The girls filed into the large cafeteria. The circular tables were now adorned with white table cloths and centrepieces. The places had been set with delicate plates and silverware. Julie wandered around the tables looking for her name, not used to winning a prize. Brenna grabbed her arm and dragged her to the head table. There sat Grace, Headmistress Toola, School Captain Hellen Darcy and Mr Hareena. There were only two spots left and the one designated for her was right beside Mr Hareena. The universe was cruel to her, giving her something to want only to keep it out of reach. She slowly stopped behind her chair, giving a brief glance at the man she wanted. "Sorry everyone, I'm not usually a prize winner." Her voice was sweet and laced with humour as she moved to sit in her seat. The table chuckled with her as she got comfortable.
Across the table Brenna looked at her with a devilish smile that confused her. The sweet innocent girl was up to something. Julie ignored it as the Headmistress stood for the toast. Her words were the same every year, thanking participants and special guests before announcing for the food to be served. Julie didn't completely pay attention though, movement at her table caught her eye. Brenna snuck away from the table and through the huge doors into the kitchen. She reappeared 2 minutes later with a smear of soup on her wrist. Julie started to get curious as to what was happening, her mother hated her for continuously reading murder mystery novels but it had given her certain skills. One of which was paying attention to things without looking at them. She was so lost in her head that when the food arrived it spooked her causing her napkin to fall from her lap to the floor.
She looked down at it saddened by the event. She moved to pick it up but felt a strong hand on her thigh, Mr Hareena had bent between them to pick it up. His hand rested above her knee not pushing like he was using it as leverage but resting there like a caress. Her heart raced as he sat back up, sliding the white napkin back across her lap with a smirk. He was a devilish man. She saw the point of one of his fangs but felt happy to see it rather than afraid, it was part of who he is but he had to hide it. Bowls of steamy soup sat before each person, the aroma wafting through the room making everyone drool. The headmistress picked up her spoon and that was the cue to everyone to begin eating. All the girls tucked in enjoying the rich chicken stew. Julie enjoyed the warm liquid as it slid down her throat warming her from the inside out. She felt his hand on her leg again but this time the grip hurt, squeezing to the point of bruising. She looked over to see Mr Hareena stiff as a board in his seat.
Most of his soup was gone and his spoon hung in the air midway to another bite. He looked over at her and she could see his dark blue eyes turning red, hints at first then taking over the blue. He calmly rose from his chair and walked out towards the gardens. Julie felt pain for him something was wrong. She rose from her chair, whispering to Grace that she didn't feel well and was going to the bathroom. Grace's eyes shone with worry as she softly nodded. Julie then made her way towards the internal halls, calmly walking through the doorway. Once she was out of sight she yanked off her heels and sprinted through the halls towards the gardens. Her red heels swung in her grip as she slid around corners. She burst out into the garden, the tiny solar lights barely helping. She wandered forward into the darkness, hoping to find him somewhere.
Fear gripped her harder than the hands did. The hand over her mouth and around her arm shoved her hard into a brick wall, the edges dug hard into her skin causing her to wince. The clouds shifted to reveal a full moon ready to illuminate the world below. He was in front of her, his fangs bared and eyes a deep red. "Why did you follow little girl? You can see I'm a monster." His voice was harsh and mad making her heart hurt. "I came because you need help. You tell me what you need and I'll do it." She stated, feeling brave. She kept the information of what might have happened to the soup to herself. She didn't need him going on a murderous rampage. His snarl wavered as he stared into her eyes. Pain took over his features as he doubled over before her, releasing her. She did not move as he slowly fell to the ground. She knew he was a vampire, well, she suspected. Fangs, no movement in sunlight, old mansion. Kinda screams vampire.
She knelt beside his crumpled body and offered him her wrist. She place the delicate pale skin against his lips. "You need my help, I trust you." Her eyes locked with his, fear showed in his eyes, fear of hurting her. She pushed her wrist firmly against his lips. He didn't bite her at first, just rubbed his lips over her skin. His mouth opened to reveal fangs, fangs that were longer than before. She had a surge of fear the he might kill her but it left as quick as it came. He closed his eyes, a lone tear glinting in the moonlight down his cheek. She couldn't turn her eyes away as his fangs pierced her skin and slid in. She felt him lapping and sucking at her wrist, the feeling surreal. Pain coursed through her but she forced her mouth shut against the building whimpers. The pain built as he continued to drink, taking over her whole body. It felt like hours as he drank but she knew it was only minutes.
He pulled away from her wrist quickly clamping his hand around the wound. He turned to her, his long fangs still bared. He used them to slice open his wrist, pushing it against her lips. Horror took her over, he was trying to make her into a vampire. She squirmed and pulled trying to get away from him. He growled before throwing her onto the grass, and coming down to straddle her stomach. Her teenage mind thought about how the position should be reversed but her fear kicked that thought away. His hand continued it painful grip on her wrist but she could feel something dripping down her arm, she looked to see blood pouring down her arm. She whimpered again as she realised she'd bleed out here. His voice cut through her scattered brain, giving her pause, "Julie, my blood will help heal you. It won't hurt you or change you it will just heal you." She stared into his now dark blue eyes, the moonlight disappearing in their depths.
She slowly opened her mouth for him. He cut his wrist again before pressing it against her awaiting mouth. She gently licked before sucking at him. She was gentle still a little scared, but his body of approval made her suck a little more. His blood didn't taste like human blood, it didn't have the metallic taste or the slightly sour after taste. It instead tasted woody, bringing forth a memory from her infancy of her trying to eat a stick. He gently pulled back his wrist from her lips causing a small amount of blood to smear across them. He smiled at her as he looked down at her, he inched closed to her. His arms came down on either side of her as he caged her in. He was barely a hair away from her as they shared air. Her breaths came in little pants as she awaited his kiss. His lips gently brushed hers before moving across to her ear, his teeth gently nipped at her ear before her licked her neck.
She did not fear his bite now, felt calm knowing he would keep her safe. He growl a "MINE" in her ear before he rose to his feet. He helped her up, picking up her discarded heels. "Let's clean you up a bit." His voice was warm again as he guided her back inside and into the girls bathrooms. He ran warm water as he gently rubbed at her healed wrist and arm, washing away her blood. He rubbed soap over it and then rinsed it leaving her skin spotless. He washed his hand next. She gazed into the mirror, the fluorescent lights illuminating her. She had a smear of his blood trailing from her lips, her hair and make-up wasn't changed. She felt satisfaction in the blood on her lip. She gently touched it but stopped when a growl sounded from beside her. Mr Hareena stalked up to her, standing behind her to view her appearance. "You look good with my blood on you. But I think others would disagree." He seemed mad as he gently wiped it from her lips. He then held her shoulder and guided her out of the bathroom.
He stopped down the hall, kneeling before her was her heels. He gently slid her feet into the shoes before standing. "Go back the way you came. I will have to re-enter from the garden." He gently pulled at one of her stray curls before leaving her. She slowly wandered back to the cafeteria. She entered quietly just as they were serving the mains. Brenna had an evil scowl on her face and deathly eyes directed at her as she sat. Mr Hareena was already seated beside her. He gave her a concerned look "Are you ok? I hope I didn't startle you when I left, I got a phone call." He held up his phone shaking it before turning it off and sliding it into his pocket. She just nodded at him whispering "Something in the soup made me sick. It was probably the chicken." She felt his hand on her thigh under the table as he began to eat the food before him. She smiled as she tucked into her Beef Wellington and creamy mash potatoes. Brenna was still pissed, glaring at her.
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