Death Times Two(6)

I stand to the side, allowing her to open the door with her card. A low whistle issues from her pink lips. Such soft-looking pink lips.
Don’t go there, man. You know it will only end badly.
“This place is really high end.” She steps in and gazes around at the dark wood and heavy fabrics done in shades of gold. Her attention is drawn to the windows. “Why are there metal shutters?”
“Do you understand what this place is?”
“It’s an elaborate—and remote—resort for the wealthy, right? There’s a bunch of places like this scattered all over the state.”
“Um… Well, not exactly. We cater to a very specific clientele.”
A smile lights up her face, transforming her from attractive to down-right hot. “OooOoo… that sounds mysterious. Do you need the shutters to make sure they don’t escape?” That cute snort is back. “You know those things are a fire hazard?”
Momentarily taken off-guard by the impulse to kiss her, I stutter my response. “Er…uh…” I point inanely to the ceiling. “There’s a sprinkler system and shit.”
“‘And shit?’ How old are you? Twenty?”
I stand straighter and try to look menacing. “Almost twenty-seven.” I wisely don’t add that I look younger due to my condition. “Served five terms in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“I can tell.” She smiles again, this one softer with a hint of kindness I haven’t seen in years. “You’ve got ‘bad-ass’ written all over you.” Lisa tilts her head toward the windows. “Still doesn’t explain the severe storm-ready decor. Especially when it’s gorgeous outside.” She moves toward the shutters and pulls back a drape. “Can I open them?”
Reacting on instinct, I dart forward to grab her wrist as she reaches for the control knob. “No! I can’t be in the sun.”
She looks down at my wrist, a pointed look on her face. “You’re quick. But do you mind? I didn’t invite the touching.”
I drop her hand as if scalded. A muttered “sorry” escapes me before I retreat to the door. What the hell was I thinking? She must think I’m a total nut job.
Rubbing a hand over my shaved head, I’m unsure of what to do or say. I’ve got to tell her what I am so she understands about the sun. She’s a supernatural, too. She must know about all this stuff already, right? “Look… I’m like you. Different than normal humans.”
“Whoa!” Her attention is drawn to an empty corner. “Sorry, I didn’t notice you there.”
“Are you talking to me?” I ask.
Lisa waves a hand at me to be quiet. Frustration bubbles inside as I watch.
 “Was this your room?” She’s silent for a few seconds. “Well, you know you’re dead, right?”
“Or undead.” I interject. “Depends on how you look at it.”
“What?” Lisa turns back to me. “Did you just say ‘undead’?” Her head whips back to the corner. “Excuse me?”
“You see, I’m a vam—”
“You’re joking. They’re real?” Lisa says in the direction of the armchair. “And what about you?” She gasps. “Oh, no. He did not!”
“Lisa,” I call her name, hoping to get her attention. Turning her head, she looks at me, wariness in her beautiful blue eyes.
She opens her mouth to speak exactly as I do. “Do you know someone named Joanna?”
“I’m a vampire.”






 
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Chapter Three
Lisa

I wasn’t sure I heard what I think I heard. My gaze bounces between the female ghost named Joanna and Asa. “Did you just say ‘vampire’?”
They both nod.
“Yeah,” Asa says. “I thought you knew.”
The ghost continues her rant, drawing my attention again. “We were one big happy family.” She paces along the wall. “Vivian’s puppets.”
I don’t know who Vivian is and at the moment it doesn’t seem important. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the whole vampire thing. “Let me get this straight, you both are vampires?”
Asa answers. “Yes, but you don’t have to be afraid of me.”
“Like—” I look at him. “Dracula vampire? As in drink blood, turn into bats, sleep in coffins type of vampires?”
His brow furrows. “I don’t turn into a bat or sleep in a coffin. But yeah, the blood thing is true.”