Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Pit…Pat..Pit. Pat.

Water continued to hit the side of Satoru’s face as he slipped in and out of consciousness. He groaned softly. As he opened his eyes, pain shot through his skin—he was confused and disoriented.   Dark gray   bricks were surrounding the cell dried mold, and rust was caked on the bars. He got up from the chilly, blackened ground; his stomach rumbled. Satoru’s blistering lips were coated from his own salvia.

Footsteps echoed through the walls as he looked around his surroundings, still wondering. Light shined through one part on the cell, and a tray rested  beyond the heavy steel door.

Where am I?   

Satoru inched over to the tray carefully and picked up a bag.

I cannot be live off of this, but I have no choice.  He squeezed the bag carefully as he began the slow process of drinking its liquid content. 

After discarding the bag on the floor, Satoru felt his strength was returning somewhat. He pounded at the door. 

“Hey, please. Get me the fuck out of here!  Why am I locked up in here?” he  pleaded.  What did I do to deserve this ?   He heard footsteps, so he stepped away from the door and backed himself into a corner.  The door hissed opened, causing the daylight  to pierce Satoru’s eyes. Anxiety began to inch up Satoru’s body—the person standing beyond the door was someone he did not expect to see.  

“Fuck,” Satoru spat.

“Satoru, it has been such a long time. Is that any way to greet your sire?” Magnus grinned while closing the door behind him. 

The door’s slamed.

Satoru growled.  “Didn’t expect you to do this to me. Why are you being so painfully nice to me?” He could not think it. He refused to believe that the one person he counted on had deceived him.
Magnus grinned again and walked over to Satoru. He then kneeled down and touched Satoru’s mouth. “There was a time when my touch used to make you cry out my name. Now you look at me in disgust.”

Spit!

Magnus groaned, grabbing a napkin; he wiped the spit from his face. He then cupped Satoru’s neck. 

“Come now, Satoru. That is no way to treat your sire. I’d love to do a lesson, but that is not  the reason I brought you here. Once again, you have disobeyed my orders by falling in love with a mortal woman. Have not you learned from your past? Remember Anna?” 

“How are DARE you to mention her name!” He growled, bearing out his fangs at Magnus. It was a warning Satoru was ready to defend himself.

****

Magnus is right. I did disobey orders by falling in love with a human, but it was worth the risk.  I’d do it all again just for the chance to see her .  

“I knew you could not do it. What made the blood bag so special, Satoru?”  Magnus knew something particular about this mortal woman that caused his prodigy to go after her.  

“She made me feel human again. You of all people should know that,” he retorted.  

“Using the same method I did to you earlier is smart but not smart enough . We’ll do it your way. Enjoy your stay in this cell.” 

Magnus got up, walked through the door, and closed it shut behind him. Satoru hung his head low, and the only comfort he had was  the blatantly black floor.

Later, Satoru found himself waking from another set of flashback dreams—visions that were  beginning to get on his nerves. He glanced over at the alarm: 4:00 a.m . He would have to get up in five hours, which was not in his favor at this point. His eyelids began to fall slowly; soon, all he could see was total darkness. The ringing of his alarm clock woke him again. This time, the clock read 9:00 a.m .
He took a quick shower, and once he was out of the shower, the mist created by the warmth covered the entire bathroom.

Satoru wiped the fog from the mirror. He began to blow dry his hair; he wrapped the towel around his body. He headed outside of the bathroom, and his clothes were already available in the bedroom.
As Satoru got dressed, his cell phone began to ring. He mumbled to himself while picking up his phone. “Yes?”  He groaned as he zipped up his pants, slipped off the shirt he was wearing, and proceeded to button up his shirt .  The person on the other end of the line was Ruka, Satoru’s boss. Work as a lounge singer was uncomfortable,but at least it paid the bills.

“Satoru, you better get your ass down here! I know you enjoy sleeping in, but you were supposed to be at the bar fifteen minutes ago.”  Ruka helped Satoru acquire a secure job in Helena, California when he moved there two years prior. The bar Ruka owned was a relatively new bar; it was right across the street from Dragon’s Lair, which was heavily populated with celebrities and people in their twenties. Ruka had established a reputation for the bar, but it was difficult to acquire customers when the bar was not yet named. After being in business for a year,  he finally decided to name the bar ‘Rising Sun’ to pay a tribute to his childhood home in Japan.

“I know, I’m sorry, but I had that dream again. I’ll be there soon, Ruka.” Satoru hung up the phone as he put in it his pocket.

Satoru arrived at the bar, and Ruka greeted him.  “Sleeping Beauty finally awakes, ladies and gentlemen.”  He chuckled.
“Ruka, you are not mad at me for being late, are you?” Satoru hugged him tightly; he genuinely did owe Ruka everything. 
“Toru man, you know I cannot stay mad at you. Besides, if it were not for you this site would not be popular.”

You obviously have no idea how much of a colleague you truly are to me, Ruka. For that, I owe you everything. You were the only one who genuinely understood me.

“Hey, do not forget about me, Ruka!” A voice cried behind the counter that she then climbed over..  Satoru had never seen a girl do that before—maybe she was different from the women in his previous relationships. Did Ruka hire a new employee? He did not tell me that on the phone that little ...

“Yah! Felicia, what did I tell you about climbing over the counters like that? Oh, Satoru this is Felicia Davis, our new bartender that I hired to yesterday. I sent you a text message, remember?”

“Oh...Right, sorry. My mind has been preoccupied for the last couple of days.”  Satoru avoided eye contact with Felicia.

“Isn’t it usually polite to introduce yourself to new people?” She looked at Satoru and seemed to find him attractive, but her continued interest was dependent on his change in demeanor .

“Sorry Felicia.  He is friendlier than this. Satoru, maybe you should show Felicia around Helena.”

Stop trying to hook up me with employees, Ruka. I have not dated for a while, yeah. And sure, she is extraordinarily beautiful, but there’s just no way I would fall for Felicia.

“Why don’t you take her out, Satoru? I need to get the bar ready for our patrons.”