A vampire's Choice
Chapter 13

The first sign of something strange was when Rebecca had seen his true form and not been afraid. Roger's hair had been a mess, torn clothes covered in dirt and blood plastered on his body. A monster's fangs were protruding from his lips and eyes as dark as night staring at her. What follows was a love-hate relationship, and he did not want to think about it now. Instead, he returned to reality, to the real woman before him.

One thing he just can't shake is the way they met. It cannot be a coincidence that Lisa and Rebecca look alike or that he met them both by saving them. Once could be fate, but twice seemed like a trap.

Shifting around under the covers, Roger continued watching her sleep as he formulated a plan. Lisa would not leave until he had answers to the burning questions. She might hate him for it, but he will do what is necessary to ensure what happens before never happens again. Reaching into his pocket, Roger retrieved his phone, typing a quick message to his PI. It was needed to blend into the modern world, especially when you want to purchase items: and a fake ID helps with that. Pressing send, he popped the phone back in his pocket: step one complete. Next, he had to ask around about the dream he had. Why was Rebecca visiting him now, of all the times and years he has had after her? It had to be connected with him meeting Lisa, no other reason. Some would call him insane for thinking that, but he has seen some stuff in this world, especially recent events, and so questioning everything had become the norm.

With a final glance at her sleeping body, Roger turned to leave. Exiting and closing the door, a wave of cold washed over him. Every time he was around her, a new warmth hugged his body, and every time he touched her, the heat in his groin awakened. The last time this happened was when Rebecca was alive, only now it was stronger.

Making his way back to his office, Roger dropped in his chair, turning so he could watch the flames. In the back of his mind, a small part feared the fire, but he still loved to glance upon it.

A peep of his phone alerted him to a response, and pulling it out, he read the message his PI send him. It was a confirmation of his request for a background check on the woman in one of his rooms. The more he knew, the better chance he had of stopping whatever was coming. Exiting the message, another name popped up, one he had not spoken to in a long time.

Vanessa was one of his close friends and ally. She had saved him when the Rebecca story had gotten deadly, the one to give him back his humanity: or at least a part of it. Vanessa used to be a witch and alive almost as long as he was. But recent events had made her a werewolf and mate to the Beta, Mark. He was finally happy for her, but he did miss the old her. The one not programmed to hate him. Inspiration struck when Roger tackled the second problem right now. Seeing as the connection to Lisa was supernatural, using a human would not work, but maybe a former witch. Pressing the call button, Roger lifted the phone to his ear and waited for the ringing to end and her warm voice to follow.

"Well, well, well. Isn't it mister no show. How dare you call me after what you did?" Vanessa sounded mad as she answered his call.

Roger ran his hands through his hair as he thought of a quick excuse, "I am sorry that I did not show up for the big day, but you know why. Wolves would not be keen to have a vampire on their property, especially at the sacred event."

"Wedding,” Vanessa corrected him. "It is called a wedding. And I do not give a rat's ass what they think. You risked your life for us, and that alone makes you family."

Shaking his head, Roger replied, "Okay, okay. I really am sorry. I will make sure to be there next time."

"You better." Vanessa chuckled. "What is up? Why are you calling so late?"

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he explained, "Recently, I came across a human girl, and let's just say she looks a lot like she who must not be named."

A loud gasp sounded on the other side of the line. “You mean Rebecca, the bitch."

Now Roger chuckled. “Yes, her."

"It is rare, but it does happen that people are born looking like previous people."

"I know, but what would you say when I tell you that there is a connection."

Silence followed for a moment before she replied. “What type of connection?"

Turning the chair away from the fire, Roger glanced towards the bookshelves, his eyes zoning in on the one that held the only physical evidence of his previous love.

"I think she is my mate."

The ray of sunshine crossing her face forced Lisa to wake up. The warmth it brought, coupled with the bed, felt like heaven, and she never wanted to leave. Snuggling deeper into the mattress, Lisa enjoyed a few moments of silence. Nothing bad can happen here, and the trauma from before left her, if only for a few needed seconds. Rubbing her face on the blanket, the tears from the night before that had dried up disappeared, making her feel fresh. It was a new day, one she would use to her advantage. Her future was a mess, so a plan had to be made. The shop she had built from scratch, which was her dream, was now gone. Going back there would bring too much heartache and too many questions. No, she had to leave that behind her and look forward. But how does one do that when you just learned about vampires and other creatures? They were meant to stay in the books where they belonged, not in one of the rooms in the mansion she was in. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the rays peeking past the curtain splashed on her. It felt amazing, so Lisa pushed the blanket past her chin, closing her eyes as she basked in the heat. Instantly, his image appeared before her: Roger. The vampire that had saved her twice now and the one she seemed attracted to. In all her years, she has never felt like this about anyone, only him. Some would call her a prude for not sleeping with them, but none had lit a fire between her legs. Yes, she might be a virgin, but it was a choice. Not religious, since she did not believe in that, but rather about connection. Growing up in foster care isolated oneself, and by the time you leave, you do not know how to build a relationship. So, when Sam had walked into the picture, an instant bond had formed. She had been there initially, helping out as much as she could, supporting her emotionally and physically. Thinking of her dead friend brought fresh tears to her eyes, but Lisa decided it was enough. Sam was a fighter and would not want her to cry. No, Sam would want her to get up and fight back, just like she had in her last moments on earth.

