The Man Next Door

My great aunt had decided to put herself in a nursing
home. Aunt Sophia just celebrated her 94th birthday.
She announced at the family party that she would be
moving into Shady Oaks Health Care Center because she
was too old to live alone.

She told me that I was in charge of taking care of her
three-story house and the acre of grounds it was built
upon. I’d hoped Sophia would do that. I loved her house
and missed spending my summers there with her. My
brother and sisters played at Sophia’s when we were
growing up and I knew they were jealous of our aunt’s
decision.

Shady Oaks is a misnomer, but the town thought Shady
Maples was a bad idea. It was a small town of 4,600 in
central Iowa. I lived there most of my life except for
when I lived on campus at Iowa State University. Shady
Oaks was very typical of what you know about small
towns. Everybody knew everybody else and women and men
gossiped over the back fence. We had some crime:
shoplifting, drug makers and dealers, and traffic
violations. Rape and murder hadn’t found us yet.

Aunt Sophia moved out the first of May and I moved in
right after her. The house was furnished. Where else
could you keep family heirlooms? My family wouldn’t
sell anything until after Sophia passed away, so I only
needed my clothes, toiletries and food. I settled into
the bedroom that I used when I stayed over the summers.
I just didn’t have the balls to take over Sophia’s
room.

The room was on the second floor and had French doors
that opened onto a tiny balcony. When I was little, I’d
pretend I was a fairy princess overlooking my kingdom
and waiting for Prince Charming to rescue me. I left my
childhood memories and toured the house, figuring out
what I would need to buy at the store. The basics, I
thought. The food, bath soap, shampoo and laundry
detergent I liked. I made a mental grocery list and
drove to the store.

I watched the sunset as I drove, yellow to orange to
pink to deep blue. God, it was beautiful! I parked and
went inside. I got a cart and started shopping.
Lettuce, tomato, onion, garlic, potatoes, bananas,
apples and grapes from produce.

I worked my way to the meat counter for hamburger,
roast and a ham slice. There was only one guy behind
the counter and he was serving another customer. I
glanced at the customer and did a double take. The guy
was a dead ringer for my favorite actor, Keanu Reeves,
and dressed all in black, like Keanu did in ‘The
Matrix’.

My mother would give me a good jab in the ribs for
staring. I couldn’t look away from the stranger. I knew
it wasn’t Keanu. What in God’s name would Keanu be
doing in a Podunk town in Iowa? The voice was melodic
and hypnotizing. I couldn’t hear what he asked for but
the tone…God! He got his meat (ha-ha) bundles and
faced me. I felt myself blush. With an inclination of
his head, he acknowledged me and walked away.

The clerk asked me if he could help. I ran up to the
counter. “Was that Keanu Reeves?”

“No, but I thought he was, too!”

“I thought I was going to faint when he looked at me.”
I fanned myself with my hand. I gave the clerk my order
and tried to get myself under control. I threw my
purchases in the cart and rushed to find that man
again. I went to frozen foods. He wasn’t there. I
tossed in some pizzas that were on sale. I scanned the
check out lines for him as I rounded the corner.

“Oomph,” I heard.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized as I swiveled my head toward
the voice. My jaw dropped. I ran into the Keanu
wannabe.

He rubbed his hip where my cart struck him and my eyes
followed the motion. “Uh, I-I’m really sorry. I, ah, I
wasn’t watching where I, ah, was going.”

He tapped the box of Band-Aids he had against his
thigh. He pursed his lips and lifted his dark brows up
and down. He walked to me, inhaled my scent and kept
going. I followed him with my eyes as he checked out.

He nodded slightly at me before he left the building. I
finished shopping in record time. I paid and loaded my
bags in my car’s trunk. He wasn’t waiting for me, like
I had hoped. A girl can’t have everything, I guess.

I drove home taking the side streets. I really wanted
another opportunity to see Keanu again. That’s what I
named him, Keanu. (Laugh all you want, it’s better than
Joe Blow from Kokomo!) I didn’t spot him walking and
pulled into the driveway. I unloaded my bags, went in
the kitchen door and set them on the counter. I put the
cold stuff in the refrigerator and the dry goods in the
pantry. The bag that contained the toiletries I took
upstairs to the bathroom.

I made my way to the balcony outside my room. After
what happened, I needed a smoke and lit up. I inhaled
deeply; blowing smoke rings up into the night air. I
forgot to bring an ashtray with me and wandered in to
find one. I filled a paper cup from the bathroom with
water and went back to my perch. My butt leaned against
the railing as I relaxed. I dropped the smoldering
cigarette in the water-filled cup and lit up a second.

