I blew softly against the paper before holding it up to the dim light. I let my gaze wander over the image I had just drawn before I shook my head and let out a soft curse, something wasn't right, I couldn't recall the love struck expression he used to wear anymore, I could only remember the look he gave me before I walked out on him.
It was the fact I was slowly forgetting how he looked that frightened me to my very core.
The memory haunted my dreams, making a good night's rest impossible and as I flung the drawing and note pad across the room, I couldn't help but flop back onto the bed with a growl of annoyance.
Ninety one days. 2190 hours. Twelve weeks... Three long, agonizing months.
The sound of cars outside snapped me from my thoughts and I slowly slid my gaze to the open balcony doors. For the last little while I had been staying in the high end hotel, flitting from place to place until I had stumbled across this busy part of New York.
It wasn't like the eerily quiet town I had grown to love in the middle of nowhere and I couldn't help but sigh as a pang of sadness bloomed in my chest.
For a while I could feel the connection between Marius and I, his blood still running through my veins and the bound we shared still there until a couple of weeks ago. The memory still had tears springing to my eyes and I recalled that dreadful night...
I was laying in bed, tossing and turning with images of him in my head when a sudden sharp pain had me bolting upright. A groan tore from my lips and my back arched, the hot pain seeming to travel from my heart to then spread to every vein in my body.
I broke out into a sweat, shivering and whimpering until it eventually passed and I was left exhausted and feeling incomplete. It was in that moment that I knew for sure that our bond had been broken and Marius had finally moved on.
Pain bloomed in my chest as I thought about him with someone else, hell, my eyes even watered and I found myself rolling onto my side; pulling the blankets up over my head as if that would stop the pain I was feeling.
With an irritated sigh, I then closed my eyes and relived the memory, unable to fight it off as I thought about the first time Marius and I had spent the night together, doing anything but sleeping...
It had been dark, cold and quiet that night in the house. Rosá was out and Marius was warming blood bags whilst I sat by the open fire, praying for the chills to leave my aching body. We had been on our shifts, the elements of winter relentless as we patrolled the grounds.
Marius' strong hand on my shoulder brought me from my dwindling thoughts and I looked away from the blazing fire to find him watching me, the smallest of smiles flickering onto those lips that I just loved to kiss.
"Here," He handed me a warm bag of blood before dragging the thick, heavy cover from off the back of the chair to then drape it over my shoulders. "Wouldn't want you to freeze to death now would we?"
"Whys that? Miss me too much would you?"
He rolled his eyes and came to sit beside me, leaning back against the front of the sofa. "I wouldn't want to have to deal with another dead body."
I couldn't help but scoff at his comment though I found myself leaning into him anyway as he chuckled to myself. He then shifted and brought his arm around my shoulders and down my back to settle at my waist, dragging me closer. I was instantly enveloped by his scent and resisted the urge to moan.
"You'd miss me really... Wouldn't you?"
Marius chuckled and pressed his lips to my temple. "Of course I would, silly little vampire." His thumb dragged along my hip bone and my pulse leaped. "Sometimes I wonder how you manage to function with all that uncertainty."
I felt my cheeks burn.
Bringing the bag to my lips I pierced the thin plastic with my fangs before draining it dry, listening to Marius softly hum under his breath as he gazed into the fire. He's in a good mood, I mused softly to myself, then again it wasn't often that we got the house to ourselves.
Once I was done I set it down on the coffee table we had moved before nuzzling back into his arms. I closed my eyes and listened to his slow heart beat, his fingers caressing my skin as we relaxed together.
His humming had slowed, his own eyes fluttering closed as he rested his chin on the top of my head. It was moments like that, when he was quiet and still, that I wondered what was running through that head of his.
The house creaked and whined whilst the rain beat down on the windows.
"It's rude to stare."
His mumble snagged me from my thoughts and I blinked to find him peering down at me with one eye open, a slow, lazy smile spreading on his lips as he looked at me. My cheeks burned again and I knew I must have looked like a tomato.
"S-Sorry."
"Don't be," His hand squeezed and my pulse leaped. "Don't ever be sorry around me."
Maybe it was the blood running through my veins or the countless times I had touched myself thinking about him and I together that had a burst of courage hitting me like a train. Without a word, I lent up and brushed my lips against his, hands wandering up to grip his shoulders.
