Chapter 1
Tonight is our three-year anniversary. I cannot wait for my shift to be over, so we can go out and celebrate it.
Counting down the hours, until I can leave hopefully no one calls in sick for the night shift, I have made it clear I cannot work the night shift anymore, I want to spend as much time as I can with Alaric.
I just about bounced on my feet, only five more minutes left before the night manager gets in so I can leave. Smiling while serving a lovely elderly couple in checking in for a weekend away, knowing I can leave at any minute, wishing the happy couple to enjoy their stay with us and if they need anything please do not hesitate in asking.
“Ok, Cliodhna, I am here for my shift. You can go on that sexy date with your drop-dead handsome man, you lucky girl!” Laura is my nighttime manager at the W Melbourne while I’m the daytime one, she is in her thirties and is like a big sister to me.
I laughed; she is correct that my man could be on the cover of GQ. “I am lucky, aren’t I? Thank you, see you tomorrow morning, have a good night love!” I told her, “I know I’m married but wow it’s like he was made from the Gods, I cannot wait to see you guys having kids with your bright red hair and the pair of you that are good looking I can see it.” She gushed, placing her hand on the desk with a dreamy smile on her face, I just laughed at her antics.
“Not going to happen Laurea, we both do not want kids, night!” I called out to her putting my handbag on my shoulder, making my way towards the entry, “You will regret that one day love!” She called out at me, I just laughed, as there is no point in telling her that he cannot have kids.
Walking into the fresh Melbourne late afternoon air, I know he hates it when I use public transport but rather do that than drive in the CBD. It’s quicker for me to catch the train to his place than it is to drive. Putting my headphones in to listen to music while heading down the subway tunnels, it seems quiet for a Friday night, which is odd normally it’s busy at six o’clock.
Looking up and shit I am running late as my train just pulled in, cutting that one close, walking onto the train and finding a seat. A group of young men are at one end of the train cart, I paid them no attention which is best to do. My phone started buzzing in my hand.
Alaric: Hey babe, where are you?
His thick Viking accent washes over me, I smiled into the phone.
Cliodhna: Hi babe, I’m on my way over, why what’s wrong?
Alaric: Did you forget that I was picking you up tonight?
He asked, sounding upset a little, hard to say as his voice always hides it well.
Cliodhna: Oh Shit! I am so sorry, I have no idea how I had forgotten that, I’m on the train.
I told him in a panic can hear him letting out a sigh.
Alaric: What is the next stop?
Cliodhna: Parliament is the next stop.
Alaric: I will see you soon, love.
Fuck, how the hell did I forget that he was picking me up? Hold up no he never said anything that is not something I would forget, he must have wanted to surprise me and I got out too early or he was late.
The group of young men is getting louder, but I’m not worried about it either, as the train stopped at the stop I had just told Alaric, the doors opened and he walked in with a big smile on his face, I rushed into his arms. “Hello, my beautiful dear!” He said loudly, I could not help it. I started to blush when a man is extremely tall, very broad, well toned, with bright blue eyes the perfect features of his face calls you beautiful you blush. Normally his shoulder length blonde hair frames his face however he has it neatly tied back.
“Hi, Alaric!” I said joyfully, he smirked down at me, “How was work today?” He asked, “Busy but good, how was your day?” I asked as we sat back down, Alaric was touching any part of my body right now and I was enjoying him being this carefree, “I missed you, love.” He whispered.
Leaning up to him, kissing him softly before he grabbed my face in his hands, kissing me harder, the group of men moved closer, I noticed Alaric holding onto me tightly, “If you know what is good for you I would back off!” Alaric snapped loudly.
“You cannot tell us what to do, old man!” One of the young men who was wearing a branded cap said, “Oh, you must be a newbie to think I have no say over you.” Alaric snapped with venom in his voice, shit they are a group of vampires, “I’m not new! Just don’t care for people as old as you!” yelled the same young one that snapped, Alaric rolled his eyes at me, before he whispered for me to stay seated before he stood up walking closer to the group of men, I know enough to stay out of this.
I can feel the anger and power coming from him. “We are the only ones in this cart too.” Alaric snarled, “Are you all telling me you have no idea who I am?” Alaric asked shocked, “An old vamp like you? We are supposed to know who you are? Hahaha, what we don’t know is your one-hit wonder song?” Another young man spoke up around a fit of laughter, I could see Alaric was watching them all with rage building, he must be giving them the option to work out what they had done wrong first.
“If you don’t mind, we would like to finish off our dinner thanks.” The main one spoke up, oh crap he did not just say that? “Do you mean her?” Alaric asked, looking back at me and pointing to me, “Yes, have you gotten deaf in your old age?” The main one snapped.
“No, but how about I educate you in our ways, that clearly your maker has failed to do so!” Alaric snapped, “I most certainly did not!” The second guy snapped at Alaric like he thought he could win in a fight. “Oh, but you have if you don’t know who the fuck I am. Clearly, your maker has failed you all in our education. You do not steal another vampire’s human as they could be their partner. That is my girlfriend, not your next feed. Yes, I am old, most likely older than your makers put together. But also I am the King of Victoria Vampires, Alaric Ingouf. Oh, you have heard of my name I see.” He said with a sneer on his face, I would be scared too if I was on the receiving end of that look. They took a few steps back from him in fear, oh they have heard of his name, I smirked.
“What you have just done is broken a few of our key rules.” Alaric said so calmly, “What? We are so sorry we didn’t know who you are!” The first guy spoke up, “Oh, it’s too late for that now children. You know I had an accent and still continued on with the treatment with no care in the world. You’re only sorry once you knew who I was. Along with threatening to feed off my girl. She is mine!” He snapped, he moved way too fast for me to pick up on what was going on.
By the time he sat next to me all the men were on the ground. I held onto his hand, he smiled at me. “I’m sorry, I hate that you had to see that side of me.” He said softly while caressing my face with love in his eyes, “Alaric, it’s ok.” I told him, “Are you still keen on celebrating?” He softly asked me, I smiled up at him.
“Yes, I want to celebrate reaching this milestone with you babe. But I do understand if you do not want to.” I said softly, “How about we go home and wash the day off and see where that leads us?” He asked, “Ok, but don’t you have work tonight?” I softly asked, “Took the night off babe.”
He stood up laughing with his hand out, walking us out of the train and heading to his apartment. I don’t know why I keep calling it his apartment as I live with him too. I had bought myself an apartment four months before I had started officially dating him, which I had rented out when I moved in with him. I thoroughly like that he enjoys holding my hand in public, a lot of my ex-boyfriends never wanted to do this. Can never get used to the size of this building and the overtop of it, as we arrived at one of the tallest apartment buildings in the CBD. “After you my dear.”
