Turning Point Read online

  TURNING POINT

  by K. M. Smith

  Autumn 1994

  CHAPTER ONE

  Adam

  It had been a long, hot summer and pickings had been slim. Too much daylight meant not enough drunken co-eds. Shorter nights made dealing with the Hunger easier, but there would come a time when the balance would shift. Rarely satiated, often malnourished, the cycle of Hunger pervaded a vampire’s psyche and would drive one to rashness, belligerence, and sometimes, insanity. Adam was heading toward belligerence.

  It was time to break his fast.

  At eleven p.m., he set out. The late hour provided anonymity, yet much of the sloppy debauchery was, thankfully, yet to come. The students had returned and Cascarelli’s (‘Relli’s as it was known locally), the only bar in the sleepy college town of Albion, Michigan, was hopping. Fresh faces, bright young minds, and tight bodies converged, forming an energy that was infectious and permeated the air for blocks in all directions. Fingers tingling, Adam absorbed the ambient zest and vigor he needed to complete his mission. His steps quickened the more he thought about the night ahead. The week before fall semester was always his favorite. The promise of a fresh start pushed spirits higher than at any other time, except maybe the week before spring break, but March in Michigan could be so dreary. Arriving at ‘Relli’s, he inhaled deeply. The summer had been so long.

  Loud music, grungy smells and sweaty bodies pressing together awaited him on the other side of the door. Butterflies fluttered through his insides as he rubbed his hands together. Pausing to adjust his stance and set his face to appear human, he pushed open the door and stepped over the threshold. Before his boot hit the floor, one intoxicating scent slammed into him. A woman.

  Nostrils flared, he struggled to keep his fangs from dropping. Just keep walking. Face tight, eyes shifting from side to side, he made his way along the bar. By the time he reached the other side of the room, the Hunger had taken over. Mind buzzing, fingers tingling, pit of his stomach clenching, he could think of nothing else.

  Feed. Now.

  The room buzzed as the oblivious patrons became meals in his eyes. The Hunger demanded satiation. If he didn’t comply, the aftermath would be bloody and difficult to explain.

  Hold it together. You will have your meal.

  Adam trained his eyes on a pretty, young blonde lined up outside the bathroom. More than desire, a primal need propelled him toward her. Look this way, pretty girl. His green eyes glowed in the darkened bar and locked on his mark. An aura of charm emanated from him like invisible fingers beckoning his target to do his bidding. The young woman turned, and he caught her eye. Gotcha. The Hunger within him snarled in anticipation of its next meal. Adam stretched his fingers and curled his hands into fists as adrenaline coursed through him. The woman moved out of the line; her bladder’s needs apparently dismissed. A wicked smile danced across her face as Adam kept his charming gaze on her. Her eyes smoldered, heeding his call and sending out alluring vibes of their own. Her transformation from carefree co-ed to vixen on the prowl delighted him. Until he said otherwise, he would be her everything, and that was exactly how he, and the Hunger, liked it.

  “Hi there, beautiful,” he said as he approached her, his smile crooked and his hands tucked into the pockets of his well-worn jeans.

  “Hi, yourself,” she said, her eyes firmly connected to his charming gaze.

  “You ready to get out of here for a bit?” He reached out to touch her elbow and lead her out of the bar.

  She bit her bottom lip and nodded.

  “Fantastic.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out the side door.

  ◆◆◆

  Behind the building stood a large commercial dumpster, perfect for concealing secret trysts. Adam directed the blonde to the space between the dumpster and the weathered brick wall. Firm but relaxed, he kept his hand on the young woman until they were out of view. Once hidden, he grabbed her and in one swift motion hoisted her up, turning her to face him so that she could wrap her legs around his waist. Giggling and lolling her head, she bounced into place. He closed his eyes and groaned at the hip to hip contact. Any other day, love. Stepping forward, he pressed the woman’s back in to the wall, keeping her immobile. The cool bricks didn’t faze her as she leaned into him and smeared drunken kisses all over his neck.

  Not wanting this scenario to spiral out of control, Adam held her face with both his hands and tilted her head up. Crinkling his eyes and smiling his charming smile, he whispered, “You’re so pretty.”