My eyes scanned the surrounding treetops. The stars
were thick tonight. I spotted Ursa Major and Orion.
Venus glowed halfway up from the horizon. I stargazed a
while, then saw the neighboring pool lights flicker on.
Somebody was going for a dip and I maneuvered myself to
sitting down with my legs dangling between the rails.
My room was dark, so whoever it was couldn’t see me
watching.

The view was great. Sitting where I was, I could see
the patio and pool through a gap in the tree limbs. I
fired up my third cigarette. A man came out, butt
nekkid.

“Turn around,” I whispered to myself. He turned and I
got an eyeful of bare skin, including a soft penis. I
clamped my mouth shut as a giggle erupted. I couldn’t
make out his face because a breeze came up and obscured
my view. It died down and I saw the man dive quietly
into the water.

He did a few laps, then broke the surface. It was
Keanu. My inhale got caught in my throat and I coughed.
Keanu didn’t hear me, I guess. He rested against the
pool wall, letting his lower torso float.

Quietly, I scooted from between the rails and crawled
into the bedroom. I stood and went to the toilet, still
coughing. I drank some water and calmed. I flipped on
the overhead light in my room and walked out to the
balcony.

Keanu was gazing directly at me. I waved. He smirked
and crooked a finger, motioning me to come over. He
knew I was watching. Shit! Why am I worried? I can tell
him the truth. I left the house and walked through the
side yard to the fence separating us. I pushed the gate
open and went in. Keanu still floated in the water. I
strolled over to a lounge chair and sat down. His dark
eyes burned a hole through me. “Yes, I was watching
you. So what?” I said.

He disappeared under the water and came up in front of
me. He lifted himself out and stood, making no move to
cover his crotch. “So nothing.”

I licked my dry lips as he padded over to me.

He leaned down and put his hands behind me, taking the
towel off the back. He dried his black hair and wrapped
the towel around his narrow hips. “My name is
Nathaniel, not Keanu.” He walked into the house,
leaving me sitting there dumbfounded.

I rushed in. “How did you know I called you Keanu?” He
wasn’t anywhere in this room. I stepped carefully
across the wooden floor, tracking his wet footprints to
the hallway. They trailed into a room at the far end. I
followed. I saw him from the doorway lying naked on the
bed with his long legs crossed at the ankles. “How did
you know? Are you a mind-reader?” I demanded.

Nathaniel placed his hands behind his head. “Something
like that.”

“Well, keep your nose out of my thoughts.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’ve been chosen. Like Sophia was chosen
sixty years ago.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I jammed my
hands on my hips. “What do you know about my aunt?”

“You’ve been chosen for me. Sophia was chosen for me, a
long time ago.”

“You still haven’t answered my questions.”

His voice deepened. “Come to me, Olivia.”

My feet began moving, drawn by his voice. I willed
myself to stop. “No.”

“Yesss,” Nathaniel pitch grew more hypnotic.

“No,” I hissed and steeled my mind against him.

“Your aunt was much easier. Her will was weak.” His
eyes darkened to black. He echoed his voice as he
spoke, “Olivia, I need you to come to me.” I hooded my
eyes and stayed put. If he wants me so bad, he’ll have
to get off his ass and come get me. Suddenly, Nathaniel
was in my face. He seized my mouth with his, kissing me
hard. I sank my teeth in his lower lip and tasted
blood.

I shoved him away and drew back. “Keep away from me,
you bastard!”

Nathaniel touched his lip. He saw the blood and licked
it from his fingers. He bared his teeth and purred, “I
like my women with spirit.”

“I’ll show you how much spirit I got,” I retorted.

He disappeared. I scanned for him. I felt my head being
tilted back. He was behind me, yanking my hair. He
gripped my jaw, forcing me to turn and face him. The
hand left my face and ripped my shirt open. “You will
surrender, if not tonight, then tomorrow.” I saw his
upper lip curl back and the fanged canines.

“You’re a fucking vampire!”

Nathaniel chuckled, “Not fucking you yet, Olivia. Only
a starving vampire.” He bent down to my throat and I
felt his lips graze my skin. I let out a shriek. He
released me to cover his ears and howled, “BITCH!” I
took the chance, running by him and toward home.

I locked the door and leaned against it, panting. There
were a million ways he could get in here. I wouldn’t be
able to guard them all. What to do, what to do? All I
knew about vampires came from the movies. I figured
beheading Nathaniel was a reliable alternative. I
closed my eyes and thought about where I could get some
help. Family? Church? They’d think I was nuts and lock
me up.

‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ popped in my head. It was the
scene where Keanu is in Transylvania and being seduced
by the succubae. I was one of the demon women and Keanu
was touching my hair. He pulled me to him. We kissed.
‘That wasn’t in the movie,’ I thought and opened my
eyes. Nathaniel embraced me, kissing the hollow of my
throat.

My mouth fell open to scream but my voice was frozen. I
shuddered at his touch. My mind was reeling. My skin
was on fire and tingling all over. Each breath was a
struggle. I couldn’t free myself from him. I was dead
meat and still a virgin. Life’s a bitch, ain’t it?
“What are you doing to me?” I gasped out.

Nathaniel pulled my breasts out of the cups of my
brassiere, palming the small mounds. “I’m making you
mine, Olivia. Branding you with my touch.” His mouth
closed over a nipple. I screamed, digging my nails into
his scalp. Tears scalded my face. He shifted and
suckled the other turgid peak. My emotions ran wild and
I ground my body against him. “Yes, my sweet,
surrender,” Nathaniel whispered.

He removed my jeans and placed me on the tabletop. He
stepped between my legs and lifted my hips up. In one
thrust, he broke through my virginity, sinking deep in
my vagina. He pounded me savagely for hours, never
stopping until the early morning. I lay paralyzed with
fear of him and the brutal fucking. He pulled out and
glanced at my blood on his prick. “Thank you, Olivia,
for allowing me to deflower you. I will return this
evening at sunset to pick up where I left off.” He
faded into a mist, seeping under the door.

I stared vacantly at the window, waiting for the sun to
rise fully. I rolled onto the floor, unable to stand. I
crawled painfully upstairs. The cool tile of the
bathroom felt good. My thighs were streaked heavily
with blood and cum. I rested, gathering my strength to
take a bath. I managed somehow to get in the marble tub
and clean myself.

This is how it feels to be raped, I thought, gazing at
the pink-tinged water. I knew I was bleeding inside. I
let the warm water ease in my vagina. It burned. I
needed to go to the hospital but he would find me and
rape me again. It didn’t matter. I wanted to die.

The water turned cold. I got out, shivering, and
wrapped a fluffy towel around me. I limped to my bed
and fell into it. The softness enveloped me, cradling
my body. People came by. The phone rang. I just lay
there, waiting for sunset. My mind registered the
gorgeous colors as the sky grew darker and darker. Any
time now, he would appear and rape me.

A mist crept under the French doors and solidified into
the form of a man. Nathaniel. He was naked and his
penis jutted out, red-tipped and swollen. He sat beside
me and stroked my hair. He pushed me on my back and
parted my legs. Blood smeared on my thighs and caked in
my pubic hairs. “Did I do this, Olivia?” he asked as
his hands touched the red fluid. He lapped my blood
from my skin and hair, then slipped his tongue in my
sore vagina. I whimpered.

His tongue licked over the tears in my channel. I shook
and felt myself dampen at his touch. I cried, ashamed
at my body’s betrayal. My knees were over his shoulders
and his hands caressed my belly. “Nathaniel, please
don’t rape me again,” I begged through my sobs. The
pain from the first attack melted away as his tongue
tasted my pussy. A calm came over me and I relaxed.

Nathaniel’s tongue lapped and lapped inside me. He
didn’t move to touch me anywhere else, just tongued my
vagina and massaged my belly. My body grew hot and
restless. He rubbed his nose over my clitoris.

I bucked and orgasmed, coating his mouth and tongue
with my cum. He licked me clean and brushed his lips
across my belly, moving up my torso to my breasts. The
nipples stood at attention. He licked each one and
kneaded the mounds. “Olivia,” he said and thrust his
cock inside me.

I tensed, expecting pain, and felt…satisfied. I
wasn’t numb either. Every thrust, every withdrawal I
was aware of every millimeter of his cock. My eyes
softened with desire. I ran my hands over his chest and
back. I pulled him on top of me and kissed his jaw line
and throat. I nibbled the cords of his shoulders. The
thrusts quickened, as did his breathing. His body went
rigid and he howled my name as he shot his release.

The cum filled me, then began burning. I fought to get
out from under him. He pinned my arms above my head and
my legs tangled with his. Screams ripped through my
lungs and out my mouth. I went into a seizure. Blood
dripped from my eyes and pussy. My heart squeezed once
then stopped beating. My brain still functioned since I
can tell you what happened.

Nathaniel waited a moment, then let me go. I was limp.
My body’s muscles refused to move. He had rolled over
next to me, watching and waiting. The blood that
earlier poured out of me was drawn back inside my body.
He placed a palm on my breastbone and tapped a
heartbeat. Air filled my lungs. I sat up and looked
around me. “What…”

“Welcome, Olivia, to my world,” Nathaniel answered with
a smile. My face wore a look of shock and disbelief.
“You’re a vampire now, my love.”

