Forbidden Findings -- Vampire One on One

Lurk

<3	100.0%	[ 19 ]
Total Votes:			[ 19 ]

[[Bang Bang]]

It had been a mistake for him to return to Dahlia. Especially in his state of mind. All he could think about was one thing. It wasn't his concern which brought him back to her. It was his monstrous hunger that would cease at nothing to be quenched. Just the sight of her made his fangs pulse with excitement. Turning away, out of desperation, Lucas was shocked by Dahlia's next move. She reached out to touch him for the first time since their encounter. He couldn't recall another time when she openly wanted to lay a hand on him. It surprised him above all else, the length this human would go to interact with something that wasn't even the same species as she. But Lucas could have none of it at the time. Operating with a fluidly quick motion, Luke leaped up towards the roof of Dahlia's home. He landed softly, almost in perfect silence. Below him, the young human continued to search in the dark for a sign that he was still present.

“Where are you?” Her question went unanswered. Lucas squeezed his eyes shut and tried to cast away his growing need to feed. Just the color of her skin in the night was enough to evoke him. She was enchanting in every way. The sound of her heart beat made him flurry with all sorts of imaginative ideas of how wonderful it'd be to taste her. “What can I do for you?” she asked. Lucas couldn't help but growl at this. She couldn't possibly hinting at the idea of him needing her, again. That nonsense was just as pathetic the first time. The low purr of frustration made the neighborhood dogs run wild. There was a sudden uproar of barking and howling from the pets which had heard Lucas' growl. None were close, which was the only reason they tried to intimidate him by responding with their own growls and threats. Otherwise, they'd of begun to cry from fear. Lucas paused and started to look around the block once again. If the dogs didn't pipe down, they were sure to wake up their owners.

“Shall I depart?” he asked in a monotone voice. His eyes were glowing brightly in contrast to the dark. He stared down at Dahlia like she were his prey, rather than a companion. It was hard to see her any other way.

[Korrye]

__________Silence fell heavily on her ears. Not even the crickets bothered to chirp for the several minutes she stared out into an openly dark space. Up above her the stars twinkled in all their glory. Without light pollution of any kind for miles they were a vibrant bunch when rain clouds didn’t gather to shield them. But the quiet, it astonished her and only made her fear blister on edge. Simply by being there, she noted, he turned off nature. The elegant flick of a switch, the supernatural piqued her interest. Such a hunger was boiling in her mind to understand his species. It was concerning, she knew, to be so interested in him. Luring her into his mind, maybe, but she wanted to fall for it. Dahlia was starving to know more about how it worked.

With words she aggravated him again. It wasn’t in asking where he was, for he seemed to refuse to point that out to her. Instead it was her simply question, that if he was there then he might as well want something from her. Information or money, she didn’t know. Perhaps shelter because it was so damn cold? Only he growled. The noise was not something close to a dog or cat’s in any way. The low pitch startled her and once again she found herself inhaling deeply to compensate for a flutter in her heart’s almost elevated beat. Announcing his presence sent every four legged animal into a territorial uproar. Turning on her heel she did a three sixty. It came from every which direction. Losing track of where his growl had come from she suddenly felt lost. Turning to face the house was her only option. The kitchen lights were on causing the back windows to glow faintly. It was enough of a guidance that she was back on the porch steps re-opening the screen door in seconds. The dogs refused to stop.

“Shall I depart?” he asked suddenly. Looking straight up this time to where his voice projected from landed her in the eerie position of looking straight into his piercing blue eyes. Stepping back off the step she reacted with a sudden instinctual desire to get away from him. Dahlia tripped. Clumsily she backstepped and landed, the side of her bare foot scraping against the edge of the wooden steps. Hissing in response to a sliver, she brought her foot into her view in the light.

“No,” she murmured, running her thumb over it to find that the step had done nothing but peel off a layer of skin. Looking up to where Lucas had previously been she felt her heart thunder on. “You’re still hungry aren’t you, that's why you're here? Why are you here?” she echoed her fears. If she had been tired before she certainly was awake now. A bloodthirsty animal was crouched above her, a man who’d made his hunger known only earlier that day. How much would it take to set him off if he couldn’t even stand to be near her hours before?

[[Bang Bang]]

Lucas was making good progress in tuning Dahlia out. Her scent, her face, and her voice. It all started to fade as he shut his eyes and meditated on remaining calm. She was just a human. Just a grain of sand compared to his mountainous strength. She couldn't even begin to compare to him. And yet, he felt enslaved by her, and weak at her feet. He had a desperate need to feed from her and at the same time, protect her. This mixture of emotions was all too confusing for Lucas. Especially for a man who had completely shut out his feelings for a couple of years, now. When he reopened his eyes, he immediately turned to his left. He stared for several seconds into the darkness, as if waiting for something to happen. There was movement in the yard beyond Dahlia's. After a moment of waiting, he realized it was nothing. Just a cat. As returned his attention to the human, he found her laying on the floor. His eyes narrowed. She was unnervingly reckless. Now, she was sitting on the more-than-likely wet floor.

