--------One Chance
The clinking and clattering of the coffee house is one of the many things to keep my mind going with imaginative thoughts about the dark world very few ever writes about. The Underground World of Vampires. It isn't a habit I picked up, it is more like curiosity's hands wrapped tight around my mind and soul and led me to this place.
I know that my writing hobbies about the dark and dangerous can lead me into doom but that's the thrilling part about being a writer, being able to influence the ones who read your work, your masterpiece. Though this isn't going to be some Harry Potter book, this is going to be about the real deal, the factual, the vampires. They are out there and I know this.
I look around while wrapping my scarf around my neck, of course the choice to wear a scarf wasn't intentional. I was just chilly this morning, now I feel kinda silly and look paranoid.
The people sitting around me stare at me, they know I am an outsider. Even though my clothes are neutral browns and grays, my hair pulled into a bun, and I don't really stand out they know. I look down at my laptop that's opened in Microsoft Word and after typing some I pull the coffee I ordered some five minutes ago closer to my mouth and blow on the hot black liquid. Even after all the education I obtained I still procrastinate and find it hard to concentrate when there are other people around. I usually take this time to people watch to get an idea about what to right later.
I take another sip of my black coffee, bad for the teeth but great for the soul. I scoff, and start to run my fingers across the keyboard as another idea hits me.
I need to get my day started. I let out a breath, this dull and dark atmosphere surrounding me isn't really my cup of coffee, it gets me tired and nervous. I am in different territory; I'm not used to this and am beginning to wonder if I was making up the fact that I wanted to leave my sunny home in Arizona.
I take another sip of my coffee and swallow the cold drink with bitter resentment. I cannot go back home, not after promising myself and my editor a story that will change regular lives of normal people. Another scoff, change? Who am I kidding… what was I thinking. My editor knows I am a nut and she doesn't really believe it, the only reason she's helping me is because she is a friend of a friend and I pay her AND she MAY have liked…LIKED…my book about some kid addicted to crime. It wasn't a big hit but she liked it. I try not to think of it, but whatever gets me money.
A ray of light shines into the little coffee shop falling onto those in its path, no one is burning and no one is scurrying away in fear. Either these people are regular humans with dark attitudes or the vampire myths are false, I go for the latter, but I can't be sure.
I finish my coffee in a rush and complete another chapter in my laptop. I have been researching everything I can about the undead, the vampires and werewolves. Mythical creatures was something I got into when I was a young child; when my grandfather was alive he would tell me amazing stories about a vampires he met while crossing Europe with nothing but a backpack and a pack of cigars.
He told me how he would hitchhike all over. Some drivers nice and sweet, others were scary and dark. He would sleep under bridges and call home using a payphone to let his mother know he was still alive. Living off of the street cart foods and doing weird jobs for money. He would go on and on…
His death hit me hard. So hard, I close my eyes. My grandfather told me vampire stories with deep sincerity and I knew he wasn't lying, and if he did he never let it up it was fake. He took all the secrets to the grave.
Vampires was something he would talk about as soon as grandma was out of the room, my mother never believed so she put it to the wayside. My grandfather wasn't a man who tried to play along with the Santa Claus or Easter bunny hype, so why would he try so hard to convince me about Vampires unless he had proof or witnessed something?
Aro. I scribble on top of a napkin with a black ink pen. A name I was fascinated with, a name my grandfather said was one of the vampires.
Amongst the good things my grandfather told me there were bad things too. I was warned almost after every story to never tell anyone, not my school friends or my parents. I didn't know why when I was younger but now I know that it was because he would have been put into an asylum faster than Carter needed liver pills, and because it is one of the rules the vampires have. How my Grandfather got away with knowing, I hope to find out.
I let out a yawn, my hands achy and my eyes tired I decide to head out and leave behind the dark café. I feel as I am leaving their eyes on my back. Shiver. It's now dark out, the wind picking up and the stars hiding behind the moving clouds. I didn't realize until now that I stayed inside the Café for so long.
I walk down the road and look down an alley; it is a shortcut I usually take in the morning and daytime but at night… The narrow passage feels daunting even when the sun is out and I won't take any unnecessary chances. I continue to walk and before I know it I'm at my temporary house in Washington.
Several instincts spark as my keys dangle before the door; I turn around and notice a young man with pale skin and reddish brown hair. I gasp and realize immediately what he is, I can barely see his eyes but if I weren't mistaken they are golden brown? Is he something else? No, he fits my grandfathers description of a vampire almost perfectly. I say almost because I have never scene a vampire myself.
