The Guest & the Change (10 page)

‘Have you killed other vampires?’

‘Yes, I’ve killed other vampires Sebastian has turned.’

‘What next?
 
We need a plan but my mind is drawing up blank.’ Sarah said.

‘They will probably be out later tonight, looking for victims.’ Daniel said.
 
He looked bleak, sickened himself.
 
‘I could go out, watch them,
see
what I can do.’

‘
We
 
could go
out,
I can’t let you do this alone.’

‘You should stay here, where you’re safe.’

‘But I won’t feel safe.
 
And it will drive me mad not knowing what’s going on.’

‘If you come, will you stay with me?
 
I can’t let you unless you promise to stay by my side.
 
Otherwise I can’t protect you.’

Sarah looked at Daniel, so earnest, worried for her.
 
She couldn’t help but agree.
 
She nodded, looking into his dark eyes.

CHAPTER 6

Jo sat waiting in his
favorite
tree.
 
Darkness had fallen some time ago and he listened to the night sounds.
 
Activity was increasing on the forest floor as night creatures came out to feed, he could hear them nosing around in the leaves.
 
His thirst was increasing, not satisfied by his earlier hunt,
still
fuelled by memories of Sarah.
 

Sebastian had swooped off as a bat earlier and Jo awaited his return.
 
Then they would go hunting.
 
For real.
 
For people.
 
He felt his teeth extending at the thought and had to take deep breaths to make them retract.
 
Finally he saw a bat flying back towards him.
 
Sebastian landed next to him and took his human shape.
 
‘Hungry?’ he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
 
‘Follow me.’

And Jo did, eagerly.
 
Sebastian ran, zipping through the forest, still in his human form.
 
Jo sped after him, delighting in his new abilities, excited about the thought of densely packed bodies.
 
When they reached the edge of town Sebastian slowed to a walk and Jo joined him.

‘Listen Jo, you can’t just jump people like you did earlier.
 
When we reach a bar you need to focus within, try to ignore your thirst for blood.
 
We will order drinks, blend in.
 
Only then will you choose your victim.
 
Find a girl, someone you find attractive if you like, and charm her, encourage her to leave with you.
 
 
Then you can feed.
 
Remember what you did earlier, sending out tendrils of power to coax a victim towards you?
 
That’s another strategy.
 
You can lurk in the dark and draw people towards you.
 
But it will be harder in a bar with so many people, so many thought patterns tangling with your powers.
 
It will be easier when you become stronger.’

Jo listened to Sebastian, but he found it hard to think past the word blood.
 
He thought about all those people in one room and didn’t know how he would control himself.

They walked down dark streets, only the occasional lights illuminating their way.
 
They were reaching the dodgy end of town, the old shattered windows and peeling paint Jo was already quite familiar with.
 
He’d spent a fair amount of time in these bars as a human, when he couldn’t handle staying at home any
longer.
 
When he’d needed a break from the intensity of life with a wife, with children.
 

He may be
recognized
, but what did it matter?
 
He could run if needed, could influence to protect himself.
 
He could kill.

They stopped at the first bar they came too.
 
Jo stood outside looking at the dim light radiating above the battered sign.
 
He could hear people inside, music, talking, hearts pounding at different speeds.
 
He could smell the scent of people and was drawn forward.
 
Sebastian held out his arm to block his way, ‘Wait, remember control.
 
Breathe deeply.
 
Get your victim somewhere unseen before you feed.’

Jo nodded and opened the door.
 
It was crowded and dark.
 
Perfect.
 
He had to push through warm bodies just to reach the bar.
 
Sebastian was next to him, keeping close tabs.
 

Sebastian ordered drinks while Jo stood, captivated by all the people.
 
There was so much blood.
 
He looked around, trying to choose.
 
His throat was so dry, every particle of his body longed to grab the nearest blood source, rip its neck aside and glug that warm sweet liquid.
 
He struggled not to let his teeth extend, feeling Sebastian’s eyes on him.
 
Then he was back, passing Jo a tumbler filled with liquor.
 
‘It will help keep you under control, until you find what you want.’

Jo
necked
it.
 
Feeling the alcohol seep into his veins.
 
It didn’t stop his hunger, but it allowed his mind to see through it.

‘Now watch me.
 
When I take someone outside, follow, but keep to the shadows.’ Sebastian said.

Jo pushed through the crowd, fighting temptation.
 
He leant against a doorframe to steady
himself,
his veins were aching for blood.
 
He watched Sebastian, dark and tall, moving through the crowd, into the dancing throng.
 
 
 

Sebastian moved to the music, dark trances.
 
If it hadn’t been so dim his height would have made him stand out, but his dark clothes and fluid movement let him blend.
 
He moved through the room to a girl dancing alone.
 
She looked like Sarah, with her long flowing hair and a thin frame.
 
He saw Sebastian smile at her, moving closer, seducing her.
 
He watched as he looked into her eyes, influencing her, then he took her hand and she followed him towards the door.
 

