Temptation

It was like ice was coursing through my veins. The once scarlet red blood was slowly transforming into a pale blue. My eyes scanned my wrist to my forearm, exactly like he said it would be. It will make you feel like you’re going crazy. Feel like I’m going crazy? No, I’m pretty sure I am crazy. I threw the blankets to my side and jumped off the bed. The floor boards beneath my bare feet were frozen, with every step I took it felt like I was wading through freezing water. I pressed my hand to my forehead, I was clammy and warm. I could feel the heat escaping from my body. How could I feel so hot, but actually be cold? 1

The wind howled and danced around me, a silent melody ringing in my ears. There was a breeze drifting in my room. I turned sharply and my eyes caught his. His arms were crossed over his chest and he was leaning up against my window frame. His eyes never left mine as he sashayed away from the window.2

“Hm,” He ran his fingers through his hair, “You’re taking the transformation better than I did.” He scowled at me while gliding to my bed and sitting down. He patted the bed, motioning for me to take a seat. I did, unwilling to fight with him.3

“How’d you know?” I questioned him, afraid to catch his gaze again.4

“Some things you just know.” His reply was cold.5

“Oh, right.” I wasn’t sure of exactly what he meant, but I wasn’t ready to question him. “So, I really am a vampire now?” I sounded completely irrational, and yet somewhere inside I knew the truth.6

“Clearly.” His tone was cocky and arrogant. “I should have finished off the job while I had the chance though.” His last words were more of a thought, then a statement and that frightened me.7

“And kill me?” I could tell my face was horror stricken.8

“What else?” He barked with malicious laughter. “But I couldn’t bring myself to do it, something about you…” He stopped mid sentence and looked back towards the open window.9

“Go on,” I coaxed him but apparently he didn’t want to. “Why me?” I asked the most obvious of all questions.10

There it was again, his malicious laughter, “To which part?” He grinned, “Why was it you that I decided to prey upon? Or why is it that you were the only human I wasn’t able to kill?” 11

I swallowed hard, I never realized that I could have died that night, but I’m not dead, in a sense anyways…”Both.” 12

“Difficult.” He kicked his shoes off and crossed his legs at his ankles, “Well, you were alone in the alley, helpless, feeble, your life was mine for the taking, so why not? Why shouldn’t the hunter hunt?” He leaned back onto my bed, starring up at the ceiling, “As for why I didn’t kill you, I’m not sure myself. I mean, I could have, but at the same time I couldn’t.”13

“You turned me into a vampire.”I reminded him, “Any reason?” I knew the answer I was hoping for, but I wasn’t sure it’d be the one I would receive.14

“There was no reason, at the time anyways.” He sat up, his eyes boring into the side of my face, I turned to him, his face was etched with amusement, “It’s no longer safe for you to be here with your family, you could hurt them.” I had never thought of that, my family was now my food. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.” There was a hint of desperation in his voice. “That is if you want to come with me of course.”15

“Do I live forever?” I asked, “Forever?”16

He sighed and put his cold hands on my shoulders, “Yes, forever. We don’t die. We are the living dead.” Never before that moment had I seen any trace of sorrow in his eyes. “We are the condemned.” He trailed his fingers from my shoulders up my neck rested them right below my jaw. He leaned in, baring his fangs and pressed his lips to my neck. He pulled away just enough so that I was able to hear his words, “The reason I didn’t kill you, is because I think I love you.” He craned his neck back, and now was gazing into my eyes. “I know that is no excuse to make you a monster, but I couldn’t resist. Having you forever?” He shook his head, “No. I could never resist the temptation.”17