Hero

Seven

A small groan comes from his mouth. I stop and look at him.

"Alice... we really need to talk, can you come back to mine?"

"Sure I'll let Bea know" Pulling out my phone to text her. He grabs my hand to hold it, it's so cold! "I think I know what you're going to say."

"You really don't but" he sighs as he struggles to get out what he needs to say "you need to know... I did mean what I said, I am sorry."

As we approach his apartment he stops me "After I tell you what I'm about to say, you're free to leave and you'll never see or hear from me again. I will pack up and go" he says as he gets his key out to open the door.

"Okay but, what can be so bad that you'll leave, WOW... Bloody hell!"

"What, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, this place is massive"

"Oh thanks, I've had it for years now"

I look at him "Years, how old are you?" Taking my shoes and coat off.

"Umm... I..." Takes a deep breath "I'm older than you think. Do you want a drink?"

"Not for now thanks. Just how much older?" not wanting to get off subject.

"I'm 240 years old" Looking at me worried

I can't stop myself from laughing, standing up "You're kidding right? You're playing some sick game. I mean, no one lives for that long unless...? And the lightbulb goes on "You're a...?"

"Vampire, yes" looking down at the floor "I'm a monster" He whispers

Falling back down onto the sofa "Alice" Hero takes my hand, now sat next to me "I was worried I'd hurt you like I.." quickly stopping before he continues

"But how? I mean What? How? This is so messed up, I'm standing again, pacing his large living room. "I can't... where's the loo, I think I'm going to be sick?" looking at Hero his eyes are brimming with tears.

"It's through there on the right" Pointing down the hallway.

Running down the hall, I find the toilet just making it. Never mix alcohol with shock! Rinsing my mouth out and washing my face, I look in the mirror "Can I do this with him? I need to know everything"

Walking into the living room Hero is sat waiting anxiously with a large glass of water and a sandwich. "I thought you might need a drink and some food"

"Thankyou. I... I'm sorry about that, think it must be the shock"

"Maybe I should have waited until tomorrow to tell you, I guess it's not every day you find out that the bloke you dated is a monster so, I'll let you off the apology"

"Hmm"

"Ask me anything, I'll answer truthfully. Anything you want to know"

"Wow, okay, uhh" trying to think of a questions without sounding stupid "What do you eat, is it blood or both food and blood?"

"It's a bit of both actually, I can eat like anyone else but I do need blood to take away the thirst, that's the thing I'm finding hard with you, when we kissed I could feel your blood pumping in your lips, it sent a fire to my chest I haven't felt in such a long time, I HAD to get away as quickly as possible. I didn't know what else to do" He says almost pleading with me to understand.

"But you haven't killed anyone... have you?" I ask scared of the answer I'm about to get

"No no no, I've never killed anyone, I know someone who gets me bags from the blood bank, friends used to give me their blood, but it wasn't enough to sustain me."

Taken aback by what he just said "Oh, so other people know?"

"Yeah, they all know apart from Bea, that's how we met, Mark caught me killing a Squirrel when he was Seventeen. He's been great about it. They all used to give me blood to drink"

"What about the Sun, you don't burn?" now feeling really confused.

He lifts up his hand, and flashes me this beautiful Blood Red Oval ring "Daylight ring. it has a spell on it so I can walk in the day time"

"What the..." I'm floored "Witches exist?"

Laughing "Not in the sense you're probably thinking, but yes they do"

"Okay, wow. So how did you, you know, turn?"

"I only remember bits and pieces, we forget more and more of our past as we get older. I was in Rome with a few of my friends, walking back to my rooms one night I got attacked, and I wake up with the most agonising pain searing through my whole body like hot knives, I didn't know what was happening to me. Then this Man heard me screaming and came to my aid. He took me back to his rooms and helped me through it. I can't remember his name or face. He took it upon himself to help me, showed me how to hunt without killing anyone" He explains looking dead ahead playing with his hands.
"I do need you to know that what I feel for you, I have never felt before. I'm drawn to you like a Moth to a flame, I do believe it's fate that we met"

"I just need some time, can you give me that?"

"Yes. Yes, of course, as much time as you need, you have a lot to think about. Just... let me try something. Please?" He asks as he leans into me. I can feel his cold breath on my lips, as I respond... Grabbing his hair I don't want him to let go. As I climb onto his lap, he lets out a pained noise, is this to much for him? I can't make it out. Wow, I feel his tongue erratically swirling my mouth in desperation as I respond at the same speed. Pushing down onto his lap I can feel him growing "Stop... Alice... Please"

His face has changed. Red eyes with Black veins spreading outward from them. He tries to hide it from me "I don't want you to see me like this"

Taking him by the chin "You don't have to hide your true self from me" As I gently kiss his lips.
"I just need time" climbing off his lap, I need to go. "Can you take me home?"