WitFit Challenge, December 2011
Disclaimer: All fictional characters mentioned are property of their owners
A/N: Hmmm…
Word Prompt: Motivate
A single word meant to inspire immediate thought. Write what your imagination dictates.
The dead, stale sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet echoed on the deserted street. The harsh sound of the heel of my boot clacked loudly on the sidewalk but I didn't mind. It was refreshing not having to worry about being seen.
I spent so much of my life hiding in shadows and lurking where humans failed to see.
Spending time in the open was a sort of treat.
I adjusted the scarf that I'd tied around my neck so that it obscured more of my face. Most of the people here would notice if steam didn't appear when I took my forced breaths.
My body was covered in more clothes than usual this evening. Of course, I didn't really need them, but they helped me play the part. They felt so foreign on my body. So heavy. I swiveled my shoulders within the heavy, black peacoat.
I was nearing the town square now. Tiny, flickering bulbs lined every building, tree trunk and fencepost along the main street. I could hear laughter and tiny bubbles of conversations from the townspeople. They walked in pairs or small groups, jabbering back and forth.
I heard more than just their words.
I heard everything. Thoughts, wishes, desires. It all floated to the surface in my head. I filtered through them at my will, picking up on little things and tossing other bits aside.
No one could hide anything from me.
I followed the slow stream of townspeople to the square where the large spruce at the center was being treated like a Christmas tree. It was dark at the moment, and everyone gathered around its boughs like Christmas presents waiting.
This had to be one of the most ridiculous things I'd witnessed amongst these people. They found celebration for everything.
I stood still, but not too still in the back. It looked as though I was waiting too, but not for a ridiculous tree. My eyes shifted back and forth in the dark, picking up every detail. Height, weight, sex, age. Things that everyone else would have to ask to know. I could tell by the way they held their body, how they shifted from foot to foot, I could tell by the sound of their voice and the shallowness of their breath.
Sometimes I didn't even need to hear their thoughts.
Tonight I was less concerned with simple facts, however. Tonight I was concerned with one thing, and one thing only.
Taste.
As the crowd began to grow and the mind-numbing notes of Christmas music started blasting over the speakers, I began to walk through the crowd.
Slowly.
My mouth tasted the air behind my scarf, waiting for one of these people to strike my fancy. Waiting for the scent that would drive me over the edge.
Blood did that, you see.
As I moved, the ceremony started and as the lights lit up the giant spruce like stars in the sky. I saw the colors reflect in the townspeople's eyes. Brilliant reflections of brown, green and blue. Mine wouldn't sparkle like that. Mine smoldered in the dark as a deep, piercing scarlet red.
When I'd circled the group once, I was about to give up. None of these pathetic, Christmas-worshiping mortals were catching my attention. As I moved to head back the way I came, something flooded my senses, licking my throat with red-hot flame.
My eyes widened and I swallowed down the first rush of venom in my mouth.
The scent nearly knocked me to my knees.
Who was this?
I looked around wildly, sniffing the air to get another hit. That was when I saw her. A petite woman, walking down the street, shoulders hunched, dark, chestnut hair flowing behind her.
I followed her without thinking, drawn by the delicious smell of the blood that was thumping under her veins. I had never encountered anyone who's blood sang to me as this girl's did tonight. The realization that she was unique sent another rush of venom to my mouth. My body was practically quaking with need for this girl.
It had been so long since I let my body act on instincts. Motivated only by the heady lust for blood. It was liberating. I felt my muscles tense and coil with each step I made, prepared to leap out of sight the moment she turned around. My eyes scanned the streets for onlookers and dark places to hide. The hair raised on the back of my neck as I sensed the presence of each warm body walking by us.
Nothing would come between me and this girl now.
She was mine.
A/N: meh… Writing vampires is hard. *goes to sleep*
