Chapter 5: A Title, a Name, and a Number
I stand unmoving, my whole body tingling with the rush of danger coursing through me. The blonde woman before me runs her tongue across her fangs, eyeing me like a piece of meat. I shift, my back still pinned against the tree as the woman twists my head to the side, showing off my neck.
“You’re not…heh. You’re not actually going to do this, are you? I mean, that dude on the ground looks way more appetizing than me. I’ve only got like a little arm flab here. No real good meat to-”
“You think I’m a zombie? Cute.”
I instantly blush, which only makes the woman tighten her grip on me. Taking a second to put the pieces together, I slowly glance back at the dead man on the ground; his body remains completely intact except for the cut on his neck and two small holes on his wrist, each with a small stream of blood dried beneath it.
All at once, the lights flick on in my mind, “Oh my god. Oh my f*cking god. You’re…you’re like Dracula.”
“Not sure if I should be hurt that you referred to me as that a*shole or if I’m impressed you didn’t just make a Twilight reference.”
I grin, “I thought about it. But you talk like you’re from the dawn of time. Didn’t want to hit you with a pop culture reference you wouldn’t understand.”
The woman rolls her eyes, the color softening from a burning red to a cool blue as she does. She lets go of me and returns to the man, tying up his limp limbs with practiced ease.
I watch, still in great disbelief of the whole situation, “Vampire? You’re like…like an actual one?”
“Not the way I would have said it, but yes. I am an ‘actual vampire.’”
“And this guy…”
The blonde yanks the rope tight, pulling the guy into a full hogtie. She hoists him onto her back and begins trekking through the forest, heading toward a lake. “Was a piece of scum. Not someone who’s gonna be missed.”
I glance around, then quickly follow after her, “But how do you know that?! Everybody’s got somebody. And while men are generally trash, it doesn’t mean you should kill them!”
“Most people would have taken this chance to escape, you know. You’re following danger instead of running from it for what seems to be the second time this night,” the woman notes, checking over her shoulder at me.
“Commenting on my stalking habits isn’t going to make me forget the fact that you just killed a guy!”
“Stalking? Have you been stalking me?”
I open my mouth as if to speak, but soon realize that I don't know how to respond to that. I stare off into the forest instead as the vampire smirks, a fondness playing on her lips.
“I save you one time and you’re already in love with me. Humans really are adorable.”
“I’m not in love with you! I just wanted to thank you. That’s all.”
“Not a crush in sight, huh?”
“Why would I be crushing on you?”
I glance up for just a moment, only to find the blonde striding right toward me. I instinctively back up, and as my back hits another tree, the woman wraps a gentle hand around the back of my head as her other hand slams into the bark beside my face, pinning me there. Goosebumps rise on my skin as we lock eyes, our breaths mingling with one another in our closeness. I unconsciously licks my lips, and the vampire grins.
“Mm, I don’t know. You tell me,” she whispers, her voice velvety and soft.
I swallow hard, overwhelmed by her proximity and a rush of feelings I haven't felt in…what feels like a very long time. “I…I just wanted to know your name,” I admit quietly.
The woman smiles warmly, that same gentle and genuine smile I saw that first night at the club. She uses her thumb to rub my cheek, “Eileen.”
Eileen. That name rings through my mind, suddenly filling in all the gaps I’d been searching for. I nod, “Eileen.”
“Your name is also Eileen?”
“No! No, uh, sorry. Lily. I’m…I’m Lily.”
“Lily. That suits you well,” Eileen notes, giving a small wink before releasing me from the tree.
“Thanks! My mom picked it out, so credit goes to her, I guess.”
“Do you always crack this many bad jokes? Or is this just a distraction from fear kind of deal?” Eileen asks as she picks up the body and continues her way through the woods.
“Comedy is my strong suit, thank you very much. And can we get back to the body situation here?!”
“Listen, I don’t have to tell you anything, alright?”
“Sure, sure. But you’re going to anyway.”
Eileen gives a long look in my direction, considering for a moment. She sighs, “I have to have fresh blood. The hospitals here have cut me off, and animal blood doesn’t cut it. So I take out low lifes as needed. Happy?”
“Low lifes? What do you mean?”
Eileen steps onto a sandy shoreline, setting down the body beside a pile of rocks, “This a*shole was trying to rob some college girl walking back to the dorms. Probably would have tried to do worse too after seeing all the condoms in his pocket there.”
My eyes drift down to the guy, a small foiled wrapper poking out the edge of his jacket. “So you’re a vigilante vampire. Kind of a nice ring to it, honestly.”
“I suppose you can say that.” Eileen takes the end of the rope, ties a massive rock to it, and lifts both the man and the rock into her arms.
I watch silently as Eileen hoists the man over her head and chucks him far across the lake, her inhuman strength sending him well off into the distance. The two of us watch for a moment as he splashes down, sinking beneath the surface with the help of the rock.
“You’re not gonna do that to me, are you?”
Eileen chuckles softly, “If you go blabbering about vampires to anyone else, I most certainly will.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“I don’t enjoy hurting innocents, you’re right. But if people know about my kind, they’re going to cause chaos, the council will get involved, and I’ll probably have my head served on some military research lab rat’s platter. So keep your mouth shut, and we’ll be fine.”
I contemplate for a moment, taking the time to admire Eileen in the moonlight. This is stupid. This is so stupid. I am being the biggest idiot in the world right now, playing with my life like this. But why do I want to so bad?
I shift my weight and run a nervous hand through my hair, giving myself a bit of space between Eileen, “Alright, I can agree to that.”
“Thank you.”
“On one condition.”
Eileen quirks her brow, turning to look at my now somewhat anxious state as I tug at the end of my black and white blouse. “A condition? Was threatening your life not enough of an incentive?”
“I will keep your secret and not tell anyone about any vampire stuff if you give me your number.”
A moment of silence passes between us as we both process the request.
Eileen grins, “Definitely not a crush, huh?”
“Nope. Not at all. Strictly research and nothing more.”
Eileen takes in my short frame again, eyeing the curve of my hips (which I totally don’t intentionally push out a bit more for show), my short but playful hair, and the slight blush on my cheeks. A hint of hesitation darkens her features, but she holds out a hand regardless.
I give Eileen my phone, watching as she adds in a new contact. “If you spam me with pickup lines, I will absolutely block you.”
“Do I look like a pickup line kind of girl to you?”
“Yes. Unbelievably so,” Eileen smiles, handing the phone back to me.
I’m trying so hard to play it cool right now, but I’m sure the giant grin I’m struggling to hold back shows just how excited I am to finally have a way to reach my mystery woman, Eileen, at any time.
Eileen starts off again, “Sun is going to be up soon. You should really make your way home.”
“Right! Because you’ll melt away otherwise!”
“I do not melt in the sun. I just need to get sleep at some point today.”
“Oh. Huh, that’s weird. You don’t like sparkle or-”
“I’m leaving. Goodnight.”
I wave after her, “I’ll text you!”
Eileen rolls her eyes again, smiling to herself as she disappears amongst the trees. I watch her go before heading off the opposite way to my own apartment, feeling more alive than I have in a really long time.
- - -
Hidden amongst the shadows, the red-headed vampire from earlier watches the two depart, a deep frown creasing her lips. She clenches her fist, taking note of both of their paths before slinking deeper into the woods.