# Midnight Indigo. Chapter 2 #
(Blythe)

"I like your hair." The blonde man smiled at ease in front of me. His pale hand was a ghostly blur as it shot up to touch a lock. "The faint chemical scent is intoxicating." I judged his wide smile..almost fake, like a mannequins.

Was he making fun of me? Did he even really like it?

"What do you want?" I hissed and my sudden change from afraid to angry had him looking a little surprised if not still amused.

Suddenly, he was gone and I only had a second before my arms were pinned to my sides in a vice like grip by one of his arms. The strange coolness of his body pressed into my back and his other hand gripped my jaw so hard I thought he was going to break it! I jerked and whimpered..

"Shhh," He whispered in my ear sending shivers down my spine. His strong hand slowly tilted my head away from him. "What I want..is to kill you. Right here..now."

His ice cold tongue ran up the side of my exposed throat..

"But I fed last night..on a lovely drunk young man. On his way to see..you." He continued in his taunting voice and I realized he was talking about Ryan. Did he kill Ryan? I jerked harder in his grip but he just tightened his hold.

"You monster! You killed him! Didn't you?!" His hand tightened around my jaw and I actually thought I could feel my bones straining under his grip..as though he really could snap them to pieces!

"Yes, I did." He hissed in my ear and the long strands of his light hair tickled my cheek. "And you still know want to know what I want?" The man knew I couldn't shake or nod my head now. He tossed back his head and laughed in such a graceful way it made my heart hurt. His strong hand nodded my head for me, tauntingly.

"Yes, you want to know." He turned my jaw around to look at him. This man was a monster but it was hard not to think of him as beautiful..something about his eyes and demeanor drew you in as much as it made you want to flee.

"I want to kill you and your whole family," His seductive voice continued. "Maybe even your friends, too." A rogue tear ran down my face and he slowly licked it off of my cheek.

There was a sudden foreign clicking noise and a knife was put to my throat.

"I could drain you this way..cut your throat and bleed you dry. Maybe I should take your dead body back to mommy and little brother. Who should I kill first?" He laughed. "Make mommy watch? Or make little brother watch me rip your weak sick mother to shreds?"

He was telling the truth and the knife pricked harder into my skin..

"Orrr," He paused to take the sharp blade from my throat and I suddenly felt it prick the middle of my right palm. "Since you're the only thing little Todd has right now and I'm feeling a little full and generous, I just want you..little sips at a time and I'll leave your family alone."

Sips? My mind went back to him licking my wound last night..did this weirdo have a blood fetish or something? I cried out when the knife cut my hand back open and he breathed deeply in my direction.

I was suddenly spun to face him now and he had my hand up to his lips. His dark ruby eyes looked down at me and never left as his tongue slid along the cut again like he had the night before..and I..moaned. He seemed pleased with my response, his eyes lighting up dangerously playful.

"If you tell anyone about me..anyone. I will slaughter your family and make you watch everyone you ever loved die." The next tears fell over my face at his words and I nodded slowly before his ice cold tongue returned to my hand...

I pulled into my driveway and turned off my car. I was still shaking and I looked down at my healed hand again. Remembering the strangely seductive way he had closed the wound had my thoughts racing. It's for Todd..to keep him safe. I swallowed hard and then I couldn't hold back anymore. I cried for my mom and Todd and Ryan..but most of all I cried for me..for what this meant now. The burden I would have to bear..I couldn't even stomach the thought of telling anyone.

I kept picturing their dead bodies left on my bedroom floor..

Eventually I had to go inside and face them. So I got out and huddled in my jacket as though it would protect me from the monsters of the world..

"Where have you been?" Todd asked. "I called twice..about dinner. I ordered pizza."

I saw the square boxes on the table and my stomach knotted dangerously.

"I think I'm coming down with something..I need a nap." I had been very lightheaded after my encounter with...I didn't even know his name and he didn't know mine. I didn't think it really mattered. Todd let me go but watched me suspiciously run upstairs. I flopped onto my bed and almost immediately was asleep.

(James)

It was well past midnight. The girls room seemed to glow Indigo from where he could see outside. It was too soon to want more blood..even for a tracker such as himself. So why was there a scorching fire in his throat and veins? James' eyes were a deep black in the dark and suddenly he leapt to the second story and quietly broke the window lock. He was suddenly looking down at the girl. Her scent of vanilla and hair chemicals had his throat burning even further with need.

James' hand reached out.. thoughts of crushing her skull..of bathing in her blood came to the surface and the lack of control he was feeling made him pause. What is happening to me?

James could hear every sound in the night. The life outside in the forest the girls brother playing video games downstairs..the stench of disease and sickness coming from her mothers room. The girl smelled the best. James sat on the bed next to her and she stirred in her sleep..he wanted another taste..had to have it..

He didn't want to bite her and have his venom coursing through her veins. His goal wasn't to kill or turn her. She jerked away when he cut open her palm again quickly and she gasped at the sight of him.

