Scott stood up slowly and carefully as if he was being watched by someone
but he knew he was not, he could sense no humans near him and the young man
he had been feeding from was dead and wouldn't rise again. His skin, which
had had a warm glow to it when Scott had first lured him into the ally, was
now white, drained of colour and of blood. It had been an extremely
interesting kill for Scott for the young man had recently been injected
with the drug humans called Heroine and Scott had been able to taste it in
his blood. The blood had been hotter then usual human blood was and it had
an edge to it like he had never tasted. A shiver passed through his body
and up his spine. Maybe the drugs in the blood were affecting his vampire
body. He licked his lips to remove any traces of the hot blood from his
face. He was frighteningly scary for mortals to look at anyway and the last
thing he wanted was for some vermin human to shout "Vampire!"
He started to move out of the ally, the blood warming his body. He could feel the heat in his cheeks and he knew they would be pink and soft, just as they always were after the kill. The blood on humans was the best blood available. No animal blood could do what human blood did to a vampire or to a werewolf. Human blood was his one and only pleasure and it was what he lived for. He was obsessed with it in a way. It was everything to him and so much more. Anyway who cared if he killed the human vermin?
He certainly didn't. Sure you got a few night world creatures moaning that humans should be loved and cared for and not used for food, like the damned day breakers, but he, he did what he liked how he liked and when he liked. If he wanted to kill who was to stop him? He wasn't scared of the vampire elders and they couldn't do anything to him for feeding. He wouldn't get caught. He would never get caught. Humans were too stupid to figure out what was out there in the world killing off their friends and family and leaving their bodies drained or mauled. The excuses that the humans came up with for such things today was pathetic.
He was stronger then the entire worthless human race. He was a Redfern, a direct descendent of Hunter Redfern one of the strongest vampires in existence. Scott was proud to be a Redfern but disgusted to be related to his cousin Ash Redfern who had fallen in love with some human and ran off to join circle daybreak and all because of the stupid Soul mate thing. The soulmate theory was ridiculous. Since when had nightworld creatures and human vermin been connected? He had embarrassed the family and if Scott ever found him he would make him pay for brining shame on the family.
The sun had just started to rise making the sky a dark blue world with starts glittering down on the earth. He slipped out of the ally and walked out onto the street which was empty so early on a Saturday morning and no cars passed him. The only human he met while making his way home was a homeless male tramp sleeping in a filthy bundle of rags outside a shop door. He was snoring loudly and Scott looked at him disgusted. He would never feed off vermin like that, the lowest of the low. He wanted clean necks.
He carried on walking the early morning December wind rustling his hair. New Orleans really was beautiful like this. No human could ever appreciate its full beauty but he had seen it as soon as he had moved to it with his parents a month ago. The beauty lay in the old French café's which still existed to that day and wonderful theatres that had remain standing with French like beauty all over New Orleans. He didn't really know anyone yet but there was one girl a little blond ditz by the name of Catharine who had lived in New Orleans all her life and had the French accent to prove it. That accent amazed him. It was a mixture of French and American which sounded like a beautiful purr when she spoke to him, leading him on with her pretty olive skinned face and large brown eyes with the long eyelashes and perfectly shaped eyebrows. Of course though he thought her nothing more then a meal waiting to happen.
He reached the block of apartments and walked the stairs to the top floor, the apartment his father had rented for his mother who had always loved a rooftop garden. She had insisted on a fountain up there and statues of cherubs and angels made or marble and pearly white stone that had to be kept immaculately clean at all times. Many wondrous plants had been planted up there winter plants that were covered with frost but still looked beautiful. His mother and father were still sleeping when he put the key in the lock and unlocked the door. He could sense them to doors away dreaming like humans, of things that meant no great importance. The only thing he dreamed about was the taste of the blood fresh from the human.
He opened the door to his own room and lay down on the bed sinking into its softness and warmth. He was more sensitive and aware of things around him when he had human blood flowing through his body. Or maybe it was something to do with the drugs he had absorbed from the mans blood. He didn't know and he didn't care al he knew was that he felt better then ever before.
************
The early morning wind bit into Jewel's cheeks and sent horrid shivers down her spine. Her lovely bright white coat lined with fake white fur seemed to do nothing to keep the bitter December cold from her body. The coldness was worse then it had been the year before, her first year living in New Orleans. Originally coming from England she was used to cold like this but the hot New Orleans summer had made her forget the coldness that would be coming. Winter was an unforgiving season killing most of the plant life it touches and making people feel downhearted and even killing people off. As she walked the streets to her best friend Catharine's apartment she saw them now outside shop doors or rooting through bins for food because they were so starving. The homeless who had nothing.
She passed them trying to stop herself starring at them and then crossed the street. The sun wasn't up properly yet and hardly anyone was on the streets though a few cars passed her. This was how she liked New Orleans. Quiet and calm. Then she heard police car sirens disturb the silence. She looked around and saw 2 of them zooming past lights flashing. They stopped near the entrance to an ally. She crossed the street again dodging a bike and looked at the scene before her. She couldn't see down the ally for people were in the way and it was dark down the ally. An ambulance was parked with the police cars she walked up to the crowed that surrounded the ally. They all had gaunt sad looking faces that showed something bad had taken place down the ally.
"He was a drug addict," Said a plump woman with curly dark hair" That's all I knew about him."
"I think his name was Steve," mumbled a tall thin guy in French. The man next to him nodded.
"Excuse moi" Came a deep male voice" Pleaze could you all muv back"
She saw a police officer and he was pushing his hands forwards forcing people back. People looked a little angry with this and one woman stood out from the others. She was petite with a heart shaped face and long silky silvery hair and creamy skin. She didn't look much older then Jewel herself. Her face was tear stained and her soft blue eyes were filling with tears.
"Pleaze madam" Said the officer looking distressed" Pleaze muv back"
"He'z my brother" She wailed more tears running down her creamy cheeks" Steve!"
Jewel turned away. She couldn't stand it anymore her heart was breaking. It was obvious what had happened. Somebody was dead, Steve, he was a drug addict and he had died. She didn't see the point of doing drugs all it did was caused trouble and heartache. She crossed the street again leaving the heartbreaking scene behind her and walked quickly to the block of apartments a few streets away were Catharine lived with her old grandmother. She ran up to the apartment under the top and knocked on the door loudly. Catharine was still likely to be in bed and her grandmother was a little deaf.
The old woman opened the door dressed in a flowery nightgown and with a dressing gown wrapped around her. Pastille blue slippers were on her feet. Catharine's grandmother had always amazed Jewel. She was on her way to 80 and yet she was as fit and healthy as a 50 year old apart from being a little deaf. Her crinkled old face lit up in a smile when she recognized it was Jewel and she held the door open for her to come it.
"Hi Gran" Said Jewel and she walked in. The old woman always insisted on Jewel calling her Gran.
"Catharine iz still in bed" Said the old woman in her French accent. Jewel smiled politely as the old woman knocked on Catharine's bedroom door. A snore issued from the room and Jewel had to stifle a laugh. The old woman didn't notice.
"Catharine Jewel iz 'ere" Shouted the old woman. There was the creaking of the mattress springs as Catharine moved in her bed.
"I am up Gran" came the drowsy voice of Jewels best friend behind the wooden door." Send 'er in"
The old woman moved out of the way and Jewel opened the door slowly without a creak. Catharine was sat up in bed her hair all messed up from her sleep and her eyes drooping as if she was still half asleep. Golden sunlight shone through the closed curtains but the room was still dim and a little cold. Jewel sat on the end of the bed and looked at her best friend. Catharine was a tease. That was how the guys at school described her. She was tall and thin like a fashion model with olive skin. Her eyes were large and drown and people were often drawn to them as if they were magnets and the people were pieces of metal. Her eyelashes were long and dark and she had no need for massacre or any makeup for she had natural beauty. Her hair was shoulder length and blonde.
"How was the party last night?" Asked Jewel.
"It waz fantastic" Said Catharine" Don't forget my partiee iz tonight"
"Are you sure your ready for another one so soon?" Asked Jewel giving the pretty girl a smile. Catharine rubbed her eyes, yawned and then stretched out. She pulled back the covers and Jewel saw she was dressed in a long purple nightdress that reached past her knees.