"Can I help you?" I muster up the courage to ask, his eyes pulling my mind to a dull throb leaving me unable to think and I take a step closer.
He holds up a small white napkin and smiles at me with white sharp teeth.
"You left this back at the café." His voice hits me like a breath of fresh air.
"I-I didn't forget to take it, its garbage." I remember the name I wrote on the napkin in front of me and wonder if the vampire in front of me knows him.
He looks down at the napkin and his thumb runs over the name. "Aro, such an eccentric name, wherever did you come up with it?" He smirks and catches my eyes again. All my instincts are telling me to run, that I am prey!
I stiffen and wonder if he knows what I know, I decide to skip formalities; if he is going to kill me he will do it despite what I say. But… I mean maybe he won't and I will piss him off- OH JUST SAY SOMETHING BELLA!
"You know him." I state and take a step back and struggle to keep my thoughts in order, his eyes are so luring, in the deep walls in my mind I hear my grandfathers warnings.
He laughs, so velvety smooth. "Yes I know him, though I have my regrets." He takes a step forward and I take another step away, my back hits the door. My keys still tightly in my hand, if I was speedy gonzalas I would make it into my house no problemo… too bad for me.
He looks at me in silence as if he is debating on something. Of course I am trying not to panick so I'm not going to think about what he is thinking about because he is probably thinking about killing me, oh god I think he is hot but I feel like I am going into shock.
My house is on an avenue, but the area in general is dark without many streetlights. It is probably nine… ten o'clock at night and my cat Yarny still has to be fed. The wind picks up and I wrap my arms around myself and start to wonder if someone will come and save Yarny from starvation when they realize I haven't been home for months.
I'm terrified and suddenly this man is so close I can see his deep gold eyes and feel his cold body next to mine.
"Please…I won't, I, please." I beg, not sure what I am even saying anymore. Is he going to kill me? Why aren't his eyes red? I shake my head. "You… you can't!"
His eyes narrow and his head turns, obviously distracted but continue to converse. "What's your name?"
Huh?
"Oh um… Isabella. But you know, ha, I go by Bella. So…" I breathe out, my nerves are wild and my mouth incontrollable.
I would be the person to say something stupid resulting in her own death.
"Well Bella, you seem to know a lot. In fact, you seem to know too much." He turns back to me and stares. "You need to be careful and can't leave such evidence around." He hands me the napkin and turns his back to me and starts walking away.
That's it? He's… leaving? Was I warned?
I run down the stoop steps to go after him but I trip and every curse word I can think of flashes into mind. As I though to myself seconds ago 'resulting in own death' way to go Bella.
Ice cold arms grab me and hold me steady, I look up into narrowed golden eyes which start to look blacker by the second.
Before I lose my nerve. "What's your name?"
He raises an eyebrow and laughs shaking his head. "How rude of me. I'm Edward. Now I must depart." He lets me go and turns once again and on spur of the moment I grab his arm and his reflexes had him swivel around so fast it made me dizzy.
"W-will I see you again? I need to know." I demand knowing I have to be pushing his buttons but this is my jobthis is why I am here(which I suddenly remember through my fog of terrified). To make my story based on adventures.
He sighs and looks down and snaps his arm out of my grasp. "Probably not. You seem like a smart women Bella, it is a shame that you don't take your instincts seriously." He voice sounds like it lowered a few octaves and his eyes are pitch black.
Then he is gone before I can blink and I am standing outside my house in shock. I look down the dark road and turn around half expecting him to pop behind me and bite me. I look at my house and notice my cat sitting in the window. Its gold eyes trained on me. Gold eyes.
I was sure Edwards eyes were gold when he first started talking but his eyes were definitely black when he was leaving. Good job Bella, you found another piece to the puzzle. Now maybe I should watch some Sesame Street and try and get clues from Count Dracula. I hurry up inside before I get mugged.
But that night I did not sleep.
I walk with my handy laptop bag at my side and my cell phone next to my ear.
"I told you Marie, I will get you the first ten pages via email tomorrow I'm extremely busy right now and I left my laptop at home. And this is NOT the final copy of my first chapter okay?"
I sigh as my editor yells into my ear some lengthy mishap that happened.
"I'm sorry… I know. I hope your daughter feels better and yes I did leave my laptop home because I don't want it to get damaged while I'm out investigating. Remember please Marie that I am not really done with this chapter, yes, okay …bye " I roll my eyes.
Finally my editor lets me go and I snap my cell phone shut then enter the same café I went in a couple days ago.