  Blushing, she lowered her eyelids and turned her face away. She looked beautiful, but this was taking too long. There was no time for distractions. He needed to feed. He wanted to tear into this beautiful young woman with reckless abandon. Not tonight. Tightening his grip, he forced her to keep her face tilted toward his. She stiffened, her heart rate increasing at his forcefulness. Her body shivered with adrenaline. The vibrations echoed through Adam’s limbs as he held her close.

  “Look at me, beautiful,” he crooned, ignoring her tension. “Right in my eyes.” Her eyes met his and she immediately relaxed in his arms. Such a beautiful and obedient specimen.

  “Very good,” he cooed. She smiled at his praise and kept her eyes locked with his. “Now, you’re not going to scream, and you’re not going to struggle. Do you understand?”

  She nodded, her smile sleepy, her eyes as big as saucers.

  “Good,” he beamed. And then he bit her.

  That first rush of blood made his summer dry spell worth it. So sweet and warm, it flowed down his throat and worked its way into every tissue, every pore. This was living.

  As he pulled in the energy and vitality of his victim, his strength increased, restoring his essence. Cradling her in his arms – a lovers’ embrace for any other couple – he moaned quietly into the supple, milky skin of her neck. Her arms had long ago gone slack around his neck, and her legs slid down his body.

  This was a beautiful, crucial moment. He could continue sucking the life force from her until she was completely drained, or he could stop now and allow her to live and return to her normal life. The internal struggle for a vampire with a conscience was a painful one, but tonight was not about the kill. Tonight, this beautiful girl was simply there to sate his hunger. Though it pained him to do so, he released his bite, and gently licked her wounds so they would heal.

  She hung limp in his arms. “Okay, beautiful, down you get.” Unable to stand on her own, Adam positioned her so that her back was against the wall and her feet were touching the ground. Not wanting to invite questions from wayward passersby, he held her upright and caressed her cheek to rouse her. Just a couple enjoying a private moment. Behind a dumpster. Outside a bar. On second thought…

  “Let’s get this going, love. No sense hanging around the dumpster.” He couldn’t just leave her there, she would wake and there would be questions. Besides, his mother had raised him better than that, no matter that that was 400 years ago.

  Slowly, the woman started to come around. Tension returned to her muscles, and she moaned as she rolled her neck and opened her eyes. He needed her charmed until she understood what had just happened to her. At least, until she understood his version of that story, anyway.

  “Welcome back, beautiful.” His lips opened into a bright and comforting smile.

  “Wha…? What’s going on?” She looked around, dazed. Pushing her hair back away from her face, she looked like an innocent girl who’d just woken up from a very satisfying nap.

  “Well, things were getting exciting, but you insisted that it was time to get back to your friends.” Adam lifted her chin and brushed her hair behind her ear. “And since all that beer seems to have gone to your head, I’m going to make sure you get back inside saf
ely.”

  “Oh, uhm,” she murmured, and moved to stand on her own, but her knees gave out. Adam steadied her, and she giggled shyly.

  It was time to send her back to her friends. He turned her to face him. “I want you to listen,” he said, holding her gaze while his thumbs stroked her shoulders. “You made out with a complete stranger—and you loved it.” He smiled at his arrogance while she stood, enthralled. “You decided you were too drunk to do anything more tonight, so you demanded that I take you back to your friends. Even though it was an incredible evening, you know you never want to see me again. Do you understand?”

  She blinked then narrowed her eyes at him. “Sure. I mean, it was fun, but I’m not really looking for anything… Okay?” She gave him a half-smile and walked toward the door. Her suddenly confident demeanor told him it was safe to let her go.

  They parted ways once inside the bar. Adam’s vampire hearing picked up the laughter and scandalous whispers between the girl and her friends: “Oh my god, you guys! I can’t believe I did that! I don’t even know his name!”

  Adam smirked as he walked away, sated and no longer a threat to the humans in the bar.

  Speaking of humans. A certain titillating scent floated on the air as he walked through the room.

