Jaden

Heh looks like I'm on a roll so I decided to post another chapter. Hope you all enjoy.

Also please keep in mind that the story title may change soon to "Bring Me to Life"

Chapter 16
(Santa in the City)

Jaden had no idea shopping could be so boring; he stood on top of a small platform staring at himself in the mirror. [Well] Jaden thought to himself, [vampires do have reflections, that answers that question.] he could see Marcus watch the tailor take his measurements. Marcus sat in a leather chair with his legs crossed, the tailor’s assistant showing Marcus fabric samples for him to pick, so that shirts, slacks and suits will be tailored made just for Jaden. He found it difficult to be treated as if he was an important celebrity. In fact he was expecting the store manager to throw him out. He didn’t speak a word afraid that he would embarrass Marcus.

When the tailor told them he was missing something, he excused himself to leave the room for a minute. Jaden motioned Marcus over to him; standing on the platform put him eye to eye with Marcus. When Marcus came close, Jaden cupped his hands over Marcus’s ear and said, “You know we could have gone to any of the discount stores nearby and you wouldn’t have to pay for so much.” Staring at Jaden, Marcus’s eyebrow arched as if he spoke a foreign language.

“Absolutely not” Marcus replied. “If I am to spend money on clothing, I will spend it on clothes that will not only last, but be very comfortable and fit you like a glove.” Not wanting Jaden to feel bad he quickly added, “Trust me Jaden you will soon see the difference from what you used to wear. I want you to have the best.” He then smiled and caressed Jaden’s cheek, Jaden nodded and smiled in return leaning into his touch.

While they shopped Marcus noticed a subdued Jaden, he knew Jaden felt out of place and the department stores intimidated the boy. Every now and then he would show Jaden something or ask his opinion to help him feel like he belonged here, he also wanted Jaden’s input on some of the items he wanted to purchase for him. To help ease the boy’s uneasiness he jokily pointed to a red blazer with gold buttons. Jaden gave him a deadpan look and turned away, but not before Marcus could see the boy smile. And in keeping within the joke, Jaden saw a pair of green plaid pants and showed Marcus. With a big grin on his face he told Marcus he would look quite smashing in the pants, and it would match perfectly with the blazer. Marcus’s response was to toss the pants back and grab Jaden’s hand to lead him in the opposite direction from the eye sore. All Jaden could do was giggle while they walked away.

Jaden thought he would pass out, after several hours of shopping Marcus made sure he had all of the essentials. He could not believe the total; he could have brought a house with the money Marcus was spending on him. While they shopped, a personal shopper assisted them with their purchases. He would point out some items and make a few suggestions, then he would have someone else come and carry everything over to the register for them, to have it all neatly packed in boxes and bags for when Marcus was ready to pay. Jaden was impressed with the personal services the store provided for them. There were some clothes that Jaden asked if he could wear them now, along with his new boots. Marcus was pleased that Jaden was beginning to enjoy the shopping experience. He then put a new leather coat on Jaden’s shoulders and told him he should wear it also. Jaden nodded mutely. He could not believe all of this was for him and he can only imagine what this leather coat must cost as he fingered the buttery soft coat.

The sales clerk smiled respectfully when Marcus handed him his American Express Black card. Jaden kept quiet when the clerk addressed Marcus in a different name; to him the name sounded French, then the clerk carried on a conversation with Marcus completely in French. He understood why Marcus would go under a different name; he and Lizzie never gave out their own names when they worked. It helped to protect who they really were. But there was something else he was learning about Marcus; the man exuded confidence and authority; he noticed how others seemed to be intimidated by him. Not that Marcus did anything to make people feel that way, it was just the way he carried himself, always respectful, polite and charming. And yet they treated him like a visiting royal. Jaden also saw how comfortable Marcus seemed when he spoke in different languages, it sounded so perfect and beautiful, he wondered what country he really came from, [so many questions] Jaden thought and all the time in world to ask and learn more about him. He hoped Marcus would not find out how stupid he believed he was; it shamed him that he could hardly read and write. Lizzie tried her best to teach him, but his shame always made him give up.

He could hardly see above all the items Marcus had purchased, while the clerk processed the payment he touched Marcus’s arm. Marcus leaned down and Jaden whispered in a very low voice that no human would ever hear.

“Marcus? How are we going to carry all of this home? You brought enough to clothe a small nation.”
Marcus merely smiled and told Jaden that it has been arraigned to have it all delivered by tomorrow. He could see a worried look on his face, but reminded him not to worry about the expense. Jaden smiled weakly in return.