With a new strength in her, Lisa pushed the blanket away, pulling her legs from under the warmth. Luckily, the room was also mild, so when she stood up, Lisa moved towards the curtains—grasping both sides and pulling them open. A stronger light than the sliver burst on her vision, forcing her to close her eyes. The sun penetrated her lids, making her see more than darkness, and helped her get accustomed. As her eyes adjusted, she slowly peeked past her lids, her eyes growing wide as the scene before her came into vision. Endless mountains filled the window, trees sprawled everywhere, making it seem like an ocean of green. Not a cloud was insight as Lisa admired the vast reaches of nature. Growing up in the city, one would get used to tall buildings and uninterrupted sounds, but it was quiet, a wanted silence out there. Basking in the warmth of the sun through the glass, Lisa placed her palms against the window, resting her forehead against the warm panel as she admired the view. A place like this was sought after worldwide and must cost a small fortune, making her wonder how a vampire makes money? She knew nothing about him or his species. With fierce determination and a plan set for today, Lisa straightened up. Giving a silent promise to come back to this window with a chair and a good book, she twirled around and glanced upon the room. Everything seemed the same since the last time she was here; only the layer of dust from before was gone. Making her wonder if they had prepared the room for her return or someone else's.

Relieving her demanding needs in the bathroom, Lisa washed her hands while studying herself in the mirror. Considering all that had happened, she looked better than ever before. The dull skin from before seemed to glow, her pink lips darker now and her eyes. O, her eyes were the most significant change. People had complimented her on the two colors all her life, a trait that made her stand out when she did not want to, but whenever she looked at them, they seemed dead. It was like life was missing from them, dull, but now they sparkled. They actually sparked. Leaning in close, she pulled down the bottom skin, making sure they were hers. Unfortunately, they were, but it was still strange—another question she had to add to the growing list for Roger.

Entering the bedroom again, Lisa noticed the made-up bed. Pretty sure it was a mess before, she hurriedly searched the room for an intruder but was alone. With a puzzled look, she turned around, also noticing a tray on the table. It was placed next to the flowers with a silver cover and note on top. With warry eyes still searching the room, she approached the tray, picking the message up first.

Please ring the bell when you are ready.

It seemed vague, but she rolled with it. Lifted the lid, an aromatic scent ambushed her nose and made her stomach rumble. A variety of treats spread out from eggs and bacon, fresh fruit, and croissants. With a watery mouth and an empty stomach, Lisa began to devour the feast, leaving no time to enjoy the delicious flavors. The tray was half empty when her stomach complained of being full, and she regrettably stopped eating. The bed seemed inviting as she rubbed her belly, a nap perfect for when you are this full. But a sudden knock halted her plans. Quickly replacing the lid on the uneaten items, Lisa walked towards the door as she straightened her clothes and brushed her unruly hair with her fingers. Satisfied that she was sort of presentable, Lisa opened the door and smiled brightly at Micheal.

"You seem well-rested," Micheal said as his smile grew following hers. She was indeed a ray of sunshine in this darkened house.

"I am, thank you. Having a bed as luxurious as this one does help.” Stepping aside to allow Micheal to enter, Lisa watched him stop by the table. Then, closing the door, she followed him.

"And you enjoyed the food!" it was more of a statement than a question and made her wonder how he knew since the lid hid the evidence.

"Yes, I most certainly did. Compliments to the chef."

Micheal turned towards her, " I will inform him, but truth be told, he is just ecstatic about cooking for someone other than the staff."

The reminder of the non-food eating resident dropped the smile she had and filled the room with tension. "Speaking of, is it possible to meet with him?"

Micheal scanned her up and down. “That is why I am here, but I think you should put on other clothes."

Lisa blushed. "You are right, but remember I do not have anything with me. I found this in the bathroom last night." pointing at her body.

Micheal chuckled. "I assume you did not explore the room last night.” Turning around, he walked over to the closet, opening the door. "This is for you."

Lisa's mouth dropped open. "But how?"

Micheal just smiled as he walked towards the door, opening it before twisting his head to look at her. "That you have to ask him." Turning back, he closed the door, leaving her alone.

Lisa was shocked and angered. This just added another question, so she moved to grab an outfit and make her way to get it.

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