FULL NOVELXO Chapter CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
THE MORNING WAS HOT AND UNCOMFORTABLE, but not to the vampire couple; Lauren and Michael had never been happier. They had taken in a Broadway show, toured Times Square, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and walked hand-in-hand in Central Park as they discussed what date they would select for the wedding. Lauren had other exciting news for Michael, but she wasn’t sure when to tell him. The park was green and full of life; many people and birds appeared to be having a concert.
Lauren and Michael had come from the Belvedere Castle, where they had enjoyed panoramic views of the Great Lawn and the Turtle Pond. They snuck lots of kisses like teens enjoying their first love. They were feeding off one another’s energy, and both were relieved that the other was okay. Passion was some of the most powerful magic that one could have, but of course, it was a different kind of enchantment.
“Lauren, you look so beautiful today.”
“And you, Michael, were so handsome when you ran naked last night.”
“I was naked, but I wasn’t running around.”
The couple sat on the edge of Bethesda Fountain. In the center was a winged female bronze eight-foot angel statue touching down on the fountain where the water cascaded into the upper basin and the adjacent pool. There were also four cherubs under the angel representing Purity, Health, Temperance, and Peace. The angel blessed the water with one hand with a lily for purity in her other hand. Emma Stebbins designed the sculpture in 1868. The Angel of the Waters was a favorite place for Lauren to sit and ponder, but it was even better with Michael at her side. It was also an excellent place for sharing.
It was a beautiful place to take photos, and there were plenty of cameras around. People made memories they could take home and frame, a moment in time captured.
“Michael, I have news you might or might not like.”
Michael smiled at her and kissed her hand. “Really? I might or might not like? Is it something that I could guess? Are the odds for my liking it?”
Lauren shrugged and then leaned over, kissing his face. “That depends on whether you were lying to me or not? People say many things but don’t mean all of them.”
Michael thought hard about it. Of course, he was the fish on the end of the hook. “I don’t remember lying to you. I don’t have enough information to guess what the heck you’re talking about? Are you going to turn me into a vampire? That can’t be it since I’m already one handsome vampire.”
Lauren looked into his hazel eyes and smiled. “What did you tell me you wanted to be?”
At first, Michael shrugged. “I don’t know. A red sheriff?”
“Bingo.”
“So you’re saying what? Dracula’s making more red sheriffs?”
“Yes, he will finally make more sheriffs with all the crap going on. It should have been done years ago. Not only that, my love, but I got you on the list. So if you weren’t serious about it, I would say now is the time to bow out.”
Michael jumped up. “I’m going to get to meet Dracula? Yes! Can we work together? Killing bad guys? I’m not going to be out there by myself? I’ll be you and me?”
“Relax; we’ll be side-by-side until we drive each other nuts.”
“Cool. We’ll go insane together. How soon do I get to be a red sheriff?”
“There’s no date for the ceremony yet, so we’ll just have to wait and see. You’ll have to pass inspection. He’s going to go into your mind and dig around in there. So I would caution you if you are a closet serial killer, you might not want to let him poke around in there.”
“Lauren, you know what might be cool? If the Master could marry us. Can he do that, and would he? Is that possible?”
Lauren was surprised and pleased by the idea but didn’t think it would be possible. “That would be nice, Michael, but I’ve never heard of such a thing. I’m no expert on Dracula, that’s for sure, but what a memory that would be.”
“I can just picture it.”
“I ask around and see what I can come up with. What should we do? Should we head for home and chill in front of the television?”
Michael knew what he wanted to do. “Well, we could watch some TV or make out. Or have something to eat and then make out. Or just make out and make out. What do you want to do? Make out?”
“Let’s go home.”
They blurred off hand in hand.