Mary’s Virgin Page 4

She hangs up. I throw my phone into the passenger seat. Great. No one to speak to. No one to vent to. No one, but myself. I begin to wonder if what Scott had said was true. I can barely remember life before him, so it really must not have been so great. But the pain and trouble he put me through, it must have been a much better life for me before him, wasn’t there?

  Without another place to go in mind to ease my mind, I decide to head to Artimus’. I could hope that whatever plans he had yesterday, are finished. And hopefully, he not be upset that I pop up so soon. I mean, he did say I can visit anytime and just not last night. Now, it is a different night, so…he shouldn’t mind.

  I GPS his house and as I get close, I notice that all his lights are on. He is certainly home and has as many lights on as if he were throwing a party. I turn off the GPS and begin to turn into his long driveway. I look up ahead and see a black car out front. It isn’t anything I could picture him driving. It’s kind of old. I would have thought if he did have cars then it’d be a bunch of old-school mint-condition classics or something. Corvettes and Lambos. Mustangs and T20s. Something like that. But as I pull up to park next to the vehicle, I begin to think to myself. He doesn’t have a garage, and perhaps he doesn’t need to drive. I look over at the vehicle as I pass it and the dent in the rear of the car sends both confusion and heartbreak within me.

  Chels? That can’t be her car. I park next to the car and hop out. As I make my way up the steps of his house, the door opens. Artimus stands there dressed in black pants and of course, a white button-up.

  “Mary.”

  “I would have called, but you never left me with a number.”

  He nods his head.

  “Whose car is that?”

  “Hi…Mary.”

  I look over Artimus’ shoulder and what I feared the most has happened.

  “Chels…”

  Chapter 7

  It already bothers me that Chels is here. What bothers me more is that she’s half naked, standing in her lingerie.

  “Artimus?”

  “Mary. Please don’t—“

  “What the hell are you doing here, Chels?! You don’t answer my calls or texts, nor show up at work, and then when you finally answer, you say you are sick and not to come over, but come to find out, you are over here, sleeping with him?! After I’ve told you how much I liked him? You’d do this behind my back?!”

  “Mary, I didn’t—”

  “You didn’t mean to? Was that what you were going to say?”

  “Mary, do understand that nothing—”

  “Understand what, Artimus? That you slept with my best friend?! I trusted you! I liked you and wanted to be with you! Is this what you’ve been doing when you said you had been ‘booked’ for the night?”

  “Mary,” he says, raising his hands in defense. “I don’t understand why—”

  “You don’t understand why I’m upset? Really? You’re sleeping with—”

  “I don’t understand why you think it’s something more than what it actually is.”

  I silence myself and stare at them both. I begin to shake my head.

  “You—” I begin to say. “I’m sorry, I thought we had established some form of entitlement…” I say, nodding my head. “Entitlement.” I turn back and head towards my car.

  “Mary!” Chels calls after me.

  I get into my car and slam the door. As a cry builds within me, I pull out of his driveway and floor it onto the street. I speed through Times Square, swerve between cars, taxis, and buses, and make my way back home. If I can’t trust my best friend, then who can I trust? She was the only person I had that kept me going. Not my family, not my ex-husband, not my boss, not my job. Just her. I met Artimus and just before I seen a happy life ahead of me, Chels took it away. I’m tired of people taking things from me.

  I pop open a bottle of wine and immediately begin to drink. With each gulp, it gets better. Easier to get down. I drink and drink and down the bottle until it’s practically gone. I stumble a bit, and when I think of Chels and Artimus, I throw the bottle at the kitchen wall. It shatters and scrambles into chunks of glass, onto the floor.

  “That whore.”

  I stare at the glass, and a salvation incubates my thoughts. I don’t have to live like this. I don’t have to keep myself feeling like some burden to everyone; Feeling as though I don’t belong with my family; Feeling as though I don’t deserve any friends; Feeling as though…I don’t deserve to be loved.

  I stumble towards the broken glass and small pieces cut into the bottom of my feet. I bend over and shuffle through them with my fingertips for the perfect piece. I find it and I find a smile. I struggle to stand and make my way to the kitchen sink. I stare out the window and into the cold winter night. The snow falls along the trees in my backyard, and someone stands between them, staring back at me. I shake my head.

  I peer into my wrist, then look at the broken piece of glass in my hand. I hold the edge of the glass to my wrist and though my vision blurs, perhaps it doesn’t matter where I can begin to cut. I press the point of the glass harder against my wrist. Just when I’m about to break skin, a hand is then atop of mine. It takes the glass and turns me around by the shoulders.

  “What are you doing, Mary?”

  “Artimus, what are, what are you, you doing in my house?”

  “You are drunk,” he says.

  “Ha-ha, not that forget what happen, you and Chels. You two,” I say, pointing a finger and shaking my head. “Hurt me.”

  “Mary, I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Chels was naked…Naked!”

  “She was…but I was not the one who removed her garments.”

  “What? What does that even mean?”

  “I invited Chels over to learn more about you. Chels thought I invited her for something different. Something more. I wanted to know if you are truly the person you have shown me you are.”

