Chapter 2

I had just stepped through the door that led outside when I stepped on a paw and there was a howl that echoed into my ears. ‘Shut up!’ I shouted, removing my foot. ‘Jeesh, there was no need for that.’ As a vampire with some sort of memory of the past, I hated wolves; they were nothing but a nuisance and they got in the way a lot.

The wolf whose paw I had stepped on had now changed. ‘There was and I think you owe me an apology.’

I sneered and looked away. ‘I owe you nothing, dog.’ That is what I called them if I needed a quick insult.

Needless to say, they detested it. ‘Take that back,’ he ordered, grabbing my arm.

‘Let go,’ I ordered back with threatening tones; there was not one werewolf I got on with or even considered a friend. To my utter surprise, he did as I asked. ‘Thank you. Alright. I am sorry for stepping on you but you were not in the best of places.’

He snorted and folded his arms. ‘And I thought vampires had a good sense of timing.’ And he stepped past me through the door I had come through.

‘Uh!’ I exclaimed to myself and stormed off to my room. It was more than a room really; it was a small apartment. The main room was the bedroom and the first my door opened in to. I had a double, four-poster bed and a two seat, black leather sofa that took up some space near the window. There was a small walk-in wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a matching dressing table. I also had a very small kitchen which was the same size as the en suite which consisted of a shower, toilet and sink. There had been another room but I gave that up for someone else as I had had no need of it for many years now.

Having locked the door, I stepped over to the bed stripping my top and trousers off as I did so. They remained in a pile on the floor as I clambered onto the silk sheets and laid face first into the pillows. I slumbered for a good two hours before moving from the bed and getting a quick shower. The sight of what I had saw earlier flickered through my mind. Before I could stop it, however, it changed into scenes from my distant and early past. I had no recollection of having these memories even when they did emerge every so often; I could never call them at my own will.

Stepping out of the shower and wrapping the towel around my body, I pushed those painful memories aside. When they had retreated, the space was then filled up by the voice of my victim last week. I hadn’t killed him of course or I wouldn’t have his voice in my head but I had bitten someone who I thought I would never even consider it. Finn’s explanation to Kieran ran right through my head, I tried not to focus on it but I had let my mind open too much. I didn’t really want the images from his mind rolling around in mine but I had little choice.

Slamming my hand down into the bed, I forced his thoughts back far enough for them to take up the least space possible. Flicking my head back, my hair going with it and out of my face, I breathed a sigh of relief and picked my clothes up. I dropped them in my basket on my way to my wardrobe. Picking out a pair of jeans and a button-up shirt, I quickly got changed into my underwear and them before heading outside. I wanted something from my car as well as wanting to go for a drive.

Outside had grown breezy and the sky had gone rather dim from the trees blotting out the sun’s light. Pulling the front door so it clicked shut, I walked past Shane’s car to mine. This was my car, I had bought it from new after passing my test (even vampires and wolves had to do them); however, we had better reflexes than humans so we could drive at higher speeds and have little effect on those around us. Wolves rarely owned vehicles for they could run many miles before even breaking a sweat.

Fastened in, I placed my hands on the steering wheel just to get my head in the right state. I flicked on the ignition and reversed the car out of its bay. As I rolled down the dirt path to the narrow road, I noticed I wasn’t alone in my short travel. They were barely visible as they darted their furry bodies between the trees but I did notice them. A trio of wolves were accompanying me to the road, as soon as I reached it though they darted over the hedge into the nearest field and off to do whatever they did.

I had just gotten onto the road that led back to the town when it began to rain. The splatter of raindrops on the roof and windows resonated in my ears; it was a comforting sound and rather relaxing. I ended up slowing just a little as the wipers brushed away the specks so I could see clearer. I hadn’t planned on where to go, I just wanted to get out of the mansion for a bit; I never seemed to be able to spend too long in any one place. Some of the older vampires had reasons for that; we weren’t all the same and there were some that could easily sit around on the sofas and talk about days long gone.

I wasn’t one of those; I never wanted to talk about the past very much, particularly any years before the current century. Not only were my memories fairly vague but they were very painful in the most part. I hated having to go to school every so many years and I couldn’t wait for my next decade to pass; it was taking far too long. Of course, I had a birthday every year (all vampires did) but we did not age the same as humans. Werewolves too had their own rate of ageing. It wasn’t an exact science though we appeared to age by one year for every ten that passed; for wolves it was seven or eight.

