Sorry if this chapter is a little dry on Joce's personality, I haven't written in about a year and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Next chapter's a lot better, promise. Enjoy and review.
From where we were seated on the second story balcony we could see the dance floor of The Church below us, dozens of bodies grinding and winding with the melody. All around us speakers blared gothic industrial music, mostly songs I'd never heard before. Eric was seated comfortably across from me at our small table, watching below with only a hint of interest. To my left and right the balcony railing was lined with identical tables, just big enough for two seats a piece. For the most part we were alone up there; towards the entrance was a couple doing exactly as we were, just watching. The Church had gothic décor, of course, and was packed with mostly rave kids, emos, and people of the gothic variety. "Why here?" My voice broke a silence that had been lasting roughly ten minutes.
"This…place is very vampire friendly. Finding a willing donor will be much easier for us here." Eric calmly replied, watching a blond haired young woman dance on the pole. I reeled back at his honesty and couldn't repress my confusion. My mouth opened to give my rebuttal but I struggled with what words to choose and how to say them.
"Uhm, willing donor? You don't really think I'm going to drink the blood of one of…those people?" I snapped back, looking Eric straight in the face and corking a brow at him. As soon as he felt my eyes on him he turned to face me in return and grinned playfully. His actions made me even wearier than I already was. He really couldn't expect me to do that, that would be stupid and irresponsible on my part seeing as I didn't know what kind of diseases these people had. Plus, no one here looked particularly appetizing either, I wasn't really into the hardcore Goths. "You can't be serious."
"I am quite serious Ms. DeLon. I told you I wanted to see what blood did to you and I fully expect to find out."
"No way." I bit out sharply, ripping my eyes off of him in annoyance. "I could get Aids." I added, grabbing up my beer and taking a long swig of it. "There's no way I'm drinking one of these people." I may have a lust for blood and I may have acted on it in the past but never have I actually gone out and hunted down a victim to drink from. Placing the beer down I spared one last glance at Eric. "I'm going to go dance. Enjoy the view."
As I walked down the stairs and made my way to the main dance floor I felt out of place. I wasn't dressed for this sort of club, and when I thought about it I'd never been to a Goth club before either. Making my way through a throng of people I sensed that there were a few vampires present, maybe four or five, but at a place like this it seemed natural for some fangers to be present. Once I made it to the dance floor I debated where to set up camp. There were three levels to the dance floor. The first was larger but a little more packed, the second was smaller and sparse with dancers, and the third was tiny with a single person, a raven haired rave girl dancing her heart out. Decided, I made my way to the second level and found a good spot near the disc jockey booth.
Once I became comfortable I began my dance, nothing fancy, just a little swaying and twisting. I felt awkward at first seeing as I wasn't used to the venue but with time the feeling digressed and I was as at home as I would be at perhaps Fangtasia. Song after song I continued, sweat dripping from my forehead and my body growing more and more tired. Usually I had more stamina but the amount of bodies in the room was making me overheat a lot faster than normal. Exhausted I made my way off the dance floor and began to walk back to the stairs to reunite with Eric on the second floor. Just before I hit the first stair a young man lightly grabbed my arm to get my attention and I stopped and turned to him.
"I don't mean to be rude but I just wanted to tell you that you're really beautiful." He whispered in my ear since the music was too loud to say it normally. I felt myself blush as I looked to the floor. He was a mildly handsome guy; from what he was wearing he looked more hipster than goth and had a very thin frame. With how dark the place was I couldn't make out much of his facial features but he had light eyes and scruffy dark hair.
"That's very sweet, thank you." I loudly whispered back, placing my hand on his shoulder when I leaned in. No matter how many times a girl gets a compliment if it's genuine it always makes you feel all giddy inside. I pulled back and gave him my direct attention, smiling and shrugging up my shoulders a little, waiting for his next move; somehow in the heat of the moment it slipped my mind that I was there with another man.
"No problem, I just couldn't help myself from telling you." He replied back, almost yelling over the speakers. I smiled a little wider at this and could feel my cheeks flush. "Mind if I buy you a drink?" He offered and then at that moment I remembered the thousand year old vampire waiting for me upstairs.
"I don't know, Eric is waiting for me on the balcony."
"I'm so sorry; I didn't know you had a boyfriend. I'll just leave you be, have a good night." He shyly ended and turned to walk away. Seeing this my heart sunk in my chest; he wasn't as drop dead gorgeous as Eric was but he had a boyish charm and his flannel shirt was adorable on him. Gaining some confidence I reached out and grabbed his shoulder before he could leave my reach.
