Blood Borne
an excerpt

Blood Borne

1

The body came flying off the balcony and landed in a blob on the cold concrete. The skull split open on impact, and bits of gray brain tissue spilled out. Jagged bones pierced the skin, sending rivers of blood to the pavement in an ever widening pool. There was blood everywhere. The police had called for an ambulance and by the time it had arrived a small crowd had formed.

“Forget it, Molly. She’s a goner,” the policeman said to the paramedic as she walked toward the victim. Molly pulled on her latex gloves and handed a pair to her partner.

“John, you know we have to look anyway,” she replied as she tried to kneel beside the body without actually kneeling in the blood puddle. She looked around and found a smashed cardboard box and knelt on that. “Help me turn her, Frank,” she said to her partner. They both turned her on her back. Her face was covered with blood. Blood had started to clump in her hair, matting down her blond curls. Blond like mine, Molly thought. She was about 25, the same age as Molly. When they tried to check for a pulse, a useless but required action, more brain pieces fell to the pavement.

Frank, a seasoned paramedic, turned his head and his dinner mixed with the blood puddle. Molly breathed through her mouth trying to hold down the chicken chow mien that was trying to come back up. Breathe, breathe, she said to herself as she got up.

“Write this up, Frank, while I go find some water.”

Frank nodded and picked up the clipboard. He was still green but started to fill out all the spaces. Molly returned with two bottles of delightfully chilled water. They both drank feverishly. Molly took the clipboard and continued to write.

“Suicide?” she asked the policeman standing nearby.

“Sure looks like. But Homicide is checking it out upstairs.”

“What kind of bad day was she having to do that?” she wondered out loud.

She needed a drink badly. She wanted the feeling of cold Jack sliding down her throat, burning on the way down, followed by a cold Coke. She pulled her collar up to shield her face from the night air as she walked the two blocks to Clancy’s. She could see the firemen, cops and paramedics who had just gotten off shift, walking toward the bar and a few hanging out in front.

As soon as the door opened, she felt at home. The smell of beer, cigarettes and men’s colognes filled her head. Rock music blasted from the jukebox. She was greeted by some of her colleagues as she wiggled her way through the crowd to her regular table. She sat down and took off her jacket.

“It was so gross, blood and brains everywhere,” Frank was saying. “ I actually puked. Me! But Molly held it down. Right Moll?”

Molly looked at him and nodded. She pulled her hair back into a high pony tail, revealing a long, slender neck and sat back. “She was as old as me,” Molly said. “What drove her off that balcony? It would sit better if I thought she was pushed. Murder I can accept, suicide, no.” He friends looked at her then at one and other. “I’m going to get a drink. Anybody want anything?”

“No, we’re good,” one of them said as she walked to the bar.

She pulled herself onto a bar stool and greeted the bartender. “Joey, I need a double Jack bad.”

“Moll, you look terrible,” he replied.

“Thanks,” Molly said sarcastically.

The man on the next stool looked at her. “Are you a paramedic?’ he asked, his gray eyes smiling at her.

“Yeah,” Molly nodded. She had never seen him there before. “First time in this place?”

“Yes, I am new. My name is Maximilian Contrares. Max to my friends.” He extended a hand to Molly. She took it and noticed it was cool, strong and firm, but cool. “You had a bad day?”

“Sometimes I think all my days are bad.”

“I know that feeling,” he said, looking at his drink.“Here, let me buy you one.” He motioned to the bartender for another round.

“But I don’t know you.”

“You know my name. That’s a start. I just moved to this city. I am a writer, looking for inspiration.” His smile was broad but sad somehow. Molly couldn’t put her finger on it but this guy was not happy.

They sat on the stools, talking, and then moved to a booth when then crowd thinned out. Max looked to be in his early 30’s, well dressed and polite. He was smart, well educated. He knew about history, art and books, He had traveled the world. Molly was impressed and drawn to him. When it was time to leave, she gave him her phone number.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” he offered.

They walked out into the cold air and Molly shivered. Max put his arm around her to shield her from the wind. She was parked in the parking lot on the next block and they walked slowly, despite the cold. A few snowflakes were falling.

“Here, catch one with your tongue,” Molly said to him, sticking out her tongue. Max tried and a flake dropped onto his tongue and he laughed. At her car, she stopped to unlock the door.

“Molly, it has been wonderful spending time with you. I want to get to know you better. I want you to get to know me,” he said as he put his arms around her. He looked into her eyes and kissed her gently. Molly responded, breathing heavily, submitting to him. “Molly, you need to know me.” He said as he pulled her collar back, revealing her soft neck. He put his head back and then sank his sharp fangs into her neck and began to taste her.

Molly’s eyes widened in shock and at first she tried to push him away. But then she realized her toes were tingling, not unlike what happened to her during sex. She was panting, her breasts were firm, her nipples hardened as he continued to feed. Her head was spinning; she was floating. She felt a wetness between her legs and shuddered. He released her, her blood dripping down his chin, and looked at her.

“I will always make you feel like that,” he said gently, wiping his chin on a large white handkerchief. “You belong to me now. I will call you.”/ He left her standing at the car and walked away. He turned back and looked at her.

“It will be fine. You only have to feed once, maybe twice a month. Your life won’t change much. But wear sunscreen and sunglasses. The sun can burn like hell,” he laughed. “I’ll see you in a few days,” he said as he disappeared into the shadows.