"You know me" Said Catharine with a sleepy smile" I live for ze partiee life"
"So who is coming to your party?"
"Ah ze usual people" mumbled Catharine" Amber, ze Leonard twinz, Annabelle and 'er brother Nick, Rita, Daniel, Adam, Helena, Lee and of course Scott"
"Err who?" Asked Jewel. There was no Scott's at their school that she had ever heard of and she had been there for over a year.
"Ze boy oo lives above uz" Said Catherine pointing up above her" Muved in last month. 'E iz very cute et 'e iz single"
"Cath" She said warningly to her friend.
"What?" Said Catharine shrugging" I just think it iz time you got with a boy"
"I will do that in my own time" Said Jewel.
Jewel hadn't had a boyfriend for years. She seemed to avoid boys because they scared her and the boy she had once fancied had rejected her in front of all her friend sin England. She didn't know if she was ready to date, especially American boys for they were so much different to English boys.
She waited outside Catharine's door while the girl got changed and she thought of England. She did miss it but it was nothing like New Orleans, which had old French beauty. She wouldn't leave New Orleans for all the money in the world.
She and Catharine spent the day getting ready for the party. Gran was staying at a friend's house out in the country for a few days and she had given Catharine permission for a party as long as she cleaned up the mess and made sure nothing was broken. Jewel had brought along lots of her new dance CD's and Catharine had bought lots of food like sausage rolls and crisps. Lee dropped by later with the bear and coke. Catharine hadn't told her Gran about the booze.
"Some older people might turn up" She explained when Jewel had asked why they needed so many alcoholic drinks.
At 4 o clock Jewel went home to get changed and ready for the party. It was dark outside and icy cold. Wind made her shiver in her coat and she walked fast wanting to get inside to the warmth of her apartment. She passed the ally in which the heartbreaking scene had happened and saw it was cut off with police tape clearly telling everyone it was the scene of a great crime.
She walked inside the apartment were she lived with her mother and older brother Michael. Michael was an 18-year-old guitar playing in his last year at school. His long brown curly hair was funny to her and he was strange himself spending hours in his room by himself and not talking to anyone but anyway he was a good brother. He was sat now in his favourite chair watching some old movie on TV every now and then dipping his hand into a bowl and pulling out popcorn to shove it in his mouth.
"Where is mum?" She asked as she pulled off her coat and gloves and through then over the back of the sofa.
"Out with Ricky" He said not taking his eyes off the TV. Ricky was a friend of their mums from work and he had helped their mum a lot after the death of their father 2 years ago. She thought that she had Ricky would be good together and she knew her dad would have wanted her mum to be happy. She went into her room without another word to her brother who still had his eyes glued to the TV. She quickly changed into black jeans and a black top and tied her hair back with a black srunchy. She didn't put any makeup on for she never used it. She thought it made her look stupid. She pulled on her boots and then grabbed a black denim jacket because it would be cold outside but hot were the party was. Catherine's parties were always hot.
She told her brother were she would be but he didn't say a word so she walked out of the apartment and took the lift down to the bottom floor and out onto the street. The streets were deserted which made Jewel feel a little afraid for she liked to be around people. She crossed the street and half ran half walked to Catharine's apartment, avoiding the ally were the man had died. Lee opened the door with a cool smile. He was tall with shinning blond hair that was a little long but looked good on him. His eyes were a warm brown and he was a friendly person. He was captain of all the trams at school and was very strong but he always got A's and his favourite subject was poetry. Jewel thought he was cute and liked him a lot but only as a friend.
"'Ello" He said, he had an accent a lot like Catharine's. He and Catherine had grown up together.
"Hi" She said giving a smile.
"Ze partie 'as just got going" he said and he closed the door behind her" Ow are you?"
"I'm fine just cold" She said," Where's Catherine?"
"She iz over there" he said pointing to a small group near the window. She and Lee walked together to the group of girls and boys. Catherine was chatting to Helena a pretty girl with Dark brown hair and blue eyes and pale skin.
"Oh Jewel there you are" Said Catherine." Jewel this iz Scott Redfern"
Jewel looked round to see a boy behind her that she hadn't noticed before. She was surprised she hadn't noticed him because he was the most unusual boy she had ever seen. His skin was near white and shone bright with a healthy glow. His high cheekbones and soft sensual looking lips made him look like a male model. His hair was as black as coal but his eyes, his eyes were something different. One second they looked ice blue the new violet. They seemed to change colour in different lights. The boy didn't smile or show any expression on his face. He was tall and strong looking and for some reason he made Jewel think of some powerful wolf. She didn't know why.
"Scott thiz iz Jewel" Purred Catherine" She iz inglish like you"
"Hi" Said Jewel quietly. The boy didn't say anything and Jewel thought that was rather rude. He should at least have nodded his head or acknowledged her in some way.
"Well I will just leave you two" Said Catherine and she moved away to a nother group of people. Jewel knew what she was up to by leaving her with this boy, she was going to try and get them together. Jewel looked at the boy who was looking around and had a bored look on his face. Well he really s rude, thought Jewel.
"So you live above here" She said.
"Yes" He said shortly. He did have an English accent but she couldn't place it.
"Wont your parents mind the noise? I mean the music is pretty loud and Catherine's parties normally last till 2 in the morning" Said Jewel trying to make conversation.
"they are out" He said again shortly.
"Oh" She whispered.
"Look I don't mean to be rude but I know Catherine is trying to put us together but im not interested" he said. His eyes were violet.
"I know she is always trying to fix me up with boys" She said glad that he was feeling the same as her. She wasn't interested in getting with a boy but then again this boy was good looking...no, she thought, you cant judge on looks alone. Looks alone aren't enough.
"Cant you get yourself a boy?" he asked raising his eye brow.
"Well I don't know I haven't really tried" She said truthfully" For a boy to like me and go out with me I would have to be interesting"
"How do you know your not?"
"Well I don't think boys see anything in me that they like" She said with a little laugh.
"I see something in you that I like" he said with a smile. She could have sworn for a moment that she had seen a flash of sharp teeth. Trick of light, she thought.
"Oh yeah? You don't even know me. You know nothing about me" She said.
" I know your name" he said.
"Well yeah and I know yours" she said.
"You don't know anything else about me" He said coldly. She frowned and turned away from him watching the lights of the beautiful city out of the window. She was always drawn to shinning lights of New Orleans, shinning like fireflies in the night and attracting all sorts of people to its warm glow. She was in such a day dream state looking at the lights that somebody knocked into her and sent her falling backwards straight into Scott. He fell as well caught off guard by her and now she was on top of him. Blood flooded to her cheeks and she felt them going red with embarrassment. She couldn't move.
"You wanna get off?" Asked the boy coldly. She felt someone helping her up but she wasn't concentrating on them. This boy, Scott wasn't normal. It was a feeling deep down inside that wanted to be released but she wouldn't let it, not fully. Something was bad about Scott.
"I'm sorry" She mumbled" Someone knocked me and I fell..."
"On me" he finished for her" You should be more careful. You looked in a world of your own a minute ago"
"I was" She mumbled and she looked again to the lights and felt the pull in the pit of her stomach that told her something was bad about Scott..or maybe she her period was just due.
"I was attracted to them as well" He said coming up besides her near the window and indicating the lights" Like a moth to a flame"
"Its just so beautiful" She said her eyes still glued to the lights like her brothers eyes had been glued to the TV." I love the night"
They stood for a few seconds people laughing and dancing around them but they meant nothing. The both of them couldn't see beyond the beautiful old city of New Orleans and its dazzling night-lights.
"You can come up to my garden. If you would like. We have lovely winter and night blooming flowers up there and there is a wonderful view of the city. Would you like too?" He asked.
"Oh yeah sure" She said tearing her eyes from the lights" Its getting a bit stuffy in here. Lets go"
At least he was going to get a decent meal, he thought happily. For him the evening at the party would have been pointless for he didn't like to mingle with vermin. The vermin human girl he now had at his side was dinner and nothing more. She had a small chubby face with chubby red cheeks. She had long brown hair streaked with blond. She was small compared to him but that didn't matter, there would still be enough blood in her body to satisfy him for one night.
