, no. She ruffled inside but soon realized her phone was not there.

"Shit," she whispered, her only safety net at this time missing. She scanned her brain to figure out where it was when a louder branch broke, closer to her than before. The fear made her freeze where she stood, her mind thinking of different defenses. CRACK, it was right next to her, and she accidentally dropped her bag on the ground.

"GGGRRRRRR...” A deep growl burst in her ears, making her swing around.

The outline of a person was visible in the shadows, but her instinct told her he was not here to help her.

"Pl...please take th..the money.” She needed to get away, and if she was going to survive, giving the man what he wanted was the easiest way.

The shadow remained unmoved, and she took it as a sign, so she began slowly stepping back, trying not to make any sudden movements. Suddenly, she was not standing anymore. She let out a yelp as she fell backward, her ass hitting the hard concrete. Pain burst in her palms as she scraped the skin off when she landed on her hands. She looked around, confused at what had happened, seeing her lip balm rolling away from her. She had tripped over her stuff.

"Gggrrr...” Her gaze shot up at the man in the shadows; his shadow seems more significant now.

The man slowly advanced, his new prey sitting before him. Adrenaline pumped in him as his teeth elongated and claws gradually emerge. It has been a while since his last kill but when the voice had returned, so had his delight. He was directed towards her, and she did not disappoint. His mouth salivated thinking about biting into her meaty flesh.

"Please..." Lisa begged, tears streaming down her face. She slightly winced as she crept backward, her palms digging deeper into the gravel.

"Too late.” His voice was rough and broken.

Lisa froze from the shock as the man stepped into the faint light, and her hope disappeared. Before her was a man double the size of an average male, his features morphed and twisted, hair sprouting from strange places.

"Aaahhhh..." She let out a scream.

He was not only deformed and big, but his eyes were weird. They were pure black, darker than the night, and filled with death.

They were staring right at her.

**********

The night before, the food he had gotten did not satisfy him, and that is why Roger found himself in the city once more, on the prowl for dinner. Cold air brushed his body while he perched on a roof, his gaze on the streets below. Ordering the blood from a local blood bank was more accessible but having it fresh was better. Since the curse, drinking from a human was terrific but a risk in itself. Roger was left with a curse, an insatiable hunger. If he lost control during a feeding, he would drain the person, only stopping when they were dead. The events from the last few weeks were taking their toll on him, but the fresh blood will give him the strength to fight back the memories from his past currently taking root in his mind.

A car toot pulled him back to the present, making Roger glance down. A couple, clearly intoxicated, was crossing the street, walking right into oncoming traffic. The woman was barely walking upright, her heeled feet dragging on the road as the man clutched onto her, holding her up. The car hooted at them again and the man threw the middle finger at the driver as he continued on his path. The woman let out a giggle at the situation, the man also laughing. Stupid humans, who nearly killed them, but they did not care. Roger shook his head at their actions; the stupidity of humans still amazes him to this day.

Roger watched as the couple fell into a dark alleyway, the man pressing the woman up against the wall, his bottom half thrusting into her and keeping them both upright.

"Sshhh, someone might hear us,” the man whispered.

"I don't care.” The woman clutched the man's jacket, pulling him in for a kiss.

The scene intrigued him and Roger jumped from the roof, landing silently yards from them, next to a dumpster. A rotting smell infiltrated his nose, but he ignored it, breathing through his mouth. The lovers remained ignorant of the pair of eyes watching them as they continued. The man had his hands wrapped around the woman's waist, pressing his manhood into her. She let out a soft moan as her head dropped back, resting against the wall. The man took the opportunity to explore, kissing up her jaw until he stopped to suckle her neck.

Their show of passion made Roger uncomfortable, but he was drawn towards them and couldn't help but step closer. The absence of lights covered him in the darkness, his white skin still slightly visible. Some of their clothes were scattered around them as they continued their onslaught.

A small scratch itched at the back of Roger's neck as he softly approached them, the sight of the woman's neck exposed like that. Her light skin sparkles with her sweat, the veins visible from the man's sucking and kissing her. Fangs extended from his gums, slight pain in its place. Roger felt his hunger rise as he kept stepping forward, the couple too absorbed in their current state to notice a predator about to pounce.

