Chapter 3 – Audrey
If there's one thing I hate about vampires, it's the way they always do things quickly and thoroughly.
And these girls weren't mucking around. They were deadly serious. Key word in that sentence: deadly.
"So human," I saw Clarissa say as she stood at the foot of my bed, perched on the end like a cat. "How are we feeling tonight? You missed dinner."
"I suppose," I answered, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Wow, I must've slept for a while.
"Let's go for a walk, shall we?" It wasn't a question. Sure, there was question mark, but it wasn't a question. It was a challenge. Brilliant. So this is what I get for helping someone. Yes, I've learnt my lesson.
"You mind if I invite some friends?" I asked casually as possible considering the situation I was in. Clarissa looked at me and grinned.
"You know what? Sure. Why don't we pick up your little friends on the way," Clarissa said, grabbing my ankle and pulling me up as she stood on her toes on the end of my bed. I decided to tell her that my friends weren't so little. I let out a scream as I was hoisted to an inverted position above the floor beside my bed, Clarissa's tight grip on my ankle. Yes, I was being held upside down from my ankle by a vampire. Can my life get any better?
"As surprising or unsurprising as this may seem, Clarissa, but I'm actually very uncomfortable," I said calmly, crossing my arms over my chest as my hair obscured my view. "I was also wondering what time it was."
"Just after twelve," Clarissa laughed.
"That would explain why it's dark outside," I mentioned. I felt Clarissa jump, with me still in her hand and land beside my bed. I also felt the impact my head had with the floor. I groaned as Clarissa said,
"Opps, sorry," and lifted me a little higher. She so wasn't sorry. And it so wasn't an accident.
"Did I mention how uncomfortable I am?" I asked when Clarissa began to walk somewhere. I still couldn't see because of my hair. Personally I was just glad I was fully dressed.
The other three girls who had been around my bed were following silently. It was very obvious who was in control here. We walked for a while before coming to a door. I heard a knock, only barely, considering all the blood rushing to my head and pounding in my ears, then we entered the room. The pressure on my ankle was suddenly released and I fell, hard, on the ground.
"Ow," I muttered, trying to bring myself to a sitting position. When the world had stopped spinning I noticed my surroundings. It was the same plain room as mine, only everything was inverted. It took me a while to realise this was just some other girl's room – most likely Clarissa's – and I was wondering if I was about to be thrown over the balcony or something. Apparently not, because instead, all the vampires moved away from me, forming a half circle around me. This included Clarissa. I looked up to where they are all looking and sighed. Another vamp. I pointedly ignored her.
"What about my friends?" I asked.
"What rooms are they in? We'll collect them," Clarissa said, looking bored.
"I don't know. I assume they're in the boys dorm."
"Well, I guess that's just bad luck then." Wow, I really hated that girl.
"Tell me, does the bitch gene come with the whole vampire thing, or is it acquired through the my-parents-hate-me saga you no doubt pull every so often to get their attention?" I looked up at Clarissa with an innocent expression. Her teeth gritted at my words (obviously I'd hit a nerve – I was right about my earlier predictions) and her fists clenched. In a lightning fast movement I hardly saw, her fist connected my face and I wasn't sitting up anymore. I was face down on the floor, the world spinning and my head throbbing so loudly I was fairly sure it would wake up the girls in the rooms next door.
"Cool it, will you, Clarissa," came a cool voice I hadn't heard before. It was full of authority and power. Acidity and a cold command dominated too. Control radiated out if it. I turned my head and decided that was a mistake. Especially considering I couldn't see anything through the white spots appearing in my eyes anyway. I was going to have a kick ass bruise tomorrow.
"You said to bring her," Clarissa whinged. Oh great, this other girl must be some sort of higher power. Just what I needed.
"I didn't tell you to kill her."
"She isn't dead," Clarissa muttered sulkily.
"Yeah, and you're lucky for that. Now, I'll deal with her-"
"You'll set her straight?" Clarissa cut in. I didn't like the sound of that. There was a pause. It was evident that the higher power didn't like being interrupted. Clarissa muttered a soft apology and the higher power continued.
"Yes. She won't be causing anyone anymore problems. Now, go, before you girls are the ones with problems. And they'll be from me." There was some scuttling and I heard the door open and close. The spots in my eyes began to clear up, but I stayed face down on the floor. My head was throbbing.
The higher power waited for a few moments, which I was glad for. I wasn't ready for the 'setting straight' part. I just wanted Jack and Mitch. I wanted to go home. I hated this. Then I felt arms around me and I cringed unintentionally.
"Don't worry," the smooth voice said. All the cool command and dark power was gone. It was replaced with serenity and concern. "It'll be okay. I'm here to help."
"Huh?" I mumbled. Arms came around my waist as the floor lifted off me (was the world upside down?) and a felt something soft beneath me. A bed?
"It's okay. You rest. I'll find your friends."
And the world went dark.