“Oh, good,” Agatha said as she watched Tim approach. “We were just coming to ye. It has been decided that we will go to Edwin’s family cabin on the Canadian border.”
“Right now?” Tim asked with surprise.
“Aye,” Agatha replied. “We must make haste.”
“I don’t know about…,” Tim began before Edwin interrupted him.
“You can hunt just as easily in New Hampshire,” Edwin said.
“That cabin gives me the creeps,” Tim admitted.
“It’s not creepy, it’s rustic,” Edwin said playfully.
“When was the last time you were there, brave ass?” Tim grumbled.
“It’s been a while, but it’s fine,” Edwin assured him.
“I don’t have a hunting license for New Hampshire,” Tim pouted. “None of us do.”
“We must leave,” Agatha urged.
As they made their way to the SUV, Kira stopped and expressed her concern about getting into such a foreign mode of transportation. She questioned if it came from the devil. Agatha assured her that she’d inspected the vehicle for demonic presence prior to knocking on the cottage door and it was clean. Even so, it took some coaxing to get the young vampire seated in the back seat with Edwin on one side of her and Agatha on the other. It required even more effort to keep her calm for the first few minutes after they picked up speed on the highway.
The men – mostly Edwin- spent the next few hours of driving time relieving fears and updating Agatha and Kira on the changes that occurred over the three centuries they’d been dormant. Kira listened – wide-eyed and silent- while Agatha probed them with questions they found intelligent and astute.
When Edwin broached the topic of their mode of speech, he did so carefully so as not to offend them. To his surprise and relief, Agatha was eager to update her vocabulary. It was agreed that they would assist her with that at every opportunity.
The women’s attire was another concern. Since it was the Thanksgiving holiday week, should anyone see them and question Agatha and Kira’s clothing, they could get away with saying they’d just left a play or celebration. After the week was up, they would have to update their wardrobe. The men decided it would be best to shop via the internet for starters until the women were more acclimated to the twenty- first century.
As time passed, Kira began to warm up to the occupants of the vehicle and gave an occasional smile or giggle to something that Edwin said. Due to Kira’s acute hearing abilities and sensory sensitivities from a long-time dormancy and – on a conscious level, at least – newness to vampirism, Edwin addressed her in a low tone, that was difficult for Tim and Mark to hear properly.
Later, when they were alone together, Tim and Mark discussed the impressive and unusual bravery Edwin showed in assisting subduing the vampire. Although they’d never found their friend to be a coward, this was a vampire he was dealing with! More caution should be used than he was displaying. They were very concerned that he’d been placed under the witch’s spell.
They reached the private road that led to Edwin’s family hunting lodge. It was, in actuality, an old log cabin that was in the family for generations and was listed with the historical society as a landmark. Even so, it was a private facility that was used by his family alone; and then on very rare occasions.
“It’s lucky there are so many evergreens lining this drive,” Tim said as they bounced up the snow laden drive. “Does this place ever get plowed?”
“I couldn’t say,” Edwin said matter-of-factly. “I usually come in the summer or early fall; and, then, it’s been years.”
“Doesn’t your family have a caretaker?” Mark asked in surprise. “This place is a landmark or something, isn’t it?”
“There’s a local handyman who keeps an eye on it. I guess he’d be considered a caretaker, but nothing like what Tim’s uncle has,” Edwin explained.
“Hell, that isn’t much,” Mark grumbled.
“Be fair,” Tim said. “He did manage to plow the drive so that you could get the SUV out and you had clean sheets on your bed.”
“It just seemed like he was negligent on so many things,” Mark mused.
“We all have different standards and expectations,” Edwin said patiently. “Perhaps Tim’s newly acquired uncle isn’t as anal as you are, my friend.”
“Anal? You’re calling me anal?” Mark said in a half-serious, half-joking manner.
“This is a saying I do not understand,” Agatha said thoughtfully. “Should I make note of it for the future?”
“Absolutely not,” Mark said just as they hit a very deep rut in the drive. Tim managed to maintain his seating because he was holding the wheel and the occupants in the back were sitting so close together that they escaped much jostling. Only Mark suffered as his head slammed into the window; for which he bellowed, “Damn!”
