Part 2

A few days later …

It was past nine o'clock when Tom finally walked through the flat door, feeling very much like a zombie. The newsroom had been hectic, and Tom had hardly been able to sit down since his lunch break. He didn't even understand why it had been livelier than a beehive today, but all he cared about now was that he was home, and Sybil would be here with something saved for dinner. They were both used to late nights, her even more than he was actually, and sitting down together for dinner was a rare occassion.

Tom hung up his coat and scarf, then looked around the main area of the flat in confusion. Where was Sybil, anyway? She wasn't on one of the couches, or at the kitchen table.

The bathroom door was open to reveal an empty room. He went into the dark bedroom, but when he turned on the lamp he saw that it was empty too, strangely enough. The bed was not occupied, as he half-expected. Tom checked the hallway and the closet – her jacket, gloves and such were all in their proper places.

Did she step out for a moment? Tom wondered. Is she with the neighbours? It was highly unlikely, this late at night.

Sighing, thinking that he ought to call her and make sure she was alright, Tom sat down at the foot of bed to take his shoes off. He unlaced one and pried it off, and was in the process of untying the other when he heard the voice.

Tom …

Tom froze, eyes darting around the bedroom. "Who's there?" he said.

The lamp he had turned on suddenly went out, making him jump at the unexpected darkness.

Tom …

The voice sounded eerily familiar, but it didn't seem – normal. It was almost ethereal, and it made Tom uneasy. At the same time, it was beguiling and bewitching, and Tom felt a chill down his spine as he heard it again.

Lay back, Tom ...

There was the sensation in his brain that told him to do it, even though he didn't know why or even if he should. Yet he did so, cautiously, as if something would jump out in front of him. His back leaned into the duvet, and his head sank into the pillow beneath. What the hell is going on? Here he was lying on his bed, as he had been yearning for since four this afternoon, but he didn't think now was the right time to close his eyes and let sleep take over.

At the foot of the bed, he saw a figure emerge into view, crawling up as if it had been hiding under the bed. Tom raised his head and his eyes widened as he was who the figure really was.

"Sybil?" he gasped.

She didn't look at she normally did, though. Her skin was astonishingly pale, tinged somewhat with grey, but her lips were ruby-red, bright against her pallid face. The area around her eyes were darker than normal, but not sickly-looking. Her brown hair was curled and dressed up with what looked like golden snakes woven between the locks, and an ornament also resembling a serpent sat atop her head. The loose dress she wore was semi-transparent, almost thin enough to see the skin underneath.

"Sybil, you're …" Tom could hardly speak; he was stunned by her mysterious – and alluring – appearance.

Sybil leaned forward, bringing her head down toward his face. Tom could see her piercing eyes, which were now as red as her lips.

"Do you want me, Tom?" she asked sultrily.

Tom lay still underneath her, staring up at her with entranced longing. "Oh my goodness – I mean – yes, please," he stammered, feeling as if he were under a spell.

Sybil smiled, her red lips parting to reveal two very sharp teeth, which sent a shiver of fear through Tom. In his heart he felt the wicked, burning desire to make love that she surely felt as well, but the chilling gaze she gave him reminded him that he was supposed to be the prey. Tonight she had a deliberate carnality, a voluptuousness that he had never seen before. It felt so bizarre, yet so right …

Her head dipped down and she brought her mouth to his, and Tom moaned in response to her hungry kiss. His eyelids closed and his entire body relaxed, putting up no resistance as Sybil's hands ran along his collarbone and down his chest. Her supple fingers felt like spiders dancing across his shirt and his skin tingled, making him shudder in pleasure.

"Oh, Sybil," he murmured.

"Shh," she hushed, her low commanding voice only arousing Tom further. He wanted to succumb to her, let her take over, the thrilling sensation that he belonged to her sweeping through him.

Those tantalizing fingers were now undoing the buttons of his shirt and pulling down his vest, exposing the skin of his chest to the cold air in the bedroom. She slid the shoulders of her dress off, the gossamer fabric falling down to her waist, revealing her small breasts. He wanted desperately to reach up and caress them, to run his tongue around her hard pink nipples, to have her moan at his touch …

Then she was straddling him and her body was grinding against his, slow yet forceful, and Tom gasped and arched his back off the bed. "Dear God, Sybil—!"

