Death Becomes Us

Part 9: Heads Will Roll

"Excuse me?" You balked, looking Jareth up and down there in the alleyway behind Main Vein. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Who did he think he was?

A thousand-year-old vampire, probably. Stronger and faster than Eddie or any vampire you'd met so far.

Jareth smoothed a thick strand of blonde hair behind his ear. "That's the problem you see. I wasn't asking."

A fog settled in among the cold, winter darkness, crowding in like doom. Your eyes darted from side to side, trying to understand what you were up against. Was Jareth alone? Where were those finicky "powers" when you needed them? Even if the superhuman strength you'd been touched with made an appearance, could you take on a vampire?

Did you have a choice?

But then, a wave of fear burned like thorns in your chest and your voice cracked. "Is Eddie okay? Did something happen to—-?"

The smile that spread across Jareth's face was condescending. "No harm has befallen your trailer park Romeo. Not at my hand, for that matter."

Not sure how to feel about that answer, you adjusted your bag on your shoulder and took the first step away from him, on the way to your hearse.

"Tsktsk," he had black gloves on to match his long, leather coat. "Now, I don't want to take you by force, but I will if you give me no choice."

You met his eyes with a defiant softness that made him realize, not for the first time, why Munson was clearly so enamored with you. "Are you going to kill me?"

"Truthfully, I haven't decided what to do with you yet," he wet his top lip with the tip of his tongue, making eyes at the blood pumping in your throat. "But I wouldn't mind a taste."

You shrugged away from him. "Why should I go with you?"

"Because I said so," he arched his brows, and then leaned forward. "And because I've had word that there's a Ghoul in town looking for you. I'm only interested in your safety."

You glared at him. "You're only interested in yourself."

"Feisty, I like it. Now, come on, this way," he inclined his head.

You took a few steps and then stopped short. "Wait, a ghoul?"

"Servants to the regional monster government, yes," he said, like everyone should know that already.

You thought about Steve, waiting for you at the bookstore. You thought about Bela waiting for you to let her out for her nightly fly.

"How long will I be gone?"

"Until my people can figure out what the ghoul wants from you."

"Why are you protecting me?" You shuffled in front of him.

Jareth sniffed, unable to meet your gaze. "On that note, I am not entirely sure," he stepped a bit closer then, making you shuffle a step back. "Call it curiosity, perhaps. You fascinate me, and very little keeps my interest these days."

When his stare finally locked onto yours, you tried not to show fear under the laser focus of his natural intensity.

You slipped into the passenger seat of his Porsche, smelling the leather and expensive cologne, and waited for him to get in beside you. Just as he was about to start the engine, there was a loud bang and crash from above, like something heavy dropped hard and fast onto the roof of his car.

You couldn't help the scream you let out, peeking up to see that there was, indeed, a dent caving in the metal as if a boulder had crashed into it. A figure leapt to the ground, landing in a crouch between the headlights.