Tim and Mark finished breakfast and were on their third cup of coffee by the time Edwin crawled out of bed to join them at the harvest style dining table that was positioned on the side of the great room near the kitchen.
“I was beginning to wonder if you were alright,” Mark said as he slid a mug of black coffee in front of Edwin.
“What time is it?” Edwin asked as he propped his elbow on the table and rested his forehead in the palm of his hand. “I have a killer headache.”
“From that fall, no doubt,” Tim said as he slid a bottle of Ibuprophen next to the creamer and sugar bowl that were less than an arm’s reach from Edwin.
“I prefer Tylenol,” Edwin said as he grabbed the bottle of Ibuprophen and uncapped it.
“That’s not just a pain reliever. It’s also a muscle relaxer. You need both,” Tim explained.
“We weren’t planning on hunting this morning,” Mark said. “We thought we’d just get a feel for the amount of snow and see if we can find any tracks. I’ve never hunted under these conditions. I want to be safe.”
“Give me a minute to down these pills and some coffee,” Edwin said.
“Why don’t you stay here and stoke the fire in the fireplace. I checked the oil tank and it looks pretty empty. We might have to keep the furnace running at the fifty-degree mark and rely on the fireplace for comfort," Tim said apologetically.
“Crap. Is there enough wood for a week?” Edwin asked with concern.
“I think so,” Tim said hesitantly.
“I’m telling you, man. You need to fire that shitty care taker’s ass, pronto,” Mark said with disgust.
“I agree,” Tim sighed. “Unfortunately, the decision isn’t mine to make. I’ll definitely put a bug in my uncle’s ear about it though.”
“Okay,” Edwin said as he slowly stood and moved to the fireplace. “You two take off and I’ll hold down the fort. This headache can’t last forever.”
“Soak in a super-hot bath,” Tim suggested. “It always helps me after a difficult stunt.”
“I never considered the injuries you have to endure with your job. After my tumble last night, I have a newfound respect for you, my friend,” Edwin said with earnest. “Just tell me it was stunt worthy, please.”
“You are Hollywood material for sure,” Tim said with a laugh.
“It looks like there might be another storm brewing,” Mark said as he peered out of the window over the kitchen sink. “Can you believe it? We’d better head out before it hits.”
“We can check to see if the plow went through the main road while we’re out,” Tim suggested.
“Do you plan on hunting from the road?” Mark teased.
“I don’t like having the roads unplowed. It makes me feel trapped,” Tim explained. “I’m also going to call my uncle to see if his caretaker plans on plowing the drive anytime soon. We fishtailed all the way up that drive and, now, there’s more snow’s on its way. I don’t like it.”
Tim and Mark took off into the woods, insisting they’d return in a few hours. After putting another log on the fire and making sure it was burning properly, Edwin took Tim’s advice and filled his deep, claw-footed tub with piping hot water. His skin felt scalded as he sank his muscular, six-foot frame into the liquid. Before long, the heat penetrated past his reddened skin and caressed his aching muscles in a soothing, comforting way. He stayed in the water until it was tepid and no longer soothing.
Good fortune smiled upon him when he searched the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and found a tube of fast acting muscle rub. He held it to his nose to see if it was too old to use. He detected no rancidness amidst the intense eucalyptus and smiled. After eagerly spreading a liberal amount on the back of his neck and his shoulders, he gave a moan of relief and a smile. It was already working.
By the time he looked out the window to see Mark and Tim trudging through knee high snow after scoping the terrain, he felt limber and more like himself.
He put the coffee pot on for fresh coffee and pulled a bottle of brandy from the cupboard as well. The men were moving so slowly, he had time to brew the coffee and mix it with whiskey and a dash of cinnamon before they practically fell through the front door.
“My thighs are burning,” Mark groaned as he took off his coat and shook it out through the open door to remove the snow from it.
“I should have checked the basement for snowshoes,” Tim said apologetically as he duplicated Mark’s movements. “We won’t be able to move from this place if we don’t find any.”
“You know, when you said we were going to a cabin, I expected some rickety log structure. This is more like a house. Hell, it even has a basement and I’ll bet it has a game room,” Mark mused. “Look at the television. Who has a fifty-inch television in their hunting cabin? Is it hooked up to cable?”
