Chapter Two

The days that followed were both interesting and uncomfortable for me.   I had no idea that the moon affected vampires. Folklore never told of such things.  I thought it was only the werewolves who were influenced by it. I was full of questions about what Cindy was experiencing, but got nothing but scathing looks from wicked Amelia whenever I had the audacity to ask her a question.  I found myself waiting until Kenton came to ask them.

I learned that the full moon enhanced everything there was about a vampire.  If they were aggressive, they became more so.  If they were in love, it grew more intense.  Even if they weren’t in love, their sexual needs were intensified to the degree that many found it difficult to have them satiated. It wasn’t just their emotions and sexual desires that intensified.  Their hearing got more acute and their speed increased; as did their strength. This fact made them better able to deal with the threat of the werewolf who, when the moon was full, was at its strongest and, often, most savage state.

Unfortunately, the full moon also increased the vampire’s driving need for blood.   This was what was happening to Cindy and why Amelia was there to act as her tutor.  Over time, Cindy would be able to manage and control all of the effects from the moon, but, until then, she needed to be monitored.  It was the same with all new vampires.

I was given fair warning by both Amelia and Kenton to steer clear of Cindy until at least five days after the full moon or risk her draining me of my blood. Bestie or not, as a newbie vampire, it was an instinct in her that she wouldn’t be able to control.  The threat was its strongest on the night of the full moon, but it would begin to increase on the fifth day before the moon and not fade completely until the fifth day after the full moon.  The only bright bit of information I learned was that the first full moon was the worst.  With proper guidance, most vampires were able to keep the effects at bay by the second full moon.  This meant that, if I survived, I should be safe  after Cindy had completed her first full moon experience.  Since we were already a few days into this time frame, I was a third of the way there.

One of the hardest things for me to accept, understand, or deal with was the hold that the Association had on Kenton.  When the Association discovered that he’d been staying at my house – thanks to the beautiful and bitchy Amelia-  he was ordered back to his own estate to resume his normal routine. 

He visited me daily, but he no longer shared my bed at night.  We were occasionally able to steal away to the stables or sneak out into the tall grass in the field for a few private moments and a quick -and often deflating- session of love making, but after long nights of sharing and entwining our naked bodies, the quick rutting we managed while still half clothed proved frustrating.  My nights of snuggling in his loving arms had ended and I just couldn’t understand why.  The longer he insisted on avoiding my bed simply because the Association ordered him to, the more resentful I got. I worried that his blind loyalty to this group of faceless law makers would destroy us if he didn’t take a stand for what he wanted soon.

Between the loss of Kenton in my bed and my frustration over his inability to take a stand against the Association, Cindy’s shift in personality, and Amelia’s open animosity, I was miserable. I spent ninety percent of my daylight hours with the horses and then took to my room at night.  I impatiently waited for the moon to stop turning my best friend into a raging, blood-thirsty maniac and return to me. I was lonely and needed her.

It was also my hope that, once the moon was no longer an issue and Cindy was back under control, that Amelia would leave my house and Kenton would return.  Sadly, the moon went back to normal, but Amelia stayed on. 

At times if felt as if she deliberately lingered to make my life a living hell by degrading me with remarks and looks at every opportunity. Since Kenton’s visits grew shorter and shorter, she had plenty of opportunity.   To add to my miserable existence, with her in the house, it was almost impossible to have a private moment with my friend; even if it was now safe to do so.

With Cindy no longer wanting to make a meal of me, I decided to follow through with our plans to go riding and see how my horse, Daisy, reacted to her.  She and the mare had developed quite a bond before tragedy struck and Cindy’s existence was changed forever.  I thought it would not only give us a chance to spend some time together, but I hoped that it might remind Cindy of the good times before Amelia entered the picture and helped to harden her personality.  If I could just have a bit to the old Cindy back, I’d be happy.

I managed to find a private moment with her to make the suggestion that we take an early morning ride. She eagerly agreed.

The reunion between my bestie and my mare was both touching and reassuring.  Their reunion was a beautiful sight to behold.  Daisy responded to Cindy like she was a long lost friend returning.  There was no indication of fear due to her change of state.

That wasn’t the case when the wicked, yet beautiful Amelia came bounding into the stable demanding to know what Cindy was up to.

“We used to ride together before I was turned,” Cindy explained.  “We thought we’d start back up again.”

I don’t know why I felt inclined to explain anything to her, but I added, “Daisy and Cindy bonded, plus, I need help exercising them. As you can see, there’s three of them and only two of me.”

“Great,” Amelia said with a smug smile.  “I happen to be an adept rider.  I’ll ride along with you.”  She walked from horse to horse while inspecting them from head to rump.  She finally set her hand on my  favorite horse’ whither and said, “I’ll ride this one.”

“That’s Roger.  He’s mine,”  I snarled.

As if I’d said nothing, she set the  saddle pad and the recently oiled western saddle I’d placed on the saddle bar next to him while I’d brushed him down onto his back and tightened the girth.  I professed my ownership a few more times while I watched her adjust the stirrups to accommodate her long legs, but my professions hit on deaf ears. 

When I looked at Cindy with total frustration, she shrugged her shoulders and tacked up her own horse.  I had two choices.  I could either give up and tack up Peter to ride along with them or battle the evil vampire for my horse.  Since I knew that Amelia was just looking for an opportunity to fight -and possibly kill- me, I resigned myself to the fact that the bitch had won and tacked up my even tempered and sure footed gelding, Peter.   All the while I silently hoped that Roger would prove the devil for Amelia to deal with.

Lady Luck must have been listening to my silent wishes because that’s exactly what happened. 

I took great satisfaction at how difficult Roger proved for Amelia to handle.  He danced and circled and even reared a few times before she got him under control enough to ride in a straight line.

“This animal is useless,” she snarled as she struggled to maintain control.  “He needs to be put down.”

 It was at that point when I snapped.  I lept onto Peter’s back and charged Amelia; stopping only when Peter’s chest butted against Roger’s flank.  Amelia gasped with shock and surprise.

“Now that I have your attention,” I heaved between gritted teeth, “hear my words and hear them good.  Touch one hair on that horse… just one… and I’ll personally rip your heart out.  The Association be damned.”

Her dark eyes went wide with surprise and her full mouth opened and closed a few times.  It was as if she was trying to say something that just wouldn’t come out.  

When she finally did find her voice, she said, “If he means that much to you, why don’t you ride him.”

I lept off Peter and handed her the reins. “Gladly.  Switch with me.”

I could see that she struggled with letting me have my own way, but, after what seemed like the longest stare down in history, she dismounted and hopped onto Peter’s back.  To my surprise, Peter acted up as well.  Although, not nearly as bad as Roger.

I eased myself onto Roger’s back and watched while Amelia worked to subdue Peter. 

She snarled at me when she’d finally settled him down. “Your horses aren’t much, are they?”

“They are if they like you,” I smirked.  “Right, Cindy?”

Cindy nodded while subduing a giggle.  “Are we ready now?”

I smiled and urged Roger forward. 

The smile never left my face as I called back over my shoulder for Amelia to hear, “My horse always leads.”