Echoes of sexual bliss and the last few words that Marion uttered flowed like water through Denise’s mind as she found herself coming out of the sleep it seemed her lover had put her into. Opening her hazel eyes, Denise felt Marion’s long fingers lightly wrapped around one of her plump breasts. “Mmm, what a great…” Denise purred softly and placed her hand over Mairon’s, “…great nap.” She paused, “How long was I asleep?”

“Not long, Loved One. Not long.” Marion cooly responded. “Tell me what was so great about the nap.”

Denise swiveled her fingers through Marion’s, “You know how you fall in a dream, and most of the time it is scary, and you think you are going to die if you land?”

“Yes.”

Taking a long deep breath, Denise closed her eyes again. “I had the falling, but no fear. Like I couldn’t die.”

Kissing Denise lightly on the neck, Marion lightly teased. “You know, some people think that falling means that you have lost control…” Marion paused, “…over an important subject or thing.”

“Have I lost control?” Denise quickly posed the question. “I have seen myself swirling in a huge funnel before.” Denise points to a small canvas on the wall. “I painted it when I woke up.” Turning over so she could see her model, Denise scrolled her hand down one of Marion’s smooth pale cheeks. “Loved one…I like that name.”

“It felt right to say.” Marion leaned forward and gently kissed Denise. “You have lots of love to give, I can see it smoldering in your eyes.”

Rubbing her foot along her model's perfectly sculpted calf, Denise purred lightly and kissed Marion’s shoulders with cute little pecks. “I want to give it all to you, my darling.”

Caressing Denise’s cheek lightly, Marion shook her head lightly. “After one evening?” Marion chuckled and dabbed Denise on her slightly misshapen nose. “What do you truly know about me, Loved One?”

“What do you mean, Marion?” Denise pulled the sheet up and across her chest before sitting up. “I guessed you were in the military before you mentioned it. It was how I figured you were leaving in a few days.” Denise huffed.

Marion sighed and rolled out of the bed with an amused look on her face. “I only asked what you knew about me, Denise.” Marion winked one of her heavenly blue eyes, “You are the one that got angry.”

“I am not..angry.” Denise quipped and felt her heart ache. “Come back to bed with me.”

Marion placed her hands on her hourglass hips and raised one of her long eyebrows, “It is probably for the best that I get dressed and you…” She pointed at the decorations on Denise, “You get inside and wash all that off.”

Quickly looking at her completely covered body in paint, Denise snorted and smiled before nodding. “You have a point, Marion.” Denise ran her hands through her hair breaking up the sweaty strands back to their natural dusty-blonde curls. “At least you kept the design where I can cover it up with my dress.”

“Your rules, not mine. If it was my choice..” Marion sat on the bed again and traced long lines around Denise’s eyes and cheeks. “I would have lovely and intricate tattoos that highlighted your darling eyes.” Marion laughed when she saw the shock in Denise’s eyes, “Not permanent ink, silly. Henna. You can design so much with it and it is an ancient practice.” Marion kissed Denise again, “You already knew that, Loved One.”

Reluctantly agreeing with her model, Denise shook her head. “I did know that, thousands of years old in fact.” She smiled and shrugged, “Thank you art history.” Denise sighed, “This still doesn’t resolve the question you had before. How well I know you.”

“We have days for you to figure that out, Loved One.” Marion winked after repeating the pet name. “I am willing to bet you know everything anyway.”

Denise crawled over to Marion slowly, “A game is it?” Denise licked Marion from nipple to chin. “Mmmhumm.. You know..Romeo and Juliet knew nothing about each other..”

“Interesting choice of plays to focus on.” Marion gushed, “You do know they died at the end.”

Denise laughed and pulled Marion close. “Antony and Cleopatra?”

Marion shook her head, “Hunted and killed. Your choices aren’t ending well, Loved One.”

Denise felt her palm start to itch and she pulled away from Marion long enough to look at the little glowing mark. “Can you see that?”

Marion nodded. “Probably just paint. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

Denise fell back on her knees pondering the things the two had discussed since she woke up. “Death is coming up quite often, Marion.” Denise bit nervously on her lip, “It has to mean something.”

Marion waved her hand, “You’re just tired.” Getting off the bed once more, Marion pulled on her undergarments. “The good news is that if you hurry, then you will make your mother’s curfew.” Marion slyly whispered and winked.

“I told you, before.” Denise huffed and seemed a bit annoyed. “I sleep up here all the time. Didn’t you even point out that they’d see the car?”

Marion zipped up her black skirt, “We’ve discussed a bunch this evening.” Marion blew a kiss to Denise. “Let’s not upset that balance by a simple misunderstanding…I mean you are so distracting that I might just lose my memory.”

Denise tossed the sheet away from her flower painted body and jumped from the bed to stand in front of Marion. “Distractions. I think that is fair enough.” Denise pranced around Marion before pressing her breasts into her model’s back in a loving hug. “You say I don’t know you..Let me guess your last name.”

Marion laughed, “How will you possibly do that, Denise?” Squirming until she faced Denise, Marion found Denise’s neck and nibbled lightly. “You don’t even know where I am from..to derive a last name.” She planted kisses up to Denise’s earlobe. “What do I get if you are wrong?”

“Ahh…uhhh..” Denise moaned happily as Marion kissed her. “Wh…what do you want? Lord help me your kisses are devilish.”

Denise stopped her kissing and gave Denise a longing look from her blue eyes. “Promise me that when I am gone you will always leave a light on for me to see so I can get back to you.”

“I can do that regardless.” Denise offered and wrapped her arms around Marion’s smooth shoulders. “I asked you to stay all night.”

Marion broke free of Denise’s arms and put her hands on her hips once more. “Well? Agree to the terms.”

Rolling her eyes, Denise laughed and sat down on the bed. “Fine, I agree. Soldier, model. A nurse in fact. You don’t look old enough, but I think you were in the war.”

“If you say so.” Marion winked and laughed as she pulled on her blouse and buttoned it up. “You won’t trick me into saying anything. This is your guess, not mine.”

Denise mirrored her partner and slipped on her underwear and snickered at covering up the paint. “I think you are from a bit further east of here, Norfolk? A Navy nurse?”

“Yes, but you are stalling for time.” Marion winked and giggled. “So not a soldier, but technically a sailor.”

Denise wiggled into her dress and re-zipped it. “You caught me, my dear.” Denise strapped her belt back on. “Let’s see…Smith would be too common and silly.” Denise watched the blank expression on Marion’s face. “Walker.”

“No. Hell no. Not even close.” Marion laughed and did a little twirl. “Walker? I do like it, but that isn’t it.” Marion picked up her dog tags and let them clank before tucking them into her top. “You had all night to look at them.”