“How?”

“We use sexual intercourse to pass our genetic code.
I’m very sorry about hurting you last night, but it was
necessary. Your vagina needed to be torn to allow my
seed to enter your bloodstream.” My body shivered and
he wrapped his arms around me, warming me up.

“You told me I was chosen. Chosen to become a vampire?”

“Yes. Our bloodline has diminished in numbers because
of HIV. Your immune system is strong enough to fight
off the virus.”

“What about my Aunt Sophia?”

“I met her when she was 24 years. She had lost her
husband at Pearl Harbor. I seduced her the moment we
met. Sadly, Sophia was not a virgin. Her marriage had
been consummated before her husband’s death. My seed
would not take and I never touched her again. Virginity
is very important. A virgin tears easily went mated
with and accepts the change much faster.”

“Can I have children?”

Nathaniel kissed my cheek. “No, love. Vampirism
destroys the gonads, making us barren.”

I snuggled closer to his body. “Are there any rules I
should know? Sunlight and all that.”

“Sunlight can kill us, if we expose ourselves long
enough. We are like very light-skinned humans. We burn
easily. The true death is beheading. You died tonight,
but your brain still lived. As long as your head is
connected to your body, your body will function as it
did when you were human. We don’t live on blood. We can
eat normal foods, except milk. Lactose intolerance, I
think.” He paused, thinking.

“Vampires work at night. No one wants to chance a
severe burn. Your body can heal itself of most
anything, given rest. You will find yourself with a
strong sexual appetite.” He gazed into my eyes. “You
won’t be able to see your family now. You carry a
potent lust in your blood and you will force yourself
upon any of them, sexually. For example, if your mother
hugged you, you would rip her clothes off and rape
her.”

“Eeew! That’s gross.”

“But true. I have made you mine, body and soul. You’ll
live with me until the day I die, much akin to a
marriage.”

I absorb everything he told me. I was stuck with
Nathaniel forever. I smiled.

“I hope you don’t snore. I can’t make you roll over in
a coffin.”

He tweaked my nose. “Silly, vampires don’t sleep in
coffins. We live very much like humans except we never
go the beach for a tan.”

“Can we have sex?”

“Yes. I’ll need to wear you out of your lust. It only
lasts six or seven years and then you’ll be able to
control yourself in public.”

“So, if I got away from you in that time, I’ll fuck
every person I come in contact with and make more
vampires?”

“You won’t make more vampires. You’ll fuck them until
they drop dead.”

“And I’ll live like I did as a human?”

“Yes. No sun and no milk. Hell, I go out to eat, see
movies, play basketball and swim at the Y.” He sat up.
“Have you ever been to Europe?”

“No. Are you wanting to take me there?”

“It would be a good reason not to see your family.
Although that could only work as an excuse for a few
months.”

I snapped my fingers; “I got it. I can call them and
say I’m taking a trip around the world. I’d need a few
years to experience it all.”

“The sunrise is coming in an hour. We had better leave
for my house and get some rest. You can call from
there.” I threw some clothes in a bag and we ran naked
across the lawn. Nathaniel led me to his bedroom. He
closed the curtains and we climbed into bed. I slept
passed sunset and he nudged me awake. “It’s past seven
at night. You should call your parents.”

I dressed and phoned Mom and Dad. I told them I met a
wonderful man and he was taking me on a world-wide
vacation. Mom worried, saying she hadn’t met this man
yet and should I really do this. I told her I would be
fine and Nathaniel was taking good care of me. He was,
too, nibbling on my bare toes during the conversation.
I hung up and kicked at him. “Stop that! It tickles!” I
said through a bought of giggling. He threw me a sultry
look. He massaged my arches. “Let’s go rent a movie. I
feel the need for a comedy.”

“Something with Keanu Reeves, I take it?” He replied
with a feral grin.

“Oh yeah. Gotta have my dose of Keanu.”

Nathaniel padded around the room, dressing as he
walked. He wore all black: T-shirt, jeans, jacket and
shoes. He watched me slip on a pair of sandals and
reminded me, “Be careful around the humans. The lust
can be overwhelming.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I will. Besides,
you’ll be with me and if I feel the urge…I jump your
bones.” I wiggled myself against his lean body.

He hugged me tightly. “And that is where ‘vamp’ comes
from. So ends the language lesson.” We headed down to
Blockbuster. We didn’t encounter anyone along the way
but, after entering Blockbuster, I began panting. I hid
my face in his coat, feeling my canines lengthen.
Nathaniel held me close and my body shook with lust.
“Stay calm. We’ll be out of here soon.” He grabbed the
nearest Keanu movie, The Replacements, and dragged me
to the check out counter.

