This is the first scene in my first novel, which I am almost complete. There is some violence, but nothing too graphic. Enjoy!
Reflections
Chapter One
I wasn’t sure what the time was as I headed down the dark streets. It must have been late. Admittedly, I was a little drunk. That’s why I was walking. My designated driver took exception to being made to drink Shirley Temples instead of the hard stuff. I pointed out that I was never much of a drinker, and would gladly have taken his place if he’d bothered to say something instead of trying to hide his beer breath. Long story short, we got into a huge fight and I was once again a single woman.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if this was the first time Paul had gone back on his word. He turned out to be a bit of a creep. That turned out to be a bad habit of mine in highschool, always hooking up with the jerks because the only nice ones bored me. Not that I cared much about boys anyway.
I was about halfway home when I saw two figures on the street ahead of me. It was weird because the whole way there the streets had been empty. I thought I saw a weapon being drawn, so I crept closer to get a better view. Normal people probably run from a fight, but I had some martial arts training, and figured I could hold my own if it got too involved.
Once I did get closer, I could recognize one of the men. He was an old teacher from my school. I never took his classes. I heard he was weird and grouchy, but I knew who he was. Anti-social as he was, I couldn’t understand why he would be out here, brandishing a weapon.
I really was going to intervene, but the teacher lunged, and I was too far away to do anything. The stranger just stepped invisibly to the side and caught the old man’s arm as the spike shot past him, all with unnatural fluidity. My heart thundered as the fight changed. The elderly educator was suddenly running, with much less success. The other man grabbed his collar and yanked him back.
I stared as the new winner leaned over his captive and began to drink from his neck.
I could barely believe what I was seeing. Weirdly though, it seemed as natural to me as a spider creeping up on a fly. I knew I wouldn’t like what was going to happen, but that didn’t stop me from watching. Shocked, I was held in a hypnotic, morbid trance of curiosity. I came to my senses only when the body hit the pavement. That’s when I freaked.
I gasped uncharacteristically and stepped back. The vampire heard me, whirled around, and was right in front of me before I could run. He grabbed one of my arms as I went to hit him, but let me land a punch with the other. Nearly broke my hand. Then he flung me back so he could get a better grip on my shoulders and hold me so tight I could hear him breathing. I was forced to look up at his face. Then our eyes met, and locked.
His eyes were chocolate brown and when he forgot to look fierce I could see how gentle they were, even though there was an emptiness or sadness behind them. We gazed at each other for a while before he broke the connection, letting go of my shoulders and backing away. He swore in a language I couldn’t identify, though I bet I could guess what he was saying.
"What are you?” I breathed.
"Depending on how long you’ve been standing there, it should be pretty obvious." He grinned, strangely boyishly, but flashed a pair of long fangs still stained with blood.
I must point out; he was very tidy for a predator. Not a drop of blood spilled down his chin, or on the black silk he wore. The strands of his hair, short but wavy and almost the same shade as his eyes, such a rich brown if he had been normal I would have said he’d dyed it, had obviously been kept clear of his meal since not a strand was messed up in the excitement. I just hoped my look was holding up as well as his. Seeing him clearly for the first time, I was struck by how handsome he was. I would have called him beautiful if he wasn’t so distinctly masculine, even with his thick black eyelashes, and full, red, Cupid’s bow lips. The effect sent shivers down my spine, but I ignored them.
"You just killed a man! How can you act so calm?"
"I am calm," he replied. "He attacked me, and failed miserably." The vampire looked amused.
"So? You could have stopped him and walked away!"
"Leaving him to come at me again, with wounded pride and a new sense of revenge. Then he would tell all his murderous friends, they would alert the populace, and it would all be very irritating for me."
I could barely process the fact I was having a heated argument with a killer. It occurred to me I didn’t care.
"Are you really so desensitized?"
He spoke softly.
"You have to be ready for things like this, when you’re like me. Even if I’ve never killed for pleasure, to be a part of the night you have to be prepared."
This admission caught me off guard.
"Then why do you do this? Why don’t you just hide somewhere?"
"Because I love the night! I live for the darkness and the stars and the way everything changes in the absence of the sun, becomes extraordinary." His mood suddenly skyrocketed. I could understand, it was the same reason I was on the streets right now, even with all the dangers. He continued.
"I also love the hunt, and the taste of blood. Does that scare you?" He still seemed fairly enraptured.
"No. It probably should, but it doesn’t."
There was a pause. He took a moment to dispose of the body. I turned away but the image was still disturbing.
"I knew him. Not very well, but I knew him." I was practically whispering, but he could still hear me. Louder I said, "I wonder if he always did this sort of thing."
The vampire scoffed and I heard a dumpster lid slam shut.
"Not very often. He was much too naive. That would explain why he thought he could handle me.” I turned to face him and once again we locked eyes.
"Come with me." he said. His tone both begged and commanded. I wasn’t going to argue.