Denise closed her eyes and pictured the small detail when the couple started to get undressed. She knew that her model had the little name tags and even briefly looked at them before tossing them in a metal heap on the floor. Slowing time in her head, Denise replayed the image in her head a few times. “I got it.” She purred lightly. “The W..I had that right. It’s Williams, not Walker.” Denise opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows.

“You have an excellent memory, Loved One.” Marion pulled out the tags and showed them to Denise for confirmation, “Williams.” Marion kissed her lover on the cheek, “That wasn’t the deal though. You have to leave a light on for me to always follow.”

Slipping her feet into her Mary Janes, Denise sighed. “I promise after you leave at the end of the week, I will keep a light on for you.” She scratched her palm again. “I will have to be inventive and see if I can paint teal on a lightbulb.”

“Teal?” Marion grabbed Denise in a loving hug and kissed the twin hearts on her face. “Our color mix! See, so much love in you.” Marion brushed Denise’s hair from her eyes again, “Can you think of a fun couple?”

Blushing heavily from the string of kisses to her cheeks, Denise barely registered the question and quickly voiced, “Bonnie and Clyde.”

Marion shook her head again and slipped on her own shoes, “Still not very promising. A set of outlaws?”

Denise made a set of twin finger guns, “We are kinda outlaws, right? It is not exactly legal for you and I to be here confessing love, let alone having sex.”

Marion pranced back into Denise’s arms, “Do you like the idea of us being outlaws, Loved One?”

Using one small paint covered finger, Denise traced around the outline of Marion’s lips. “Yeah, I do. It’s kinda fun.”

“My little rebel.” Marion winked and pulled away from Denise. “I would stay all night, but you know full well I can’t.” Marion winked, “How would I sneak out in the morning?”

Denise wrapped her hair in one of her loose bandanas and opened the door. “Good point, my darling.” Denise laughed and clutched her legs tight. “I still have to get everything off my body, while thinking about how you took care of …mmm…” She ran back to her model and pressed herself into a quick but heavenly kiss. “...See you tomorrow night?”

“Of course.” Marion cooed.

Minutes ticked away and stacked into days quickly for Denise. Initially happy and excited to see her model the second night, her mood darkened as rest of the week trickled into Friday. When her mother saw Denise walking out of the door for her last class of the week dressed in all black, she had to speak up. “Black? Denise is everything alright?” Lorraine shuffled over to her daughter and handed her something to eat. “I am sure Tatum will love it.” She winked.

“Huh? What mom?” Denise blinked out of her sad trance. “No, yeah. I am alright. Just lost in thought is all.” She took the sandwich and stuffed it unceremoniously into her art bag. “I hadn’t worn black in a while, I am feeling…a little…moody.”

Lorraine laughed and handed the keys to the car over, “Alright.” She kissed Denise on the cheek, “You almost look dead with how pale you are.” Lorraine rubbed Denise’s back for a moment, “Vampire bride or the like.”

Comforted slightly by her mother’s light touch, Denise smiled and shrugged. “I think it’s the art piece I have worked on all week. We have to have it finished tonight and I don’t know if I am ready to let it go.” Denise cleverly stated.

“What makes this piece any different than the others?” Her mother inquired and pointed to the barn. “You get them all back eventually, can’t you wait a few days?”

Denise gazed defiantly at her mother, hazel eyes seemingly ablaze. “My art doesn’t belong to him.” Her voice shifted down in tone with the utterance of the last word. “She’s…” Denise grunted and reached for the door knob, “I will be home late.” Denise walked through the door and slammed it on her way out.

Ignoring her father’s waves, Denise got into the car and sped off toward her art school. “Why…” Denise slammed her hands on the big steering wheel, frustrated. “...why did I squander the time I had with her?” She asked herself as the desire to rewind time to include more time to just talk to her Marion.

Hoping that music would settle her mood, Denise clicked on the radio just to hear a broadcast of ‘Dementia’. Listening briefly to the narrator describe a horrific and mysterious stabbing, Denise groaned when the suspenseful music and sounds started. “Horror! That is what I am now…my mom and the radio seem to think so..ugh!” Denise turned the dial and couldn’t find a station that she wanted to listen to. “Damn it.”

Almost as on cue, little raindrops hit the windshield of the car. “Of course.” Denise growled and flicked on the wipers. Denise pulled the car over when the rain came down hard enough to block her vision. “Besides Monday, it’s been clear all week, now when I want to see My Marion…the rain comes in sheets.” Denise leaned forward and spotted a few ghoulish black clouds swirling and making shapes as the downpour kept its pace. Hooked by the patterns in the sky, Denise sat mesmerized and spoke quietly, “Caution. Patience.” Denise clawed lightly at her itching palm, “Break. Free. Chains.” Radiating pain replaced the itching, breaking the little trance Denise was in. “Ow.” She looked down and saw that she’d scraped the skin from her hand until it started to bleed and send red streaks through the dull green glow. “Lovely. One more thing for me to deal with.” Reaching into her bag, Denise fumbled around until she found one of her bandanas and wrapped the minor injury.

Seconds later the torrential rain stopped and after revving the engine, Denise put the vehicle back into drive and made her way to the city limits. “Now then…” Denise finally smiled and looked both ways before turning onto the street heading to her school. “...I want her to see me all in black.” Denise purred to herself and glanced in the mirror. “Maybe put on little hearts as a hint?” She inquired and pinched her pale dusted cheeks.

A red light stopped her progress and Denise rolled her eyes and flopped back in her seat. A light tapping on the passenger window startled the young artist and she instinctively looked over just to see Tatum desperately huddled in fear of more rain.

“Come on, Come on! Denise wake up!” Tatum tapped on the glass again.

Leaning over, Denise pulled up the lock and waved her friend inside. “Tatum?” A horn blared from behind her and Denise looked up to see a green light.

“Just go!” The platinum blonde anxiously huffed.

Without thinking about it, Denise slipped her foot from the brake pedal and hit the gas, making the car spin its tires for a second before gripping the pavement and lurching forward. “Oh..my!” Denise laughed and felt a measure of relief when it lifted her melancholy. “What exactly were…”

Tatum looked back and saw the older gentleman in the black car behind them shaking his fist. “He seems unhappy.” She laughed and tugged the plastic that protected her hair from the rain off. “Thank you so much, Denise.”

Confused, Denise repeated what she’d started to ask moments before. “What exactly were you doing out there in the middle of the road?”

Caressing the little Greek letter chain her beau had given her days before, Tatum giggled and answered. “Henry and I were..were..” She winked and used her thumb to point behind them. “You know the little motel just outside the city? Tahiti?”

“Yeah, I know the Tahiti Motel. It’s black and white, covered in ivy.” Denise turned and raised one eyebrow. “That is a few miles out of town..” Denise’s eyes widened, “Don’t tell me..you two..”