His eyes flew open as she uttered a sharp hiss, her lips curling back to expose her sharp white teeth. For a moment Tom lay stunned, but he chuckled as he noticed his mistake. How silly of me, he thought, saying God's name in the presence of a vampire ...

"How foolish of you," Sybil whispered, as if she had known what he was thinking. Her red eyes almost seemed to glow. "You've made me awfully angry now."

Her hands clamped down on Tom's shoulders and she resumed her languorous grinding, simply gloating as she pinned him to the bed. "Do you know what happens when I'm angry, my dear Tom?"

Tom shook his head, feeling his fearful anticipation surge through him as she leaned close to his chest. Her dark eyes sent a tremble through his nerves, yet the movement of her body against his sent the most pleasing waves through him.

"I get hungry," she whispered against his skin.

Her tongue darted out and ran around his nipple, and Tom sputtered out, "Sybil … Sybil, please!"

She's not simply getting into character – it's like she is the character, he realized.

She flicked her warm tongue around more and Tom could not repress his groans. He pressed his body against her, concentrating only on the small patch of skin where her tongue flicked across. She moved to the other nipple, her ministrations sending his heart racing; it was not just from her softly licking at him, but he also remembered the points of those sharp teeth were probably so close to his tender flesh.

"Mmm," she moaned, her hot breath moving up his throat as she lifted her head. "I knew you'd taste exquisite."

Tom let out a nervous laugh. "Am I really to your liking?"

"Oh yes," Sybil sighed. Her hand moved down his chest and stomach until it was dangerously close to his manhood, and Tom knew if she touched it, even with the lightest of caresses, she send him over the edge within minutes, never mind the fact that he was still wearing his trousers.

Again, as if she had seen into his thoughts, she acted upon what Tom had imagined would happen. He gasped aloud her name, his head writhing against the pillow as he struggled to control himself as her finger rimmed along his length. She smiled coquettishly as he twitched beneath her, completely at his mercy.

"My darling Tom." She stroked him faster, making him breathe harder in response. "So young and strong. I can feel you … so warm now."

Tom grunted, realizing her touch was what was making his blood run hotter; his warmth was probably all the more tempting for her. He couldn't know for sure what he was going to do to her next, but he had a sneaking suspicion of what might happen, and the thought made him quiver ...

Just as his release came, a moment later. It was quick but powerful, forming tremors across every inch of his boy, and he threw his head back as he cried out. Sybil stayed atop of him, rocking against him as his limbs went rigid from the swift intensity of his pleasure. Tom's eyes were shut tight, but he knew she was smiling triumphantly over him; she had finished him in only a few minutes.

Tom relaxed as the heat of his climax faded, going limp, his eyes still closed. His heart was pounding from the excitement, his breath hissing between his lips. I never knew I could come as fast as that, he said to himself. It was almost … unnatural.

"You seemed to have enjoyed that," Sybil crooned. "I hope I'll enjoy my pleasure as much as you did. After all, I'm still quite … hungry."

Tom's eyes flickered open, and underneath his lashes he saw Sybil throw her head back, arching the pale expanse her neck. He could see her actually licking her lips, her tongue running across her sharp teeth like an animal about to feast. She crouched on her knees, hands holding fast at his upper arms, trapping him to the bed. By sheer instinct Tom began to squirm, but somehow he could not escape from her grasp. Her hold on him was unyielding. How is this possible? Either I'm more exhausted than I thought, or …

"Don't try to fight me, my dear Tom," Sybil growled softly. "You can't escape me. You're mine now."

She brought her mouth down to his, her tongue lapping around his lips. Tom groaned in his throat; he wished he could reach up and press his hands to the back of her head, keep her there as long as he could, but she kept him nearly immobile, helpless against her every whim.

