Crave

by Tabatha Vargo

  There was no need to prolong the inevitable. He was going to kill me and suck me dry, and I was so ready to get it over with. If I believed like those before me believed, then in death I would see my entire family again. So really, why was I running?

  Why was I fighting to survive?

  It was time to face the reaper, so I walked bravely straight into the mouth of the beast. Before I realized what I was doing, I was practically standing face to face with the vile creature of death.

  I looked him in the face and was amazed by the tranquility in his red eyes. How those red eyes managed to convey a strange sense of peace, I would never know, but I wouldn’t let that fool me. He was a crazed killer, a bloodsucker, a bringer of death and for once, I would welcome that death with open arms.

  “What are you doing?” His cool breath managed to make its way to my cheeks, and part of me wanted to flinch.

  He was cold inside and out. I hadn’t physically touched him, but his skin was pale with a blue hue that reminded me of pictures I had once seen of an iceberg in Antarctica.

  I hoped he would attack quickly. I didn’t want to see it coming. I didn’t even want to know what hit me. I just wanted a quick death without pain. But then the questions started sinking in.

  Would I feel his fangs pierce my skin?

  Would it hurt when he sucked the blood from my body?

  Did it hurt to die?

  I pushed my chin out in defiance and took a deep breath.

  “Does it hurt?” I asked.

  I needed to know. I had no idea what to expect, yet this thing standing in front of me had once died. He would know better than anyone what it felt like to die. Maybe he’d spare me a few minutes to explain what I should expect. Give me a grand tour of the torture I was sure to experience.

  His stone face finally changed into a look of confusion. His perfectly shaped eyebrows pulled down, and his mouth slowly shifted.

  “Does what hurt?” The cold touched my cheeks again, and this time, I did shiver.

  That bit of weakness fueled me, and instead of fear, I was angry, furious at myself because I was honestly a bit afraid.

  “To die. Does it hurt to die?” I asked a little louder than I had planned.

  He stared back at me, still unmoving. I watched as he seemed to recall his moment of death. He closed his icy red eyes, and for a brief minute, I contemplated running for my life.

  That thought was hilarious, considering I wouldn’t make it two feet before he caught me. There was no way I could actually outrun a vampire. I had survived this long because I hid like a coward and also there were a few strange times when a vampire thought it was funny to spare me. Including the time I watched my brother die.

  “It hurts like hell,” he answered as his eyes opened once more.

  What the fuck had I been thinking?

  Of course, it hurt!

  It was death.

  It wasn’t supposed to be a summer stroll in a park. It was supposed to be gritty and bloody.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and thought of my mother and father. I thought of Evan and his smiling face, and I knew in that instant that I would go through any amount of pain if it meant I could be with them again.

  “Just make it quick,” I said as I roughly pulled down the collar of my old torn shirt.

  I looked away.

  I didn’t want to see him come for me.

  I didn’t want to stare death in the face anymore.

  I just wanted it over and fast.

  Suddenly, I wondered if he wouldn’t kill me. I had seen others not die, but instead become a vampire themselves. The thought of being a part of their world literally nauseated me. I could never be like them. I would walk straight into the sun if he turned me into something I hated so much.

  “I only have one request. Don’t turn me. Don’t make me what you are. I don’t want to be a monster.”

  I pulled on my collar harder and readied myself.

  Finally, I whispered in my mind.

  “Why don’t you want to live?” he asked.

  He sounded angry and desperate.

  I wanted to scream for him to do it, but instead, I turned and faced him again. I wanted him to know what I had been through. I wanted him, if he could, to understand the life I led.

  The monster standing before me probably had no emotions left from his human life, but I still wanted him to know why I wasn’t fighting him.

  I wasn’t a quitter; I just couldn’t anymore. Physically and mentally I was finished. At the ripe old age of twenty, I was ready and practically begging for death.

  Tears clogged my throat, but hell would freeze over before I let them fall. And then hell indeed did freeze as one single tear managed to escape.

  Still, he didn’t move to attack. Still, he stood his ground and stared back at me. His frozen face that was so expressionless before now seemed to show a bit of pain.

  It confused me.

  Why was this monster hurting?

  He didn’t know me, and he certainly didn’t care about me. He wanted to eat. He wanted my blood to quench his thirst, and I certainly understood the pain of hunger. That had to explain the strange expressions on his face, and since I was also starving, I sympathized with him for a moment.

  “How old are you?” he asked out of nowhere.

  Why the hell does it matter?

  I’m fresh and full of blood, you dumbass!

  “What?”

  Maybe he had a reason for asking this completely stupid question. My mother always said there was no such thing as a stupid question, but in the face of death, who really wants to answer odd questions asked by their killer.

  Did he prefer the taste of older blood?

  Did the age of a person affect the taste of their blood?

  “I said… how old are you?” he slowly asked again as if I was not comprehending, which honestly pissed me off more than anything.

  “I’m twenty. Why does it matter? How old are you? Three hundred or four hundred?” I snapped back sarcastically.

  “I’m one hundred and fifty-six years old,” he answered quickly.