  I try to gather my thoughts, but it keeps trying to slip because of the wine.

  “But…I saw Chels naked, and you looked so—”

  “Pressured. I knew she was your best friend. She did confirm how great of a person you are…and how hurt. But…then she started to drink quite a bit and get very friendly. I denied her because my feelings are with you. She started taking her clothes off and I forbade it. I knew it was you before you knocked on the door. I told you I’ll see you coming before you can see me…I didn’t lay a finger on your best friend. I haven’t felt this way about anyone in quite a long time, Mary.”

  I take a deep breath and stare into his eyes. He seems more serious than I could imagine.

  “But…how do I know you are telling the truth?”

  My phone begins to ring. Artimus looks down at my phone as I hold it in my hand.

  “Answer it. Hear her out.”

  I exhale deeply and answer the call. I place it to my ear, but I refrain from saying anything. As she talks, I stare at Artimus.

  “Mary…I didn’t mean to hurt you, I’m so sorry. I had been drinking and it really took over me and he’s just so—you already know…I don’t need to say it. But I’m sorry. It really wasn’t his fault. I came onto him, but he refused. All he talked about was you.”

  “I’ve heard.”

  “Do you forgive me?” she asks.

  “In due time, Chels. Maybe I will.”

  I hang up the phone, and the buzzkill kicks in.

  “You—want me?” I ask him.

  “Yes.”

  “But…you can’t…And I shouldn’t want you.”

  “Why can’t it be?”

  “Because…I’m a human and you’re a … vampire. We have different lives.”

  “I can adjust to yours,” he says.

  “No, I can’t do that to you.”

  “But I want to be with you.”

  I smile as he caresses my cheek.

  “Do you really want to go back to a job you hate? How long until your family accepts you? How long until your ex-husband begins to stalk
you and ruin you?”

  He’s right—about everything. I love to write, but I hate my job because of my boss and co-workers, and now, ex-best friend. My family has been treating me this way for years, practically since my younger brother was born. My only excuse for them would be that maybe they never wanted a daughter. My ex-husband, already, it’s barely been a week, has shown up to my house just to tell me I was nothing before meeting him. But here stands someone who cares. Someone honest and faithful who wants to be with me.

  “How could we do this? How could we make this work?”

  Artimus steps forward. “I’ll change you.”

  Goosebumps spread across my skin. “Change me? But then I’ll be like—”

  “You wouldn’t have to kill anybody. I’ve never killed anyone. I feed and let them go. It’s just that, they tend to find their way right back to me and want the same for their lives. I just so happen to run into people who are unhappy and give them what they want. A freedom. A different life…But you, you seem to be the unhappiest.”

  I wipe my face from tears and nod my head.

  “How would I just—disappear from this life I have?”

  “You were going to kill yourself.”

  “Yes,” I say, looking down.

  “I’ll make it look like an accident. I’ll burn this place down and they’ll believe you were inside. Your best friend will naturally confirm it. You were just on the phone with her. I believe she’s on her way now. She could be the one to find this place to ash.”

  His plan is far too great to deny belief. I nod my head.

  “Change me…”

  Artimus steps forward and holds my face in his hands. He begins to kiss my lips, then works his way down to my clavicle and up my neck. I toss my head back as he removes some of the hair away from the side of my neck.

  “This will hurt.”

  “Do it.”

  He bites into my neck and agony escapes my throat. I fight beneath him, but he keeps me locked in his arms. As he drinks, the pain from the bite begins to go away and so does my consciousness.

  Momentarily, I see him looking into my face, my vision a bit blurry. He begins to fumble through a few things in the house. I then hear him click the stove on. He walks back over to me, and I find myself in his arms again, taking us to the door.

  “Artimus,” I say, weakly.

  “Shush. The venom will be working soon enough. You should sleep, Mary.”

  I look around and he walks down the driveway, cradling me in his arms. Momentarily, I hear a loud bang and a rush of red and orange light surrounds us. I smell fire, but feel the cold of the winter snow. I’m drifting from the ground, and as I’m in and out of consciousness, below us, I see the Atlantic waters.

  ***“Mary…Mary…Mary, wake up.”

  I open my eyes and find myself lying on cement, however, the clouds seem much closer to me than they should be. I clench my aching jaw and look up into Artimus’ face.

  “Mary. You’re beautiful. You are changed.”

  “It…it hurts.”

  He smiles softly as he brings me to my feet.

  “It will pass with time.”

  “Where are we, Artimus? What are we standing on?”

  “The Eiffel Tower.”

  “What?” I head over to the railing and look around the scenic view from our vanishing point. If my heart could beat, I’m sure it would be pounding against my chest.

  “Welcome to Paris, Mary, and Merry Christmas.”

  THE END

  Bonus Short Stories

  Please see the next page to start the bonus. Enjoy

  Bonus 1 of 30

  NBA Super Star

  Description

  James had one shot at making it with the NBA Wild Cats. He was excited about having his chance. Though there were quite a few men who were trying out for the same team he wasn’t sure he was going to make it. When his brother comes in right before his name is called he has more faith than ever, hoping to have a big celebration after he makes the team. He doesn’t know what’s in store for him when he leaves it up to Anthony to plan out his celebration. It’s a celebration of a life time!

