The Taste of Revenge

I woke up in sweats. The party had begun to wind down. Two or three couples danced to sultry music. In the corner of the living room, people kissed and touched each other. I wasn’t with anyone that night, but that was the least of my problems.

It was 1 AM, and in a few hours, I’d face the fellow seniors of my company. Meeting at 9 AM sharp to discuss our leader’s disappearance. I might have to uncover some secrets he had hidden from our team.

MARK HUNTER was the founder-CEO of Zephyr Life Systems, a biotech company in New York. He was also my former husband. We both worked for the company for so long. He led the company, while I, as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), oversaw the financial part of the company. Mark had also granted me the “Honorary Founder” title for my work, making me a part of the Founder Council, which included Mark and the other founder, Diana Maverick.

Zephyr prided itself on creating revolutionary products that worked across different species; in this case, humans and vampires. The "sunblocker," for example, protects both human and vampire skin from sunburn. Yes, vampires can get sunburn too. No, we’re not burning to ash when we touch the sunlight. The latter was a myth created by lazy storytellers.

My favorite product would be the “hunger-blocker”—a pill that suppressed one’s hunger while giving you all the nutrients you need from a day’s meals. Busy humans and vampires used this product so they could skip a meal without worrying they’d get sick. And since it was nutritious, it would prevent you from snacking on unhealthy food or empty calories.

What’s unique about Zephyr is that it was not only a company but also a Tribe. It might have been the first company-tribe in the vampire world, and now, it’s among the biggest and the most affluent. All thanks to our quality products and marketing team.

Mark was a visionary founder. I had been lucky knowing him. He told me that we met at Tom’s bar and that I had been Tom’s friend for the longest time. Mark had also been a friend to Tom's, and one day, we met, and the rest was history.

I wished I could remember how it played out back then, but too bad I didn’t have any past recollection of this particular incident or others. The doctor told me I had a temporary amnesia from a factory accident that happened some time ago. Mark said I was trapped in the factory with some workers and couldn’t make it out of the exit as the smoke spread across the facility.

Funnily enough, those workers had regained their memories. While my mind was still as blank as it used to. Sometimes I felt like there was a blurry flashback, but a few days later, it was gone. It was frustrating because I felt like I didn’t know where I started. I didn’t know what my life was like when I was a human.

I know Mark was the one who Turned me, but he always gave me a vague answer when I asked him to explain the situation that led to the Turning. He only said it was a bad event and that I wouldn’t want to remember it—well, I did.

And that’s not the only unanswered question I had that made living with him difficult. I used to love him, but with so many secret memories about myself he refused to share with me, I just thought it was cruel and unfair.

There had been too many arguments, which broke my heart as it did his. We had visited a marriage therapist too, and it didn’t work. Finally, I decided to pull the plug on our marriage. Mark was shocked, but I was just tired fighting. He was a good man and he didn’t need this much stress. I too deserved peace, and if he refused to share with me my past memories, I’d try to find it myself. I didn’t know how, but one day, I knew I’d remember everything again.

A week after submitting divorce papers, I invited Mark to talk over a coffee. He apologized for whatever he had said in anger. I did the same. He shed some tears, but I was convinced I’d made the right decision. He promised to make the divorce process fast so I could soon move on with my life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t up to him. The Vampire Justice Office of New York handled our divorce filing, and they were known to be very conservative about this matter.

Months later, Mark dated his new secretary, Melinda. Melinda Frost. She had red hair, just like me—except hers was short and curly. A tiny mole sat on her left chin. She smiled with a deep dimple in her right cheek.

My office was on a different floor, so I had never met her until Mark formally introduced her to me as his secretary and fiancée. I was a tad bit surprised, not because I hadn’t expected Mark to move on—I did want him to move on—but because Melinda was a human.

I know, right? Why would he hire a human in a vampire’s company-tribe? That sounded risky and culturally inappropriate. But I didn’t say that out loud because I didn’t want him to think I was jealous. Both he and I were senior vampires, and I know our fellow seniors had been talking behind his back.

Later I learned that Mark, a biochemist and herbalist himself, created a substance she could use to mask her human scent. I didn’t know all ingredients, but I was familiar with his musk. I mean, using his own musk sounded a bit too intimate, but what did I know about advanced biochemistry? Maybe there was some use of armpit drip mentioned in some journals somewhere.

Melinda herself came across as sweet and gentle. I guess Mark really deserved some peace of mind after his turbulent marriage with me. I was glad he found her. But still…

“A human, Mark?!” I said that half-heartedly. “Diana could have introduced you to some pretty vampire. You’re putting her life at risk. Who knows some rival Tribe…”

“She’ll be fine,” he said confidently. “She lives with me in my apartment now, just in case.”

Ookay…. So, they’re serious, serious.

“Are you planning to Turn her?” I asked, a little suspicious.

