Chapter 5: Shadows

He turned over in his bed, the sheets wrapping around his semi-naked body. Tossing his right arm over his face, he tried to sleep.

After 10 minutes of not achieving it, he threw the covers off him and slowly stood up. Making his way to the refrigerator, he shivered as his feet struck the cold tile of the kitchen.

Quickly opening the door he pulled out a bottle of red liquid. Closing the door he found his way, half-blind, to the kitchen table. Blinking his eyes, he looked at the digital clock on the counter, 2:30 pm. He was going to be late for work, but he didn't care. With a shrug, he took the top off the bottle and drank half without taking a breath.

With a contented sigh he place the half-empty bottle on the table, wiping the blood-red liquid from his lips.

Well, might as well start another day in hell, he though as he stood and returned the bottle to the fridge.

Making his way to the bathroom, he removed the boxer shorts he slept in, grabbing a towel as he passed his dresser. Turning the water on, he stepped under the misty spray.

Rinoa sighed as she glanced over the criteria for the research paper she was supposed to write for Ms. Bertram's History class. They were still learning about vampires, and as it turns out, Zell was right. Mark did know more about the subject than the teacher.

The teacher had assigned them to write a paper on the history of the vampire. She had assigned it last week and it was due next week, she had a little under a week to complete the 5-page paper.

She sat at her desk; mind a complete blank as to what she would write her paper on, so far, all she had was a cover page, and the teacher provided that.

Mark and Zell wouldn't have this problem, they know everything about Vampires. She though as she twirled her pencil, but dropped it when an idea struck her.

Hey! Maybe Mark can help me write it, he knows more than I ever will about Vampires.

Please by her idea, Rinoa left her room to find her soon-to-be savior.

Mark was sorting through the equipment that Zell had gotten for him when he heard a knock on his door. Throwing his comforter over the equipment, he went to answer it.

"Yes?" he said with a growl as he opened the door, hoping to scare his visitor off.

"Umm ... did I come at a bad time?" Rinoa asked in surprise after seeing his face. His face was contorted into a look that could melt steel.

"Rinoa!" Mark said in surprise as he dropped his 'look of death', as Zell called it.

"Yup, that's me," she replied, having regained her composure. "Can I come in?"

Mark only nodded as he moved aside and allowed her to enter, checking the hall to make sure no one was watching.

"Mark, I'll be blunt, I need your help," she said with a sigh as she sat on his bed, her thigh just missing the katana that was laying there. Mark put out a hand to stop her, but when she missed the sheath, he returned it to his side.

"And how can I help you?" he asked as he leaned against his dresser, arms crossed over his shirtless chest. He was standing in the half-light thrown by his desk lamp, his upper body in shadow with a shadow line running from his left pectoral down and across his abdomen.

She was silent for a moment as she ran her eyes over his naked chest, her eyes following every muscle on his defined body until he cleared his throat. She quickly explained why she was there, trying to cover her embarrassment.

"You know the report that Ms. Bertram gave us? I have nothing; all I have is the cover page. I need your help to write it."

"I see," he replied in a non-committal tone.

"Please Mark, please help me," She began begging, falling to her knees in a pleading position, hands clasped in front of her, her brown eyes looking imploringly up at him.

Mark sighed as he felt his heart melt, he had no idea why she had this power over him, she just did.

"Ok," he replied before she could begin her next round of begging, "I'll help you."

"Oh, thank you," she said as she launched herself at him, arms wrapping around his body as she hugged him to her. Mark was thankful that her face was turned away, for he was certain that he was as red as a tomato.

"You're welcome," he managed to say when she finally released him.

"So," she began shyly, "when do you want to begin working on the paper with me?"

Mark watched as she turned into yet another person, shyly digging her toe into his carpet, her hands behind her back as she glanced at the floor, looking at him occasionally.

"Whenever is good for you," he answered with a shrug.

"How about right now!" she asked brightly, clasping her hands in front of her in hope.

Mark sighed.

"Sure, just let me clean up a bit ok? Then you can help me find my books."

"'Kay," she replied as she sat on the bed again.

Mark rolled his eyes as he decided to clean up his equipment, even if she was going to see it.

Taking the corner of his comforter, he pulled it off the equipment. Rinoa's eyes went wide as she took in the weapons.

"What are those?" she asked.

"Part of my collection, There needed in my occupation

"Oh, wow," she replied as she reached out to touch the katana.

"Careful," Mark said as he grabbed it first, "it's very sharp."

"Oh," was all she said as she watched him stow the weapons in his footlocker.

"Ok, so, now you can help me find those books," he said after throwing a blanket over the footlocker.

"Ok, where should I look?"

"You look over there, and I'll look over here. See if you can find anything having to do with Vampires."

"Ok."

After digging through his room, they came across several old books about Vampires.

"Well, this is all I can find," Mark said as he put the last book on top of the stack on his desk. In total, there were around 20 books stacked there.

"Wow, that's a lot of books," Rinoa said in awe. "Some of these are quite old."

She reached out and touched a book with parchment like pages, showing its age by the writing on the binding. That style of writing could only be found in a museum now.

"They are, I've collected them from around the world during various ... assignments," Mark answered as he pulled on a t-shirt over the undershirt he had donned during their search.

Rinoa only nodded as she glanced at the titles of the stack, wondering where to start.

"So, any idea where you want to begin?" Mark asked as he lay on hid bed, looking to where she sat at his desk.

"Not really," she answered, "I was hoping you would have an idea."

She looked at him hopefully, he sighed, knowing he couldn't resist that look.

"Ok," he began, sitting up. "Let's start with the beginning, where Vampires come from, how does that sound?"

"That's perfect," she exclaimed.

"Good, grab that old book you were looking at earlier, that has the best origination story."

Rinoa reached for the book she had been admiring earlier, grabbing it she looked back, visually asking if it was the right book. Mark nodded before replying.

"That's the one, turn to the first chapter and begin reading. If you need any help just let me know."

"Ok, thank you."

"Not a problem," he replied as he settled on his bed again, leaning back against the pillows for a little nap.

Rinoa smiled as she watched him out the corner of her eye. Once she saw that he was settled she began reading.

Vampire – The undead, one that has returned from the grave ...

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(Finally somethings begining to happen between Mark and Rinoa, it's about time. I thought you might be defective Mark, you've had plenty of chances to get your leg over. What's wrong with you man!)

Mark begins to flush furiously and raises his middle finger at the author, after which the author chuckles and brings out his giant mallet. At the sight of it Mark screams and runs away.

Mark: Pervert!

(To hell with him! Now at long last I get to say: P.S leave long reviews and comments.)