“No. You’re still hungry aren’t you, that's why you're here? Why are you here?” Her question was reasonable enough. And yet, Lucas felt himself becoming aggrivated by it. It wasn't her fault for asking. He just didn't want to confess that her assumption was correct. The animal in him began to listen more intently to the war drum inside of Dahlia's chest. It was an enticing sound, but dangerous at the same time. The rhythm was hypnotic and if he floated away with the tune, he'd end up losing his control.

“If you know this, then why would you want me to stay?” he wondered aloud. Surely, Dahlia could understand her life was in danger. Lucas would take pleasure in ripping her to shreds. And yet, she disagreed with his notion to leave. “It'd be all too easy to kill you,” he growled, trying to fight off the part of him which took pleasure in admitting it aloud.

[Korrye]

__________The damp wooden steps she’d settled herself upon soaked through the thin fabric of her flannel boxers. There was nothing stopping it from seeping through to her skin. The cold and wet combined made her shiver. The fever continued to rage, though numbed by the slight night-time breeze. When she stared out into the thickets of trees, spruces and cedars gathered in familiar clusters, it was as if she were completely alone. The solitude hit her, disturbed her. If it weren’t for the low rumbles of disturbed animals, dogs on neighbouring properties feeling it their right to disturb the vampire, she may well have been mad. Fever did bring on disillusionment, occasionally. Though she doubted her case was so severe, Lucas had proved himself existent. That he yet was with her continually remained a question. Coming and going as he pleased she was still piqued with the context in which he lived.

“If you know this, then why would you want me to stay?” came his voice, still yet above her. Reclining in her seat she felt and looked as if she were addressing thin air. There was no use in looking up skyward to find him again. The angle was all wrong given where she sat. There was no use in moving to see him at that time. The vampire may not even be where he had been previously. “I have an inquiring mind,” she replied honestly, close to rocking in order to regain warmth. The damp chill was truly starting affect her. Trembling severely she worked hard to redirect all thoughts to warmth.

“It'd be all too easy to kill you,” he growled again, his voice a near comment to himself. Yet she was rattled by it, enough for her to jump up onto her feet to stand, step out far enough to gaze up at him. Perhaps five steps from the house she could saw him. Behind him the crescent of the mood illuminated his silhouette. “You’re not the first to threaten me,” she murmured, transfixed for by a moment before moving slowly back to the entrance to her home. Drawn to her safe quarters she knew it was important to get inside. Numbness was overtaking her toes.

“I wonder, if I go inside will you leave?” she wondered aloud, pausing with her hand on the door. Fingers sliding down the pane of wood to the knob, she was still. Warmth, she searched for it, craved it, needed it. A sweater, she needed the long sleeves and perhaps shoes of some sort. Yet he threatened her, so openly. Her gun taunted her mind, located in a small personal safe in her bedroom closet. Two things she needed in one place. But would he remain? The detective was clinging to his appearance, to a need to learn about him. Anything. Whether it was his favourite color or even further details of his youth she was hungry for them. If he left she would have nothing but a running fever and little else to draw her mind from it.

[[Bang Bang]]

Luke kept his eyes stuck on Dahlia, while she squatted over the damp floor. She was making a mess of herself in the few seconds she had been outside. He knew by the feeling in the air that the area was damp. He could taste the humidity and sense the cold dew on every leaf of grass. Yet, Dahlia remained still, only readjusting herself ever so slightly. She no longer glanced up at him. While he kept his eyes close to hers, she stared out at her lawn and patio, speaking to the atmosphere rather than to him. It would have been an odd sight to an outsider. Then again, there wasn't a single hair about the situation that wasn't odd. Lucas was a vampire, and the majority of his control was in the hands of a savage beast. Dahlia was speaking to the air, in the middle of the night, looking sicker than a dog.