  No fucking way!

  There was no way in the world this unbelievably gorgeous creature was that old and decrepit. I had never had the pleasure of asking a vampire his age since I was constantly running for my life, but honestly—after living that long, how was it possible to still look so untouched by time?

  His red eyes didn’t seem so menacing anymore, and for some strange reason, I was beginning to feel comfortable. I looked hard at the young looking old creature in front of me.

  What kind of pull did vampires have over a person’s mind anyway?

  How was it possible that I was now staring into the eyes of something I hated with every ounce of my being, but finding him to be completely beautiful at the same time?

  His dark brown hair was tossed carelessly upon his head, and his fine features were cut sharp into his magnificent face. I wanted to see him smile.

  I bet his smile is really something.

  He was tall, taller than me, which said a lot, considering I was the tallest female I had ever met, and his body was lean, but whimsical like a willow tree. There was no way this man was as old as he said.

  “Wow, you don’t look a day over twenty,” I said more to myself than to him.

  And then it happened—slowly and as if it hurt him physically, but it happened.

  He smiled.

  It was exactly how I imagined it would be in my mind. His smile was radiant and perfect, a thing of dreams. It was then I noticed the sharp fangs that stuck out like daggers, and I remembered my purpose there. Vampires apparently did have some kind of pull over the mind because I was definitely having wild thoughts.

  “I was nineteen when I was changed into a vampire; we don’t age—as I’m sure you already know,” he answered.

  Okay, enough was enough!

  My foolish, fantasizing thoughts about a disgusting bloodsucker were enough to top me off. I was
officially ready for death, and at that point, I deserved it, if not simply because of those horrid thoughts.

  “Yeah, I know about that. Why haven’t you killed me yet?” I asked impatiently. “You’re just playing with me now, aren’t you? I’m your prey, and you’re the despicable predator. This is a game to you, and you’re playing with me. Just do it already! Kill me! I won’t allow you to poke at me like I’m a pile of potatoes on your plate. Just do it!”

  Poking the angry lion, that was what I was doing.

  Bring it, big scary vampire!

  “I’m not going to kill you. You’re coming with me,” he said as he reached out for my arm.

  I pulled back at the touch of his cold fingertips on my skin. Surely, I had once again heard him incorrectly.

  “What?” I asked.

  I started backing away slowly. The room suddenly began to feel smaller than it had before.

  What game was he playing?

  Did he want to take me back to wherever it was he came from and share my blood?

  Well, forget that!

  I wasn’t about to be torn apart by a bunch of hungry vampires.

  He followed my every step. The fear I hadn’t felt earlier was quickly making its way into my heart, which was now beating so fast that I, Harley Davis, a girl made of stone, was about to faint for the first time in my entire life.

  It was then that I felt the jagged pieces of wood from the walls of the old shack against my back.

  I looked up quickly into the eyes of the predator. I was a mouse, a trapped mouse, and he was a big, hungry cat. I’d never felt so small in my life.

  “I’m sorry about this,” he said softly as he reached up and put his hand on my shoulder.

  I felt a sudden burst of pain in my shoulder before everything went black.

  5

  James

  If I wasn’t already a dead man, the quick trip back to my condo with an unconscious human in my car would have surely killed me. I had never felt hunger that way before. The burn in my throat felt close to exploding every time I accidentally breathed her in.

  When I lifted her from my car, the vibration of her heartbeat coursed through my body. If I closed my eyes, I could pretend it was my heart beating once again. I had never felt more alive.

  I made it back to my condo and lowered the thick black shades just as the sun was coming up. Talk about a close call. I softly put the human on the couch and stuffed a pillow under her head. She made a small noise before settling comfortably into the folds of the big fluffy couch.

  Leaning down to get a closer look at her, I noticed her smell broke past my barriers. She smelled horrible once I got past the delectable scent of her blood, and upon closer inspection, she was dirtier than I first thought.

  Once I got some sleep, I would make sure she bathed properly before taking her to the lab for inspection. Maybe keeping the stench on her was a better idea. Maybe it would keep the vampires at bay as I walked past them with a live buffet in my arms.

  First things first, I needed sleep. I could feel the effects of no sleep and no Hematonin taking their toll on me. I needed to be in perfect shape come night when I had to face a room full of hungry vamps.

  I took one final look at the dark-haired human sleeping on my couch and swallowed hard. It was a huge accomplishment for me, considering how badly I wanted to bite into her velvety soft skin.

  She shivered as if she was cold, and I went in search of a blanket to cover her. As a vampire, I felt no heat or cold, but still having my human memories, I could understand sleeping without a warm blanket. Looking down at her once more, I could only imagine how many nights she spent sleeping in the cold, alone and hungry. It made me hate myself even more.

  I took my Hematonin and locked the front door, which I usually never did, before taking a quick shower. The filth from all the places I had searched all night was stuck on my cold skin, and my clothes smelled like mildew. I kept my instincts sharp in case the human woke up and tried to escape.