By years I was one hundred and twenty-five although my looks were only around seventeen or eighteen. We spent a shorter amount of time as children and our age rate is twice as fast (technically about six years for every one in age). That all changes when we turn sixteen and we age much slower. It was no interest of mine though some were very quick at figuring out your age either way whatever you tell them.

I was now driving around town, heading for no particular place. I had just pulled into a car park for a moment’s thought when my mobile went off. Slipping it out of my pocket, I flicked it open and pressed it to my ear, not checking who the caller was. ‘Hello?’

‘Hey, Faye. Where are you?’ It was Hera, a good vampire friend of mine.

I looked around the car park as I answered her. ‘I’m out on a drive. Did you want me?’ I asked, unsure of why she was calling.

‘Would you like to go out tonight?’ she asked, the sound of giggling erupting in the background.

Giving it a quick thought, I decided it would add to wanting a good change. ‘Alright. I’ll head back then. I suppose you would like me to drive.’

I heard her shush her company down. ‘If you don’t mind.’ I hung up, not needing to say anymore and swung the car around.

By the time I got back I had decided that I had no need to change and so waited for them to be ready whilst I remained in the car. They weren’t too long. Hera slipped into the front seat leaving the other two to get in the back.

‘Thanks for the lift, Faye,’ said Vicky from behind me.

I checked around the car to make sure I wouldn’t hit anyone. ‘It’s no problem. This idea keeps me out of the house for a good while.’

Hera spun her head to look at me with her green eyes. ‘Don’t you like it here?’ she asked, worry in her voice.

The car rumbled down the track once again. ‘It’s starting to get very boring for me here. I’m not moving away, if that’s what you’re scared of,’ I told her, seeing how her eyes portrayed her inner thoughts. ‘Look, I’m just at that stage where I want to do things on my own. Not that I don’t like being with you lot anymore.’

‘Oh, good!’ exclaimed Belle who was sat behind Hera. I knew her the least out of these three. ‘For a moment there I was thinking you might say you’d be leaving us for a good few years.’

I sighed just as the town came into view. ‘No, but I had given it a thought. Unfortunately, I can’t.’

They fell silent as did I but we were soon parked up down a back lane. Having locked the car, I walked with them to the club. Luckily for us we had little proof of our age and we could easily slip through the doors without any questions. Humans had had long enough to get used to our presence round built-up areas. With the club lights though it was hard to tell if your eyes had that red tinge or not and even then those who appeared human might be wolves.

We were soon inside and Vicky had ordered us a round of drinks and we were sipping them as we made our way to the sofas at the back of this particular club. It took longer for alcohol to affect us though the night businesses were very glad of our custom. Belle and I were the singles out of the four so she had more fun to be had here. Our first drinks finished, we left them on the small table and went to dance. I hadn’t been out like this for a good while now and I was glad to be back. Hera was as close to the other two as she was to me yet I did not know them as well even after half a decade.

I had a whole year yet until I could disregard school out of my weekly schedules. I had just come back from the bar with a drink for myself and Hera when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Realising who it was past the flashing lights, I smiled and gave him a quick hug.

‘Hello. What are you doing here?’ It was Dara, a fellow vampire and another friend of mine although he was more than a friend to Hera. They were partners (or mates as it were); as soon as Hera saw him there she was in his arms. As I had company, so did he; four other male vampires made their way over from across the dance floor to see what the fuss was about. One of these was Vicky’s mate, Scott; each of them were older than myself being closer to two hundred than I was.

I wasn’t up for this flirtatious atmosphere so I swiftly slipped away and headed outside. I had never known the world from a human’s perception and nor did I ever think I could understand it. They seemed to see the world as a big playground where everything was an opportunity for fun. Feeling the fresh air was a relief to the stuffy indoors of the club. I took the chance to take a short stroll around the streets.

After a good half an hour, I realised I had gotten lost. Trying to retrace my steps, I got even more lost. That was when the whispers started, only this time they weren’t in my head.

‘There’s one,’ I heard one male voice, it was deep enough to carry through the air. ‘You go round the other way.’

