Exsanguination Page 6

  “How long were you planning on staying in London?” Vanessa asked.

  “Just a couple of days,” his father responded. “I was, originally, against the idea. I felt that Phillip was old enough to make his own decisions but my wife insisted,” he smiled at Vanessa. “I’m glad she did.”

  Vanessa had his parents age in their early fifties at a guess. And you’ll be fantasizing for months, she thought. Guns? A beautiful woman? A fast car? Middle age? It was a turbulent mix.

  “How’s Nikki?” Phillip addressed his mother.

  “Oh, she’s alright, I guess. Having a hard time settling down. She can’t seem to find the right man,” Mildred smiled at her son. “She should be more like you in her choices.”

  Phillip sighed silently. He didn’t know who was talking but it certainly didn’t sound like his mother.

  “Who’s Nikki?” Vanessa’s eyebrows went up as she asked with a smile.

  “Phillip didn’t tell you? Nikki is his sister.”

  “You never told me, darling. You have a sister?”

  He shrugged. “It never came up.”

  “We must have her for a visit! How old is she?” Vanessa smiled.

  “She’s twenty-two and I don’t think that would be a great idea.”

  “Why ever not?”

  “Well, she’s kind of . . .”

  “Religious,” John interjected dryly, “and I think a visit would be good for her,” he smiled at Vanessa, “if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, that is.”

  “Not at all!” Vanessa looked delighted at the prospect and spread her hands. “We might be able to give her a completely new take on life.”

  Phillip looked at the ceiling. Deliver me, oh Lord, he pleaded silently.

  “Are you sure it wouldn’t be a problem?” Mildred asked.

  “Not in the least. We’ll look forward to it.” Vanessa replied.

  “I don’t know if she’d come,” Phillip’s mother said.

  Vanessa leaned forward toward Mildred. Her expression was conspiratorial. “Tell her that her brother is living in sin with a wicked woman and you think he’s concerned about his immortal soul.”

  John laughed and Phillip leaned his head down into his hands, slowly shaking it.

  “Well, you are, aren’t you Phillip, darling?” Vanessa asked lightly.

  “I think my immortal soul is in the best possible of hands,” he gave her a slight smile.

  “Of course it is, but your sister doesn’t know that.”

  Mildred was staring at Vanessa in amazement. “That is a brilliant idea!”

  “Oh, Mildred,” she chortled, “my ideas are always the best ones.”

  Vanessa signalled Robert who went around the table, pouring more wine.

  “I’m going to call her right now,” Mildred took her phone from her purse.

  “Mom, you don’t need to . . .”

  It was too late. Vanessa reached out and patted Phillip’s hand. “It’ll be fun,” she said softly.

  “I’ve heard that before,” he moaned under his breath.

  Mildred put her phone on speaker. “Nikki?” She held a finger to her lips to quiet everyone. “Nikki, I’m worried about your brother.”

  “Phil? Why are you worried about him? Is something wrong?”

  “We’re here in England and he’s taken up with a brazen woman and living in sin with her. He’s worried if he’s not doing the right thing.”

  “Oh my God! How awful! Give Phil the phone and I’ll talk to him. He needs to bring God into his life.”

  “No, honey, I think you need to do this in person. He needs to get right with God, honey.”

  “Has he expressed any regret?”

  “No, but I can tell he’s horribly conflicted,” she covered the mouthpiece and whispered to Vanessa. “Do you have a computer?”

  She grinned and nodded quickly.

  “I’ll pay for the ticket, honey. I’ll do it on the computer and send it to you,” she covered the mouthpiece again and spoke softly, concern in her face. “How long does it take to get an email to America?”

  “Oh, it’s very quick, Mildred,” Vanessa replied, looking serious but having all she could do to suppress her laughter.

  “Check your email in half an hour, honey. That will give it time.”

  “Alright,” the voice sounded unsure. “I love you.”

  “Yes, I love you too, honey,” she hung up and smiled smugly. “It worked perfectly!”

  “Good!” Vanessa announced as she turned to Phillip. “God! She sounds so cute!”

