The wind rustles through the leaves as I walk through the empty streets, it's a cold night, it's about to snow, but I am are not cold, I haven't been cold for a long time.
I stumbled through the alleyways and felt the water starting to seep through the fabric of my shoes and socks, but I don't care, my feet are already cold.
I stumble on to a university campus, the campus security man sees me but doesn't do anything, I suppose I look enough like a slightly drunk college student. My hair is tussled by the wind, my arms fold around me protectively, but I don't know whether it's to protect myself or other people around me.
I'm hungry, so hungry.
I fall asleep under a tree.
When I wake the sun is already up, there are people moving around, walking through campus, carefree, as carefree as you can be in college. I've never been to college. I couldn't go to college where I am from. Les femmes ne sont pas faites pour étudier. But I was always curious, so I read and studied on my own.
Being here would suit me.
I walked into the main office, people stared, but I stopped caring long ago. The register office was empty, it is after all mid-semester. "Bonjour, I would like to register."
The short, young man looked up at me from his mountain of paperwork, "The semester is already half over Ms.…"
"Cormier, Delphine Cormier." I shook the hand he extended.
"Wow you're cold." He rubbed his hands together, "Sorry, I'm Scott, nice to meet you." He took a file from a drawer by his desk. "Fill this form. I can't promise you can start this semester, but I'll see what I can do Ms. Cormier."
"Please, call me Delphine." I practically purred at him. I was so hungry and I was getting desperate.
I filled the form, when I reached the box asking what degree I am studying for, I checked PhD. The amount of books I've studied about this subject, the amount of articles I've read, I knew enough to get it.
"Awesome." He smiled a big toothy smile, "What were your grades?"
I leaned over the counter and looked him straight in the eye, I could feel the heat building behind my eyes, as if a ray of sun was shining into it, I could see him slightly slouch before me, turning into putty. "What does it matter? I excelled, I finished top of my class, oui?"
He nodded and wrote it down. "I think we're good to go." He smiled at me again and placed the form on a big pile. "We'll have an answer soon."
I smiled at him again, "merci." I left without another word, knowing I was already in. Next semester I will start school at The University of Minnesota.
The first night after I registered I started touring the campus, frat boys and co-eds walked around, some slightly drunk, some slightly high.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." A young woman said as she bumped into me, her books scattered on the snowy pathway. Her black rimmed glasses slipped down her nose when she bent to pick them up.
"No, I didn't see where I was going, I am so sorry." I helped her pick them up.
She stood up and straightened her glasses, "Hi, I'm Cosima." She extended her hand.
"Delphine, Enchantee."
"Enchantee." She grinned at me. She had the most adorable smile. "You're new here, aren't you?"
"How do you know?"
"You look lost. Keep looking around." Her voice was full of life, powerful and enchanting.
"Yes, I came here yesterday, I start school next semester."
"Oh, cool. What's your major?"
"Immunology."
"Cool, I'm Evo-Devo."
Apparently I looked puzzled. She laughed, "Evolutionary development." I realized.
"Yes, you look so cute when you're confused." If I could blush, I probably would.
"Well, merci. It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope I can see you soon?"
"Yeah, ditto, obvs." She grinned at me again, "I should probably go home anyways, my sister will get worried."
She waved at me as she walked away from campus, her books held tight against her chest. She was a beautiful sight and seemed like a kind and gentle soul. I suppose I found a new friend.
The next morning I woke under the same tree. My joints were stiff and I was the hungriest I've been in a long time. I knew I shouldn't have prevented myself from feeding for so long, but I didn't want to fill the loss of control.
A drunk frat boy wobbled beside me, he reeked of alcohol and drugs, "Hey beautiful." He slurred. I rolled my eyes, I guess he will do.
"Allo." I smiled at him flirtatiously.
He stumbled closer, "Do you wanna go somewhere?" He raised his brow. Wow cocky.
I took his hand and let him stagger behind me as I walked to a secluded alleyway.
"Ooh, kinky." He breathed in my ear as I pressed him against the filthy brick wall.
"You have no idea." I murmured into his neck. The smell was all around me. I didn't plan to kill him, and I prayed to god that I would have the strength to keep this boy alive, even if he was an imbécile.