“I see the cabin,” Edwin said assuredly as he pointed in its direction. “Do you see it through the trees?”
“’Tis lovely looking,” Kira said softly.
Edwin gave her a warm smile of gratitude. He knew the cabin was far from lovely. It was old, rundown, and primitive. In comparison to the cabin they’d just left, it was a shanty. Even so, it offered warmth and protection from the elements until they could figure out what to do to escape the impending confrontation with a very old and very irate vampire.
It was late afternoon and the sun hung low over the tree line when they pulled up in front of the cabin.
“We have just enough light to gather some wood and start a fire,” Edwin said as he swung his arms and blew on his gloved hands to keep warm. “It feels even colder here than it did in Massachusetts.”
“We’re at a higher elevation,” Tim offered.
“I’ll check inside to see if there is any wood left from the last visit,” Edwin said as he unlocked the padlock that secured the door and pushed it open.
“If I remember correctly, this place has no electricity,” Tim said as he surveyed the outside for wires leading to the cabin.
“Hell, that’s right,” Mark groaned. “There’s no toilet either. Just a pump in the kitchen.”
“What is this toilet you speak of?” Agatha asked.
“I guess you would call it an indoor privy,” Tim said as he stood next to her.
Now that he’d had an opportunity to move past the shock of what happened since she’d arrived on their doorstep that morning, he was able to appreciate her beauty and essence. He found her more than desirable.
“An indoor privy?” she said with confusion. “Does it not stink?”
“Water is pumped into the privy to wash it clean after use,” Tim said with a smile.
“I find this incredible,” Agatha gasped.
“You will see it soon enough. After we leave here, of course. This place has a pump to get water without having to find a creek or spring, but the privy is outside,” he said.
“As it should be,” Agatha muttered as she walked with determined confidence into the cabin.
Tim wore a grin on his face as he followed her into the antique dwelling. Educating her on the modern world was going to be anything but dull. He had to admit, if only to himself, that it was just the type of diversion he needed. Until Agatha entered his life, things was starting to feel stifling and dull.
Kira stood in the middle of the cabin with a look of sadness. Aware of her every move and mood, Edwin was quick to ask her what was wrong.“I am reminded of home,” she practically choked out. “When I crept from the house before all were awake, it was with the intention of retrieving the cloth my aunt shipped from my homeland. It was my plan to surprise mother with a new dress. Little did I know I would never set eyes on her again.”“That’s horrible,” Edwin said in a hushed, emotional tone. “I’m so sorry.”“Ye are not bothered that I am a vampire?” she asked in a soft, gentle voice as she stepped nearer to him. “I am a danger to thee.”He’d been so engrossed in her natural beauty and the way she made him feel complete whenever they were in close proximity that he’d forgotten the fact that she was also a vampire; a reputed predator and danger to manki
Thanks to Mark’s stubbornness and generosity, the cabin was provided with enough modern amenities to make it quite cozy. He purchased a gas powered generator for electricity and a portable gas grill for cooking that had two burners on the side; making it possible to cook a complete meal on it. A dorm size refrigerator was also purchased to hold the necessities such as eggs and butter. Although both Kira and Agatha studied these items in wonderous awe, the table lamps he’d purchased caused the greatest curiosity. He questioned if the light bulbs would burn out before they ceased turning the lamps on and off.Tim concerned himself with the sleeping arrangements; purchasing several air mattresses and down filled sleeping bags.Edwin concentrated on making sure that they had the proper cooking and eating utensils, since his family had always taken them there and carted them away when they left. He also picked up a few heavy quilts for good mea
Edwin and Tim stood against the wall while they watched Kira and Agatha prepare themselves and the beds for them. True to her word about it being a ceremony of sorts, Agatha spread some type of herb on the floor around the beds before brushing it onto Kira’s naked body and then her own; all the while chanting in a language they couldn’t understand.“Have you ever done something like this?” Tim whispered.“I’m not sure I can,” Edwin said. “Not only is it a command performance, but it’s a command performance twice over and with an audience.”“There’s nothing I’d like more than to make love to Agatha. I find her hot as hell, but not like this,” Tim said. “I can’t say that I’m all that excited about sharing her with you and Mark either.”“Same goes for Kira,” Edwin said. “I hate the fact that you’re seeing her n
