Page 2 of Claiming Her Vampire

“Yes, my King.” He bows slightly.

“Shut it, asshole. You know I hate that.” I stop at his words, my hand on the door.

Bash gives me a grin, one of the few that rarely cracks over his face. He whistles as he returns to Greg, picking his hammer back up on the way.

I shake my head at the games he plays, finally stepping out into the night and breathing fresh air.

I love blood. The smell of it. The thickness. The color. The way it feels sliding down my throat. But smelling the sickness of stupid people for prolonged periods takes me back to days I would rather not relive.

My past life, before I became a vampire, is foggy at best. I was a human. I had a family. I was weak and ordinary. I remember the pain of the change, the ripping of skin, the burning throughout my body. A strange being attacked me. I didn’t get a choice as Bash did. I was confused and fearful of what was happening to me. The following years are a blur of killings, blood, and an undeniable thirst that could never be satisfied. I had no values, no willpower. I killed anyone and anything to fill the hole inside me. I did things that make me cringe even now. I slowly adapted to what I was.

I love who I am. I love being a vampire. The longer I am alive, the more powerful I become. It won’t be easy to kill me. Many have tried, and I have drunk their blood when they have failed. Their power transfers to me. There’s nothing that compares to the euphoria that consumes me, flowing into every part of me.

I can walk in the shadows and sneak into anywhere I want. I can control the minds of humans, even some weak-minded shifters, and make them feel and think whatever I desire. I can basically fly. Who wouldn't want that?

There can be some downsides. We live forever unless someone extremely lucky or smart takes us out, and they better cut off our heads and burn them, or we will just grow that shit back.

With years in front of me, I can get bored. I have tried many things and owned many businesses. Learned many languages and cultures. Killed so many. Drank blood from every kind of shifter, human, and vampire.

Many tales of vampires are false. The sun doesn’t bother me, and I could even go to the beach, but why would I? I fucking hate the sand. I have many mirrors in my house, and I see my reflection fine. I love eating food. I try many new restaurants, eager to find new dishes. I do not survive just on blood alone. How boring would that be? I am pale but not abnormally so. The only time my eyes turn black is if I’m outraged. Otherwise, they are bright blue.

Sebastian is the unusual one with almost white eyes, white hair, and very pale. Not because he is a vampire but because he looked similar in his human life. He is constantly teased for his angel-like looks, which he despises.

If he is the angel, I am the devil.

My black hair hangs down to my shoulders, never changing. I’ve cut it before, but it grows back to the exact length it has always been and no longer. But I can grow scruff on my face; if I shave, it will grow back as an average human’s would. It’s one of the mysteries of being a vampire I have yet to figure out.

I pull up to my home, and I feel a sense of relief, as always. I have the top floor. It is the place I feel most like myself. We are possessive of our homes, naturally, but I am more so than most. Bash has been as far as the door, which is farther than anyone else I know. This is where I can let my guard down entirely or as much as I dare. There are many out there that would love to take my place. I have a state-of-the-art security system. To get in, I have to place my hand on a pad to scan for my exact fingerprints, the size of my hand, and temperature. Being a vampire, none of that changes. I also put in a ten-digit code. This is to even get through the door.

Once I am, there is another ten-digit code to stop the alarm and shut off the security lights. The windows are bulletproof and can not be seen through. You might think I went overboard but I am a five-hundred-year-old vampire with massive power and wealth. I don’t entirely trust anyone. I doubt even Bash could be corrupted, but there is always a chance.

I take off my jacket to lay on the back of the chair and hit the light as a habit. I could live in the dark. With my sight, I don’t need it.

They may call me The King of Vampires out there, but I am the true King here.

I shed my clothes, disposing them into a particular bin I use after I kill or do anything that involves blood I don’t ingest. It’s more of a rule I set for myself than any fear of getting caught. No prison could hold me. No cop could win against me. That may sound cocky, but no, it’s just a fact.

There is not much that could touch me.

I sigh as the hot water poured down, releasing some of the tension in my shoulders. Being in charge is not all it’s made out to be. I never set out to be what I am. I thought I would have found my mate and disappeared with her by this time. Hoarding her just for me. I have so much respect for those in our world that have been lucky enough to find the other part of themselves. The mating call is to be honored at all costs. That’s why I helped the panthers when they asked. If my mate were in danger, I would want someone to step up for me. Of course, I wouldn’t need help, and I would burn the world down to get to her.

At this point, I fear I will never find her.

I have witnessed mates finding each other. On the other hand, I have also seen vampires that never did. If we reach a particular year without the one meant for us, we slowly go insane. The year varies from vampire to vampire. So basically, we are a ticking time bomb. I dread the day that Bash has to put me down.

As of right now, I show no signs of going crazy. I keep myself satisfied in all things. Not saying I wouldn’t welcome my true mate. She will want for nothing. Vampires do not mate with other vampires usually. I have only seen it happen once. Most of the time, it is a human or another species occasionally.

Having a human mate means telling her what you are and hoping she accepts it and chooses to be turned. Turning a human into a vampire is easier than a shifter turning a human.

I dress in the usual clothes I wear to work. Black slacks. Black long-sleeved dress shirt. Black shoes. So maybe I’m predictable. I have learned not to change things that work exactly as they are.

I choose not to shave, leaving the scruff on my face. Tonight, I decide to pull my hair back. I never understood the man bun concept. Mine may be long enough to do it, but my man card doesn’t allow me to try. A simple band at the base of my neck works just fine.

Last but not least, I add no less than ten knives. I put on my leather straps like a gun holster that goes over my shoulders. I have one that holds six blades. It doesn’t hurt to show them to those thinking to try something. The others I hide on my person.

I drive to my club, anxious to check in. Until I remember all the applications I have to sort through to find another fucking waitress. I should make Bash do it but I like control too much. I imagine holding one of my knives to Brian’s throat, telling him never to touch a woman that works for me again. I grin evilly, eager to bask in his fear.

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