Tatum grinned wide and nodded, “Yes.” She flopped her head back as though dreaming. “I was so nervous at first…but…”

Denise heard the rain patter on the glass once more and twisted the knob for the wipers, “I get it, Tatum. It comes naturally, your body just..” Denise tried to find the words and managed to just sigh.

“Exactly.” Tatum mirrored and kept with her story. “He wanted to bring me to school, but I couldn’t let anyone see me coming out of that place, what would everyone think?” Tatum shook her blonde hair feverishly, “So I crept out and hopped on the bus, then you found me in the nick of time.” Tatum winked at Denise. “My savior.”

Denise pulled into the small parking lot for the school, “I won’t tell anyone. I am happy for you both, truly.”

Wiggling her finger up and down, Tatum frowned. “Speaking of black and white, why do you look like you are attending a funeral?”

“Mom made you a sandwich.” Denise laughed and pointed at her bag on the floorboard. “She evidently found out that I am giving my food to you.”

“I am so hungry!” Tatum tossed the food into her own art bag and waited for Denise to shut off the car. “Look at that, the rain stopped.” She opened the door and stepped out onto the wet ground. “Let’s get inside before it starts to rain again.” Hard closing the door, Tatum beelined to the backdoor of the art building.

“Funeral.” Looking back into the mirror, Denise felt her mood darken. “Now then, hearts on the cheeks or not?” Nodding to herself, Denise pulled out one of her red art pencils and quickly made two hearts on her cheeks. “Queen of Hearts.” Tossing the pencil back in her bag, Denise glanced down from the mirror and saw Tatum standing at the door frantically waving. “I know. I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Grabbing her bag, Denise hurried to the door and met up with Tatum. “You are in a hurry. I mean we are only doing that model again.” Denise hid her interest behind a condescending tone.

“An absolutely gorgeous model, Denise.” Tatum pointed to the two blood red hearts on

Denise’s pale cheeks. “What’s with the hearts?”

Anger rose from the pit of Denise’s stomach when she heard the apparent interest in her model. Fighting the urge to strangle her friend, Denise winked and flashed her sharp smile. “A tiny secret. I can’t really tell you, at least not right now.” Denise paused and looped her arm with her friend's arm, “Perhaps one day, but for now..let’s just call it love.”

“Love.” Bouncing lightly, Tatum followed a step behind Denise as they made their way to the big art studio. “Speaking of love, can I grab a ride with you back to well…the place.” Tatum lowered her voice, “...after we are done for the evening? We have the room all night.” She giggled and blushed.

Releasing her friend's arm and still mildly angry, Denise shook her head none-the-less. “I shouldn’t aid in your clandestine affair with your guy, but I am in no position to judge.” She shrugged and added, “I go that way home anyway.”

“You’re the best.” Tatum sat down in front of her easel and began eating the sandwich Denise gave her.

Desperate need to cover up what she was feeling, Denise hid behind her own painting she’d been working on all week. The four sections were nearly complete, each of them with a variation of her model's blue eyes within them. While Denise waited for her model to resume her place on the sofa, she looked over her week of work. Upper left contained just the set of aqua-glass eyes, with a faint outline of the woman perfectly shadowed. Moving to the upper right side, Denise had made a rendition of her model laying on the sofa with flowers painted on her skin to match the events of Monday night. Folding her arms, Denise peered down to the lower left quadrant and smiled. Before her the perfect rendition of her model lay on the sofa-chair, hourglass and flawless as though the small picture could come to life and walk off the canvas.

Denise looked away from the last frame that was currently empty, “Tatum.” She whispered.

“Mm?” Tatum placed her hand over her lips politely while speaking through a small bit of food in her mouth. “What’s up?”

Unpacking her supplies for the evening, Denise laid out her various brushes and pencils before uncapping the ink and paint close to her. “I have a slight detour before I get you to Henry. It shouldn’t take too long. Maybe I can come get you from the diner?”

“Oh!” The young blonde swallowed the remains of the sandwich quickly. “If I go there, then I don’t need the ride. I can call Henry and he can meet me there.”

Looking at Tatum though she’d lost her mind, Denise casually mentioned the obvious. “Doesn’t that whole thing defeat the secret in the first place? I mean the whole town will see you driving off with him.”

“I think I can pull it off.” Tatum whispered in a hush tone and then tapped on her lip in thought. “Can you swing by after your detour? See if I need that ride?”

Professor Baker proudly strode into the studio just before Denise answered her friend. Giving Tatum a little wink, Denise nodded and mouthed, “Yes.”

“Ladies.” The older gentleman addressed his students. “Tonight is the last night for our lovely model. If we could, let’s give her a nice and quiet clap as a thank you for her divine cooperation over the last five days.”

More graceful than a swan, Denise’s model appeared on the little platform and bowed at her knees and tilted her head in respect to the class. Denise felt her model’s soul-capturing blue eyes penetrate her chest and grip her heart like they’d done all week. “Best part of the night.” Denise whispered as her blood boiled in her body.

Giggling lightly, Tatum saw the blood rush into Denise’s cheeks. “That is no secret.” Wiggling her finger playfully at Denise, Tatum leaned closer to her friend. “Please tell me your detour is up there.”

“What are you suggesting..” Denise softly mewed and quickly closed her legs in the effort to slow the pressure building in her panties.

Pressing her two index fingers together and then tapping as she twisted her wrists, Tatum nodded. “Nothing more than I have witnessed from you all week. She takes your breath away.” She winked and put her finger over her lips. “You’re safe with me.”

When her model dropped her robe for the final time and flowed like water back to her lounger, Denise stopped breathing until she swooned and was caught by Tatum just before she passed out. Sputtering and catching her breath, Denise sucked in air desperately as the rest of the room looked at her. “So..sorry, Professor. I got dizzy for a moment.”

Professor Baker crossed his arms, “Are you sure Miss Crow? I can escort you to the nurse if you want me too.”

“No, I am fine.” Denise reassured the older man.

Looking up at the model, Professor Baker smiled. “Lady Ra..” He stopped himself. “Alas, I am under strict confidence to not mention your name. My apologies.” He watched as the model blinked her lustrous cobalt eyes slowly in acceptance. “We just wanted to thank you for your…time…this week.” He started to softly clap, followed by the rest of the students.

Clapping for a few more seconds, Denise started to rub her hands together and pondered what to put in the final section of her creation. “Hmmm…something simply magical, I think.” Denise quietly murmured and looked up at her model once more.

Captivated. Twin blue eyes were locked onto Denise’s curious hazel ones and the rest of the world melted away for the young artist. Secretly Denise had hoped that Marion would do something that was just for the two of them and without saying a word, her model had done exactly what Denise desired. “You sly little minx.” Denise purred quietly as she scratched at her palm for a second then grabbed a skinny paintbrush and mixed a deep red on her palate. “My dear..Marion..” Denise softly admired before closing her eyes and letting herself go with the image in her head.