"Wait!" I shouted, stepping over to him quickly. "He's not my boyfriend; he's just a friend of mine." I amended, which in all truth was not a lie. I had told Eric more than a few times now that I wasn't his and of course we never agreed in any capacity that we were dating. "I'd love for you to buy me a drink." I said smiling, grabbing up his arm and walking with him over to the bar. There was a crowd of bodies surrounding the bar counters so as we pushed our way through them and waited to be served I made small talk with the hipster stranger. "What's your name?" I yelled as a couple wiggled their way away from the bar next to us.
"David. And yours?"
"Her name is Joceline." Eric's voice boomed from behind my new friend and I gasped. This was a bad situation waiting to happen. David turned around and seemed intimated as he looked up at Eric. Quickly I wove my arm out of his and used my hands to cover my face in embarrassment. In my head I pleaded that Eric not get jealous and hurt the poor guy. David looked almost horrified as he stood there, as if he expected the 'friend' of mine not to be six feet four and as solid as a brick wall. Worried I took my body and wedged it between the two men.
"Hey Eric, you didn't have to come check on me, David here was just buying me a drink." I said innocently while giving him a very stern look, as if to say, "Don't start shit." Eric looked down at me with silent jealously and I swallowed hard. "You can go back up to the balcony; we'll meet you up there in a second." I added, the frustration evident in my voice. David looked to me and I spared him a quick smile in apology. I looked back to Eric and gave him a pleading look which he took seriously, thank God. Defeated for the moment the vampire turned around and made his way back to the stairs. That went a lot smoother than I had expected it to. "I'm so sorry about that. Eric can get a little jealous."
"I thought you said he wasn't your boyfriend."
"He isn't, we just have sex from time to time." I replied laughing and grabbed his arm up, turning him back towards the bar. After another two minutes both David and I had a fresh drink and were making out way up the large curved staircase to meet up with my counterpart. I could tell by his body posture he was on edge and I had to admit, I felt sorry for him. How could he compare with Eric, right? But to give him credit, I did take his advance and let him buy me a drink so he had to have a little self confidence at this point.
Once we made it back to Eric I took my old seat back and David pulled up a chair next to me and in between the two of us. Eric didn't seem to like this much but was letting it slide, and for that I was thankful. "So, you enjoy the view up here?" I joked, trying to ease the silent tension between the two men next to me. It felt like at any moment Eric was going to tear David's throat open. Suddenly I realized that I had picked out a victim without thinking about it. Not only had I picked him out but I had hand delivered him to Eric. I mentally face-palmed. Just as I was having my revelation I noticed Eric snag David's gaze and then it seemed like all hope was lost.
"Do you have any transmittable diseases David?" Eric's smooth voiced questioned the obviously now glamoured David. I felt myself let out a whine. This just couldn't be happening.
"Eric!" I snapped angrily but he ignored me and kept his eyes strictly on his newly acquired dinner. "Eric!" I repeated, leaning over the table and staring daggers at him. Again I was ignored and I cursed under my breath. I didn't know what to do in this situation, should I try to distract Eric or David? Would it even work?
"No, I don't." David's lifeless voice replied, his face void of any kind of emotion and his eyes blank. I hated how powerless I felt against this, I was a mere human. Desperate to do something I grabbed David's shoulder and gave it a forceful shake to break his attention but it didn't work.
"And have you gotten tested recently?" Eric continued with his interrogation. Quickly I stood up and went over to Eric, grabbing his arm and pulling it hard. Of course, seeing as he was far stronger than I could ever hope to be he didn't budge.
"I haven't had sex in six months and I last got tested five months ago."
I cringed at the poor boy's honesty and was starting to get hectic. I had to do something to stop this from happening. Frantic I looked around from side to side but there wasn't anyone else around, the balcony was empty. "Fuck!" I spat out the curse and turned my attention back to the men in front of me. "I don't want to do this Eric, stop it!" I yelled loudly, though with the music it wasn't as audible as I hoped it would be. Within the next moment my arm was in Eric's grip though his eyes were still caged with his victim. I tried to wrench out of it but it wasn't going to happen. I was stuck.
"David, we are going to drink from you now. Don't worry, it won't hurt. You're not going to resist us, understood?"
"I won't resist you." David softly replied back, ready to obey his every command.
"Eric no!"