He led her on to the roof top garden, which was bathed in moonlight. Everything glittered, covered in frost and he heard Jewel let out a gasp. The statues shone and made the garden look I but what heaven must look like, if it existed. The water fountain wasn't running because of the cold but she was still drawn to it her eyes sparkling with excitement They walked to the edge of the garden together and stopped close to the edge so that Jewel could see the shinning lights belong them and around them. She looked at him and gave him a warm smile, which he didn't return. Enjoy your last few minuets, he thought. They stood for a few minuets just looking at the city and its light and then Jewel turned to look at the garden.
"You know looking at all this just makes me think that magic is real, that its all real. I know its sounds crazy but I just believe there is something out there that we don't understand, some kind of magic that's in the heart and soul of every living being. This garden makes me feel strange" She said her eyes large and twinkling.
"Do you know what I feel?" he asked mysteriously.
"What?"
"Hungry" he snarled.
She let out a loud scream as he moved towards her flashing his fangs at her. For now he was feeding on her terror, the fear he could see in her eyes. She moved backwards. It didn't matter if she screamed or shouted for help, nobody would hear her. He was going to have himself a good meal. She carried on backing up her face a mask of terror and then she let out another scream as she fell backwards over the edge of the building. Almost without thinking he darted forwards and grabbed her wrist stopping her from falling.
White lights surrounded him. All he could see was white light and then Jewel and himself surrounded by the mystical white lights.
Oh my God, what's going on
It was Jewel voice but he knew she hadn't really said it, she had thought it. Still surrounded by white lights he managed to pull Jewel up over the side and she landed on her feet beside him. He let go at once and the light disappeared. There was still a strange humming sound in his ears but his vision was back to normal and he saw he was still standing in the garden. Jewel looked at him for a moment and then took off towards the fire escape stairs. He took off after her but she was fast but he knew he was faster. He was sure not to grab her bare skin this time.
"What did you do to me?" he asked.
"Get off me" She cried and she tried to pull her arm away but he held it tight his fingers digging into it and she struggled to pull it away.
"What did you do to me?" He repeated his anger rising in him.
"I didn't do anything!" She screamed," You just tried to kill me"
"I saved your life!" he snarled," If it wasn't for me you would have fallen to your death"
"If you hadn't have scared me I wouldn't have fallen!" She screamed" You're a monster!"
He looked at her for a moment but still held on to her tight to stop her escaping. He didn't know what had just happened but he knew he didn't like it and wanted it gone. She couldn't have done it though, she wasn't a witch from what he could sense. Her blood wasn't hot enough for witches' blood.
"Do not tell anyone what you have just seen. If they find out, your dead."
"Why do you care.you just nearly killed me" she whispered.
"Listen this is very important" he said pulling on her arm" You cannot tell anyone what you have just witnessed. Go home, I will contact you soon"
"What you're letting me go?" She asked a puzzled look coming over her face.
"For now" he said quickly" But if I heard you have said anything I will have to kill you. It's the law"
"What law?"
"It doesn't matter now, go," he said letting go of her. It seemed she didn't need to be told twice and she ran off down the fire escape stairs out of site. He sighed his mind buzzing with questions. What had just happened? Was she fully human? Would it happen if he touched her bare skin again? He pondered these things as he stood on top of the garden looking over the city a funny feeling through his body and mind and a nagging question. Was that the soulmate connection? No, he thought, that is some stupid tale that vampires fell for. Well not him. He walked over to the edge and looked down at the ally below him. He could smell drugs on the air and he saw a little unshaven man down in the ally. Scott smiled to himself. St least he would get to eat tonight, and with that he jumped down from the top of the building and landed on his feet in front of the frightened man. The man jumped and looked Scott, his unshaven pale face and watery eyes full of fear. Scott snarled horribly and then lunged at the man who didn't have a chance and grabbed his neck and sank his fangs into it. The hot blood gushed from the wound into his mouth and Scott drank deeply. This was the only life for him and no one, not even a girl would take it from him.
*~*~*~*~*~*
1 week later
Jewel and her bother sat watching the 6 o clock news on the TV in silence. Mad thoughts ran through Jewel's head, as there was another report of a body found in New Orleans drained of its blood. The media obviously thought it was some sort of psycho killer but she, she knew different. She knew the truth but the truth filled her will terror and she knew she couldn't tell anyone the truth, not even her own family. The boy, monster, whatever he was that had been about to attack her had done it, all of it. She had to tell someone, she had to stop it she had to but yet she couldn't. The boy had said that if she breathed a word she would die and she imagined he wouldn't just stop at her. He would kill her family and everyone who had touched her life. She had to find the monster herself and make him stop; she couldn't just wait around doing nothing.
She told her brother she was going out for a walk, and he warned her to stay in a well-populated place, but she knew where she was going. Straight to the monster itself to get some answers to the questions running through her mind again and again. The night was cold and everywhere she looked Christmas lights flashed in all colours and trees were placed in shop windows. Big sign's everywhere wishing everyone a merry Christmas. Yeah right merry Christmas this is gonna be with all these deaths. She was quite tempted to turn back, go home and call the police. What if he attacked her? What if he killed her this time?
She stopped just outside the block of apartments where Catharine and the monster lived. If he had touched Catharine or her grandmother she would kill him, she would find a way to kill him even if he killed her. She took in a deep breath of cool night air and plucked up the courage to enter the building and take the lift up to the top floor. She knocked on the door softly 3 times knowing very well he would hear her and he would come. The door opened and Jewel came face to face with a pale fresh skinned looking woman with raven black hair and eyes like...her son. This had to be Scott's mother. The chances were she was a monster to.
"Yes what can I do for you?" She asked. Her voice wasn't anything Jewel expected it to be. It sounded like a soft caring voice not one of a monster.
"Erm is Scott home?" She asked awkwardly.
"Who are you?"
"Oh my names Jewel" She said quickly. The woman looked at her for a moment her eyes passing over her face and then resting on her own eyes. She stared back trying to hold back the fear.
"Just a moment. I will go get him. Come in" She said opening the door wider for her to enter. She did and closed the door behind her. She was in the home of the monster. She had to be on her guard for she could be attacked at any moment. The apartment living room was large with a large black leather sofa and two leather armchairs. A TV stood near the window turned off and the window itself was open and cold night air drifting in. The room was a little cold but not as cold as it was outside. She heard the click of a door being opened and she turned and saw the monster. He was dressed in leather pants and a black shirt. He wore a leather jacket.
"Lets go out for a walk," he said harshly. His mother was behind him a puzzled look on her pale face. Jewel nodded and headed towards the door and Scott held it open for her.
"I will be back soon mum," he said and then he shut the door. As soon as he had she felt rough hand grab her and pin her to the wall. She banged her head hard and pain ran up her neck and into her brain, which throbbed.
"What do you mean by coming here.to my home, to my mother? " He snarled in her ear. She opened he eyes and saw his blurred leather out line and she let out a groan. She felt the hands let go and she saw the blurred figure step back. She rubbed her eyes until they became less blurred. He stood in front of her his pale face full of fury and his deadly eyes burning into her. She put a hand to the back of her head and rubbed then looked at her hand. No blood, that was good.
"What are you doing here?" he asked angrily.
"I had to..find out why all the killings?" She said" I had to come I couldn't stay at home any longer knowing what you were doing. I had to try and stop you"
He let out a nasty laugh and then looked at her again.
"You cant stop me" he sneered" A little girl like you is no match for me. Humans are weak and pathetic. We are the only race worth living. Your nothing but food. I don't even know how you can pull that weak worthless body around and call it living, we are the only ones truly alive"
He walked away quickly and she had no choice but to follow him. She was a little shaky on her feet and she almost feel once or twice but stopped herself from falling in time. When they reached the ground floor they walked out and down the street. She had no idea where he was going. He stopped at one point for a few seconds and closed his eyes. They were near the park and Jewel could see the entrance. Nobody was around.
"In there" he said and he crossed the road and walked into the park as she followed. They walked to a group of trees and the Jewel could hear laughing. Somebody was having fun and it was the laugh of both a man and a woman. She looked up and saw Scott had disappeared from her side. Now was her chance to run but she couldn't just leave him to kill the people. She walked through the trees and spotted him standing at a wooden bench in front of a man and woman. The man was older then she and Scott and the woman was only a little older then Jewel with a cute childish face, the skin glowing in the nearby lamp light.
"Hey man what do you want? You want money? I can give it to you I have loads" Came the frightened voice of the man.
