Fated Mate

“Where does he go all day and all night? He only comes back for close to two hours a day before he disappears again. And he sleeps once a week, on Sunday!” Joe sounded concerned and anxious.

Ash and Billy were with him in the AA room. They had moved out of New York to Orlando Florida, in a secluded area. Their house was surrounded by trees and wildlife and was miles away from the next house and civilization.

Ash thought the move was best for their new member, to be away from the memories and the people who knew him. He was supposed to be dead. That and the fact he now wanted to stay in Florida, after putting up a spirited fight for over five years. He never understood the change but he didn’t question his decision. It was one less thing to fight about.

They had been at the Big Cyprus reserve close to ten years and had grown to like the place. Billy was against the move at first, but the place grew on him especially since Ash let them fix an AA room-Alcohol and Amusement room. The room was filled, wall-to-wall with alcohol, and a big screen TV was mounted on one of the walls. Joe didn’t care where they lived, as long as there was a bar and a video library close by when they needed to replenish their stock. Sabrina however had sulked about it for the past ten years. She wanted to go back to New York, back to the big apple, the noisy traffic and the latest fashion trends, back to civilization.

When was the last time you saw him feed? Billy thought. It was as good as talking out loud as the others turned to face him.

Ash was worried, could he be feeding on humans?

“No,” Joe said answering his thought. “We would have smelled the human blood on him, and it would be in his thoughts.”

“But when was the last time he stood still long enough for us to tell?” Billy was getting agitated.

“Joe’s right. Human blood is hard to miss, he isn’t feeding on humans.” Ash spoke calmly. He understood what the newcomer was going through. The fact that he hated his new life didn’t help matters much.

“What are you up to…” Ash said to himself in a whisper.

“You want us to follow him?” Billy said, already heading for the door. “He has a head start but we can catch up.” Billy was fast, not as fast as Ash but faster than the other three.

“No, let him be. Tomorrow I’ll find out.”

“Changing the subject, how about we go into the heart of Florida and have a little fun. Its Saturday night, come on! Poison ivy can watch the house.” Joe’s excited voice lifted the gloomy mood in the room.

Billy bust out laughing, Ash however was confused by Joe’s last statement. “Poison ivy?”

“Well you wouldn’t let us call her ice queen any more, or wi-bitch or Mrs. Devil, so we came up with poison ivy.”

“Oh no, don’t say we, say I.” Billy was wagging his finger at Joe.

“Her name is Sabrina,” Ash said firmly.

“Fine, Sabrina will watch the house. Let’s go.” Joe was out the door and in the car in a matter of seconds.

“Sabrina, we are going out,” Ash yelled from the bottom of the steps.

“I don’t care!” Sabrina yelled back.

“You know, I’ve always liked wi-bitch better,” Billy said as he walked out the door.

****© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Billy, why did you pick this place I can’t even hear myself speak!” Joe was shouting at the top of his voice.

Ash too didn’t feel comfortable, but it had been a while since they went out. For once he was glad they were on the same telepathic frequency.

How about you think instead of shouting!

Oh! Thanks, Ash. Billy, where are you going?

To the bar, go find us a table. Ash, let’s go. Who knows, this may be your lucky night!

Ash grunted. Very funny!

A chance to be with someone warm for a change, I don’t think the ice queen-I mean Sabrina, will like it. Billy what do you think?

I would pay to see her face when she finds out! Whoo! Instead of ice queen, she’ll be hells fury!

Billy and Joe were headed in different directions, laughing. They knew Ash had put an end to his physical relationship with Sabrina when her deluded claim on him became overbearing, but that didn’t stop them from teasing him. They may do it a lot less often since he was even quicker tempered due to the sexual frustration that had built inside him over the last nine years.

Ash growled. If you value your teeth you may want to zip it!

With that threat, Billy and Joe had their ‘mouths’ shut fast. Ash loved the fact that they were threatened by him, being more powerful than they were had its advantages.