His predator instincts flared at the panic in her eyes..he reveled in it. The girl watched him bring her palm to his lips and he tasted..the flavor seemed to knock him into a frenzy this time..but he was careful not to bite or nip. She was whimpering again and it only fueled his desires.. there were tears streaming down her face and they didn't bother him at all as he stole her life force.

(Blythe)

I was strangely warm all over by the time his icy tongue closed the wound on my hand. I was afraid..but I didn't look away from his eyes..they went from a frightening onyx to an equally frightening ruby. I suddenly felt so weak.

"You taste..otherworldly." He muttered and finally looked at me in the dark. His eyes reflected back at me like an animals and I shivered but scowled in response.

"How lovely. For you." Looking down at my closed wound for a moment..I wanted to know what he was.

"How can you do this?" I asked him, showing him my healed hand. He didn't touch me again..I noticed the slight flinch away from my palm and then he was standing and across my room in a heartbeat.

I gasped and turned in that direction.

"How could I do any of this?" He asked with a laugh and again I hated that I found him beautiful in the moonlight. Dangerous and he needed to be avoided at all costs..but beautiful.

"You got what you wanted. You can leave now." I said frostily.

Suddenly, he was beside me looking down and I was the one flinching. His hand went around my throat and pushed me into the pillows.

"I do what I want. I leave when I want and," He leaned down closer to my ear and whispered. "I kill who I want." He paused above me and what he said next shocked me more than the threats.

"You need to eat. I'll be taking your blood frequently and you'll need to be able to keep up." His voice had been gentle all of a sudden..somehow with his hand still around my throat.

I blinked and my room was empty once again.

A knock on my door interrupted me from staring at my walls all morning. Todd came in carrying some orange juice and looking worried.

"Are you feeling okay? I was going to go down to the reservation with DJ, his cousin Sam is back in town and everyone likes to do bonfires and stuff." He paused when I didn't answer. "Or I can stay?"

Stay in the house when the blood drinker could come back anytime? Better for him to be around people..

"No. Go. Have a great time. I'll look after Mom. I think we both just caught a bug or something." I took the juice and drained the glass before he would leave. I could hear him being picked up out front and recognized him and DJ laughing about something before they pulled away..

"Blythe?" My mother's voice snapped me out of my rest. "I gotta go into work tonight. Will you guys be okay here?" I turned and studied my mother..she had been dropping weight pretty quickly and her cheeks seemed hollow. Of course she knew we would fine..I do everything else around here. So I just nodded and she turned to leave no hug, no kiss, no 'I love you'.

I woke again to darkness and I suddenly felt so dizzy..I couldn't move. I turned my head to blink through fuzzy eyes and then I focused on the gleam of the knife. It sliced my hand again and I made a noise deep in my throat. The blonde man was back..

"I can taste you still haven't eaten." He said it as though accusing me..like it really was my responsibility or something. It might as well have been now..

"What's the point?" I asked, dully.

His eyes flashed angrily next to me and his hand was gripping my jaw in that aching way again.

"The point is if you don't keep me satisfied. I'll drink the next source." He hissed venomously and let me go just as quickly.

The man left my bedroom and I was suddenly alert. He never left that way! Was he going after my family? Were they back home? I threw my legs over the bed and stood too quickly..

"Shit!" I gasped and stumbled back to grab my bedpost but the blonde man was back and his strong hand set me back firmly on the bed. I realized he was holding something large and he tossed it onto the bed next to me. It was the box of leftover pizza..

"Eat." He commanded, watching me. I took out a piece and realized I was starving. I scarfed down three or four pieces while he watched from the corner of the room.

"Happy?" I asked.

"You will be happy. When your family gets to live another day." He replied matter of factly. I pushed the threat aside.

"How can your tongue heal my hand like it does?" I asked. He shook his head..determined not to tell me anything.

"At least tell me your name. What should I call you other than monster?" I asked with a straight face. He was suddenly next to me again..breathing in close to my throat and I flinched. He kept leaning in closer and closer and I reacted throwing my hand out and trying to push myself back. He reacted as well and was another blur before he came at me.

He was crushing me into the bed again and his teeth scraped lightly against my throat not nicking or piercing my skin..just feeling. I tangled my hand into where his blonde hair was tied back and yanked. His hair tie snapped and flew across the bed. The mans hand was around my throat again squeezing the air out of me!

I looked up into his darkening eyes and gripped his wrists while he looked down at me, his hair a blonde tousle falling into my face. He loosened his grip on my throat and I got a few deep breaths to clear my mind. He was..breathtaking. His glaring face was only inches from my own and even the smell of his breath intoxicated me..like the first deep breath of gas at the dentist..

"Don't you..ever..," He trailed off his growling warning..and suddenly..I was seeing black spots in my vision. What was he doing to me?

The man suddenly dropped me back into the mattress and was standing in front of my mirror.

"I'm taking this." He said matter of factly and stole my hair tie. I watched him smoothly pull his hair back and I suddenly wanted to run my fingers through it..

"Until next time." His voice caressed me. "And eat." Then it was like he vanished again.. and still didn't tell me his name.

