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“My day was tiring,” she said with a smile as she walked into her living room and dropped onto the couch. Meixiu followed her in and sat a short distance away. “We met VRL’s new external legal representative. Mahati Chandra. She’s a Nāga, a wielder and a strong one at that. She was directed by the Council to contain Henry. Instead, she decided that immediately eliminating him would serve the greater good.
“NO!” Meixiu gasped.
Sigrid held up her hands to calm the woman. “Henry’s fine. He grabbed her hands as she was about to release the spell and- broke it? I’m not even sure how to describe what he did. The energies just collapsed into a wave of force. Knocked Mahati and Henry away from each other to the outer edges of the room. Knocked them both out but Henry had no injuries at all. Mahati’s hands received burns. She’ll need healing.”
“You did not kill her for attacking Henry?” Meixiu asked in surprise.
“It was tempting, but Henry defused the tension in the room. Promises were made to play nice from now on. Mahati was impressed in spite of herself,” Sigrid said with a small smile on her lips.
Meixiu smiled happily. “Henry is a good man!”
Sigrid nodded and smiled in return. “Yes, he is. Now, how was your day?”
“The shortwave radio you bought for me was very entertaining! I found some… stations?” She looked to Sigrid and received a nod. “… where they spoke a dialect close to my original language. The television was a less entertaining experience. I do not understand why people find improper behavior so enticing. Bad people get rewarded while virtuous people get treated so poorly.”
Sigrid nodded unhappily. “Yeah, that’s a sickness in this culture.”
“Are you hungry? I prepared your dinner. It’s being kept warm in the oven,” Meixiu said with a smile.
Sigrid returned her smile. “You know I don’t expect you to cook for me. You’re my guest, not my servant.” She looked around and saw not a speck of dust, and everything placed just so. Neat and clean.
“This is why it gives me such pleasure to do this for you! You’ve been so good to me! This is the least I can do to repay you,” Meixiu gushed.
“There is no need but thank you!” Sigrid pushed herself to her feet and made her way into the kitchen where Meixiu slipped on the oven mitts and moved her dinner plate from the oven to the small table by the back window.
“May I give you a hug?” Sigrid asked as she stood next to the table.
Meixiu’s face lit up with a happy smile, and she moved into the tall blonde’s embrace.
Once the hug ended, Sigrid sat and began to enjoy the meal. Meixiu was an excellent cook.
“This is so good! Thank you! Are you going out for your own meal tonight?” she asked the petite woman. Meixiu only went out once or twice a week. Sigrid had trained her as best she could on avoiding being seen by security cameras and quickly discovered Meixiu was an expert at not being seen when she didn’t want to be. Just part of a Vampire’s skillset.
They’d also discussed who was a viable target for meals. Meixiu got particular satisfaction from hunting those who preyed on the weak. Aiming for the criminal element, Meixiu walked through some dangerous areas. If a mugger or rapist tried to attack her, she sprung her trap. She never took more than a few mouthfuls from her targets. In the morning they would wake, naked in an alley with no memory of her or what happened the night before. Meixiu was particularly sensitive to rape and when these monsters woke they’d find their balls had been tied off very tightly with a small silk ribbon. That damage was irreversible. Much like rape.
The petite beauty nodded happily to Sigrid.
“Don’t stay out too late,” Sigrid said as she extended her wrist out to Meixiu. “Be sharp out there.”
Gently holding Sigrid’s arm in her hands, she pressed her lips to the inner wrist and darted her tongue over the skin there, numbing it. A sharp prick from one of her razor-sharp fangs started the flow of blood. She drank a small amount then pressed her tongue once more against her skin and the healing enzymes sealed the wound. She finished by kissing the tender flesh. “Thank you!”
Sigrid pulled her arm back as tingles ran down her spine. She insisted Meixiu ‘top up’ from her before heading out as the Wild Magic in her blood supercharged the girl’s awareness and this protected her on her hunts.
“When will you be visiting Henry again?” Meixiu said with a sly smile.
Sigrid gaped at her in surprise.
“I’m just saying. Your energy levels seem to be a little low.”
Sigrid laughed as Meixiu slipped out the back door with a grin.
She very much enjoyed sharing her home with the cheeky girl.
Going back to her meal, she wondered what Henry was up to now?
***************
Henry rubbed at his eyes and pushed back from his desk. Blinking blearily, he looked at the clock on his screen. 9:43 PM. He frowned. It was just too easy for him to get lost in his work. He barely recalled Marisa telling him she was heading home and he should too as he’d been so deep in the code for the Investment Managers application. He’d finish tomorrow, but he didn’t need to push this hard.
