You felt like a bird in a cage. Those uniformed men wandered the hospital corridors and touched anything suspicious, with no slightest consideration or respect for the staff and patients being treated.
They looked at you with a hateful expression, despite your composed attitude. They knew you were a vampire or what they called a "leech" and seeing them around like that, armed, didn't feel good.
You weren't allowed to approach the patients and the areas you were allowed to visit were reduced to just the first floor and the main entrance. From afar, you glimpsed the figure of Dr. Ackroyd, intent on reading some medical records. He didn't notice you, as you were out of his line of sight, but he seemed somewhat restless and bothered by what was happening and threw the documents on top of the table before retreating.
《All this...is happening because of me...forgive me, Ackroyd...》
You were immersed in your thoughts, until someone came up to you by surprise.
《...it looks like you've chosen your prey...tell me, little vampire, you're waiting for the right moment, when there's no one left, to lay your fangs on him with such pleasure–》
《Don't allow yourself to address me like that and with that tone!》You squeezed the dark fabric of your skirt. You had enough of his harassing behavior.
《I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. McCullum, but I'm still a young lady and I don't accept that a villain like you speak to me like this!》You hurried outwards running away from that heavy situation, but the hunter began to chase you with a rather amused air.
《After what you did to my men, do you pretend to be still human? If you think you pity me that way, you're wrong. These tricks don't work with me...》
You stopped at a point beside the river, having realized that it was useless to go on. That hound would have been able to follow you all over London...
《I-it wasn't my fault, none of what's happening to me is!》 Despairing didn't help. His blue eyes didn't seem to be looking at you as a person.
At that point, McCullum advanced towards you. It wasn't his to approaching a vampire like that, but he also knew that in your condition you would never have thought of attacking him. It was obvious that he was taking advantage of your weakness.
《If that's the case, then I can put an end to all your suffering...there's no one here and no one will ever find out, not even your dear vampire doctor friend and that nutty of Swansea...》
He continued to stare at you as he drew out his sword.
《It'll be quick and painless...》 He positioned it so that he could, with a single blow, cut your thin neck sharply.
You don't react. At that moment, it seemed like the right thing to do to avoid further suffering. But there was something you couldn't get out of your head...the unknown image of that man who had forever doomed your life.
Your expression suddenly changed, despite the sharp weapon brushing your skin.
《I-I can't die. Not now.》 McCullum thought you were saying something pathetic to try to save you, until you continued.
《...I can't leave without first finding the one who made me this way. Give me a chance to take revenge on this monster, please...》
Geoffrey McCullum wasn't one to take pity on people, perhaps because of what had happened in his past; behind those words and that pleading but determined expression of yours, he didn't know why, he couldn't think otherwise.
《I'm not used to these things, but I give you this chance...》 He looked away, before setting it back on you.
《But I warn you, if I even see you approaching someone who's not a vampire, I swear that next time this blade won't stand still...》
You nodded without saying anything. Shortly thereafter, McCullum pulled the sword away and put it back in his place. He continued to watch you, but with a different look from before...he seemed absent, as if he was thinking about something, until he blinked and turned away.
《Oh and don't think I'm doing this for you...I've more important things to think about and I don't have time to deal with a spoiled brat vampire.》
Your opinion didn't change about him, but that gesture made you realize that, perhaps, he understood your feelings. You resumed your walk, this time towards the way back.
* * *
No matter where you were, you kept feeling his oppressive breath on your neck. You weren't looking at him, but you knew very well that he was there, somewhere, spying on your every move.
As for the speech above, you needed to get as much information as possible about this person; Dr. Reid would certainly have helped you find him as he knew a lot of people, thanks to his job...of course, Dr. Swansea also knew a lot about vampires and could have given you more information about them...
While you were thinking about that, Nurse Branagan appeared before you.
《Forgive my rudeness, Miss Wright, but I need your help. Could you please take this to that man over there? I need to take care of these patients first and this will allow him to bear the pain he feels.》
Fortunately, the hunter wasn't around and you thought there was nothing wrong with that and agreed to help her.