Thin lines of blood seemed to come up from the back of the canvas first forming a set of macabre eyelashes before rolling down to shape an eye. Completing the look, the blood shaped itself into a semi-circle and then drew another set of smaller crimson spikes. “Perfect, No..wait…” Denise traced out a small tear of black on the right side of the bloody streams.

“There.”

Dropping her paintbrush, Denise turned to Tatum. “I know it is a little abstract, but I like it. What do you think?”

“I don’t get it.” Tatum looked at the long blood-colored lines. “It looks like a bloody eye.”

Frowning, Denise turned to her friend. “Yes, it is a bloody eye. We were told to look past the model. See beyond the flesh, right?”

“Denise, that is no flesh. The other things you have there, all seem to fit fine.” Tatum shrugged, “You might have to explain it in detail to Professor Baker. I don’t get it at all.” Tatum smiled, “It is you though. I said on Monday that you have a fascination with dark themes.” Tatum leaned on her hand. “Though, now that I look at it, the black tear makes sense.” She looked over the model once more and shook her head. “How is anyone that beautiful?” Taking a deep breath, Tatum smiled. “I get it now, I had to ponder a bit.”

Cleaning off her one brush, Denise nibbled on her lip and smiled. “You do? Tell me what you get from it before I tell you what I was thinking.”

“Ah, okay.” Tatum laughed and swished her own egg-white brush on her painting. “Her eyes are like a pool of desire.” She pointed the end of the brush at the model. “If you aren’t careful you can stare at them all night.” Tatum picked up another brush loaded with blue. “You took her most striking feature and are telling a tale of caution.” She pointed to the black tear. “We both know that black has so many meanings. I think it’s part of the cautionary warning, that could lead to..death.”

Impressed with the way her friend thought, Denise shook her head. “You got half of it.” Denise picked up a piece of charcoal and started to add depth to the image. “It’s a duality. Red gives us warning, sure. Red lights mean stop or emergency. Red also is the gift of passion.” Denise layered the red ringed iris so that its shadows had a subtle heart shape behind it. “I guess I could call the section Fire and Desire.”

Tatum raised both of her eyebrows and her eyes went wide, “Denise. That is beautiful.” She pointed to the professor. “Don’t put the name on it, that ruins the effect.” She pointed at the bloody looking canvas. “Finish your depth and maybe put some highlights on the red, but my word Denise…” Tatum clapped silently, “You are such an amazing artist. Promise me you will never stop.”

Scribbling furiously, Denise laughed. “Not a chance, I love doing this.”

Diligently working on the finer details of her painting, Denise lost track of time and before she realized it Professor Baker had called for all the ladies to place their art in the storage box he’d brought into the room.

Inspecting her painting once more, Denise lightly blew the traces of leftover charcoal from the white background before sitting back and nodding to herself. “I like it.” When her model stood up and covered herself with her robe for the final time, Denise looked up and waved while the others in the room clapped.

Walking her painting to the box, Denise double checked that her mark was on the bottom left of the canvas and let the art fall into place. She hadn’t yet removed her hand when Tatum came up and patted her shoulder.

“You get like this with every piece you turn in. You’ll have it back Monday, you know how fast he grades things.” Tatum soothed.

Turning to face Tatum, Denise did her best to smile at her friend. “Let’s get you over to the diner and then I will come back and check on you in a few minutes.” Denise looped her arm through Tatum’s. “I didn’t say it before, but my dad asked me to pick up a few things before I came home. So, yeah..” Denise trailed off after looking at the empty sofa.

Snapping her fingers, Tatum watched Denise come back to the present. “Wow, I thought I lost you there for a minute.” She led the two out of the studio and into the hallway. Waiting until most of the other girls had cleared out and were beyond the back doors, Tatum looked around then whispered, “I saw you wave. I wanted her to wave back.” She put her hand over her chest, “Just don’t be too obvious now. You’ve looked like a scared kitten for a few days now.”

Snapping a defiant look at her friend, Denise curled one of her eyebrows and glared at her friend. “I look scared?” Denise huffed and shook her head, “You got your signal wrong, Tatum.” Denise walked fast enough to nearly drag Tatum from the school, “I am not scared of much, you know that. You’ve run to me when you see a dreaded mouse.” Holding up one of her black tainted fingers, Denise proceeded to chastise her friend a little more. “Okay, you caught me. I am not doing chores…” Denise paused enough for Tatum to interject.

“You’re meeting her!” Tatum nearly screamed and clamped her hand over mouth, “Sorry.”

Denise closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead softly, “Close. I would rather not discuss this. I don’t want you to get into any trouble should things go badly.” Denise once again started walking to her car. “You. Diner.” She unlocked and opened the car door for Tatum and went to the driver’s side and sat down. “I will do my thing…” Denise winked, “...Then I will come check on you and Henry. You, my friend, will be in the clear.”

“You have a deal.” Tatum smiled and held out her hand. “Besides I get to see Henry.”

While Denise drove the few blocks to the diner, a question popped into her head. “Hey, Tatum.”

“Yeah?”

Gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual, Denise finally asked the question. “Why aren’t you upset about me being..um…funny.”

“Oh, that kind of funny?” Tatum confirmed.

“Yes, that kind. Not comical.” Denise shook her head and stopped in front of the diner.

Placing her hand on Denise’s shoulder, Tatum took a breath. “Look, I don’t care who you are. Yeah, I am worried about what others say about me, but that is only because one bad thing and I might not be able to show up in a store with my children.”

Denise nodded in understanding.

“Let me finish.” Tatum watched quietly until Denise looked at her without nodding. “I don’t think feeling that way is a sickness to be treated.” She shrugged, “Is it normal? I don’t know, I don’t care. You are still my friend that I have known for years.”

Reaching over to give Tatum a quick hug, Dense let out a small sigh of relief. “You are one of a kind.”

Winking as she opened the door, Tatum laughed. “I know. See you in a little while..and take your time.” Tatum spun on her heels making her skirt twirl fast and ran inside the cafe.

Driving off, Denise went around the block and eventually ended up doubling back to the art school. Unlike when she’d left before, most of the lights were out and cast the building in a quiet darkness where only crickets chirping could be heard. Denise rolled her car slowly beyond the parking lot and to the service road that connected the building in a circle. Counting the rooms, Denise stopped in front of the fourth set of windows and put the car in park. “Alright. Now then.” She shut off the car and opened the truck before looking at the window rubbing her chin. “I don’t think I have anything that I can use to pry the locks back..” Denise walked closer to the window and smacked her lips. “Humm…I could just break the window.” She shook off that idea quickly, “Sharp points could catch me and I am still in a dress.” Concentrating on how the window locks were semi-curved and made of steel, she moved her fingers counter-clockwise visualizing how the device would open. “I just need to get them too...”

Without any warning the twin locks squeaked and twisted the direction she’d envisioned moments before.