I quietly slip in, going from the sunny day outside into the dark cold inside of the café, my eyes find it hard to adjust for a couple seconds and walk over to the corner of the café and taking a seat. This time I am facing the crowd so I can people, vampire watch them instead of the last time. I hate people staring at me… which is funny…
Despite the fact that I was really here for some information about vampires, or any slipups… I really like the coffee and green tea here. The atmosphere is down my ally and so are the quiet murmurs; everyone keeps to themselves. I know I used to think this wasn't my cup of coffee but this place is starting to grow on me.
I'm frustrated that it is this quiet, I expected loony people talking all about vampires, though I am sure for a fact that anyone who let out a whisper about the species would die immediately. But you would think there would be ONE person to babble. I mean people talk, don't they? Where are the gossip girls when you need them?
I stiffen and think back to Edward. His name like Novocain in my brain, those eyes, his smile, his white skin practically glowing, his cold hands. They really lure me in, is that a power or is that something all vampires have. It makes me kind of scared. I would willingly go with him if he pulled that dazzling charm on me.
I sigh and rest my chin in my hand. I knew about them and I am alive, but regular people would think I'm crazy.
'Don't ever tell your maw what I'm telling ya Bell, she would throw me on the nearest paddy wagon for sure.' My grandfather told me more than once.
My eyes close and I yawn, I spent the last couple days working on my papers and then shopping for food. I have hardly any money and the coffee and tea aren't exactly cheap. Probably to keep all the younger kids out knowing they can't afford to be in here. Or it could be it looks closed all the time seeing as there is very little lighting in here. Which makes me tired.
A waiter comes up to my table holding up a kettle of coffee.
"Want a refill?"
I nod, he refills it then walks away.
Pff, another odd thing they do here. As soon as they see someone drifting off they come to you with coffee, what is that? They know how to make money or something. Damn. Then again I have purposely made it look like I was ready to sleep just so I wouldn't have to get and up and get more. So, win win?
Anyway I come here because I heard from the grapevine and some online researching that this is the place to go when you want to brood in self-consciousness and vampires. And that is exactly what I am doing and I am also starting to wonder if the vampire bit was just to get loony people like me here.
I think, my paranoid self starts to worry.
What if the vampires put that thought out to the public? So that humans who have suspicions can come here, babble, and then the vampires will know and they can kill them?
I look around; will Edward come and kill me? Is he stalking me?
I'm sitting straight up not nearly as relaxed now.
He knows Aro, my grandfather knew Aro when he was twenty something. So if I do the math Aro should end up being extremely old. Well, onto his second life or maybe more?
I roll my eyes; here I am, completely horrible at math. Fact is, Edward knows a really old vampire, which could possibly mean that he is really old too.
Why didn't Aro kill my grandfather? Why didn't Edward kill me?
This fuels me even more and I'm wondering if this would have been easier if Edward just killed me. I know it would have been easier because then I wouldn't have to worry about my editor killing me for not getting my work done on time.
My head throbs and I pull out some Excedrin and swallow them down with my coffee.
Suddenly, a black figure sits down in front of me and I almost choke, fortunately I didn't because this is the last place I want to rely on someone to save me. They would probably let me choke to death then throw me in the back room where the blood suckers can freely feast on my fresh dead body.
I think this as I stare at this very menacing and intimidating looking guy, more so than Edward. He is somewhat average, pale like Edward, and his light brown hair pulled back into a tail. His eyes blood red. They are probably contacts if I want to fool myself.
"Can I help you?".
"Oh, I noticed how alone you looked, I was wondering if you wanted some company." His smile shows his sharp white teeth. Oh this man isn't a vampire he is really a shark. DUH! I scoff at my humor though trying to hide my smirk.
He tilts his head to the side, obviously having his own thoughts about me.
"Oh, yeah, I'm usually alone." I let out a little laugh and why did I say that? Did I want him to follow me? I frown.
He leans forward making me look into his red eyes. "No need to be upset, you don't have to be alone anymore." His smile is gone; he reaches for my hand. Nope, not contacts!
I quickly slide my hand back but he still grabs hold of it. I shiver at the look in his eyes and feel his cold hard grasp around my hand. He could break it in an instant if he wanted too.
He rubs his thumb over the top of my hand and starts to whisper, his eyes somewhat mesmerizing.
"Don't be scared, you seem so curious, I've been watching you every time you come here. You are brave and I know when someone knows something they should not and I never pass up a free meal." He grins again and I try to yank back my hand but I can't move it at all.
