by Skyla Madi
This is a bad idea. I knew it was, but I couldn’t stop my legs. The smell propelled me to keep going. I realized I would have to kill whatever was hiding around this corner. I didn’t have the strength to resist it. Something so delicious smelling wasn't going to get away from me. I pondered the taste and more venom gushed into my mouth. As I neared the corner, my breathing quickened and even though my instincts told me to stop, I turned the corner anyway. I needed to taste it. Every urge in my body had been defeated and I was left alone with the unavoidable appetite to feed, to bite into its body, and drink away at the sweetest blood I had ever had the pleasure of smelling. It was a scent like no other, taking control over every aspect of my thoughts. I was left with nothing else but to act upon the urge to drink the deliciousness that was flowing through someone’s heated veins.
I put one foot onto the concrete and turned around the corner. It all happened so fast. I didn’t see a thing. Pain crepitated over the back of my skull as I was slammed with tremendous force into the brick wall.
“No!” I yelled, thrusting my body forward and rebounding off the man’s hard chest.
The side of my face crashed into the wall as he spun me around, pinning the front of my body against the cold bricks. My face became wet as blood-filled tears poured from my eyes. I screamed in pain as he grabbed my arms and pinned them behind my back. As he chained my wrists together, they began to burn. The chain seared my skin, burning through my flesh like acid. It wasn't Hank. This guy was tall and muscular and his skin was too warm to be dead. I struggled against the solid body that had me captured and pinned against the wall, but I couldn't free myself. He was too strong.
“She’s weak.” The man snickered. His voice was rough and dark, and he was enjoying every second of my pain.
“You don’t need to chain her.” Someone else said. His voice was kinder—softer. “She’s clearly not strong enough to fight you.”
I squinted and blinked, trying to see through my red vision. I angled my head in an attempt to make out their faces, but I couldn’t clear the blood that was pouring profusely out of my eyes.
“She’s a vampire, Eli. We can’t take any chances,” the man that trapped me growled.
“She’s weak. You said so yourself. Give her the serum and let’s go,” Eli replied, his voice low and demanding.
Things went quiet and all I could hear was the sound of my own sobs. A few long seconds later, I flinched as a slight injection was administered into my neck. I felt my eyes widen. What is it? Was it a tracking device or a poison that was going to kill me? My vision started coming and going in waves and I put all of my strength into my legs. When I thought I could support my own weight, the man stepped away from me and I immediately fell to my knees.
“Please,” I sobbed, quietly. “Don’t hurt me.”
“Says the vampire.” The man chuckled, nudging my shoulder with his heavy boot. “How ironic.”
I was going to topple and I had no way to stop my face from slamming into the concrete because my hands were tied. As the ground quickly rose, I closed my eyes and braced for impact. Thankfully, I passed out before I hit.
***
I opened my eyes and squinted around a familiar room. My room. I was at home, in my own bed. I looked down at my wrists—no burns, not even a scratch. What happened?
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialled Camilla's number. Instead of answering the call, she barged through my door with her mother in tow. I hung up and slid my phone underneath my pillow.
“How are you feeling?” They said in unison.
I shrugged my shoulders. How should I be feeling? I was attacked at school by some delicious smelling strangers who may or may not work for the man that slaughtered my mother and turned me into a monster. I felt fantastic.
“School said you fainted. They called me and wanted to send you to the hospital, but I told them it was normal and then I brought you home,” Camilla explained, her eyes widening and flicking onto her mother. She wanted me to go along with her story. “Did you really faint?”
“Yes.” I lied. “Sometimes the sun becomes too much to handle.”
Aunt Jen sagged in relief, thankfully believing the story. I felt horrible lying, but if Aunt Jen knew what happened, she’d kick me out. Camilla was her top priority, and if people were hunting me, it put her in danger.
“Well, as long as you’re okay and have no injuries, then I’ll let you rest up. If you need anything, let me know,” Aunt Jen said, relieved.
