Bittersweet

Saliva dripped from his blood stained fangs. He bent over her neck.
“James, what are you doing?” Katie pulled away suddenly. James looked at her pleadingly.
“I’m really hungry,” he whined.
“You realize biting me isn’t going to help you any,” Katie said, moving to the refrigerator. She opened is and removed a small glass. “Here, this one is from a teenager.” James took a taste and winced.
“It’s too sweet.” James pushed the glass away.
“Well I’m sorry. It is the most mature blood I have. If you want any adult blood, you will just have to go get it yourself.” Katie sat down next to James.
“I can’t believe you like it that sweet, it makes me sick,” James commented. Katie leaned over and took the glass from him.
“I don’t know, children’s blood is so much more appealing than the bitter blood of adults,” Katie said, sipping the blood slowly.
“Well I’m going to go out. Won’t you join me just this once?” James asked, standing up. Katie looked into those baby blue eyes of his.
“I’m sorry, Honey. I’m gonna pass. I think I will go to bed early. The office is hosting a charity blood drive tomorrow morning, you know I can’t miss that.” Katie emptied the glass and put it on the kitchen counter.
“Okay.” James kissed her on the cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
********
Katie was startled awake by the doorbell ringing. Sitting up groggily, she looked at the clock. 2:34 am. James had probably forgot his keys. Silently cursing to herself, Katie dragged herself out of bed and down the stairs. The doorbell rang again.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Katie mumbled as she turned the key. Katie flung the door open. She was startled to see an attractive lady standing there. The lady pushed inside the door and gave Katie a hug.
“Oh Katie! How long has it been? It seems like forever. I am so glad you weren’t out tonight, I was afraid you would be eating.” The lady walked into the family room and sat down on the couch.
“Eating? Why would I be eating?” Katie was trying to rack her brain and find out who this woman was. A friend from college? A former nurse who worked for Katie?
“Oh, you weren’t asleep, were you? I thought vampires sleep during the day and hunt at night.” This caught Katie’s attention.
“What did you just say?” Katie took an involuntary step back.
“You know,” the woman said as if it was obvious. “You sleep in coffins during the day and drink people’s blood during the night.”
“What? No. Who are you? Why are you here?” Katie was starting to be afraid. The woman stood up and walked towards Katie.
“Don’t you remember me?” the woman asked. “I was your friend for that day at the ski resort.” The woman opened her purse. “Until your friend killed my sister! You are just like him, a filthy, inhuman monster!” The woman pulled out what looked to be a piece of broken plywood. It was sharpened at a point and the woman stabbed it at Katie. Katie deftly stepped out of the way.
“Your other vampire friend has already been taken care of,” the woman said, almost in a taunting way.
“James?” Katie felt as though the wood had already pierced her heart. The stereotype wasn’t true. Vampires could love, and Katie loved James. A rage that mild Katie had never known possessed her. Rushing forward and knocking the wood out of the woman’s hand, Katie pushed the woman up against the wall.
“What did you do to James?” Katie growled. The woman reached up and pulled a chain out of her shirt with much difficulty. On the chain was a sliver cross. Katie laughed.
“Do you realize that doesn’t work?” Katie asked, grabbing the cross and pressing it against her own skin. Taking advantage of Katie letting her go, the woman pushed Katie away and ran to get the wood. The rage drained out of Katie all of a sudden and she slid down to the floor. The woman hesitated.
“What are you doing?” the woman asked cautiously.
“Waiting to die.” Katie said depressingly. She thought for a moment before she said, “again.” The woman looked at her suspiciously.
“Okay then.” The woman raised the makeshift stake. Katie looked at the woman with such sorrow in her eyes that the woman took a step back and sat down.
“Why are you not fighting me?” the woman asked. She still had the weapon ready, as if she didn’t trust Katie.
“Because being a vampire is like living in hell. You never die. You must kill innocent people. You can not kill yourself, and if you try to not drink blood, your body will break down on a rampage and kill more people than ever.” Katie lowered her head. If she had been alive, she would have cried.
“I am not going to kill you,” the woman said.
“Do! Do kill me! James got out, why are you not going to help me too?” Katie looked at the woman pleadingly. Katie got up and sat next to the woman. The woman looked torn. She wanted to back away, but couldn’t. Katie grabbed her hand. “Please.” The woman leaned back.
“I ca…” Katie pounced on her before she could finish her sentence. The blood was drained out of the woman faster than she could realize what happened. Katie leaned back and licked her lips.
“Whoops, should’ve done what I said when you had the chance,” Katie advised the now still body. “Oh well! That’s what you get for waking up a hungry vampire.” Katie decided to clean up in the morning. Still laughing, Katie got into her bed and fell asleep.