Lila

Blood dribbled down her chin as Lila finished off the rat. She tossed its mutilated form to the disgusting alley floor, and licked the last couple drops of blood from her mouth. She placed her icy palms on the ground as she helped herself up. Oh how Lila hated feeding off rats, but she hated feeding off humans more. The reason she was eating rats was because of her indecent mistake to kill a human… their queen. Why doesn’t someone just kill me? Lila pondered.1

She stormed from the alley to the New York City streets, her black duster billowing behind her. She trailed the streets, taking in disturbing and nasty looks from bystanders. Lila ignored them; to her, they were worthless amateurs, who couldn’t possibly imagine the danger awaiting Lila in mere seconds. There, standing ten feet ahead of her slim body was a bulky man dressed from throat to toe in black leather. His eyes glowered at Lila, and she knew it was on.2

Immediately, he whipped out a gun and began firing at the vampire. Lila easily ducked away from the bullets, but unfortunately, a woman behind her got the blame. The woman began screaming in pain, and her cries echoed throughout Lila’s sensitive eardrums. 3

Her eyes flashed scarlet as she approached the assassin. He continued firing, and she continued dodging. Within seconds, Lila was close enough to touch his nose, but instead went for the throat. In no time flat, Lila twisted his head halfway across his body, bones and ligaments snapping.4

The gunshots ceased without delay, but screams still sustained. Although the police would never be able to track down Lila’s identity, she fled the scene to her apartment. She grinned to herself, her sharp fangs glistening in the moonlight. Ever so quietly, she said to herself, “Another down.”5

Lila burst into her apartment, not even bothering to open it, and instead, kicked it open. She flipped on the dim lights even though she could see perfectly fine in the pitch night. There was no sign of windows or mirrors, but there were a couple objects. There was a bed in one corner with tattered gray sheets, where a few dried blood splatters rested. There was also a punching bag hanging from the battered ceiling, and it had several rips and tears, obviously where it had taken a severe beating by Lila. 6

The only thing in her room that was not in a depressing state was a violin. It was sprawled across a chair along with a bow. To the right was a silver music stand with many crumpled old sheets of music.7

Lila waltzed over, and began to play. It was slow at first, but soon grew rapid and sharp. She played violently, but gentle at the same time. She played for several hours, never quitting. She was just about to play another piece when she noticed the blonde figure standing in the doorway, crimson eyes gleaming. Lila set the violin down, crossed her arms, and clenched her left hand into a fist.8

“I find it oh so very interesting how you can go from snapping mens’ necks on the streets in public to playing tunes on that,” he said, and motioned to the instrument. He then stepped into the flickering rays, crossing his arms.9

Lila snorted, revealing one of her killers just above her bottom lip. “I don’t believe I invited you,” she said smugly. 10

“That’s the funny thing about you, Lila,” he said evilly. “You never are willing to accept the fact that you are dead.” Lila cringed, as she did so often. “Tonight? What you did? That was pie. You aren’t even prepared for what’s going to come. That man you killed was only one person. What are you going to do when there are ten of them?!”11

“Well, Bryce, it must be pie, or that man was a fool. Any vampire hunter would know bullets don’t kill one.” 12

“No, Lila. You’re the fool. Why don’t you acknowledge the fact that they have discovered wooden bullets?” Bryce grabbed her by the shoulders, but she refused to look at his eyes. Don’t look into his eyes; those are what got you here in the first place.13

Ignoring his statement, Lila said, “I don’t see why they’re so upset. The woman deserved to die. She was unworthy to her people.”14

“She was their queen. Why are you so clueless? It’s a simple word called revenge. That’s what they’re after.”15

Lila downcast her eyes in shame. “You’re so much stronger than I. Why can’t you fight them?”16

Bryce sighed. “Because you’re responsible. It’ll be you who they’re after.” He brought his hand to her chin and lifted it. “Besides, that’s not the Lila I know. The Lila I know is brave and fierce, and one hell of vampire.”17

Lila slightly brought along a smile. Two spots on her bottom lip dented inward where her teeth were showing.18

“I must be going,” Bryce shared. “The sun will be up soon.” He turned, and trudged through the doorway. Lila watched his 18-year-old form leave, remembering his shaggy blonde hair partially hanging in his blood red eyes.19