"No I don't want your money" sneered Scott" I want your life and hers"
There was a loud snarling sound as Scott jumped on the woman before the man or Jewel could stop him or say anything. The woman screamed and it rung through the park making the sleeping birds from nearby trees twitter and fly away. Scott was now sucking the life force, the blood, from the woman like some kind of evil monster..like a vampire. That was the only way she describe him with his glowing eyes, his teeth and his strength.
Then after he had taken his fill with the woman he jumped on the man and Jewel gasped for she could actually see his fangs ripping at the flesh at the throat of the man. She started walking back and stumbled not wanting to see anymore not wanting to know anymore. When the man had stopped struggling Scott let go and walked over to her. Having stumbled she had fallen and was now on the floor and she tried to get but she couldn't for the fear pounding through her body. He was going to kill her now.
"The blood is what I crave its what I live on. You kill animals doesn't that make you just as bad us? We are better then you, a breed capable of more than your pathetic weak human vermin brain could understand" He snarled" So what if we kill them. Why do you care?"
"Because its wrong that's why!" She cried. She pulled herself up of the floor and stood in front of him her body shaking with fear and anger. Vermin? She'd show him vermin.
"What's so wrong about it? Survival of the fittest that's the way it has always been in this world" He sneered.
He had gotten her there. She knew the words he spoke were true but then she remembered something. If he was a vampire then he had to have been turned which means he had to have been human.
"You were human once, you had to have been for you to become a vampire" she said" Your killing what you used to be and what part of you is still inside. That's why you let me go that night. The human in you couldn't kill me after what happened between us. The connection"
"Oh don't tell me you believe all that Anne Rice crap about having to be made a vampire and vampires having human feelings. That is fiction this is real life" he said darkly" and that connection was just a one off. For all I know it could have been some dark spell. The witches are all around us, everywhere and you never know when they are about to strike"
"So are you gonna blabber on all night or kill me?" She asked. He looked at her for a moment his dark eyes glittering angrily.
"Neither" he said quietly.
Jewel heard a soft moaning sound coming from somewhere nearby. She looked towards the bodies on the man and the woman and she noticed the woman had groaned and moved and it was as if she was waking from a deep sleep. The man next to her she could see was breathing and the blood was still flowing from the wound on his neck. She looked at Scott who grinned wickedly.
"Is this some kind of sick twisted vampire joke?" She demanded.
"No.. i don't have to kill to feed and the only ones I've killed in this city so far was the two drug dealers" he said" Something else is here something much worse then me and you better watch out when it comes for you"
With that he took off into the night before she could stop him and she was left in the park with the man and the woman who were passing in and out of consciousness. She slipped away from the scene, not wanting to be found with a man and a woman who had their throats ripped out and she called for an ambulance at the first pay phone she found. After that she started to walk home, not wanting to be questioned when the police came.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Scott watched the scene from above, on a tall building near the park where he had attacked the vermin. She girl, jewel, had took off as soon as she had called the ambulance and now he could see the vermin on stretchers and the police looking around for clues. They wouldn't find any that pointed to him, he was always careful with his work so that he never got caught. He had only ever been caught once and by no other than a slayer.
London 1920
Scott walked quickly down the street not looking back. He knew he was being followed, followed by a slayer none the less. A young girl who wanted to stake him in the heart and chop of his head. Well he wouldn't give her the chance; he would fight to the death. Being only 18 years old he felt he was not reedy to go yet and he doubted he would ever be ready to go. He liked what he was and he enjoyed doing what he did.
He pushed past people trying to find some deserted ally so the slayer would attack and he could kill her without trouble, without vermin interfering like vermin did. The ally was dark and deserted with slushy snow running along it. The snow would be red b the time he had finished with the slayer. She came as he knew she would, trying to creep up on him but it didn't work he was ready for.
She stood at the end of the ally dagger in hand eyes glinting madly. She was pretty for a human with fair skin and red lips. Her hair was brown and bushy. She pounced at him like a great hunting cat. He blocked her by kicking her off course and she hit the wall and dropped the knife. This was just to easy. He darted forwards and grabbed the knife, which was wooden for metal could not kill a vampire.
"You stupid girl" He sneered" This kill is to easy"
"Its not as easy as you think" She panted and she jumped up and ran at him at top speed. She pummelled him with all her strength and he had to admit it did hurt his lip was bleeding and he though a rid was broken. She had made him angry and no human wanted to be around when he was angry. He kicked her in the stomach sending her backwards and hitting a trashcan. The knife was on the floor again, him having dropped it and as he darted for it again she was too fast for him and she garbed it ad sunk it into his arm. He screamed in pain as his dark red blood gushed out of the wound and into the snow. It was his blood that had made the snow red, not hers. She would pay for it. He pulled the dagger out his fangs had sharpened through his pain and his mind and heart was ready for the kill. The girl was running at him ready to hit him some more but he grabbed her and sunk the dagger straight into her heart.
He let go of her and she fell to the floor blood pouring from the wound like an everlasting flowing river. She gagged and spluttered as she lay dying. She coughed up blood and she looked up at him with soft pleading eyes as if to say finish it quickly and let me be at peace. Of course he didn't he watched her a cruel smile on his face as she died in front of him in that ally. He pulled the dagger from her heart, which made a squelching noise and wiped it on her coat and placed it in his pocket. He would use it on the next slayer he came against. He left the body to rot in the ally.
The memory ended and Scott was drawn back to the present time. He felt in his jacket pocket and pulled out the wooden dagger, which he had meant to use on Jewel. He hadn't, he had let her go but he had no idea why. Mad thoughts ran threw his mind about the soulmate principle. He had heard a vampire talk about it and describe it once long ago but it was stupid. There was no such thing as soulmates let alone human vermin ones. He was a lone creature of the night and he would stay that way to the end of time.
The man and woman he had attacked were gone now and only the police and a few bystanders were left down below. He could fly down now and take them all if he wanted to, he had the power to do it and he was ruthless enough to do it but something stopped him.
"Well if it isn't my dear cousin" came the voice that he had not heard in 3 years. He turned and saw Ash standing in the moonlight a queer smile on his face" Still up to your old tricks I see"
"What are you doing here?" Snarled Scott.
"I'm here because of you" said Ash not moving" I came out the girl, the girl you have the connection with what was her name.."
"Jewel"
"Yes that's it. She is your Soulmate"
"Don't be so stupid. I should kill you now for the shame you have brought on the family with all that soulmate crap"
"Oh yeah" A dark look came over ash's face" Try it"
Scott charged at Ash but someone, a dark figure jumped in front of Ash and hit Scott over the head with something large and heavy. It must have been made of wood for the pain pounded through his head and his eyes watered.
"I thought I said you should stay out the way and I should talk to him alone first, after all he is my cousin" Scott heard Ash say.
"I'm sorry but after what we saw down there I had a great desire to hit him," Said a female voice. Scott looked up and saw a girl totally dressed in black with long dark hair and green eyes like a cats. She had smooth pale skin but was human. She was a slayer.
"Let me guess" Said Scott" This is your soulmate"
"Well no actually this is Quinn's soulmate Rashel" Said Ash" Mary Lynette is back at Thierry's place"
"What are human scum doing at Thierry's place?"
For that comment he received a sharp kick in the head from Rashel. His head pounded again but not as much as the time before for no wood was used. He spat out blood and then looked at Rashel.
"Sorry" She said giving a sweet smile" We are not scum. Its vampires like you who are scum. Vampires who wont see the truth when it's right in front of them"
"Truth? What truth?" Demanded Scott spitting out more blood. It now run down the front of his jacket. He would make that bitch of a slayer pay and he would kill her with his dagger.
"The truth that you have a connection with Jewel and that you both belong with circle daybreak" Said Rashel.
"I will die before I join your hippie group!" he roared and with that he ran at the girl Rashel. He hit her in the face and she fell back but recovered quickly and kicked him in the stomach. Ash came behind him and hit him round the head with the wooden object. Scott backed off in pain.
"There is no need to fight. You need to come with us along with Jewel for you have a big part to play, it has been seen in a vision by a seer."
"I will never come with you!" He shouted.
"If you don't you die. It's coming for you" Said Ash darkly.
"What what's coming?"
