Music of Souls

Sarah was in the kitchen when Jackson returned home. "Get ready to say I told you so."

"What do you mean?"

"I've just come from the park where I met Elisabeth Sidwell."

"Oh my God!" She jumped up and down clapping her hands. "I knew it, I knew it."

"You did not, you wished it."

"I think you owe me an apology, Mr. Cynic."

He rolled his eyes."I'm sorry I called you an idiot."

"What happened?"

"We're having dinner tonight."

"Yeah!" She clapped her hands again. "Okay, spill it."

His face softened as he touched her arm."Would you mind if I kept this one to myself?"

Jackson always shared his conquests with her. At first she frowned, then broke into a huge smile and started to sing, "You oo oo love her."

He dropped his head back and groaned, "I am living with an eternal teenager. God help me." She smacked his arm and took off to get ready for Connor's arrival.

Jackson had a few hours before he needed to shower. He poured a drink and started to think about how he would feed. The last thing he wanted was to be lusting for blood while with Elisabeth. He couldn't even think about feeding on another woman today. He wanted her, only her. This is going to be tough, he thought as he entered Sarah's fridge to get some swill.

When Sarah came downstairs, he was sitting with a drink and a glass of blood. She mused, "Hmm, slumming it are we?"

"Yeah."

She flashed a You-poor-thing look.

"Don't start with me, Sarah."

She picked up the glass and held it up. "This seems kind of thin."

"I cut it with Belvedere, big improvement."

"You put vodka in your blood?"

"Yeah, try it."

She took a sip, licked her lips, then studied the glass for a moment. "Why didn't I ever think of this?"

"Because you, my dear, are a masochist. I have another idea to improve this crap too."

"Do tell."

"It doesn't have to be sterile for us. We can store it in bottles. Transfer it immediately from the bag to a bottle. That way, no plastic taste."

Sarah pinched her bottom lip with her thumb and index finger. "That could work."

"Of course it would."

"Guess we should start stock piling bottles. Shouldn't take long the way we drink." They both laughed.

Jackson stood with his glasses and a Cheshire cat grin. "I have a date to get ready for."

Sarah was waiting for Connor when she heard strange noises coming from Jackson's room. When she rounded the corner to enter the room she shrieked, "Jesus, it looks like a bomb went off in here."