Fan Fiction ❯ Kiss Me Hard ❯ A Vampire's Trick ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

They continued to walk down the street. The two didn’t speak much–feeling that there wasn’t much to say.
Nicole thought about everything that had happened, before she finally looked at him.
A frown formed on her lips as she noticed his shoulders were slumped, he cringed with every step, and there was a limp to his walk.
Finally, after a few minutes longer, she grabbed his arm and yanked him into an alley–only to quickly release him.
“Your cloak!” She gasped in surprise, shaking her hand quickly as if it burnt, “It’s hot–“
He took her hand and looked at it, “Are you alright?”
She nodded a little as he ran his thumb over her hand gently, before hesitatingly releasing it, “Now...Why did we stop...?” He asked curiously as he leaned back against one of the walls in the shadowed alley.
“You...” Nicole began, trying to find the right words, “...Looked like every step you took was one in pain.” she spoke softly, looking at him.
They both fell dead silent, before the man chuckled lightly and reached forwards, placing a slender hand upon her bare arm.
Despite how hot his cloak was–his touch was still ice cold.
“I’m fine.” He whispered softly as Nicole frowned.
“Well...is there anyway to avoid the streets?” She asked quietly, dreading the answer she already knew as she averted her gaze tot he sunlit street.
The man remained quiet for a moment, before shaking his head.
“No...” He whispered softly, “There is no other way–though,” He quickly added as she bowed her head in defeat, frowning, “We’re almost there.”
Nicole nodded weakly as he squeezed her shoulder gently before walking to the en of the alley.
She hesitated for a moment, before following after him slowly.
When they entered the street once more, he tapped her shoulder and pointed towards the forest that surrounded the city they lived in.
She nodded and they quickened their pace.
It took them both a matter of minutes to reach the forests edge.
He paused for a moment, before gently taking her hand and tugging her gently towards a path that was barely visible.
They continued down the path. Nicole looked at her hand and raised her eyebrows as she noticed he still held her hand.
‘It’s probably to make sure I don’t get separated from him.’ she reasoned with herself as she let him lead her along the path.
It seemed like the longer they walked, the thicker the air got.

Finally, the two pushed through a bush and emerged into a clearing, stumbling onto a cobble stoned pathway that lead up to an old, large house.
Nicole paused, staring at the house in awe as the man continued to the house.
He stopped at the door of the vine-covered house and looked at her, grinning a little.
“Nicole? Are you okay?” he called softly.
Nicole, embarrassed that she was caught off guard staring at a house, nodded as she quickly walked along the house till she came to a halt beside him.
“Do you life here?” She asked curiously, looking around her before looking at him.
His hood was down now, and a smile was upon his thin, pale lips.
She was a little taken aback when he put his hood down, but when she looked up, she noticed the sky was obscured by a forest canopy, blocking the sun’s harmful rays.
“I used to have company, but since the last raid, they never came back–so I have this place to myself.”
Nicole nodded a little as he turned and opened the door.
Despite the condition of the house outside, the inside makes up for it.
The inside of the house was varnished in old Victorian.
The floors were oak-hardwood. The walls were a deep shade of red with dark wooden molds and floor boards.
Candles were lit all around the room.
One thing Nicole noticed almost right away was the boarded windows.
‘He’s a vampire.’ she reminded herself.
When the man closed the door, she jumped a little in surprise as she brought herself back to reality.
“This is my home.” He whispered softly as he stood not too far from her, looking around the room.
When he got no reply, he chuckled softly and continued.
“To your left is the living room. To your right and down the hall is the kitchen–and stairs leading tot he basement.” He looked at her as he slowly unbuttoned his cloak, then shrugged it off and walks to the couch, dropping it on the back.
He turned to look at her, fixing his top.
The vampire wore a Victorian-styled dress shirt that was fitted to his upper torso and draped down his arms.
A black, padded vest was over the dress shirt–as if to add protection.
