1.
I stood up from my crouched position, my eyes never straying far from the dainty deer nibbling on the grass oblivious to the predators lurking in the shadows.
It has been a while since I last had the thrill of the hunt, the high adrenaline rush couldn’t be rivalled. I smirked in anticipation.
“Rashel.” My name was the whisper in the wind but it sounded insanely loud to my ears.
I whipped my head to my left to throw a vicious glare at Quinn, who looked ready for a bloodbath.
Well, too bad.
I saw movement in my peripheral vision and saw the deer getting fidgety. Quinn pointed to the deer as if asking for my signal. I nodded and pounced on the deer. The poor deer shrieked and struggled, fighting for its dear life but I couldn’t let that happen.
With a swift move, I broke its neck.
Then silence. Until:
“You killed it!” Quinn looked devastated, if anybody were to see him they’d think he felt bad for the deer but his elongated fangs said otherwise. “I wanted to kill it!”
“Next time drama queen,” I said, carefully lowering the deer in a plastic bag. Quinn was a newbie and he still had to get the hang of things. If he were to kill a deer now, all its intestines would be littered on the grass. And vampires hate to get messy.
“Aren’t we going to drink now?” He asked observing my actions closely.
Ah, so curious.
“We’re vampires, not barbarians. We will drink at the coven. Now take this.” I handed the bag to him but when I saw his mischievous expression, I added, “And don’t feast on the way, Meredith would know.”
His face fell but he nodded. He went off to the west where our coven was located, while I turned east. There was a small but enchanting stream that had become my refuge. I had so many memories here, I was converted here and I even joined the coven on the same spot.
The sound of flowing water was like music to my ears. Even though the current was slow, the sound was amplified because of the dense canopy, the forest sheltering many secrets. I lowered myself on the bank and took a handful of water, washing my hands of the evidence of death. Even though I was not messy with the killings, death was gory no matter what, I always felt that water carried the heaviness away. I didn’t feel remorse after killing, not anymore but some habits are hard to break.
Vampires usually didn't drink from animals, even I was not particularly fond of it but we can't drain a human every time we're hungry and blood banks can only help so much. Animal blood did make a nice snack to keep us going a little longer without human blood.
I gazed at my reflection. My crystal blue eyes still startled me with their intensity. Vampires didn't have red eyes all the time, they only emerged when we were experiencing extreme emotions. My raven black hair contrasted sharply with my pale skin.
I heard a rustling sound, it was light but it was undoubtedly there. I whirled around my guard back up. I couldn’t afford to have my back to a potential enemy. The dense canopy of trees swayed to the breeze, not revealing anything. I took a step to the side unsheathing my dagger. the rustling grew louder and I took a defensive stance.
“Rashel, I knew I would find you here--- whoa! What’s with the dagger? We’re in our territory, nobody would trespass!” Mona exclaimed coming to a halt in front of me. I straightened up, placing my handy dagger back in its place. Mona is my best friend from the coven, she is a half-bred so her scent wasn’t as distinguished as it should be, that’s why I couldn’t recognise her scent. She normally doesn’t venture deeper into the woods so it made me curious as to what she brings. If Mona was one thing then she was a gossip queen.
“What are you doing here?′
She smacked her forehead and sighed, “I almost forgot, coven leader Friedrich had asked me to fetch you as soon as possible.”
“Mr Friedrich, Why?”
Mona shrugged her shoulders, “No clue, You go ahead I’ll be a while.”
“Fine. I’ll see you.” Mona waved me goodbye as she started looking for some herbs. She loved studying plants. I shook my head and got on my way to the coven’s main building.
_______________________________
Mr Friedrich greeted me when I entered his study. He was a tall lanky man who seemed to be in his thirties but had hundreds of years on him. His study was nothing special, many bookshelves lined the wall, filled with books and documents. I seated myself in front of his messy desk as Mr Friedrich sat in a big revolving chair.
“Rashel, how are you?” He asked warmly.
“I’m fine. Anything I can help with. . . ?” I asked curiously.
He leaned forward slightly, his face growing taut. “Actually there is something of importance, I wish to discuss with you. As you know, you are the most skilled vampire in this coven and I have a special mission for you.”
“A mission?”
He nodded, “A fortnight from now, the annual supernatural gala will take place and I want you to attend with Garrett, you have to meet a spy we sent there and take what she has to give to you, do you get it?”
“Got it.” I nodded firmly. “But you know Garrett and I don’t exactly get along.”