For a second Marius didn't respond, frozen in place.
"Please..." I whispered against him, "I've wanted you for so long."
A grunt of approval left him and I then felt his hands move, trailing past my hips to settle on my ass as I straddled his lap. I could feel his hard cock straining against the material of his jeans and I flexed my hips, once, twice, a third time and was rewarded with a throaty moan.
"You shouldn't want me." His fingers dug into my skin. "I'm not who you think I am."
"And what's that?"
He pulled back, lips lingering just of of reach as he held me down on his lap. "I'm a monster Payton, I'm not good for you."
My fingers trailed up to merge into his hair, tugging him closer to crush my lips to his once more in a heated frenzy. Only when my pulse was racing and his hips flexing did I break away to give him a look full of desire.
"I never said I was wanting someone who was good."
"I'll hurt you."
"No you won't."
A pained expression flashed across his face before it was gone again. "I will though," His tone had me stilling, fingers running through his hair. "I'm a mess you can't fix, I don't want to break you like I have so many others."
A pang of jealousy hit me at the mention of his ex lovers, one in particular coming to mind. Noah, that prick had ruined everything for me, worming his way back into Marius' life. A deep growl left my throat as I pulled the cover closer to my body, willing that dick to leave my thoughts.
"I trust you."
He shook his head and the shame in his eyes made me want to smother him with kisses. "You shouldn't, I'm bad little vampire."
Having heard enough of his self loathing, I ignored his babbling and yanked off his shirt in one shift movement, gaze wandering over his pale skin with hungry eyes. I brought a hand from his hand to run a finger tip down the muscular planes of his abs and a shudder ran through him.
I glanced up at him from under my dark lashes to find him watching me with a look of intense desire written on his face.
"Maybe I'm tired of being good," My hips flexed and I grounded against him, causing a hiss of pleasure to leave his lips. "Show me how much fun it is to be bad."
I could see the hesitance in his eyes even when my hand trailed down to pluck at the waistband of his jeans. My fingers ran through his happy trail and I bit my lower lip, giving him a look which he returned before he forced himself to swallow.
"Are you sure about this?"
I flashed him a grin and lent up to plant open mouthed kisses along his throat. "Do I look like I'm unsure?"
His body shifted slightly as he chuckled before moving and in a flash, I was pinned beneath him. He captured my lips with his and pushed his tongue into my mouth, brushing his tongue against mine before sucking on it.
My body fit perfectly with his, my hands going to his hair when he reached up and pinned them above my head, both wrists trapped under his iron grip as he began to push up against me, growling and attacking my neck.
I arched my back and whimpered with need, feeling his lips lock around my skin before sucking hard enough to leave a love bite. Damn him, I thought as pleasure washed over me, such a possessive creature he is.
His name escaped my mouth in a throaty moan and I felt my cock throb with the need to be touched. Grinding against him, I felt him smile against my throat before pulling away and running a hand through my dark curls.
For a moment we did nothing but stare at one another before my gaze trailed over his bare chest once again. "Take them off," I Whispered, cheeks burning. "I need to see you..."
Marius flashed a boyish grin before obliging, pulling at his clothes before he was deliciously naked before me. A shiver of desire ran down my spine and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from moaning at the sight of him.
His cock stood to attention, the head swollen and glistening with pre-cum as it pressed against his stomach.
Without a word, he was then over me again, his heated skin pressed against mine as he ripped my clothes from my body.
"I could have taken them off," I breathed.
"But where's the fun in that?" He purred back before capturing me in a heated kiss, his cock brushing against mine.
Trembling with need, I let my hands wander up his strong arms and along his neck before trailing over his broad, smooth back. God I want you, I thought as I surrendered to his dominating touch, I want you so damn bad.
When Marius broke our kiss he was breathing hard and I was squirming uncontrollably. "Roll over." He panted and ever so slowly I obeyed, much to his amusement. In a flash his hand came out to grab my hip and roll me onto my stomach quicker, then I felt sharp, sudden pain run through me.
Yelping, I turned to give him a look before the words died on my tongue.