“What the?” Denise stepped back, while scratching her hand mindlessly. “I don’t know how, but I’ll take it.” She gloated and walked up to the window and tried to push it up. “Damn. I knew it was too good to be true.”

Pulsing in her palm made Denise look down and she saw that the soft green had become bright and steady. “Whatever you are…” She traced the soft lines that looked like upside down grass, “...You have my attention, what else can I do now?” Denise talked directly to her hand like it was a walkie-talkie.

Feeling a bit silly, Denise dropped her hand away from her face and crossed her arms. “I need that window open.” Replaying things slowly in her head, Denise pictured the window being open. When the window shuttered and scraped its way slowly open she looked at her hand just after the window reached its apex. A single flare from her hand, then the light went back to normal. “I have to be dreaming.” Denise declared and looked at the open window.

Thinking she heard someone, Denise ran to the corner of the building and peeked around. “Just my imagination.” She hurried back to the open window and using the hood of the car, managed to climb into Professor Baker’s office. “Now then.”

She made her way over to the box that held the paintings for the last week. “So it sets us all back a week. She’s mine.” Thankful that the professor hadn’t pulled the box off the platform trolley, Denise pushed the heavy box to the window.

Key’s clanking caught Denise’s attention and she ran over to the side of the door with the hinges in the effort to hide. Once the lock clicked, Denise knew she was about to be caught. Scanning her surroundings, Denise spotted a fire extinguisher on the floor.

Professor Baker opened the door and flicked on the light to the room, before spotting the trolley by the open window. “What on earth?” He queried and closed the door, before heading to the phone on his desk. He picked up the handset from the phone cradle and glanced outside to see the powder blue Bel-Aire. “Miss Crow?” He asked and turned around as the lights went out.

“She doesn’t belong to any of you. Your kind can only see her as an object to be desired.” Denise said while swinging the metal canister hard and hitting her professor in the face with enough force to knock the older man to the floor bleeding from his nose and mouth. “I am protecting my Marion from you leeches.” Denise swung her makeshift bat again, hitting Professor Baker squarely on the head. “What did you do to force her to undress? Mhmm?”

-Whack!-

Metal connected to bone once more and sent chunks of the man’s skull into the floor. Breathing heavy and still snarling at her former teacher, Denise flung the dented metal can out of the window before resuming her mission.

Anger giving way to practicality, Denise looked at her palm that calmly glowed as though waiting for a command. “Alright. Patience, caution. It is making sense now.” She walked to the window and looked up in the night sky where she’d seen the words before. “How?”

Denise asked the question but already knew the answer. “Concentrate, Alright.” She pointed at the two objects she needed in the trunk, “Body and box.” Denise looked down at the coagulating blood on the floor and shook her head. “Let that just be a mystery.” She looked at her hands. “Hummm. One thing at a time.”

Picturing what she wanted to have happen, Denise thought about her former professor’s body being in the trunk and then the individual paintings stacked neatly on top, with the murder weapon laying to the side. Denise waited and felt a small rush of air pass over her body, along with the itching in her hand replaced with a touch of fire. “Oh, I like this.” Denise laughed as the wind over her body died down and she opened her eyes. “Unbelievable.” She rubbed her palm and looked at the trunk of her car with the contents just as she wanted.

“This is meant to be, Marion.” Denise whispered as she used one of her handkerchiefs to rub the places she touched. “I’ll figure something out where you will never have to pose like that again, my dear.” Denise confirmed and jumped out of the window, landing softly on the ground.

“Reverse the thoughts, right?” Denise looked at the window and held out her hand on a whim. “See if this..” a thin green beam twisted its way around the window sliding it back into place and twisting the locks back in their prior position. “Oh!” Denise giggled and clenched her fist nervously.

Slamming the trunk closed, Denise backed the car gently from the small alley and managed to get out of the school parking lot without being seen by anyone.

Placing the car in park, Denise looked out of the window and saw Tatum with Henry having a fun time. “Marion, please be there when I get back. I know I am running late, but I am sure you will understand why.” Denise hopped out of the car and knocked on the window getting Tatum’s attention.

Running over to the door, Tatum smiled and shook her head. “It’s good, Denise. Henry talked to my dad while we were in class!” She jumped around happily. “He asked my dad permission…”

Grabbing Tatum in a tight hug, Denise smiled and gave her friend a kiss on the cheek. “That is great news, Tatum. No more sneaking around.”

Platinum blonde hair flip-flopped over Tatum’s face as she shook her head. “Nope. So I can stay all I want to.” She pointed at her finger and wiggled the small engagement ring for Denise to see. “I said yes, probably five minutes ago.” She looked back at Henry and blew him a kiss. “Mind if I go..”

“By all means.” Denise glanced at the trunk then back to Tatum. “I was just keeping my promise.”

Tatum opened the door to the little restaurant again and turned to look at Denise a final time, “Hey, how did the … meeting.. go?” She giggled.

“Still in process, I just came to make sure you were alright.” Denise winked.

Laughing quietly, Tatum waved her hand. “Shoo. No keeping her waiting now.”

Time seemed to slip by and before she realized what was going on, Denise had arrived at the entrance to her family farm. “Odd, why are all the lights on?” Turning the car onto the rocks, she took her foot off the accelerator and noticed that even the barn was lit up completely. “I don’t like this at all.”

Denise pulled the car into its spot and locked everything as though her night was normal. She’d made it to the barn when her mother called from behind.

“Denise?” Lorraine inquired.

Still aware that there was a body and various items in the trunk she needed to get rid of, Denise slowly turned on her heel to face her mother. “Mom. What’s going on?”

Lorraine walked up and felt her daughter's forehead. “Do you feel alright? Your father is concerned that you … you might be sick.” She pushed Denise’s hair back behind her ears.

“I feel great. You even noticed I was happy all week, until tonight of course.” Denise heard heavy footsteps behind her and turned to face her father.

Tossing a handful of canvases on the ground, her father took a step back and folded his arms. “Welp? What’cha got to say, Humm?” Not waiting for an answer, he pointed to the loft in the barn. “Is ya sick or somethin? I seen it all up there, can even smell it too.” He looked at his wife, “Lorraine, yes’m you can smell it slick as sweat ya can.”

Pulling her daughter into a hug, Lorraine pet stroked Denise’s hair lightly. “Who have you been up there with?” She shook her head as she took in all the nude forms of Marion in different locations in the barn. “Wh..whats..her..oh god..her name?” Lorraine pulled back and looked into Denise’s eyes. “We can do something I am sure, right Herman?”

Pushing her mother away, Denise took a few steps back from her mother and father. “Do something?” Denise inquired dangerously and then pointed to her artwork. “Her name?” Denise half spittled with her anger rising. “You said that with contempt without knowing the whole story.” Eyes filling with rage and defiance, Denise looked at her father. “I am not sick, you know full well I’m not.” She seethed. “Her name is Marion.” Denise felt her heart flutter and a bit of relief coursed in her veins at the admission of her lover.

