Vampire Kisses fanfiction
PLASTIC PROMISES
Claude Sterling/OC: Madeline Torrent

Chapter 01.

The black sky blanketed the busy downtown streets of what a frequent tourist liked to call "Hipsterville." Tall buildings shielded the streets from the twinkling stars, but the large moon still found a way to shed its light down on the crowded streets. Hipsterville was bustling with many different night owls, either on business or seeking entertainment. Neon open signs and bright street lamps lit the roads while city slickers strutted the sidewalks.

Four dark figures hid away in an alley, watching the human night owls. Each one licked their lips at the appetizing sight of the crowds of humans.

"Finding one to your liking?" asked one of the figures to their leader. He peered over his glasses to gaze at the lip-ringed vampire.

"They all are appetizing," he replied with a grin, now running his tongue over his fangs. "Perhaps one or two would do it for me."

"I'm so thirsty I can drain a whole pool full of humans," grumbled the only female of the group, filing her long black nails and examining them.

"It's alright, babe. We'll get you something to eat," gushed her brawny boyfriend.

Claude Sterling stepped into the moonlight, crossing his arms and eyeing passers-by. His vinyl jacket shined in the light, his lip ring glistening. He was strapping in a torn metal band t-shirt, red skinny jeans, and combat boots, at least to any goth girl he was. His hair blew in the light gusts of wind, the natural black color streaking through the dyed blonde from his roots. He charmed poseur vamp chicks with his cunning smile and dark brown orbs.

Kat came up from behind him, her arms also crossed. With a pixie cut hairstyle and a dead fairylike dress, she appeared sultry and seductive. That wasn't all she was though. Kat was practically as dangerous as the white-haired, mismatching-eyed Jagger Maxwell. She was also Claude's right-hand girl.

Rocco came into view immediately afterwards, as is large arms were secured around his girlfriend's tiny waist. His dark shaggy hair was topped with a black knit cap, and he donned a tight shirt that exposed his build and torn skinny jeans.

Tripp followed up the rear in his white button-down shirt and black tie ensemble. He pulled his glasses down further on the bridge of his nose while techno punk music blasted from his iPod.

"Ready for a night of hunting, gentlemen?" announced Claude, taking a deep breath. Kat cleared her throat. "Sorry. And lady?"

"Let's just get something to eat," said Kat with an eye roll. They stepped out into the street and began stalking.

They caught a couple of mindless wanderers and fed. It had been a year since Claude's goody-two-shoe cousin Alexander had given them the vampire blood to make him and his gang full vampires. Before Alexander had given him the small bottle, he made Claude promise that he wouldn't hurt anybody with his new powers. Alexander wanted Claude to become a "true" Sterling. The Sterlings were the nicest and harmless vampires, and they were all full-blooded. If Claude wanted to become a full vampire too, he'd have to go by the Sterling rules. Claude had agreed and shared the blood amongst his friends.

But ever since Claude and his gang had become full vampires, they've had nothing but cravings for fresh blood, exactly what Alexander had not wanted. They lasted perhaps a couple of months before beginning to hunt humans to feed on.

Claude knew that Alexander would catch them, so he and his friends flew to the next town over, Hipsterville. The downtown location was perfect for the nightly crew as there were many of snacks they could choose from that wandered the night. Unlike Raven's town ("Dullsville", she called it), nobody slept during the night in Hipsterville.

They walked down the street further down town. After all that they'd drank, they needed to walk it all off. The streets down here were becoming less busy and the some of the street lamps were buzzed out. Not so many neon signs brightened the way, either, but it didn't really matter because the moon shone much brighter on this side of Hipsterville. And it really helped that their vision was so clear in the dark.

The crew lingered around another alley to relax.

"I'm surprised your cousin hasn't come to chew us out about abusing our powers," said Kat, examining her nails again. Rocco scoffed.

"He's probably too busy with his gothic Playboy girl," Rocco said. Tripp snickered, but Claude merely shook his head.

"Nah. Alexander's not like that. He's too sissy to go that far out of wedlock," he said.

"So true," muttered Kat with an eye roll. "Alexander may be gorgeous, but he's too uptight. He seriously needs to learn how to let loose." Rocco narrowed his eyes. The memory of his current girlfriend and Alexander being together made his edgy.

"That's why you're not dating him now," said Rocco, pressing Kat close to him. She grinned and laid her head on his chest, looking up at him.

"I know."

"Gag much. TMR," said Tripp, pulling out his high-tech cell phone to text.

