Picture Perfect

Jessica leaned forward, glarring into the mirror. The dark reddish-purple bruise circled her throat. She could still feel his hands around her neck. They tightened, squeezed and shook as his eyes glazed over, and he forced her to submit to his will.

“Oh, man,” she whispered, “That’s going to take a month to heal. Thank you, poor circulation.”

She could add this to the collection of bruises from her neck to her legs. Why do I let him to beat and belittle me? He beats me for anything. He’s just like my father, and I’m just like my mother. This vicious cycle continues. While brushing her long, wavy blond hair, Jessica glanced around the bathroom and was reminded of a small part of what her husband’s money had bought her.

She crept into her bedroom where her husband, Neil, had passed out from drinking part of the night away. She sat on the king-size bed with its burgundy canopy and black satin sheets. Jessica stared at Neil, with his fiery red hair and freckles. She was happy that she couldn’t see the anger simmering beneath his eyes. That would mean he was awake and ready to take everything out on her. Glancing at the antique clock on the dark cherry nightstand by her side of the bed, she rose and tiptoed over to the window. It’s midnight, and time for me to do what I have to before Neil has the chance to know that I’m gone. .

She waved her hand over her tall slender body, dissolved into a light gray mist, and floated through the small opening. Jessica drifted over to the other side of town to the depot. She landed behind a red brick building where two hobos drank liquor out of brown paper bags and strolled over to them with a smile on her face.

“Hi, Willie.” She glanced at the old man with a long, white hair and beard.

“Hey, Miss Jessica. Meet my new buddy, Bobby. He just came in tonight.” He slurred and pointed at the younger man with black hair and eyes.

“Well, well, what’s a pretty lady like you doing at this place this time of night? The one who helps us hobos out?” Bobby took another gulp from the bottle.

“Maybe, if Willie here thinks I should.” She strolled closer to him.

“Yep, Bobby here needs lots of help.” Willie winked at her.

“Okay, come take a walk with me, and we’ll talk about it.” Jessica smiled and motioned for Bobby to come over.

Bobby stood and stumbled toward Jessica.

“Put that bottle down. You’ve had enough for tonight.” She held out her small delicate hand.

“Okay.” Bobby dropped the bottle and took her by the hand.

They strolled hand in hand out in the cool night air until they got to a big willow tree.

“What could you do to help me? Give me some dough or make me your guy on the side?”

“I’d bet you’d make a good lover. Make it worth your time too. My husband’s rich, but doesn’t satisfy my needs at all.”

As his lips were about to touch her's, she placed her finger on his lips. “I want to kiss your neck first,” she whispered.

Bobby smiled, bent his neck and closed his eyes.

Her eyes turned blood-red as she opened her mouth and exposed two, long sharp fangs. She buried them deep into his neck. He tried to scream, but her jaws clamped around his throat, constricting him. Fear gripped his body, silencing his vocal chords. It was as if a steel trap had fastened down on his body. Jessica mused Bobby could feel the life draining out of him and wasn’t able to do anything about it. As she drank his blood, Jessica enjoyed the savory taste and smooth texture as it went down her throat. The smell was sweet intoxication. After Jessica drained the blood from his body, she took a white lace handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her mouth.

Jessica dropped to the ground. She drew her legs to her chest and began to sob. Tears flowed down her cheeks, mingled with her guilt and fear. I’ve killed another innocent person because of my need to survive. She stood and glanced around. Since she didn’t see anyone, Jessica walked back to the depot where Willie was.

“Was he good enough?”

“Yeah, you know what to do.” She took five one hundred-dollar bills out of her pocket.

“Sure.” He nodded and ran away.

She waved her hand over her slender body and melted back into a light gray mist.

When Jessica arrived at the window, she was relieved when it was still opened. She drifted through the crack and turned back into herself. Good, he’s still asleep. She undressed,slid the clothes under her side of the bed, and slipped into bed beside him. She glanced at the clock, and it read three o’clock. She had trouble falling asleep at first, but soon drifted off into a deep sleep.