Marius was cupping my ass cheek in his hand, nails digging into the tender flesh before I watched him raise in and then swipe down to smack across the cheek with a satisfying sound. I couldn't help but pant like a bitch in heat, the mixture of pleasure and pain sending me into a spiraling need.
"Marius," I moaned and relaxed under his touch, head dipping to rest on the plush pillows beneath me.
"Shh," He planted a kiss on my shoulder blade, "Relax, little vampire."
My cheeks burned as a blush crept onto my face at that nickname. I then closed my eyes and listened to the fire crack and spit in front of us, the wind howling outside before the sound of something being opened and squeezed snags my attention.
The older vampire groaned low in his throat and then his hands were on me again, spreading my ass cheeks before I felt his wet fingers probing my puckered asshole. My lower lip was caught between my teeth as I waited, it had been so long since I had been taken, so long since I had found real release.
I could barely contain myself and fisted the cover lying beside me before I felt Marius' finger push into the small hole. I forced myself to relax, taking deep breathes as my cock twitched at the sensation of being filled.
Shifting was heard before I felt Marius' legs brush against the back of my own as he lined himself up before slowly easing into me. I whimpered and gripped the cover till my knuckles were white, his mouth dotting kisses along my shoulders before planting on in the middle of my back, now balls deep inside me.
We stayed like that for what felt like a long time, lube trailing down his balls and onto my skin as I tried to get accustomed to his length and girth.
"You're so tight," He growled before grabbing my hips and beginning to pull out, the sensation making me whimper and moan along with him. "Fuck Payton."
I shivered at the sound of my name leaving his lips.
He pulled out till just the tip rested inside me and I felt myself dripping with pre-cum as arousal washed over me once more. Shifting slightly, I reached under me to grab myself, stroking from root to tip and back again, back arched and lips parted.
Pleasure ran through my veins and it felt like my body was overheating, needing Marius to extinguish the fire that was inside me. I moaned his name and pleaded him to push inside me and for a moment I thought he was going to torture me with the idea of being filled before his hips flexed and he pushed inside again, causing me to cry out.
Marius growled and let out a throaty moan before beginning to move, my hand stroking myself harder as pleasure ran through me and it was in that moment, feeling Marius deep inside me, over me, surrounding me, that I knew there was no other place I would rather be.
"I'm going to make you scream my name."
His grunt had me trembling with desire and I arched my back and pushed into his thrusts, causing him to let out another loud noise of approval.
"I'm going to make you come so much you can't move for the rest of the night without being reminded that I was here," He pushed hard and hit a spot inside that caused tingles of delicious pleasure to run through me. "You're mine Payton."
"Yes."
Marius picked up his pace and once of his hands left my hips to grab a handful of my hair, pulling hard as he took me.
"You're mine."
Squeezing my eyes tight, I groaned and surrendered to his rough touch.
"Always."
The tell tale sound of the Skype noise calling snapped me from the painful memory with a start and I scrambled up to sit in bed. Wiping tears away that I hadn't realized had been shed, I reached to the bedside table and grabbed the laptop before setting it onto my lap and opening up the screen.
My pulse was still hammering as I dragged my fingers through my hair and then accepted the call as it flashed up on my screen.
It went black for a moment before the picture came into view and Rosá was sitting there with a frown on her face, peering at the screen as if she wasn't sure whether it was about to jump up and eat her alive. I couldn't help but smile at that before clicking on the little icon and letting her see me too.
"Hey you."
Rosá broke out into a heart warming grin. "Payton!"
"Yeah that's me." I gave her a wink and tried my best to smile, I hated that she worried so much. "How you been?"
"Fine, fine," Her gaze trailed to something above the laptop and she giggled before her attention was on me again. "Andrew and I were jut painting the living room, I was fed up of those horrid cream walls."
"How's that going?"
Rosá giggled. "Andrew got more paint of himself than the wall, surprised we managed to get it done in an evening-"
"Says the one who kept getting paint on me on purpose."
"It was an accident!"
I heard Andrew laugh and throw something at his girlfriend, something that looked a lot like a pair of boxers before Rosá blushed scarlet and turned back to me, patting down her hair; something she did whenever she was flustered.
"How are things with you? It's been, what, two weeks since I spoke to you last?"