  I checked on her once more before climbing into my king-size bed. I closed my eyes, and then there was nothing. I’m not sure how long I slept before the quiet creaking of the couch woke me. I popped my eyes open and was instantly standing next to the couch. She was slowly getting up, trying with all her might not to make a noise.

  When would these humans learn that we heard everything?

  Our senses were keen, and a vampire rarely missed anything.

  She gasped and fell back onto the couch when she finally looked up and saw me standing there.

  “Is there something you need?” I asked.

  She glared back at me and then stood quickly. I took a deep breath and tried to forget about the burn in my throat.

  She roughly pushed a piece of stray hair out of her face, and without fear, she growled at me.

  Cute.

  “What I want is to be out of here.” She motioned around the large living room.

  I watched her look around at all the rich, clean furnishings, and then I watched as her confusion got the best of her.

  “Where the hell am I?” she asked rudely.

  If looks could kill, I would still be a dead man.

  “This is my home. I brought you here,” I replied.

  Her angry eyes became wild, and I knew before she moved that she was going to foolishly attempt to run. I was standing in front of the door before she even got halfway there.

  “You’re not leaving,” I said calmly.

  Her breaths became heavy and wild, her pulse was a loud and fast banging in my ears. She began to hyperventilate and search the room with her eyes like a trapped animal.

  “Either you kill me or let me go. I will not be a prisoner!” she yelled at me. “Why did you bring me here? Why haven’t you killed me yet?”

  There was no way I could tell her anything. I doubted she would be entertained by the vampires’ plan to breed humans like dogs. The fact of the matter was I was faster, I was stronger, and there was no way, no matter how determined she seemed to be, I was letting her out of my sight.

  “We’re both tired. I suggest you get back on the couch and get a good day’s sleep. You look like you could use it. Or if you’d prefer, you could take a bath and refresh yourself. It’s up to you, but either way, you will not be leaving this condo until I’m ready to leave.”

  My remarks offended her; her face made that more than clear. She looked down at her hands and then grabbed the bottom of her soiled old shirt to get a better look at it. Her shoulders sagged, and I saw the moment she gave in.

  “I suppose I smell awful,” she whispered. “No wonder you haven’t eaten me yet.”

  For the first time in many years, I laughed out loud. The sound of my laughter seemed to startle her, but I couldn’t help myself. She was a comical creature. My stomach felt stretched with my laughter; my throat cracked since it wasn’t often that I made a loud noise.

  “Follow me, and I’ll show you to the bathroom.” I didn’t bother to look behind me to see if she followed.

  I opened the door of the massive bathroom, and she walked in ahead of me. Before I could speak, she ran desperately to the sink and turned on the cold water. She ran her grimy hands under the water and then looked back at me in shock.

  “Is it safe?” she asked with a feral look in her eyes.

  “Is what safe?”

  Surely, she didn’t think I would try to kill her with the water. Not when I could be sucking that sweet nectar called blood from her veins at this very minute.

  “The water! Is the water safe to drink?”

  And then I understood.

  She was just as thirsty as I was.

  Humans needed water and food to survive.

  “Yes, it’s safe to drink.”

  Before I could get the last part of the sentence out, she was cupping her hands and gathering as much water in them as possible. She was like an untamed animal as she drank from her grubby hands. Water spilled down her face and soaked her clothes. Muddy
water gathered on the floor around her dirty bare feet.

  I wanted to be disgusted by this act of desperation in front of me, but I understood her need. I understood, and even though I knew I shouldn’t, I felt bad for her. I couldn’t begin to imagine what her life must have been like.

  For twenty years, she had lived in hiding—no telling when her last good meal was or the last time she drank fresh water. I hid back in the day, before vampires ruled the earth, but for different reasons. I hid from the sunlight; I slept peacefully until it was time to wake with the moon for my next warm meal. She hid from death, for survival purposes.

  I walked away while she enjoyed the water of the bathroom sink. I didn’t want to watch any longer. I busied myself getting towels and trying to find some fresh clothes for her. My clothes would no doubt swallow her up, but at least they were clean.

  When I got back to the bathroom, she had drank her fill and was standing there like a lost puppy. I said nothing as I handed her the towels and fresh clothes. When I shut the door behind me, I heard the click of the lock and smiled to myself.

  Silly girl.

  No locked door could keep out a hungry vampire, and since there were no windows in the bathroom, I had no concern she would attempt to escape.

  I heard the shower water turn on and walked away from the door. This might very well be the last few minutes of privacy the girl would ever have. The least I could do was let her enjoy it.

  6

  Harley

  A shower—it was amazing how something so small could be the best thing I had ever experienced. The hot water washed away the dirt and grime covering my body, and all I could do was stand there and let it cleanse me.

  It felt wonderful.

  Waking up in a magnificent home was unexpected. It felt like I was waking up from a horrible nightmare until I realized it wasn’t right. I had never slept on something so comfortable. I had never been so warm, and when I finally opened my eyes and saw my surroundings through the darkness, I knew I was out of my element.

  The smell of mildew was gone. There were no holes in the walls letting in the cold air. There were no drips from the ceiling or rodents scattering about.