"The slayers. Stronger then you could ever imagine and ready to kill you. We tried to get them into circle daybreak but they just wouldn't listen so now they kill nightworld people and you're their next target. Come with us and you will be safe"
Scott thought about this. He didn't want to die but yet he didn't want to go with his cousin the traitor and the slayer Rashel but it looked like he had no choice.
"Ok ill go with you but first you have to speak with Jewel"
End of part 1
~*~*~*~
He started to move out of the ally, the blood warming his body. He could feel the heat in his cheeks and he knew they would be pink and soft, just as they always were after the kill. The blood on humans was the best blood available. No animal blood could do what human blood did to a vampire or to a werewolf. Human blood was his one and only pleasure and it was what he lived for. He was obsessed with it in a way. It was everything to him and so much more. Anyway who cared if he killed the human vermin?
He certainly didn't. Sure you got a few night world creatures moaning that humans should be loved and cared for and not used for food, like the damned day breakers, but he, he did what he liked how he liked and when he liked. If he wanted to kill who was to stop him? He wasn't scared of the vampire elders and they couldn't do anything to him for feeding. He wouldn't get caught. He would never get caught. Humans were too stupid to figure out what was out there in the world killing off their friends and family and leaving their bodies drained or mauled. The excuses that the humans came up with for such things today was pathetic.
He was stronger then the entire worthless human race. He was a Redfern, a direct descendent of Hunter Redfern one of the strongest vampires in existence. Scott was proud to be a Redfern but disgusted to be related to his cousin Ash Redfern who had fallen in love with some human and ran off to join circle daybreak and all because of the stupid Soul mate thing. The soulmate theory was ridiculous. Since when had nightworld creatures and human vermin been connected? He had embarrassed the family and if Scott ever found him he would make him pay for brining shame on the family.
The sun had just started to rise making the sky a dark blue world with starts glittering down on the earth. He slipped out of the ally and walked out onto the street which was empty so early on a Saturday morning and no cars passed him. The only human he met while making his way home was a homeless male tramp sleeping in a filthy bundle of rags outside a shop door. He was snoring loudly and Scott looked at him disgusted. He would never feed off vermin like that, the lowest of the low. He wanted clean necks.
He carried on walking the early morning December wind rustling his hair. New Orleans really was beautiful like this. No human could ever appreciate its full beauty but he had seen it as soon as he had moved to it with his parents a month ago. The beauty lay in the old French café's which still existed to that day and wonderful theatres that had remain standing with French like beauty all over New Orleans. He didn't really know anyone yet but there was one girl a little blond ditz by the name of Catharine who had lived in New Orleans all her life and had the French accent to prove it. That accent amazed him. It was a mixture of French and American which sounded like a beautiful purr when she spoke to him, leading him on with her pretty olive skinned face and large brown eyes with the long eyelashes and perfectly shaped eyebrows. Of course though he thought her nothing more then a meal waiting to happen.
He reached the block of apartments and walked the stairs to the top floor, the apartment his father had rented for his mother who had always loved a rooftop garden. She had insisted on a fountain up there and statues of cherubs and angels made or marble and pearly white stone that had to be kept immaculately clean at all times. Many wondrous plants had been planted up there winter plants that were covered with frost but still looked beautiful. His mother and father were still sleeping when he put the key in the lock and unlocked the door. He could sense them to doors away dreaming like humans, of things that meant no great importance. The only thing he dreamed about was the taste of the blood fresh from the human.
He opened the door to his own room and lay down on the bed sinking into its softness and warmth. He was more sensitive and aware of things around him when he had human blood flowing through his body. Or maybe it was something to do with the drugs he had absorbed from the mans blood. He didn't know and he didn't care al he knew was that he felt better then ever before.
************
The early morning wind bit into Jewel's cheeks and sent horrid shivers down her spine. Her lovely bright white coat lined with fake white fur seemed to do nothing to keep the bitter December cold from her body. The coldness was worse then it had been the year before, her first year living in New Orleans. Originally coming from England she was used to cold like this but the hot New Orleans summer had made her forget the coldness that would be coming. Winter was an unforgiving season killing most of the plant life it touches and making people feel downhearted and even killing people off. As she walked the streets to her best friend Catharine's apartment she saw them now outside shop doors or rooting through bins for food because they were so starving. The homeless who had nothing.
She passed them trying to stop herself starring at them and then crossed the street. The sun wasn't up properly yet and hardly anyone was on the streets though a few cars passed her. This was how she liked New Orleans. Quiet and calm. Then she heard police car sirens disturb the silence. She looked around and saw 2 of them zooming past lights flashing. They stopped near the entrance to an ally. She crossed the street again dodging a bike and looked at the scene before her. She couldn't see down the ally for people were in the way and it was dark down the ally. An ambulance was parked with the police cars she walked up to the crowed that surrounded the ally. They all had gaunt sad looking faces that showed something bad had taken place down the ally.
"He was a drug addict," Said a plump woman with curly dark hair" That's all I knew about him."
"I think his name was Steve," mumbled a tall thin guy in French. The man next to him nodded.
"Excuse moi" Came a deep male voice" Pleaze could you all muv back"
She saw a police officer and he was pushing his hands forwards forcing people back. People looked a little angry with this and one woman stood out from the others. She was petite with a heart shaped face and long silky silvery hair and creamy skin. She didn't look much older then Jewel herself. Her face was tear stained and her soft blue eyes were filling with tears.
"Pleaze madam" Said the officer looking distressed" Pleaze muv back"
"He'z my brother" She wailed more tears running down her creamy cheeks" Steve!"
Jewel turned away. She couldn't stand it anymore her heart was breaking. It was obvious what had happened. Somebody was dead, Steve, he was a drug addict and he had died. She didn't see the point of doing drugs all it did was caused trouble and heartache. She crossed the street again leaving the heartbreaking scene behind her and walked quickly to the block of apartments a few streets away were Catharine lived with her old grandmother. She ran up to the apartment under the top and knocked on the door loudly. Catharine was still likely to be in bed and her grandmother was a little deaf.
The old woman opened the door dressed in a flowery nightgown and with a dressing gown wrapped around her. Pastille blue slippers were on her feet. Catharine's grandmother had always amazed Jewel. She was on her way to 80 and yet she was as fit and healthy as a 50 year old apart from being a little deaf. Her crinkled old face lit up in a smile when she recognized it was Jewel and she held the door open for her to come it.
"Hi Gran" Said Jewel and she walked in. The old woman always insisted on Jewel calling her Gran.
"Catharine iz still in bed" Said the old woman in her French accent. Jewel smiled politely as the old woman knocked on Catharine's bedroom door. A snore issued from the room and Jewel had to stifle a laugh. The old woman didn't notice.
"Catharine Jewel iz 'ere" Shouted the old woman. There was the creaking of the mattress springs as Catharine moved in her bed.
"I am up Gran" came the drowsy voice of Jewels best friend behind the wooden door." Send 'er in"
The old woman moved out of the way and Jewel opened the door slowly without a creak. Catharine was sat up in bed her hair all messed up from her sleep and her eyes drooping as if she was still half asleep. Golden sunlight shone through the closed curtains but the room was still dim and a little cold. Jewel sat on the end of the bed and looked at her best friend. Catharine was a tease. That was how the guys at school described her. She was tall and thin like a fashion model with olive skin. Her eyes were large and drown and people were often drawn to them as if they were magnets and the people were pieces of metal. Her eyelashes were long and dark and she had no need for massacre or any makeup for she had natural beauty. Her hair was shoulder length and blonde.
"How was the party last night?" Asked Jewel.
"It waz fantastic" Said Catharine" Don't forget my partiee iz tonight"
"Are you sure your ready for another one so soon?" Asked Jewel giving the pretty girl a smile. Catharine rubbed her eyes, yawned and then stretched out. She pulled back the covers and Jewel saw she was dressed in a long purple nightdress that reached past her knees.
"You know me" Said Catharine with a sleepy smile" I live for ze partiee life"
"So who is coming to your party?"
"Ah ze usual people" mumbled Catharine" Amber, ze Leonard twinz, Annabelle and 'er brother Nick, Rita, Daniel, Adam, Helena, Lee and of course Scott"
"Err who?" Asked Jewel. There was no Scott's at their school that she had ever heard of and she had been there for over a year.