Monday morning rolled around and I was thankful to have had Sunday without an alarming appearance. There was only so many times my hand could be reopened. I spent Sunday rushing my English paper and was hoping to skirt by with a C at the lowest. I ate at lunch more for my sake this time. I kept getting periods of dizziness and decided it was due to blood loss.

I was still afraid to tell anyone..I watched all my friends talking like usual or fretting over Ryan..who still was missing. I knew better..would they find the body was the real question. He deserved to die for killing Ryan..if he wasn't so quick I'd do it myself. That kid had had a whole future ahead of him...and now...

A weird pricking sensation at the back of my neck had me turning and I locked eyes with Alice Cullen who seemed to be speaking quietly to her boyfriend, Jasper Hale, as they both looked at me.

"Blythe?" I turned to Jess and Angela.

"Yeah?"

"I said, How are you holding up? Did you want to do something after school..or..?" Jessica trailed off looking to Ang for help but she just shrugged and I recalled the way I had run out on her Friday morning.

"I'm just coming down with something." I stood and left the cafeteria.. the food smell was too much for me at the moment. I had to keep my lunch down or it would be like I hadn't eaten at all.

After a few deep breaths I turned to go inside but saw Jasper Hale standing next to me looking as pale as a ghost. His eyes, a pleasant honey color regarded me thoughtfully.

"Yes?" I asked politely. "Can I help you?"

He leaned in and took a whiff of my jacket.

"Are you wearing a scent? It's lovely."

I sniffed my jacket but didn't smell anything. I shrugged.

"Must be someone else." He nodded his poofy head once like he didn't believe me and then went back inside. I didn't feel like following him in..so I went around the front to the parking lot and sat on one of the tables in the yard.

It was overcast like usual and I suddenly yearned to lay out in the sun and feel the warmth on my skin..

"Hi."

I turned to see Bella Swan. She was in her usual comfy attire like I was also and she sat without saying anything else.

"Hello." I smiled. We weren't best friends but she sat with us at lunch all the time before she and Edward became a thing.

"You look tired." She started and then bit her lip like that wasn't exactly what she meant. She wasn't wrong though.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"Hanging around new people can make you tired..," She trailed off again. "Stay safe." She said and then she was jumping up and hurrying back around the building. Weirdest. Talk. Ever.

The rest of the day passed quickly and I made sure to drink some water on the drive home to keep the dizzy spells away. Todd went straight in for his after school snack and homework routine while I got mom whatever she needed. After that I did my homework next to Todd before starting dinner and then retreating upstairs to my room.

The man was already there..studying all my pictures on the walls or nick nacks on my shelves and dresser.

"Blythe..such a different name." He muttered and looked at my name written in my friends handwriting on some old notes. I shivered when my name flowed past his lips but I composed myself before he glanced in my direction, almost painstakingly adorable.

"You still haven't told me yours." He just shook his head..his fake mannequin smile was back. Click! So was his knife..

I squeezed my hand tight into a fist but he was already standing in front of me. His cologne started to smell good and I got caught staring into his stupid perfect face. He smirked and ran the tip of the blade down my arm lightly over my wrist and my closed fingers.

"Open up, Blythe." He whispered my name into my ear and my head went fuzzy..

The next thing I knew he was licking and tasting my hand again and through my fuzzy head I thought I could see Ryan in the darkness..

"Wake up, sweetheart." Long icy, cold fingers held my jaw and was giving my head a few shakes. My eyes cracked open to the man..his eyes were ruby once again and there was a smear of my blood still on his lips. He caught me staring and licked it off seductively. "Wake up." He patted my cheek and sudden smell hit me. The man chuckled above me.

"Wake up or you'll burn your dinner." His hand released me so I could hurry downstairs and took the steaks out. They were just fine..and so was everything else..perfect actually.

My knees wobbled a little weak from my red cross donation and I chugged some orange juice out of the cartoon. The fridge door closed and with the jug tipped up and my head tipped back saw the blonde man sitting at our kitchen table, smiling and watching me. I choked on my drink in shock which made him smile wider..like the mannequin.

I managed to set the container on the counter while I was dying and heard sneakers running down the stairs. Shit!

Todd rounded the corner and I was just getting some air down when he looked at the man sitting down at the table. Would he hurt him? I glanced toward the knife set on the counter, ready to slice our way to safety.

"Who's this?" Todd asked me.

"He's" I started then I realized I really didn't know his name still. "He's nobody!" I glared and the man stood after a few seconds of silence.

"Nice to meet you, Todd." The blonde man smiled and he almost passed for friendly. He left out of the back door at normal speed for Todd's eyes. Todd dropped into his empty chair.

"So if he's a nobody, how come he knows my name?"

"Just eat the perfectly perfect dinner I made for you, please." I begged..

"Is he your new boyfriend?" Todd asked boldly while grabbing a plate and silverware.

"No! How could you even ask me that?" I gasped in shock..after Ryan..

Todd shrugged and for once took his dinner in front of the television and not at the table with me.