HER NIGHTFALL DESIRE

icking him up by the worn belt around his wais

w, landing atop the refuse and empty cardboard boxes inside. Sensing no onlookers, but still visually scanning the area, she removed a small can of Zippo cigarett

d dumpster lid. Isadora walked to the front of the alley, the only sound the clicking of her boots on the damp pavement. As she traversed the wet s

n who had tried to rob him. She couldn't risk the creep making an attempt on someone else. Honesty set in as she con

a was definitely getting under her skin, and her Audi seemed to automati

t the entrance to the underground parking garage. It meant he paid quite a bit more for rent on an already Spartan income, but that night it seemed perfectly worth it. He pull

om the medium-sized bedroom and attached bathroom, there was a livi

one of the two barstools. Frowning, his mind kept repeating the flurry of events that comprised the attempted robbery. He marveled

fire escape. He pointed the remote at the TV and then changed his mind. Gazing towards the sheer curtains, he couldn't help feeling watched. He got up and looked out one of the windows, but only saw the aged red brick wall of a non

tartled him. Damn it. He sto

in a terse voice. "Jo

eplied with

ressed as her TV play

hair and explained, "Well, I got mugg

. "That's terrible! Did

prise, and he demanded in

iend at work, Terri, had her purse stolen, and it took like

h disgust. You're kidding, right? he thought wildly before putting the phone back to his ea

dora?" she demanded

Isadora Reynolds. She's one of my history studen

y a mile,

t her end of the line. "When did all thi

ch. "It's a good thing she was there because the guy

ss end way before that?"

l, yeah, I guess. I was working late

n your office, too

to say? I get mugged, and maybe stabbed if it weren't for Isador

and retorted, "Of course, I

ing. "Well, I was alone in my office, t

I'm glad that you're okay and th

he said, u

o come over or an

. He felt exhausted, wanting only to take a shower, have a beer to calm his nerves, and maybe go

ay?" she insisted. "Sure,"

e said befor

tchen counter and headed to

outside Joshua's apartment window, well to the side in the shadows so that

of his living room. While concerned for his

to jeopardize his job. It was all she could do not to seek him out after each class ended. Still, there were only two weeks left before the semester ended, and she would end her brief stint at coll

with him, as well. She longed to share his body, to partake in his blood

Joshua's conversation with his girlfriend

better. Someone like me,

fairly dark where she stood, she didn't want to press her luck on being noticed. Instead, she quickly but

Isadora had reacted. She seemed unusually calm and collected about everything, while he had felt scared t

at is it about Isadora that keeps nagging at me? However, no answ

and investment activities, her mind kept wandering back to Joshua. She adored listening to him and watching him lecture in her evening history class, and once again she considered how

g it feel more like a life and less of a drudgery. She had enjoyed their brief interactions

e had reacquired a sense of enjoyment in the interactions with others of her kind. There were a number of fellow v

been living in Paris. He was usually very good about keeping in touch, so she was surprised. Howev

ick communication as personal or impersonal as she liked. Transportation around the world was effortless, though often at a considerable cost. Cable television provided hours, or even days, of alternate

m a vampire named Alton, who was as close a friend as she'd ever kn

sed. Maybe Alton will at least b

e college, he was somewhat remorseful that one particular evening history section was coming to an end. On the last class meeting, he passed out the final exam

ed a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I studied," she offered with a wink. He smiled genuinely, and it w

set of eyes in the classroom followed her. She placed it onto the podium in front of Joshua while her eyes never left

er beautiful green eyes, wishing that propriety didn't

almost helpless manner. As she withdrew her hand with a quick, smooth motion, she managed to caress the tips of her fingers gracefully across the top of his hand as he gripp

of the podium, and his mind raced with the desire to call her name. However,

egarding their grades, and trying to bring order to the chaos oft

osite side of the podium, and he gained immedia

f her friends on a weekend getaway trip to Florida. He tried to explain that his evenings and upcoming weekend would be swamped with a litany

it in large white letters. He had just finished posting the grades for his evening history class, in which Isadora made a perfect "A." Her accomplishment, whil

ticed it was Melanie's number.

