Copyright 1996 by Anne Fraser and M.J. Gardner

Chapter Four

Evelyn waited for Jake leaning against the wall of the CIBC, as far from the lamps as possible. She hoped this was the right place, the corner of Bathurst and Bloor, he'd said. But there were so many of these CIBC places scattered around.

Her mind strayed back to what she'd left behind in Ohio. Her house, which she'd murdered and perjured herself for, and then abandoned to Simms. Not permanently, she reassured herself, but the thought of going back was a little frightening. Would he be contrite? Would he have missed her? More likely he'd be furious that she'd left without a word, like a thief in the night.

Lost in thought she didn't hear Jake coming until he said, "Evelyn?"

She turned to look up at him and a slow, languid smile crept across her face.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long." She shook her head and her curls bounced like springs. The sight of him made the much more pleasant memories of last night come flooding back. Did she want to repeat that? For the moment she was just content to be with Jake. After all, he had a girlfriend and her understanding was that he didn't expect a relationship to come out of this.

"I, uh, I know I said I'd show you around, but Adrian wants to see you."

"Your vampire friend from last night?" she said. "What about?"

"You're in his territory and it worries him."

Evelyn stopped and looked up at Jake. "I don't know much about the vampire community," she said. "Am I supposed to ask permission to hunt here? Or am I not supposed to come at all?" Simms had never mentioned anything about "territories," but then, for all his promises of education, Simms hadn't told her much of anything.

Jake sort of shrugged. "He just wants to meet you," he said, evading her gaze. He was uneasy and that made Evelyn worry.

"Alright," she said with some hesitation. After all, what could another vampire do to her? He certainly wouldn't be carrying a cross.

"So will you tell me about how you became a bloodling?" Maybe that would shed some light on Adrian's character.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," Jake teased.

"Well, all right. I was seduced by my music teacher. He made a living by seducing his students to get at their throats. Anyway, he made the mistake of falling in love with me."

"The mistake?" asked Jake.

"It hasn't worked out," she answered darkly. "He had to get out of town urgently one night. Hunters were after him. So before he left he had me drink his blood. He told me he was giving me immortality," she smirked, "and then he drained me nearly dry and left."

"Nice guy," commented Jake.

If only you knew... she thought.

"So, he left you a vampire?"

"No, a bloodling, like you, I guess. Only I never felt any different. I never felt any kind of change until after."

"After what?" Jake stopped on the sidewalk and Evelyn guessed that they had reached Adrian's house. She looked up at it uneasily.

"After I died," she said. "I woke up in the morgue."

"Oh my God," muttered Jake. He was lost in thought for a minute. Wondering about his own eventual death, Evelyn supposed.

"Are you coming in with me?" she asked.

"I -- yeah -- but I can't stay. I've got a paper to do."

His uneasiness was making her edgy, but there wasn't much she could do about it now, was there? Adrian was at the front window and had seen them. "Well, maybe you can tell me how you became a bloodling later."

"Look, I'll meet you after midnight -- if I get my paper done--" he hurried to add. "At Coffee Time Donuts. It's the only place on campus open all night."

"Alright," she agreed as they stepped up to the door where Adrian stood waiting.

Evelyn argued that she shouldn't be nervous meeting this vampire. What did she have to fear? She didn't want to stay in Toronto forever, and escape was easy. As long as he didn't physically get hold of her, she was perfectly safe.

She was glad Jake was there, all the same.

Adrian politely ushered them into a white and chrome living room. It was interesting, Evelyn thought, but awfully cold.

"Adrian Talbot, I'd like you to meet Evelyn. Evelyn, this is Adrian Talbot. I know you've been introduced," added Jake, "but I figured maybe we should start over again."

"Fine," answered Adrian. He was staring at Evelyn as if he was trying to bore a hole through her. She shifted uncomfortably.

"Nice place," she said to break the uncomfortable silence.

Adrian turned to stare at his bloodling and Evelyn sensed that they were once again speaking telepathically.

"If you're going to do that I may as well leave," she said.