  “So,” Mildred gave Vanessa an inquiring look, “tell me, how do you become a countess?”

  “All you have to do is marry an earl,” Vanessa smiled.

  “And are you the countess of something?”

  “The Countess of Ashford.”

  “And what happened to your husband? The earl?” the nosy New York tendencies began to show in Phillip’s mother.

  “He passed on some time ago. A blood disease.”

  Phillip almost blew wine from his nose and he rolled his eyes at Vanessa.

  “Mom, enough with the interrogation already!”

  “I’m just asking,” Mildred replied innocently. “Can’t a person ask?”

  After dinner, Phillip assisted his mother with purchasing Nikki’s ticket and, shortly after, Vanessa and Phillip showed them to their room.

  “We tend to be night owls, but our room is far on the other side of the house so we won’t keep you awake. If we’re not up when you arise, feel free to take your own tour of the house. Robert, my butler can have cook make your breakfast. We’ll try to be down at a reasonable time,” Vanessa smiled widely.

  “Thank you,” Mildred took her hands, “and thank you for welcoming us into your home.”

  “Think nothing of it! We’re delighted you’re here.”

  Phillip and Vanessa entered their bedroom and, as soon as Vanessa shut the door, she clutched her stomach and began to laugh uproariously.

  “Vanessa!” Phillip said reprovingly.

  She held up a hand. “No! Do not ruin this moment for me!” she had to gasp before continuing. “I haven’t had this much fun since . . .” she waved her hand, “never mind when.”

  He found that her laughter was so contagious, he started laughing himself. Soon the two were almost in tears. Finally, they calmed down.

  “Phillip, darling, you have done something I didn’t think would ever be possible. You have resurrected my sense of humour!”

  “Glad to hear it. Why? Why would you want to drag my sister over here?”

  “I don’t know. It seemed quite the good idea at the time. It might be fun!”

  “Vanessa,” he shook his head, “she’s gone over the edge. She’s a Seventh Day Apostate or something like that.”

  That renewed Vanessa’s gales of laughter. “Apostate!” she caught her breath. “That’s beautiful! It’s Adventist, darling. Seventh Day Adventist!”

  “Well, whatever, she’s off the deep end and what’s this about the Earl dying of a blood disease? Did you drain him?”

  Vanessa stuck out her lower lip in a pout and looked apologetic. “I might have but, your sister? I can save her, darling,” she licked her lips provocatively and gave him a steamy look.

  Phillip wagged his finger at her. “You stay away from my sister’s neck!”

  “I could make a new woman of her,” she leered as she walked toward him, her body moving sinuously.

  “No!”

  Vanessa pouted. “How about you, then? Can I have your neck?”

  Phillip compressed his lips in defiance.

  She slowly shook her head, smiling softly. “You know what they say, darling, resistance is futile.”

  He knew she was right. It was like a drug and he was addicted. If he could live in that state of bliss, he would. He went to her arms.

  The following afternoon, they went downstairs to find Phillip’s parents beyond breakfast and just finishing lunch.


  “So terribly sorry,” Vanessa apologized. “We do stay up late and like to sleep in.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Mildred responded. “Your cook is wonderful!”

  “Good!” she turned to John. “Are you ready for your ride, John?”

  “Oh God, yes!” he nodded quickly and put down his utensils.

  “Please be careful, Vanessa,” Mildred expressed her concern.

  Minutes later, in the garage, John found himself breathlessly looking at the blood red Porsche. He caught himself as he tried to enter the driver’s side.

  “Yes, we do things a bit differently here,” Vanessa smiled.

  They belted in and the garage door lifted, showing a straight shot of about a half mile to the main road.

  “Zero to almost a hundred kilometres an hour in two point seven seconds,” Vanessa stared straight ahead and then turned to him. “Are you ready, John?” she asked in a husky voice.

  He looked at her for only a second before she slammed the pedal to the floor and his gaze snapped forward.

  “Oh, sweet Jesus,” he muttered, fists clenched, as the car rocketed forward.

  Vanessa could hear his heart pounding in his chest. She smiled.