e filed away some graded essays in a sma

d in a surprisin

st be forgive

ahead and joined my friends on the Jacksonville trip this weekend? I mean, you'

go without me." He wasn't sure exactly how much time he'd have to devote to her on th

h renewed excitement. "I

well after six months

d of hers, Greg Betwich

p the couples

" he asked wit

costume party we went to who was dressed as the peanut M&M,"

guy dressed as the M&M who kept asking women if they wanted to pr

an carefully. "Are you planning t

No silly, he's just going to eve

eemed to appreciate his concern. "Oh, wel

e casually added. "But it's not like we'll be staying in the same

ling me? Okay, so maybe she doesn't appreciate me as

e you guys leaving?" he ask

beat the Friday afternoon rush," she answer

re, so I'll know you're okay,"

don't stay too late up at the college. There

u tomorrow then." "'Night!" she

ing up, he turned the blinds down so he wouldn't feel like a fish in a bowl. He noted how eerily quiet the building was. It was only around eight o'clock, but most of the f

uite the

d his heart felt like it stopped in its t

h a mischievous grin while fol

note of her snug black denim jeans and brilliant blue, long-sleeved turtleneck sweater. Her red hai

le you," she pl

ead despite himself. "You

row at him and mut

silent admiration. "So, Isadora, what b

find you here," s

you made a perfect score on everything, including the bonus questions." The completely unusual nature of that registe

now," she absently replied.

for

s time. She warmly smiled at him as she listened to his pulse, noting he had a strong heart. From where she stood, she could almost hear t

ould talk, actually," s

o

e gesturing to a small

"What'

green eyes. "Actually, I was thinking that ma

d. His smile faded, and he responded, "I'm sorry, Isadora. I sh

raised an eyebrow and countered,

act," he carefully answered.

"I don't believe I'm

face. "I don't understand," he ventured with co

in an almost self

al is amazing. Surely, you want

ression. "No, my college experience has come to an end,

sked, "Well, what other c

and she paused before answeri

imple statement, and his thoughts seemed to seize as he got

while never losing ey

en by the dim lighting it was a spectacle of automotive engineering. He couldn't even d

r remote. Ah, he likes it, she complimented herself. "Ho

fit him like a glove, and he glanced sidelong at Isadora with a wide-eyed expression. "This is

o played alternative rock tunes. She basked in the sense of anticipation emana

they secured a small table in the corner of the room near the magazine rack. Pleasant acoustic guitar music serenaded them over the speakers, and they viewed the busy street outside through the front wi

o her interest in him. Gone were the premises of the college environment in which she initially sought him. He was hers to

. "Granted, it's not coffee

ed with a hint of surprise. "I do

that night had a different feel to it; somehow daring, yet surprisingly comforting to him. "Yes," he

hat vampires could appreciate many beverages and even some foods, though they derived no nutrition

want to talk a

ng in the intimacy of their conversation. "Anyth

And yet he frowned ever so slightly as he considered whether

idn't want to cause him undue guilt over being here with her, she also didn't really care

at all certain just how much more complicated anything could be between the two of them. Even after six months or more he still wasn't entirely sure where he and Melanie stood as a

ggle and patiently wai

e here with you," he said fi

sed. Much like wh

with an encouraging smile. "Becaus

er's company. Then something that had been on Joshua's mind since

"But do we know each other from somewhere? And not from cla

onfirmed. She was surprised that the little hypnosis trick during his childhood had worked so well. However

the subject of a study," he n

original question. "I've only been in Atlanta for a f

and nodded.

be the end of that line o

g?" he politely inquired, but with an immediate s

you to tell me about yourself." He

bserved with mo

ng, "I grew up in Ohio near Columbus. My mother ra

ually asked. He frowned

and gently ventured, "You so

man, you see," he explained in a vague manner. "And he drank. But one day he simply

despicable man, Joshua, she thought to herself. I'm glad I killed him, s

in. She had a great job in Columbus working for a mortgage processing company, and she worked her way up to senior mortgage processing su

ke a remarkable woman,

with a frown. "But she was kind

tentativ

shotgun, and made sure we had a great home security system. But she never wanted me involved with any of that. When I asked if she would take me to the self-defense class so w

y word. She wanted to keep you away from violence. She fe

dded almost as an afterthought. "And she would

s darted to m

know it's crazy, but I kept thinking...it's like she

gone forever, she willed with her piercing green e

appeared so cold to him, and felt a shiver go up

ed after practically seeing th