Black, dress-like pants hugged his hips securely and draped down his legs, gracing his black dress shoes.
Nicole swept her deep emerald gaze over the warm, welcoming looking room, before her gaze came to rest on his.
“What’s in the basement?” She asked curiously.
“My room–and a throne room.” He stated simply.
“And upstairs?” She tilted her head.
“More bedrooms, a library, bathrooms, and...well, you don’t need to worry about the other room.” He nodded.
Silence fell over the two, before he coughed.
“Ah, yes. Vampires do come here occasionally, I must warn. If...Actually, Never mind. Come.’ He gestured to the living room, “Please. Sit. I believe you have some more questions.”
Nicole nodded and moved to a chair in the living room.
She was silent for a moment as he poured them both drinks, then walked to her and held one of the glasses out.
She hesitated, and he chuckled, “Go on. It’s not like I poisoned it.”
Nicole laughed nervously as she took the glass carefully, as to not spill it on herself.
He sat down not too far from her in a chair.
Silence had once again fallen over the two.
After a few minutes of silence–and Nicole stirring the drink with her finger–she spoke.
“...What’s your name?” She paused, then continued, “Or–at least–What should I call you?”
The man remained quiet as he took a drank from his drink, then he turned his head away and leaned back in the chair, both his hands on the small scotch glass as he made the glass’ contents swirl with the floating ice cubes. He didn’t look at her as he spoke.
“My name...” He muttered, as if trying to remember. “It’s been so long.”
“Do you remember your name?” Nicole asked softly, tilting her head as she looked up from her drink and stared intently upon him.
He looked back at her again, and smiled faintly, “I remember. It’s Darius. Darius Val’core.”
“Well, Darius...How old are you?” Nicole asked curiously as she leaned back in to the corner of the couch, crossing one leg over the other as she sipped her drink briefly, her emerald gaze still intent upon his own.
“Wow, uhm...My age.” Darius laughed nervously, “I don’t remember.”
Nicole raised both eyebrows in surprise, lowering the glass, “You mean–you’ve been a vampire long enough to forget?”
Darius nodded, finishing off his drink as he tilted his head back with the glass to his thin lips. He drank it with one gulp, before shuddering and placing the glass on a table beside him, “My kin live a long time.”
“I see.” She murmured, watching him, before looking down at her drink.
There was one question that lingered in her head, constantly begging for an answer she couldn’t give. She finally put her question in words, not bothering to think much of it as she asked, “Why didn’t you kill me in the alley last night?” She paused, then looked up at him as she continued, “I mean, I can imagine you’ve had many prey before...What makes me so different from them?”
Darius looked at her for a moment, before closing his eyes for a moment.
A moment of silence passed, before he decided to avoid answering that–for the moment. Instead, he asked her another question.
“Will you be staying here for the night?”
Nicole blinked, “Wait, you–“
“Pardon?” He tilted his head.
She sighed, realizing he wasn’t going to answer. She bowed her head a little, averting her gaze to the dark liquid that swirled in her glass, “Do I have a choice?” She asked softly.
Darius, seeing her defeated look, frowned a little, but answered, “You do...” He whispered softly, pulling his chair a little closer to her.
Nicole shrugged, “The way I see it–I don’t really have a choice.”
Darius quirked an eyebrow at this, “I’m not gonna stop you if you wish to go home–“
She cut him off and looked up at him.
“I know.” She whispered weakly, “But mark will be waiting for me...”
“Right...I forgot about him...” Darius muttered, before leaning forwards and taking one of her hands into his own gently, “Feel free to stay here, Nicole...It’s safe.” He whispered reassuringly, his thumb running over the back of her hand gently.
After a moment, Nicole smiled, and nodded weakly, “Thank you.”
Silence once more fell over them.
Finally, Darius spoke, “Well, I must go to sleep. Do you need me to show you a room?”
Nicole shook her head, “No, I think I can find one.”
He nodded, then placed a hand on her cheek and gently pulled head forwards and pressed his lips to her forehead, kissing her softly.
