Chapter three

I couldn't believe it.

It felt like I was walking through thick fog when I made my way home. Nothing existed except me and my confusion. Somewhere far away from me, maybe a mile or so, on the other side of the fog, I could hear Brian calling my name.

"Aeriel? How do you feel?" His voice barely reached me as a whisper. "I know, that must've shocked you, she was probably at your age... Was she a friend of you? Aeriel, honey? Where do you live?" I tried my hardest and managed to reach out the fog and point the way to my apartment. "Okay... come on, let's get you home. I'll carry you..."

I could feel him lift me up, carrying me in his strong arms. He kept talking with me all the way home, like to keep me from passing out. He probably thought that I was shocked because of what had happened to that girl, and in one way I was, except it was because of the way she had died. He had probably have been there just before me, maybe even while I was talking to Brian. Just a few meters away... He couldn't have gone far. I started to look around like crazy. He might still be here, watching me at this very moment. But I didn't see anything, just a few men standing in a street corner, smoking, and an old lady with a grumpy countenance, wearing slippers and something that looked like a bag of cat food. He probably didn't know I was here; otherwise he would have come to me. I'm sure about it. That was likely the only reason... Slowly, the fog went away, and the world became clearer. I noticed we were outside the house I lived in, and begged Brian to let me down. I felt much better now. I took his hand and started to rummage in my purse after my keys with my other hand. When I had opened the apartment door, I led Brian into the bedroom and then went to the kitchen.

"Would you like something to drink?" I called to him. I heard something that sounded like a no thanks, from the other room, but I took a bottle of whiskey anyway. The alcohol wouldn't affect me, of course, since I only drank blood. It was for the human, so that he wouldn't feel when I bit him. When they're drunk, they only feel the pleasure from what I do with their bodies. I tell you, it's not pleasant when they scream like demons from hell. Well, right now, I think I'm the demon from hell. Whatever. I didn't care for the moment.

When I returned from the kitchen, I saw Brian sit on my bed and look at me with a thoughtful expression. I must admit it; he was very cute for being a human. He would probably make a splendid vampire.

I took a big gulp from the whiskey and handed him the bottle. He shook his head. "Suit yourself", I said, putting the bottle at my bedside table. I immediately started to kiss him; his face, his chest, his throat. I could still smell his blood, but the lust for it was no longer that strong. Was there something wrong with me? Is this normal? I started to kiss him harsher, trying to force the bloodlust to emerge, but nothing happened. Maybe it had something to do with me falling in shock? Then I realized he was not kissing me back.

"What are you doing?" I asked, getting off of him. Didn't he want me? Everybody wanted me.

"We don't have to do this, you know", he got up, looking me in the eyes. "I don't want you to feel... forced."

"But I don't, I promise! I really do want...", but he interrupted me, putting his finger on my lips... which reminded me of someone else...

"No, you don't. Listen to me. I'm not that kind of guy. I only came here with you because I felt there was something special between you and me, a sparkle that I haven't felt with any other girl. And I could bet my head on that you haven't felt like this for any other guy?"

My eyes narrowed. Well, that one he got right. Why didn't I want to suck this human's blood? Was I like back turning into a human again? I put a finger in my mouth and searched for my sharp teeth, yes, they were still there, and I was almost a hundred percent sure that my eyes still were scarlet. I would have to bite him, he being drunk or not, that was the only way. But it was like an invisible force held me back.

"Listen, Aeriel, I know that girl's death must've really gotten to you... but I care for you, do you understand? I know it seems a bit silly, to be saying this when we only have known each other for just a few hours. But I really do. There is something stronger between us that I've ever felt", he looked deeply into my eyes, and by the sincerity in his, and I knew he was telling me the truth. Slowly, I began to understand what he was saying, feeling it too. "It was not coincidence that we met tonight, Aeriel, it was faith".

Hearing him using the word faith made me gasp for air. It couldn't be that he was the one...? Maybe I only imagined that that girl was bit by a vampire. Maybe I was just so desperate after some recognition that I thought I saw some things that weren't there. But no, I knew that he, the other one, the one of my kind, not just was some crazy trick by my imagination. I knew he was real. And I couldn't give in, not know, when I felt so vulnerable, and certainly not to this human.

"Couldn't we just lie here on this bed, and... talk? Get to know each other? I would really like to".

"NO!" I screamed, finally able to break through the invisible force holding on to me. I slunged myself forward, my mouth to his throat, and then I bit him. His blood tasted delicious, and I felt a wave of relief go through my body. I was still a vampire. But then I realized that he didn't scream in agony. Had I hurt him badly? Was he... dead? I couldn't let that happen. What kind of person was I? This really nice man shows to me that he cares for me, and what do I do? Where did my humanity, my conscience go?

They disappeared when you Changed, a small voice inside me said, but I pushed it away. That couldn't be right, I could still sense feelings, still know the difference between right and wrong, most of the times... I forced myself back from him, licking the wound close with my tongue. Left was only a small scar, similar to the one I had. When I looked at the expression in his face, I wished I just had killed him. His face was white as a ghost, his eyes open wide. He probably thought I was monster. And he was right. If the roles were reversed, I would take a stake and pierce my heart with it. Suddenly I felt something wet falling from my cheeks.

"No, I didn't mean it, please, please, forgive me..." I begged and cried at the same time.

"Your tears", he said and wiped one of them away with his hand and examined it. "It's blood." He looked up at me and saw the sharp teeth in my mouth. Then slowly, he began to realize. "It's okay. I don't blame you, honey."

"No, it's not okay. You have to leave." I still sobbed but tried to be firm in my voice, so that he could understand that I was serious. That this was for his safety.

"Don't you like me?"

"Of course I like you; I like you too much, that's the issue. You have to go... Don't come back."

I buried myself in my pillows, covering them with blood-tears. I could feel him stroke my back, and after a few seconds I heard the door close. Now that he was gone there was nothing that could hold back my tears.

A few moments later I felt someone stroking my hair, hushing slowly. For a second I thought it was Brian who had come back.

"Didn't I tell you to leave?" I whispered and turned my head. The sight that met my eyes was nothing that I could've imagined. The pair of eyes that met mine was scarlet. And the smile that belonged to the same face was angelic.

"No, I do not think you did", he said, my vampire.

Then I passed out.