  Where are you? He glanced around and headed toward the bar to grab a beer. If he walked around without one for too long, people would begin to take notice, and the last thing he wanted was to lose his anonymity.

  “Killian’s draft, please, mate,” Adam shouted as he stepped up to the bar. It was noisy and the place was packed making it difficult to work his vampiric charm. “And that’ll be on the house,” he said, leaning one elbow on the bar and locking eyes with the bartender.

  “Uh, sure thing” the bartender replied, blinking slowly. “It’s on the house.”

  Charming humans for personal gain is so much more fun after a successful feeding. Adam nodded his appreciation to the bartender, left a tip, grabbed his beer and turned away. He brought the glass to his lips to enjoy his first sip but paused midway. She was close. His preternatural senses awakened, and he finished his sip. He lowered the glass and licked the foam off his upper lip. This night was turning out even better than he had planned.

  With his hunger quelled, he thought about her scent. What was it that made her so enticing? Eyes open, an ordinary man scanning the room, but in his mind he was miles—centuries—away.

  The Welsh countryside of his youth sprung to mind. He found himself in fields of vibrant heathers and frolicking lambs, separated by low stone walls. A nearby brook babbled, and he inhaled the fresh cool scent of the water as it rushed over the rocks below. Gray smoke billowed from the chimney of a tiny cottage. Lavender grew wild in the fields next to it, and the gentle breeze carried its delicate scent all the way to him and beyond.

  Then it hit him. She smelled like home. And daylight. Two scents he’d nearly forgotten in the last four centuries. Adam snapped out of his reverie, and his eyes refocused on his immediate surroundings.

  There she was.

  He could’ve sworn he saw an actual halo around her head. He chuckled but his eyes never left her. On her own a few feet back from the bar, she hovered near the front entrance. With a beer in her hand, she looked around the room, leaning and stretching as she did. Long, toned legs extended out from her frayed, short cutoffs. A faded gray NYU t-shirt told Adam where she’d come from. Good to know. She wore her thick auburn hair down around her shoulders, and even in the minimal light, Adam could see her cheeks were sun-kissed and free from makeup.

  As she scanned the bar, she looked in his direction and for one fleeting moment, she caught his eye. Heart skipping a beat, Adam gave a small smile and a nod. She almost returned his smile, but she snapped her head the other direction. Only able to see her profile, Adam caught her cheeks rising, as she smiled at someone else. A beaming, full smile. The kind of smile you reserved for your most precious someone.

  From a distance Adam’s vampire ears heard a man’s voice say, “Sarah! There you are, babe. Sorry it took me so long to get here.”

  “It’s fine, baby,” she said, wrapping her free arm around his neck and giving him a quick peck on the lips. “Here, I got you a beer.”

  The two clasped hands and Adam became invisible. They strode to the other end of the bar. Adam dipped his eyes as they passed, not wanting to intrude on their moment.

  That look. That stolen glance, no matter that it was brief, no matter that it was cut short before it began. That look started it all for Adam.

  He was hooked. He was in love with Sarah.

  ◆◆◆

  Hidden in his perch high up in the old oak tree outside the admin building, Adam watched Sarah leave her office every night. “Watched” wasn’t exactly the right description. It was more like “waited with effervescent adolescent anticipation.” Sarah was the Molly Ringwald to his Judd Nelson. She was goodness and light and all things radiant to his darkness and loneliness and bitter, steely emptiness.

  Vampiric speed and early autumnal sunsets ensured that he would arrive undetected at his perch. The tall oak provided a suitable backdrop for his evening theater with its thick trunk offering a solid foundation. Its limbs soared above the rooftops and stretched toward the sky, and a large lateral branch about fifteen feet up made a perfect cradle for Adam to curl up on. He relaxed in the tree with his legs bent and feet steady on the rugged scaffold.

  Most of the staff left early, but Sarah always stayed late. This night was no exception. It was the last night before the campus emptied for winter break. Winter storms had already brought heavy snows and ice, and people were in a hurry to leave before it got worse. The night air was cold and heavy. Another storm was gathering out over Lake Michigan and heading east, fast. The lake was a good eighty miles away, but Adam had a special relationship with the weather and the storm didn’t concern him, yet. He trusted his feelers, and if they told him to go, he would go.