Knowing he had finally left, Lila went into the bathroom, and gazed at the bare wall where a mirror would have been. Being over 200, she knew well what her appearance was. She had been the palest in the family, and still had her wavy black hair. Ever since she turned sixteen, she had those nasty fangs and crimson eyes. She did have a nose stud that she got five years back, but other than that, Lila had looked exactly the same for 200 years.20

After remembering herself for a minute or two, Lila went back into her bedroom, and lie down on the bed. Even with wool blankets, her body would never grow warm.21

Lila awoke the next evening to hear her violin playing. She at first thought she was dreaming, but soon realized that she herself had quit dreaming over a century ago. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw Bryce playing.22

“I thought you hated the violin,” she stated, slipping on her combat boots.23

Bryce ceased playing. “I said I couldn’t believe you played it. And I’m not here to discuss music playing; I’m here on a serious note.”24

Lila’s stone of a heart rolled down the hill into the pit of so many other stones that had been let down. “They want to fight, don’t they?”25

Bryce nodded, but said, “I’m willing to help you. You’ll surely die if I don’t.”26

“The bloody hell I will! I’d be better off dead anyway! I’m no use to you, Bryce. I’m just your sidekick,” Lila spat. She draped her duster across her bony shoulders, and slid her arms through the sleeves.27

“Don’t think on a bad thought; it’ll only get worse,” Bryce said, but before more, the apartment door swung open, breaking off it’s hinges. 28

Standing there were seven men with stakes and crossbows. No guns this time. Without thinking, Lila lunged. She ran up to one, and the war was on. Lila fortunately knocked the stake out of his hand, her eyes gleaming. While he was off guard, she slung her ankle into the side of the hunter’s temple. The slayer fell unconscious, and hit the ground painfully. 29

She heard more fighting behind her, and knew Bryce was helping. Lila turned, just in time to see another hunter. He shot his crossbow, and the projectile was soon lodged into Lila’s ribcage.30

“Ahhhhhhh!” she cried out, but quickly yanked it out. “You being a vampire hunter, I assumed you knew that their heart was not in the stomach!” The man seemed stunned, and at that second, Lila wedged the arrow into his chest. The man gurgled as he slid to the floor, bleeding. “That’s where the heart is,” Lila said smugly. 31

She swiveled around, a millisecond too late. Instantly, a stake was thrust into her leather-covered chest. Lila swayed, gasping. All became unfocused and blurry as she searched for Bryce’s face.32

She located him, trying to step forward. The second she lifted her foot, searing pain darted around her frigid body. “B-Bryce!” Lila tried to shout, but barely made a whisper. Her head began to swim, knowing her dead body would soon be dead for the final time.33

She swung at a hunter, but missed by far. The slayer ducked again as Lila truck her fist. He didn’t bother battling her, knowing she’d be dust in minutes.34

Instead, he chucked Lila’s violin as hard as he could to the wall. The wooden piece shattered at the impact, as well as strings snapping. Lila heard it, but only saw shapes.35

Knowing it was over, she fell back against a wall, gasping. Gasping? Vampires don’t breathe, Lila thought. Her scarlet eyes suddenly turned cadet blue as a blonde figure kneeled over her.36

Although she couldn’t see a face, Lila instantly knew it was Bryce; she always knew it was Bryce. “They’re dead,” he told her. “They’re all dead.” He grasped her hand, surprised that it was warm.37

“Good… for… you,” Lila rasped. She coughed, blood flying from her mouth. “I’m through, Bryce. Blood’s the last sign. Only humans bleed when they’re dying, right?”38

Bryce sighed. “Yes, Lila; you’re dying.” He blinked his bloodshed eyes. Oh, how Lila loved those eyes.39

She all of a sudden saw images. She saw images of her mother and father; of her brother; of Bryce’s venomous bite slice her throat. She saw her violin, and the vampire hunters, too. But the thing she saw last, and loved most, were Bryce’s eyes.40

Bryce held the vampire in his arms until she finally disintegrated into ash. He then stood up, glided his arm under her bead, only to find his violin. Without another thought, Bryce began to play.41