Mark shook his head and looked at me as if I had just muttered something unbelievably dumb.

“Mel doesn’t want to be like us.” Mark tiptoed to the door and closed it. When he returned, he dragged me to a sofa. “Ruby, I want you to do me a favor.” He kissed my hand. “A big one.”

Mark Hunter rarely needed help. I had a bad feeling about this.

“I don’t know, Mark.” I pulled my hand back. “There’s a limit to what I can do.”

“That’s good enough.” He picked a wine bottle from a hidden rack behind the wall, then poured it into a glass. He slid it in front of me before pouring one for himself. “Remember those days you missed being a human?”

“No?!” I looked at him, wondering if he also had lost his memory as well. Mark had always said a long life was a gift he would make a good use of. “Why are you talking strange?! I never said that, Mark! I guess your idealism rubbed off on me.”

“Oh, come on! this was the reason we fought and got—”

“I was only curious about my faulty memories! I never said I missed being a human.”

Mark raised both hands, defeated.

“Maybe you’re right.” He stopped to sip his drink, shifting his attention away from me. It made me feel guilty for raising my voice. He stared at the ceiling, then said, “It’s been haunting my mind lately.”

I took a deep breath, then sat next to him.

“I’m sorry for shouting. I was just a little confused,” I said. “This isn’t like you.”

“I want to be a human again, Ruby.”

The whole world went silent for a moment. Time froze as I tried to replay what he said in my mind. He couldn’t have really meant that, could he? No, no, no…

“I know I used to say a long life is a gift, but I’ve been thinking about having a kid… a family. This corporate life has become boring for a while.”

Mark once said being a vampire gave one a chance to reach their highest potential. Vampires had a longer time to continuously improve themselves, to learn new things, and to make more mistakes and more amends. A vampire could “waste” time for a century or two, then work hard to prosper. That’s how many vampires had turned rich and wealthy.

“I’d like you to take over my leadership position,” he continued. “I’ll sell my ownership to you and start a new life with Melinda. I’ll resign from both the company and the Tribe leadership. You’re going to be a great Tribe Leader, Ruby. And you’ll make a wonderful CEO too.”

The Mark I knew would never do irresponsible things, such as leaving his Tribe and marrying a mortal. I wondered if falling in love was the sole reason for his decision or if Melinda had coaxed him into thinking about this.

“I’m happy you’ve found someone you think is worthy of this much sacrifice, but please—”

“I’ve been considering this for a while now,” he said. “I’ve created a human serum that could Turn me into a human. The effect is irreversible, but I’m ready to take the risk. I’m tired of being a vampire. Whatever I wanted to achieve, I have achieved. I want to rest and grow old. I want to have a family.”

Vampires couldn’t breed like humans. So, his decision to have a family aligned with his attempt to create, wait… what?

“A human serum?” I asked in disbelief. “Did you really make that?”

A single nod was what he gave me.

“Unbelievable! Did anyone know about this?” I asked again. “Mark! Tell me this serum was just a concept. You haven’t actually—”

“I have, and theoretically, it’s working.”

“Theoretically?” I stared at him. I couldn’t believe he would be this reckless. “Meaning you haven’t tested it? Meaning there’s a risk.”

“I don’t want to test it on anyone,” he replied sharply. “I’d be the first test subject. If it didn’t work, I would just adjust the formula. It wouldn’t kill me, if that’s what you worry about.”

My head throbbed with scary thoughts. A single tear fell from my eye. It was too late for me to catch it. Mark leaned forward and wiped it.

“Why are you crying?” he said gently. “I’m sorry if I sounded angry.”

“It’s not that,” I replied. “I’m just worried about you. Turning into a human will attract those hidden enemies you told me about.”

“Almost all supernatural beings that have lived for centuries have enemies.” Mark said as he hugged me. “But those enemies are rarely interested in humans, whom they’ve never seen as a threat.” Mark tried to light up the situation with a joke. “Fighting me would be a waste of calories.”

“Mark! That’s not funny!”

“Well, I tried.” Mark patted my shoulder and drank the rest of his wine. “After I formally resign, we’re going to move to California. We will set up our wedding there too.” He looked at me guiltily. “I’m sorry that I may not invite anyone from Zephyr. Mel wants this wedding to be intimate. I’d just invite some old friends from California, and she’d invite her parents and a few relatives.”

“It’s alright,” I replied.

I quickly gulped down my drink and left his office. Walking down the hallway, my eyes felt heavy with tears. I punched the elevator button and stepped in. Once the door closed, my tears streamed down uncontrollably. I didn’t know why I was crying.

****

A wild chuckle from a nearby couple pulled me back to the present. I wiped my sticky cheeks—it turned out I had cried for real. I pushed myself to stand and walked toward the door. I really had to go home before I got another bout of emotional crisis.

****