Vampire Emeritus (Part #3) ✔

Chapter 2: Rise of the Vamplings

Despite the glitter and flare and eccentrics, the ancient vampire I've once considered goofy and lovable now seemed different. His mannerisms were more modern, like the present finally caught up with him.

There was also a seriousness in his gaze; the brown colour seemed deeper and darker, the edges sharper and more focused. I stepped back, letting him into my home.

"I am truly sorry to barge in unannounced." He said and walked his, his eyes taking in the large lobby and the double staircase leading to the second floor. "This is bigger than your former dorm room."

"Well, I've been shunned from campus." I shrugged, ignoring the confusion and nervousness I felt near him. "I had to level up."

"You're too easy to track." He murmured. "It took me less than an hour to find your current address."

I let out a sigh, "That's because Thomas insists on appearing human. I even have to pay taxes. Can you imagine the injustice?"

"I hear there are two things you cannot avoid; death and taxes." William smiled.

"It's way easier to trick death." My chuckle sounded weak and strained.

I haven't seen him in two years. A part of me was afraid he couldn't handle losing Sheila and went into the ancient sleep one more time. But the man standing on front of me didn't look like the lovesick puppy I've known two years ago; he looked like a vampire, strong and cold and unbothered.

"Come in." I opened the door to the living room and immediately realised what an awful picture my living room painted.

The parquet was covered in blood, the stench still lingered in the air, and the pale, human woman sat on the couch, scared shitless, with an empty plate in her lap. Thomas buried his face in his hands while Tina's heels tapped on the parquet and she tried her best no to murder the woman.

Thomas lifted his gaze once we entered the room, "William?"

"One and only." William took in the scene, his nose wrinkled at the smell of blood. "Appearing human?"

Thomas sighed, "It was an accident."

"Tina." I called the Barbie. "Can you take the woman home?"

The black-haired girl's eyes narrowed to slits, "Uh, I want to be here for this."

"Tina." My voice dropped. "Take the girl home."

The Barbie grunted and grabbed the woman, who dropped the plate on the parquet, and pulled her up, "Let's go."

"And Tina," I called, "Don't eat her."

Tina rolled her eyes so far back I could only see the whites, and left the living room, dragging the whimpering woman along.

"So," Thomas picked the plate off the floor, "What brings you here?"

"A word has spread through the vampire world." William sat on the couch and crossed his legs elegantly, "You've been up to no good."

"Depends on your definition of good." I walked to the kitchen. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Some red wine would be splendid." William's face lit up and for a moment, the vampire I knew glinted underneath this detached, cold facade.

"I guess it is a good thing Chloe insisted on a wine cellar." Thomas muttered.

"Hey, it's, like, the rule number one of life. Always have wine." I pulled the bottle out of the fridge and poured the red wine into the glass.

"The vampire world knows what we're doing?" Thomas asked, ignoring me.

"I wouldn't say 'know,' I'd say 'whisper.' There's been rumours of people disappearing." William's eyes met mine across the room. "What have you two been doing?"