I lent back into the pillows and glanced around the shabby hotel room I had managed to get for less than thirty euros a night. The wallpaper was rolling off the walls, stained with what looked like coffee and tea, the floor boards creaked every time I stepped foot on them and I hadn't dared to sit on the beat up sofa which looked around fifty years old.
At least I have a roof over my head, I thought with a mental sigh, it's like home though...
"Well?"
The female vampire snapped me from my dwindling thoughts and I looked up to find her wiping her hands, eyebrow raised.
"Things are good."
Even I could hear the lie in my voice and I cringed when Rosá lent forward in her seat to shoot me a look of daggers. "Now Payton, you know I'm going to worry regardless," Her eyes wandered to something to the side to me. "Is that... Is that blood!?"
I quickly shifted the laptop on my lap and resisted the urge to squirm. "No, no of course not."
Since leaving my blood lust had lessened but there were days where I still had to drain a body dry, the rage and hatred inside spilling out and consuming me as the monster broke free from its ties and leashed Hell on my victims.
I hadn't told Rosá about my midnight snacks, I didn't think she needed to know but from the glare she was giving me I could tell I had put my foot in it.
Holding up my hands in surrender, I then grabbed the laptop and got up from the bed to show her the run down hotel room. "See? No dead bodies, I've not eaten anyone for the past few nights, which is a record might I add."
I strode from my bed, past the broken TV and then out onto the balcony. It was a beautiful view of the city below and I couldn't help but fall in love with it. It was the only thing keeping me in the shitty little room to be fair, it was the only thing I had to cling onto.
It was breath-taking, and I had to remind myself as I gazed over the railing that because it was stunning, I knew I would be able to feel again. Hope bloomed in my chest and I found myself grinning when I set the laptop onto the metal table and sat in the deck chair.
"It's a beautiful night tonight. Maybe I should go for a stroll."
"Maybe, it's not good for you to be cooped up in there all day... Do you think you will be coming home soon?"
The excitement in her words had me feeling bad when I muttered. "My answer still has changed since the last time we spoke Rosá. I need time and space away from all that drama and especially you know who."
"He's not here though."
At that I sat up straighter and frowned, feeling the first ounce of worry to trickle down my spine. "What do you mean he's not there?"
"The last time I saw him was just after you left," She bit her lower lip and seemed embarrassed, "I didn't want to say anything in case you ran off again without telling me where you were."
"Does he know?"
"Payton I-"
"Does. He. Know."
She glanced down and I could only imagine her fiddling with her fingers. "No, at least, I don't think so..."
A heavy sigh escaped my lips before I dragged a hand down my face. "Alright, good. I want it to stay that way too, okay? None of this match making bullshit."
"Payton!"
"No Rosá," I forced myself to swallow past the lump in my throat, "I felt the bond break, maybe you were wrong about us being mates."
She shook her head. "I'm never wrong when it comes to love, Payton, you need to come back, Marius... He's hurting without you."
Just hearing his name sent a spike of pain to shoot through me. "He hurt me too," I breathed out and blinked back unshed tears. "I trusted him and he went behind my back with that asshole, who I assume is still there?"
"I don't know, I think..."
My pulse leaped as she looked away. "What Rosá?"
"I think maybe they are together."
I resisted the urge to rub over my heart and tore my gaze away from the screen to look out at the shining lights below. The city was alive at night, something I wasn't use to and yet I found that I'd fallen in love with the noisy roads and bright lights.
However, the scene before me didn't settle my nerves at all, it only seemed to make the ache in my chest worse. I wish I could show Marius just how breath-taking this place really is... I thought for a moment before I shoved thoughts of him aside.
"Have you found the killer yet?"
My question had me dragging my attention back to the screen and I found Rosá unpinning her hair, letting it cascade down her back in dark waves.
"No, to be honest, since you left there hasn't been any killings at all."
"That's great news!"
Rosá didn't look convinced and the smile that had been playing on my lips died almost instantly. "What's wrong?"
"I... Marius has been getting pictures," She looked extremely uncomfortable and it had the hairs on my arms rising. "The murderer has been toying with him, driving him insane with all these little things, I think that's partly why he hasn't come home for weeks."
"Pictures? What sort of pictures?"
I rubbed my hands together and wondered where he was right this second. Was he curled up in a nice, large bed with that french asshole or was he out patrolling the grounds, a scowl fixed on his handsome face?