"TMR?" Rocco repeated.

"Too much romance," explained Tripp. Kat rolled her eyes.

"Leave the chat speech to your cell phone, Tripp."

Claude was too busy watching a particular building to input anything on the others' conversation. He'd seen something stir through one of the windows. It wasn't a tall building; perhaps one story with a high ceiling or two stories. He was curious as to know who would be out here all the way at the end of Hipsterville. Were they alone? Were they human?

Suddenly, the figure walked out through the glass doors and began walking their directions. A smile played on Claude's pierced lips.

"Hey guys, ready for dessert?" he asked coyly. Kat, Rocco, and Tripp immediately stopped chatting and followed Claude's gaze. Their eyes landed on a girl, thin and curvy with long black hair and dark blue eyes. She's was miles away, but their much improved eyesight helped distinguish her features from afar. Tripp licked his lips.

"You always find the best ones, Claude," he complimented. Claude's grinned turn to mischief as he too ran his tongue over his lips, grazing his lip ring.

"Changed my mind. This one's for me," he said softly. Kat glared.

"You included us all to feed from her. Why are you being so selfish?" she sneered.

"Can it, Kat. You're capable of finding your own prey," Claude snapped. Rocco glared.

"Back off, Claude," he growled. Claude glared back.

"Going to beat me up, Rocco? You do remember what happened last time you all tried attacking me," Claude reminded. Rocco stepped back and breathed heavily through his nose. Claude didn't even take one last look at his disappointed friends as he slinked through the dark towards his new snack. A little charm should do the trick. Have her fall for him then take a bite. That was the way to feed.

Claude reappeared leaning against a wall more near where the girl was. He wondered why she was walking alone, especially at night. He noticed her forehead glistened with sweat, her black hair pulled up into a messy ponytail and her side bands pinned up out of her face. She was dressed in what looked like exercising clothes. Was the building she'd come out of a gym?

He grinned at her when she looked his way. She really was beautiful, even covered in perspiration. Her blue eyes were big and she had the cutest little nose. He liked how her ears were decorated with studs and small hoops. He was definitely a piercings kind of guy. But the more he looked at her, the more he realized he didn't want to drink from her, only he couldn't figure out why. His grin gradually began to drop. The girl looked at him curiously as she passed him and Claude felt a sinking feeling in his gut. When he returned to the alley, Kat exploded on him.

"So you point out a lonely human walking about and suggest we drink from her. Then you decide to get greedy and keep her for yourself. And then you just let said human walk away without so much as baring your fangs at her. What in the world is wrong with you?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air and getting up in his face. Rocco had to pull back on her arms before she bit Claude's face off.

"I decided I wasn't hungry anymore," Claude said sheepishly. Kat only growled at him.

"That's so pathetic! Why couldn't you just share?" she exclaimed. Claude glared at her.

"Drop it, Kat," he hissed, baring his fangs at her. He was suddenly inches from her face, his eyes piercing hers. Kat rolled her eyes and stormed off up the street. Rocco followed her fast on her heels, glancing back at Claude, but not with a glare. Tripp sighed and pushed his glasses up.

"She'll get over it," he said.

"I know. She's probably PMS-ing," scoffed Claude, crossing his arms.

He soon drifted off into thought of the girl he was about to feed on. Why had he found her so captivating? She wasn't anything like him. Other than the mass selection of ear piercings, she was just a regular girl. No heavy make-up, no dark clothing, no gothic tattoos. And she was human. That was the big part. However it wasn't his first time falling for a human. He'd been attracted to his cousin's girlfriend back when he had been searching for the blood vials of his baroness grandmother. But even then he didn't exactly have feelings for Raven. She was cute and he wouldn't mind biting her as a fling, but not for eternity. But when he looked at that girl, there was something about her that made his heart beat rapidly.

Claude closed his eyes tightly and pressed his palm to his forehead, tangling his fingers through his hair. He couldn't get her face out of his mind! Why couldn't she disappear? She was just a human, a blood bag, a snack.

"Claude?" Tripp's puzzled voice tore Claude from his mental images of the unnamed girl, but he could still see flashes of her curious blue eyes. He shook his head and turned to his friend.

"I'm fine. Let's go somewhere busy, like that club up the street," Claude suggested. Tripp grinned.

"Good idea. The Dungeon is a good spot for kids like us," he said. Claude nodded in agreement and they started up the hill after Rocco and Kat, the girl with the big blue eyes never leaving Claude's mind once.