I'd neither seen nor heard from him in over a week. Good grief, was I pining for a Vampire? The word still did not come easily; I had been over it time and again, but still could not speak it. It was not my imagination, sex that good had to be real. The after effects were not imaginary either; those tiny twin brands on my neck had barely healed and were still visible each time I looked in the mirror. Numerous bruises were now yellowing and fading, but still proof that he was real. But for how long? How long would it be before I doubted my own memory, before I forgot?
There had been moments when I thought I had felt his cool stare on me; when a familiar shiver would pass through me as it had when his gaze slid freely over me. My mind drew all thoughts back to him, it was thoroughly distracting. Every glance in a mirror saw him standing behind me, peering back at me. The whisper of fabric brought memories of my skirt sweeping down my thighs. Even at work he plagued me, rendering me useless. Each evening I walked my path searching his windows for...life? Is that even the right word? But, each evening I was more disappointed than before as his windows stood cold and empty against the night. Tonight would be no exception.
Except is that him coming out of his door? A smile spread hesitantly over my face as he walked towards me, and my step quickened.
"Samuel, where have you..." Wait, that was not Samuel; he was not that that tall, and his stride was smoother, less hurried than the gait of this stranger.
I had hoped the man would not register my mistake, just walk on by. But, clearly, my luck was not on the up tonight. As I had uttered Samuels name a set of steely eyes snapped to mine, stopping me dead.
"What do you know of Samuel, girl? Have you seen him?" His voice was barely a whisper, but my blood threatened to freeze in their very veins at the promises held within it.
Leaning reflexively away from him my head shook, hard; hair lashing my cheeks as it swung. His hand streaked out grabbing my chin, pulling my face to his. Nails dug deep, not quite breaking the skin, but pain shooting through me nonetheless. He squeezed so hard it felt as though my jaw would shatter under his iron grip. Fear and shame swept through me as I let loose a whimper.
"Speak now or forever lose your tongue," he said. A grim smile spread over his cracked grey lips, fetid breath washing over me as he let loose a gurgling snicker. Forcing myself not to gag in the face of this ...thing, I was absolutely sure it would not go well for me if I did; I tried to find my voice.
"I haven't seen him in over a week, and I only met him that one time," I squeaked, through my clenched jaw. There was silence for the longest moment. Was he deciding what to do with me? Please don't kill me, my thoughts begged.
The worn grey face drifted towards mine, stopping the merest breadth away. Air whistled through his nostrils as he sucked in a breath. Oh god no! My eyes shot closed, squeezed tight, as it smelled me, face drifting leisurely around mine. A satisfied groan rose from its throat as it loosened its grip on my chin, stroking my bottom lip with a clammy finger.
"You smell most appealing. It appears you could be useful in another way." Running a finger, of his opposite hand, down my neck he drew aside my scarf revealing where Samuel had bitten me. His eyes hooded as his nails traced the pink marks.
Panic surged up, released in a loud cry and flailing limbs. I was dropped as my elbow caught his cheek, bone crunching upon contact. I hit the frozen ground ass first, but I wasn't there for long. Scrabbling away I made it onto my feet, running towards the trees, towards shelter. I would like to have said that it was intentional; that having dropped my bag it was the only option open to me, because I couldn't get into the house. I'd be lying. I landed towards the trees and so that's the direction in which I ran. My lungs burned with each stride, but I forced my wobbly legs to keep moving until I reached the protection of the trees.
Cowering under the boughs of a tall pine I heard nothing, except my own breaths as I struggled for air. Desperately I tried to quieten my breathing, but that was utterly pointless. I was totally unfit and out of luck; my noisy wheezes carrying easily through the still air. But, still I fought for control. Listening for sounds above the thumping of my own heart and panting breaths, I strained hard to hear any sounds of approach. I started at each snap of an imagined twig or crunch or frozen leaves. Long minutes passed and nothing approached. Had he, it, gone? Perhaps I had injured it enough to leave.
A cold grip clasped me about the neck, shooting a shiver of warning through me, before slamming me into the unforgiving trunk I was hiding behind. My head collided with the wood as the rough bark grazed my cheek.
"That was most impolite of you. I was rather thinking that we were hitting it off just then. If I had any feelings then you may have hurt them."
"Sorry?" I was at a loss what else to say.
"I believe you will be." As he pressed himself against me I was almost crushed against the tree. I struggled hard and he wavered not. His strength belied his fragile appearance. My wrists were pinned in his vice like grip, arms pulled taught above me. His slimy tongue licked at a track of blood that had run from my cheek and panic rushed over me. A scream burst from me as I bucked and thrashed against him. Oh dear god, please just let him kill me quick!
My next scream was cut short as I landed on my knees. An explosion of wood showered me as something collided with the nearest tree. I crawled away from the sounds of a struggle, palms scraping against stones and knees jarring against tree roots. The only evidence for a struggle was the sound of impacts; the dull thud of wood verses the sharp crack of stone. There was no sound of persons. No strike of flesh on flesh. No curses as the strikes hit home. Then there was silence.
I froze, waiting; waiting for the next strike to come, afraid to even breathe in case I invited the next misfortune. Cool fingers swept over my grazed cheek; I flinched from the contact, scurrying back.
"Shh, Helen. It's me, Samuel." The familiar voice sent relief through me, and I choked back a sob.
"Samuel?" My voice cracked then, my throat raw.
"Yes, it's alright, you are safe now," he said.
Safe? I shoved hard against him, trying to push him away. All I achieved was throwing me backwards again. Samuel caught me before my back thumped against the frozen ground.
"Helen?"
"Where have you been Samuel? And what the fuck was that?" I roiled in his arms, but he had me tight against him.
"I really am so sorry," he whispered against my ear. His cool breath soothed my panic, so that I calmed a little, "I didn't realise that they would find me here so soon. We cannot stay here." He lifted off me, pulling me to my feet.
"I thought you said it was safe," I queried.
"You are safe now. There may be others soon. There are always others." I could not see his face as he spoke; I wanted to see him.
He grasped me behind my back as his other arm swept my legs from beneath me, cradling me against him.
"What are you doing? Put me the hell down," I said.
"We need to leave now, and you cannot see in the dark. I can," he replied. I had no come back to this. I needed to eat more carrots if I was intending to hang around vampires in the future.
This last ten minutes had been the most strenuous and tense filled of my short life, my exhausted body flagged against his as I conceded. His long stride rocked me against him as he picked his way smoothly over hidden roots and ditches. Even when we came out into the light he never paused, heading straight for my car, keys already clenched in his hand. I searched his face, but there were no answers there. His jaw was gritted, eyes tight with worry. Only when he had deposited me on the passenger seat, and he had settled into the drivers', did he look at me.