“Lorraine?” Herman looked at his wife then pointed to the trunk of the car. “My word girl, what’s that?”

Balling her fists, Denise maintained her composure and saw the blood flowing from the trunk and splattering on the ground. “A problem.” Denise hoarsely admitted. “He was one of them.”

Taking a few steps back in horror, Lorraine put her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming.

Herman grunted and walked his daughter, ripping the keys out of her art bag. “Devil’s gotcha he does, girl.”

Panic and anger swirled in Denise’s mind and before she knew it, She’d swung a wild punch at her father.

Herman easily caught Denise’s hand and shook his head, “No, girl. Let’s see what’s gotcha goin’ so.” He slipped his hand over her wrist and dragged Denise with him to the trunk and opened it.

Slowly walking to the side so she could get a look, Lorraine saw the body in the trunk and began screaming as she fell to her knees.

“Neese.” Her father’s voice sounded mournful and scornful at the same time. “What has ya gone and…”

That name. Denise heard the whisper in the foggy drive to school on Monday. “I have never liked that name, dad.” Denise grabbed the heavy extinguisher again and swung for Herman’s knees. Delight filled Denise as the heavy metal crashed into her father’s leg, dropping him like a stone. Heaving the canister once more, Denise plowed it into his other knee rendering him helpless on the ground. “Marion loves me, Dad. I love her.” Denise dropped her weapon and stepped over her groaning father. “I am not sick. It isn’t a problem for two ladies to love each other.”

Denise looked away from her father when her mother started scrambling for the house. “Mom, wait.” Denise concentrated for a minute. “Can I lock the door from here?” The green light in her palm flared and she heard the audible click of the lock to the back door. “I guess I can.” Denise ran to the back door just as Lorraine started frantically twisting the knob in vain.

“Denise?” Lorraine begged and kept trying to get into the safety of her home. “What… what…please..”

Reaching for a handful of her mother’s long brown hair, Denise dragged Lorraine over to her father and forced her to the ground. “You get to be with who you love, don’t you?” Denise yanked back her mothers head, “Don’t you?”

“Y..yes…” Lorraine squeaked to her daughter.

“Amour..” Herman barely spoke and reached for Lorraine’s hand.

“Exactly, dad.” Denise stomped on his knees again. “You get to be with who you love. I can’t. She’s leaving or has left already, thanks to you..” Denise huffed and ran her hands in her curly dusty blonde hair, “...and that pig in the trunk.” Kicking a few rocks out of anger Denise kneels close to her mother. “She’s mine and I am hers.” Denise tore open her dress to show the dotted flowers that covered her skin. “Look at it.” Denise growled as her parents turned away from their daughter. “I said look at it.”

Lorraine cried out when she felt her head being turned without her doing it. “Denise… what..please..can’t you see…” She pleaded through painful tears.

“Then stop resisting. See love as it is before you, mother.” Denise smiled. “I made those paintings on the ground with her and in her honor.” Denise paused, “She painted this lovely flower on my body. My body, her hands, her love. Artful and tasteful.” Denise pointed to the trunk. “Those heathens could only see her body, her ability to please them. Excite them. I stole their abhorrent renditions to destroy them.” She spat on the ground. “I am protecting the … woman.. I love.”

Herman pulled himself closer to Lorraine and looked up at his daughter. “This ain’t love, Denise.” Herman pulled Lorraine to him and hid her face from Denise. “Go on an’ do whatcha gonna do and stop the preachin.”

Kicking rocks as she circled her parents like a shark, Denise shook her head after her father’s last proclamation. “No, no.” She knelt down in front of him. “You aren’t listening, Father.” She took a deep breath and ran her hand over flower painted on her skin. “Why don’t you ever hear what I am saying? Are you that lost? Are you that devoid of love?” She pointed to her mother, “You call her love all the time, where is the same for me?” Denise raised her eyebrows in defiance. “I do everything you tell me to, I have been your good girl.” Her voice’s tone changed and sounded authoritative and hateful, “It took me an entire summer and a fall semester of school to convince you that college was worth it.” Denise sneered and grabbed her father’s chin. “Now, I have found love. Love has found me and has my heart bound to it.” Denise carefully combed her fathers hair over to the side with her free hand. “Here you are…” She growled, “...once again blocking my progress.” Denise smacked her father across the face, leaving a red welt. “All you had to do was embrace that I was in love.” Huffing and shaking her head, Denise resumed walking her circle. “Now look at the mess you have made.”

“My mess?” Herman half grunted in pain as he watched his daughter march around them. “You’re a sick girl ya are an’ I’m gonna do somethin’ bout’s it now.”

Hearing the words slowly crawl out of her father’s mouth, Denise had stopped her stomping and turned to face him just as he went to grab her foot. Jumping to avoid the old soldier’s grip, Denise shook her head, “Tisk, tisk.” Denise pursed her lips and folded her arms, “You just won’t learn will you, dad?” Strolling over to the truck of the car, Denise bumbled around until she found the crowbar with the spare tire. “Perfect.” She announced gleefully.

Singing lightly to herself, Denise made her way back to her parents with a half smile on her face. Smacking the heavy metal bar in her hands for a moment, Denise slowly rattled off the lines to the nursery rhyme she’d recalled.

“For want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For want of a horse the rider was lost,
For want of a rider the battle was lost,
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail..”

Listening to her mother whimper and softly speak to Herman, Denise took a few steps back and waited for the terrified woman to finish what she had to say. “You know that nursery rhyme is about the consequences of your actions.” Sighing, Denise knelt down and gave her mother a hug. “I do love you, mom.” A shuffle from her dad made Denise stand up once more. “You tried to be understanding in a way.” Denise pointed the crowbar at her father, “You did what was expected of you. Cooked, cleaned..wore the proper clothing…” She paused. “..Even the supposedly right discipline for me at his hands.” Denise knelt down beside her mother’s hair covered ear. “You still allowed all of it to happen, so you are just as guilty.”

Resuming her pace around her parents, Denise knew what she had to do. “I have to keep the love that found me.” She tapped the crowbar on her own chest for a few seconds. “Look at you both, huddled together consoling each other, you would do anything for your love.” Surveying the blood on the ground from her former professor, Denise took a deep breath. “I am left without any choice by your actions. Just know that I do love you both.”

Steel glinting from the lights that illuminated the area, Denise swung the heavy instrument repeatedly until she realized pieces of their skulls were both flying through the air as well as stuck on the crowbar itself. Covered in blood, Denise dropped the metal bar on the ground where it clanked on the rock. “Done. Done.” She closed her eyes and pulled her spattered hair back and tied it. “Sometimes you have to get dirty to get clean, right Marion?” Denise looked up and saw her lover.