She heard. “Wake up Jessica!” She woke up, and the clock read ten o’clock. What’s he screaming about? She stumbled over to her closet. She took her blue lace robe and put it on. She ran downstairs.

Jessica glanced at her husband in one of his brown suits. Her eyebrows knit together puzzled, eyeing the white baby carriage and other baby items in the living room by the black leather sofa.

“What’s going on?” Jessica pointed at the pink diaper bag, boxes of diapers, bottles, and the pink crib.

Before he could answer, she heard a cooing sound coming from the carriage.

“Sign those papers. Now!” Neil jabbed a finger toward the table.

Jessica walked over to the black table in front of the sofa and glanced at the papers.

“These are adoption papers.” She held them in the air and threw them back down on the table.

After Jessica heard the cries, she hurried over to the carriage. Before she could pick the baby up, Jessica stared at the bright silver aura around her. Something different about her. I know she has the aura of a natural born witch. She picked her up. The baby had blond hair and green eyes just like Jessica.

“Now sign those papers, so I can make everything legal.” Neil shot her angry look. “I had to pay for her, since I know I’ll never get one from you.”

He paused again, and Jessica glared at that evil glint in his hazel eyes. She felt a chill run down her spine. Did he know?

“Yes, I know your secret. Those nightly escapes, reports of hobos drained of blood, sensitivity to light, and infertility. You’re a vampire.”

Jessica clasped her hands in fear and then released them. “How dare you bring a child into a marriage that’s nothing but a joke?”

“All I have to do is call the police. Just be the perfect wife and mother, and your life will be much easier for now on.” Neil smiled. “By the way, her name’s Eve.”

Jessica’s eyes turned red, and she placed Eve back into the carriage. Jessica ran toward him while her fangs grew. He grabbed her arms and shook her. He balled up his fist and punched her nose. She fell to the floor with a hard and loud thud. Jessica was dumbfounded for fifteen seconds before feeling any pain.

“One more outburst like that, and I’ll get rid of you myself!”

She crawled over to the sofa and sat down by the carriage.

“Go clean yourself up. Who wants to see you looking like that? Now go take Eve into town and buy her some clothes. I’ve already put a car seat and a carrier in your car. I know you’re a day walker, so this won’t be a problem.” He stormed out the door.

Jessica sat on the sofa, held Eve, and stroked her thin hair. Jessica’s stomach flipped as the baby grasped her pinky with its full and tiny fist. She smiled back into those trusting eyes and murmured soft lullabies. It was as if her heart was enveloped in the perfume of innocent youth.

Why don’t I stand up for myself? I know why. Every time I see that black aura trimmed in red around him, it scares me to death. Knowing that I’m married to a demon. She gazed at Eve. I have to protect this baby. She needs a better life than this.

“We can’t stay here. I’ve got to take you away from here. Neil can never know about your powers.” She peered into Eve’s eyes.

She carried Eve upstairs to the bedroom. Jessica put on a red sweater and designer jeans, took out several suitcases, and a bag with a strap on it. She packed everything she could in the suitcases, including jewelry to sell, so they could get money when they needed it. When she was finished, she carried Eve downstairs and placed her in the carriage.

Jessica surveyed the room and marched to the mantle over the fireplace. She grabbed the expensive what-not her husband collected, threw them on the floor, and stepped on them. She snatched the vase he bought from Paris and threw it against the wall. It shattered into pieces. After that, she ran back upstairs to get the luggage.

After Jessica walked back down and packed the baby’s things in the diaper bag, she grabbed her purse from the coffee table. She opened it and glanced inside to make sure her sunglasses were in there along with the keys to her car.

She packed the trunk of her red Jaguar. When she finished packing, Jessica wrote:

Dear Neil,

Eve and I can’t live with you and be the people
you want us to be. We can’t be your picture-perfect family.

Jessica

She placed the letter on the table and picked up the adoption papers Neil left there. They stated Eve was born in Deacon, Mississippi. This will be the perfect place to go. Neil will never look for us there. She wheeled Eve outside, placed her in the car seat, got into the car and drove away.


1719 words