"Ze boy oo lives above uz" Said Catherine pointing up above her" Muved in last month. 'E iz very cute et 'e iz single"
"Cath" She said warningly to her friend.
"What?" Said Catharine shrugging" I just think it iz time you got with a boy"
"I will do that in my own time" Said Jewel.
Jewel hadn't had a boyfriend for years. She seemed to avoid boys because they scared her and the boy she had once fancied had rejected her in front of all her friend sin England. She didn't know if she was ready to date, especially American boys for they were so much different to English boys.
She waited outside Catharine's door while the girl got changed and she thought of England. She did miss it but it was nothing like New Orleans, which had old French beauty. She wouldn't leave New Orleans for all the money in the world.
She and Catharine spent the day getting ready for the party. Gran was staying at a friend's house out in the country for a few days and she had given Catharine permission for a party as long as she cleaned up the mess and made sure nothing was broken. Jewel had brought along lots of her new dance CD's and Catharine had bought lots of food like sausage rolls and crisps. Lee dropped by later with the bear and coke. Catharine hadn't told her Gran about the booze.
"Some older people might turn up" She explained when Jewel had asked why they needed so many alcoholic drinks.
At 4 o clock Jewel went home to get changed and ready for the party. It was dark outside and icy cold. Wind made her shiver in her coat and she walked fast wanting to get inside to the warmth of her apartment. She passed the ally in which the heartbreaking scene had happened and saw it was cut off with police tape clearly telling everyone it was the scene of a great crime.
She walked inside the apartment were she lived with her mother and older brother Michael. Michael was an 18-year-old guitar playing in his last year at school. His long brown curly hair was funny to her and he was strange himself spending hours in his room by himself and not talking to anyone but anyway he was a good brother. He was sat now in his favourite chair watching some old movie on TV every now and then dipping his hand into a bowl and pulling out popcorn to shove it in his mouth.
"Where is mum?" She asked as she pulled off her coat and gloves and through then over the back of the sofa.
"Out with Ricky" He said not taking his eyes off the TV. Ricky was a friend of their mums from work and he had helped their mum a lot after the death of their father 2 years ago. She thought that she had Ricky would be good together and she knew her dad would have wanted her mum to be happy. She went into her room without another word to her brother who still had his eyes glued to the TV. She quickly changed into black jeans and a black top and tied her hair back with a black srunchy. She didn't put any makeup on for she never used it. She thought it made her look stupid. She pulled on her boots and then grabbed a black denim jacket because it would be cold outside but hot were the party was. Catherine's parties were always hot.
She told her brother were she would be but he didn't say a word so she walked out of the apartment and took the lift down to the bottom floor and out onto the street. The streets were deserted which made Jewel feel a little afraid for she liked to be around people. She crossed the street and half ran half walked to Catharine's apartment, avoiding the ally were the man had died. Lee opened the door with a cool smile. He was tall with shinning blond hair that was a little long but looked good on him. His eyes were a warm brown and he was a friendly person. He was captain of all the trams at school and was very strong but he always got A's and his favourite subject was poetry. Jewel thought he was cute and liked him a lot but only as a friend.
"'Ello" He said, he had an accent a lot like Catharine's. He and Catherine had grown up together.
"Hi" She said giving a smile.
"Ze partie 'as just got going" he said and he closed the door behind her" Ow are you?"
"I'm fine just cold" She said," Where's Catherine?"
"She iz over there" he said pointing to a small group near the window. She and Lee walked together to the group of girls and boys. Catherine was chatting to Helena a pretty girl with Dark brown hair and blue eyes and pale skin.
"Oh Jewel there you are" Said Catherine." Jewel this iz Scott Redfern"
Jewel looked round to see a boy behind her that she hadn't noticed before. She was surprised she hadn't noticed him because he was the most unusual boy she had ever seen. His skin was near white and shone bright with a healthy glow. His high cheekbones and soft sensual looking lips made him look like a male model. His hair was as black as coal but his eyes, his eyes were something different. One second they looked ice blue the new violet. They seemed to change colour in different lights. The boy didn't smile or show any expression on his face. He was tall and strong looking and for some reason he made Jewel think of some powerful wolf. She didn't know why.
"Scott thiz iz Jewel" Purred Catherine" She iz inglish like you"
"Hi" Said Jewel quietly. The boy didn't say anything and Jewel thought that was rather rude. He should at least have nodded his head or acknowledged her in some way.
"Well I will just leave you two" Said Catherine and she moved away to a nother group of people. Jewel knew what she was up to by leaving her with this boy, she was going to try and get them together. Jewel looked at the boy who was looking around and had a bored look on his face. Well he really s rude, thought Jewel.
"So you live above here" She said.
"Yes" He said shortly. He did have an English accent but she couldn't place it.
"Wont your parents mind the noise? I mean the music is pretty loud and Catherine's parties normally last till 2 in the morning" Said Jewel trying to make conversation.
"they are out" He said again shortly.
"Oh" She whispered.
"Look I don't mean to be rude but I know Catherine is trying to put us together but im not interested" he said. His eyes were violet.
"I know she is always trying to fix me up with boys" She said glad that he was feeling the same as her. She wasn't interested in getting with a boy but then again this boy was good looking...no, she thought, you cant judge on looks alone. Looks alone aren't enough.
"Cant you get yourself a boy?" he asked raising his eye brow.
"Well I don't know I haven't really tried" She said truthfully" For a boy to like me and go out with me I would have to be interesting"
"How do you know your not?"
"Well I don't think boys see anything in me that they like" She said with a little laugh.
"I see something in you that I like" he said with a smile. She could have sworn for a moment that she had seen a flash of sharp teeth. Trick of light, she thought.
"Oh yeah? You don't even know me. You know nothing about me" She said.
" I know your name" he said.
"Well yeah and I know yours" she said.
"You don't know anything else about me" He said coldly. She frowned and turned away from him watching the lights of the beautiful city out of the window. She was always drawn to shinning lights of New Orleans, shinning like fireflies in the night and attracting all sorts of people to its warm glow. She was in such a day dream state looking at the lights that somebody knocked into her and sent her falling backwards straight into Scott. He fell as well caught off guard by her and now she was on top of him. Blood flooded to her cheeks and she felt them going red with embarrassment. She couldn't move.
"You wanna get off?" Asked the boy coldly. She felt someone helping her up but she wasn't concentrating on them. This boy, Scott wasn't normal. It was a feeling deep down inside that wanted to be released but she wouldn't let it, not fully. Something was bad about Scott.
"I'm sorry" She mumbled" Someone knocked me and I fell..."
"On me" he finished for her" You should be more careful. You looked in a world of your own a minute ago"
"I was" She mumbled and she looked again to the lights and felt the pull in the pit of her stomach that told her something was bad about Scott..or maybe she her period was just due.
"I was attracted to them as well" He said coming up besides her near the window and indicating the lights" Like a moth to a flame"
"Its just so beautiful" She said her eyes still glued to the lights like her brothers eyes had been glued to the TV." I love the night"
They stood for a few seconds people laughing and dancing around them but they meant nothing. The both of them couldn't see beyond the beautiful old city of New Orleans and its dazzling night-lights.
"You can come up to my garden. If you would like. We have lovely winter and night blooming flowers up there and there is a wonderful view of the city. Would you like too?" He asked.
"Oh yeah sure" She said tearing her eyes from the lights" Its getting a bit stuffy in here. Lets go"
At least he was going to get a decent meal, he thought happily. For him the evening at the party would have been pointless for he didn't like to mingle with vermin. The vermin human girl he now had at his side was dinner and nothing more. She had a small chubby face with chubby red cheeks. She had long brown hair streaked with blond. She was small compared to him but that didn't matter, there would still be enough blood in her body to satisfy him for one night.
He led her on to the roof top garden, which was bathed in moonlight. Everything glittered, covered in frost and he heard Jewel let out a gasp. The statues shone and made the garden look I but what heaven must look like, if it existed. The water fountain wasn't running because of the cold but she was still drawn to it her eyes sparkling with excitement They walked to the edge of the garden together and stopped close to the edge so that Jewel could see the shinning lights belong them and around them. She looked at him and gave him a warm smile, which he didn't return. Enjoy your last few minuets, he thought. They stood for a few minuets just looking at the city and its light and then Jewel turned to look at the garden.