“I have an inquiring mind,” she said, in response to his question. Her answer didn't sit well with him. He started to wonder if her "inquiring mind" as she put it, was taking into account the risk she put herself in simply by being near him. Surely, curiosity wasn't as valuable as all of her appendages. If all humans thought like they, they'd be lining up by the dozen, exchanging their last breath for a few answers. Lucas almost felt upset by her pathetic excuse. Didn't she have any common sense? No wonder he had to be so protective of her, she basically handed herself over to any sort of danger that crossed her path. He couldn't recognize it now, but Lucas' temper was getting shorter and shorter. Suddenly, all the little things irritated him to no end. Dahlia included. One minute he was hoping for her safety, the next he was threatening her life. “You’re not the first to threaten me,” she countered. Lucas chose to stay quiet afterward. Her defense wasn't much of one in his eyes. He may not have been the first, but he would surely be the only who could absolutely deliver his threat, if he chose to do so. He was an expert at murder and he was absolutely sure he'd leave not a single trace once he was done. Lucas started to think about how he'd execute his plan. Would he bury the body? Burn it? Perhaps he'd be too caught in his lust that he'd simply devour her, whole. “I wonder, if I go inside will you leave?” her voice interrupted. Lucas paused for a moment, evaluating her question.

“No,” he said lowly. It would be better for the both of them if Dahlia kept her distance. Her house was her only safety net.

[Korrye]

__________A momentary lapse in memory, perhaps a split second where her eyes closed and her heart slowed to that of sleep, caught her off guard. Lucas heard her comment, and openly replied to her open wondering. “No,” he said lowly and yet it carried down, gracing her ears and making her eyes jerk open, her body shake with awareness. Clenching the doorknob tightly the detective twisted the icy brass fixture to clamber inside. The warmth of the hearth flooded her. At once her cheeks flushed and her body slackened. The sudden heat made her limbs tingle, her skin soaking up what it could. For an instant she felt dizzy before she moved straight from the back doorway. The older wooden floors creaked and moaned under her short footfalls. The noise was a chorus to her sensitive hearing. Approaching the steps she hurried herself up them, taking two or three at a time until she flung herself back into the confines of her bedroom.

The mass of bedding was still a small hill on the floor, a twisted near literal knot. The space was dank, dusty in most places from a lack of general use. In the far corner the television sat off, her laptop balanced precariously on top charging. An orange flash filled the wall every off second, following the rhythm of the computer’s necessity for energy. The cordless phone on the nightstand echoed its own red light, signifying an unread message on the system. Someone would check it in the morning. Spotted parts of paint scratched away from posters taken down years before caught a person’s view upon closer inspection. Drawers hastily closed, were crooked in their slots. In one a t-shirt neck hung over the edge. Comfort was drawn from a sort of mild disorder for the detective. Everything was easier to find that way.

Clearing away strands of hair that clung to her lips and sticky cheeks, Dahlia moved into her closet to grab with needy fingers the closest sweater. A black hooded thing one size too big for her happened to be caught by her hands. Throwing it over her head she struggled to loop her arms through the sleeves, fighting bunches of fabric that nearly suffocated her as she put the thing on. Once she pulled the collar beyond her head she gasped, ruffling her hair as static sent it in every which direction. The heavy cotton and polar fleece lining choked her chilled skin. The combination of cold skin and warm fabric brought on a sort of numbness. Pulling her thick hair back into her left first, Dahlia tied it back as smoothly as she could manage. In staring at herself in the floor length mirror on the far wall she noticed how flushed she was, how pink even the tip of her nose had become. Breathing through her mouth she caught sight of the edges of her teeth, nearly straight due to orthodontic correction a decade before. When a vampire looked at her, did he see her for the body or were they focused on the beating veins and pulsing blood inside them. Drawing a hand across her neck she shivered, swallowing phlegm before moving with a short leap back into her walk-in closet.

Pulling sweatpants on over her bare legs, she moved about hurriedly. The last thing she wanted to do was arm herself. Leaning against the wall while adjusting the waist band of her pants with one hand, she dialled the combination on the safe with the other. The thin fireproof box was her father’s, a cheap thing with no formal locking mechanism. In pulling it open there was no clunk of a heavy bar releasing. It wasn’t something she focused on instead she grabbed a hold of her black, standard issue, glock pistol inside. The gun was cool to her touch. Once in her hand she ran a standard check over the round of ammunition and arming devices. Keeping the safety on, she shoved the weapon into the elastic of waistband of her sweats before moving back downstairs. The gun was protection. Threats had been made. It was custom, as an officer, that heading into a dangerous situation she have some form of...weapon on her person. There was this, this gun that she needed to own and know she could use in the event that...no. She wouldn't think about it.

There was doubt in her mind, that perhaps he’d simply told her what she wanted to hear. Pulling her feet into slip on sneakers, Dahlia rushed out onto the driveway, searching the rooftop for any sign of him. “You had to have come here for something,” she whispered, cautiously peering behind her and down the gravel driveway that led to the main road. “Are truly what you say you are?"

