Picture Perfect

Jessica leaned forward, glaring into the mirror. The dark reddish-purple bruise, where fingers grabbed her, circled her throat. She could still feel his hands around her neck. They tightened, squeezed, and shook as his eyes glazed over into white. He brought her to her knees and forced her to submit to his will.

She touched her throat. "Oh, man," she whispered. "That's going to take a month to heal. Thank you, poor circulation."

Why do I let him continue to beat and belittle me? He's just like my father, and I'm just like my mother. This vicious cycle goes on and on. While brushing her long, wavy blond hair, Jessica glanced around the bathroom at the expensive perfumes, creams, and big spa tub, just some of the reminders of what her husband's money had bought her.

She crept into her bedroom where Neil had passed out from drinking part of the night away. Jessica sat on the king-size bed with its burgundy canopy and black satin sheets. She stared at his fiery red hair and freckles, 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, Jessica rose, tiptoed over to the window, and opened it just a little. It's midnight, and time for me to do what I have to do before Neil has the chance to know that I'm gone.

While waving her hand over her tall slender body, she 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. She could hear the whistle blowing as the train left the station.

Jessica strolled in front of the building where two hobos drank liquor out of brown paper bags. She walked over to them with a smile on her face.

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

"Hey, Miss Jessica. Meet my new buddy, Bobby. 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? So you're the one who helps us hobos out." Bobby took another gulp from the bottle.

"Maybe, if Willie thinks I should." She walked 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.

He grinned and stumbled over to her.

She stared into his eyes. "Put that bottle down. You've had enough for tonight. " She held out her hand.

Bobby dropped the bottle and took her by the hand. They strolled hand in hand out in the cool night under the light of the full moon until they arrived at a 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." She touched the side of his face. "Let's sit down."

He sat still staring at her. She joined him and kissed his lips.

"You have a nice long neck. I want to kiss it." She touched his neck up and down with her finger.

Bobby smiled, bent his neck, and closed his eyes.

She opened her mouth and buried her fangs deep into his neck. He tried to scream, but her jaws clamped around his throat, constricting him. She could feel fear gripping his body as his vocal chords were silenced. Her mouth became a steel trap fastening down on his body. She mused Bobby could feel the life draining out of him, unable to do anything about it. As she drank his blood, Jessica enjoyed the savory taste, smooth texture, and smell of 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 propping his back against the building.

"Was he good enough?"

"Yes, you know what to do." She took five one hundred-dollar bills out of her pocket.

He nodded and ran away.

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

When Jessica arrived at the window, she drifted through the crack and turned back into herself. She tiptoed over to the bed and glanced at Neil. Good, he's still asleep. She undressed, slid the clothes under the bed, and slipped in beside him. She peered at the clock, and it read three o'clock. She tossed and turned at first, but soon drifted off into a deep sleep.

A booming noise came from downstairs, and she was awoken from a deep sleep.

"Wake up, Jessica!"

She woke up, and the clock read ten o'clock. What's he screaming about? She stumbled over to the closet, chose her blue lace robe and slipped it on. She ran downstairs.

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

"What's going on?" Jessica pointed at the pink diaper bag, boxes of diapers, bottles, and the 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 crept over to the table in front of the sofa and glanced at the papers.

"These are adoptions 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's different about her. She has the aura of a 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 an angry glare. "I had to pay for her, since I know I'll never get one from you."

He stared at her, and Jessica peered 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 from now on." Neil smiled. "By the way, her name's Eve." He pointed at the baby.

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

"One more outburst like that, and I'll get rid of you myself!" He raised his hand to hit her again.

She crawled over to the sofa and sat down by the carriage. Jessica curled her knees up to her chest. She covered her face as the tears came down.

He pulled her head up by her hair. "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 let her hair go and stormed out the door.

Jessica picked Eve up and sat on the sofa. She stroked Eve's thin hair, and 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 your powers." She peered into Eve's eyes.

She carried Eve upstairs to the bedroom. Jessica put on a red sweater and 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 glared at everything in the room and marched to the mantle over the fireplace. She grabbed the expensive what-nots 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 belongings in the diaper bag, she grabbed her purse from the 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 that Neil left on the coffee table. 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.