“They’re all settled out there. Are you sleepy?” Edwin asked as he returned to the bedroom.“I know not what I am,” she replied. “All of this is new to me. My body feels like ‘tis mine, but in a different way.”“That must be difficult,” Edwin said as he stood next to the bed.Kira took a moment to admire him in the candlelight. His bare chest had a thin layer of sandy hair. Broad and muscular, it tapered into tight, narrow hips. She’d had the opportunity to view his backside while they stood naked just minutes earlier, so she knew it was also tight and firm. If asked what the perfect specimen of a man looked like, she would have to say it looked like him.“Ye may come to bed if ye wish,” she said softly when she noticed him shuffling his feet as if not knowing what to do with himself.With a timid smile, he crawled into the only bed the cabin
Agatha listened intently to the muffled sounds of love making going on in the room next door with mixed emotions. She was happy to know that Edwin was protecting Kira by mixing his energy with hers, but she was also a little sad and, possibly even jealous, over the fact that Kira was being made love to while she lay alone in front of the fire. While it was true that she still had her maidenhead, she’d mentally prepared herself to lose it for Kira’s sake.Tim was the first man she’d set eyes on - -ever- who could tempt her to give up her maidenhead, even if she didn’t have to do so to protect Kira. She found him desirable beyond words and she sensed he felt the same about her. Although she was relieved when the ghost stopped the ceremony and prevented her from having to have sex with all three men, a part of her wished it had waited until after she’d been with Tim.She’d donned her shift for modesty’s sak
Edwin struggled to bring his foggy mind out of the peaceful depths of slumber. He worked hard to remember where he was as he caressed Kira’s sleeping form that was wrapped possessively in his embrace. Thoughts of the most incredible love making he’d ever experienced rushed back to him and he smiled with satisfaction. Not only was the woman in his arms beautiful, but she was phenomenal in bed.The thought of her willingness the night before brought on an immediate erection. He was about to tease her sleeping body into wanting sex when a crash from the other room caught his attention and woke Kira with a start. All thoughts of sex went by the wayside as he and Kira lept from the bed and hurried to dress so that they could check out the commotion.Kira made a mental note to thank Edwin once more for the unusual looking, yet, easily donned and extremely comfortable shirt and britches as she followed him out into the main room.They opened the
Edwin waited for everyone to settle down in the main room of the cabin to be sure he had their attention before speaking. “I’ve done my best to listen to what Tim and Mark have to say. Agatha, I haven’t spoken with you, but, unless you have something you want to add, I’d like to give my medical opinion on what occurred.” When Agatha looked to the floor in silence, he continued. “I believe that Mark experienced an episode of alcohol induced somnambulism; or, in layman’s terms… sleepwalking. It is a genuine condition that can be brought on by a variety of circumstances; one being stress. No one can deny the stress that we’ve all been under since we left the city. Combine that with an excessive intake of alcohol and… well… you know the rest.”“Kids sleepwalk, not adults,” Mark complained.“That’s not true,” Ed
Edwin took advantage of his time alone with Kira and Agatha to get to know them better. He made light of and spoke matter-of-factly about the bonding factor until Agatha eventually grew comfortable with things and forgot that she was supposed to be embarrassed.Feeling the need for blood, Kira excused herself to go feed on a dear or a wolf; promising to return as quickly as possible.“How did you know to find me?” Edwin asked as he sat down at the harvest table to enjoy the soup Agatha placed in front of him.“I cast a spell to be awoken when the shield was weakening,” she replied.“I know that,” he said, “but, me. How did you know to find me?”“I was given a vision,” she replied. “I work with the ancestors. They speak to me through thoughts, signs, and visions.”“Can’t they keep that vampire away from you and Kira?” Edwin asked innoce