Meanwhile, his fascinating Sebastian was spending entirely too much time on the web. It was growing irritating. He wanted to cuddle, but Seb was spending hours tap, tap, tapping on the keyboard. ''What's he up to?'' Curiousity grew to the painful level, so Goldie crept quietly over to Seb, quite engaged.
He was in 'chat mode' via an e-mail list called Theatre Des Vampires. ''Well, THAT figures . . .'' Goldie peered over Seb's head, ''Who's 'Purple Sonya'?'' Goldie demanded. Seb blushed and stammered, ''Just this girl I've met on the web . . .'' But the blushing gave Goldie the answer he'd feared. Seb was spreading his romantic attention elsewhere.
''You DO know 'Purple Sonya' could be a bald fifty year old man with bad teeth, and not a pretty teenager? You DO know this about the web, don't you?'' Golden sneered. Seb jumped, and merely replied, ''Huh?'' Goldie spat at him, ''I hope 'Sonya's a seventy year old man with bad teeth and bad breath!''
''Huh?'' Seb replied, confused by Goldie's venomous reaction. He spun around to face Golden, but Golden had stormed off. ''Touchy, touchy, touchy . . ,'' was all Seb thought as he continued typing. 'Purple Sonya' had quite the ability to express herself via print. She was role-playing a vampire with delectable grace. Seb asked for her e-mail address, which she quickly gave him.
Now, via long e-mail letters, or real-time chat, Sebastian was constantly talking with the mysterious lady. He asked her, in a joking manner, if she was really as she presented herself. ''Yes, short dark-haired seventeen year old girl, yes! Come see for yourself if you don't believe me! How do I know YOU'RE not a 'seventy year old man with bad teeth and bad breath'?''
That was all the challenge Seb needed. He learned her location. He would surprise her with a visit. His announcement to his new family certainly surprised them all. None of them were happy with it. ''Come now! We all know his reputation as a seducer of ladies through out the centuries. We shouldn't be too shocked!'' Livia reminded them all. She might not have been quite so bitter, had he given her the slightest gleam of his 'wicked eye'. ''But, NO-o-o-o! He went for Goldie!''
Now, Goldie, too, would be without him. He was pissed, extremely pissed. As Seb made travelling preparations, Goldie stood near by, assaulting him with large pudgy hands, but not doing any damage. ''What's the MATTER? I'm not STINKY enough for you? You have to go running after some damn HUMAN?'' Seb tried to comfort him, ''I still love you, babe. I've got to see this girl. There's just SOMETHING about her, I have to see her. And you smell FINE! It isn't a vamp vs human thing. It's just SOMETHING about her. I'll be back, I will.''
''I WON'T be waiting,'' Golden assured him. As Seb left, Goldie threw things at him. Whatever was near to his touch met his hand and was flung. It just happened to be plastic fruit from a center piece on the kitchen table. Plastic bananas, apples and grapes pelted Sebastian as he exited quickly. Once again, Sebastian had pissed someone off. His history was indeed consistent.
After the door was securely shut, Goldie cursed one last time, ''Damn you!'' as he gathered the plastic fruit from off the floor, and placed them back decoratively in the bowl. Gwen had thought it a nice touch, giving their home a look of 'normality', should they ever have human visitors. They would not know the vamps' refrigerator only contained bottles of chilled water.
The household anger soon subsided, and things returned to fairly normal. Golden comforted himself with a new hobby. He gave into his fascination for snakes, and acquired a baby boa constrictor, and all the paraphernalia necessary to safely house it.
He loved the way it slithered sensuously, and the way its little forked tongue moved in and out, and the greedy way it gobbled up its weekly ration of 'pinkies', anotherwise known as baby rats. Others of his family weren't especially fond of Goldie's new pet, but were glad he had something to keep his mind occupied and not grieving overmuch concerning the unfaithful Sebastian.
They were surprised at the resilency he showed, and had feared he would have gone completely to pieces. While Goldie did appear red-eyed at times, he seemed to be finding a strength within himself to cope. Everyone rallied around him and expressed affection in their own unique ways.
Gwen dusted off her sewing machine, and made Goldie a brocade robe that was threaded with gold threads. Goldie loved it, and the fact its sleeves truly reached to his wrists, something his other new garments failed to do. Michael joined him in his bed and cuddled close, so he wouldn't be lonely while sleeping. And Livia did her best to keep him amused with funny jokes during the 'day'. Goldie's security in the love of his family grew, and this further helped him blossom in graceful strength.
Go to Chapter 3, Secret Lover
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