Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.
Dealing with a vampire is not always easy. See what's happening in this week's chapter of Dracula. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
“Are you
hungry?” Avram ventured a guess. “I can take care of that for you.” He didn’t
really think that was the issue, as the vampire had only recently fed. Or at
least he assumed he had. They’d never really discussed what happened that night
between him and the late Doina, and he wasn’t about to ask.
“I’m fine,
Avram. You worry too much.” The vampire unexpectedly flicked the tip of Avram’s
nose in a playful gesture. At least he
appeared to be in a good mood, all things considered.
“It is
perhaps… companionship you seek?” Avram was trying to be delicate and not
offensive when questioning the state of his foster father’s libido. Another
topic that was not willingly touched on
In one
graceful move, Nico seemed to glide across the deck. He slung a companionable
arm about Avram’s shoulders. Leaning in to him, he asked in a seductive tone,
“Are you perhaps offering?”
Oy vey,
this man can be so infuriating.
Avram knew
damn well the vampire was toying with him in order to provoke a reaction of
some sort. Why, he didn’t know. Boredom, perhaps? The success of his maneuver could be attested
to by the sudden warmth in Avram’s cheeks, despite knowing Dracula was kidding.
Well, according to the saying, turnabout is fair play.
“And what
if I said yes?” he riposted, dramatically fluttering his eyelashes. “Would that
answer your question?” He puckered his lips, as if he were ready to be kissed. His gesture was met with a disdainful laugh as
Nico pulled away from him, crossing the boat to stand looking out across the
river.
When Avram
glanced at him, he was surprised to see a slight shudder steal through the
vampire’s frame. Or perhaps it was a
trick of the moonlight.
“We were
invited to join Andrei and his family, would you like to do that?” Avram hoped
he sounded more optimistic than he actually felt.
“Not we…
you.”
Of course
he’d heard. Foolish to think otherwise.
“Don’t let
me stop you, Avram. Feel free to associate with the hoi polloi if that is what
you desire.”
Avram
clenched his fists in anger at the offensive words, although he was not
surprised by them either. The vampire thought he was above everyone else and
always had. No wonder he got along with the Hapsburg bitch so well. Avram’s
only consolation was that he not only charmed the empress, but he also
dominated her in private. And she reciprocated with financial gratitude. That
was the only reason they were headed to Vienna now—besides needing to get away
from Bistritza, at least for a little while, they really needed the money.
Maria
Theresa would put them up, she’d done it before. And Nico would play dominant
to her submissive. As for Avram, he would simply try to stay out of her way.
Antisemitism was strong in that one. He would have to rely on his own ingenuity
and Nico’s assistance to avoid her as much as possible. To that end, they posed
as master and servant.
Naturally,
Avram got to play the part of the servant. What else could he do?
to be continued
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