She left the room and I relaxed. I didn’t think Aunt Jen would believe that. I mean come on, a vampire fainting? But then again, stranger things have happened, I suppose. Camilla slid onto my bed, propping herself comfortably on the pillow next to me. Her violet eyes surveyed me for a little while.
“What really happened?” Camilla asked after a few minutes.
I was skeptical about telling Camilla the truth. I knew she would follow me everywhere and try and confront those guys on her own if they showed up again. She was a lot more stubborn and hard headed than me. She wasn’t scared of anything and I was yet to decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. The last thing I wanted was for her to be involved in my business and get hurt—or worse—killed, but at the same time I didn’t want to go through this alone. I was sick of going through all of this alone.
“I was attacked, near the girls’ toilets,” I explained, frowning. “There were two guys there from what I could tell and they trapped with chains that burnt through my flesh—silver, probably.”
Camilla cringed. Even an expression so contorted was pretty on her. “And you couldn't break free?”
I shook my head. If only she knew how painful it was when the chain touched my skin. It definitely rivaled being bitten by a vampire. Camilla wrapped her long arms around me and pulled me into a hug. The smell of her blood enveloped me and I closed my eyes.
“I guess they didn’t find what they were looking for.” She sighed. “I have to go back to school so I'll let you rest.” Camilla pulled away and slid off the bed. “I'm so glad you’re okay, Ruby.”
She straightened her dress before going to the mini fridge Aunt Jen had concealed in my dresser seven months ago. She pulled out a bag of blood and handed it to me. With a tight smile, she turned from me and left the room.
Too nervous and worried to stay still, I threw the covers back and slid from the bed. I walked over to my dresser. When I saw my appearance in the mirror my hand subconsciously shot up to touch my face. There was no blood. Had the men cleaned me? Had the school? Camilla? It didn’t matter now, I suppose.
I sauntered over to my bay window and dropped into the seat. The midday sun was high in the sky and I sucked back my meal, blaming myself for being a shitty vampire. I was nothing like the others or like the ones you see on TV or in movies. I could go out in the sun, I didn't have see-through skin, and I was nowhere near as fast, strong, or as bloodthirsty as the rest of them. I was weak. I might as well be human. I shook my head, unable to put what happened at school behind me, my mind kept obsessing over it. Could they be working for Hank? No, they weren’t. The man made it very clear how he felt about vampires. I exhaled, tossing my empty bag of blood on the floor. I was at a loss and I was for the rest of the day. No matter which way I looked at it I couldn’t make sense of the situation. So I sat in my room alone, depressed, and scared for the rest of the day.
Taken
I watched from my bay window as the sun rose over the trees. Its light sent a glossy, golden shine around the room. I hadn’t really moved from this spot since yesterday. I sat obsessively watching the surroundings for any movement.
When the sun was high enough in the sky and I heard noises coming from the kitchen, I changed out of my casual jeans and white tank top from yesterday and into a pretty yellow knee length summer dress. I didn't think it was possible, but somehow it made my skin look even whiter.
Today, I planned to focus on pushing yesterday's events out of my head. I tried hard not
to watch over my shoulder or glance nervously out the window—which was easier to do during the day—everything seemed scarier at night. Forgetting all about yesterday was something I was forced to do today because it was, after all, my birthday. I heard low whispers and footsteps outside my door and braced for impact.
“Happy Birthday!” Camilla screamed, bursting through my door.
I didn't spoil her surprise by revealing I’d heard her before she even opened the door. I smiled as she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed.
“There’s nothing like a birthday bear hug.” Aunt Jen chuckled, entering moments after.
