"I'm glad that I finally convinced you to spend
some time with me outside of class Paul. I'd like to get to know
you better, that is if you're interested."
He peered back at her, the lower part of his face
conveniently hidden behind the coffee cup, as he took a slow drink,
then lowering the cup to the table. His eyes remained locked on
her, gazing at her with a mixture of emotions that were hard to
decipher. He still looked shy and scared, but there was something
else underneath, perhaps just a hint of wildness, which she found
intriguing.
Finally he broke the silence with his soft voice.
"Of course you know I'm interested Ann, otherwise I wouldn't
be here. It's just that I'm still a little nervous..."
As his voice trailed off, he momentarily dropped
his gaze from hers. In the span of those few moments, she reflected
back on their relationship, and what had happened between them
so far. She'd noticed him a few weeks into the semester, in her
film-studies course, as he sat alone, towards the back of the
auditorium. It was a night course, so it wasn't that well attended,
most of the students in the course were there because their schedules
were so hectic that 7:00 in the evening was one of the few times
when they could fit academics into their life. She'd taken the
course as an elective because it looked interesting, and she had
nothing better to do with her Monday nights, and also because,
a night class was vastly superior to an early morning one.
She hadn't seen him around campus before, and at
first didn't pay any notice to him sitting there by himself. But
after glimpsing him the first few times from across the room,
she felt something almost intangible grip her. She'd been interested
in several people before and had a few steady boyfriends in the
recent past, but she'd never experienced an attraction quite like
this. It wasn't a strict physical attraction, although he was
fairly attractive, with his medium height and build, straight
dark hair, and an honest face. He was just average-looking, except
for his eyes, which looked so deep and insightful, but she hadn't
noticed that until she'd gotten a closer look at him. No this
hadn't been a simple attraction, it had been as if she'd sensed
something about him, and that had intrigued her. There was something
subtle about him, and just the way he sat there somehow hinted
at the interesting personality hiding beneath his quiet exterior.
After taking several quick peeks at him throughout
the lecture, she'd decided that she wanted to meet him. She was
outgoing most of the time, but still had a bit of shyness to her
when it came to approaching strangers, finally, she decided it
was worth the risk to try and meet him. The following week she'd
waited quietly outside of the lecture hall until he'd entered
and sat down. Waiting a few minutes more, she'd entered the room
and approached the row where he sat.
He'd looked up at her with surprise, and was a bit
uncomfortable when she'd asked if a seat close to his was taken,
and if he minded if she sat there. He'd shyly mumbled that it
was okay, and had spent the next several minutes in an awkward
silence, staring down at his shoes. Finally she'd introduced herself
and found out his name, she was even able to prod him with some
small talk before the lecture started.
At the end of the three-hour session, they'd chatted
some more before he'd said he needed to leave. In that short time,
he'd become more comfortable with her, but was still very reserved
in his conversation. He'd said he lived in an apartment downtown,
so they only walked a short distance together, before their paths
diverged.
The next few weeks had been more of the same, she'd
found herself becoming more interested in him as she slowly brought
him out of his shell, each time sharing a little bit more of himself
with her. He was still shy and a little reserved, but seemed to
be growing more comfortable with her. They'd found they had more
than a few things in common, such as a love for foreign films,
which had led them both to the class which had brought them together.
After each lecture they'd stay and talk for upwards of an hour
or so before he'd say that he needed to leave. They'd walk together
to the student union, where she'd turn east toward her campus
apartment, and he would head south, down into town.
But then tonight she'd asked him if he'd like to
grab a snack at a nearby, yet slightly secluded coffee shop, and
to her delighted surprise, he'd actually agreed. They'd talked
with their newfound easiness all the way there, but upon entering,
he'd become strangely quiet, perhaps because that was a new step
in their relationship.
Brought back to the present, she glanced around the
shop, which wasn't too busy tonight, there were only four other
customers in the whole place, and they were at the back, several
tables away from anyone else. Looking back at him, she decided
to make the move, reaching over to him, and gently touching the
top of his right hand. He jerked his head up at her touch, gasping
slightly, with a look of surprise.
"It's okay Paul," she said in a soothing
and reassuring voice. With a slightly-forced laugh, she continued
"I'm not going to bite. You seem so alone, I just want to
help you."
Looking at her with his deep, brown eyes, he dragged
her into their depths, seeming to pull her mind into his for the
briefest of moments. Falling into his gaze, she felt closer to
him then than ever before, uncovering some of the layers of his
psyche, as he revealed more of his personality to her. At that
moment she felt a stronger attraction towards him, realizing how
deep her feelings for him had become, almost a longing.
She also sensed there was something he was hiding
from her, something besides his simple, but deep need for simple
companionship which she could now feel. He broke their contact
by speaking again. "You don't really know me Ann... I do
feel so alone, but it's because of the way I am, and I don't know
if I can escape that. I'm just so different, so different from
everyone else and I don't know if you can deal with that."
Looking into the sadness in his eyes, she felt the
weight upon his soul, but still didn't understand its cause. "I
feel like I know you very well already Paul, whatever it is, I
think I can understand. I want to help you." After a brief
pause, she continued, "I can't explain it, but in our meetings
during these past weeks I've felt a connection between us. I don't
quite understand it, but I feel like I've known you for a long
time and I'm always thinking of you. I want to be a bigger part
of your life... please let me in."