[[Bang Bang]]

Dahlia stumbled into the protection of her home where she began to scramble in an uneven rhythm. The rumble of her foot steps clambering from room to room sounded to Lucas like a ruckus coming from a drunkard. Dahlia was not delicate nor graceful, though he had barely ever noted her moments when she had been. Humans could not carry themselves with the same strength and precision as his species could. Nevertheless, tonight was one of her more worse moments. The house squealed with tension, where ever Dahlia came into contact with it. The floorboards croaked underneath her weight - she had spent all of her life neglecting the soft spots in the balls of her feet. The stairs bellowed out thunderous crashes while the human rushed over them. Lucas' sensitive ears nearly caused him to flinch from the volume. And yet outside, all was calm. The trees loomed overhead with a drowsiness to their branches, as if they too, were capturing sleep. The street lights were dim all the way to the very end of the road, creating a picturesque scenery that would beckon any tourist to make the effort to visit. Lucas only saw minor details in the neighborhood; the nearly invisible markings of a world he was comfortable with. In the lawn of the home one stretch from Dahlia's porch, there was a scuff in the almost perfect grass. From the looks of it, it was the work of a small animal - most likely a dog. Across the street from that house was another home. A two story. The farthest left window on the second level of the home had an unlocked window in which an adult could squeeze their way in. Towards the end of the line of suburban homes, there was an awful smell radiating out of the trash can waiting at the edge of the street. Lucas had caught it early on, but pushed it to the back of his mind. Now, he was debating if it was a rotting animal or left over food that had gone bad months ago.

The small town of Ames Lake was actually doing it's part in distracting Lucas. That is, until his careful ears caught onto that sound. Immediately, he was familiar with the tone. It brought out a handful of emotions from the pit of Lucas' gut, all out of instinct. Years of conditioning had done such to him. Metal clicking against metal, securing a small piece of lead into it's pocket, ready to spark violence. That sound was unmistakable, even to humans. Somewhere inside the house he was crouched over, Dahlia had just cocked a gun. Lucas struggled to choke back his growl. Just imagining the disgusting object somewhere near him, set him off. What was worse was that Dahlia was going to be the one handling it. She was bound to return to him at any given moment now. There was no way to predict if she'd be holding it in clear sight or not, but he had no doubt it'd be somewhere on her person. And such actions formed a response out of Lucas. Reaching delicately for the gutter of the roof, he clung with ease while the rest of his body swiveled over the edge. His toes lightly made contact with the porch ground, creating only a soft patter before he was back in balance with himself. Dahlia was rushing back to where she had left him. The chorus she made in her wake beckoned Lucas to make a decision quickly. Flee. He would leave, despite his verbal agreement not to. It was foolish to have arrived at her doorstep anyways. He was not strong enough to withstand her power over him. Admitting it was almost as painful as bearing it, but it was the truth. Taking a few steps out onto the driveway, he could feel himself dragging his heels. Parts of him still weren't ready to depart. A very big portion of him wouldn't settle for anything less than blood. Dahlia was nearly at her door now, and he was still lingering. He mentally cursed to himself. Whatever conscience he had left in him was fighting for it's escape, but his hunger suffocated the voice.

“You had to have come here for something,” a curious voice whispered in a nulling voice. Lucas inhaled through his lips, while his eyes rolled to the back of his head. He couldn't leave. His feet had turned to stone. He quietly turned around to see a young girl, gazing up at her roof, looking for her visitor. She had not yet spotted him, but he would not take advantage of the opportunity to disappear. Her control was too strong. Her hair was still disheveled, except now she had pulled it back. There was still a small sheet of sweat over her skin - a symptom of something he did not understand. It was freezing outside, he knew this from the way Dahlia shook and the change of clothes she made. And yet, her body was reacting differently. Lucas forced noise to come from his walking, to catch her attention. She had yet to learn that he had moved himself from the roof. In the meantime, his eyes were digging into ever corner of her body, searching for the weapon she had on her. Dahlia chose not to reveal it, as if it were possible to keep something so revolting from him. Her careless decision made his emotions flare up. He had refused to answer her first remark. Dahlia was a detective, but she was announcing all of her clues. Lucas was at her doorstep, and he was starving beyond belief. It didn't take much to put two and two together, but he wasn't going to admit to his weakness. Instead, she came at him from a different angle. “Are truly what you say you are?" For a second, it almost sounded as if Dahlia had let a hint of fear slip past her lips. Or was that disgust? It was so hard to tell. There was no changing what Lucas was, but there was an infinite amount of reactions that could come from Dahlia, pending on his answer. Peering up from his ground level position, he could now see the full glare of the moon. It was more than likely flooding light onto his pale skin. It was always in this light he looked most like himself. His skin was a milky white, too colorless to be human but too surreal to be dead. His eyes glowed the most, under a full moon. The icy blue begged for a meal and tried all of it's cunning tricks to sway it's prey into submission. Though a calming aura hung over him, there was still a savage glint in his eye. As if the lure was too perfect to be true. It could bring an uneasy suspicion into anyone's hearts, and cause unexplainable panic. All these details, that normally would be missed on any other night, surfaced because of the light of the moon. Perhaps that was why Dahlia was asking now.

