Emergence: A Story of Romance, Peril, and Vampires

New York City, 2017 “I can’t believe you’re really leaving,” Pricilla pouted as she leaned against the doorframe. “I’ll be back in time for Thanksgiving dinner,” Edwin said as he closed the zipper on his travel bag. “What am I supposed to do for the week you’re gone?” she whined.“Maybe you can take advantage of the time without me to reconnect with some of your friends? I ran into Sally a few days ago and she was complaining that you two never get together anymore.  She blamed me for it.” He strode to her and cupped her chin in his hand. “I’ve never tried to keep you from your friends, my love.  I don’t like it that they think I do.”“I’m happy with it being just us.  They seem so immature lately,” she said with a scowl.  “Their conversation is mundane and frivolous. We’ve just

Tim and Mark finished breakfast and were on their third cup of coffee by the time Edwin crawled out of bed to join them at the harvest style dining table that was positioned on the side of the great room near the kitchen.“I was beginning to wonder if you were alright,” Mark said as he slid a mug of black coffee in front of Edwin.“What time is it?” Edwin asked as he propped his elbow on the table and rested his forehead in the palm of his hand.  “I have a killer headache.”“From that fall, no doubt,” Tim said as he slid a bottle of Ibuprophen next to the creamer and sugar bowl that were less than an arm’s reach from Edwin.“I prefer Tylenol,” Edwin said as he grabbed the bottle of Ibuprophen and uncapped it.“That’s not just a pain reliever. It’s also a muscle relaxer.  You need both,” Tim explained.“We weren’t planning on huntin

The men rushed out of the cabin with the intention of driving the SUV to where the strange woman claimed she buried the poor girl.  Tim’s hand was on the door handle when she beckoned him back to the center of the snow-laden driveway.“Hold hands,” she said briskly as she positioned them into a circle of which she stood in the center.It took her forcefully barking the order a few more times before they stopped giving bewildered looks and grabbed each other’s hands.  Almost immediately, the world swirled around them until they could see nothing but particles of snow twirling past their heads at breakneck speed.  When it stopped, and their vision cleared, they found themselves deep in the woods on what they guessed was a logging road.Mark struggled to keep a steady stance on legs that felt like jelly while he did his best to prevent his stomach from purging its contents. “Did we just teleport?” Edwi

“Oh, good,” Agatha said as she watched Tim approach.  “We were just coming to ye.  It has been decided that we will go to Edwin’s family cabin on the Canadian border.”“Right now?” Tim asked with surprise.“Aye,” Agatha replied.  “We must make haste.”“I don’t know about…,” Tim began before Edwin interrupted him.“You can hunt just as easily in New Hampshire,” Edwin said.“That cabin gives me the creeps,” Tim admitted.“It’s not creepy, it’s rustic,” Edwin said playfully.“When was the last time you were there, brave ass?” Tim grumbled.“It’s been a while, but it’s fine,” Edwin assured him.“I don’t have a hunting license for New Hampshire,” Tim pouted.  “None of us do.”“We must leave,&

Thanks to Mark’s stubbornness and generosity, the cabin was provided with enough modern amenities to make it quite cozy.  He purchased a gas powered generator for electricity and a portable gas grill for cooking that had two burners on the side; making it possible to cook a complete meal on it.  A dorm size refrigerator was also purchased to hold the necessities such as eggs and butter. Although both Kira and Agatha studied these items in wonderous awe, the table lamps he’d purchased caused the greatest curiosity. He questioned if the light bulbs would burn out before they ceased turning the lamps on and off.Tim concerned himself with the sleeping arrangements; purchasing several air mattresses and down filled sleeping bags.Edwin concentrated on making sure that they had the proper cooking and eating utensils, since his family had always taken them there and carted them away when they left.  He also picked up a few heavy quilts for good mea