Instead, a wintry arm had locked itself around my stomach, leaving me teetering on my very tiptoes. Looking around, I realized Kaspar was my saviour. He set me right on my feet and then turned to Joel who was fast paling. Without even looking I knew Kaspar’s eyes had darkened. He growled; a sound reserved only for times when he really was angry.
‘You really should learn how to treat your “babes”, Joel. Especially a girl as decent as Violet. Or better still, I’ll teach you.’
Joel, obviously scared, tried to maintain some of his bravado. ‘Oh, yeah? How about you teach me right now?’ He raised his balled fist, preparing to punch. Kaspar stepped forward, meeting the challenge.
‘Be my guest!’
I saw the crowds slowing as they stopped to watch the fight break out as Joel prepared to throw his punch. Knowing he would not stand a chance against Kaspar, I intervened, stepping between them both. Instantly a fist flew towards my face, but reaching up I blocked it, pushing his arm aside. Snatching his wrist I twisted it, causing it to lock. He winced in pain, contorting to try to lessen the pain.
‘That is for cheating on me the first time!’
I raised the other fist and punched him straight in the nose, not breaking it, but still drawing blood.
‘That is for cheating on me the second time!’
He threw his head back and groaned, rather handily exposing a certain sensitive area.
‘And that,’ I said, raising my knee, ‘is for starting on Kaspar!’ Swiftly and without even the slightest ounce of remorse, I kneed him in the bollocks.
The effect was instant. Doubling over and grabbing his crotch he fell to his knees, crying in agony, blood trickling from his reddened nose. Passers-by looked on with varying degrees of disapproval and disgust, a few smirking – some even cheered.
Smirking to myself, I grabbed Kaspar’s hand and flipping my hair dramatically, marched off, but not before I had one final say.
Looking down at the pitiful boy groaning at my feet, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. Bending down to his level, I smiled triumphantly.
‘You know what, Joel? I am so over you.’
And with that we left.
I led Kaspar through a number of side-streets, eager to get away from the busy main thoroughfares in case Joel called the police – not that the police were likely to catch a bunch of vampires anyway, or even believe Joel’s story.
‘I can’t believe we just did that!’ I exclaimed when we were well away. He smiled the half-smile, half-smirk I so loved, allowing himself to be pulled along as giggled like a little girl.
‘Remind me never to cross you. I want children.’
My laughs turned to a devilish smile. ‘Better watch out then,’ I warned, winking.
‘Where did you learn all that anyway? You don’t look like the type.’ He looked me up and down and I blushed.
‘My dad taught me a few moves … useless against vampires of course, but good enough for a human.’
His face fell a little at the mention of my father, his eyes dulling. ‘Ah.’
We fell into silence for a second, and keen to avoid any awkward pauses, I carried on. ‘That was so satisfying. I’ve never done anything like that before! And we got chucked out of Hamleys!’
He chuckled, mumbling something that sounded like ‘Oh, you devil!’
‘Hey!’ I pinched him on the arm, but he just shrugged his shoulders. ‘I’ve never got thrown out of anywhere before. Apart from some pizza place once for being too loud.’ I smiled at the memory, when at the age of about thirteen I and a group of friends had devoured our way through four pizzas and the entire restaurant’s supply of lemonade, causing us to become ridiculously hyper.
Kaspar tugged on my hand as I dragged him along, slowing me down a bit in my eagerness. ‘Well, you better get used to it if you plan on sticking around. We don’t have the best reputation for being good.’
I arched an eyebrow. ‘Who said anything about me being good? And besides, I never said I was sticking around.’
I stole a glance upwards to see him slowly nodding, thoughtful. Guilty, I dropped his hand from mine, shuffling away a little.
‘Kaspar, why did you say we were, you know, an “item”?’
He shrugged his shoulders. ‘To unsettle him. It worked, didn’t it?’
‘I guess,’ I mumbled. ‘You don’t think he’ll tell the police I’m in London, do you?’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘You almost sound concerned that he might. But if he does, they’ll have a hard time catching us. I’m not worried.’
Now that is awkward. I’m not concerned … it just had to be asked.
‘And why didn’t you jump on Joel when he started bleeding like that?’
He snorted. ‘I wouldn’t drink that mongrel’s blood if he were the last human on Earth. Foul stuff.’
I could not help but laugh, the mood instantly lightening. His half-smile, half-smirk returned, and he took a step closer.
I took his closeness as an opportunity to playfully slap him on the chest. ‘You were prepared to beat up a guy for me. Some people would think that sweet. You said I was a decent girl too.’
‘I did, didn’t I?’ he mused, raising his chin so he was able to frown at the space above my head. After a few moments, he chuckled, shook his head as though bemused and slung an arm around my shoulders. ‘C’mon,’ he said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. ‘You were having a normal day, for once.’ This time I did not protest as he dropped me off with Cain, Declan and the others again. ‘I have to go do something.’
‘Is he always like that?’
Cain shrugged. ‘One thing you have to learn about Kaspar is that when you don’t want him around, he will pester you until you give in to him; and when you do want him around, he will leave you. And you can’t change it.’
* * *
‘Change of plan,’ Charlie said. ‘The girls want to go to the fair.’
We were about to head into the underground back to Islington when we changed lines to head towards Hyde Park. There, a Halloween fair was in full swing, the sickly scent of candyfloss scenting the air.
Cain took my wrist and began tugging me along behind him, the excitement infectious. The neon lights swept around, the sirens wailing, men calling, ‘Roll up! Roll up! Dodgems just a pound a go! C’mon ladies and gents!’
Guys no older than me were silently collecting the money, strapping the few visitors around into their seats, bored expressions permanent despite the pretty girls that occasionally emerged from the shadows in packs. The air was bitter and bit at my cheeks but the warmth of a thousand light bulbs stopped me from shivering.