“I am,” he answered earnestly. Lucas' fangs very cautiously started to extend in a sloward fashion. He could feel himself losing control. It hit a critical point when he inhaled through his nostrils, expecting to be overwhelmed with Dahlia's scent. Instead, he got a mix of aromas instead. The most powerful of the group was the nauseating smell of gun powder. Lucas hissed with fury, reminding himself of what he should not have lost sight of. “You want to use that on me,” Lucas accused, pointing towards her waist where he guessed she was hiding her weapon at. “Don't provoke me, Dahlia.” Lucas' voice was stern now, and coming close to it's boiling point. Lucas' hands had long since been cuffed into fists, tightly wound and trying to restrain the frustration that was leaking past him. “I should-I should...” It took everything he had to prevent his sentence from becoming a threat. What he wanted to do was rip Dahlia apart, limb from limb, and then devour her like an animal. However, he knew that what he wanted was not what he should do. So instead, he took a step backwards and attempted correcting himself. “I need to leave. I should not be here,” he declared, as he spun on his heel and put all his effort in forcing his feet to step away from Dahlia.

[Korrye]

__________Since she had been a child Dahlia had learned to conquer her fears of the unknown. Given her job at the precinct she acted on instinct under pressure. Allowing her mind to control her actions and not her emotions was a talent well practiced. For years she’d mastered it and possessed no qualms about hunting down serial killers of the violent sort. Now as her poor sight tried to break through the barrier of the night light she could feel her control slipping past her grip. Fear riddled her body making her shakey and not at all certain. The fever continued to push at her temples adding an overbearing sense of pressure on her head. In her ears the heavy rhythm of her heart pounded on. If she stood still she felt as if she swayed with its thunderous beat.

The moon acted as a spotlight for her and it came as a shock to her eyes. The light caught the side of his face illuminating the sharp profile of his face. The surface and complexion of his skin was flawless, as smooth as polished porcelain. Lucas averted his eyes from her and yet they were what made her caught her breath and step back two hesitant steps. The gravel crunched beneath her shoes emitting the sort of noise that seemed to match thunder on a stormy night. It was his eyes that hooked her, may her head tilt slightly to the left. The fear in her face melted in a moment leaving her eyes wide and lips slightly parted to breathe.

“I am,” he answered and she held her air intake for nearly a minute at this answer. In speaking the vampire’s lips parted. The light caught the glint of his fangs. Dahlia narrowed her eyes before blinking several times to ensure she wasn’t dreaming this man’s appearance up. Pinching her thigh to ensure this wasn’t some dreamed up façade did nothing. Lucas was there, as he had been before. He was right in front of her, showing his weapons, showing himself and there was little she could do, say. All her body wanted to do was watch him. Soaking him in made the pain in her temples lessen. He was like a drug to her system, numbing all senses simply with his presence and lulling voice.

The calm was broken, however, as a feral hiss filled the air. Dahlia cried out lowly waking up from her thoughts and feelings. Stepping back again she held her hands up towards him in earnest. “You want to use that on me,” Lucas accused, extending his arm towards the waistband of her jeans. The lead of the gun was made ten pounds heavier by his acknowledging it. Dahlia faltered and shook her head, guilt welling in her stomach. He knew of her weapon, somehow. “N—n—no. No,” she stammered, her words choking up her throat. “Don't provoke me, Dahlia,” Lucas warned and the use of her name made her hands ball into fists. Shaking her head she swallowed and exhaled deeply. Calming her racing heart was one thing, speaking was another entirely. “Lucas, I,” Dahlia began, feeling her lip quiver and her mind drawing blanks for words. Explaining her need to arm herself was no short detail. It took her several seconds to gather a response. The hiss he’d thrown at her had silenced the remainder of wildlife. There wasn’t a cricket chirping, a bird rustling or even the distant bark of a dog. “It’s a precaution, it’s just an assurance."

To see his hands so tightly clenched into fists at his sides made her weary. Dahlia kept herself where she was. It seemed to her that if she moved even a step forward or back any longer he might strike. “I should-I should...” he snarled which only made her heart race further.

Anticipating a threat, some form of insult or exclamation only left her waiting. Anxious for it, her heart leapt into her throat. His silence endured, even as he began to shift. He moved away from her. No, but she didn’t want him to leave! She stepped after him to reclaim the distance he began to put between them.