“That seems to be the case, love.” Marion commented and knelt down over her parents. “Are you sure there was no other way?”

Shaking her head back and forth, Denise smiled at her partner, “None that I could fathom.

Thank you for staying out of sight until this..” She pointed at the ground, “...was resolved.” Purring lightly, Denise sauntered to Marion. “You know I ripped my dress open enough for you to see again, right?” Denise ran her fingers over the black sailor uniform Marion was wearing. “They also needed to know how much I love you.”

“I love you as well, Denise.” Marion studied the scene. “It is grizzly though. Perhaps a little less violence while I am gone?”

“Is that a request?” Denise asked and pressed her blood soaked lips to her lover’s.

Nodding slowly, Marion sighed from the center of her chest as Denise kissed her. “Let others see your love in a more…positive light.” Marion reluctantly pulled away from Denise. “Remember, leave that light on for me, Loved One. One day I will be back.”

“I love you, Marion.” Denise cried as she watched her partner begin walking down the driveway. “I won’t move until you are out of my sight.”

With a wink, Marion marched silently and steadily until she was out of sight.

Preserving the promise she’d made, Denise hurriedly ran through her farmhouse and back to the barn where she quickly covered a lightbulb in a thin layer of mixed teal paint and affixed it in light that covered the front porch. “A promise is a promise.” Denise wiped her paint and blood covered hands on her dress and made her way to the driveway. “Now I have to take care of this mess.”

Gathering up all of her and Marion’s paintings first, Denise walked them back into the loft and hung them where they’d been for the last few days. “Done and Done.” Tingling started to make her palm itch once again and Denise scratched the green glow and looked around. “Hello?” She asked and made her way to the car once again. “Odd.”

Shrugging her shoulders, Denise pulled the paintings from the trunk of the car and piled them up in the fire pit that she and her father dug out years before and lined with brick. “Preserving us, my love.” Denise took a deep breath and fluttered her eyes before setting the entire pile aflame. “Done and Done.” She commended herself and walked over to the three bodies.

Crossing her arms, Denise felt the strange sensation in her hand again and looked around. Spotting what looked to be a set of tiny yellow orbs high in a pine tree, Denise scrubbed her eyes and sighed. “I must be more tired than I thought, now I am seeing things.”

Dragging the bodies one at a time over to the fire pit, Denise found herself out of breath and low on her strength when she considered the prospect of hefting the bodies on top of the pile of burning paintings. “I just need a bit to catch my..” Spotting the yellow objects in the tree again, Denise stopped what she was saying. “An owl perhaps?” A calm breeze washed over her senses for a moment and she watched as paper thin leaves swirled on the ground forming shapes that she instinctively understood. “Danger. Caution. Friend and Fire.”

Blinking out of the temporary trance she was in, Denise thought about the strange ability to move things once again. “Okay, Let me just picture them on the fire and if fire is my friend..” Waving her hand at the pile of bodies, Denise giggled lightly to herself when the picture in her head seemed to take form right before her. Silently floating over the pit, Denise lowered the trio of corpses and then concentrated on the flames that had been leaving ash where art once was. Without knowing what would happen, Denise thought of a huge bonfire akin to ones she and her friends had seen before homecoming football games when she was younger and in high school.

Green light danced from her palm and the small fire erupted into the vision of her past. “Oh my!” Giggling to herself as the flames consumed the fuel she’d given it, Denise felt a wave of heat and stepped back closing her hand. “Okay, okay. That is enough. Right there.” She pressed her hand to her forehead and kept saying, “Done and Done. Um..no more? Stay like that.”

Satisfied that the flames responded to her request, Denise turned and trudged over to the puddles of blood on the ground and in the trunk of the car. Sighing lightly, Denise had just made the decision to try and wipe as much blood up as she could with towels and burn them, when she once more spotted the yellow orbs. This time the yellow dots seemed to be moving through the field of her family’s cows and didn’t have the grace of an owl possibly flying. “Hello?” Denise inquired and picked up the bloody crowbar once again.

“Hello.” A deep and gruff voice echoed just before a pale looking man reached the fence that held the cattle in place. “I couldn’t help but notice that the lights were on and you have such a lovely…humm, fire.” Hopping over the fence in a blur, the man shook his shoulder length black hair behind him. “Something about a nice big bonfire that just makes my blood warm.” He winked and laughed, “Don't you think?”

Feeling the itch from her palm scale the length of her arm to her spine, Denise suddenly knew that the person before her wasn’t as he seemed. “I am rather busy right now.” She pointed the crowbar to the end of the driveway, “We won’t have any..work, for a few days.”

Putting his hands behind his back, the strange man kept walking towards Denise. “I am not here for work, little lady.”

Taking a few steps back from the approaching man, words that Denise heard seemed to suddenly connect in her mind with relation to the yellow eyes bearing down on her. “Awaken and shake off the chains..” She clarified to herself and watched as the pale and gentle illusion faded away. Gray splotchy skin replaced the smooth and creamy look that the man had just a moment before. Denise saw the fangs hidden in the upper and lower parts of his jaw, and a hybrid color of mixed red-orange seemed to jump from all points of the man’s body.

“What was that?” The young vampire asked and slid his fangs into place and he pointed to the ground. “Haven’t you ever learned that blood..” He wiggled his fingers, “...attracts predators?” Having made his way to the trunk of the car, he swiped his fingers in the pool of blood, “This is a case where I have not only found blood in mass, but the young lady that was kind enough to deliver it right into my hands.” He sucked his fingers clean.

Rationalizing that everything happened for a reason, Denise didn’t question the revelation she’d had and quietly whispered one word, “Vampire.”

Clapping briefly, the man nodded. “Very good. Was it me licking the blood from my finger that told you that?” He laughed and walked closer to Denise. “I love that you are backing up, my little murderer.” He flicked his hand and finger to himself and her. “We are alike in many ways, can’t you see that?”

“What do you mean?” Denise stalled for time and focused her thoughts on her legs, hoping that she could outrun the inhuman creature before her. “I didn’t want to kill any of them.”

“Oh, come now.” The vampire saw the light green glow pulsing from his prey’s palm.

“Admit it, you enjoyed that.” He giggled and took another step forward. “Look at it this way, I am giving you a chance at immortality because I happen to like your style.”

Flares of itchiness passed through Denise’s thighs and calves before settling with an idle heat by her hips. “My style? I did what I had to do.” Denise pressed flatly and turned to the side, looking at the woodline north of the farm.

“Make all the excuses you want to, my morsel. I have been watching since you pulled in.” He pointed at the trunk. “You left a small trail to follow, and I simply had to watch the events unfold. It was like watching a live performance.” When he uttered his final word, his blurry form overtook Denise and he bit down on her arm, drawing out a helping of her blood.

