Necromance

Necromance: Chapter Two

NECROMANCE

By:Rachel Kramer

Chapter Two:

I was going to make a move for my gun, but it was still in my purse, which I now just realized was laying on the floor of the passenger seat, next to the blood-soaked bullets my blind-date had self-extracted from his chest with his bare hands. He was either hardcore or undead.

With my gun out of reach, I didn't have many options. I debated on just running away, but depending on what he was, it could be pointless. Not to mention just plain stupid. Vampires and werewolves enjoyed the chase; it would only entice him. And if Gavin were either of those things, he'd catch me in seconds.

When you're all out of options, you stall. "What the hell are you?"

I'd already decided he couldn't' be a vampire. He wasn't pale enough and his canines were average size. He probably wasn't a werewolf either, unless he had amazing control of his inner-animal. Any lycan would have changed form while being shot at; it was an uncontrollable survival instinct. So, if Gavin wasn't a vampire or a werewolf, what was he? Going through the list of preternatural creatures would take all night - time I didn't have.

Gavin decided to ignore my question. "Do you have anything I can plug up these holes with?"

"You mean the 'holes' in your chest?" I asked sardonically. "No Gavin, I'm fresh out of ghetto-rigged surgical supplies."

He stopped searching my glove box, to look me dead in the eyes. There was a hint of humor carved in his features, which he pulled off without actually smiling.

"You're taking this a lot better than the last girl I dated - why is that?" he asked

I raised an eyebrow. "You got shot on your last date, too?"

"No." It was the only response he offered, and I didn't' push for an explanation. I'll admit I was curious, but not that curious. I knew it was probably something I'd be better off not hearing.

We sat there staring at one another in a moment of awkward silence, before I finally said, "You still haven't answered my question."

"And you haven't answered mine," he argued. "Why aren't you fleeing for your life after what you saw me do just now?"

"I've seen worse," I told him flatly. "I'm basically immune to that kind of stuff."

"Yeah? And how is that?"

"No-way," I said. "I already answered your question. Now it's your turn to answer mine."

Gavin sighed. I could tell he was hesitant, but he eventually gave in. "Interesting phrasing, Brigitte. I couldn't help but notice you asked me 'what' I was, not 'how' I'm still alive."

"Because I know better," I said matter-of-factly. "And don't kid yourself, Gavin. You and I both know you're not truly alive."

Gavin conceded with a nod. "Fair enough," he said. There was a brief moment of silence before he continued with, "I'm a ghoul."

I must have made a face at that, because he added, "What? Don't look at me like that. I'm still very self-conscious about it as it is."

I had to really focus on making my expression appear as unbiased as possible. I'll admit it was difficult. Ghouls were probably my least favorite preternatural creatures of them all. They may pose a smaller threat than the rest, but they freaked me out the most. I had more nightmares about ghouls than I did vampires, zombies and werewolves combined. I just couldn't handle something that lived off human flesh. Vegetarian or not, any sane person would be disgusted by the concept.