“I need to leave. I should not be here,” he declared to which she swallowed and opened her mouth to speak only to at first be silent. Turning his back on her, he began to walk away. That was the only thing that made her regain her courage. With his face out of her sight she felt determined to keep him there. “Please,” she cried out after him. Dahlia looked out at her hands which were still extended in a defensive gesture to him. Everything was happening so fast. What on earth could she say or do for him, to make him stay and explain himself? Hunger, perhaps? If he was a vampire as he had reaffirmed he was then…“Drink from me,” she told him, dropping her hands so that she may jog after him. In his haste to leave he’d made his own way down the drive, almost to the main road even. He was so far away doubt lingered that he may not even catch her words. Dahlia’s steps were heavy. Her exhausted and feverish body refused to run. Though physically her body was in the best shape she’d been in months it was late, it had been a long day. She had to stop midway. “Drink from me,” she offered a second time, feeling the surge of her headache gather over her eyes. This was all she could think to give to him. If he was what he said he was, a vampire, then she hoped her offer wouldn’t sound like a sick joke. Sincerity was present in her words, of the absolute sort.

[[Bang Bang]]

So he had made up his mind. There was no denying his choice was a foolish one. Hungry vampires didn't visit humans just to chat. He had wanted blood all along. As much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, Lucas was sure of it now. Dahlia was a walking blood bank. Her deposit was the richest kind known to earth. Lucas had become obsessed with the prize she held from him. In a matter of days, she was tearing down any sort of self respect he had left. There was a thin line between what he would and wouldn't do for a taste of what was coursing through her veins. But no more. Mustering up all the strength he had left in him, he began to turn for the road outside of Dahlia's house and find shelter somewhere else. Though aggravated, Lucas' anger allowed him a distraction from his hunger for a brief few seconds but it was enough to help him escape. The more steps he took away from the human, the better he felt about himself. She was becoming just a thought. A poorly thought out idea that would have ended in possible murder, had he gone through with it. In a way, Lucas was saving Dahlia's life. Perhaps her decision to bring a gun outside wasn't such a bad idea after all (though Lucas would never in his lifetime admit it).

“Please,” Dahlia's voice trailed with yearning. Lucas did not slow his pace, however. One foot in front of the other. All he had to do was keep walking and eventually he'd be completely free from her spell. Lucas was already planning out how he'd pick off a late night stranger in the city, a few miles off. Drain them to the borderline of safe then maybe find another to do the same to. If he was going to face Dahlia tomorrow, he'd have to be completely full to assure himself that he wouldn't desire a single drop of her blood. It wasn't going to be the best meal available, but it'd get him through the week and strengthen his self restraint. The two unlucky humans who he chose to feed from might eventually need to be hospitalized but he'd make sure they got the care they needed. It was a small town so they'd be very likely to be admitted right away in the middle of the ni- “Drink from me,” Dahlia stated. Her words shot like a bullet into Luke's mind, faster than anything the weapon at her waist could fire. Lucas' pupils dilated to their full extent at that point. He found himself immobile despite the great progress he was making down the driveway. Though his eyes were fixated on the road ahead of him, all that was really going through his thoughts was the taste of what Dahlia was offering. Freely. He didn't need to ask or glamor her into allowing him access. From her own free will, she was asking - no, telling - him to do what he wanted most in this world.

How could he turn away from such an offer? What possible strength could he muster up to fight something that was so absolute and perfect? He couldn't even attempt to try and deny what desires he held. Deep within himself, Lucas was cursing every god he could think of. Dahlia was an idiot for handing over something so precious. He was nearly positive he would kill her; every instinct in his body was telling him to. And yet she still stood there waiting, hoping, he'd do as she said. “Drink from me,” she again said. Lucas noticed himself turning back around and facing her once more. Their eyes met and he could immediately see the desire in her eyes, though different from his. She honestly wanted to give her blood to him. As much as he tried to look for a morsel of regret or fear in her appearance, he found none. By now, Lucas was a slave to her requests. He would have jumped through hoops or kissed the ground she walked on if it meant being able to feed on her. As a test, he took one step towards her to examine her reaction. Nothing. She didn't flinch or gasp - not a single stir from her that would indicate a refusal. If anything, it seemed as though her hopes shot higher. Lucas then extended his arms out and closed the gap entirely. He had no patience to be gentle with Dahlia. Her offer had been taken and now, he was assuming command. With one hand he tilted back her head and exposed the unmarked flesh on her neck. Warm milky white skin nearly glimmered under the moon light. If he still had one, it would have made Luke's heart race. With his other hand, Lucas pressed his thumb into Dahlia's skin and dragged it downward to create a medium sized gash. Blood immediately started to swell around his fingernail and form a small bubble on her skin. In seconds, it would start to drip down to her chest if he wasn't quick enough. Lucas carefully lifted his stained thumb up to his lips to take delight in the flavor that was about to consume him. The second the small amount touched his taste buds, he became the beast within. Very carefully, he moved the hand which was holding Dahlia's head back up, over her lips. He tightly clamped down, making sure she couldn't give so much as a squeal that would alarm any neighbors. Then he presumed his long awaited meal by pressing both of his lips to her wound.