《Of course, Mrs. Branagan. It's a pleasure to be able to help you as much as possible.》
The woman knew you weren't a nurse and she appreciated your words.
《Very well then. The patient's name is Clay Cox and his tent is in front of the gate.》
You took the small bottle containing the medicine and headed for the exit. In fact, there were a lot of tents set up on the street to accommodate more beds; you didn't know which one you were looking for, until you saw someone grumbling and walking around in the middle of the night.
《Fuck, this pain is killing me...!》
The medicine you brought with you was just what he needed and you slowly approached.
《...uhm, are you Mr. Clay Cox?》 You asked politely.
With his hand resting on his side, he turned to the one who was bothering him.
《Yes, I am. If you're not here to help me, then disappear–》
《I came here just to deliver the medicine.》 You ignored his bad manners by handing the small bottle under his eyes.
《Oh, that's a surprise...I didn't think you were a nurse hahaha! And thanks, I was just waiting for it.》
He began to drink straight from the container carelessly.
《I was asked to bring it to you but, unfortunately, I'm not a nurse from Pembroke.》 Once finished drinking, Clay Cox took a better look at you from head to toe.
《Mmm, of course you're not! Tell me then, what's a young lady like you doing in a sleazy place like this...》 You didn't know why, but you didn't like the grin on his face very much.
《...I came to visit a relative.》 But when you said that, the man burst out laughing.
《Pfff, are you fucking kiddin' me?! Are your hospitals too expensive even for people like you?!》
He took a step towards you.
《Didn't you come here for other reasons?》
《What do you mean by this? What other reason I should be here to go to a hospital–》 You were baffled as soon as you felt his arm slip behind your back.
《Isn't it obvious?》 He pulled his body closer to yours; it was the first time a man had done this to you and that sudden physical contact made you feel bad.
《W-why you're doing this, please let me go...I was just trying to help you!》 You turned your head to space your faces and his rushed to your black collar.
《Tsk, don't think I'll let you go like this...》
He was holding you back by force. The smell of him disgusted you deeply, even that of his blood. There was nothing good about this person, but you felt that letting the creature inside you attack him would only make it worse.
So, you tried to resist by pushing him away. You were putting up too much resistance to be a woman and Clay had to admit it, so he pulled his dagger out of his pocket to keep you calm.
《I advise you not to make too much noise, miss, if you don't want to get hurt.》
His intentions weren't good and you began to be afraid. Meanwhile, your vision was changing and you only felt the throbbing inside his neck, so close to your mouth. It was hard to guess how long you would last, but it wasn't the time to think about that, not when your safety was in danger.
《S-somebody help me...!》
* * *
It was dragging you further and further into the darkness, away from possible prying eyes. To defend yourself, you started wriggling under the irritated eyes of your attacker.
《Oh come on, can't you see what kind of condition I'm in? Do you really want to tire me out sooner than expected? If you don't stop–》
Without listening to him, you scratched him across the face with your unexpected claws, which grew the moment you sensed danger. His cheek began to bleed rapidly as he loosened his grip on you from the sting.
He pointed the knife in your direction, this time to hit you.
《Agh! You fuckin' bitch! I swear that...》
But he stopped as soon as he noticed something about his chest that urged him not to move.
《Let's see, what's going on here?》
You saw only one blade, but that hard, deep voice belonged only to one person.
You didn't believe it, even when you looked up to look him in the face...Geoffrey McCullum was the last you imagined you would meet in that situation...
《T-This filthy slut...look what she did to my face!》 McCullum looked first at him and then at you and your messy collar.
《Very interesting to hear that, especially from the boss of the Wet Boots Boys gang...》
Clay's eyes widened in agitation.
《D-don't tell me you're a cop...》
Like a trapped stray, he felt the need to run away and that's what he did. McCullum didn't follow him as his attention totally returned to you.
You lowered your head and spoke in a disappointed tone.
