Chapter 4：Truth revealed

Marie wakes in the late afternoon and stretches. She pulls her foot back towards her when it touches something ice cold. When she sees Vale sound asleep, she realizes he is what her foot had touched. Shocked at how cold he was she tried to wake him. He was pale, and cold as a block of ice! Should she call an ambulance!? She grabbed the comforter from her bed and covered him, found his phone and looked for an emergency contact. Maybe he had a medical condition. She found a number he had called earlier and called that number.

"Hey man I'm kind of busy." Max answered.

"Please help. He wont wake up!" Marie is crying.

"You must be Marie." Max responds

"Should I call an ambulance? Does he have a medical condition he didn't tell me about?" Marie is scared.

"NO! Don't call an ambulance. Just relax, Vale is fine. I'll call back in an hour, I'm in the middle of something right now, but don't call an ambulance, I'll explain when I call back. Ok?" Max's fun loving voice is gone and is replaced with authority and seriousness.

"Ok" Marie whispers and max hangs up.

An hour later Marie is still concerned, but has calmed down quite a bit. Vale's phone rings and Marie quickly answers. "Hello?"

"Marie right?" Max says.

"Yes"

"Look Vale would probably be upset if I tell you this because he really likes you but, I don't know." He hesitates briefly. "What the hell! Before you get really attached, you should know. Vale is a vampire. He isn't dangerous and he wont hurt you. They are nothing like what the movies and myths portray. I wish I could do this in person but I'm out of town. Are you ok?"

"Uh huh" Marie doesn't know if this is a joke or what but, vampire? Really?

"Marie, I'm going to send someone to your house. My butler will be able to sit with you and help Vale explain when he wakes up."

"No, please don't send anyone else to my house. Is this a joke? I mean it cant be true." Marie doesn't quite know how to feel.

"No, this is not a joke. Marie." Max sounds serious.

"Yes?"

"Don't hurt my friend" his tone has turned dark and she shivers.

"Why would I?" She whispers.

"I mean it. We can meet when I get back." Max sounds like this is not optional.

"Ok" Marie whispers.

"I'm sending my butler. You don't have to let him in, but I want to know vale has left safely."

"That's fine." Is all Marie can think of to say as she begins to wonder what she has gotten herself into. She hangs up and sits back on the couch staring at Vale with her knees pulled to her chest.

Shortly after Marie hung up she heard footsteps in the hall. They stopped in front of the door and she held her breath. Whoever it was did not knock and she let her breath out. A million questions ran through her head and she was to scared to move. So she sat and watched Vale sleep until the sun set.

Vale stretched and yawned as he realized he was covered with a blanket. Then he sat up with a start. Marie! He turned his head to see her sitting in a ball with wide eyes. Oh no, he has scared her away. He looks down at his toes and takes a deep breath. He feels her move slightly and looks back at her. She hands him his phone and he takes it, avoiding touching her finger tips.

"Who did you call?" He looks back down at his toes.

"Max"

"Mm, he told you what I am?"

"Yes" Marie whispers

"When were you planning on telling me?" She asks

"I don't know. I was afraid of this to tell the truth."

"Oh" Marie is still staring at him. He looks defeated and sad and it pulls on her heart. she likes him, but she is afraid of what might happen.

"I'll go. Please if you have questions or just need to talk...." He cant even finish his sentence. "I'll wait for you to call." He whispers sadly.

"Ok" Marie whispers back.

Vale puts on his shoes and looks over at Marie as he closes the door, locks it and slips her key back under the door. She hasn't moved and she might not for a while.

Marie hears the door close, the locks click and the key slide across her entry way. He seemed sad. Her heart is pounding and she isn't sure if she can even move. What in the world has she gotten into? Is she going to call him? She puts her head in her hands and takes deep breaths.

Outside Maries door Vale stands for a moment, Max's butler is standing there on the side. He nods to Vale and walks with him out to his car. He gives Vale a knowing look as Vale puts his hand on the butlers shoulder, smiles and gets into his car. On his way home he gets a call and answers. "Hey."

"Man you fell asleep?!" Max sounds surprised.

"I didn't mean to." Vale sighs

"She sounded really freaked out when she called me. Are you ok?"

"Yea. Can we talk when you get back?" Vale just wants to be alone and not have to explain anything right now.

"Alright man don't do anything stupid."

"Ok. Talk to you when you get back man." Vale hangs up and drives the rest of the way home in silence.

Marie stayed in her apartment the rest of the weekend and called in sick to work on Monday. George told her to follow up via email to her client and to feel better. She didn't have work for her second job until Tuesday, so she didn't worry to much about it yet. She checked her email and followed up with the client to see how they liked the remodel design. She set her computer to ding if she received an email and went to shower. As she was eating lunch she heard a ding from her room. She took her food to her desk and looked at the email. Her client was happy with the design so she emailed George that the client is happy with the design. They just need to be sent a quote. She decided to do some research online as she ate her lunch. Nothing she found online about vampires seemed at all helpful, so she closed out her web browser and went to the kitchen.

Vale woke each evening and simply lay in bed. That nagging voice in his head beckoning him to the darkness was again his only companion. He thought of Maries soft hair, deep blue eyes and her sweet voice. She has his heart and she doesn't even know it. Will she ever call him? He took his phone from the side table and looked at it hopefully, willing her to call.

Marie went to work on Tuesday, but was far to distracted to really be productive. Should she call? Does she want it to be over? So many thoughts ran through her head as she went through her day on autopilot. She was ready to go to her evening job and wondered if she should take a cab. Marie decided to walk, he promised he wouldn't hurt her. Her evening went smoothly, but she walked home quickly just in case. Then realizing it didn't matter if she was in her apartment, she had invited him in, she accepted whatever may happen.

The next night at Maries night job she felt she was being watched. The whole evening she was looking to see who might be watching her. Was it Vale? Had he changed his mind about leaving her alone? As her shift ended she decided to walk even though Vale may hunt her down. Would he really hurt her? But before she could begin her walk a hand grabbed the back of her elbow and she jumped in surprise. She held her breath as she turned to see who it was, and was looking into amber eyes. This was not Vale. "I need you to come with me, preferably quietly." So this was Vale's friend. She could hear the demand and somehow knew it was not a good idea to fight. Marie nodded her head and let him lead her to a car where two men were waiting. She was placed in the back seat followed by Max. The two men sat in the front. Marie put on her seatbelt as her heart began to pound and tears burned in the corners of her eyes. She had already accepted this possibility right? Was this the end?