Born in 1982, Michelle was always…different. As an infant she never played with toys, but instead would listen in on her parnet's conversations. Later when after her brother was born, she would play pretend with him and did all the way up to high school. In between that time she was constantly picked on for being different. Life was hell for her.
Puberty hit and it was worse than being picked on. It was agony. Now Michelle found that she craved blood…of tomatoes and other unsuspecting fruits and vegetables. She would stalk them late at night to raid the refrigerator. Her new found love of vampires was entrancing. What a coinsedence thst both they and her hated sunlight!
College was upon her and her fescination with the powerful undead was even more intoxicating. The internet was her playground. Site after site, some were false others proved to be more interesting. Writing to them and anxious for responses she would wait with as much patience she could muster.
After writing to one and being sent out on a mailing list, she received four responces regarding vampires. All but one seemed fake, as people loved to role play. But this last one was from a Fernando. A very plain sounding name.
Hopless,
You're not so hopeless if you find what you're looking for. I hope I'm it. Maybe if we could meet you'd feel better instead of this phsuto conversation?
Fernando
Fernando,
Thank you for emailing me. Sure we can meet. Say, three days in Syracuse? Write back asap!
Hopeful
Hopeful,
Three days? So long a wait? I am positively bursting at the seems to meet you. Shall we meet tonight?
Fernando
Fernando,
I didn't think I'd hear from you so soon. Tonight?! Can you make it? Instead how about we meet in Oneonta, New York USA. There's a deck off main street by the Oneonta public bus station. That good?
Hopeful
Hopeful,
That sounds good. I'll see you at midnight, your time
Ferrnando
Fernando,
Alright. See you then.
Hopeful
"Fernando" went on line and looked up where he was supposed to go, studied the map, checked his watch and saw that he only had two hours to get there. He shut down his computer, locked his mansion up, turned out the lights and set out on this little adventure across the ocean.
Michelle was sitting on the railing to that one step deck. She had to admit that she was rather under dressed for the weather. She was dressed in as much black as she could muster: black denim jeans, leather boots, a sleeveless red dragon patterned nylon-spandex, a shineel over shirt, a tattoo like choker, silver and gold jewelry with red stones.
Her back was to Main Street and as a car passes, she checks the time in the passing head light. At the same time, Fernando came floating down from the heavens. The sound of the rushing molecules of air rushing past the car masked those brushing agains Fernando as he landed tangent to her.
"Hopeful?"
She turned around and low and behold an incredibly tall, dark, long haired pale man. "Fernando?" she sid hopping down off the railing.
"What a pleasant experience meeting you," he said smiling with pure bliss. She walked up to him and looked up at his face. Michelle had to admit that she wasn't tall, but she wasn't short either. This very attractive man was very tall…and very thin. Muscular, as she could see in his face and get a hint out of his shirt. Wearing all black, Fernando was wearing shiney leather shoes, docker type pants, a turtleneck shirt, an over vest of fleece and his ankle length trench coat over that. His straight hair was loose and was wiast long. His bangs wind blown and arched to his eye brows. His eyes were also very dark.
Michelle shivered as the wind blew though her sheniel. Fernando took notice. "You must be terribly cold, my dear. Come," he said quietly as he coaxed her close where he held her to his chest. His clothes enveloped warmth around her as if it was a warm spring evening. Suddenly she stoped herself and backed away. Fernando seemed upset by this, almost sad. "Thank you," she said softly just over the howling of the wind.
"Let's get you somewhere warm,"
"Would you like to take the bus around town? The station's right here…"
He seemed ver uncomfortable with that. "No, please…"
"Well, I don't know of anyplace we could go…"
"I'm sure we'll find a place," he said with a smile.
Michelle loved his voice, a kind soothing tone in a heavy European accent.
To keep her warm, Fernando walked with her under his coat, close to his side. They found a bar and went inside and watched other people make asses of themselves, but michelle's attention was on her "date". He had a very nice face. It's elegant flowing was that of a fallen angel with clear pale skin, a contrast on his dark hair. The neon lights seemed to reflectoff his soft warm skin. She knows because she laid a hand on his hand and another on his face.
