CHAPTER 4

Alex slept better that night than she had in months. She dreamed that someone was there watching over her. She wasn't afraid in her dream in fact, it was rather comforting to her because she felt that this person cared for her very much.

She woke rested and ready to start work. She climbed out of bed and dressed in jeans and a top. She didn't want to be too casual but she knew she would be cooped up in a room typing all day so she wanted to be comfortable.

"Good morning." Paul greeted her with a glass of orange juice as she stepped into the kitchen. "How about scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast?"

"Are you the chef around here too?" she laughed.

"Jack of all trades, that's me." he laughed with her.

"Well then Jack, scrambled eggs and toast sound great. Can I help?"

"You can sit right there and keep me company. How did you sleep?"

"Great. I had the best dream."

"Oh…"

"I dreamed that someone was watching over me."

Paul froze. 'Did she suspect anything?'

Continuing on, unaware of Paul's reaction, "I think it was my parents or at least one of my parents."

"Your parents? Why do you think that?"

"Because it felt like someone who really loved me was watching over me. I can't think of anyone who loved me like that but my parents."

"Isn't there anyone else? A boyfriend maybe?"

'Careful Alex, don't say too much.' "No, it's just me."

"That's a shame, a lovely lady like you and no boyfriend?"

"Stop you're embarrassing me."

"Breakfast is ready." He sat a plate on the table in front of her. "Eat up while it's hot and I'll get you more juice."

She ate her breakfast and there was no more talk of boyfriends. She rinsed off her dishes and placed them in the sink then headed for the study to start typing.

* * *

"Gene, you have to stop." Paul admonished.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Gene replied innocently.

"You know exactly what I am referring to."

* * *

Alex turned on the computer, put the first tape into the player and started to type.

'I'm going to tell you a story. This story is not for the weak at heart. This is a story of a man who was cursed and had to survive by feeding on the people he loved most. The year was 1672 the place Long Island, New York.'

Out of the corner of her eye Alex saw something move and when she turned around she saw Gene hovering around the door.

'He's more nervous than an expectant father.' she laughed to herself.

'Because of the curse he couldn't marry his true love. He watched from afar when she married someone else. He left the area hoping to forget but being away from her was killing him, literally. He had to go back. Because of the curse he needed blood. He needed her blood.'

"Are you ready for lunch?" Paul was at the door.

She jumped when Paul entered the room. She was so engrossed in the story she was typing she had lost track of the time and did not realize she had been typing for 3 hours.

"Yes, I need a break. I've been sitting so long I can't move."

"Lunch will do you good then. Come on let's get you out of here."

Paul escorted Alex to the kitchen.

"Is Gene joining us for lunch?"

"No, but he will join you for dinner."

"Gene's been hovering around the study all morning you know."

"I'll talk to him." he set a plate of chicken salad down in front of her. "So how's it going so far? Do you like the story?"

"The writing style is really rough. It will probably go through 3-4 edits before it’s really cleaned up."

"But what about the story itself? Is it believable?"

"Believable? Like true story believable? I don't think so. A fiction story or mystery maybe but I wouldn't believe it was true." Alex continued eating lunch but Paul saw Gene's shadow turn and disappear.

Paul was quiet for the rest of lunch. Alex didn't understand why he had suddenly become so distant and excused herself to go back to her typing. 'Did Paul believe Gene's story was true? Did Paul believe in vampires?'

Alex went back to typing. She wasn't really listening to the story any more but to Gene's voice. He had an exceptional speaking voice, very sexy and almost hypnotic. She typed all afternoon not realizing the time.

"Are you ever coming out?" It was Paul. "Dinner is almost ready."

"You are going to spoil me." she smiled glad that Paul was back to normal.

"That's the plan. If we spoil you enough you will never want to leave."

Alex laughed as she headed toward the kitchen.

"Alex, Gene wants you to join him in the dining room."

"Oh. You did mention that earlier, I guess I forgot."

"Caught up in your work?"

"I suppose."

"Gene is waiting."

She headed for the dining room suddenly apprehensive. Gene had hovered around the study all morning but she had barely seen him all afternoon, he seemed to disappear right after she told Paul that she didn't believe the story and Paul had become so distant. Now she was having dinner with Gene and didn't know what to expect.

"Alexandra." Gene greeted her at the door. "Please come sit down. Paul has been cooking all afternoon." He took her hand and led her to a small table that had been set for one.

"Aren't you eating?" Alex was confused.

"Actually I've been slightly under the weather so I won't be eating but I still would like the pleasure of your company."

Paul entered just then bringing dinner. Paul set out a plate of lasagna for Alex and then poured her a glass of wine. He set out a glass of what looked like tomato juice for Gene, lit the candles on the table and then left the room.

"Please eat. Enjoy your dinner. Paul will be very unhappy if you don't." Gene smiled.

"This is just all so much. You really don't have to fix my meals for me." She was beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Nonsense. Paul loves to cook and well, I don't eat much so his talent is wasted on me. You will hurt his feelings if you tell him you don't want him to cook for you anymore. Now, tell me about yourself. I know so little about you." 'Careful, don't appear to be nosey'

Alex swallowed hard. 'What do I tell him? I can't tell him about Scott?'

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" 'Maybe if I ask simple questions it will be more comfortable for her to open up to me.'

"No, I am an only child. My parents were killed in a car accident about 6 months ago so I am all alone now."

"I'm sorry to hear about your parents. Tell me about your mother. That is if it isn’t too painful for you."

"No. My mother was a wonderful person so full of life. She was kind and gentle. I miss her very much."

"She is the one that gave you the necklace?"

"Yes, it was passed down to her from her mother one of those family heirlooms people always talk about."

"It looks lovely on you almost as if it was designed especially for you."

"Thank you. I do like it, sometimes I feel like my great grandmother is with me when I wear it."

“Great grandmother?”

“Actually, it goes back about 13 generations but saying great, great, great…”

"I understand. I am sure she would be pleased that you like it so well."

Alex continued to eat her dinner while Gene drank his juice each contemplating the other.

"What do you think of my story?" Gene ventured.

"Interesting. I can't say that I believe the story though." she admitted reluctantly.

"Why? What don't you believe?" he questioned.

"A curse? Feeding off of loved ones? It sounds a little Braham Stoker to me. Besides, vampires are not the in thing right now."

"Do I need more facts to make the story sound believable? What would I need to put in the story to make you believe it was true?"

"I don't know. I guess maybe more details. If this were a true story, and I am not saying I believe it is, but if it was true then there would be details that you could authenticate. There would be family history, graves, something that could actually be proven."

"I see. So I need to be more explicit then?"

"Perhaps. I still don't know if I would believe it but it would be helpful if you could prove some of the things you say."

"Maybe after you are finished typing the story we can go back together and gather the proof you need. You could help me with the research."

"Are you trying to keep me around after I'm done with the typing?" Alex smiled at Gene.

"Of course. I will have to just keep thinking up new jobs to keep you busy so you won't want to leave." He smiled back at her.

"You are finding me work and Paul keeps feeding me. What more could a girl want?" They both laughed and finished their meal in quiet conversation, each careful not to reveal too much about themselves.