Blood and Roses
an excerpt

She was running. The rain made the clothes she wore cling to her thin frame. Her heart races as she turns suddenly and heads down a dimly lit ally. It smells of wet cardboard and garbage, but she ignores it. The feeling that someone is close by increases as she quickens her pace. Looking around she finds only the high brick walls of apartment buildings; the windows dark. A rat skittered in front of her. Something caught the moonlight, glinting momentarily in her peripheral vision. She turns and barely makes a sound as she is knocked to the ground. She starts to say something and a hand comes down on her mouth. She kicks and fights, but her attacker doesn’t even flinch. He leans in, his breath smelling of garlic and thyme, and tears at her neck; sucking at it greedily. She screams.

Serenity woke with start in her own bed. Wild eyed she looked around as the dream faded from her memory as she reaches to touch the phantom vampire bite on her neck. The sheets are tangled around her legs, and the blanket is on the floor. Henry, her buff tabby kitten, is curled up sleeping on the pillow next to hers. The sun filters through the bamboo blinds into the loft apartment, casting soft shadows across the wooden floors. Serenity groans softly, falling back on to the bed.
“Why was I blessed with a ‘talent’ that likes to deprive me of sleep?” she asked.
Henry opened his eyes and looked over at her.
“Because you were lucky?” he said as he stood and stretched.
“I wouldn’t call this lucky.” Serenity replied flopping over to look at her kitten familiar. Henry circled the pillow, laid down, and then began to wash his face. Serenity reached out and scratched the kitten behind his ear.
“I would call this a curse. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a week.” she said. Not all of the recent dreams were as violent as the one she just had, but they bothered Serenity just the same. Henry didn’t offer a reply.

Pushing herself up and off the bed, Serenity moved across the room towards the kitchen area. The phone rang as she passed it.
“Good Morning, Adina.” she said picking up the receiver.
“How did you know it was me, Eren?” Adina’s lyrical voice asked.
“Only you would call me at this ungodly hour in the morning.” Serenity said.
“And you always seem to be awake at the ungodly hour of 8 a.m.” Adina said laughing.
Serenity grimaced at the phone as she opened her fridge.
“Have the orange juice, and meet me down at Star. I’ll make you breakfast and we can go over the menu for today and start on the Halloween menu for Saturday.” Adina said.
“I’m so not going to ask how you did that.” Serenity said as she pulls the orange juice out.
“I’m psychic like that.”
“Well, duh.” Serenity retorted.
“I’ll see you at Star in twenty. Don’t forget to feed Henry.” Adina said.
“Yes, ma’am.” Serenity says then hangs the phone up.