The taste was incapable of being matched. Due to her fever, it was remarkably warm which made her all the more lovely to take from. Sheer bliss consumed him as he swallowed down as much blood as he could steal from her. The more he drank, the more he wanted. This wasn't his usual kind of feeding, where he eventually began to get full. No, with Dahlia, Lucas felt greedy. He felt desperate and rapacious. He wanted everything she had to offer and would challenge any obstacle that got in his way. He would take down entire cities, burn thousands of acres of land, or slaughter millions if it meant having more of her blood. The taste was beyond words, that was for sure. But if he had to try, Luke would probably say drinking from her was almost like being alive again. More than that, it was like being perfect in every way; needing nothing and having everything. For the brief moments that he was consuming from her, Lucas was complete. Using the hand that wasn't tightly fastened over Dahlia's lips, he dig his fingers into her spine, forcing her closer to him. He wasn't gentle but he was just careful enough to not break skin. More of Dahlia's blood flowed into Luke, and he was still not ready to stop. She didn't have enough to supply both herself and him, which was becoming more of a problem as they progressed. Dahlia's heart beat was starting to get louder and louder, like a war drum directly in his ear. He needed to stop soon or he'd kill her. But his grasp was so tight on her already, he couldn't imagine just letting her go now. In the back of his mind, his conscious began to gain it's control. As Dahlia's pulse got louder, he started to worry more about her health and safety. His body was still consumed with the idea of killing her though. It would not be easy to release her and he doubted she had that sort of time. Instead, he went with the only idea he could think of in such a short amount of time. Placing his tongue in between both of his teeth, Luke bit down as hard as he could and immediately felt the immense amount of pain of nearly chewing entirely through it. The shock forced Luke's head away from Dahlia's neck while he hissed out a loud, snarling cry. Lucas inhaled as much air as his lungs could handle, trying to get a grip on reality. A mixture of his and Dahlia's blood flooded his mouth and spilled out from the sides of his lips. He caught sight of the hole in Dahlia's neck which was still flowing, and decided to run his tongue across it, leaving a smear of blood on her skin. While her wounds healed, he waited for his tongue to do the same.

From the way she became putty in his arms, he knew Dahlia was incapable of standing on her own two feet. Taking in another large gasp for air, Luke carried Dahlia to her porch. As carefully as he could he sat her with her back leaning against a wall then bent down in front of her. Pressing one cold hand to her cheek, he checked for vital signs and tried to keep her from blacking out. There was a pretty good chance he had taken too much of her blood for her to recover on her own. He'd have to give some back to her, so that she could heal. “It's your turn now,” he whispered. Raising his wrist to his mouth, he released his fangs and winced as they surged deep into his skin. Then he offered the wrist back to Dahlia by pressing it to her lips.

[Korrye]

__________Watching the vampire contemplate her words made her skin crawl. Goose flesh erupted across her shoulders, winding its way up her neck before heading down her spine. The weight of her body was exhausting. Dahlia stood and her arms felt heavier, her hands like weights. With her feet firmly planted where they were she doubted she could move them even if she tried. Doing so would require adrenaline, something she just didn’t have. Mustering it seemed impossible. Lucas turned to face her. One moment his back was turned and the next he was fixated on her with a piercing stare. Dahlia didn’t flinch or step back from him, though perhaps she swayed forward slightly. She met his gaze with her own fiery eyes though, in all fairness, the energy behind hers was but a fraction of what Lucas was sending her way. Within his stare she found an electric energy or magnetism to which she found she was now drawn and semi-repulsed at the same time. Despite this Dahlia was continuing to be honest in her offering. Perhaps it was because he’d saved her life already, it seemed only fair. Her conscience, on the other hand, told her it was more that if he drank from her then others wouldn’t fall victim to him. Her inner philanthropist was showing.

The extent of Lucas’ hunger appeared physically as if he were suffering starvation. With a second offering of her blood to him the vampire didn’t seem to hesitate any longer. This got her heart racing. As fast as Lucas had turned to face her, he was taking hold of her in his arms. The vampire’s arm snaked around her back under her left arm, grasping her the same way an aggressive man would. The strength of his touch made her jittery. Licking her lips she inhaled sharply, feeling his proximity drowning her senses. His right hand pushed her head away from him. The movement caused her hair to fall away from her shoulders and down her back. The night air caught her neck and she held her breath, feeling a certain fear but swallowing it regardless. The same hand traced her neck. The coolness of his presence had her on edge, waiting.