Nicole blushed lightly, closing her eyes completely.
Finally, he pulled away, and after a moment of hesitation, took his hand from her cheek.
He stood up, “Sweet dreams.” He spoke softly, before turning and vanished down the hall that lead to the stairs–which lead to his sleeping quarters.
Nicole sat in silence, watching his retreating back, before she herself got to her feet.
Looking about her, she stumbled to the stairs case that lead upstairs.
She walked up the stairs and found herself at the end of a hallway.
She walked forwards, her arms crossed as she ventured forwards into the dimly lit hallway.
Nicole tried several doors along the hallway. However, they were all locked.
Finally, she turned the knob to one room. She entered and looked around.
It as a bedroom.
Looked around her, she took in her unfamiliar surroundings.
A 4 post bed sat in the middle of the room. A dresser was located near by, accompanied with a vanity desk which had a mirror on it.
She closed her door and walked to the satin-sheeted bed. Kicking off her boots after unlacing them, Nicole pulled off her shirt and dug her toes into the shaggy texture of the carpet that tickled her feet as she made her way tot he bed.
She pulled the sheets back and yawned lightly, clambering into the bed and pulling the sheets up and letting herself get comfortable in the foreign bed.
Almost immediately did drowsiness hit her.
However, she bolted up as she realized something. Lifting her wrist into view, she gazed at her watch with a grunt.
It was only 1–in the afternoon.
“As if.” She muttered, letting her back fall back onto the mattress.
After staring up at the dark ceiling for what felt like hours, she grunted and swung her legs off to the side and stood up.
A shiver coursed through Nicole’s body as she grabbed her shirt and pulled it back on.
She paced over to the door and out into the hallway.
She looked at her watch and sighed.
2:00
Nicole hesitated for a few minutes before heading to the stairs.
She walked down in to the living room.
Looking about her in the dark, Nicole crossed her arms–as if hugging herself–and moved to the stairs that were at the end of the hallway that lead past the kitchen.
She paused at the doorway and looked down the stairs, as if trying to decide whether she wanted to really go down there.
After a moment, she took a deep breath, before descending down the stair well.
Once she reached the bottom, she looked about her–slightly confused as to what laid before her.
It was a fairly large room, but what got her the most was that it was a room converted into a bar.
However, the bar was empty.
Directly across the room from her was the bar top.
Biting her lip, Nicole continued in to the poorly lit room.
Beside the bar was yet another hallway. She took a minute at the bar, looking around herself, before she ventured down the hall beside the bar– which was to the right.
Upon entering the hall, she was aware that this was not like the other halls–which caught her off-guard slightly, for she expected there to be doors along this one, like there was upstairs in the dorm hall–but instead, there was just one.
Which, she thought to herself, “is the vampires sleeping quarters...”
Slowly walking down the hall, she started to have second thoughts about coming down here–However, it was too late to turn back.
She was already at the door.
Hesitating for a moment, Nicole finally placed a hand on the knob of the door.
Turning it was ease, she pushed on the heavy door and entered the dark room.
A cold breeze almost immediately hit her fac. Her hair was blown back as she entered the rom.
Nicole found visibility hard, but gasped when she realized she was standing at the entrance to an inside garden.
She looked about herself as she closed the door gently. She moved down a path as she looked at the black rose bushes that sat on either side of the path.
She paused to study a rose, the black petals felt like silk beneath her gentle touch.
After a moment, Nicole continued down the path tills he found herself in a small clearing.
The roses formed a wide circle–and in the circle was a bed.
The sheets of the bed looked like silk. The red blanket added an elegant touch to the Victorian varnished bed.
The white sheets ruffled slightly as the sleeping figure in the bed shifter and rolled onto their side.
Nicole approached the bed slowly, feeling a small hint of nervousness rise within her as her gaze came to rest on the face of Darius.
He appeared to be sound asleep. She walked up right next to the bed and looked down at him.
