Catherine’s Note: As the title says, this is a short story set in the Blood Bound universe. It takes place a few months after the events of chapter one (Charlie’s turning), but it is still early on in the whole “vampire hotel” thing the Richards family have got going on.
Warnings: Sexual references. Unbetad (but spellchecked) work.
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“How old are you?”
Hopefully I’ve misheard that. I tap the power button of the vacuum with my foot and it goes dead. Silence fills the hallway of V-Floor for a second before I speak. “Pardon?”
He smiles and I’m reminded of, funnily enough, Scar from the Lion King and when he speaks his voice does nothing to change that impression – he’s all smooth words and smooth voice. “How old are you?”
“I’m not sure what that has to do with anything.” It’s the first time this vampire has spoken to me since he arrived two – no wait, three – days ago. How old are you? is definitely not the best way to approach a girl.
Especially an underaged one.
“What does anything have to do with anything?” he asks, dodging the question. I resist the urge to voice my thoughts – what an idiot – out loud. “Don’t you want to tell me?”
“I’m sixteen,” I reply flatly. Hopefully he will get the message to stop trying to go any further with the jailbait hotel worker. I know he would try and get me to ask so I add, “And I don’t know how old you are. You may look about 20 or so, but that doesn’t mean you actually are.”
He smiles again and this time his fangs are extended, complete with two lethally sharp points perfect for penetrating soft skin and flesh. “Aren’t you a clever little thing?”
“And aren’t you an artful dodger.”
Now go. Up the stairs and into the sunlight. He won’t be able to follow, one part of my brain reasons.
No, if you try to run he’ll chase you down before you take two steps, the other part argues back. Just act natural.
I follow the second voice’s advice. “Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to keep working.” I go to turn the vacuum back on but he’s there, right next to me, right in my personal space before I can blink. I gasp and drop the vacuum handle.
“Come on,” he says gently, mouth only inches from mine; I try not to stare. “Can’t you take a break for a just a minute?” He moves closer and close with each word, and I’m trembling like a leaf. “Oh come now, don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you.” He leans in and whispers into my ear, “Unless you like that sort of thing.”
“N-, no,” I stutter. I try again and put a fraction more emphasis into it. “No.”
“That’s all right.” He buries his fingers in my hair, playing with the strands. My knees are knocking together so hard I think I’ll have bruises tomorrow. “You have pretty hair, did you know that?” I try to nod, thinking that going along with it might work. “And a pretty mouth, too. I bet I know what the boys at school think about when they see that pretty little pout.”
My stomach rolls at the mental image.
“But I doubt you’re like that. I like nice girls. You’re a nice girl, aren’t you?”
I bring my knee up hard and fast, hitting him in the groin. He makes a soft “oof” sound and releases his hold of me enough for me to slip out and run down the hallway.
To the door, to the sunlight… is all my brain can think, while all my ears can hear is, “You bitch!” and the sound of footsteps coming after me.
I’m in such a hurry to get out and away from him that by the time I realise a body has stepped into my path I cannot stop. A body in motion stays in motion until another force intervenes, and I stop when his chest intervenes with my face. It’s my turn to make an “oof” sound and after a second I look up. I’m too frightened to do much more.
It’s another vampire, one I don’t know. He has a kind older face – I’d place him in his late fifties or so – and hair that is more salt than pepper. There are laugh lines around his eyes, although his eyes grow cold when he looks over me to the vampire.
“I am well aware that Canada has no Treaty, but so long as you are in America, you must abide by Athanasios’s rule”
The younger vampire spits at the name. Oh great. More cleaning I’ll need to do. “He’s gone senile. This ain’t Rome!”
“No. This time, Athanasios is ruler.” I have no idea what they’re talking about but I’m okay with it, so long as attention’s not on me. “Now turn around, go back to your room and think about what you have done. And be grateful that all I’m doing is warning you, not reporting you to Athanasios. Although I don’t think Huo would mind bringing you in.”
With a huff, a sigh and a pointed glance at me that promised trouble, pervy young vampire stalked back into his room and slammed the door shut behind him.
“I’m sorry about that.”
I eye the older vampire suspiciously. “You are?”
“Of course.” I’m finally calm enough to notice he has a Scottish accent. “That is exactly the sort of thing that the Treaty is supposed to prevent.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I’m blushing red now, and that’s not a good thing to do in front of a vampire.
“Go upstairs, and don’t worry about him. I will be keeping an eye on him as long as he’s here.”
I’m still blushing as I make my way to the V-Floor exit and I mumble my thanks all the way.
“My name is Eoin.”
As I open my door, I hear another slam shut.