They walked along the city streets, when Jaden looked up at Marcus with pain in his eyes; he knew Jaden needed to feed. He put his arm around the boy and offered his wrist. Jaden shook his head and told Marcus he preferred to hunt and didn’t want to use Marcus as food. Understanding Jaden’s need to be self-reliant they turned into an alley following the voices of two thieves adding up the evenings take.

“You’re sure they’ll be all right? I think I drank too much.” Asked Jaden he worried that perhaps he hurt the one man he fed from, but Marcus was able to stop him before there was any harm done. He then explained to Jaden that he could drink up to one cup of blood that would be about 4 intakes that he could drink without causing any harm to the mortal. And if he really was hungry he could feed more than once a day on different people, until his body adjusted and he could judge his intake with more accuracy.

New York is very beautiful during the Christmas holidays the department store windows decorated with scenes of holiday cheer. Holiday lights and decorations adorned the city streets. Most of the snow has been shoveled away or turned into mush. Jaden led Marcus to Rockefeller Center so they could watch the ice skaters. Marcus’s attention was drawn to a pretty young girl skating. She looked like a pro as she skated around her friends making a figure eight, then she turned and leaped into the air landing perfectly on one foot on the ice. She and her friends laughed as they too tried to imitate her movements, only they were not as graceful as her. Jaden rested his head on his arms as he leaned on the fence and told him how he and Lizzie liked coming here to watch the skaters. He pointed towards the girl Marcus was watching. “Lizzie and I loved watching her skate, her name is Bethany and she is going to try out for the next Olympics. She’s really good and I hope she makes it.” Jaden told Marcus that since the rink opened up for the ice skaters he and Lizzie made an effort to come and watch. That was until Lizzie was too sick to leave their home. In an effort to comfort Jaden, Marcus placed his arm around his shoulders. Jaden looked up and smiled. “It’s ok, I miss her. But it ‘s nice to remember her cause it doesn’t hurt as much now.” Then Jaden let his head rest against Marcus’s body as they continued to watch the pretty girl skate.

After a while they turned and walked toward an open café, even though it was cold, the tourist still enjoyed sitting outside, drinking hot coffee and people watching as well as watch the skaters. They took a seat at one of the empty tables; Jaden was surprised when Marcus ordered two hot chocolates with whip cream. He licked his lips at the thought of being able to enjoy the treat. But he looked up at Marcus in confusion and whispered to him and asked, “Vampires only drink blood, right?”

“Actually” Marcus answered, “Blood is our main staple for nourishment, the best way to explain this is that the blood keeps us strong and healthy, not that we can ever get sick. As we get older our need for blood is needed less, but needed just the same, or we become weak and our bodies will feel the hunger for blood. We do not die, but we do go into a long death sleep until we are able to be strong enough to move and find a way to feed. In this state we are weak among our own kind but still very much a threat to mortals.” Jaden did not say a word but kept looking at his drink; Marcus smiled at him, and continued to explain, “You can drink hot chocolate, milk and even wine. In fact you can eat, but it must be in small portions as our bodies do not digest as it used to. By taking the small sips of drinks or food you are allowing your body to absorb it in the same way it absorbs the blood we feed on.” Marcus tilted his head to one side and his eyebrow arched as he realized Jaden was not really paying attention, he was to entranced with the hot chocolate in front of him.

“If you ignore your body’s warning to stop and drink it all then you will get sick with painful stomach cramps.”

Now Jaden looked up, and asked, “Huh? But how will my body tell me when to stop?”

“In the same way when your body tells your stomach it feels full and has had enough to eat, then you stop eating." It seemed Jaden still wasn’t paying attention to what Marcus said, “Jaden did you understand what I have told you?” as he watched Jaden reach for his cup of hot chocolate.

“Yeah, yeah, not too much. Just a sip, got it.” He blew gently over the cup to cool it off a bit and took a sip. He looked up at Marcus smacking his lips and grinned a big chocolate smile at him. The look on his face was priceless, and Marcus made a mental note to have Mr. Nate stock up the kitchen with all kinds of chocolate beverages.