He waved his hand dismissively, “Persuade him.”
Before I could interject he dismissed me by saying, “All the details I will let you both know afterwards, you can go now.”
“Fine.”
______________________________________
“Garrett! Couldn’t he find someone else to pair you with?!” Mona exclaimed sipping her cola.
“I know,” I sighed, “I have no choice but to co-operate.”
“Poor Rashel, I hope you won’t be irritated to death by the time you’re back from his cockiness,” Mona said with a mock sad face.
“That’s one way to put it,” I said nonchalantly, stabbing my noodles, then eating it in one big bite. Vampires could eat normal food contrary to popular belief, but it can't sustain us.
“Oh my god! It’s Garrett!!” A girl squealed from beside me. I felt like banging my face against the table when I saw the heads turning to look at none other than Garrett. Garrett was the rockstar of this coven, he had everything, looks, girls, cars and on and on. At one time, even I was one of those stupid girls swooning over his long ash blonde hair and soft brown eyes but the fantasy was shattered when I accidentally witnessed him cheating on his two-year girlfriend. What’s worse is that even after breaking up with her he still goes around flirting with whoever catches his eye.
“Rashel! Are you free tomorrow?” Speak of the devil!
“No, I’m really busy tomorrow.” I gave Garrett the stink eye. He may look like an Adonis but he had the character of a dog.
“Then tonight? My treat.” He gave me a puppy dog look, in the background I saw all the girls looking my way with daggers in their eyes.
“I’m sorry, I won’t be hungry tonight.” I pulled Mona with me as I threw my plate in the trashcan and made a beeline to the exit of the restaurant.
“‘I’m sorry I won’t be hungry tonight.’ Who says that?!” Mona said barely able to control her laughter.
“I said what popped in my mind,” I explained, finally slowing down after I came to a good distance away from the restaurant.
“You have a mission with him, you can’t just avoid him like a plague, no matter how infuriating he might be.”
She had a point.
“Ugh. What do I do? You know how much I despise cheaters.” I turned to Mona for a solution.
“I know. Reject him.” She said, giving me a smile.
“I did that yesterday!”
“Oh.”
“Yes, ‘oh’ is correct.”
“This is going to be difficult.”
“Ya think.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________
I took one step forward.
Then another.
Then I halted.
The door which was in front of me was average with wooden panels, and a simply decorated design. The silver latch was begging me to make a move and open it to reveal what this simple door guarded.
Should I open it? Or not?
I let out a frustrated sigh glaring at the goddamn door! I should have never let Mona talk me into this!
“You’re here.” Garrett beamed when he opened the door himself and ushered me in as if I was his most esteemed guest. I put on a fake smile and got in.
“I was honestly surprised when you yourself asked to meet me,” Garrett said pouring both of us a glass of wine.
“You should be. This stuff doesn’t happen often.” I said not dropping my smile which I hope did not appear as pretentious as I felt.
He tipped his glass of wine in my direction, “You have a sense of humour, it's an added bonus to your looks.”
I sat down opposite him and decided to ignore his comment if I wanted to get out of here with zero conflict. “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”
“So fast. Why don’t you drink first?” He insisted giving me a lazy smirk which practically said that he thought I was an easy lay who was just playing hard to get and that he knew it.
I so hate it.
I polish my smile, “I’m not here for chitchat so please can we get to the point of my visit?”
He huffed, “Why so formal? Fine.” He straightened up, “Rashel, What did you want to discuss with me willingly after blatantly ignoring me.”
I’m surprised he knew, but that did not stop him from nagging me. Pushing my irritation aside, I continue “The mission which Mr Friedrich gave us. I think that we should visit him tomorrow to get the details.”
He yawned, “Just that? Fine, but on one condition- Go on a date with me.”
I stand up, “WHAT! You can’t do that, this is serious not some sort of game!”
He did not even look phased by my angry expression, “You see this is all about connections and favours. If I don’t co-operate Mr Friedrich won’t blame me because I’m practically perfect, he would blame you.”
As much as I hate to admit it, he was right. Garrett was the apple of Mr Friedrich’s eye. He could almost get away with anything. I grit my teeth, “Are you blackmailing me?”
“Blackmail is too harsh a word, I prefer coercion.”
"You bastard!”
“Yes or no?”
“I hate you!”
He raised his eyebrows, looking amused. “I’m waiting for an answer~”
I hate how helpless I am to even though I like to think otherwise.