  Ten minutes later, they returned, John visibly shaken.

  “Have fun?” Phillip asked.

  “God, Phillip! Have you driven that thing? It’s a beast!”

  He shook his head and sighed. “She won’t let me – says I won’t know what side of the road to use,” he looked at Vanessa. “How about if I take driving lessons?”

  “Then, yes, you can take it out.”

  He clapped his hands together. “I’ll find a school!”

  She shook her head. “I’ll teach you. I’ll buy a junker that we won’t mind wrecking.”

  “Even better,” he smiled.

  V

  Two days later, John and Mildred had departed and Nikki was scheduled to arrive the following evening.

  “Did you order a car?”

  “I did,” Vanessa responded with a smile, “and that’s the second time you’ve asked, darling.”

  “Good,” Phillip nodded. “Try not to freak her out. As it is, she’s not going to be over enthused with your makeup.”

  “Well, I’m not inclined to have it lasered off.”

  “I’m sorry,” he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m just concerned with this whole visit.”

  She gave him a squeeze. “It’s going to be fine, Phillip. You’re getting worked up over nothing,” she frowned slightly. “You know, there’s no real need for us to keep any specific hours. At my age, I’m immune to all but the brightest sunlight so . . . why bother with the day sleeping thing?”

  “I love you,” he gave her a relieved smile.

  She smiled at him. “And I am incredibly fond of you, darling.”

  Late, the following day, Nikki stepped out of the car. She was a diminutive thing – a bit over five feet, slender, with short cropped, blonde hair. She looked at the huge house in front of her. “It’s Gomorrah,” she whispered as she blessed herself, “Give me strength, dear God.”

  Vanessa watched her from the window. “Oh, Phillip, you’re going to have to help me maintain my resolve. She is so cute! So . . . waiflike!” her head snapped to look at him. “I really want her, Phillip. Tell me she’s a virgin.”

  “Control yourself, woman,” he said sharply.

  “Yes, master,” she chuckled and bowed, “but you should go out and show her in.”

  He turned back to Vanessa at the door and extended his arm theatrically, waving his hand up and down. “No Dracula stuff, ok?”

  “Alright,” she sighed as she looked down at the conservative outfit that Phillip had picked out for her. For the most part, she shunned the more outlandish outfits that could be seen in the Goth clubs but this was a bit too much for her. “Yuck,” she muttered.

  “Nikki!” Phillip shouted as he ran up to her. “Give your brother a hug!”

  “Phil, is this where you live?” her expression was worried.

  “It is.”

  “I don’t like it. There’s something about it. It feels wicked.”

  “It’s just a house, Nikki. A big house but still just a house,” he replied softly as he picked up her bags. “No demons, ghosts, or goblins to be found here. Come inside and meet Vanessa.”

  Nikki swallowed hard and followed her brother into the house. Vanessa approached her with a smile and extended hand. “Nikki! Welcome to our home. I’m so delighted you could make the trip.”

  Nikki blessed herself again and shook hands. Vanessa spread her arms. “Do you hug?”

  Reluctantly, Nikki let herself be hugged. Vanessa’s nostrils flared and she backed away with a wide smile.

  “I thank God in heaven above that you had a safe flight,” she looked up at the ceiling. Two virgins under one roof! She could barely stop herself from shaking with joy as Nikki regarded the woman’s fangs.

  “Phillip, why don’t you take Nikki’s bags up to her room? I’ll take her through to the drawing room.”

  He gave her a warning look and grabbed the bags.

  Vanessa took Nikki’s arm and led her through. “It’s nice and warm by the fire.”

  Nikki looked at her. She swore she was staring into the eyes of the whore of Babylon! That eye makeup! Those blood red lips!

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “Phillip tells me that you’re a Seventh Day Adventist.”

  She shook her head. “I’m Roman Catholic. Those other people are heretics. They’re going to burn in hell, screaming in agony until the end of time.”

  “Well, you don’t mince words, do you, young lady?”

  “God guides my speech,” she responded almost imperiously.

