"House special, with Gabriel's compliments."
Seren didn't want to seem ungrateful so she took another sip. It was a deep red colour and very sweet with the flavour of red berries. It wasn't until she'd half finished the drink that she realised it was also very potent. It must have been laced with vodka although she hadn't tasted the alcohol in the first few sips.
She could feel her inhibitions slipping away and when Kate came running over and grabbed her hand, leading Seren to the dance floor, she didn't resist. She joined the bodies as they writhed to the tunes played by the beautiful Gabriel.
Seren felt safe, the people couldn't have been more welcoming. The drinks flowed and she didn't realise how much they had affected her until she got up to go to the toilets. Her legs wobbled under her as she staggered across the room and through the ladies bathroom door. The room was small and almost womb like, painted a deep shade of red and the sound of the music was dull and muted.
As she adjusted her corset and checked her makeup in the ornate Victorian mirror, Seren felt a vibration in her pocket. She retrieved her mobile phone to find she had a text message from an unknown number. Her drunken fingers fumbled with the buttons but she managed to open the message. It consisted of two words, 'Your objective', and a picture; a rough pencil drawing of a man. She recognised him instantly.
Seren was hit with a wave of nausea. She leaned over the white porcelain sink and tried not to throw up. She hadn't realised quite how drunk she was but the picture had brought her back to reality. She wasn't here to have fun, she was here to work and she couldn't let her superiors down. She looked at the picture one more time. There was absolutely no mistaking who it was.
Returning to her seat at the bar Seren watched the people on the dance floor as Gabriel announced the last song. It was almost 2 o'clock in the morning and Seren stifled a yawn as she suddenly started to feel rather drowsy. Lost in her own thoughts she didn't notice as the song ended and the people said their goodbyes and headed towards the doors.
"I hope you've had a pleasant evening?" Gabriel said. Seren was startled, she hadn't noticed him sit down on the bar stool next to her. She glanced up into his eyes and fell under his spell once more.
"Oh, it was wonderful!" Seren enthused. As Gabriel's thin lips curled up into a smile she noticed his teeth. His perfect white teeth and the unnaturally long canines. She didn't know how she hadn't seen it earlier, she should have guessed. The way his eyes changed colour, how his hand felt cold in hers and how his teeth were pointed. Her brain was in turmoil, fighting against her instincts but one look into Gabriel's eyes and everything was serene.
"Do you have far to travel home?" he asked. Seren blushed and shook her head.
"It's about a ten minute walk," she replied. Gabriel frowned.
"And you were going to walk home alone? You have no idea what kind of monsters walk these streets at night! Please allow me to accompany you. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened."
"Okay..." said Seren, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice. She shrugged her leather jacket over her shoulders and in the blink of an eye Gabriel was there, his jacket fastened, ready to walk her home.
There was a chill in the early morning air, Seren's breath formed clouds as she exhaled. Gabriel wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she felt a safe warm glow descend upon her. They set off walking down a quiet back street and it wasn't until they turned into the alley that Seren realised she hadn't told Gabriel her address. How did he know which way to go? She opened her mouth to speak but Gabriel pulled her body towards his and pressed her against the wall.
There was panic in Seren's eyes but Gabriel softly stroked her face and smiled.
"My dear Serendipity, there's no need to struggle," he said, placing a kiss on Seren's warm, soft lips. Gabriel placed one hand behind her neck, holding her firmly whilst he slid the other down her thigh. He thrust his hips against her, pushing her hard against the wall.
Seren was torn. Gabriel's touch was exquisite and she felt herself falling under his spell, but the rational side of her brain was desperately trying to regain control. This wasn't supposed to happen! This wasn't why she was here!
Gabriel kissed Seren deeply on the lips, she was so warm and full of life, it drove him crazy. His arousal was growing, as was the hunger in his belly. He had intended to wait until he'd taken her home but the compulsion was too strong. He needed to have her right now and then while she was in the throes of ecstasy, he would gorge himself on her blood.
Seren arched her back as she tried to resist him but that only seemed to spur Gabriel on. Her skin was electric as her hot blood pulsed through her veins. She felt Gabriel's erection as he pressed his hips against her. He was too powerful to resist! He trailed kisses down her neck, grazing his long canines over her flesh. Gabriel longed to taste her but his other urges needed to be satisfied first.
He pushed Seren hard against the wall, spreading her feet apart and thrusting his hand between her legs. Seren let out a moan of pleasure, she'd never been touched like this before but she knew it had to stop.
The vibrating of her phone broke the spell. "Wait!" she whispered. Gabriel's eyes flashed purple in anger. He reached into Seren's pocket and threw the phone across the alley where is shattered against the wall, sending shards of plastic flying through the air. A black cat, startled by the sound, jumped up onto the fire escape breaking Gabriel's concentration.
The spell was broken and Seren made her move. She reached for the weapon hidden in her boot and forced Gabriel against the wall. His smile faded as he looked down at the wooden stake and saw how the sharp point had torn a hole in his silk shirt.
"Have mercy..." he whispered but Seren's eyes were closed and she was mumbling the words of a prayer. Gabriel closed his eyes for the last time as Seren drove the stake through his heart. She stepped back and opened her eyes to see his contorted face one last time before he crumbled to dust.
Seren braced her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. It had been a close call but she'd done it. She'd found her objective and dispatched him to whatever kind of hell awaited. She'd actually killed her first vampire.
The sound of tyres in the alley made her jump. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the full beam of the headlights as the car crept towards her. Who was it? Had they seen what happened? She desperately searched for an escape route but the alley was a dead end. The car slowly edged closer, she was trapped. Seren jumped forwards trying to make a run for it down the passenger side of the car but the door flew open and a man grabbed her, dragging her inside. He placed his hand over her mouth and said, "Easy there, sister!" Seren bit as hard as she could and the man yelped and let go.
"I'm not your sister!" she screamed as she struggled to get away, then she noticed the dog collar. "Father Andrew!" she gasped in surprise.
"I came as quickly as I could when you didn't answer the call. Did you achieve your objective?"
"Yes, Father," said Seren, a little embarrassed at biting the priest. Andrew rubbed at the tooth marks in his hand, then he looked at Seren's state of dress and shook his head.
"Were you... compromised?" he hesitantly asked.
"No, Father!" Seren said defensively.
"Thank God!" he replied. The irony was not lost on Seren. "I think you'd better come back to the order with me tonight. I'll send Sister Grace to collect your belongings tomorrow. You've done very well for your first time."
"Thank you, Father," Seren said as Father Andrew reversed the car out of the alley and drove them home.
Kate woke up with a hangover the next morning. Her head was thumping but she had the weirdest feeling of peace and tranquillity. The sun streamed through the blinds and warmed her skin. She turned on the radio and cuddled up to her well worn toy rabbit. She was barely listening as the news came on.
"A 47 year old man is being treated in hospital after a bizarre assault last night. He was found
in an alley near the town centre, bleeding heavily from the mouth after his canine teeth had been forcefully removed. Police are calling for any witness to come forward. And in other news, the mummified body of a woman has been found in a town centre flat. Police have yet to identify the remains which are estimated to be over 100 years old..."
The Last Bite Page 3