Girl Talk

Aline sat, with Jemma, in a cafe in the city center. Her friend was smiling, more than usual, and Aline became suspicious of what she may have been thinking.

What she blurted out made Aline want to make a beeline for the exit door and run.

"You look amazing, you are practically glowing. It has to be a man. So come on then, spill".

Aline grimaced.

"Yes actually, but it's not what you think. Do I really have a radiance about me that everyone can see, except myself?"

Well that was a lie, she practically made out with the worst man she could ever possible do that with, only three weeks ago. Since then, Dracula only came to her for blood, and sometimes, he would share his with her. But with each visit, the tension between the two grew. And it was electrifying.

Jemma giggled.

"Yes you do. Your skin isn't grey anymore, you no longer have dark circles under your eyes, and you walk taller, seem much happier and you are upbeat now. He must be a good lay if he makes you like that. You know, cause you were all gloomy and miserable before".

Aline clenched her fists under the table. There were reasons why she was depressed, but Jemma did not know, so it wasn't her fault when mentioning it.

"I haven't have sex in eight years, so it isn't that. I guess, having a sleeping pattern, eating healthier, going to the gym, halving my alcohol consumption, and actually talking to him have really helped me move forward in my life. I've never felt better".

Jemma smiled and sipped her coffee.

"So that is why you ordered an egg and cress sandwich and a salad with no dressing. I was half expecting you to go for the nachos, smothered in cheese, with a coke on the side".

Aline laughed.

"The old me would have. This new me? Well, new me gives a damn about my health and wellbeing, so I will have the occasional treat, but not a lot of it".

"Okay then. So, tell me about this mystery man. What is does he look like?"

Aline knew she should not even be speaking about the Prince, so she avoided that question.

"That is classified information Jem, I would rather not say anything unless it actually goes anywhere".

Which it wouldn't, she didn't love Dracula, nor did he love her.

Jemma pouted and feigned upset.

"Boo, okay. What is he like then? Personality wise?"

The older woman needed to think about how to phrase this.

Hmm, oh let's see...murderer, compulsive, arrogant, annoying and macabre. Sounds about right.

But of course, she could not say this. She needed to think, and quickly.

"Hmm. Well, he is dark, a little cheeky, fairly good listener, that's it really".

Jemma's eyes lit up.

"Dark? As in tall, dark and handsome?"

Aline nodded.

"Very handsome, the type who turns heads, wherever he walks".

Oh, he turns heads alright, just for all the wrong reasons.

"He sounds gorgeous. So how long have you known him?"

"About four months. As you know, I don't like rushing, so yeah".

Jemma was not taking the hint that Aline wanted to move on from the subject of men.

"You haven't, well you know, yet? If he is that hot, surely you need too? In case he gets bored, if he is that type I mean. I remember how badly your were affected by your ex, so I worry about you".

Aline shrugged.

"I know, and I am being careful now, so no, I have not had sex with him. Besides, we are just, acquaintances?"

"You sound unsure of that. Have you kissed him?"

"Yes, a few times".

And I should stop, but I am not sure if I can. I have no idea what this 'thing' is, if there even is a 'thing' in the first place.

Aline sighed and finished drinking her water.

"I am going to get some fruit, want some?"

Jemma shook her head and looked at the treats on the counter. Aline laughed very loudly when she pointed at a chocolate chip muffin and nodded at that. Aline walked to the counter and bought a tangerine, and the muffin before sitting down again.

"I like that you are taking it slow. Some people just rush into things, and aren't prepared for anything that can happen".

Aline agreed, she knew that all too well. Her last relationship, she had given herself to this man quickly, in the vain hope that he would find her good enough to stay with. But he took what he wanted and left her.

"Sorry Aline, I shouldn't have said that. You okay?"

"I am fine. The new me is no longer focused on the past. Aline the optimist, I like it, haha. This man, he listens to me, and made me realise that being a couch potato and moping around is silly. You should get out and live life, enjoy it. Not just watch it pass by from your window".

Aline unpeeled her tangerine and separated the segments. Jemma scoffed her muffin and got crumbs everywhere. Her friend shook her head and giggled.