"Pictures of you Payton..."
My breathing hitched. "What do you mean pictures of me? I haven't been there for weeks, how can they possibly have pictures of-"
"Someone's following you, and I think it's got everything to do with that Clarke Davidson."
That name had my frown deepening and I sat forward in my chair to watch the pretty vampire grab a brush before combing out the curls. "What makes you say that?"
She glanced somewhere above the laptop again, most probably gazing into the mirror as she spoke, refusing to meet my eyes. I took that time to study her, she had dark circles under her eyes I hadn't noticed before, her skin was almost deathly pale and I couldn't help but wonder when the last time she fed was.
Worry began to creep up my spine.
"Apparently Marius killed him so if my theory is anything to go by, the killer is after you because you are Marius' mate." She almost cringed as she whispered, "I think Marius killed Clarke Davidson and in turn, the vampire hunter is wanting to kill his for pay back."
"He killed a vampire hunter? Seriously?"
I dragged a hand through my hair and let out a cold laugh. "Un-fucking believable! Why on Earth would he do such a thing? Is he stupid? No, don't answer that I already know he is."
Rosá sighed. "I don't think he knows, and if he does, he won't talk to me about it. As soon as I mention the name to him he shuts down and tells me where to go. There definitely seems more to it than just a simple revenge kill."
"Do you think the hunter has followed me here?"
"No, if they had how on Earth would different photos of you be appearing in Marius' bedroom." She plaited her hair with nimble fingers. "Whoever is following you works for him though, that much is for sure."
I wasn't sure if I wanted to ask the next question that was lingering on my lips purely because I was afraid of the response I would get. Clearing my throat, I forced myself to swallow and muttered quietly.
"How old are those photos?"
Rosá bit her lower lip and tied up her hair, letting it hang over her shoulder like I envisioned Rapunzel would do.
"Recent, a week or so old... There are some of you in a coffee shop, some whilst you're out at a bar, others... others are more intimate."
"W-What do you mean?"
Her cheeks flamed and her silence held greater meaning than her words ever could. I rubbed my eyes which felt grainy and heavy from lack of sleep and let out a heavy, heart filled sigh. "So someone is perving on me, all because Marius fucked up?"
She nodded almost reluctantly.
"Great, just great."
Something like the front door opening was heard before Rosá's gaze flashed towards her bedroom door. The door was pushed open hard enough that it bounced off the wall behind it and Rosá began to protest when her eyes widened and a look of shock was etched onto her face.
"W-What are you doing back?"
"What does it look like."
I watched as her gaze trailed down and then back up again, "You're getting mud all over the carpet. Go take your shoes off."
A growl reached my ears and a shiver ran down my spine. I didn't need to see to know who that belonged to. Every nerve in my body was going into overdrive and my blood rushed south. Now's not the time to get hard! I told myself firmly whilst battling to get my hormones under control.
"Don't tell me what to do woman!"
His gruff voice had me cringing and I watched as Rosá flashed her fangs and turned to give him a death look. "Get out! Andrew! Andrew, come here!"
There was a moment of silence before Marius let out a dark chuckle. "You're lover boy is a little... Preoccupied right now."
"What have you done to him?"
Rosá then began to stand, fear evident on her face but she didn't get far before a pale hand came out to wrap around her slender throat. A strangled growl left her lips yet Marius squeezed hard enough to make her hands shoot up to claw at his iron grip.
Anger bubbled below the surface of my skin and yet I was helpless. I couldn't do anything but watch as Marius took a step forward and came into view. My world seemed to come to a complete stand still as my eyes took in his shaggy form.
He looked like he had aged ten years, his hair a mess and his jaw covered in a dark beard because he hadn't shaved for God knows how long. His clothes looked dirty and tattered, his body swaying slightly as he towered above the female under his grip.
The vampire before me looked nothing like the man I had fallen hopelessly in love with all those months ago.
"L-Let me go." Rosá choked out.
Marius shook his head, eyes burning with anger. "Why the fuck should I? I'm away for weeks and come back to another house entirely! Why in my living room fucking pink? Did I say you and your leech could move in here?"
Rosá flashed her fangs again yet he only tightened his grip.
