BittenandDefiant by Anonymous Author Page B

ruin the dealer and then spend time with him
without becoming a vampire. But she’d age and die and leave him all alone
again. He’d never invited anyone into his home before so that could hurt him
just as much, if not even more so, as him needing to do away with her if things
went wrong.
    “Do you miss daylight?” Frankie blurted out the first
thought that popped into her mind.
    Kellen chuckled at her question. “I think I may have in the
beginning, but you adjust.”
    “You said we’d travel.”
    “Yes. We could. As much as you want. Our tours, however,
would be vastly different from the standard you’ve seen in brochures.”
    “But how could we see things?” Frankie knew she was avoiding
the main issues but she needed a few minutes to collect her thoughts regarding
what he said. Kellen clearly understood since he allowed her ramble as she was.
    “I’m over six hundred years old. I know of safe locations
for us to stay everywhere. As you already know I possess certain abilities that
could get us in places after hours. With our enhanced eyesight we could see the
scenery perfectly well outside at night. For instance botanical gardens in the
light of a full moon are gorgeous. Trust me, Frankie. You’d love it.”
    When she looked at him Frankie could tell all the turmoil
she was feeling was visible in her eyes. Kellen seemed almost stunned, which
surprised her. He’d been around all those years and still she managed to affect
him. That on top of all she’d been through overwhelmed her.
    “I do trust you, Kellen,” she whispered.
    “Thank you. Now come on. You need to consider things and I
need to feed. And no, before you say it, not from you. I’m not sure I could
stop once I had my fangs in you and as I said, you have to think about all I
told you before we let that happen. We’ll go somewhere and you can see how I
choose someone. You haven’t been around for that part yet.”

Chapter Six
     
    Several hours later Frankie stood in the shadows, watching
as Kellen chatted with one of boys who was dealing drugs on the street. Yes, boy was the correct term. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen. It broke
Frankie’s heart to realize that it was more than likely the average age of
those working the corners. Even worse it made sense, using children for such
tasks. If arrested they stood the chance of being charged as juveniles and
could be back on the street in no time. Sadly they were also readily available
in such a depressed area. Finding legitimate jobs wasn’t always the easiest
thing to do so working for him was easy money for them.
    Frankie shook her head when Kellen’s altered demeanor caused
the boy to run. He was more than capable of helping interfere with that level
of the organization. Quite effectively too.
    “What are you thinking?” Kellen asked when he returned to
her side.
    “Just what a shame it is that these kids seem to have little
alternative than to make money illegally.”
    “Yes, it is. Perhaps you could do something about that,
should you opt to become a vampire.”
    “What do you mean?” Frankie was curious as they began to
walk.
    “Well, I write. You could become a counselor or a social
worker. Do something positive to help the situation if you wanted to.”
    “But it would have to be at night.”
    “So? Kids like unconventional. And what parent would object
if it worked?”
    She found herself smiling. “That’s true.”
    “Wait. I’m not trying to influence you here.”
    “I know that,” she declared as they entered his house.
    Again Kellen seemed to be at a loss for words. It fascinated
her since she’d just watched him tap into several different minds.
    “Kellen?”
    “Yes?”
    “Why can’t you tell what I’m thinking?”
    “I have no idea,” he stated. “It’s strange. I can when we’re
connected physically but the rest of the time, nothing. Oh I can pick up your
mood but that’s it. Perhaps it has to do with you being my potential mate. You
know,