Stunned with the actual speed of the vampire, Denise failed to react and froze in place as the skinny vampire latched onto her arm. “Help..” Denise whispered through the stinging pain that the vampire’s fangs had caused when they pierced her skin. Itching and a soothing sensation pulsed through Denise’s veins, and she realized that the sensation was somehow going to flow into the vampire’s mouth. “What..?”

Falling to his knees and spitting blood all over the ground, the vampire coughed and seemed unable to move. “How..what…” He coughed up more blood and clutched his stomach.

“Impossible.”

Finally able to call the magic that had been stored in her legs, Denise took off with a wave of green light trailing slightly behind her frantically pumping legs. “The mine..the mine. Get me there.” Denise pleaded as she whizzed by the pine trees automatically heading for the place she’d thought about and pictured in her head.

Wailing like a ghost, the vampire screamed at his prey. “I will kill you when I catch you! Tear you limb from limb!” Finally able to clear the strange blood from his system, the vampire sprinted off in the same direction as Denise.

Vaguely aware of the distance she was traveling, Denise’s only concern was the howling that the vampire was doing behind her. Deep in thought about the next possible thing she could focus on, Denise passed the entrance to the abandoned copper mine. “Ooops.” Making a quick circle around, Denise stopped at the barred off entrance. Snickering slightly at herself, Denise thought about the iron gate before her and the lock being open. Seconds after she focused, Denise heard the click and opened the heavy gate without any problem. “Done and Done.” Determining that the screeching of her hunter was nearly on her heels, Denise darted through the gate and locked it behind her.

Holding her hand up so she could see, Denise noticed the glinting copper in small deposits on the walls of her family’s old interest. “Doesn’t look so bad to me, Dad.” Denise asked herself and followed the rusting iron rails deeper in the main shaft. “No ghosts that I can see.”

“I smell you down there, girl.” The vampire gloated. “I will enjoy pulling your arms off.” He effortlessly tore the iron bars away from the shaft and sprinted down the same tunnel, following the scent of blood and paint from Denise. “Having a nice chat with yourself?”

Pressing her lips closed before she said anything else, Denise kept using the faint light from her palm to slowly guide her down the smaller and thinner shafts where the copper veins hung in the walls in bigger clumps. -I need to see where I am going. I need distance.- Finding herself unable to concentrate because of the dark and fear rising up within her, Denise plodded along following the faint light her palm allowed her to have.

“There you are.” The vampire rounded the corner and spotted Denise. “Time’s up.” Springing into action, the vampire leapt at Denise with his claws ready to inflict as much damage as they could.

Facing her fear, Denise turned on her heel and used her telekinetic ability and focused on his yellow orbs. Tripping on the small iron rail, Denise fell just as the spell released.

Watching as her world seemed to start falling, Denise was vaguely aware that the vampire was held in place and she had somehow broken the floor of the mineshaft and was now plunging into a large blue hued cavern.

Splashing into a small pond of cold and blue sparkling water, Denise waited for her inertia to stop forcing her down and after a few seconds swam to the surface. Once she was clear, she sucked in a heavy gulp of air and latched onto the edge of the life saving pool.

Renewed and energetic, Denise easily climbed out of the pool and slicked her hair back so she could see. “Wow..What is this place?” Screeching from above, Denise knew it was the vampire that was held in the mine shaft. Fear was replaced with curiosity and she waved her runed hand so that the night creature was hovering in the cave just out of reach. “You, my new friend, shouldn't exist.” Denise smiled and pushed the vampire against the blue stones. “I shouldn’t be able to hold you in place like a statue either.” Denise giggled. “Vampires and magic, interesting.” Ignoring the blood-sucker for a few seconds she looked over the blue chunks and pulled one free. “Oh my.” She looked up at the vampire. “It radiates like my hand.” Denise felt a rush of wind pass over her and heard a hushed word. -Kyanite.- Turning to face her hunter, Denise willed the helpless vampire so close to her that she could smell the iron emanating from his breath. “You, my friend.” Denise tapped the undead’s nose lightly, “Have taught me one valuable lesson.” Denise watched the hateful look in his eyes deepen. “Oh, come now. You are just angry that your food fought back.” Denise shivered and glared at the vampire again. “I have this overwhelming urge to just outright destroy you.”

“When I get loose from this, you’ll know what destroy means.” The vampire snarled and tried again to get free.

Clutching the vampire’s cheeks, Denise looked directly into his brown eyes. “Interesting. You have a red ring. Things you learn.” Denise backed up and rubbed her chin. “You aren’t going to get loose, and I was talking.” She held up her index finger and wiggled it. “That was what I was getting to. I talk entirely too much, as you pointed out by finding me in the mineshaft up there.” She pointed to the hole in the cavern and shrugged. “I guess I like talking out loud, or the sound of my beautiful voice.”

“Enjoy it, you won’t have it much longer.” The vampire growled and tried to lunge at Denise.

Shaking her head and laughing, Denise walked over to what appeared to be a naturally carved dais. Stepping up the small carved staircase, Denise circled around the area and knelt down to feel the rock. “You should feel…” She looked at her captive, “Oh, right. You are stuck there.” Feeling the soft thrum and earthly warmth coming from the stone, Denise suddenly had an idea. -What if?- Nodding and then scanning the crystal blue rocks, she eventually found what she was looking for.

Digging the piece of kyanite from the wall, Denise scraped the two pieces until the two had a rough pointed edge to them. Skipping lightly back to the vampire, Denise held up the two stones and laughed playfully. “I did promise myself to be a bit more quiet, but this..” She held her hands over her chest for a moment, “..This I can’t keep from you.” Sliding the stones along one of the vampire’s forearm, Denise stopped at the base of his wrist. “You see, I have always had an obsession with..” She shrugged, “...death or the dead.” Denise pressed the kyanite to his wrist and watched it singe his flesh, making him howl in pain. “Ooops.” Denise snickered and corrected herself. “I was thinking about burning for some reason.” Snapping her fingers and jumping like a little girl, Denise made the connection. “Now I get it. Fire. Warms your blood…” She laughed and nodded, “Cute. Anyway, as I was saying..” Denise floated her captive over to the dais. “Kids are cute when they are mean. I was called..” She got in the vampire's face, and gloated. “Deceased Denise.” Upon uttering her own name, she drove the points of the kyanite through the veins and arteries of the vampire's wrists and let the blood cake the floor.

Hissing and sizzling as though she were cooking bacon on a stove, Denise witnessed the blue stones shimmer then slowly turn purple exposing a trail of symbols that she seemed to understand immediately. Quickly smearing the stones further, Denise stood up and raised one of her eyebrows while dripping blood from her hands. “Necromancer.” She paused. “Learn. Memorize.”

Tearing the lower hem of her dress away, Denise covered the twin holes in the vampire’s wrists. “You and I have only gotten started.”