"No I didn't think so." He hissed and pulled her up by her throat. "I should kill you both, then I can get back to how things were before you vermin crawled out from under the wood work."
I watched him sway on his feet and didn't need to be there to realize that he'd been drinking. God know how much, I mused briefly, it took a hell of a lot to get our kind intoxicated.
"P-Payton."
"Don't you dare utter that name in my presence!"
Marius snarled and I could see blood oozing out from under his fingers. "That fucking bastard probably killed him by now and me? I didn't even get to say goodbye! What you even doing in my house still!"
"T-The Killer will come back here, and you need protection."
Rosá coughed and from somewhere in the distance I could hear an outraged growl and the sound of smashing. It was Andrew no doubt, probably chained up or locked in one of the rooms with no way to escape, maybe Marius had changed the doors to steel ones.
I clenched and unclenched my fist, the image of Rosá as her eyes watered burning into my memory.
"Protection! I don't need protection," With a hiss, Marius threw her to the ground and it was in that moment alone that I knew Rosá hadn't been feeding like she should have. If she had, she would have flicked Marius across the room without so much as breaking a sweat yet the woman lying on the floor in a heap could barely pick herself up off the floor.
My heart ached.
A blur of black snagged my attention and I watched in horror as Marius loomed over the female I considered to be my best friend. "Let them kill me, I have nothing to live for, I deserve to be killed!" He roared before raising his fist.
Only then did I speak, snarling out a sentence that had him freezing and tensing up at the same time.
"Touch her and you will wish you were dead."
Marius stayed frozen to the spot before ever so slowly lowering his fist and then trailed his gaze around the room before settling on the laptop. His face paled and his eyes widened before he took a staggered step towards it.
"P-Payton?"
His heartbroken tone tugged at my heart strings but I reminded myself that I needed to be strong, that he hurt me in a way I never thought possible. He had put my life in danger and refused to even discuss it with anyone because he was too much of a self centered, pride filled prick.
My jaw was set as I glared at the image of Marius coming closer to the laptop. "Get away from her, or I swear you'll regret stepping foot into your house."
I was so angry that my fingers were twitching and I could barely sit still, leg bouncing under the table. My fangs were out as my attention shifted from the man who made my heart ache to Rosá slowly climbing to her feet as she brushed tears away from her cheeks.
She sent me a watery smile and I reminded myself that I needed to call her back that evening.
"I thought you were gone, why didn't no one tell me that you were okay?" His expression hardened when he turned towards Rosá. "Why didn't you tell me you were talking to him!"
"It's none of your business that's why," She croaked, "You're barely around anymore, so even if I wanted to, I haven't had the chance to mention it to you."
A flood of relief hit me when I saw her glare, straight out her night shirt and then float out of the room to go find her boyfriend. I watched Marius watch Rosá, a scowl permanently fixed on his face before he dragged his eyes back to the screen.
His lower lip wobbled and he sunk to his knees. "Why didn't you answer my messages?"
"I have nothing nice to say to you."
"It's been months! You didn't even have the decency to let me know that you were okay? What kind of man are you?"
My eyes narrowed into slits, "One that doesn't beat women that's for sure." I growled at him with hatred seeping into my words, "Don't you ever lay a hand on her again Marius Black or I swear I will hunt you down to the ends of the Earth."
He said nothing and continued to scowl though he dropped his gaze to his lap.
"Don't ignore me, get it into your thick skull that I mean every single word I'm saying right now." My hands gripped the iron arm rests so hard my knuckles turned white. "You may have hurt me but I refuse to let you hurt her whilst you live out your pity conquest."
"Pity conquest, you have no idea what I'm going-"
"You have no idea! And by the way, thanks to you I have a hunter craving my blood. When will you ever grow up and act responsible for your actions? You're a bloody idiot!"
Marius opened his mouth to protest no doubt but just seeing him had me seething. Before his words could reach my ears, I reached out and then slammed the lid of the laptop shut, effectively cutting off the call and let out a loud roar of frustration.
Grabbing the laptop I got up from my spot on the balcony and headed back inside, irritated beyond belief. I threw the device and threw it onto the bed before pacing for a few moments, growling a string of curse words under my breath as I shoved my hands into my pockets.