The hug was a little awkward. There was no doubt Camilla could feel how cold my skin was. Normally, I wore jumpers and jeans to use as a barrier between me and the people that touch me, but today I wanted to be pretty. Venom flooded my mouth and my throat burned. In this moment, I could honestly say my craving for blood was as strong as a dope fiend's yearning intensity for that next hit. My craving quickly began to consume my mind. I couldn’t think of anything but the steely, sweet taste of another's life force. I was due for my morning blood and my body was constantly reminding me, but I didn’t want to rush the moment. Who knew if I was going to get another?
Camilla released me from her embrace after a few long tempting seconds and handed me a little red box tied tightly shut with a pretty rose colored bow. I frowned at her. She knew she wasn’t allowed to get me gifts.
“Open it!” she urged, jiggling the box in front of me.
“Camilla—”
“Open it!” She demanded again.
I took the box from her hand and pulled the ribbon open slowly, before pulling off the lid.
“Oh my god…”
It was a beautiful gold necklace with a big red heart-shaped pendant. I tried to say something about it but I couldn't. It was exquisite. I looked up from the gift to Camilla's face. Her facial expression—the small smile and big, excited eyes—told me she was satisfied with my reaction.
“Thank you so much,” My voice broke and I swallowed hard. “It’s gorgeous.”
“You are more than welcome. After everything that has happened in the past year, you deserve something nice. It's a ruby for Ruby!” She giggled.
Her melodious laugh echoed through my room and at times like this, I knew I was lucky I had a best friend like her and just as lucky that she was also a part of my family.
“There's something else,” she said and Aunt Jen skipped from the room.
“Oh no, Cam, please, this is more than enough.”
“This one is from Camilla and me,” Aunt Jen exclaimed, re-entering the room.
She pulled a stunning red dress from a long, black bag. I gasped at its beauty. If words could describe perfection, this would be it. I was itching to try the halter neck on and suddenly, I felt excited. I tried to picture myself in it, at my party with my new necklace hanging from my neck. I marvelled at the way the knee length fabric flowed so elegantly.
“It’s something to wear to your party.”
I pressed my tongue against the roof of my mouth to stop myself from crying. “It’s so beautiful. You have both overdone it today, I would have been happy with a card.”
“You deserve more than just a card,” Aunt Jen chuckled.
I took the dress from her hands and laid it gently on my bed.
“Come on. Let’s have breakfast,” Aunt Jen suggested.
“I’ll meet you in there.”
They left my room and I opened the mini fridge. The bags of blood, I had to drink cold, but even though they were in a fridge they still felt warm against my cold skin. The donated blood does the job, but it just didn’t quench the burning desire of taking it forcefully from a human. Feeling the pulsing of their heart through the thick liquid as I sucked it from them was incredible. It was sweetest right before they die, when their pulse slows down. In my mind, I pictured Camilla and Aunt Jen’s pulsing arteries, so thick and juicy. Acidic venom tickled my mouth as I swished it around, contemplating their death. Quickly, I pushed my teeth into the bag of blood, slurping back the D-grade red liquid. I needed to calm the constant desire for human flesh before I killed the only family I had left. The smell of their blood wafting by my nose put them in more danger than they realized.
***
After breakfast I helped with the last adjustments and additions to the party decorations downstairs, which surprisingly took us right up to lunch. I guess time goes quickly on your birthday.
I was hungry again and while Aunt Jen and Camilla ate their lunch in the kitchen, I drank mine in the perfect solitude of my room. I would join them, but Aunt Jen wasn’t as comfortable with it as Camilla was.
Licking my lips and retracting my fangs, I joined them in the kitchen.
We sat around talking in between making food and drinks for the guests, and before we knew it, it was five-thirty and the party was scheduled to begin in half an hour.
“Shower time,” I mumbled to myself as I pulled my blue fluffy towel from the hook behind my door and transferred it to the hook on the wall in my bathroom. I turned on the hot water and steam filled the room, blurring my mirror. I inched on the cold tap, reducing the steam slightly. It didn’t really matter whether the shower was hot or cold, my body barely noticed the difference between the two.