Stay calm; I can do this. He won't possibly kill me in front of all these people, and he walks around with his eyes red, wont that cause some attention? Unless, I never noticed or saw anybodies eyes in this place, it's so dark.
"No need to be brave."
I quickly interrupt him. "Why are your eyes red?"
Maybe he will think I am stupid or something.
He pauses, stands up, then stares down at me and lets go of my hand. "Soon." He says.
I stare after him as he walks away and goes into another door that clearly says 'Do Not Enter, Employees Only'. So he is either an employee or all vampires are allowed back there. And he has been watching me everytime I am in here. Well this is great, now I really don't feel safe. 'Soon.' Sure sounds like a threat to me.
I rub my cold shaking hands against my jeans and stand up abruptly causing people to look my way as I gather my things and leave money on the table. I stride out as fast as I can without running and step out into the blinding bright light. I rub my eyes and my fear starts to overtake me, he's been watching me. This was a vampire and I know the risk of them, but still I cannot help but fear my life.
I would love to just go straight home and cuddle up on my sofa with my cat but I remember that I need food.
On my walk to the market that's several blocks away, I dream about owning a car, or something. Walking everywhere is healthy but what's the point of being healthy when you're going to get stabbed? Or bitten. I wasn't always this paranoid, and my neighborhood isn't that bad. But one day that changed while in college that changed my outlook on public safety.
I quickly go into the market and grab Yarny's food, a few small items and then head out.
It's close to fall season where the days got shorter while the nights get longer, so long.
Why am I terrified? This vampire scared me to death and now I am questioning this whole thing, but Edward made me want more and he's a vampire. But Edward is so gorgeously different, he makes me feel safe, or at least he made me feel safe for the ten minutes he was near me. At the time I didn't feel safe but now looking back I was.
My walk home is different; I decide to take the other way home to avoid the café that I normally pass. So now I am going ten minutes out of my way because I am frightened. The cat food and laptop start to hurt my shoulders, I'm fairly skinny and not the least bit athletic.
Night time has fallen around me.
My strides are longer and I encourage myself not to run, not to look around, just keep looking ahead and everything will be fine. But I still feel eyes watching me.
"Need soma help young lady?" A man comes from nowhere and wraps his arm around my shoulder; I gasp and jump away from him. I stare as he stumbles a bit while laughing. This man is drunk off his rocker, I cringe as his smell is horrible and he hasn't shaved in quite some time.
"Come awn darling, dontcha wanta relax with papa?" The beer bottle in his other hand slips and breaks on the ground.
I jump and start running away as fast as I can, I hear his footsteps behind me and I think of every possible tactic I can while my heart races with fear. I trip over something and crash into the ground, my bags go flying and a garbage can next to me topples over. I spot a glass bottle and grab it.
Stupid man can run fast for being drunk and I hope my laptop is alright.
The man stands over me breathing heavily with a grin on his face. "I love runners." He licks his lips and I glare with disgust, one thing is for sure, I'm going down with a fight but I can't move, I can't help but fear this monster.
Suddenly his body is on top of mine crushing my legs so I can't kick him and his one hand holding my arm still while his other is fumbling with my pants. I grind my teeth in anger and take the beer bottle and with as much force as possible I smash it against his head.
He grunts in pain as he falls on top of me going limp. I lay still for a couple seconds. The hollow thunk that sounded when I hit him wasn't what I expected. I push him off me and stand up, my feet feeling light and my head heavy, am I shaking? Holy shit that was close, so close. I hate close. Get off of me get off get off! I push him off me as quick as I can/
I look around and pick up my bags, fumbling with them, I am shaking and I can't think. Did I kill him? Why can't I breathe? I start to gag and drop my bags and sink to my knees throwing up what little I had in the past twenty-four hours. Mostly coffee. I start laughing alittle, sobbing more. Close. Close. Oh man. Oh no.
I press the palms of my hands into my eyes and I know I am sobbing, my mind feels weird. What just happened? Is this real? I stand to my feet again and stare at the man; he shifts a little and I growl and walk next to his body and kick his face as hard as I can. How many women, little girls has he attempted to rape? How many did he achieve with.
With tears still running down my face I smile and laugh with satisfaction as I hear something crack but then I grimace when I smell blood coming from his mouth. I hate the smell of blood, I put my hand over my mouth and stomp on his fingers. Goddamn mother fucker. I stomp his hand even more hearing more cracks. Then quickly kick his face one more time.
The vampires around here will dispose of him that I am sure of.
I pick up my bags, my mind somewhat at peace as I hurry home.