The puncture of his thumb into her neck scared her, and she squirmed uselessly as was human habit to avoid pain. Absorbing the impact of his gouge made her cry out. Lucas was pre-occupied. Dahlia followed his movements as best she good given the angle of her view. Slowly Lucas brought his bloody thumb to his lips to taste. Disbelief took over her. Perhaps that too was part of the reason she’d asked him to feed on her, just to prove that he was what he said he was: a vampire. Dahlia’s lip trembled. Obviously now this was very real. Lucas didn’t waste a second. A sudden inhale was cut short. Lucas’ right hand clamped down over her chin and mouth, resting tight to her nose. Dahlia remained silent. Before she knew it his lips pressed against her jugular.

Many times in her life she’d had blood drawn. In fact the rareness of her blood type had always led her to donating as often as she could. The feeling of a blood donation wasn’t something she could describe easily. In fact most times the only sensation she knew was when it was over, the tired slightly nauseated feeling that could sometimes be overwhelming. It was always mind over matter. The thoughts came now by way of comparison and yet there was no equivalent to what was happening. Lucas was taking and taking, continuing to drink and saturate himself. The strength of his hold intensified and she moaned in accord. His fingers stretched along her lower spine, completely pressing her against his chest but also digging into her skin. Dahlia’s hands took hold of his arms, pressing on what felt like solid marble as hard as she could to relieve her stress and shock.

For the first few seconds Dahlia’s body remained taught and rigid, her muscles tight. She didn’t breathe. It seemed as if she fell into the rhythm of his intake. Slowly her head seemed to lean into his palm more than hold its own. The tight ferocity of her hold on him slackened until her hands dropped lankily to her sides. She moaned in pleasure. He was evoking feelings in her she hadn’t ever felt. A tingling sensation raced all throughout her body in waves. Soon enough she felt as if she were floating, weight escaped her. Lucas began to feel warm and comforting. Tiredness fell over her.

The snarl jerked to an awareness of her surroundings, pulling her from a reverie of pleasure and color. The noise startled her, jarring her body with a vibration that seemed to echo through her limbs. Instinct led her to anxiously pull away from him, tossing her shoulders back painfully. Lucas held her tightly to him and the attempted movement made her feel faint. A blurry black cloud took over her vision. At once her ears began to ring. The noise buzzed behind her eyes before following up with the extremely rapid pace of her heart. Lucas licked her then, right over the wound, causing her to jerk once more. Forcing herself forward to lean her weight against the vampire’s broad chest, she inhaled. Dahlia squeezed her eyes shut and let out a short breath.

What Lucas did next she did not anticipate. The vampire pulled her into his arms, looping his right arm under her knees, keeping his left behind her back. The motion made her groan lowly. Her eyes flickered but her lids felt so much better when they were closed. One moment she was in his arms the next she felt her bum graze the ground. Dahlia’s head rolled and she kept her eyes closed. Bringing a hand up to her eyes she started to rub at them. Slowly, her lips parted and she began to breathe deeply through her mouth. A cold stroke against her cheek made her flinch, tossing her head the other direction and slightly back into the wall. His fingers traced her neck and wrist quickly. Everything was starting to fade away. Mentally she was focused on herself. Dahlia’s thoughts wandered to her body, counting herself through breathes, ensuring that she didn’t stop. His voice was loud and booming when he did speak, causing her to sit upright and then slump within two seconds entirely.

“It's your turn now,” he whispered. There was no way of knowing that he held his wrist to her lips. Liquid touched her lips and with her mouth open, passed down onto her tongue. Willingly she licked Lucas’ wrist to be rid of whatever had entered her mouth. More came instead, more of this liquid that perplexed her. Swallowing slowly she closed her lips completely, letting herself settle. For an instant she felt better, lighter. Now her body seemed to understand and take charge. Dahlia licked his wound twice more before pursing her lips to the cut and sucking a long draw. It was irresistible this tantalizing liquid. It was thicker than any regular fluid, something that she seemed to absorb even before swallowing. It was delightful. It made her excited somehow, and content. Her hands grabbed onto his arm and held onto it, pulling him closer to her. As he began to pull away she tried her best to hold him closer to him. It was not even before another draw from him that he freed himself of her grip completely.

Dahlia found that she had no words to say, no way of expressing what was on her mind or how she felt. Coughing slightly she pulled her hand to her mouth, blinking away slight grit from her eyes. As her vision became clearer she held her hand in front of her to see the dark crimson speckle pattern on her palm. A realization came to her mind. She gasped, leveling her gaze with him. Her eyes spoke a certain curiosity and fear over what she had just done and seen him do. The presence of her fever diminished and her head felt clear and light. Dahlia felt completely well. Swallowing she raised her hand to touch her neck where he had gouged her with his thumb. She was astonished.