“I spotted a satellite out back,” Edwin volunteered.
“The lifestyles of the rich and famous,” Tim chuckled. “Trust me when I say that, for my uncle, this is rustic.”
“Why weren’t we ever introduced to this cabin before now?” Mark asked as he flopped down into the nearest club chair and pulled off his wet socks.
“He only recently joined the family. He’s an uncle by marriage,” Tim explained. “We hit it off almost immediately.”
“Lucky,” Mark said as he slouched into a more comfortable position.
“Since we’re all more coffee drinkers than tea toters, let me introduce you to my version of a hot toddy,” Edwin chuckled as he handed a mug to each of his friends.
They accepted the cups gratefully while wrapping their cold hands around the steamy ceramic. Tim took a sip and smiled while Mark made a face, indicating his dislike for the taste.
“This is different,” Mark said hesitantly.
“Drink at least half a cup before you decide if you like it or not,” Edwin said firmly.
“I like it,” Tim said as he brought the cup to his lips once more.
A knock on the door immediately grabbed their attention.
“I hope that’s the caretaker,” Tim said as he set his cup down on the coffee table and eagerly headed for the door. He pulled the door open and was greeted by an old woman, bent, and huddled, in a thick cloak. The only thing exposed was her long, silver streaked hair. “Can I help you?”
The woman’s head slowly raised until her steel grey eyes were locked with his rich brown ones. “Are ye Edwin Jameson?” she asked in a weakened, shaky voice.
Tim had no idea how to respond to the woman who looked like she’d stepped off one of the movie sets where he was often called upon to do stunt work. An eerie energy radiated from her that made him uncomfortable. He wanted to slam the door in her face, but, instead, he called for Edwin in an urgent, croaked voice. “Edwin. You better get over here.”
Tim stood aside to allow Edwin access to the door.“Can I help you?” Edwin asked warily. The old woman’s grey eyes bore into his blue ones with such an intensity, he felt unable to move; as if mesmerized. When he was finally able to gain control of his senses again, he said, “I’m Edwin Jacobson.”“Then, ye are the one I seek,” she said firmly. “Please, come with me.”Edwin was so taken aback that, at first, he simply stood staring at her in disbelieve with his mouth open. When she was half-way down the steps, she turned to face him with an expectant look.“I’m sorry, lady, but I have no clue who you are, how you got here, how you knew I’d be here, or why you want me. What I do know is that I have no intentions of going anywhere with you,” Edwin said as he surveyed the grounds for what might have brought her to the cabin.The caretaker had yet to pl
The men rushed out of the cabin with the intention of driving the SUV to where the strange woman claimed she buried the poor girl. Tim’s hand was on the door handle when she beckoned him back to the center of the snow-laden driveway.“Hold hands,” she said briskly as she positioned them into a circle of which she stood in the center.It took her forcefully barking the order a few more times before they stopped giving bewildered looks and grabbed each other’s hands. Almost immediately, the world swirled around them until they could see nothing but particles of snow twirling past their heads at breakneck speed. When it stopped, and their vision cleared, they found themselves deep in the woods on what they guessed was a logging road.Mark struggled to keep a steady stance on legs that felt like jelly while he did his best to prevent his stomach from purging its contents.“Did we just teleport?” Edwi
Agatha rushed to place her hands-on Kira’s shoulders to prevent her from rising up out of the coffin while she shouted to Tim and Edwin, “Ye men need to stand back now. She is a vampire who has been without blood for several centuries. I must have a chance to be with her before she sees ye.”Tim wasted no time running to hide behind the trunk of an ancient oak tree, but Edwin didn’t move. Agatha warned him a second time before she turned her focus on Kira. He backed up, but didn’t hide. He might be crazy, but something told him he didn’t need to.He listened intently as Agatha reintroduced herself to Kira. She reminisced about the events that led up to placing her in the magical coffin and then explained the reason it was imperative that they flee as quickly as possible.A squirrel skittered up the tree next to him. With minimal thought or effort, Edwin caught it and walked toward the newly awaken
“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,&
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