After a week of constant dreams of Edward and constant nightmares of the man in the café and the slob who tried to rape me I decided to come out of my dwelling and live.
Despite the fact that I wasn't raped I never had the fear or the almost experience happen before and I'm constantly wondering, what if? What if that garbage can wasn't there? What if I didn't pick up Yarny's food? Some of my nightmares include both the Café vampire and Raper monster and I would wake up screaming. I have been taking sleep medication soon after it started.
I scratch sweet Yarny's head and smile as he purrs and looks up at me. Silly little thing.
I get up and lock my house before I go outside. It's a cloudy day and I ran out of food a day ago. My stomach rumbles and so I fix myself a cup of coffee I quickly drink it and hurry out before it gets darker.
I'm bundled up, wearing a parka, jeans, boots, and a scarf to cover my neck and a hat. The cold nips my exposed skin reminding me of Edward's hands.
I stroll the market contently, picking up the fruit and making sure it's ripe and getting my brand of coffee. I look around and take in the normalcy, watching women walk with confidence. I sigh and look down at the food in my cart. Catfood, Banana's, Coffee and Milk.
Way to go Bella! You sure know how to take care of yourself!
I look around the new isle I am in and spot some muffins. I shrug and pick them up smiling just a little. Today is going pleasantly well considering I haven't been out of the house in a while. Then again I haven't done anything really productive as far as my book goes so today is technically a bad day. I never did get around to telling Marie about what happened… she doesn't need to know I guess…
"So, you met James?" A deep voice sounds behind me.
Startled I twist around and stare into the gold eyes before me. Edward. I smile and put the muffins down and lean against my cart.
"James?" I question, wondering if it was the café guy or…
"The man in the café." His lips turn up at what he refers to as a man, but it seems more of a grimace.
I sigh and look down. "Yea, it wasn't pleasant. Is he your friend?" I look up and notice his eyes are on the muffins I set down.
Edward laughs abruptly, I stare, shocked.
"Friend? Hardly, we have differences. You're not buying these? What made you change your mind?" He picks up the muffins and I'm wondering if he has a disorder.
"Uhm… differences as in what you like to eat?" I smirk as his eyes snap back at mine. All this talk about eating making me hungry and I look back down at the muffins. They were tempting but $3.50 for muffins? No.
He takes a couple steps closer and I stand straighter, "You know an awful lot." He murmurs and pulls my chin up forcing me to look into his eyes.
"I have no idea what you are thinking, usually I know what makes people do what they do. Maybe I can't figure you out because you are tragically insane."
I gasp and pull away. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm far from being insane." I scoff and pull my scarf closer to my neck. "In fact I think I am the only sane one in my family." I smile and take the muffins from his hands and walk to the cash register and cash out my things. What the hell, the muffins look good screw the price.
He follows me out.
"What?" I snap at him.
I look over and find he is grinning, not hungry or evil grin, but nice and almost playful.
"Oh, you are just a curious individual." He takes my grocery bags from my hands.
"Thanks." After that I remain quiet waiting for him to continue but he never does and I find us walking at a leisurely pace.
"I haven't seen you around," He says as we are almost near my house. "-and you seem different, less confident than the night I saw you. Did James do something?" He growls and stops walking.
I stop and turn around kind of shocked. "Well, no, sort of, I mean it wasn't like that." I scramble with my words.
He stares his eyebrows together, and his intense stare make me shift and once again he is close to me, the cold temperature of his radiating to me.
"Did he or didn't he?"
"He scared me is all, which I have come to expect when speaking with certain kinds of people." I say softly and place my hand on his arm. "Thanks for your concern."
His eyes soften and he backs away. "Still, I don't want you near him. Could be too late." He mutters seemingly more to himself than I.
"He told me 'soon'. Do you think… he meant…" I shrug, was it an empty threat?
Edward sighs and looks back up at me. "What am I going to do with you? You're causing all this trouble." He smiles and starts walking in the direction of my house.
"What? Where are you going?" I ask and jogging a little to catch up with his fast pace.
He looks back at me. "Your house." He says as if it's obvious.
"And you are inviting yourself in?" I practically squeek and think of my messy house, my memos all over the place, the dishes, the house smell, my room, where he will sleep. My mind goes into a panic and his voice breaks through it.
"Yep!" His chuckle washes over me and I can't help but smile despite my fears.
Where he will sleep? What am I even thinking? It's a polite visit and he did just carry my groceries all this way and since when did vampires care about what peoples houses look like inside? I think nervously.
Yeah. Edward will get along fine with Yarney.