It must have been the mood of the bar; it made her want to fulfill her fantacies. He enjoyed her caressing hands until a thought cam to mind. "I must apologze and admit something to you. My real name is Albin Fortamonte."
"My name is Michelle"
"What a heavenly name" he said smiling. "I truthfully hate mine,"
"I thinkj it's interesting,"
"Thank you for your kind words."
"Y' know, it's a good thing that today's a Friday. I can stay up late and have no classes to worry about."
"Ah. I remember my old school days. They were not the most pleasant memories."
"I'm sorry."
"No need to be. It twas nothing you did."
"Do you want to go somewhere quiet?"
"That would be nice, but where?"
"My roommate's gone for the weekend,"
"Hmm,"
So they walked to her dorm building but Albid hid in the shadows, away from the outdoor floodlights.
"What's the matter?"
"Do you have a window? I don't want to be seen." He said clearly upset and worried.
"Yes I do." She showed him where ti was then went inside and up to her room. After turning on her red lavalamp there came a rapping at her window. It was Albid. She opened up and he diffused through the screen into the room. "Thank you," he said relieved.
"Sure. You don't really like people, don't you?"
"Not at all. Bars I don't mind because no one cares, but everywhere else…" he trailed off.
"Can I take your coat?" she asked
"Thank you." He removed his trench coat and his fleece pullover and were hung by the door. They sat on her high bed, their legs dangling off, silent. "Will you turn me?" Michelle blurted out quietly.
Albid looked at her shocked an appalled. "Why in heaven and earth would you want that??! I can hardly stand living day by day!"
"I have no one to call my own. It does get awfully lonely being married to work, y' know."
"Oh," He thought about that as she laid her head on his shoulder to absorb his sent and memorize it as she did with everyone. "So…you'd rather have me?"
"You seem like a nice guy. Why not?"
He was speechless, so waited till he found the words to say. "I never expected anyone to care to get to know me like that."
"Why not?"
"I'm something of an unwanted,"
"Maybe for most. But I'm not like most people."
"As I see. You must feel lucky to be so unique. I feel lucky to meet such a person like yourself,"
"No. I DON'T feel lucky. Not at all. Do you KNOW what it is like to be the only one of your kind??!! It's alienating and lonely!"
"Then you know how I feel,"
"You know what that means, don't you?"
"What?"
"We're two of a kind…"
Albid gazed into her brown eyes and saw that it was true. As they gazed into each others sould she asked, "Can you take me away from all this?"
"I could, but…"
"It's my life, not theirs, I'm living."
"Very well. Get your things ready."
Michelle packed her things and Albid transported them to his place. As he was distracted Michelle wrote a note to her roommate against his wishes and then they were gone.
Michelle was situating herself when Albid was changing for the day's sleep. A knock came at his door and he aloud her enterance. "Becareful, the room is booby trapped, as sorts,"
"It's ok, I can see where I'm going,"
"You…you can??! How?! It's pitch black in here and mortals aren't able too see in such lack of light!"
"Well…I've always been unusual…"
"I see…"
"No, I see. I see you, your nice build, your balck pants on your bed…"
"Shall we retreat to sleep?"
"Yeah,"
Albid straightened the bed and the two got in and snuggled. She trusted him so much even though they hardly know each other. He would not let her down or disappoint her. He has too much at risk to do stupid things.
The next evening a man with short brown hair and a ghoti entered Albid's room and walked up th ethe bed, seeing two rather than one in it. Albid opened his eyes and looked up at the man. "Nadin, father…"
"who is this?"
"an American girl I met on the internet. She wants to stay with me. father? She seems…a bit less human than she looks. She can see in the black of night…"
at that moment Michelle stirred and opened her eyes. "Albid?"
"uh, Michelle, this is my father, Nadin."
"hi." She said sleepily.
"good evening, miss."