My throat was burning, my anger only seeming to fuel the need to feed even more. The sound of people laughing and cheering outside snagged my attention and it was only then did I falter for a moment before striding over to the table and snatching my keys and wallet up.
Heading towards the door, I gave the run down room I had now called home, one last look before I slipped out into the night, deciding to drown my sorrows by drinking more than just alcohol. As I made my way out of the hotel and out into the cold night air, I couldn't help but think about my last victim.
I ached to have another and though I had seemed to be doing so well, seeing and hearing Marius was my undoing. Unleashing the monster that stirred within my soul, I set off down the road towards town where a delectable little bar was.
Plenty of people. Plenty of food.
~
The woman moaned beneath me, though her eyes were wide with fear. Oh how I enjoyed seeing them squirm and fight, I thought with a sly, cruel smile before I lowered my head again and sunk my fangs into the soft flesh of her neck.
A throaty moan left me as I pushed her flush against the wall, the alley had been a dark and convenient place to pull her into. I couldn't wait to get her back to the hotel room plus, there would have been too many witnesses.
It wasn't until I felt her body shudder as she let out her last breath did I finally pull away from her neck. A growl of satisfaction left me as I stepped away and watched her body drop like a sack of potatoes onto the floor without a sound.
I dragged the back of my hand across my lips and pulled away to find it smeared red with blood. Licking my lips, I then dragged my tongue over the crimson stained skin before heading back into the club, flashing the bouncer a charming smile as I breezed past.
The club was hot, the air filled with sexual tension and sweat as I pushed past a group of giggling girls to head towards the bar. Alcohol wouldn't satisfy the dull ache in my throat but I couldn't help but replay the scene from earlier, poor Rosá...
I let out a noise and propped myself up against the bar whilst humans bumbled around, their sweat tangled limbs covering the dance floor. I forced myself to swallow past the lump forming my throat and tried not to listen to the loud heart beats thumping all around me.
In the blink of an eye I could drain every single human here dry, I mused as a drink was suddenly set down before me. I took it without thinking, tilting my head back as I swallowed the liquid that burned my throat from the inside.
Tequila. Great.
Licking my lips again, I set the glass down with more force than necessary before running a hand through my hair. It would be light soon and I could already feel the effects of the sun making a toll on my body.
My limbs felt heavy, my thoughts becoming slightly clouded and as I listened to the heart beat that thumped enticingly in front of me, I had to stop myself from drooling all over the bar.
I could feel my phone vibrate in my pocket for the hundredth time that night but I ignored it, letting it go to voice mail. I had no desire to talk to Rosá right now and especially not Marius. That asshole can stay well away from me, I thought with a scowl before another shot was placed in front of me.
When I reached down to grab it, a hand stopped me and I looked up, about to protest when the words died on my tongue. Standing before me was a man that looked very familiar, his golden hair was spiked up and his green eyes seemed to dance with mischief.
I frowned and opened my mouth when he reached in and planted a big, wet kiss on my lips.
The touch felt strange and wrong and I instantly pushed him away, growling as he held up his hands in surrender and let out a dark chuckle. "Well hello to you too old friend." I frowned at his words, "Don't you recognize me?"
He took a step back and held his arms wide as if to show off the fashionable clothes he wore. His smirk said it all and I rolled my eyes before turning my attention back to the bar and my drink, after downing the shot I shrugged.
"Sorry pal, got the wrong guy."
"Always so polite." He sighed dramatically before shoving the man who was bumbling about with change off the bar stool.
The human turned his attention to the guy before us and shot me a glare. "What the fuck do you think your doing? That was taken!"
The vampire hopped up onto the stool with grace of a predator before flicking his wrist towards the human like he was nothing more than a pesky fly. "Go away, it's my seat now." When the human didn't take the hint, the vampire flashed his fangs and the man's scream of horror was lost to the bass of the music.
I watched with mild curiosity as he scrambled away and ran off into the throng of dancing bodies.
"Now," The vampire gestured for the barman and ordered three rounds of shots. "Where was I? Ah yes, I'm not surprised you don't remember me, after all it has been years and..."
His words were lost to me as I pushed myself away from the bar and began to head towards the exit. I just wanted to be left alone in peace, to wallow in self hatred and loathing whilst I drained the blood of the innocence. Was that such a hard request?
