Chapter Three

With a soft thump, Ian Mulligan landed on the roof of the apartment building. He hunkered down and wiped the spilt blood from his lips while he scanned his surroundings. He had just fed again on an Irish girl with flowing red hair. She had been drunk and heading home after spending the night partying at a nightclub. She was alone and eager for company, and it was all too easy for him to lure her into a nearby alleyway. She was so drunk she barely offered any resistance when he began to feed. He licked his hand and let out a moan when he tasted the remains. The salty taste lingered on his tongue and invaded his senses. It was a shame humans didn't have that much blood in them. He loved to linger and take his time when feeding. He loved feeling their skin against his body. So soft and warm compared to his cold flesh. He loved the sound of their heartbeat in his ears. Loved listening to it fade away along with their life force. It was a shame it was over too soon.

He had been alive now for nearly 200 years and in that time, he had traveled all over Europe and had seen many changes. Unlike some Immortals, he had chosen to keep up with the times and had kept up to date with all the new gadgets and technological advances that the humans had come up. He loved the internet and even managed to find a few immortals online that he could chat with. He had an IPod, a cell phone, and a blackberry that he had stolen from a couple of the humans he had fed on. He had also stolen some money and a couple of credit cards and had managed to get himself a nice TV, a DVD player and some DVD's. He loved to lie in his coffin and watch Interview with the Vampire. It was one of his favorite movies. He actually liked all the vampire movies. Even the cheaply made B movies that made him laugh. He loved seeing his kind viewed through the eyes of humans. Some things they got right about his kind, and some things he got wrong. One thing he could say about humans though. They had a wonderful imagination. Especially the whole shape shifting thing. He often wished he could turn into a vampire bat, or a wolf, or mist, but sadly that was one of the things the humans had gotten wrong about the immortals.

One thing they had gotten right, however, was vampire brides. Vampires did mate and often did turn humans into vampires for just such a purpose. In his 200 years of existence, Ian had never had a mate. He longed for one, and he was actively searching, but no one seemed suitable. Ian wanted someone unique, someone who would be worthy of his affection. Unfortunately, most of the humans he observed were nothing more than mindless cattle that headed off to work every day and then came home, ate, watched TV, and went to bed so they could get up the next day and repeat the cycle. Ian wanted someone who thought outside the box. Someone who saw life as something to be lived, instead of a drudge to get through.

He shook his head. He hadn't found anyone worthy of him yet and he doubted he ever would.

He glanced down when he noticed someone walking out of the apartment building and heading off into the night. He leaned forward slightly, and his eyes widened when he saw she was a pretty, blonde woman. Moreover, she was all by herself. Ian leaned back up. He had already fed tonight so he wouldn't bother with…

He leaned forward again. His finely tuned senses had picked up something from this woman. Something different from other humans. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he sensed a kind of power within her. He observed her for a few moments. Her stride was confident, self-assured. She didn't look around fearfully like he had seen most women do. Intrigued, he lifted off from the roof and followed her silently. He looked down upon her and noticed something that would be invisible to most human eyes, but, with his enhanced sight, he could see it as plain as day. The woman had a beautiful golden aura around her body. With her blonde hair and pretty face, the golden glow gave her an almost angelic appearance, and Ian lowered himself slightly to get a better look at it. He floated behind her admiring her appearance when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Ian quickly rose up into the sky when the woman spun around and looked at her surroundings. He stared at her intently and saw that there was no fear in her eyes or in her body language. She looked around her for a moment and then with a shrug, turned and resumed her confident stride. Ian smiled to himself.

Could this be the mate I have been searching for? He thought. She certainly seems like someone who is worthy to be my bride. I think I shall get to know her a little better and see if she is truly the one.

Ian rose up higher so the woman wouldn't detect him and quickly flew on ahead.

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"It sure is chilly out here tonight," Rose said.

She wrapped her arms around her body and quickened her pace wanting nothing more than to hurry back to her warm bed and the Doctor.

"I don't care what my mum thinks; I want the Doctor beside me tonight," she said. "Especially since I'll need to warm back up after being out here in the cold."

She glanced beside her and instantly regretting not accepting the Doctor's offer to come with her. After spending almost all her time with him, it felt strange to look over and not see him beside her.

"All the more reason for me to get back."

She turned a corner and stopped short when she spied a man sitting on a bench a few meters away from her. She inched closer towards the grass when she walked near him.

"Evening."

Rose nodded her head at him in return and quickened her pace. She had never seen the man before, but the fact that he was sitting by himself on a bench at 12:30 at night didn't sit well with her. She wished more than ever that she had let the Doctor accompany her.

"Where you going in such a hurry, little lassie?" the man said.

Rose ignored him and sped up her pace. She gasped when the man suddenly seized her from behind. She balled up her fist and quickly spun around.

"You don't wanna mess with me, buddy. So don't even try it!" she said.

The man held up his hands

"Whoa, whoa, I wasn't gonna do anything," he said. "I was just wondering what a pretty girl like you was doing out here in the middle of the night."

Rose raised her chin.

"I was taking a walk and if it's all the same to you, I'd like to keep on walking. My boyfriend is back at my flat and if I'm gone too long, he'll start worrying and come looking for me and trust me, you don't want him on your case."

"Well, you're a feisty little one aren't you?" the man said grinning.

Rose rolled her eyes and tried to walk around him. She gasped when the man grabbed her shoulders.

"Wait, you didn't even tell me your name," he said.

"Yeah, well maybe that's because I don't want to," Rose said. "Now get your bloody hands off me before I break them off at the wrists."

"Now, now, don't be like that."

Rose gasped when the man suddenly began to shove her backwards towards a nearby wall.

"Let go of me!" she said.

She let out a grunt when her back hit the wall. She opened her mouth to scream, but the man quickly shoved his hand over hers.

"Shhhh, don't wanna wake up the neighborhood, do we?" he said.

Rose let out a muffled scream while the man lowered his face to hers. She began to send out a mental plea for help to the Doctor hoping with all her heart he would notice it and come help her.

Please God, let me get out of this alive! She thought. Please don't let the Doctor and my mum wake up tomorrow and find me dead. Please!

He gave her a gentle smile.

"Now, now, don't fight. I just want to talk," the man said.

Rose tried to get away from the man, but his hold on her was too strong. Realizing it wouldn't do any good to resist; she relaxed her body and hoped that the man would let her walk away with her life.

Determined not to show any fear, she stared directly into the man's pale blue eyes. She suddenly felt her fear draining away along with any resistance. She heard the man's voice echoing in her head.

I won't hurt you. Tell me about yourself.

Rose felt the man take his hand away from her face. Against her will, her mouth opened and she began to speak.

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The Doctor stared up at the ceiling. Time Lords didn't need much sleep, so the only reason he had elected to stay in the room with Rose was so he could keep her company and be near her while she slept.

He raised his head and frowned when he stared at the alarm clock. It was nearing 12:45 and Rose still hadn't returned.

"What could be keeping her?" he said. "It doesn't take that long to circle the block."

He wondered for a moment if she had returned to the TARDIS.

"Nah," he said. "She wouldn't go back there without telling me first."

He rose and walked to the window. Parting the curtains, he looked out hoping to see Rose walking back towards the apartment. He let the curtain drop when he saw no sign of her.

"Where is she?"

He sat there for a few moments and then hopped up.

"That's it, I'm gonna go look for her," he said. "I feel like taking a walk anyway. It's too quiet in here."

Grabbing his trench coat, he slung it over his shoulder and hurried out the door.