They continued to walk until Marcus stopped and admired Christmas decorations in a store window of a small specialty shop and he decided to go in. While Marcus purchased Christmas decorations for the house and for the tree, Jaden walked around just looking at everything, he did not realize an older man was following him. As he walked towards the back of the store, he looked up and on the top shelve sat a big beautiful teddy bear about 32 inches tall with golden silky long fur, it caught Jaden’s eye. Jaden reached up to touch the bear when the man that was following him put his hand on his shoulder turning him roughly to face him.

“I thought I recognized you” he said with a leer in his eyes appreciating Jaden’s appearance. “I haven’t seen you for ages, where have you been hiding yourself?”

Jaden recognized him as a trick he turned almost 2 months ago; it was about the time Lizzie started to take a turn for the worse. He went out into the streets to earn money. He met this man 3 blocks away from his building. This was a businessman writing up property values on buildings being torn down or renovated. He was about half a foot taller then Jaden, and was overweight by 30 pounds. His hair starting to go thin, in about a year’s time he will be bald by the age of 32. Jaden was too shocked to say anything, he looked over at the counter but Marcus wasn’t there he feared Marcus saw them and left in disgust.

The man moved in closer to Jaden, “damn but you look good enough to eat, you look different, like more, a lot more” he said as he licked thin lips at Jaden. “What’re you say we get out of here, have ourselves a private little party? My car is parked down the block.” With his hand snaking into Jaden’s hair, he moved in close and took in a deep breath, “God you smell good too, you make me hungry. You were always a cute one, don’t know what it is, but I got to have you now.” Then one of his hands slid down to Jaden’s crotch, Jaden grabbed his wrist and stopped him not wanting to create a scene he whispered at him in anger.

“Don’t touch me, just turn around and leave me alone. I don’t do that anymore, so don’t waste your time.” Jaden said, gently pushing the man away from him and trying to get around him to leave. But before Jaden could walk away, the man grabbed him by the hair pulling him back against his body, he pushed his groin into Jaden’s backside, and whispered in his ear, “Listen sweetheart don’t play games with me, we both know what you DO, do. Just name your price, I’m feeling generous tonight, can you feel how generous I’m feeling? Come on, you know you want to” as he kept pushing up against Jaden. “Be nice baby, and I may even throw in an extra bonus.”

Jaden felt disgust; he closed his eyes in shame and bit his lower lip to try to keep himself from screaming. He remembered this man; he remembered this man enjoyed hurting him.
He could feel his breath on his neck like roaches crawling on his skin, and then the man tried one more time to feel Jaden, when he suddenly gasped in pain.

Marcus noticed the man following Jaden, at first he thought he just happen to be walking in the same direction, but then he was able to hear him. He quickly walked away from the counter and went down the next aisle letting him come up behind the man un-noticed, and before he could do anything else he grabbed him by the back of his neck. He let his nails dig into the sides of his neck, not cutting off his oxygen, just enough to cut and get his attention.

“Is there any reason why I should not break your neck?” Marcus hissed in his ear. The man was surprised and before he could say anything, Marcus continued to speak, his voice low, firm and cold as ice, “I too can be quite generous, allow me to show you.” Still holding the man with one hand and with his other hand he reached down between his legs and grabbed his scrotum, one nail grew longer and sharp like a knife. Marcus cut through the fabric and let his nails pinch him, a slight prick. The tiniest cut in the family jewels. The man was shocked and was about to scream, when Marcus pulled him closer by the neck and assured him that if he made a sound higher then a whisper he would soon learn what it would be like to live like a eunuch. The man bit down on his tongue and kept quiet, his body trembling. Then Marcus said, “You see how generous I am? I will let you walk out intact, you should thank me, but I will accept instead an apology” the man started to do so when Marcus yanked his neck hard and said, “not to me you fool, to him, you disrespected him, you will show proper regret in your error.” With tears springing in his eyes the man apologized to Jaden, Marcus released him and pushed him forward motioning for him to leave, but before he could do so, Marcus then made him lick the blood off his fingers. “Now that’s a good little whore, you are quite good with that tongue you should consider a career change.” The man was mortified, and ashamed, he had never been so afraid of anyone like that, he ran out of the store and did not stop until he got home.

Jaden ran into Marcus’s arms, he was so relieved to see him, he thought he left; he thought he would never see him again. He hugged Marcus as tight as he could and apologized for what happened. Marcus held him in a tight embrace, caressing his back. Then he tilted his head up and kissed him lightly on the nose. Smiling he reached up and took down the teddy bear and gave it to Jaden.
Jaden hugged the bear close to his chest and broke down crying.