I Really Believed That This Time It's Forever
"I'm so glad you came I'm so glad you remembered to see how we're ending our last dance together
expectant too punctual but prettier than ever, I really believed that this time it's forever...:
~ Last Dance, The Cure
(AJ's POV)
The taste of sipping sweet champagne from flutes while confetti rains down and people sing Auld Lang Syne is enough to make some people wish the moment would last forever. But times change, people age and join those we can't physically see anymore. And yet there are some...different individuals, where although time continues, it appears they themselves stay frozen, stuck at a certain age and appearance.
And New Year's is prime hunting time, when alcohol makes for vulnerable, unsuspecting victims and the chaos of a chase can be kept under wraps due to the celebration all around.
New Year's Eve was just like any other night for the blonde, as she hurried from bar to bar, looking for the someone that would make the year worthwhile. She knew tonight was decided, her horoscope had said this was the year love would find her before she would it.
What she didn't expect however, was that it would present itself in the form of the monster she despised most.
As she went to walk into the back door of a bar a friend owned, a strong hand grabbed her arm and another went over her mouth, pulling her into the shadows before she realized she was pinned against the wall. Against the glare of the streetlights, Adeline could see her captor wasn't the typical Chicago vampire scum. No, it was just her luck she'd been grabbed by a Dandie.
The vampire that held her wore a grey gentleman's suit, with a darker grey frock coat, a black derby covering shoulder length wavy dark brown locks. She sighed, automatically closing her eyes, having heard rumors of the mental abilities possessed by such vampires, if you looked into their eyes you were as good as dead.
She felt his hands grab her wrists, and he leaned into her, lips brushing against her cheek.
"Open your eyes, love. The New Year hasn't yet arrived, you simply shouldn't feign sleep now," he coaxed, kissing along her jaw, noticing she hadn't moved, wasn't fighting him.
"I know your type. And you don't scare me, Dandie." Adeline said stoically, keeping her eyes shut, only really trying to see if she could get him mad.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, you think you're all so...gentlemanly with those suits and hats, but you're no better than the punks and other Chicago scum, trapping girls like me in an alleyway. Why don't you just bite me already?"
"Well my dear, you've already proven yourself different from the rest," one hand let go of her wrist, instead it went to turn her chin to face him as he continued, "And it's not just by you not resisting. You're..." She almost shuddered as she felt the vampire lay a kiss in her hair, before she realized he was smelling it, "Not human, although you aren't like me. How I'd love to change that. Come on, dear, just open your eyes. Let me see the color, they're bound to be a beautiful as the rest of you."
Reluctantly Adeline complied, finding herself staring into deep brown eyes. And like that, not two seconds later, she acted. It was easy enough to flip the situation around, and although the vampire was maybe a foot taller than her, she was able to get him on the ground.
She smiled at the man as she straddled him, leaning down to use his own tactic against him. Kissing his cheek, she giggled, reaching for one of his arms.
"Now, for a Dandie, you don't put up much of a fight Or maybe you're just letting this girl win because you're gonna send the rest of your boys after me. Well, I'd like to see them try." And with that, she winked, before opening her mouth and biting into his wrist.
Her bite didn't hurt, but he had to admit it stung slightly at first. William closed his eyes.
How the hell had this happened? He'd grabbed the blonde thinking she'd be easy, a few soft words and he'd drain enough to get his fill, still leaving her alive, and yet here that girl was, more or less taking her fill from him.
When she finally pulled away, she smiled.
"Thought so. You're the oldest of them, there's just something in your blood that's making me want more, but I want to drive you crazy enough to come get me."
William raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by how she knew just who he was, but was too lethargic to do much more than blink.
"And just so you know," the girl whispered, her lips at his ear, "You're the best so far. And here's hoping you find me and complete the puzzle before I move on."
She giggled again, kissing his forehead before getting up and picking up the derby that had fallen during the tussle.
Setting it on her head, she turned and looked back at him.
"The name's Adeline Jeanette Winters. And I wouldn't suggest you forget that, Dandie."
(Amelia's POV)
Amelia kept glancing at the clock nervously. It was almost midnight and AJ wasn't back yet. Where was she? Though AJ had a pretty good sense of judgment and would know when to leave, Amelia didn't trust the other creatures that lived in Chicago.
Just as she was about to call AJ, she stumbled in the door, looking slightly buzzed, a goofy smile plastered on her face.
"Where the hell were you?" she demanded as AJ flopped down on the couch next to her, the hat on her head coming off.
"I met a guy," was all she had to say before Amelia went off on her.
"AJ, what the hell were you thinking? You know how dangerous it is around here. And have you been drinking?"
AJ rolled her eyes, bending to pick up the hat, "Jeeze, Mom, I told you where I was going before I left. Calm down," she replied sarcastically.
Amelia stood up and took her plates to the kitchen.
"Well, excuse me for actually giving a damn about your safety. Happy fucking New Year," Amelia said as she walked to her room and slammed the door.
AJ sighed. She didn't understand her friend sometimes. Casting that out of her mind, her thoughts returned to the mysterious man she had met tonight, who's hat still was on her head.
No doubt her challenge would be answered, and with it, the adventure needed to kick the year off.