This is it, he thought, and moved through the crowd, finding it easy to copy Sebastian’s fluid movements, one of the advantages of being a vampire.
 
He would never have danced as a human, preferring to drink and watch.
 

As he stepped out of the bar into the cool night, rain
pummeled
him and he pulled his jacket up to keep himself dry.
 
He saw Sebastian disappearing around a corner with the girl.
 
He quickly walked behind them, peering around into the alley.
 
 
 

There he saw Sebastian, up ahead, pushing the girl against the wall.
 
She was giggling, looking up at him.
 
He supposed Sebastian was actually quite good looking, tall and dark and muscular.
 
He probably didn’t have much difficulty getting girls to leave with him, even without influencing them.
 
Especially when they were intoxicated with alcohol.
 
Jo entered the alley and leant against a wall, watching.
 

Sebastian leant down, smiling at the girl and picked her up so her face was at his level.
 
She looked entranced with him, happy with herself for being out here, in an alleyway, with an unknown man.
 
He leant in, Jo expecting him to go straight ahead with the feed.
 
But instead he kissed her and pushed himself against her, feeling her all over.
 
Jo felt impatient.
 
He wanted to watch the feed, wanted to feed
himself
.
 
He wanted to rip that girl out of Sebastian’s arms and feed on her.
 
Drink her blood.
 
Or go inside, choose his victim. But if Sebastian wanted him to watch, he would watch.
 

Once the girl was putty, completely succumbed to Sebastian’s charms, that was when his kisses reached her neck, Jo imagined his teeth extending then he heard the bite, heard her whimper as the twin fangs sank into her neck.
 
He could hear Sebastian gulping her blood.
 
Still pushing
himself
against her, into her.
 
As her heart began to slow Sebastian withdrew his teeth from her neck leaving her just alive, eyes half closed leaning back against the wall, still supported by
Sebastian.
 
Instead of stepping back be bit his own wrist and pushed it against her mouth.
 
She started to gulp at his blood, sucking it inside, her wounds healing.
 
Then he snapped her neck, stepped back and let her fall to the ground.
 
Jo watched, not quite believing what Sebastian had done, his control not to kill the girl, his enjoyment in the feed, beyond the pull of the blood, his decision to turn her.

Sebastian straightened his clothes and turned to face Jo, wiping all traces of blood from his mouth.
 
He looked wild, smug,
ready
for more.
 

‘What did you do?
 
Why did you turn her?’ asked Jo.

‘All part of the plan, it would take a long time to destroy the town just the two of us.
 
I might get bored.
 
Now, it’s your turn.
 
I will watch.’

Yes, this is it.
 
And Jo hurried back to the bar, into the crowd.

He moved smoothly onto the dance floor, entranced by the rhythms, the throng of hearts.
 
He saw two girls ahead of him, and approached one from behind.
 
Focusing on her blood flowing, he wanted to rip into her neck right there, but managed to resist, withholding temptation.
 

He sent out tendrils of power, coaxing her mind, making her more receptive, and she turned, eyeing him appreciatively.
 
She began to dance with him, bringing her hands up to his shoulders and they swayed together.
 
Her friend rolled her eyes and moved off.
 

The girl he’d chosen looked pretty but torn, short dark hair, dark eyes heavy with eyeliner.
 
She danced like she was trying to lose herself with him, forget the normality of life.
 

Jo felt, heard and smelt her blood, flowing around her body, her heart beating fast with her movement, her attraction.
 
He caught her chin with his fingers and brought her eyes up to his.
 
‘Let’s leave,’ he said, projecting influence.
 
He caught her hand, and this time it was him leading the girl outside.
 

He pulled her into the same alley, but
not so far down; he didn’t want her to notice the other girl lying on the ground
.
 
He couldn’t resist and turned to face her, his teeth instantly extending.
 
She sensed the change in him, sensed she was in danger and tried to step away, but Jo grabbed her, he didn’t have Sebastian’s patience.
 

He did as he’d been longing to do all
day,
he yanked her head aside by her hair and sank his teeth deep into her neck.
 
She yelled out and he reached around with one hand, smothering her cries, using his left hand and his teeth to keep her in place.
 
He drank her as fast as he could, gulping the real, intoxicating liquid.
 
So much better than alcohol, so much better than that deer.
 

She weakened and stopped fighting.
 
He sank his teeth deeper, trying to get every drop of her before she fell, drained, dead, in a heap on the wet ground.
 
 
He staggered back, buzzing with blood, with life.

Sebastian was there, watching.
 
Jo had been so enthralled in his feed he hadn’t even noticed.

‘Pick up the girl Jo, take her further into the alley where your next victim won’t notice her.’

Jo did as he was told, feeling amazing.
 
He picked the girl up, she was light like a doll, and carried her deeper into the dark.
 
He discarded her by some bins and turned, wiping blood off his face, not giving her a second thought, and returned to Sebastian’s side, awaiting his next command.