I ran the sponge quickly over my body, soaping up every inch of flesh and then stepped under the stream. I washed my hair quickly and shut the water off. I did have less than half an hour to get ready, after all.
The soft fabric of my dress welcomed my body as I slipped it over my head. I felt like Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith, except my dress was red and knee length, but just like hers, it clung to all the right places. Once I did my hair and applied minimal make up, I dare say I looked just as sexy as Ms Jolie herself.
I needed a full stomach if I was going to be surrounded by sweaty teens, especially drunken sweaty teens, so I pulled two bags out of the hidden fridge. My fangs flicked out by themselves as I brought one of the bags to my mouth and pierced it.
“I knew it.”
Startled, I dropped the bag and it hit my carpet with a light thud, leaking blood everywhere. I whirled around on me my heel, meeting Darren’s accusing stare.
“Darren!” I gasp, clenching my chest. I think I’m going to puke. “The party starts in ten minutes.” I cleared my throat, trying to sound friendly. “And it’s downstairs.”
“I know,” he said, striding over to me.
An annoying smirk spread across his face, making me want to kill him where he stood. When he got within two feet my hands shot out, warning him off. “If you touch me, I will kill you.”
“You can try, but we both know how pathetic and weak you are.”
Weak? Tough words considering I practically made him fly today.
“You don't know anything about me.” I growled. “And I gave you a pretty good warning at school today, don’t make me repeat myself.”
He rolled his eyes, still smiling that god damn smile.
“I know everything about you. It’s my job. And that ‘shove’ you gave me at school...” He shook his head. “You just caught me off guard.”
Darren’s dark eyes narrowed in on me as he smirked. Once again, it made me want to kill him.
“You're a vampire and my profession is to hunt your kind... or at least it will be when I turn eighteen.”
I dropped my hands. Vampire hunters? Since when had vampire hunters existed? My muscles tensed as Darren circled me, coming to a stop behind me. He took me dropping my hands as a sign of surrender and I swallow hard, cringing as I felt his warm breath on my ear.
“You are a vampire in my jurisdiction which means I’ll have to kill you. Unless, we can make some sort of temporary arrangement…”
I shook under his grasp as his grimy hands slid around my waist and then down to my thigh. Grabbing the base of my dress, he began to slide his hand upwards, lifting the fabric as he went. His lips felt warm against my skin
as he kissed my neck, unflinching at its temperature. I could no longer bear the thought of his touch and I pivoted, fast, pushing him roughly. He slammed into my bed and it thudded against the wall, cracking the white plaster.
I didn't run, I couldn’t. I wasn’t going to involve Aunt Jen or Camilla, or ruin the party they worked so hard on. I was going to have to take care of him myself.
“Lucky shot.” Darren chuckled, rubbing his chest. He shakily climbed to his feet and I bent my knees ready to fight him. “Normal vampires are hard to kill, extremely hard, but you, you’re like a child, so weak and defenseless.”
I grew more frustrated with every breath he took. Surely I’d be doing the human race a favour by eliminating this guy.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wooden object. I surveyed its long shaft and pointy tip. Was it a stake? He lunged at me and I didn't move—not because I couldn't—I was faster than Darren, I knew that. I didn’t move because I didn’t want to. What was the point in living like this? I couldn’t even go a year without being hunted down. If I let Darren kill me now, it would save me having to wait for the next people to come. When would the two strangers from school attack me again? What if I came across another vampire and they saw how weak I was? What if I wanted to die? I wanted to be freed from this awful state. Was it selfish of me to want to die, to end my suffering?
I squeezed my eyes shut and braced for impact. Only it never came. Glass hit my face and my eyes shoot open as Darren flew across the room and was knocked into the wall. I watched him for a few seconds...He didn’t move. He was out cold. A hard object hit my chest and I crashed to the floor. A heavy weight lingered on my body and I realized was pinned to the ground. I thrashed against the cold, hard weight, but it hardly budged.