"You know looking at all this just makes me think that magic is real, that its all real. I know its sounds crazy but I just believe there is something out there that we don't understand, some kind of magic that's in the heart and soul of every living being. This garden makes me feel strange" She said her eyes large and twinkling.
"Do you know what I feel?" he asked mysteriously.
"What?"
"Hungry" he snarled.
She let out a loud scream as he moved towards her flashing his fangs at her. For now he was feeding on her terror, the fear he could see in her eyes. She moved backwards. It didn't matter if she screamed or shouted for help, nobody would hear her. He was going to have himself a good meal. She carried on backing up her face a mask of terror and then she let out another scream as she fell backwards over the edge of the building. Almost without thinking he darted forwards and grabbed her wrist stopping her from falling.
White lights surrounded him. All he could see was white light and then Jewel and himself surrounded by the mystical white lights.
Oh my God, what's going on
It was Jewel voice but he knew she hadn't really said it, she had thought it. Still surrounded by white lights he managed to pull Jewel up over the side and she landed on her feet beside him. He let go at once and the light disappeared. There was still a strange humming sound in his ears but his vision was back to normal and he saw he was still standing in the garden. Jewel looked at him for a moment and then took off towards the fire escape stairs. He took off after her but she was fast but he knew he was faster. He was sure not to grab her bare skin this time.
"What did you do to me?" he asked.
"Get off me" She cried and she tried to pull her arm away but he held it tight his fingers digging into it and she struggled to pull it away.
"What did you do to me?" He repeated his anger rising in him.
"I didn't do anything!" She screamed," You just tried to kill me"
"I saved your life!" he snarled," If it wasn't for me you would have fallen to your death"
"If you hadn't have scared me I wouldn't have fallen!" She screamed" You're a monster!"
He looked at her for a moment but still held on to her tight to stop her escaping. He didn't know what had just happened but he knew he didn't like it and wanted it gone. She couldn't have done it though, she wasn't a witch from what he could sense. Her blood wasn't hot enough for witches' blood.
"Do not tell anyone what you have just seen. If they find out, your dead."
"Why do you care.you just nearly killed me" she whispered.
"Listen this is very important" he said pulling on her arm" You cannot tell anyone what you have just witnessed. Go home, I will contact you soon"
"What you're letting me go?" She asked a puzzled look coming over her face.
"For now" he said quickly" But if I heard you have said anything I will have to kill you. It's the law"
"What law?"
"It doesn't matter now, go," he said letting go of her. It seemed she didn't need to be told twice and she ran off down the fire escape stairs out of site. He sighed his mind buzzing with questions. What had just happened? Was she fully human? Would it happen if he touched her bare skin again? He pondered these things as he stood on top of the garden looking over the city a funny feeling through his body and mind and a nagging question. Was that the soulmate connection? No, he thought, that is some stupid tale that vampires fell for. Well not him. He walked over to the edge and looked down at the ally below him. He could smell drugs on the air and he saw a little unshaven man down in the ally. Scott smiled to himself. St least he would get to eat tonight, and with that he jumped down from the top of the building and landed on his feet in front of the frightened man. The man jumped and looked Scott, his unshaven pale face and watery eyes full of fear. Scott snarled horribly and then lunged at the man who didn't have a chance and grabbed his neck and sank his fangs into it. The hot blood gushed from the wound into his mouth and Scott drank deeply. This was the only life for him and no one, not even a girl would take it from him.
*~*~*~*~*~*
1 week later
Jewel and her bother sat watching the 6 o clock news on the TV in silence. Mad thoughts ran through Jewel's head, as there was another report of a body found in New Orleans drained of its blood. The media obviously thought it was some sort of psycho killer but she, she knew different. She knew the truth but the truth filled her will terror and she knew she couldn't tell anyone the truth, not even her own family. The boy, monster, whatever he was that had been about to attack her had done it, all of it. She had to tell someone, she had to stop it she had to but yet she couldn't. The boy had said that if she breathed a word she would die and she imagined he wouldn't just stop at her. He would kill her family and everyone who had touched her life. She had to find the monster herself and make him stop; she couldn't just wait around doing nothing.
She told her brother she was going out for a walk, and he warned her to stay in a well-populated place, but she knew where she was going. Straight to the monster itself to get some answers to the questions running through her mind again and again. The night was cold and everywhere she looked Christmas lights flashed in all colours and trees were placed in shop windows. Big sign's everywhere wishing everyone a merry Christmas. Yeah right merry Christmas this is gonna be with all these deaths. She was quite tempted to turn back, go home and call the police. What if he attacked her? What if he killed her this time?
She stopped just outside the block of apartments where Catharine and the monster lived. If he had touched Catharine or her grandmother she would kill him, she would find a way to kill him even if he killed her. She took in a deep breath of cool night air and plucked up the courage to enter the building and take the lift up to the top floor. She knocked on the door softly 3 times knowing very well he would hear her and he would come. The door opened and Jewel came face to face with a pale fresh skinned looking woman with raven black hair and eyes like...her son. This had to be Scott's mother. The chances were she was a monster to.
"Yes what can I do for you?" She asked. Her voice wasn't anything Jewel expected it to be. It sounded like a soft caring voice not one of a monster.
"Erm is Scott home?" She asked awkwardly.
"Who are you?"
"Oh my names Jewel" She said quickly. The woman looked at her for a moment her eyes passing over her face and then resting on her own eyes. She stared back trying to hold back the fear.
"Just a moment. I will go get him. Come in" She said opening the door wider for her to enter. She did and closed the door behind her. She was in the home of the monster. She had to be on her guard for she could be attacked at any moment. The apartment living room was large with a large black leather sofa and two leather armchairs. A TV stood near the window turned off and the window itself was open and cold night air drifting in. The room was a little cold but not as cold as it was outside. She heard the click of a door being opened and she turned and saw the monster. He was dressed in leather pants and a black shirt. He wore a leather jacket.
"Lets go out for a walk," he said harshly. His mother was behind him a puzzled look on her pale face. Jewel nodded and headed towards the door and Scott held it open for her.
"I will be back soon mum," he said and then he shut the door. As soon as he had she felt rough hand grab her and pin her to the wall. She banged her head hard and pain ran up her neck and into her brain, which throbbed.
"What do you mean by coming here.to my home, to my mother? " He snarled in her ear. She opened he eyes and saw his blurred leather out line and she let out a groan. She felt the hands let go and she saw the blurred figure step back. She rubbed her eyes until they became less blurred. He stood in front of her his pale face full of fury and his deadly eyes burning into her. She put a hand to the back of her head and rubbed then looked at her hand. No blood, that was good.
"What are you doing here?" he asked angrily.
"I had to..find out why all the killings?" She said" I had to come I couldn't stay at home any longer knowing what you were doing. I had to try and stop you"
He let out a nasty laugh and then looked at her again.
"You cant stop me" he sneered" A little girl like you is no match for me. Humans are weak and pathetic. We are the only race worth living. Your nothing but food. I don't even know how you can pull that weak worthless body around and call it living, we are the only ones truly alive"
He walked away quickly and she had no choice but to follow him. She was a little shaky on her feet and she almost feel once or twice but stopped herself from falling in time. When they reached the ground floor they walked out and down the street. She had no idea where he was going. He stopped at one point for a few seconds and closed his eyes. They were near the park and Jewel could see the entrance. Nobody was around.
"In there" he said and he crossed the road and walked into the park as she followed. They walked to a group of trees and the Jewel could hear laughing. Somebody was having fun and it was the laugh of both a man and a woman. She looked up and saw Scott had disappeared from her side. Now was her chance to run but she couldn't just leave him to kill the people. She walked through the trees and spotted him standing at a wooden bench in front of a man and woman. The man was older then she and Scott and the woman was only a little older then Jewel with a cute childish face, the skin glowing in the nearby lamp light.
"Hey man what do you want? You want money? I can give it to you I have loads" Came the frightened voice of the man.
"No I don't want your money" sneered Scott" I want your life and hers"
There was a loud snarling sound as Scott jumped on the woman before the man or Jewel could stop him or say anything. The woman screamed and it rung through the park making the sleeping birds from nearby trees twitter and fly away. Scott was now sucking the life force, the blood, from the woman like some kind of evil monster..like a vampire. That was the only way she describe him with his glowing eyes, his teeth and his strength.
