The Darkest Pleasure by Jenika Snow

excitement. I lay there, watching the car lights filter through the blinds on my ceiling. As hard as I tried, I couldn't get the picture of Kerian out of my head. He was the last thing I thought about as my eyes grew heavy and finally closed.
    * * * *
    I dreamt of my mother again, but this time she wasn't covered in blood with an empty expression on her face. She sat on the porch swing, the sway of it like a lullaby. I thought this would be a nice dream, a memory I had of my mom. But I realised it wouldn't be as I listened. Nothing. There was no sound, and that same eerie nothingness wrapped around me in a strangling hold. My mother looked into my face just then, a single red tear sliding down her cheek as she smiled sadly at me.
    "I wish things could have been different."
    I wanted to tell her the same, but I had no voice. The wind started to pick up, so hard and fast that I had to hang onto the banister or it would have taken me away. I looked into her eyes, watching in horror as the wind blew her body in a million tiny pieces. It was like watching sand blow away, a once-solid form turned into nothing. The wind died down and I slid to the ground, weeping as my nightmare sucked the air right from my lungs.
    Several weeks passed, and I was stunned at how quickly the time had flown by. I had started my new career without a hitch, but still had yet to meet my bosses—the Caynes. I had been seeing Kerian just about every night, when his work permitted and if I weren't too busy with my new job. We didn't speak about what had happened that night at my house. I tried to bring it up, but he'd change the subject. I took the hint after a couple of times, clearly seeing that when he had accidentally bitten me, it had embarrassed him terribly. I let it go.
    Things were going wonderfully, and I couldn't believe how everything was falling into place. I received an assignment for a promotional ad for Westerbrooke Hospital, and more times then not, I stayed busy outlining and detailing that project. Kerian, the gentleman that he was, came over and just watched me, keeping me company as I pieced together what would be the nationwide marketing programme for the hospital. I was stunned when I received a memo from the Caynes that I was to complete this monumental project. It really made me put all of my training to work, because I wanted this to be perfect. Not just because it was my first real project, but also because it was where Kerian worked and I wanted him to be proud of me. I knew I was falling head over heels for him, but on some level I didn't want to admit that even to myself. I guess I was scared to feel so strongly about one person, but the heart knows what the heart wants. I hated to admit it, but every time I saw Kerian, I was giddy and oblivious to the rest of the world.
    Tonight was even more exciting for me since Kerian had said he wanted to show me his house. I had just finished the rough draft and the proposal for the Westerbrooke Hospital ad, and gotten it ready to show it to the board members. I was a little worried since I'd never seen my actual bosses. I had spoken to them numerous times, and every time I heard their deep voices, it always put me on edge.
    Kerian had told me to ‘dress up', and I was pleasantly surprised when a package arrived for me. I knew who it was from even before I read the card attached to the large white box.
    I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, running my fingers through my dark curls. I stared at my blue-eyed reflection and saw a pink blush already marring my cheeks. Kerian had sent me the loveliest red empire waist dress with black ribbon bow under my breasts. Smart that he was, he made sure to send a pair of black peep-toe heels that went perfectly with the dress. I stepped out of the bathroom and looked at the clock on the microwave. I had twenty minutes to go before Kerian would arrive, so I decided to walk to the window and admire the view. The sun was starting to set, and I watched