  A strong gust blew through, rattling the branches. He sat forward and searched the sky. I may have to cut this session short. The strength of the storm flowed through his body and he shook his head, disappointed that he might miss Sarah. All he needed was a glimpse. In that short amount of time, thirty-seven steps to reach the corner where she turned toward the parking lot, the story of her day would play out in Adam’s mind. On evenings when her smile reached her warm brown eyes, he would imagine he was the one that put it there. She’d run out of the building and into his awaiting arms and they would laugh. He would kiss her cheek, she would blush. He would whisper in her ear, and she would swat at him playfully. Then, they would head home. Where he would be forced to stay outside because he was a vampire and none of this could ever come true. So much for fantasies.

  Adam scratched his foot back and forth along the branch, wearing down the bark and wondering how much longer he could stay. Even though he could control the air around him, it was no fun being out in a violent storm. It sucked a lot of energy from him to keep the biting winds and blinding snow at bay. He hadn’t fed in a couple of weeks, and he didn’t dare jeopardize his current situation by needing to feed just as Sarah came into view. He squeezed his eyes shut and threw feelers out as far as he could. The storm was coming, but he still had time. He would wait. Sarah would be out soon.

  Adam had had crushes on humans in the past, but Sarah moved him. She stirred something inside him that he’d thought had been lost centuries before. She didn’t know, couldn’t have known, any of this, but Adam was in love and for a creature whose heart beat only when full of the blood of the living, this was significant. A vampire in love is quixotic, obsessive, impulsive. And indefatigable.

  Sarah never knew.

  But that stormy, fateful night, Adam saw it all happen. Maybe if he would’ve intervened earlier, things would’ve been different. But he’d made a pact with himself not to get involved—ever.

  Sarah left with her usual array of bags and books and papers. She trudged against the bi
ting wind and through the icy sludge. She lost her balance, her book-bag preventing her from righting herself. He watched as she fell backward, slamming onto the icy sidewalk, the back of her head bouncing with a meaty thwack before becoming immobile. Holding his breath, he willed her to get up. She needed to be okay without him. Several moments passed with Sarah lying still. On tenterhooks, he waited for her to show signs of life. When she tried to sit up, but passed out instead, he jumped down to take a closer look. I’m only going to look. A weaker pact had never been made.

  With preternatural speed, he ran to Sarah’s side. The ferrous tinge of blood filled the air, awakening his senses. “Dammit.” He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his lips tight. People get hurt, people die, it had never been his place, or his duty, to act. But now, with Sarah? Watching impassively as the blood flowed was not an option.

  He bent down to inspect the damage. Sarah lay unconscious, but her heart was beating, so he focused on finding the source of the bleeding. He couldn’t see clearly through the growing pool of blood, but something jutted out from her side. Blood dripped from it as if from a leaky tap, feeding the expanding pool.

  He looked around to see where the damaging object might have come from and spotted a broken window on the third floor. It must’ve happened during the last storm. Now that he knew where it had come from, he scanned the sidewalk. There were dozens of glass shards glinting in the light from the street lamps. Some of the pieces were large and stuck to the icy pavement, frozen upright like invisible jagged daggers. Why didn’t I see that before? As if Sarah’s accident was his fault. Not knowing what else to do, he paced.

  “Shit, Sarah,” he spat the words and ran his hands through his thick, short hair. There would be no do-overs if he intervened. He stopped, frozen in place. His nostrils flared, and his fangs instinctively dropped.

  The blood, still pouring from her wound, congealed on the pavement in the frigid night air. The wind whipped around him, and a chill ran down his spine, though it had nothing to do with the weather. Sarah lay still, her breathing shallow and ragged. She looked so peaceful lying there, but Adam knew better. He bent down and reached out to stroke her cheek, stopping himself before making contact with her skin. The air crackled around them both, and he sizzled with anticipation and confusion. She would need help, and soon, if she were to survive. He closed his eyes and sent his mental feelers out to sense if anyone with a pulse was nearby. Nothing came back. The only pulse was Sarah’s, and it was getting weaker.