Drumming my fingers on the wooden desk, I waited anxiously as Mr. Church stalked from student to student, collecting our five page homework assignments. The pages that lay in front on me further increased my anxiety. They were rumpled and creased from being shoved into my bag this morning, after I woke at the kitchen table, pen still in hand. The writing was scrawled and from this distance, I couldn't make out half the words.

"Homework", Mr. Church yawned from over my shoulder.

I handed it to him nervously, awaiting the verdict. His pale, watery pupils scanned down my page, his frown becoming more prominent with each line. I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat.

"Disappointing, extremely disappointing", he declared, and moved to his next victim. I raised my hand.

"What is it?", he asked, peering down at me.

"Can I go to the bathroom", I pleaded. I was beginning to feel light-headed and the stuffiness of this classroom did nothing to aid it.

My apparent paleness won him over.

"If you must", he sighed and turned to continue reprimanding the unfortunate student two desks ahead of me.

I stood in front of the grungy mirror. My knuckles gripped tightly around the edge of the metal sinks. I reluctantly began to examine myself. My skin was at least six shades paler than normal, contrasting with the shallow, dark circles that rimmed my eyes. Each strained breathe hurt my lungs. Sighing, I thought to myself, I may as well piss well I'm here.

Heading to the nearest stall, I closed the door behind me. BANG. I didn't even lock the door before it was yanked open from the other side. The sweaty boy, who I now knew went by the name of Steven, pushed me to the floor. Grabbing my neck, he spat in my face.

"You look thirsty Shanny, take a drink", he sneered, guiding my face towards the toilet bowl. I lashed out weakly, only encouraging him further. My cheek pressed against the cold toilet and I twisted onto my back and blindly reached out. My hands closed around his face. Clutching his greasy hair, my eyes laid upon his pulsing neck. My muscles stiffened and my mouth gaped open. Straining forward, my teeth pierced his beefy flesh. My back arched and I my moan was gurgled as hot blood surged down my raw throat. Raising my body to deepen the wound, my foot slipped on a puddle of water. I slumped to the ground, the contact broken. Staring in horror at the slowly rising and falling lump next to me, I sat hunched in the corner of the stall, sweat beading up on my skin. His wet, sticky blood dripped down my chin, staining my collar. I gurgled in sick relief as I saw the blood began to clot in his neck, stemming the flow. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I opened the contacts. I pressed my bloody thumb down on the call button on a new contact listed under the name "L.C". Shuddering in disgust at the reflection of myself in the rippling puddle, I listened as the call connected. The caller at the other end of the line picked up. Pressing the phone to my ear, I took a deep breathe. "Mr Crepsley?" I whispered, my voice quaking. They hung up. Scrambling up, I exited the stall, wiping my mouth with my sleeve, avoiding looking at the mirror. I walked out and deposited the phone in the nearest bin along the corridor and kept walking.

"Where do you think you're going?". I swivelled around. Mr Dalton stood outside his classroom. Shit. His eyes widened in shock when he noticed the fresh blood on my shirt collar.

"Darren, what happened?", he demanded, his concerned tone only deepened my guilt. Not now. Not here. Please. I knew my options. Face the confrontation or run. Who am I kidding. I legged full speed down the corridor. He tore after me. Unsurprisingly we received quite a few stares and jeerings.

"DARREN SHAN STOP RIGHT NOW.", Mr Dalton roared after closely avoiding a collision with the school secretary. I didn't turn around. Because if I did, I would do as he said. I wanted to stop. The urge to stop running clouded my entire mind. I wanted to sit in plastic chairs in mundane classes. I wanted to cook him dinner and spend long nights watching movies next to him on the sofa. But one small slip, and it would be his unconscious body that would lay under me, piercing his neck and watching in hunger as blood oozed out of the wounds. Bursting through the main doors, I heard howls of encouragement from rowdy students. I skidded along the pavement as I swerved to my right, my soles beat rhythmically off the gravelled road. An oncoming car slammed the breaks a metre in front of me. Seconds too late. Without breaking my stride, I leaped upwards, landing on the hood of the car, pushing upwards I scaled the roof of the car and vaulted off the boot. I full out sprinted the whole way to Mr Dalton's apartment. There was one thing I had to get before I went. I had left it under my pillow after writing down the latest entry.

Twisting the doorknob, I pulled my bedroom door open and stepped inside. It was eerily quiet. The sun had disappeared, throwing my room into near blackness. Climbing onto the bed, I lifted up my pillow and reached out for my diary. My fingers closed around air. Brushing the pillows aside, I began to frantically search for it. Scrambling over the edge, I trailed my hands along the floor. Nothing. A cold wind crawled up my legs. I realised my window was open. That was weird, I'm positive I closed it last night. Getting up off the floor, I slammed it down shut.

"Is this what you're looking for?", a deep voice said casually.

I turned slowly, facing the direction of the voice. Discreetly, I leant sideways, feeling for the light switch. My finger brushed over it and with a snap, the room flooded with light.

I froze as the figure clothed in dark red came into focus. Mr Crepsley was sitting on my dresser, the diary resting in his hands. He leafed through the pages. I stood motionless.

"Do not worry", he said softly, "I cannot read".

Chewing on my lip and staring at the floorboards, I whispered,

"I'm so sorry".

Mr Crepsley grunted disbelievingly, turning my diary absent-mindedly around in his hands. I threw my hands up in desperation.

"Take me back", I pleaded. He raised an eyebrow. "Please".

Placing my diary to the side, he gracefully jumped down.

"The thing is, I have gotten used to the solitude, I am not sure I want an assistant any more", he sneered, staring down at me.

"Why are you here then", I cried. I wanted to scream in frustration, attack him, if only to make him feel even a ounce of the pain he causes me.

"YOU called me", he snapped.

"You were the one to put the number in my phone!"

He hesitated, only for a second, but I saw his composure slip.

"Well yes, I guess I did", he muttered uncomfortably.

"Larten", I croaked.

Blinking, I was suddenly pressed up against the wall, his body closed all escape possibilities.

"Do you know how many sleepless days I suffered through", he snarled, "thinking about you".

That broke my last shred of resistance. Locking my arms around his torso, I lay my face against his chest. His heartbeat thrummed rapidly upon my cheek. Threading my fingers through his, I pulled him over to the bed. Pushing him down, I crawled on top of him. I plucked at the top button of his shirt.

"Darren", he gasped, torn between pushing me off and tugging me closer.

"Sir?", I purred.

He pulled his fingers through my hair, drawing me closer. Snapping open the last button, I nudged his shirt aside. I lowered my mouth, my lips came into contact with his hot, quickly rising, chest. I kissed it softly, the kisses trailing up to his neck. I broke away, glancing at his face, I saw him give out a quiet moan. Shifting my weight, I lay my stomach against his chest. Lowering my face, my mouth was an inch away from his. He opened one eye and seeing my hesitation, he sat up. Placing a hand on either side of my face, he stared deeply into my eyes and pressed his soft lips against mine. Nudging my mouth open, he increased the pressure and tempo of the kiss. Shoving my body backwards, he fell on top of me. We didn't break apart. Instinctively, my lower body began to grind against his. He responded eagerly.

"Swear to me, swear your loyalty", he growled, rubbing his head against my thigh.

Raising my hand, I made a small nick on my palm with my nail.

"Darren you need not-",

I pressed it against his chest.

"I swear my loyalty to you. I will do whatever you ask of me in return for one thing".

He sat forward expectantly.

"Don't leave me behind".

He nodded and I curled up in his embrace. Stroking my hair lightly, he held me closely as the tears I'd been holding back finally spilled.