He saved his work and shut down the laptop. He locked it into its base as he wasn’t taking it home tonight. He stood up and stretched his back, giving himself a shake.
He had to stop doing this. He was slipping into his old patterns. Becoming isolated by locking himself away with his work. He needed a real life. Balance.
Stepping out, he pulled his office door closed and headed out. He smiled and nodded to the two men stationed in the executive level lobby and received the same in return. As security was present, one of the execs must still be working. Then he noticed they were joining him to go down. He was the last exec working tonight!
As he waited for the elevator, he listened to the men talking and laughing about their hunting trip this past weekend, and he felt a familiar longing. A need to belong. He was only beginning to gain acceptance in Sandy’s circle of friends but, aside from Roger who still hadn’t warmed up to him, their interest in him was mostly based on physical attraction. He wished he had friends with similar interests. A group he could just hang out with and be comfortable around.
He stepped into the elevator, and they followed him in, continuing to talk about their plans. They went down to ground level, and the guards made their way to the Security office with a final wave to him. On his way past the empty reception desk, Henry waved to the security cameras as well.
The air outside was warm as they were still at the beginning of September. He decided he would do a little shopping. He had to pick up painkillers in case he drank too much again.
He walked along the street doing a little ‘people watching’ and saw a few watching him back, which was a new development. When he was Stanley, he never really registered on people’s attention. He kind of preferred that.
He spotted the 24/7 drug store and made his way inside. He grabbed a basket and began making his way up and down the aisles. He stocked up on shampoo as he had so much more hair now! He’d seriously considered going back to a short haircut, but Marisa, Sigrid, Camila, and Siobhan all emphatically vetoed the idea. They said his long wavy hair was gorgeous and suited his new look far better than short hair would. So, for now, more shampoo.
In the next aisle, he faced a huge variety of painkillers. He was beginning to get frustrated when he finally spotted a bottle with pills that matched the ones Marisa gave him this morning. That went into his basket too.
One more aisle and he was standing before a vast array of condoms. He’d promised himself he would get some and he hadn’t yet. If anything should happen between himself and any of the ladies in Sandy’s circle he’d be prepared. He had no idea where to start. There were too many options for color, size, thickness, texture, lubricant, non-lubricated, spermicide, and material. His head spun with the choice.
“You look lost my friend. Maybe I could offer you a little advice?”
Henry turned to look at the man standing next to him. He had a friendly smile, nice eyes and was almost as tall as Henry. He was sharply dressed as if he was on his way to a club which he may well have been as there was one a few doors away.
Henry nodded. “Yes, please. I’ve no idea which one to choose.”
“Then you are speaking to the right man!” came a boisterous voice to Henry’s left.
Another man dressed for clubbing walked up and threw his arm around his friend’s shoulder as he grinned at Henry. “Nate here should own stock in these companies considering how much practical experience he has with their products!”
“Joey! Come on, man! You’re making me sound like a douchebag! Get outa here!” Nate growled with a thick but fake New York accent and pushed his laughing friend away. “Why I oughtta!” he fake threatened the other man who continued to laugh and walk away.
The dark-skinned man looked back at Henry apologetically. “Don’t mind that mentally deficient nutcase. He’s right though. I do know which ones work best.”
Henry smiled at their casual comradery and thought that this was exactly what he was missing in his life. He was envious of Nate but looked back at the shelves as he didn’t want the man to see it.
“Ok, do you have an allergy to latex?” Nate asked.
Henry shook his head.
“I would recommend lubricated and having the spermicide in the lubricant isn’t a bad idea, but regular lube is also fine. Now, unless the ladies specifically ask for it, leave the colored ones for the couples looking for ways to add some spice.” Nate continued.
Henry nodded as this was helpful.
“And speaking of spice, don’t use the condoms which heat up or cool down unless, again, they specifically ask for that. I’ve seen a few women in pain from the chemical heat they add to the condom.” Nate pointed to the shelves. “That eliminates these.” He gestured to the areas which had the undesirable condoms. “Which leaves these.”All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.
Henry sighed in relief with the greatly reduced selection he now faced.
“Next question: pickle, banana, or plantain?” Nate asked.
“DUDE! You can’t ask about another dude’s junk!” Joey yelled from the end of the aisle.
“Hey! Then stop asking to see mine!” Nate barked back, and several male voices joined in on the ribbing of Joey who took it with a grin and good-natured curses. Henry’s eyes widened as he realized Nate had a posse of friends with him in the store. His envy grew.