She reached up to Tom's jaw with one hand, and with a gentle motion she turned his head to the side. She curled her fingers and stroked his neck, humming to herself as Tom began to pant hard. He felt very much like a small prey about to be devoured by a wolf, and the sense was both repulsive and enthralling. There was nothing to be afraid of, really – Sybil would never dare to harm him – but still he shivered from the vague terror she wanted him to feel.

Then Sybil's head went lower and lower, her scarlet lips skimming down his chin and throat where they fastened. She paused, giving Tom time to register the moisture on her lips, her breath heating his neck, his own heart pounding and sending the blood racing through his veins … he felt himself slipping into a dreamlike state, conscious of his surroundings but unable to bring them to memory later

Her tongue began to churn over the small patch of skin enclosed by her lips, running across a line that Tom understood to be a thick vein. He was so sensitive there, which Sybil was more than aware of, and he sighed, shivering with gratification. Soon his sighs became moans which interlaced with Sybil's contented purrs – pleasure was a feeling they often mutually shared, as if an invisible line connected them as they made love.

Sybil started to suck at the flesh at his throat, though not so forceful that it was painful to bear. Tom could feel, almost indiscernible, the hard points of sharp teeth only just touching his skin. He went motionless, his eyes closing automatically. The feeling of being within a dream intensified, as if a calming wave was lapping over him, enveloping him in a peaceful mist. He waited in listless rapture, his heart beating, beating …

"So," Sybil asked, "did you like it?"

Tom started back to reality as quick as lightning. Sybil was still in costume, sitting cross-legged on the bed next to Tom.

"Huh? Wha – wait, did I fall asleep?" He sure didn't remember falling asleep, but he felt almost as if he had woken up from a long, refreshing nap. The lamp was back on and filling the room with light, so at least he knew where he was instantly.

"No," Sybil answered. "You were just a little … dazed, that's all." She cocked her head. "You didn't answer my question, though. Did you like it?"

Tom grinned at her. "Did I not give that impression?"

Sybil shrugged. "I just wanted to be sure."

She got up from the bed, straightened out her gauzy dress and twirling around once for Tom. "What do you think?"

Tom sat up from the pillow and stared, thoroughly impressed. With the light on, he could see Sybil's elaborate outfit in full detail. Every piece looked as if it was made for a movie, and not a campy one at that. If he didn't know any better, he would believe Sybil had climbed out of a classical painting. "Whoa … Rose's friend definitely knows a thing or two about Halloween costumes."

"We went out today – Mary, Edith and I – and we spent nearly the whole afternoon at the shop. I think it turned out well in the end. Definitely not the typical 'bride' look as I was afraid it might be," Sybil explained.

"You look more like a queen than a bride," Tom observed. "And the makeup …"

"Rose's friend gave us some tips, and I was playing around with it this evening. That's when I decided we should have a little fun since I figured you'd be coming home late."

"Well, you look very convincing as a vampire," Tom said. "I was starting to think that Matthew might have actually taken a bite out of you."

Sybil smirked. She leaned back towards Tom, giving him one last peck on the lips. "I'm going to change into my pyjamas. I left you something in the fridge to heat up. I bet you're starving."

"I just hope your hunger has been satiated," Tom teased.

"Oh, it has," Sybil said enigmatically as she sashayed to the bathroom.

Tom chuckled lightly, then paused as a thought crossed his mind. "By the way – how did you get the light to go out at the right moment?"

"The plug! I pulled the plug when I was under the bed!" Sybil laughed from the bathroom.

Tom sighed and rubbed his face with dry hands. He must be more tired than he was feeling right now. He would have to think twice about staying at work so long without a reasonable break.

Swinging his legs off the bed and standing up, he massaged one of his shoulders as he trudged to the kitchen. He frowned as he felt an odd twinge at the side of his neck, not unlike the ache when a doctor pulls out the needle of a shot. Just how bad of a hickey did she give him?

A/N: Can you tell that I love Bram Stoker's Dracula? I imagine Sybil's costume to be akin to one of the brides in the 1992 film – the one with the snakes in her hair. That's what the cover image is (my own manip.)