Chapter 58 - Vladimir

The next day, after work, Delia rushed home and got ready to go to The Grind with Barry. She hadn’t been out in a very long time other than for work and it made her feel good to put on a pretty dress and let her hair down.  She actually began to get a little excited about going out. Barry called just as she finished getting ready and said he would pick her up in a few minutes.

When they arrived, Delia couldn’t wait to begin to dance.  She danced with a lot of different people and could easily tell the difference in those that were there simply there to have a good time and those that were looking for a one night stand. All except for this one this one man that arrived around midnight.  He kept looking at her and she couldn’t help but be mysteriously drawn to him. 

He finally walked over to her and began to talk to her.  His eyes seemed to see right into her soul which frightened her some, but at the same time it was exciting.  She couldn’t read him like she read others.  She wondered if he could close his mind to her.  But as he got closer to her and actually touched her, it was like electricity running down her spine and into the pit of her stomach. Delia thought her knees would give out. 

He seemed to know the effect he had on her and simply smiled.  They never danced, but just talked. Delia was disappointed when they shut down the club because she would have to leave and she wanted to keep talking to him. 

He told her his name was Vladimir Schlick and that he would like to see her again.  She shyly gave him her number, something she NEVER planned to do that night or any other night.  When they left the club and went their separate ways, Delia felt an overwhelming sense of loss.  All she could think about was Vladimir and that she wanted to feel his touch again.  She felt like a teenager with her first crush.  She tried to put him out of her mind when she got home.  She did not want to take on a lover or a partner.  He didn’t know she had two kids or how old she was. He would run when he found out she would soon be 55 or really closer to 175ish.  No, she thought, this would not work.  She would get heartbroken once again.

Two days later, while Delia was working in the garden with Hope playing by her side, Vladimir called and asked if he could come by and see her.  Just hearing that smooth deep voice over the phone sent those same shivers of need down her spine!   She heard herself saying, “Of course, I would love to see you again.”  Delia hung up the phone and was on pins and needles waiting for him to arrive.  What would he think about her children?  She was terrified he would run, but that was what she wanted, wasn’t it?  No relationships. 

Vladimir arrived that evening.  Delia had the kids in bed by the time he got there.  She ran outside to meet him like an overanxious lover. 

Vladimir wasted no time letting Delia know his intentions.  He told her all he could think about was her and he knew she felt the same way.  Delia melted as he kissed her.  She had fantasized about his kiss and it held true to her fantasy.  It was unlike any other kiss she had ever had. 

He led her by the hand into her bedroom and they fell passionately into her bed with urgent needs. She simply could not say no to Vladimir.  Afterwards, he whispered he had to leave, but would be back the next day.  She was happy and sad at the same time; sad that he was leaving but happy that he was going to return.

Before he left, Vladimir told her he wanted to meet her children. He said he planned to spend more time with her and he should get to know them.  He held her close and told her she smelled delicious and then said goodbye until tomorrow.  That same emptiness she felt at the club, returned again as soon as he left. 

What has happened to me wondered Delia. I am so bad at love and here I am again, falling head over heels for someone I don’t even know.  Well, she thought, all he said was he wanted to spend time with me – that is how we will get to know each other, but we must stay out of the bedroom she vowed even though she wanted to do the exact opposite. 

True to his word, Vladimir came by the next day before noon.  It was a work day for Delia and she was somewhat relieved because there would be no time for extracurricular activities this day and she wouldn’t have to try to stop the inevitable.  He told Delia he thought about her all night and hated being away from her.  Time quickly came for her to leave and he asked if he could stay and help with the sitter.  She was shocked and immediately agreed.

Vladimir wanted to do everything he could to be sure he was welcome at this intriguing woman’s house anytime of the day or night, especially the night.  The first thing he did was try to make friends with her son, Pierre.  Pierre seemed to like Vladimir much to his relief. Children were sometimes very difficult to fool. Before she left he pulled her to him again, much to Delia’s delight.  He told her he she was very intriguing and that she smelled absolutely delicious.

Vladimir was a vampire and Delia had not yet figured this out.  He was strangely drawn to her that night at the club.  When he told her she smelled delicious he meant it - literally.  He badly wanted to taste her. She has to want it too and be a willing partner because he wanted her more than just one time. That night at the club, he could smell her. He had been out hunting, but didn’t take Delia because he wanted to have all of her – always and forever.  He knew it right then and there when he got close to her. When he touched her it was all he could do to control himself.  

Vladimir used, and continued to use, his vampiric powers to force Delia to think about him and not be afraid.  He couldn’t let her see what he was.  He could sense that she would be very afraid of him if she knew.  He could feel her trying to read him so he closed his mind to her and only let Delia see what he wanted her to see.  Delia’s last two husbands had needed her trust them to find out more about her, he simply wanted her trust him so he could be with her forever. He would eventually have to tell her and it was getting harder and harder to wait to taste her.  

Delia had fallen in love.  She didn't know how or why it happened, it just did and as a result she now faced a problem; the problem of age. Vladimir was young, virile, strong and healthy.  When she felt his arms they were like rocks. He was in such good physical condition. But Delia was quickly becoming old, wrinkly and soft. The mirror in her bedroom confirmed it. If she wanted Vladimir in her life, she was going to do have to do something she had promised herself she wouldn’t do. Things never stay the same and she never planned to fall in love with this mysterious man from Bridgeport. 

Delia sat down at the table after the kids were asleep and got out one of the two remaining bottles of the Youth Potion.  She sat there and stared at it for what seemed like hours.  Why is this so hard to do she thought?  Because she is doing it for herself she reasoned. Before it was always for her children.  Well, the first time she had no idea, but the next time was for Francie and the last time was for Alex.  This time is for her.  She could rationalize it was for Pierre and Hope.  Yes she was getting old and they were still young.  However, Pierre would be a teenager soon and Hope would be 6 in a few days.  She would likely live until Pierre graduated high school, but probably not Hope. 

With that last rationalization, Delia decided, let’s just do this.  She poured the blue liquid into a glass and drank it.  That old familiar feeling came over her; she got a warm fuzzy feeling from her head all the way down to her toes and then it slowly subsided. 

When it was done, she immediately felt so much better.  She ran to the mirror and almost cried.  Looking back at her was a fresh faced 22 year-old.  Her skin was smooth and she no longer felt the aches and pains of age.  Every time she does this, it amazes her.

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