Stray strands of hair fell across his face as he sighed in his sleep.
Nicole hesitated for a moment, before reaching forwards and gently brushing the hair from his face.
Just then, His hand shot up and grasped her wrist gently as his eyes opened.
She let out a small yelp in surprise.
For a moment, both Nicole and Darius stared at each other in silence, his grip still on her wrist, before he sat up and swung his legs to the side of the bed.
Nicole, blinking at first, quickly turned her head away with a blush when she realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Darius tilted his head as he took her other hand so he was holding both of them gently, “Hey...Is something wrong?” He asked softly.
Nicole found she blushed more when he took her hands. She wasn’t use to such affection as hand holding. It took her a moment, before she could look at him with a cough. She tried to think of what to say, before speaking.
“I only sleep at night...” She muttered.
Darius chuckled softly, “Right. I forgot–it’s been a while since I’ve been in the company of a...Human. Forgive me.” He smiled, “What time is it?”
Nicole pulled her left hand out of his and shook it a little so she could see the watch to tell the time.
“4:00.” She murmured.
Darius nodded a little and looked around his room, “Have you ever been in a place like this?” He tilted his head as he brought his yellow gaze to her own once more.
Nicole shook her head, “No...It’s truly beautiful here...”
He smiled as he stood up, releasing her hands and walked to one of the rose bushes.
Nicole remained by the bed turning to watch him. To her relief, he was wearing pants.
Darius gently took hold of one of the roses and used a dagger that was attached to his leg to cut it loose.
He looked at the rose and turned to her. He walked to so he was standing in front of her, and held out the black rose.
Nicole looked at the rose before taking it gently into her own hands. However, she quickly dropped it with a small gasp.
“Damn.” She muttered, looking at her hand, “It pricked me...”
Darius leaned down and picked up the rose. He slowly stood up and looked down at her hand.
Her index finger bled at the tip.
He hesitated for a moment, before placing the rose on the bed and taking her hand with his own gently.
He raised her hand to his lips and softly licked the blood from her finger tip.
Nicole watch him. A small shiver coursing down her spin as he licked the blood from her finger. She didn’t try to pull away, However.
Darius lowered her hand after a moment and brought his gaze to rest on hers.
Silence fell between them, before he raised a hand and placed it on her cheek as he took a step closer to her.
Darius looked down at her through half lidded eyes before her leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.
Nicole blushed immensely when he kissed her.
For a moment, thoughts of pulling away and how they just met went through her mind. However, these thoughts vanished as a sense of safety and security swept over her, removing her of her fears. She moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned into the kiss, closing her eyes completely.
Darius wrapped his arms around her. One of his hands rested on his lower back as his other hand grasped the back of her neck gently.
They stood there, locked in a kiss, before he gently broke it and pulled back to gaze down at her.
He ran his fingers lightly over her lips as she opened her eyes and looked at him.
Nicole found herself speechless. She didn’t know what to say.
After yet another moment of silence, Nicole leaned up and kissed him once more, before she pulled back and rested her head on his chest.
When Nicole kissed him, Darius was taken off guard. However, he returned her kiss. When she rested her head on his bare chest, he ran his fingers through her red hair, closing his eyes as he kept his other arm around her protectively.
Nicole found herself surprised by how cold his skin was against her cheek.
She closed her eyes, before speaking, “Is this some kind of Vampiric trick...? The safety I feel...it’s almost inhuman...”
Darius chuckled softly and slipped two fingers under her chin, tilting he rhead up so he could look into her emerald eyes, “Nah.” He grinned a little, “If i was going to trick you...I would more then likely try and seduce you–like most vampires do to their prey. If I did...You’d already be on the bed.”
Nicole blushed again, bowing her head a little, “So, then...What does this mean? The kiss...”
Darius’ grin turned into a soft smile as he hugged her close. He brought his lips to her ear and whispered,
“It means that...No matter what, I’ll protect you, Nicole...”