Then after he had taken his fill with the woman he jumped on the man and Jewel gasped for she could actually see his fangs ripping at the flesh at the throat of the man. She started walking back and stumbled not wanting to see anymore not wanting to know anymore. When the man had stopped struggling Scott let go and walked over to her. Having stumbled she had fallen and was now on the floor and she tried to get but she couldn't for the fear pounding through her body. He was going to kill her now.
"The blood is what I crave its what I live on. You kill animals doesn't that make you just as bad us? We are better then you, a breed capable of more than your pathetic weak human vermin brain could understand" He snarled" So what if we kill them. Why do you care?"
"Because its wrong that's why!" She cried. She pulled herself up of the floor and stood in front of him her body shaking with fear and anger. Vermin? She'd show him vermin.
"What's so wrong about it? Survival of the fittest that's the way it has always been in this world" He sneered.
He had gotten her there. She knew the words he spoke were true but then she remembered something. If he was a vampire then he had to have been turned which means he had to have been human.
"You were human once, you had to have been for you to become a vampire" she said" Your killing what you used to be and what part of you is still inside. That's why you let me go that night. The human in you couldn't kill me after what happened between us. The connection"
"Oh don't tell me you believe all that Anne Rice crap about having to be made a vampire and vampires having human feelings. That is fiction this is real life" he said darkly" and that connection was just a one off. For all I know it could have been some dark spell. The witches are all around us, everywhere and you never know when they are about to strike"
"So are you gonna blabber on all night or kill me?" She asked. He looked at her for a moment his dark eyes glittering angrily.
"Neither" he said quietly.
Jewel heard a soft moaning sound coming from somewhere nearby. She looked towards the bodies on the man and the woman and she noticed the woman had groaned and moved and it was as if she was waking from a deep sleep. The man next to her she could see was breathing and the blood was still flowing from the wound on his neck. She looked at Scott who grinned wickedly.
"Is this some kind of sick twisted vampire joke?" She demanded.
"No.. i don't have to kill to feed and the only ones I've killed in this city so far was the two drug dealers" he said" Something else is here something much worse then me and you better watch out when it comes for you"
With that he took off into the night before she could stop him and she was left in the park with the man and the woman who were passing in and out of consciousness. She slipped away from the scene, not wanting to be found with a man and a woman who had their throats ripped out and she called for an ambulance at the first pay phone she found. After that she started to walk home, not wanting to be questioned when the police came.
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Scott watched the scene from above, on a tall building near the park where he had attacked the vermin. She girl, jewel, had took off as soon as she had called the ambulance and now he could see the vermin on stretchers and the police looking around for clues. They wouldn't find any that pointed to him, he was always careful with his work so that he never got caught. He had only ever been caught once and by no other than a slayer.
London 1920
Scott walked quickly down the street not looking back. He knew he was being followed, followed by a slayer none the less. A young girl who wanted to stake him in the heart and chop of his head. Well he wouldn't give her the chance; he would fight to the death. Being only 18 years old he felt he was not reedy to go yet and he doubted he would ever be ready to go. He liked what he was and he enjoyed doing what he did.
He pushed past people trying to find some deserted ally so the slayer would attack and he could kill her without trouble, without vermin interfering like vermin did. The ally was dark and deserted with slushy snow running along it. The snow would be red b the time he had finished with the slayer. She came as he knew she would, trying to creep up on him but it didn't work he was ready for.
She stood at the end of the ally dagger in hand eyes glinting madly. She was pretty for a human with fair skin and red lips. Her hair was brown and bushy. She pounced at him like a great hunting cat. He blocked her by kicking her off course and she hit the wall and dropped the knife. This was just to easy. He darted forwards and grabbed the knife, which was wooden for metal could not kill a vampire.
"You stupid girl" He sneered" This kill is to easy"
"Its not as easy as you think" She panted and she jumped up and ran at him at top speed. She pummelled him with all her strength and he had to admit it did hurt his lip was bleeding and he though a rid was broken. She had made him angry and no human wanted to be around when he was angry. He kicked her in the stomach sending her backwards and hitting a trashcan. The knife was on the floor again, him having dropped it and as he darted for it again she was too fast for him and she garbed it ad sunk it into his arm. He screamed in pain as his dark red blood gushed out of the wound and into the snow. It was his blood that had made the snow red, not hers. She would pay for it. He pulled the dagger out his fangs had sharpened through his pain and his mind and heart was ready for the kill. The girl was running at him ready to hit him some more but he grabbed her and sunk the dagger straight into her heart.
He let go of her and she fell to the floor blood pouring from the wound like an everlasting flowing river. She gagged and spluttered as she lay dying. She coughed up blood and she looked up at him with soft pleading eyes as if to say finish it quickly and let me be at peace. Of course he didn't he watched her a cruel smile on his face as she died in front of him in that ally. He pulled the dagger from her heart, which made a squelching noise and wiped it on her coat and placed it in his pocket. He would use it on the next slayer he came against. He left the body to rot in the ally.
The memory ended and Scott was drawn back to the present time. He felt in his jacket pocket and pulled out the wooden dagger, which he had meant to use on Jewel. He hadn't, he had let her go but he had no idea why. Mad thoughts ran threw his mind about the soulmate principle. He had heard a vampire talk about it and describe it once long ago but it was stupid. There was no such thing as soulmates let alone human vermin ones. He was a lone creature of the night and he would stay that way to the end of time.
The man and woman he had attacked were gone now and only the police and a few bystanders were left down below. He could fly down now and take them all if he wanted to, he had the power to do it and he was ruthless enough to do it but something stopped him.
"Well if it isn't my dear cousin" came the voice that he had not heard in 3 years. He turned and saw Ash standing in the moonlight a queer smile on his face" Still up to your old tricks I see"
"What are you doing here?" Snarled Scott.
"I'm here because of you" said Ash not moving" I came out the girl, the girl you have the connection with what was her name.."
"Jewel"
"Yes that's it. She is your Soulmate"
"Don't be so stupid. I should kill you now for the shame you have brought on the family with all that soulmate crap"
"Oh yeah" A dark look came over ash's face" Try it"
Scott charged at Ash but someone, a dark figure jumped in front of Ash and hit Scott over the head with something large and heavy. It must have been made of wood for the pain pounded through his head and his eyes watered.
"I thought I said you should stay out the way and I should talk to him alone first, after all he is my cousin" Scott heard Ash say.
"I'm sorry but after what we saw down there I had a great desire to hit him," Said a female voice. Scott looked up and saw a girl totally dressed in black with long dark hair and green eyes like a cats. She had smooth pale skin but was human. She was a slayer.
"Let me guess" Said Scott" This is your soulmate"
"Well no actually this is Quinn's soulmate Rashel" Said Ash" Mary Lynette is back at Thierry's place"
"What are human scum doing at Thierry's place?"
For that comment he received a sharp kick in the head from Rashel. His head pounded again but not as much as the time before for no wood was used. He spat out blood and then looked at Rashel.
"Sorry" She said giving a sweet smile" We are not scum. Its vampires like you who are scum. Vampires who wont see the truth when it's right in front of them"
"Truth? What truth?" Demanded Scott spitting out more blood. It now run down the front of his jacket. He would make that bitch of a slayer pay and he would kill her with his dagger.
"The truth that you have a connection with Jewel and that you both belong with circle daybreak" Said Rashel.
"I will die before I join your hippie group!" he roared and with that he ran at the girl Rashel. He hit her in the face and she fell back but recovered quickly and kicked him in the stomach. Ash came behind him and hit him round the head with the wooden object. Scott backed off in pain.
"There is no need to fight. You need to come with us along with Jewel for you have a big part to play, it has been seen in a vision by a seer."
"I will never come with you!" He shouted.
"If you don't you die. It's coming for you" Said Ash darkly.
"What what's coming?"
"The slayers. Stronger then you could ever imagine and ready to kill you. We tried to get them into circle daybreak but they just wouldn't listen so now they kill nightworld people and you're their next target. Come with us and you will be safe"
Scott thought about this. He didn't want to die but yet he didn't want to go with his cousin the traitor and the slayer Rashel but it looked like he had no choice.
"Ok ill go with you but first you have to speak with Jewel"
End of part 1
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