"You are such a child sometimes, honestly. Shall I get you a bib?"

Jemma nodded and put her thumb up, making Aline grin.

"You know you love me the way I am".

"Of course I do".

When Jemma was finished eating, she took Aline's hands.

"I know at first we did not get along. I was loud and brash, you were quiet and kept yourself to yourself. I persisted and it only served to piss you off. I didn't mean to do that, I just wanted to try and get past some of your barriers. Whoever this man is, he seems to have gotten past a few, and it has done you the world of good. Right, want to do some shopping? We just got paid, so I think we can have a treat, or two".

Aline thought about it, and nodded.

She had seen a red lace dress in a shop window that she liked earlier. She may just go and buy it...

After the girl's lunch and shopping trip, they went back to Jemma's place. The pair got coffees and popcorn. The cheesy rom-com they were watching soon got muted and they began talking again.

"The old lady who lives above me shouted at me a little while back".

Jemma laughed, and almost spluttered out some coffee.

"Why? Or is she just a killjoy?"

Aline suddenly realised that she should NOT have been talking about that night.

"I moaned, a few times".

Jemma processed that, then her eyes widened.

"OH MY GOD Aline! You were not doing what I think you were doing?"

Aline shouted.

"No! I was watching a movie, and the male actor in it was good looking, and I moaned, several times".

Jemma was not falling for that.

"There is nothing wrong with self love Aline. Nothing, most people do it, they just don't admit it".

Aline was now beetroot red and wishing the ground would open up from under her, and swallow her whole.

"Ugh, no, I just...can we talk about something else?"

Jemma relented and ate some more popcorn.

"What is this guy's name? I may know him, since, let's face it, this town has like 100 people in it".

"You cannot possibly know 100 people Jem. I am not saying anything, I want things to be kept private".

Jemma did not look amused.

"Aline, if you won't even tell me his name, then what will you say? I am starting to get concerned. And what is with that cut on your neck? And your wrist? Are you sure you are well? Or is this man hurting you?"

Aline panicked.

Hurting me? Yes, he is. But, I don't mind it. It almost feels good, erotic in a twisted way.

Aline had to lie to cover her tracks, again.

"The cuts are from fighting. Some monsters, especially lycans, if their claws get you, they will make open wounds. Luckily, mine were not fatal. And yes, I went to the doctor, I did not catch anything. I doubt highly that he would hurt me, knowingly or not".

But he would, that is the problem. I need to get away, should be getting away, but I just can't. I just can't...

I have run away from things my entire life, and now that it is drawing to a close, I finally see, no, I have been shown that I need not run anymore.

But, do I give in to my fate? Give in to Dracula's fangs? Or let myself burn in his inferno, and be made into the very thing he is.

A vampire.

Jemma waving her hands in front of her eyes jolted her out of her reverie. She picked up the remote and changed the channel. She found a channel that played music videos so she left that on.

"Jemma, can we just forget about everything, just for a little while, before we have to face the real world? Blast music, likely damaging our eardrums, but fuck it, I don't care".

Jemma grinned and nodded.

The pair stood up, danced and sung songs well into the night.

When it was time for Aline to leave, as now she felt very tired, Jemma dropped her off in her car, and Aline ran up the stairs to her apartment.

When she got inside, she dropped her bags on the couch, shut her curtains, put the living room, come dining room light on and sat down.

After a few minutes, she stripped off and decided to take a shower. Jemma did not know, but Aline had gotten some fairly nasty looking bruises in the last few fights she had done. One was on her back, large, purple and painful, and the skin was still raised on it. The three other bruises were now green and yellow, and not sore.

A cool breeze took her by surprise before she stepped into the shower, but she just attributed it to her being naked, and perhaps the room temperature was a little on the cool side this evening.

She stepped in and kept her back to the front door, completely unaware that she was no longer alone.

That breeze she had felt was Dracula, opening her front door, and entering, uninvited.

Aline still had her back to him as he moved, silently and swiftly towards her.

His prey did not even know he was there.

This was too easy.

But was killing her an option anymore?

The waiting game was over.

The cat and mouse chase had ended.

And the cat had won...

With his prey in sight, the Prince approached her.

'Aline, you are mine'.