Free Bite Me by Elaine Markowicz Page A

reopen them. I wanted more of his elixir. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I moved away, tossing the covers aside.
        "You know, I think I'll take a hot shower. It will make me feel better."
        "Okay." He turned on the television as I gathered my pajamas and headed for the bathroom.
     
         I felt refreshed and revitalized after my shower. I still involuntarily gagged when I thought about what I did but I wasn't going to let it get the better of me.
        Aiden, still in the bed, watching television, turned when he heard me come out of the bathroom. "Feeling better?"
        I nodded. "Much. In fact, I'm famished. Feel like a pizza?"
       His eyebrows arched. "Really?" he laughed.
       "Sausage and onions?" I asked.
       He waved a dismissive hand, "Sounds good to me."
       I picked up my cell and dialed the number to order. When I finished, I put down the cell on the lamp table and crawled into bed beside Aiden. The blood on his scratches had dried completely and now I was only intoxicated by his cologne.
        The news was on.
        "You know, I'm sorry we couldn't catch that guy Weston or find your friend's body."
        I inwardly grinned. I knew Weston was now ashes on the wind. I was, still, upset about Donnie. "You did what you could." I said.
        "We haven't given up though."
        "I know."
        He silently watched the news for a moment before saying, "You know, since that guy Weston skipped town, there haven't been any more murdered prostitutes. I'm wondering if he wasn't behind them. But then, killing Donnie; a male, just throws off the M.O." he was speculating out loud. "It just eats me up that he thinks he's getting away with it."
        "It'll all catch up to him." I stated.
        "How's Jack holding up?"
        "The whole thing has affected him badly but he's pushing on with managing the bar."
        "It's good he's keeping busy."
        I nodded and took the remote from his hand, changing the channel. I no longer wanted to talk about death or Weston, or vampires. I found a Star Trek movie and we settled into it while we waited for the pizza.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
     
         In the club Donnie managed, a memoriam was set up at the end of the long bar: An eleven inch by thirteen inch photo was erected on the column with candles set around it. People who came to look at it would get misty eye. Donnie was a beloved character at Tasmania. I lit a candle and walked over to where Jack was serving a customer. He automatically poured me a pint.
         As I picked up the glass, I leaned across the bar and said, "When you get the time, come to my table. I have something to tell you."
         He bobbed his head, returned to his customers and I strolled through the pressing crowd to my usual table. I removed my shoulder bag and coat and hung it on the back of the chair. Placing my laptop on the table I sat down and turned it on. I dedicated a blog session to Donnie and queried of my readers if they thought vampires might not be monsters after all. Most claimed that vampires drank blood to survive and perpetuate their species by turning us humans. It was little known that there were few blue blooded vampires in existence; most were transformed but no one knew where the vampire began for sure.
         "So, what's up?" Jack asked as he sat at my table.
         I finished what I was typing and glanced up. He looked so forlorn. I hadn't realized just how deeply Jack had fallen for Donnie. "Weston has been taken care of."
         He furrowed his brow. "Taken care of?"
         "He's dead."
         "Aiden found him? Did they shoot him down in a struggle?"
         "Aiden had nothing to do with it."
         "Then, how do you know that he's dead?"
         "I have my sources. Just suffice it to say, Donnie's death has been avenged."
         "But still no sign of Donnie's body." He lamented.
         "No. We may have to accept the fact we never will. Especially