"Hey! Hey wait!"
I ignored the mysterious vampire's calls and it wasn't until I'd reached the hallway to the bathrooms did his hand clamp down my shoulder.
Within the blink of an eye I had him pinned against the wall, a look of shock flashing across his face before he yanked my arm away from his neck and straightened his jacket. "I see you haven't changed much, Payton, Payton Brown right?"
My eyes narrowed. "Who's asking?"
"Not asking, informing." He held out his hand for me to shake yet I just stared down at it with disgust. "I'm Blair... Blair Langford?"
I mulled over his words for a brief moment before I pursed my lips and shrugged. "Sorry, doesn't ring a bell." I turned again and took about three strides before his voice halted me in my tracks.
"The first aid unit, the workhouse," I heard him fumbling about with something behind me. "Hell Payton, we used to work along side each other, surely you haven't forgotten me! It's only been, what, fifty years?"
Ever so slowly, I turned back towards the blonde man and he shot me a boyish grin. "There you go! Finally!" He came striding over to drag me into his embrace, patting my back. "Been a while old friend, what are you even doing in these parts?"
My thoughts were racing, it had been a life time since I had laid eyes on the man before me. He had been human then, a cruel, warped human who had been obsessed with power and something along the lines of pain pleasure and sadism.
I never thought I would have to see him again and yet seeing his face had a flood of memories rushing back.
The work house where I had first met the broken and beat up boy at aged twelve. The first aid unit where I had been a trained doctor whilst he was in the navy, bringing in wounded men to be looked at. It felt wrong to see him again, and as I studied him I could see something monstrous lurking beneath his friendly exterior.
Breaking the embrace I took a big step back and forced a smile. "It's complicated, what have you been up to? Still charming the ladies into your bed?"
Blair chuckled and ran a hand through his short hair. "Something like that, I've actually been meaning to send something to you but now that your here..." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a sealed letter before handing it to me.
I couldn't help but think about how it looked exactly like the ones I had given my friends and lover back at home.
"What's this?"
The vampire clapped his hands and winked as a woman breezed past, sending us both a flirtatious smile. "Open it and see." He practically purred.
With trembling fingers I broke the wax seal and felt his gaze on me. Pulling the letter from the envelope, I quickly scanned over it before my eyes wandered back to the man beaming at me with a handsome grin etched onto his lips.
"Well? Will you come? I would be so delighted if you did."
"I don't know... I don't like parties."
"You never have but please, I'm sure you will enjoy this one."
I cocked an eyebrow at his tone. "What makes it so different?"
Blair sent me a look full of secrets and pressed his finger to his lips before he came over and threaded his arm through mine, leading me back down the hall towards the heart of the club again. "That's a surprise," His touch had me shivering for all the wrong reasons. "Will you come, it would make me very happy."
My jaw tensed and I resisted the urge to pull away from him as he dragged me back towards the bar. I glanced down at the letter that caught under my iron grip before trailing up to meet Blair's bright eyes. "Alright..." It slipped from my lips before I could stop it, "What's the harm ay?"
His grin slowly got bigger, showing off his pearly whites before handing me a shot of red liquid that resembled that of blood. Licking my lips, I watched him raise his glass, "To old friendships, may they forever be intact."
Unsure by his tone and the way he was looking at me, I brushed off the sense of dread creeping up my spine before I tapped my glass to his and downed the burning liquid in one mouthful. As I squeezed my eyes tight and embraced the sensation of the alcohol running through my veins, I didn't see the vampire smirk into his glass.
"What do I have to wear?"
"Excuse me?"
I opened my eyes and shot him a look. "To this party of yours on Tuesday."
He shrugged and then I watched his gaze trail down my body as if I was piece of meat before meeting my gaze again. "A suit, and make sure you wear a tie, it's a formal gathering, one which I think would suit your tastes... After all, I remember our antics when we were young."
I recalled us throwing stones at houses, ringing doorbells and running away, him dripping candle wax onto my skin... I shivered at the dreadful memory and pushed it to the back of my mind.
"Alright fine, I'll wear a suit if it makes you happy." I could hear myself slurring my words. What the hell was in that shot? "Wanna get another drink?"
Blair smiled and hollered for the barman.
"With pleasure my friend, with pleasure."
___________
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