《Why didn't you chase him? What makes you think he won't do it again, with some other poor lady alone on the street?!》
Geoffrey snorted, as if he had been forced to give you an answer.
《I'm a vampire hunter, this business doesn't concern me. These days, street thugs and drunkards are nothing compared to what's out there.》
Of course, he was referring to vampires, but there was something you still couldn't understand about his speech...
《Then, why did you stop him now if that's not your purpose?》You looked up again, this time to look him straight in the eye.
《Were you afraid that I could hurt him, or kill him? Well, if there had been another vampire, he probably would have done so considering what a leftover in society he is...it's people like him who hurt honest people! If you can't stop a man like that, you must know that you're not so different from him, Captain McCullum.》
When you finished, you were afraid you had angered him even more but it didn't matter anyway...you couldn't ignore that he had done an insane act, just because he continued to see vampires as London's only major threat and that was undoubtedly wrong.
He didn't reply, but continued to look at you with narrow eyes and so you took the opportunity to leave.
《If you want to excuse me, I'm going back to my room now–》Your sentence ended when Geoffrey grabbed your arm violently.
His blue eyes had gone extremely cold; he hated when someone dared to challenge him, especially if it was a no longer mortal speaking, and he hated the way you stared at him by considering fake every word that came out of your mouth.
《Remember what position you're in and above all what the hell you are...unlike that man, I know perfectly well that I don't have a "young lady" in front of me, who continues to play the innocent victim ignoring the fact that you would have him sucked his blood willingly...》
Although he was gone, that man had left an unpleasant smell on you that you couldn't bear.
Unexpectedly, McCullum walked up to your face without worrying about anything.
《Or maybe you're looking for better blood that can satisfy your respectable palate?》 Once again, he was treating you like a monster by disrespecting you, as only he could.
At that moment, something changed in the air...a smell, different from the one before, reached your nostrils; it clearly came from his skin, hidden behind his vampire hunter clothes.
You could feel his blood flowing under his dark red scarf, which left his neck uncovered under his slightly bearded chin...you looked away with some embarrassment and, luckily, he let you go.
As soon as you returned under the streetlight, heading for the Pembroke, Geoffrey looked at the palm of the hand that had gripped your arm.
《...》
《What's this?》
For some strange reason, he still felt clearly the warmth of it, beneath your thin black sleeve.
* * *
As you climbed the stairs, you met Jonathan.
《Miss Wright. Did something happen? Where have you been?》 His tone sounded worried, looking at you as if you were one of his patient.
《I've been outside, I needed some air. I'm sorry if I made you worry.》 You avoided telling the story with Clay Cox and smiled slightly. That was your workhorse and generally always worked, especially when you needed to leave an unwelcome conversation, or to hide an unpleasant emotion...
Of course, Dr. Reid spotted the lie, as he could clearly smell Clay on your clothes, but no trace of blood.
《Please remember this, Miss Wright...the fact that you are a vampire mustn't prevent you from protecting yourself if threatened. I got to know that man and, as you could understand well, he's certainly not the type for company, especially for a young girl like you.》
His voice and his words comforted you, unlike McCullum's overwhelming presence, who saw nothing but evil around him, even in your suffering eyes.
You put your hands in front of your chest in prayer.
《Thank you very much for what you do for me and for all these people. Unlike you...that man...》
Of course, Jonathan realized who you were referring to and gently reached out to your shoulder.
《Well, he may seem rude, but Geoffrey McCullum is not a bad person. Believe me when I tell you that few men would do what he does and that not all "immortals" are like us...》
You still didn't understand how terrifying a vampire could be, but now you were more than sure there was no more time to waste. Finding the culprit who caused your downfall was more important than thinking about McCullum's manners...
That's why, once you were alone, you stopped at the door of your room, without even opening it.
Wherever he was, he was hidden somewhere where people wouldn't dream of being stalked by a bloodsucking creature...
《There's only one place he could hide and that's where I was attacked at the beginning...in the West End.》