When I did open my eyes, the first thing I saw was that the window furthest away, almost as tall as I was and normally securely locked, was now flung wide open, a chilly breeze passing through. Only then did it occur to me that something was not right. Then I opened my mouth to scream.
He snarled, hastily clamping a hand over my mouth. I attempted to bite at his fingers, but found myself quickly subdued.
‘Play nicely now,’ he mocked, pressing himself closer. I caught sight of the deranged, lustful glint in his blood-red eyes. My eyes widened and I was hushed to silence, terrified.
‘Come on, Girly, just a little drop of blood. I’m so hungry. You’ll enjoy it.’
I scowled, and thrashed about as he lay draped across me, pressing his crotch hard into my stomach.
‘Kaspar, get off me!’ I spat, as he removed his hand. He stared down at me, his eyes consumed by bloodlust and I could almost smell his throat as it singed, desperate to quench the thirst.
‘If you scream, I swear I’ll kill you, so I suggest you keep quiet,’ he muttered, looking me in the eye, carefully pronouncing each word.
I scowled once more. ‘But what about the Protection?’ He faltered for a moment, eyes dulling a little.
‘Give me your consent.’
I blinked. He said those words almost remorsefully.
‘What’s wrong with the donor stuff?’
It was his turn to blink. ‘It doesn’t taste as good as your blood,’ he stated slowly, as though it were obvious. His eyes were rapidly fading, leaving crimson behind, emerald fast returning. But I could still smell the stench of burning flesh. He was still thirsty.
‘Please,’ he breathed.
His voice was so pleading, so desperate, like the piteous call of a starving child; and I whispered a word I should never even have thought of:
‘Okay.’
Immediately, his eyes flared red again and I tensed beneath him. He chuckled, but it was not the cruel laugh I was used to; more one of quiet amusement. His eyes trailed over the tank top and shorts I had changed into earlier that night and he smiled slyly.
‘Let me help you enjoy this.’
Slowly, very slowly, he allowed his full weight to rest on me and I groaned, feeling my chest compressing. He chuckled once more, but eased away an inch. His hand searched for mine, finding it pinned to my side. He stroked my fingers for a moment, before trailing a finger up the length of my arm. I shuddered at his touch, goose bumps forming.
I should not be enjoying this. I was almost drained a few days ago. I should cower away from his touch, I should be scared. But I didn’t and I wasn’t. And he saved me. Now, maybe, I could save him.
His hand trailed across my collar, brushing the tops of my scars. I squirmed away then, but he had worked a hand behind my back, pulling me into him. It dug into my spine and I winced, but he ignored me; he was occupied as his hand trailed the vein on my neck, his eyes intently watching its rhythm.
His head sunk lower and I stiffened, expecting pain to erupt. But it didn’t. Instead, soft lips began kissing my neck.
‘W-what are you doing?’ I faltered.
‘Just relax and enjoy,’ he murmured into my neck. It sent tingles dancing along my skin and I suppressed an intake of breath.
You wouldn’t deny Kaspar, would you?
Instead, I sighed, quietly, almost inwardly, and gradually relaxed. He leisurely trailed tender kisses down my throat, along my collarbone, until he reached my silvery scars, where he paused, breathing onto my skin before his tongue began to trace the indents. I jolted a little, as it tickled. He laughed and brought his lips back to my jaw line. His dark hair brushed my lips and I blew it gently away.
His head abruptly returned to my neck and I went rigid, sure he would bite this time. But again he began kissing my neck, his teeth grazing my flesh. But these kisses were deeper, more urgent and I shuddered under him.
‘I know you want to moan, Girly,’ he purred into my neck, and I could tell from his arrogant tone and full lips that he was smirking. ‘Go on …’
I will get to you, Violet Lee …
His hands began rubbing my side. I pursed my lips, as his own delved frantically at my neck. I whimpered beneath him, fighting and flailing.
‘Give in,’ he whispered as his mouth brushed my ear. And I did. A small moan escaped my lips and I compulsively found myself arching into him, forcing every inch of flesh to meet his. He pressed me further into the bed and yet another moan slipped through my lips. He was smirking into my neck again as his hand slipped up my side.
Suddenly, he picked me up and pressed me hard against the wall; hard enough that the panelling dug into my spine, like it had done that first morning. ‘You’ll bleed less if you are standing,’ he explained. ‘Just relax,’ he whispered, but I had gone rigid again, scared at just the sight of his fangs. He sighed, exasperatedly. ‘It will hurt less if you relax.’
One hand wrapped itself around my waist, palm pressed firmly into the hollow of my back, pulling me to him. The other hand swept the hair from my shoulders, exposing my bare flesh.
He tilted my head out of the way, moving closer the whole time, head lowering towards the pulsating vein of my neck. I tried to pull away from him as his lips parted slightly, revealing his fangs.
His mouth met my neck and I heard him inhale my scent. His tongue darted out, licking the spot where he intended to bite, hovering over my vein. His lips parted a little more and he softly kissed my skin. A shudder of pleasure ignited me, sending my mind into spasm, my body falling into his waiting arms, as my resolve evaporated.
The instant he felt me wilt he sank his fangs deep into my flesh, blood surging from the wounds, trickling across and smearing my skin.
I opened my mouth to scream, but all that came out was a muffled cry. A hand was clamped over my mouth, forcing my jaws together, stifling the sound. I felt him drink, taking short shallow breaths, panting, eyes gleaming red, a trickle of blood running down his chin. I backed further into the wall, but he pulled me back quickly.
‘Don’t scream,’ he ordered, lowering his head once more. I cowered away.
‘It hurts,’ I whimpered through his fingers, shaking. To my surprise his eyes softened, but he didn’t ease up as his fangs sunk into my neck once more. As he continued to suck, my jaw tightened and tightened, attempting to ignore the horrifying drawing sensation. It was like a blood test gone very, very wrong.
The thought of what was actually happening made my vision waver, and, sure enough, seconds later I blacked out, falling forward onto his shoulder. He withdrew at once and my eyes flickered open as he caught me.