"Kyle...” The woman's voice was thick with pleasure, her eyes half-closed and her mouth hanging open, desire clear in her expression. The man sped up as he quickly unbuckled his pants, dropping his trousers to the floor.

"Baby..." the man purred, stepping back slightly to release himself.

Roger silently watched as the man's hand disappeared into his boxers, taking another step closer. The movement would usually be unnoticeable, but not for the man. He froze immediately, his head turning towards Roger.

"Who the hell are you?” The man squinted his eyes to see Roger better, but he was too intoxicated to focus.

"Who are you talking to?” The woman noticed her partner's absence and lifted her head to look at him, catching his gaze was somewhere else. She also turned to look at him, peeking past her lust-heavy eyelids. Suddenly she froze as her blood ran cold; before her stood a man, pure white with eyes as dark as midnight.

"Kyle...” Gone was the passion, now replaced with fear. The woman pushed the man away, struggling to get her clothes to cover her exposed skin.

"Can't you see we are busy? Fuck off.” The man stepped closer to Roger, his mind not yet telling him to run, like the woman.

"Who do you think you are speaking to?" Roger asked.

"Just another drug add...” The rest of the man's words slipped away as Roger moved closer to them, stepping into the light cast from the shops. His eyes grew double in size as he observed the man before him. "What the hell.” The fear dripped from his voice as he froze, watching Roger advance on them.

"Do something.” The woman gave a slight push at the man, sending him closer to the hunter.

"I...I…” The man shot his gaze between the woman and Roger, his mind spinning. Humans were known to be cowards, and this man did not disappoint. Without another thought, he picked up his pants, holding it scrunched up in his hand, and ran.

"Kyle...” The woman called his name, but he ignored her as he sped out of the alley, leaving her behind.

A smirk played on Roger's face as he watched the coward run. In his time, men protected the woman, but how times have changed.

"Please don't hurt me.” The woman's eyes kept shooting to the entrance of the alley and the safety lying in the light. Roger could hear her heart thumping wildly, her blood rushing faster.

"I won't hurt you.” In a flash, he was before her, and she dropped her bag from the shock. “Well, not that much."

Before she could scream, Roger had his hand over her mouth. Fear gripped her eyes as she watched the man before her change into a monster. The woman tried to scream, but his cold hand stopped her. All she could do was watch as he pressed her face to the side, exposing her neck. Two sharp fangs lengthened as he lowered his head to hers. His black eyes stayed fixed on her neck, and she couldn't help but close her eyes and beg for a swift death.

A Soft scream made Roger freeze. It sounded like it came from far away, but he also heard it in his ears. A glance revealed his hand was still over the woman's mouth, and he shook his head. The lack of blood making him hear things now. Her veins became more prominent as he continued his feed, her delicious blood inches from his aching fangs.

"Help..."

His head shot up as the voice returned, clearer this time. Cars sped past the mouth of the alley, but no one there. Roger looked around confused, the passage still empty. The woman in his grasp began to squirm, pulling his attention back to her. Tears dripped from her eyes as he gazed down at her, his temper rising. Without a second thought, he bit down, his fangs piercing her soft flesh. Pleasure exploded in his mouth as the warm blood filled his mouth, and he drank deeply. His eyes fluttered close from the feeling but shot open when he heard the voice again.

"Please..."

Roger unlatched his mouth from her neck, the blood loss making her head drop forward. Her body fell to the floor as he let go, her breathing faint as he stepped back, reigning in his anger at being interrupted. His ears pricked up, and his senses heightened while he focused on the person who dared interrupt his feeding. Somewhere out there, a faint beating of a heart caught his attention, standing out from the millions of others in the city.

With a final glance down at the woman, he confirmed she was still alive, and he jumped up, catching the railing of a fire escape, climbing up. The city looked sharper and clearer, the fresh blood enchanting his already perfect senses. Roger stepped on the edge and sat down. As his eyes closed, he opened his ears to the work. Millions of different sounds and noises interrupted his thoughts, but he quickly pushed it away, using Micheal's technique. Slowly it faded out, leaving him in the darkness, able to pinpoint the cry for help.

The person returned to his mind as he heard their beating heart, a soft moaning voice following. Roger knew it was a female, but he was not in the hero business. No, he was always the villain. But something about her plea made him want to help, and so he did.

With her signal in his ear and mind set, Roger jumped from the building, speeding towards the woman.