The clerk processed the movie on her computer, watching
me surreptitiously. I jerked open Nathaniel’s jacket
and chewed on the bare skin I found. I purred loud
enough for the clerk to hear and grabbed Nathaniel by
the shirt. I pulled him to me roughly and slammed my
mouth on his. I lifted my legs up and wrapped them
around his waist. He snatched the videotape and ran out
the door with me clinging to him like a kudzu vine.

We rounded the corner and ducked into an alley. He
shoved me against the brick facing and plundered my
mouth. He bent a little to rock his denim-covered cock
along my soaked crotch. I came and bowed my head in
exhaustion. I dropped my legs and stood, still trapped
between Nathaniel and the wall. He held me upright with
his arms. I whispered shakily, “Take me home.” I hugged
his midsection.

We stepped away from the wall and began to rise up. I
watched my feet lift off the pavement. Soon, we were
above the rooftops and flying through the night sky
towards home. Nathaniel saw my amazement and delight.
“Just like Superman, my love.” I could make out the
peaks of his house and gaped as he brought us back down
to earth.

“You didn’t tell me we could fly!” I squealed. “That
was FAN-tastic!”

He grew bashful. “It’s no big deal.”

“When can I do it?”

“In time, Olivia, in time.” He led me inside. “It took
me nearly 150 years to master the art of flying.”

I bounded to the couch and flopped down. “What other
cool stuff can vampires do?”

“Form-change into mists and fog. Cast glamours. Call
and command animals.” He sat next to me and I curled
against him. “I can’t remember it all right now. But it
all comes with time and practice.”

“So Hollywood got most of it wrong. D & D got it right
though.”

He gave me a secretive smile. “Gary Gygax accepted the
advice of a certain vampire who must remain unnamed.” I
gaped at him. “Not me! One of my friends!”

We sat for a while in silence. I stroked his jaw. “Is
this a glamour? A glamour for my benefit?”

His hand closed over mine. “No. My face isn’t an
illusion.

It’s the physical body I was born with.”

“I’m glad. I’d hate to find out you really looked like
Ernest Borgnine.” I poked his ribs. He laughed and
slapped at my hands. He threw his weight against me and
I was pinned to the couch. We shared kisses and laughs.
I fought through a case of the giggles and said, “I
love you, Nathaniel.” I was still grinning like an
idiot.

Nathaniel’s face got very serious. He stared at me a
long time before choking out, “Oh, Olivia, how can you
love a creature like me?” His voice cracked, filled
with pain and anguish. He pulled away and rose. I got
up and followed, embracing him from behind. My head
rested between his shoulder blades. He spoke just above
a whisper; “I raped you, Olivia. I coerced you to
become a vampire. I cursed you to live for eternity and
watch those humans you care for turn to dust.” He
whipped around and gazed deeply into my eyes. “How can
you say you love me?”

“Easily.” I looked at him. His dark eyes were brimming
with unshed tears and his lips quivered. I traced his
mouth with an index finger. “I love you.”

“You say you love me. How long will it last? I was your
first lover, Olivia. I resemble a man you admire and
lust for. Can you live a thousand years with me and
still say you love me? I grew to hate the woman who
changed me from human to vampire. Will you grow to
despise me as well?”

“I do hate you, Nathaniel. I hate that you raped me.
That you gave me no choice.” I walked away to sit back
on the couch. “I have always believed in fate and
destiny. I knew, deep in my soul, when I responded to
you last night, that I accepted whatever road this
change take me down. You said yourself that I was
chosen for you.” I captured his gaze. “Who chose me for
you?”

“Sophia.”

I was shocked. “How? When?”

Nathaniel knelt before me and grasped my hands. “I
returned to Shady Oaks last year and moved into this
house. Sophia saw me from your balcony. She invited me
over, wanting answers. Was I related to her one-night
lover? I confessed who I was and am. She accepted my
tale as truth and told me about you.”

“Why didn’t she run like I did?”

“Sophia said she was too old to flee from me. The night
I loved her, she was freed from her grief and
understood there was more to life to live. I gave her a
moment of happiness in a dark time of her life. She
wants the same for me and believed you were capable of
the task. I told Sophia I would change you into a
vampire, taking you down a path you could never return
from. There was something about you she couldn’t
describe with words but I found it when I saw you at
the grocery.”

“What was it?” I asked. My mouth had gone dry.

“Hope,” Nathaniel replied quietly.