Etched into my lifeline was a precise replica of the Rossi Rose.
"Jim is going to flip when he sees this," I warned.
"Oh, don't worry. Only you and other members of my family can see it. And maybe the occasional fortune teller, if she's the real thing. Of course, other vamps will be able to sense it."
"And what's the point of this invisible ink?"
"Nothing too crazy. Just lets other vamps know that I've claimed you."
"Um, excuse me???"
"That you're mine. My human."
"Well, begging your pardon, Mr. Rossi, but that was NOT what I signed up for. I just said I'd keep your bloody secret. Who the hell are you to interfere with my love life?" Okay, so I didn't have a love life to speak of, but he didn't need to know that.
Ross sighed. "Please, Corrie, calm down. It's not nearly as dramatic as you're making it sound. You're free to fraternize with whomever you want, human, vamp, or even were," he said, shuddering distastefully at that last one. "All this does is let other vamps know you are under my protection and privy to any information that will help the vampire cause. If they attempt to harm you in any way, they will have to answer to me."
Still suspicious, I asked, "And that's it? No nasty side effects I should be aware of?"
"Well. Just the one."
"Full disclosure, please."
Ross smiled wide, allowing his fangs to extend slightly. "Reveal anything without my permission, and you'll drop dead on the spot."
And for the umpteenth-plus-one time, I wondered what in the hell I'd been thinking when I accepted this job.
***
The rest of the meeting had gone downhill from there. Ross refused to tell me anything more until I "calmed down." Instead of saying something I would regret - and I had a litany of things I'd like to say to Mr. Rossi - I chose to say nothing at all. We agreed upon a story that I could share with Jim, as he would undoubtedly ask me how the meeting went. Rather displeased with being forced to lie to my boss (the alternative was my funeral), I made Ross promise to give Jim a glowing report as well. I figured I might as well get some benefit out of this twisted client
"Jim is going to flip when he sees this," I warned.
"Oh, don't worry. Only you and other members of my family can see it. And maybe the occasional fortune teller, if she's the real thing. Of course, other vamps will be able to sense it."
"And what's the point of this invisible ink?"
"Nothing too crazy. Just lets other vamps know that I've claimed you."
"Um, excuse me???"
"That you're mine. My human."
"Well, begging your pardon, Mr. Rossi, but that was NOT what I signed up for. I just said I'd keep your bloody secret. Who the hell are you to interfere with my love life?" Okay, so I didn't have a love life to speak of, but he didn't need to know that.
Ross sighed. "Please, Corrie, calm down. It's not nearly as dramatic as you're making it sound. You're free to fraternize with whomever you want, human, vamp, or even were," he said, shuddering distastefully at that last one. "All this does is let other vamps know you are under my protection and privy to any information that will help the vampire cause. If they attempt to harm you in any way, they will have to answer to me."
Still suspicious, I asked, "And that's it? No nasty side effects I should be aware of?"
"Well. Just the one."
"Full disclosure, please."
Ross smiled wide, allowing his fangs to extend slightly. "Reveal anything without my permission, and you'll drop dead on the spot."
And for the umpteenth-plus-one time, I wondered what in the hell I'd been thinking when I accepted this job.
***
The rest of the meeting had gone downhill from there. Ross refused to tell me anything more until I "calmed down." Instead of saying something I would regret - and I had a litany of things I'd like to say to Mr. Rossi - I chose to say nothing at all. We agreed upon a story that I could share with Jim, as he would undoubtedly ask me how the meeting went. Rather displeased with being forced to lie to my boss (the alternative was my funeral), I made Ross promise to give Jim a glowing report as well. I figured I might as well get some benefit out of this twisted client
