Roman (The Clutch 1)

“I don’t think so. My dad would kill me himself if he knew that I had lunch with a vampire in the first place. Anyway, he’s tried calling me a few times, and I haven’t taken his calls.”

“Well, why the hell not?”

“Because I can’t help him, and that’s all he wants anyway.” My jaw drops at her words.

Fuck. No. That’s not all I want! I want to run over there and tell her that’s not my only desire, but I know I can’t give up my hiding spot. She’d probably be super pissed that I was stalking her on a regular basis, to begin with.

“What even makes you think that? From what you have said and hinted at, I think there’s more to this little thing than you realize.”

Yes! Listen to your friend, Fiona! She knows what she’s talking about.

“Well, ultimately, I can’t help him. I’m not going to call him back. It’s nothing but asking for trouble. Even if he does seem like a great guy.”

“I think you’re cutting your nose off to spite your face. Frankly, you should give this a bit of a chance. It wouldn’t kill you, pardon the pun, to get out with someone besides clients and me and Leslie. You haven’t dated in forever, and I think - no, I know - you’re missing out.”

I like this Lana. I need to send her some flowers or something. She’s a good friend, and smart. Fiona doesn’t reply, and it looks like that is the end of the conversation for now. I decide to follow them around some more. It’s time to step up my courtship game, high society style. While I’m mildly offended that Fiona thinks all I want is her dad’s signature on my papers, I can also see why she might think that. I thought we had more of a connection at lunch though, and I’m hoping that what I’ve got planned now will, at the very least, show her that I’m a man of action.

I trail the ladies to the next store, observing their activities and purchases. Finding out what Fiona likes, what she doesn’t like, what she wants, but thinks is too expensive or what she’s not sure about. When they leave the first store, a jewelry store, I approach the young man at the counter and ask what the ladies were looking at.

“The ladies who just left?” He looks at me, confused.

“Yes. Well actually, just the blonde. With the stunning blue eyes.”

He smiles at me and nods his head, waving me over to a display. He pulls out a tray with platinum necklaces on it.

“She was looking at this one.” He points to a dainty chain from which a tiny Egyptian ankh dangles. He smirks as it hits me. He already knew.

“You’re sure, this is the one she was looking at?” I stare at the tiny symbol, recalling history.

“I’m sure, sir.” He has realized that the significance has dawned on me.

“I’l

l take it.”

“Right away, sir.” He walks off to wrap up my purchase.

The Egyptian ankh, also known as the key of life, has long been a vampiric symbol. It originated as a cross with a handle, or crux anksata in Latin. Its meaning is eternal life. The progeny of vampires are dated back as far as time from ancient Greece. However, the ankh was a symbol found in hieroglyphics representing our culture in ancient Egypt. That is not a well known, or common fact. She’s been doing her research.

I take my purchase, and follow the ladies from store to store, making purchases that demonstrate my attention to detail, and how I desire for her to have the things that she wants. But this necklace, it is special. And she will have it.

10

Fiona

“So what are your plans for the rest of the day?” I ask Lana in between bites of my Cobb salad. We’ve spent the day shopping and dodging Leslie. It’s not that I wanted to spend the day without her, it’s that I wanted to spend the day without her and Lana arguing. From the moment I met up with Lana, it’s been my intention to ask her more about her vampire boyfriend, but I have yet to broach the subject.

I don’t want to look like I’m eager for information, but I want to be well-educated. It’s not that I’m interested in Roman because I’m not. I’m curious about… well, all of it. Vampires are stronger than humans are, so how does that work when it comes to sex? And what about eating? If you’re having sex with one, does that give them permission to bite you?

“Fiona?”

“FIONA!”

“What? I’m sorry,” I say as I shake my head. My fork falls from my hand, and I try to catch it before it crashes into my bowl, but end up batting it toward Lana instead. “Sorry,” I mutter, reaching across the table to pick up my utensil. Ever since I met Roman, I’ve done nothing but think about sex, and sex with him. This isn’t normal for me, and he’s to blame. He has me under some vampire spell or something, which I’d like to point out, is against the law.

Would Roman stoop so low as to compel me to do his bidding? Is that how compulsion works? It’s the only explanation as to why I can’t get him off my mind. Unfortunately, it’s working on me, but he’d have to do this to my father as well and considering how my dad feels, he’d probably try to drive a stake through Roman’s heart.

“What is going on?” Lana reaches across the table and holds my hand. “You’ve been… off all day. Did you and Shan hook up or something? Are you pregnant?”