  Vanessa gestured to a chair close to the hearth and Nikki grudgingly sat down.

  “And what does God say about me?” an amused smile flickered over her lips.

  “You’re a loose, wicked woman, a sinner, and very evil. You’re living in sin with my brother and corrupting his soul.”

  Vanessa maintained her smile. Apparently, Nikki’s religious fervour made her feel completely free to say what she wished regardless of the degree of offence it might cause.

  She snapped her head a bit, tossing her long black hair over one shoulder. “Wine?” she’d had Robert open a bottle an hour before in anticipation of Nikki’s visit.

  “No thank you.”

  Vanessa shrugged and poured a glass for herself and sat down opposite the slip of a girl. She sipped and offered a slight smile. “I’m going to guess you don’t have a whole lot of friends, do you, Nikki?”

  The question seemed to catch her off balance. “I have friends. They’re not like you, though.”

  “Really? Were they ever lose or evil? Maybe before they found God?” she could hear the girl’s respiration and heartbeat accelerating.

  “Maybe some but God forgives.”

  Vanessa leaned forward. “I think we should do something together that your dad and I did.”

  “What?” her expression darkened with suspicion.

  Vanessa stood up and crooked her finger. “Come with me,” she said with a wide smile. Vanessa planned on taking the girl so far off balance that she’d likely not recover.

  “Hesitantly, Nikki got up and followed. Vanessa opened the door to the garage and Nikki’s eyes widened and, for a moment, she forgot her disapproval.

  “It’s beautiful!” she whispered.

  “Vanessa grinned. “Hop in on the other side. Different here in England.”

  She slowly walked to the passenger side and touched the door handle. She wavered a moment and then pulled it. Sitting down, she looked at Vanessa who smiled back at her.

  “How fast do you want to go, Nikki?”

  “I don’t know . . .” she hesitated. “Fast?” her youth was betraying her.

  Vanessa nodded and winked. “You have good instincts.”

  They were out the door like a shot.
Nikki screamed and dug her fingers into the sides of the seat. “Oh my God! Oh my God!” her heart was beating like that of a terrified rabbit.

  Fifteen minutes later, they returned. Vanessa exited quickly and ran to Nikki’s side to help her out. Her knees were wobbling and she was shaking. Phillip was standing in the garage doorway.

  “Phil!” Nikki called out as Vanessa supported her. “That was amazing! I thought I was going to die! There was a car going across the road,” she gesticulated wildly, “at the end and Vanessa missed it by that much!” she used her thumb and forefinger to show less than an inch.

  Phillip was staring at Vanessa, arms folded on his chest. “Vanessa has remarkable reflexes.”

  She turned to Nikki. “I’ll tell you a secret that not many know. You’re never so alive as when you are that close to death. Want to do it again?”

  Nikki nodded quickly and repeatedly.

  “Brave girl!” she put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze. As she looked at Phillip, her expression said ‘Relax, I’ve got this.’

  Phillip sighed and went back inside as the two tore out of the garage again.

  “So help me, if you did something to her . . .” he muttered to no one in particular. Grabbing a glass of wine, he moved to the middle of the drawing room and began to pace. He didn’t have long to wait although he was reasonably sure Vanessa took her on a couple of trips.

  Nikki ran inside and up to her brother, leaving Vanessa to follow.

  “Oh, Phil! I’ve never, in my life, felt anything like that!” she was hyperventilating. “It was incredible!”

  He took her chin, gently and turned her head back and forth, noting the absence of marks on her neck. Looking over her shoulder at Vanessa, he made the characteristic, Dracula-like wiggling of fingers at her.

  She shook her head and smiled, mouthing the word ‘no’.

  Nikki turned to look at Vanessa and walked up to her. “I’m sorry for those awful things I said before,” tears were welling up in her eyes.

  Vanessa wrapped her arms around her. “There, there, don’t even think about it,” she said reassuringly.

  Phillip looked over Nikki’s shoulder at Vanessa’s face. He saw the eyes of an apex predator. Her lips were mere inches from Nikki’s throat and he knew the temptation was enormous.