Vampire Bite – Chapter 1

I pull out my phone to reply to a text and sit on one of the concrete steps by the river path – even though it’s damn freezing!  I pull my coat tighter around my chest and look at the screen, glowing in the dark.  I hear footsteps approaching and try to ignore them, they sound heavy and masculine, and at this time of night I don’t want to attract unnecessary attention.  I keep my eyes on my phone, but as he walks past I glance up and a young, very good-looking man meets my eye. 

“Hi,” he says, giving me a half smile, and continues on his way towards The Quay. 

“Hi,” I murmur back. 

As he walks away I watch his back.  He is tall, well over six foot, with dark brown wavy hair.  Unlike a lot of tall guys he doesn’t look lanky, in fact he looks fit and muscular.  Nice.   

He fades away into the darkness and I get back to my feet, pocketing my phone, and continue home after a night out with my friends.  I can still hear his footsteps, and the gentle movement of the water, along with the odd car going over the bridge.  Up ahead I can see the glow of lights around The Quay. 

To my left I catch a glimpse of movement from the grass above the steps, and as I turn towards it there is a blur of movement and suddenly someone is standing right next to me.  I squeal, putting my hand on my heart as it starts to hammer, and step back towards the water, my eyes trying to focus on the man whose face is in shadow. 

My eyes slowly adjust and I see he is gorgeous.  He’s about the same height as me with a nice bone structure, a good jaw, and dark eyes, with his hair shaved close to his head.  His mouth quirks into a leer. 

 “Hello,” he says, although his voice doesn’t sound friendly, but somehow seductive and threatening.   

He steps towards me and I step back, aware that the river is behind me and I can’t step back any further.  He’s staring at me, just staring, not saying or doing anything else, and I can hardly breathe.  He has been quiet too long, just looking at me, and it feels very wrong – I desperately want to get away.  I try and sidestep him, but he copies my movement, while looking directly into my eyes, challenging me; to do what I don’t know. 

My throat feels constricted; I feel I should say something, but I’m too scared to talk.  I sidestep again, and he grabs my arm. 

“I don’t think so, you’ll fall in the river, and I don’t fancy going in to get you,” he taunts. 

I want to run, or even jump in the river if that’s what it takes to get away from him, but I have a horrible sense that whatever I do won’t work; this guy radiates power. 

He makes a sudden movement, lunging forwards with his teeth exposed, like he’s going to nip me on the neck – what the hell?!!  I try to move back, but his grip turns painful and he pulls me closer, laughing loudly.  I want to run so badly but it’s like my body is out of my control, and my breath is coming in short shallow gasps.  I try to struggle again but it’s hopeless – he’s too strong. 

He looks directly into my eyes and opens his mouth wide.  I stare, horrified, as his canines change, lengthen, and turn into fangs; long, white and pointed.  I try to scream but no sound comes out.  I struggle backwards, forgetting about the water, but he lunges for my throat.  His teeth sink into my skin and the pain is searing; I feel like I’m being ripped, sucked hollow … like my insides are leaving me as—   

Something collides with us and I’m falling, my back hits the water … an icy sting … and my face goes under. 

Weird sounds, muffled shouts, stillness, sinking … I hit the bottom.  This does something to me, jerks me back awake, and I start to move.  I push with my hands and feet against the bottom, but they sink into the mud.  I pull them out and flap, pushing my arms against the water, pushing myself up, and then my head breaks the surface.   

I cough, not even having realised I had water in my lungs, and cough again, revolting water coming up.  I cough again, and then gasp for air, half aware of fighting on the shore, but most of my awareness on myself … physical sensations … I gasp again, and then cough, paddling, desperate not to go back under.   

Two more coughs and I manage a normal breath, and I wipe off my face and the water from my eyes and then I look to the bank, just in time to see a streak of blackness as my attacker flees.  The other man, the one who walked past before, is climbing into the water and swimming towards me.  Before I can object he is behind me and his arms are wrapping around my chest, and he’s pulling me to the side, out of the water.  He’s laying me down on the concrete surface of the path, and hitting my back.  I cough again, and feel so weak, so cold … like everything’s fading away … the night is disappearing….