Billy whistled. Check that hot chocolate out!

Ash looked around. Where?

At the bar. That grey mini just put me on over drive!

Billy, control your hormones.

That’s easier said than done. I’d like to taste that!

He huffed. Do you always have to objectify women?

Okay, Romeo, she’s all yours.

No thanks.

Billy walked toward her and stopped behind her. She was tall in her high heels but Billy still towered over her, enough to see over her head. Ash saw what he was doing and it made him anxious. Billy was right, she was smoking hot, but he wasn’t ready to be with a woman, sexually or otherwise. He tried to stop Billy, but he had already moved close enough for her to notice.

Billy, what are you doing!

You’ll thank me later.

****

The bartender turned to Lee with a smile on his face, ignoring the men on his left. Being a woman did pay off sometimes. She returned the smile and ordered their drinks. She opened her purse to pay, but a man spoke over her.

“I’ll pay for those drinks. Hi, I’m Billy and my friend here is Ash. Three tequila shots and three beers! You are my kind of woman. I assume you have friends?”

Typical, man! Lee wanted to stop him but free drinks didn’t sound so bad, and he didn’t use one of those corny lines, he was pretty direct. He now stood next to her, with his friend on the other side of him. She looked at him then at his friend, and wow they were tall!

Billy seemed very confident and had a blinding smile. His friend Ash, however looked uncomfortable and out of place. He didn’t even look at her when his friend introduced him. It was like Lee wasn’t even there. They were tall, huge and really hot. They were her type of guys, which obviously meant bad news.

“Yes I do. Thanks for the drinks but I’ve got to go. Excuse me.”

Lee left the bar and made her way back to the table, hoping they wouldn’t follow her. Acting like she was enjoying herself was all she could take. Acting sociable and nice, that would be too much to handle.

“Wow! Isn’t this fun!” Maria was dancing close to the table. She looked less innocent than usual in heavier make up than she normally used and a black halter mini-dress. She let her long black hair down in loose curls that framed her face beautifully.

“On the count of three…Three!”

They threw their heads back and downed the tequila. The taste was bitter and it went down burning.

“Lee, there are some guys checking us out. They seem like they know you, who are they?” Ann had a mischievous smile on her face. Lee turned and followed her gaze.

They were the guys from the bar, just two tables away from them. Billy and the blond were staring in their direction with million dollar smiles on their faces. Ash however had his attention elsewhere. He took swigs of his beer as he looked around with a sober, bored impatient look on his face.

He looked exactly how Lee felt.

“The brunette is Billy, the taller bored looking one is Ash, the blond I don’t know. Billy paid for your drinks.” Lee turned back around, not very interested in continuing the conversation. If she gave Ann any encouragement, within the next few seconds there would be six at their table and not three.

“I’m liking Billy already!” she said with a wink.

“Ann!”

“What! I’m only looking, you already introduced yourself…hypocrite.”

“I didn’t…” Lee quit speaking. There was no use arguing with her.

“They are coming over!” Maria sounded nervous, but she was giggling like a teenager.” Dibs on the blond!”

Lee did not like this one bit! She gulped down some of her beer. That left her with the arrogant one. She didn’t like it at all! “Hey! No fair!”

“Will you stop fussing? Think of this as an opportunity to finally get over Steve. And what better birthday present than tall dark and handsome. You never know, your present might be mind-blowing!” Ann spoke straightening out her dress.

Lee rolled her eyes. “Is sex all you think about?”

“Among other things.” She turned to Lee with a serious look on her face. “Don’t follow my example! Well…tonight you have a free pass but never again.”

“Well, I don’t do one-night stands. I want to know a guy before I sleep with him.”

“Good.” She sang the word like a proud mother before the real Ann made her way out. “There is more than one way of knowing someone. You can introduce yourselves when you’re naked and sweaty.”

“Ann!”