An Interview with the Vampire Ethan Raines
I was asked by legendary District Manager of The Bureau, Ethan Raines, (hero of Tall, Dark & Deadly) to visit the facility located in the heart of New Orleans to interview him instead of my typical location. It was a bit odd to have to do this interview so late at night, but considering who I was going to meet, I quickly made an adjustment to my schedule.
After removing my silver necklace and earrings, I was escorted through the enormous building that fronted as a generic IT security office. It wasn’t long before I was corralled past the facade and into an elevator by a guard. I gingerly stepped in and settled towards the back as he swiped his card key. He didn’t push a floor number, and I felt us move downward, despite there were no sub-level floors called out on the button panel. It was like I was in a James Bond movie. Pretty slick!
When the elevator door opened, I witnessed a bustle of supernaturals moving like they had a purpose. It reminded me of high school when the period bell rang! The tall, quiet guard turned to me, a sliver of his hazel eyes in my view.
“Stay close to me,” he warned. “Try not to make eye contact with too many folks. Some supes may take it as a challenge.”
I gave a quick nod of compliance. “Yes sir.”
When the guard stepped out, I was literally on his heels making sure I didn’t get caught up in the whirlwind of busy creatures working to fight crime and otherworldly atrocities. As we moved through the crowd, I took notice of pale, fanged vampires, beautiful women with fairy wings, and I thought I saw a horned creature with bat-like wings!
Finally, we turned a corner past two giant steel doors that read “Levels 1-6”, then another corner that led to the offices. Excitement within me began to swell as the guard led me through a pair of mahogany double doors and into a majestic, posh office. There was a fireplace crackling past the huge, mile-high bookshelves and a slew of ancient artifacts in glass cases to the left of the sleek, wooden desk. Gas Lights flickered on the walls where corporate fluorescent lights should have been.
The stoic guard directed me to one of the oversized club chairs next to the calming fireplace. “DM Raines will be with you in a moment. Please make yourself comfortable while you wait.”
“Thank you,” I replied as I set down my laptop bag and purse. As the guard exited, I settled in the comfy chair, resting my tense body. The heat of the fire warmed me as I drank in the vision of the room. The ambiance of dancing flames from the hearth reminded me of home. I stretched my legs out on the ottoman and leaned back as the smell of burning cedar and wafts of lavender filled the room. As my body eased and sunk further into the chair, it was apparent there was an air of tranquility that lay thick among the classic beauty of the office.
So peaceful, rather, I found myself nodding off before the abrupt sound of the wooden doors closing and my eyes shot open.
I popped out of the seat immediately to find myself gazing on a tall, dark-haired mirage of a man with arctic blue eyes peering behind horn-rimmed glasses. Wearing a white dress shirt, with a black tie and slacks, his elegance seemed to stretch well beyond the light business attire he was wearing. His hair was cut short away from his warm ivory face that held a gentle, but cryptic expression. Standing confidently at about 6’3 or 6’4, his intimidating presence spoke of power and ageless strength. With all those classically handsome features standing less than four feet away from me, I found myself simply gawking at him.
Speak Kharma! Speak! I thought to myself. Use your words!
A thoughtful smile curved that gorgeous mouth of his as he moved closer to me. “Hello, I’m Ethan,” he said extending his right hand to me for an introduction. “You’re here for the interview, yes?”
Echoing his smile, I met his eyes and the hand he offered. “Hi, I’m Kharma Kelley. Yes, thanks so much for having me here, Mr. Raines.” Eagerly, I shook his hand.
“Of course, thank you for being so flexible and meeting me at his hour. I’m usually asleep during the day.” Ethan motioned to my chair, “Please have a seat. Can I get you anything?”
I sat back down in the welcoming pillowed chair and shook my head. “Thank you, but I’m fine.” I leaned forward, digging for my cell phone in my purse. “If you don’t mind, I prefer to record our interview so I can transcribe it later.” My eyes followed his lean, but muscular frame as he tugged his slacks and sat down in the over-sized chair across from me.
Ethan adjusted his glasses and nodded to me. “Sure, whatever works for you.” His voice, deep and sensual, sent a ripple of awareness through me. I could listen to a voice like that all day. Mellow and calming, just like everything else in the office. Right then, I was convinced to get this guy talking ASAP!
Holding the phone in my lap, I pulled up the voice recorder app and pressed record.
“This is an interview with The Bureau’s founder and New Orleans District Manager, Ethan Raines.” I looked up and smiled. “I’m happy to speak with the mysterious member of The Bureau that has built such a strong organization on behalf of both supes and humans alike.” I leaned forward, putting on the game face. “So, Mr. Raines, let’s start at the beginning. What is your name?
He grimaced, but answered matter-of-factly. “Ethan Raines.”
I slowly shook my head. I knew better than that. “Give me your full name, please. For the record.”
He sighed with a sly smirk. “Seriously? You really need to know that?”
I clicked my teeth and nodded. “Yep. You know, for the record.”
He slightly shifted in his chair and stared at the phone recording in my lap before focusing back on me. Ethan leaned back, folding his arms. “Fine,” he continued in a deadpan voice.
“My full name is Ethanos Amaryllis Raines. For the record.”
I grinned. “Thank you. Interesting name. So, besides the change to ‘Ethan’, do you have a nickname or pet name friends call you?”
Ethan answered with cool authority and one I would expect from The Bureau’s founder. “No. I wouldn't ever entertain such a thing. ‘Ethan’ is the best everyone’s going to get. I make it a point not to get too familiar with my colleagues and nicknames are definitely too familiar.”
“So, is it more of a general rule with The Bureau, or more of Ethan Raines’ rule?”
His devious smile nearly made me choke on my words. Amusement flickered across the masculine features of his face. And there, I saw a peek at a layer of personality that Mr. Raines hid behind his reserved demeanor. “My colleague, Director Nakamura and the others would claim those choices were one in the same to be honest. But yes, it’s a general rule of The Bureau-no fraternizing. It can make the environment quite hostile, especially with different species interacting. Can you imagine a break up fight between two agents where one is a Frost Giant and the other a Sea Nymph?”
I pondered that for a bit and had a terrifying mental picture of everything frozen, covered in slick ice around The Big Easy, including the people. A shiver rattled my body. “That would be disastrous.”
He inclined his head in a deep gesture.“That, Miss Kelley, was the Winter Storm of 2014 here in New Orleans.”
“Yikes,” I swallowed at the intensity in his expression. “Duly noted, Mr. Raines.” Clearing my throat, I continued. “Okay, we’ll talk a bit more about The Bureau shortly, but I have more ‘getting to know you’ questions, such as what species are you? You know: human, werewolf, etcetera? Or are you an alien from another planet?”
Ethan raked his fingers through his obsidian hair and gave a quaint chuckle. I could tell he was a bit uncomfortable answering, but inquiring minds wanted to know.
“That's a bit..complicated. But for all intensive purposes, I'm vampire.” A flash of humor crossed his face. “Hence our late night interview.”
I cleared my throat and continued on. “Ah, yes. Vampire.” I tilted my head in curiosity. “I'm sorry, but I've gotta ask. So what’s with the glasses?”