Vampire Of The New World

She looked at her face on the mirror, facing left and right to see her profile. She did not have a tall and thin nose like her father, but she did inherit her mother's eyes and high cheekbones. She smiled at herself, the ends of her lips curling slightly upwards. How did Mona Lisa smile? Was she really beautiful?

With a soft chuckle, she held her hair and tossed it over her shoulder. Her hair fell in a cascade of dark brown curls, bouncing slightly before settling on her back. She looked again at her profile and with a quick turn, made her hair fall over her left shoulder. With a giggle, she brushed her hair in long strokes for a few minutes and watched how it reflected the light that was streaming through her curtained windows.

She stood up and pulled her light sleeping gown downwards as she turned sideways. The light material of her gown stretched over her c.h.e.s.t and she twisted to both sides to see her profile. Obviously satisfied at her reflection on the mirror, she bent backwards a bit with her right hand holding the small of her back. She made a fashion model pose and pouted her lips before laughing melodically. Her voice rose and fell like the tiny bells of a carillon.

With a final flourish, she waved her skirt from side to side and placed her hands on her h.i.p.s. She smiled once again at her reflection and saw it smile back. Just then, she heard a soft melodic tune. She jumped to her bed and reached for her phone. Seeing the caller ID, she lay on her back with her phone to her right ear.

"Lisa, love! Where are you? I thought you were coming over?" she said languidly, her voice like the soft murmur of a brook. She then stretched her left hand and pulled her pillow, hugging it against her b.r.e.a.s.t. "Yes… Oh, I'm just here… Quite bored… Oh… No, it's alright… You're here? Oh, you're really here!" She suddenly sat up, leaving her pillow next to her. Then, transferring the phone to her other ear. "I'm glad you're here! Of course, I'm ready!" She then looked at what she was wearing and added, "Oh no, I'm not. Just come here to my room."

There were three quick taps on her door. "Come in!" she said. The door opened and Lisa entered, her face beaming at her cousin.

"Lisa! I can't believe you're already here!" She jumped up and ran excitedly to Lisa. She gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. "When did you get here?"

"Last night. I was just too exhausted from the boat trip that I wasn't able to wait for you. Your mom was quite gracious to let us in though."

"Boat? I thought you were flying directly from Malen?"

"I forgot to mention, but our project at the Institute led us to explore the coast line of Bello Island. They had fantastic diversity of seaweed there. We're hoping to collect more to further our drugs research. Did I tell you that there are certain seaweed being explored as possible sources for cancer cure?" Lisa's eyes were wide and shone with enthusiasm as she gesticulated excitedly.

Celeste stretched an arm while placing a palm in front of her mouth, feigning a yawn. Lisa laughed and tapped her arm gently. "Bored…" Celie said while rolling her eyes.

Lisa laughed aloud. "Sorry to bore you, but this is my work and I really get excited when we're making progress."

"Just joking, Lisa," said Celeste. "I know how much this means to you, but can we talk about other stuff?"

"Well, Bello Island also has a fantastic coral garden that I'm sure you'd love to see. It wasn't dubbed center of ocean biodiversity for nothing! You still love snorkeling, right? You used to guide me around the islands."

"Of course, I still love snorkeling. The waters at Bello are particularly amazing. All the colored fishes and corals are mesmerizing, but I do have my sights on other more important things…" Celeste looked away to emphasize her double meaning before returning her gaze to Lisa.

"Celie!" Lisa screamed holding her cousin's shoulders. "Don't tell me there's a new one. Who is it this time?"

"Stop it! You make me sound like a harlot." Celeste covered her ears and laughed.

"I remember you told me about that journalist just a week ago. The buff one with the amazing hair."

"Oh, did I tell you about him? Yes, he does have this amazing hair!" Celeste said dreamily. "And those biceps!"

"How about Doc Steve? You begged me to introduce you to him. You did tell him you're seeing someone else, did you?"

"Well…"

"Well… what! You haven't told him anything? Doc Steve's a really nice man. You'd break his poor heart!"

"He is rather lovely, isn't he? So silent and mysterious and disarming!"

"And how about that bartender you told me you were getting serious with?"

"Bartender? What bartender? He's a bar owner, silly! He owns those glitzy bars in the city."

"Yes, him! The rich one with the connections."

"And the brains! And the looks!" added Celie.

"Yes, brains and looks! There! As the mayor's daughter, you don't have to worry about the money or the connections."

They were both silent for a moment. Celie gazed at the window dreamily while Lisa stood behind Celeste, placing her cheek against hers and hugging her.

"They are all good looking, Celie. How dare you deprive the rest of the women? Luckily, I have Jon or I'd have wrung your neck!" She then, placed both hands around Celeste pretending to choke her.

Celeste removed Lisa's hands from her neck and said, "What can I do if they are all enamored by my ethereal beauty and girlish charm?" Celeste framed her face with her hands and butted her eyes. "I love them all as they all love me. And I'm too kind-hearted to break it all to them."

"So, you are seeing a new guy?" prodded Lisa.

"Well, not really seeing. I was just playing with my phone when I saw this amazing app. You get to choose among many good-looking guys."

"Celie! You didn't! You met him through the Flames app?"

"I was just bored, Lisa. I just installed it to see what my friends are talking about. I rejected all of the guys I saw, except I saw this one guy. He had such amazing eyes. Then, instead of swiping to the left, I swiped to the right."