  Chapter 1

  James was a tall, handsome man with sandy brown hair and light brown eyes. He was twenty-three and trying out for one of the biggest sports in the United States. He was trying out for the NBA, he could imagine it now being on television just knowing that his friends and family would be seeing him. He was going to be a sports star just like he had always dreamed he would since he was little.

  James imagined the fans who would want his autograph and the women that he would be dating. He wasn’t going to settle down, wanting to see what kind of women were out there. He was looking for exciting, exotic women that could fill his satisfaction when it came to pleasing him. He hoped that he would come across some women who wouldn’t mind doing what he wanted when he wanted to.

  “I wanted to wish you luck on tryouts tonight,” A male’s voice said from behind him.

  James smiled, he knew that voice anywhere. It was a step brother from back home, not just any friend but his best friend.

  “Hey, I didn’t think anyone who looked familiar would be around.” James turned around, taking his eyes off the large basketball court.

  His brother, Anthony, was standing there with a smile of his own on his face. James gave him a big hug and was even happier that someone had taken the time to come and see him on the big night. That night was going to make him or break him.

  Anthony was twenty-four with short black hair and dark blue eyes. He was just slightly shorter than James was and more masculine. He had a tanned body from being out in the sun, he was a roofer and that’s how he had stayed in shape for a few years.

  “Everything is going to be great, you’ve got the talent,” Anthony told him as they let go of each other.

  “I’m not going to lie, I’m a little nervous. I mean who wouldn’t be? It’s the NBA,” James said, looking around and seeing a few more guys coming through the double doors.

  “Don’t worry about it, they have nothing on you. The scouts wanted you for a reason, they see a lot of potential in you and they know that you have talent. They’ve seen it at numerous games and that’s why they put you on the list. This is going to be great for you,” Anthony assured him, seeing the worried look in his brother’s eyes.

  He didn’t have to ask if he was worried, after the years of knowing each other he just knew. He saw the tension in his brother’s body and the way he stood but he also saw that James kept his head held high.

  “There are ten men here for tryouts and they’re only going to pick two. I’m sure whoever doesn’t make it they will be picked up by someone else. I mean that’s how it goes. One team doesn’t take you another team will. Either way I’m going to make it.” James gave him the look that he could do anything he set his mind to.

  “You really want to play for this team?” Anthony asked him.

  “The Wild Cats have always been a dream of mine, they are my favorite team. If they don’t pick me up I will be grateful to play for any team,” James replied as he nodded his head firmly.

  He wasn’t going to be upset or picky when it came to what team he played on. This was the team they had chosen him for and he couldn’t believe it when one of the scouts had come up to him after a college game and told him who they were and what they wanted.

  That night had been a big deal for him, he had gone out to dinner with his family and then went out partying with his friends. Celebrating to have the chance to tryout, everyone that he knew was proud of him. Girls that never noticed him in college were asking for his number that night at the bar and he just waved them off. If he wasn’t good enough before everyone found out about his shot at the NBA, then he was going to make them feel as if they weren’t good enough now that they knew his name.

  “After you make the team, we are going to go out and party hard. We’re going to party so hard that you’re going to forget what we did
and I’m going to have to remind you.” Anthony laughed, thinking about the celebration that was going to take place after making the team.

  “I don’t want to party that hard, you really want to do something awesome for me?” James raised his eyebrows at him.

  “Sure.” Anthony would do anything for him if he could.

  “Find a woman that wouldn’t mind sharing her time and body with us.” James winked at him.

  Anthony couldn’t tell if James was kidding around or not. He saw a grin on his face but there was no laughter behind it to let him know that he was just teasing him.

  “I already have someone in mind,” Anthony told him, smirking at him. He knew that if James was kidding around he would’ve made a comment about his statement but he made none.

  “James Matthews, is there a James Matthews here?” A man with a clipboard was walking towards the men that were already taking the court to practice.

  “Here, I’m here!” James called out, going down the bleachers and making his way to the court.

  “Fantastic.” The man looked up at him and gave him an encouraging smile.

  Anthony looked at the clock it was only two in the afternoon, tryouts didn’t start until eight that evening. He had plenty of time to take off and come back before the tryouts even started.

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Are we going to be able to come back in if we leave for a few hours?” James asked, knowing he wasn’t going to stay for eight hours before the tryouts began.

  “Yes, you all may leave whenever you want to. Just be here an hour before tryouts. I want all of you to know that this is a closed tryout session. In the past, we’ve had open tryouts but we’ve come to find out that it just takes more attention away from the players. Again, this is a closed tryout session,” the man told the men that were already there.

  Anthony and James made eye contact with each other. Anthony was glad that James could take a few hours and hang out, in California there was plenty to do.

  Anthony got off the bleachers and waited for James, they walked out together and Anthony grinned at him. By the next day, James’s life was going to change even if he didn’t make the team, James was soon to become a popular man all over the world when it came to basketball fanatics.