"You have excellent mental control," said Adrian, gesturing them to sit. Evelyn opted for a corner of the couch that looked soft and comfy. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen," she answered.

"I mean as a vampire."

"Well, then I'm twenty. I've been a vampire for a little over a year."

"How did you learn such mental skill? I can't read your mind at all."

"Should you be able to?" asked Evelyn, perplexed.

"Haven't you ever communicated telepathically with other vampires?"

Evelyn shook her head, ringlets bouncing.

"Not even your maker?" he asked.

"My--? Oh, him!" replied Evelyn, and started to laugh. "I'm sorry. No, not even him. If I had been able to read his mind -- well, never mind."

"Who is your maker?"

Evelyn just smiled. "I thought you wanted to talk to me about invading your territory?"

Adrian raised one eyebrow and looked at Jake, who shrugged. Evelyn stared at him. They were doing it again!

"Well, I better get going and work on that paper," he said.

"Shall I see you later?" asked Adrian.

"No, I'll probably be busy all night," answered Jake.

"All right." Adrian shrugged fatalistically.

Jake shut the door and Adrian turned to Evelyn with a less friendly look.

"I don't appreciate strange vampires invading my territory and trying to make a meal out of one of my friends."

Evelyn rolled her eyes mentally. They'd been over that ground, hadn't they?

"Look, who do you prey on? Everybody has friends and relatives. Husbands, wives, parents, children. None of them want their loved ones to be vamped any more than you do."

"Your point?"

"I was hungry. I picked Jake. Not because he was or wasn't your friend. That's irrelevant. You have no right to act so high and mighty about it: you hunt the same way, I imagine."

Evelyn was glad Adrian was on the other side of the room. From the look on his face he didn't take kindly to criticism.

"And did you bite him?" he asked.

"You didn't read his mind?" Evelyn shot back.

"I am not a voyeur," Adrian countered. He was seething and Evelyn figured she was going to have to pop out of there soon to some place safe, but in the meantime, this was fun. She didn't dare aggravate Simms like this, but she could take it all out on Adrian. After all, he was just another older male vampire trying to bully her.

"What did you do?"

Evelyn frowned. Why was he so interested, if, as he said, he wasn't a voyeur? Then it dawned on her. He had given Jake the blood. Jake's unnecessary protest that he wasn't gay....

"You're jealous! You were Jake's lover!"

"I was never Jacob Fowler's lover," said Adrian solemnly.

Evelyn composed herself and put on a straight face before delivering the coup de grace.

"Well, then, you've missed something."

Adrian flew out of his chair so fast Evelyn did not see him move. He was just suddenly bending over her, grasping her by the arms so hard it hurt. His fangs were out and his eyes glowed with anger.

"You're an insolent bitch who needs to be taught a lesson!"

"Let go of me, you goddam faggot!" growled Evelyn, then reconsidered her line of defense. "If you hurt me Jake is not going to be happy with you."

Adrian let her go.

"Do you know how old I am?" he asked, teal eyes narrowed.

"A million years," she answered smartly, rubbing her arms where Adrian had grabbed her. "I don't know."

"I am considerably older than you, and more powerful."

"But I've got the one thing you want, don't I? I've got Jake," she gloated. All right, he was dangerous, but taunting him was such fun. She didn't think he'd try to attack her again, but she would be more wary now.

Instead her comment had the opposite effect. Adrian smirked. "Don't count on it."

"Why not?"

"He has a girlfriend. She'll be back in town tomorrow."

Jake had told her that, hadn't he?

"A mortal?" she asked.

Adrian nodded.

Evelyn shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever. He's still not yours."

"How long do you plan to stay in Toronto?" asked Adrian. Obviously he had decided not to be baited any more.

Evelyn shrugged. "A week or two. This is just a vacation."

"You won't be a careless hunter, will you?" asked Adrian patronizingly. His tone almost made Evelyn want to tell him she was murdering people by the dozens so he'd worry.

"Of course not," she answered. "And I won't try to snack on any more of your friends, either," she added. "Can I go now?" She stood up and looped her purse over her shoulder, then added as a parting shot, "I have to meet Jake."