My teeth pierced his neck smoothly, the blood gushing into my mouth and filling me with warmth and life, it felt so good. I could hardly stop myself, but I had to, I could not kill this boy, he had a future, a life to lead. I reluctantly drew my teeth, the puncture wounds in his neck sealing themselves as I licked them. He wobbled a bit more. I was no longer hungry.
I looked him in the eyes, he blinked dumbly, "You will not remember anything of what happened now, you never saw me, and you will stop drinking so much, it is not good for you." He nodded, "You will now go home, sleep and take an iron supplement when you wake up." He nodded again, "Oh, and one last thing, merci." I kissed him on the cheek and walked away. I haven't felt so alive in a while.
I moved into an old apartment near campus, I needed a place to live, I couldn't stay under the tree. I bought some new clothes, I've long ago learned not to get attached to people or objects, I will just have to leave them when I run away.
I guess it's ironic that a creature like me is in danger, after all I'm a predator, but even a strong predator can encounter a stronger one, that is the way the food chain works, no one is truly the strongest, even the apex can encounter a strong enough foe.
I walked out of my apartment and ran into a short, solid woman, "oh, I am so sorry." I helped the woman pick the groceries that rolled out her paper bag.
"Yeah, I guess I should have been looking were I was going." The woman had a British accent, her voice was a little harsh, as if she was used to being attacked.
I finally raised my gaze to look at her, she looked like Cosima, the woman I met on campus the day before. "Have we met?" I handed her the bag.
"I don't think so." She took the bag from my outstretched arms.
I heard someone stomping up the stairs, "Damn it Sarah, you left me with the heavier bag, again." She finally reached the floor, she caught my gaze and smiled, her teeth peeking slightly over rosy lips, her eyes lighting up as if she was genuinely happy to see me, "Hi Delphine, what are you doing here?"
"I just moved in to this apartment." I gestured at the door behind me.
"Oh, cool, we're neighbors then." She smiled even wider, her eyes crinkling slightly behind her glasses. "Oh, this is my sister Sarah, we live right next door to you." She waved her arm around, in the general area of the apartment next to mine.
"It's nice to meet you Sarah." I shook her hand. She smiled at me tensely.
"Yeah, you too." She turned to her sister, "come on Cos, your damn eskimo pies are melting." She fished her keys out of her leather jacket and opened the heavy metal door. Cosima waved and smiled at as she followed her sister into the neat looking apartment. "I have to pick up Kira soon." I heard Sarah mumble before she closed the door.
I stood there for a moment, deep in thought. After a few minutes I started descending down the stairs again.
When my new home came into view I spotted Cosima leaning against the brick wall and smoking, "Hallo Cosima, how are you?"
"Hey." She smiled at me.
I stopped near her and fished a cigarette out of my coat pocket. I lit it and took a long drag. "It was a pleasure meeting your sister."
"Yeah, she's cool. I love living with her. But I'm not allowed to smoke in the apartment." At the end she whined a little, I've never heard anything as adorable.
"Well, if you want to smoke, you can always come to my place and we can smoke together, oui?"
She smiled at me, "I don't really mind smoking out here. It gives me time for myself. But it is getting pretty cold, so I would totally love to."
"Well I would love to have you come over. You could come up now if you'd like."
She smiled and nodded, "Let's go then." She took my hand in hers and dragged me up the stairs. I've never felt a similar sensation, it's as if the moment our hands touched a spark of electricity passed through my entire body, I wanted to feel it again.
She looked around, checking my barely furnished flat, she moved with purpose, her mind running and her eyes wandering.
"It's very neat." She said.
"I like to know where everything is." I took her coat, "Please sit. Would you like something to drink?"
She sat on a couch and smiled at me, "I would like some tea please." She laughed a bit.
"I will be right back." I walked to the small kitchen area. It's not like I needed to cook.
I handed her a steaming mug, "Ooh, it tastes good."
"That was not a cigarette, was it?" I already knew the answer, I could smell the pot she consumed.
"Nope." She giggled. I smiled and sat next to her, "you smell really good." she placed her hand on my knee. I swallowed hard as she inched closer, to be honest she smelled really good as well. She was very pretty, full of life and amazingly bright.
"I don't think this is a good idea." I said, but I didn't move away.
I could feel her hot breath on my face, I had to stop her, but I didn't want to. Her lips were so sweet, full and warm. I placed my hand on her cheek, her warmth flooding me. I've been on this earth for over 200 years, and I've never felt so alive, this woman made me feel human again, and I loved it.