But it was too late, in a split second Eric's fangs were embedded into the side of David's neck, drawing out his blood. I let out another whine and quickly looked away from the scene unfolding. As long as I didn't look at the blood I'd be alright. I closed my eyes tightly and pulled myself as far away from the two as I could manage. Why was it that at this point in time no one wanted to come up to the balcony? I could always scream for help but who knew what would happen as a result of it. Eric could easily kill David, myself and any other person who came up here to help us. I didn't want to endanger anyone's life.
Eric yanked me into him and I stumbled, nearly falling into David as I did. "Drink." He ordered sternly and I continued to look away. "Look at him Joceline, drink it." He growled, and I winced and turned my head away. I could feel my mouth begin to water at the prospect of it but I had to resist it. I couldn't harm David; he was just some innocent guy at a club. He didn't deserve this. I felt my chin being snatched up and forced in the direction of our unwilling and glamoured donor. "Drink!"
I was starting to lose my reserve and with the way Eric was persisting I was horrified, I'd never seen him like this before. Who knew what he was capable of and willing to do. As hard as I was struggling I still couldn't manage to keep my eyes closed and suddenly I found myself in point blank range of a river of fresh blood oozing out of David's neck. Shocked I gasped and tried to pull myself away from it but Eric held me in place. "No." I hesitantly resisted but the rebellion in my voice held no conviction. "I can't…"
"Look at the blood Joceline, you know you want it."
I couldn't rip my eyes away from the blood, and I found that I did indeed want it. I felt my bottom lip quiver in the anticipation but I wasn't going to give in. I didn't want this. "I…" Words escaped me and I was left helpless staring at the thick crimson trailing down David's neck. My breath starting to quicken and I found myself inching closer to it. My mouth started to water even more the closer I got and my jaw hung open slightly, welcoming the blood in. My mind went blank and all I could comprehend in that moment was drinking. Taking it into me and reviving me, feeling that warm liquid slide down my throat and quenching my malicious thirst. I wanted it more than anything at this point. All my energy to resist was gone, all that remained was a deep hunger. As I closed the gap between our two bodies the taste of it was already washing over my senses before I even leaned in to drink. My body anticipated it; I missed the taste, the feeling. I needed this. I didn't know why but I needed this more than I needed air to breath. Slowly I took my tongue and traced it along the red line leading up to the bite mark. As soon as I felt the first drop of blood, and tasted that wonderful nectar I was lost in it.
I attached myself to him at the bite mark, taking my lips and surrounding the two puncture wounds. I didn't suck hard at the area but let the blood slowly pour into my mouth, causing me to moan out and close my eyes. Oh, how I had missed this feeling. I was completely invigorated. Suddenly I felt Eric lift me off of David and pull my body into his chest. "That's enough Joceline, as a human you can't drink that much blood." He whispered into my ear and I whipped my head away from him. Despite what he was saying and the fact that in my mind I knew it to be true I still wanted more.
"No, I want it." I whispered back, eyes still on my victim. How could I stop now and let all that blood go to waste? I needed it, I craved it so much. "I want more." I hissed as I attempted to pull myself away from him. He didn't let me get away and continued to hold me tight against his body. I began to yank away from him, pushing my elbows into his chest to separate us. My energy channeled into my core as I got more and more worked up, quickly working its way throughout my body and then pushing into Eric. He wavered slightly and I used the opportunity to wrench out of his arms and back towards David. Just before I placed my lips back onto his neck Eric grabbed me up again and swung me into the seat to my right. He instantly moved in front of me and trapped me in the tall chair so I couldn't escape him.
"Is this what you become?" He said softly, studying me with much interest. I returned his gaze with a twitching eye and blatant anger. I didn't move while I sat there, I simply looked up at him with intense silence and frustration. He moved his face closer to mine so that we were only inches apart as I gritted my teeth and felt my lips quiver in a snarl. I wanted that blood, whether it was safe to drink it or not. With all the strength I could muster I suddenly grabbed him and tackled him to the ground at our side, only able to manage it seeing as Eric wasn't expecting me to be so brash. Instantly he flipped me over and had me pinned to the ground. "What are you?"
As I lied on the floor panting I began to come to my senses and looked up at Eric terrified. "Let me go." I whispered. All of a sudden I felt disgusting; I had to get away from here. "I said let me go Eric, I'm done." I demanded, struggling against him. Eric looked skeptical, which I understood but I wanted more than anything to get away from him, the blood and this place. How could this happen, why did I let it come to this? "I said I'm fucking done Eric, let me go!" I snapped, turning my head away from his face. Hesitantly he pulled himself off me and I made my way to my feet. "I'm fucking done." I sneered as I walked to the stairs and out into the street, wiping my mouth clean on my shirt sleeve.