"I've felt this way for so long, it seems like
I've been alone for ever. I can't tell you what this means to
me Ann." As he was speaking, he blinked his eyes several
times, and she saw they were glistening slightly with tears, his
voice becoming just slightly choked. "I've felt the same
way about you, but didn't know how you felt about me. Still I've
been alone for so long, I don't want to be hurt, or to do something
that might hurt you... It scares me just to think of it. I'm so
afraid that it won't work..." his voice trailing off.
"But if we don't try, we'll never know"
she interrupted. giving him a cute smile, looking deeper into
his eyes. "I'm willing to risk it if you are. I've known
you long enough to know that I don't want to lose you."
She could still tell he was nervous, but he flashed
her a quick smile in return. Gathering up his courage, he took
her hand in his, keeping his eyes locked on her gaze, his grip
was loose at first, then tightening slightly. At his touch she
was drawn deeper into his mind, touching his loneliness and gaining
more insight into his soul, still there was part of him that he
kept shrouded from her.
Sitting there hand in hand, lost in each other's
eyes, there didn't seem to be any more need for words. They stayed
like that for only a few minutes, but it seemed to span a much
longer period. The contact gave her a feeling of intimacy, and
it was as if they'd spent several hours pouring over each other's
souls.
He finally broke the magic of the moment, letting
go of her hand, speaking against the comfortable silence of a
short eternity. "Well now, I think it's about time we left."
"What do you mean Paul. You aren't going to
leave me now are you?"
"I said 'we' not 'I.' I'd like to be in a more
private setting... that is if you're interested" flashing
her a bold, and almost dangerous grin. It seemed that perhaps
the prey had suddenly turned on the hunter.
Struck with surprise at his boldness and the turn
of events, she was silent for a couple of moments. Quickly recovering,
she returned his grin as she replied "why Paul, whatever
has gotten into you? Are you sure that you're up for this?"
"I wasn't until just now. When we were sitting
there I got a feeling of just exactly who you are. I think that
we're right for each other, and I think that this will work out.
That is if you're serious about wanting to be with me."
"You know that I am, now let's get out of here."
Quickly paying their bill, they headed out into the cool night
air, as they walked, he slipped his arm around her and she leaned
into him.
It was a short walk to her apartment, and they walked
there at a faster pace than usual. Entering her single, she could
feel her pulse quickening with excitement, she'd never felt like
this with anyone else, and it was as if he was the one she'd been
waiting for all this time.
Closing the door, he quickly turned her towards him,
kissing her hard, almost forcibly. His kiss caught her off guard,
especially from the deftness of it. From his shyness, she'd assumed
that he wouldn't have had much practice at that sort of activity,
so she was pleasantly surprised by his skillfulness. Letting out
a tiny gasp, she kissed him back, bringing her arms tighter around
him.
They stood in their warm embrace for several minutes,
then he pulled away slightly, nudging her through the small apartment,
into her bedroom. The room was lit by the moonlight flooding in
through the windows, and standing in front of the bed, its glow
illuminated them in a pale aura.
"Ann, are you ready for this? After this there
can be no turning away, I want to make sure this is what you want."
"Please Paul, I want to be with you as much
as possible. I've never felt this way before and I need you with
me."
Hearing that, he embraced her once again, kissing
her lightly, slowly unbuttoning her shirt, he slipped it gently
off of her. Lightly stroking her neck and shoulders with one hand,
he moved the other to slowly caress one of her breasts beneath
her bra.
The hand caressing her neck then moved behind her
head to stroke her cheek, while his other hand slipped behind
her back to touch the side of her waist. He slowly disengaged
his lips from hers, moving down her cheek, lightly kissing, until
he reached her neck. Running his tongue deliberately over her
tender skin there, he heard her gasp slightly in response, holding
her body against him.
His actions changed abruptly, like a snake lying
at wait in the grass he sprang, striking quickly. Pulling her
closer to him, he thrust his hand over her mouth, stifling her
cry, at the same moment he bared his teeth, forcing his giant
canines into her soft flesh. Piercing her jugular, her drank deeply
of her life-force, her warm blood spilling across his tongue,
as she struggled against him.
Her struggles didn't last long though, as the venom
of his essence seeped into her blood stream, calming her. The
application of the drugging agents hidden within his saliva, given
to her while lapping at her delicate skin, had helped to dull
her pain and made it much easier for her. His attentions had been
slower and kinder towards her, for she was not like one of his
nameless victims. No, she'd agreed to be his partner, and was
now taking part in what had become their dance, for now and forever.
It was over quickly, and she passed into what appeared
much like a deep sleep, as the change started to work its way
upon her. Laying her gently on her bed, he bent down to slowly
lick the two round wounds on her neck, more natural agents in
his saliva clotting her blood.
How long had he been like this? It had been so long
he could hardly remember. What he'd become was part of a race
which was on the decline, it had been so long since he'd seen
someone like himself. He'd gone through his lonely existence for
such a long time, never thinking he would find anyone, someone
like her. He had found her though, and she'd agreed to stay with
him, even if she hadn't thoroughly understood the ramifications
of her decision. When she awoke the next evening to join him in
the night, he was sure that she would understand the situation,
after all it would give them the opportunity to be together like
she had wanted. He was sure that she would understand.
He smiled to himself for the first time in what seemed
like centuries. How good it would be to be with someone who would
completely understand him, and was so much like himself. Closing
the window shades, leaving them in the protection of darkness,
he lay down on the bed next to her, he embraced her sleeping form
lightly and soon fell into sleep himself. Tomorrow was after all
a whole new night, and what wonders it promised to hold.
Copyright 1994, 1996, Will A. Sanborn - was1@shore.net