Called to the Darkness

Chad hates working at the bar on Halloween night, but meeting Edwin might just make up for it. Chad is easily charmed by the man in the Victorian suit and snaps up an invitation to follow Edwin home. But Edwin has an ulterior motive. One that ends with Chad's death and rebirth as a vampire. Now Chad must struggle with his feelings for the man that killed him and all the complications that go along with it.

Excerpt:

"This one's on me," I said when I served him the scotch he ordered. He looked at me quizzically before I explained. "You've got the best damn costume here. You should've won."

Number 81 smiled and laughed. Somehow it looked even nicer than it had before. I could look at him all night.

...I chided myself for the strange thought. It was one thing to be attracted to a handsome guy in a fine looking suit, it was another to think of him like I was a lovesick teen. Especially if I'd just met him. It was out of character for me.

"It's not too over the top? I felt a little out of place to be honest," Number 81 replied.

"No way! Everything's perfect. No one ever tries very hard on their costume. I mean, shit, look at mine." I grabbed the frayed ends of my cape and held them up for him to see.

"Hm. As impressive as your cape is, I'd have to say that I'm even more impressed with that." He poked the printed medallion on my chest. A mixture of surprise and revulsion crossed his handsome features when his finger sunk into the foam.

"What the hell? What are you supposed to be? Some kind of sponge vampire?" He laughed, splayed his fingers and patted my vest.

I blushed and felt damn ridiculous for doing so. A light touch shouldn't be enough to make me feel like this. Especially through a fucking foam vest.

He quickly removed his hand. "Sorry. Didn't mean to feel up the bartender."

"Ha. You do this to every bartender you meet?"

"Of course not. Only the ones I like."

I had been hoping he was interested in me and now I was ecstatic about this small confirmation. I tried not to let my excitement show, but I doubt I did a good job at that.

"My name's Chad. What's yours?"

"Edwin," he replied.

I snatched a napkin and wrote my number on it. "Maybe we can get together later? I have tomorrow off."

"Oh, I'm free tomorrow as well."

"Great! Then-"

"And I'm free tonight too. I'll wait for your shift to end."

My breath caught in my throat.

"Ah. Um." Why was it so hard to put my thoughts in order? I didn't usually get flustered easily. "It'll be late."

"That's fine," Edwin replied.

I nodded. "I'll try to hurry," I promised.

We made small talk until the bar closed. Edwin left me a generous tip and said he'd wait for me outside. I rushed through the cleaning and other miscellaneous tasks that needed to be done in record time. I rushed outside and found Edwin leaning against the side of a small blue sedan in the nearly empty parking lot.

Ah. A sensible car. I loved down to earth guys. Not too flashy, but still know how to make stuff look good. Edwin was pretty much perfect in that way. I was finding more reasons to like him every minute. Even if they were dumb reasons like his car.

Edwin looked amazing as he gazed at the starry night sky. The moonlight was dim, but I swear I could see the intense green color of his eyes even at that moment. I hated to interrupt the scene, but my feet carried me forward before I realized it.

"How about my place?" Edwin said. It wasn't much of a question though since he had opened the car door for me.

"Yeah. That's fine. I live within walking distance from here so it's not like a drove here or anything." I was pretty sure I sounded desperate. Thankfully, Edwin didn't seem to notice.

"That's good," he said as he slid into the passenger seat and started the car. "I live a few miles from here, but it's not a long drive."

He tried talking to me, but I found it hard to carry the conversation. That was really unusual for me. My eyes drifted all around, but I only vaguely registered what I was seeing.

I said some things. At least I think I did. Time began to ebb and flow. It was impossible for me to stay in the moment. Things just happened and I found myself being dragged along with the events without realizing how I got there.

I was in Edwin's car, then I was in his house. I had him against a wall, kissing him deeply and tearing at his clothes.

Then we were in bed.