I couldn’t figure it out so I did a bit of snooping. I ducked down a side alley and had planned to hop onto the building’s roof but I was stopped short of jumping.

‘Oi, you!’ called out another man’s voice. Spinning around, I saw a man stood to the entrance of the alley with a rifle pointing right out me. There was no time to be civil; snarling and hissing, I bared my teeth and ducked into a stance that I could move in any direction as quick as I could. ‘Don’t try it, leech.’

I hadn’t heard that word in a long time and it bubbled through me like hot oil. ‘No mere rifle shot would kill me,’ I told him, keeping my stance.

‘Don’t think we don’t know that. These aren’t ordinary bullets.’ The gleam in his eye did not help with his confident tone.

Drats, I thought to myself. There was another click of metal and I peered over my shoulder to see the man’s shooting fellow at the other end of the lane. I tried to use wit instead. ‘You’re attempting to slay a vampire in this day and age? How appropriate and in a busy town as well. Very brave,’ I mocked sarcastically.

‘Clever words won’t save your kind this time round.’ He rose his gun and aimed right at my chest. BANG. I ducked but when I looked up the pellets had hit far too high to have hit me even if I were stood up. The other man had fled, dropping his gun on the floor. When I looked over to the first man, he wasn’t standing up anymore. He was on his back, shouting and trying to bash off a wolf with his rifle. The wolf had pinned him down with his large forepaws and was trying to bite the man in his shoulder. The man gave one last shout until the wolf growled and bit down hard; it was only when he hopped off that I saw he had ripped at the man’s  throat.

I was slightly shocked; I never thought I’d see such behaviour of a wolf. I knew they were capable of ripping out a vampire’s heart but nothing of a human. Stood up straight, I gave a cough as he changed to his normal self.

‘Hmm, not what I wanted to do on a night out.’ I couldn’t believe who it was that was talking to me; it was the same werewolf whose foot I had trodden on earlier. ‘At least I saved you from certain death.’

I wasn’t going to put up with that. ‘I could have dealt with that by myself. You didn’t need to interfere.’

He snorted at stepped over the body into the street. ‘Please, you can’t cover the smell of fear. Even in vampires, such as yourself.’ He sounded pleased with himself.

‘I was not afraid!’ I shouted.

He smirked over his shoulder and stared me right in the face. ‘Sure, whatever you say but my nose.’ He tapped it. ‘Does not lie. Oh, and technically I did just save your life.’

I grabbed his arm and made him turn and face me. ‘I don’t think so. You just got in the way.’

He looked confused as he rose his eyebrows. ‘In the way? Yeh.‘ He paused for a moment to free his arm. ‘So where are you partying? It would amuse me to see what vampires get up to on a night out.’

I walked off back towards the club I had left the others in, or I hoped it was in the direction I was now walking. ‘Just leave me alone. You’ve had your fun for tonight, dog.’

His growl reached me from across the road. ‘You should not call me that. It wouldn’t be wise.’

I laughed. ‘Really? Ok, wolf, what can I call you?’

‘You could start by calling me by my name,’ he suggested.

As I walked along my side of the street, he walked along his. ‘And what is that?’

‘Luca. And who might you be?’

As soon as he said his name I was laughing. Calming myself down, I looked over at him. ‘That is rather ironic giving what you are. Anyway, I’m in here so goodbye.’ And I slipped inside the club leaving him out on the street. It took awhile to find the others, they were all still here along with Dara and his friends. They had asked where I had gone to but I just said I went to check something in my car and got sidetracked; there was no need to worry them about what had happened. I would have to tell Carrie about it tomorrow.

Unfortunately, whilst I had been looking for them, I had gained a new meaning to the word sheep. Luca had clearly followed me inside and had popped out in front of me whilst I was passing the bar. I had told him over and over again to leave but he refused.

‘Who is your new friend?’ purred Vicky, noticing how Luca would be less than five feet away.

I gave a quick, harsh stare over to him, he simply smiled back. ‘Oh, him. Some annoying wolf who has an interest in what vampires get up to.’ She looked confused. ‘I know, I don’t get it either.’

‘You need to watch those wolves, they can be sneaky even with their size,’ Dara commented, his hands firmly around Vicky’s waist. No one knew why but wolves grew taller (generally) and a little bulkier than vampires.