The Underground City of Cinders

Chapter 6

I pushed against Dimitri's chest with my good hand but he was unrelenting. I felt like I was pressing against a brick wall. "Dimitri," I pleaded, "Please stop. You are hurting me." I tried to press against him with my whole body but he wouldn't move. He didn't even notice I was struggling. Suddenly I began to feel light headed and Dimitri pulled away. I sagged to my knees and pulled my hand into my lap as if I was trying to protect it.

It took a second for Dimitri to recognize what just happened. He dropped to his knees in front of me, "Oh my god Liz I am so sorry! I couldn't control myself. I just..." He shook his head and gently reached out to grab my good hand. Hesitantly I let him take it and he carefully pulled me to my feet. I looked up at him and I saw a small line of blood trailing out from the corner of his mouth. The realization hit me like a sack of bricks. He can't control himself.

I looked into his eyes with a slight hint of fear in mine, "Dimitri..."

I could see the shift in Dimitri's features to a look of shame, "I'm so sorry Liz..."

"What happened Dimitri? We were standing here just fine until all of a sudden you were pinning me against the wall."

Dimitri closed his eyes for a second, "I heard you cry out in pain so I came in here to see what was wrong. I had no idea I would be hit like that. I could smell your blood in the air and it drove me crazy. I... I couldn't have controlled myself even if I wanted to."

I cringed slightly. Why is it every time he talks about drinking my blood I get creeped out? This should be normal; I mean we are vampires after all. A ring of the doorbell shook me out of my thoughts. I looked at Dimitri in confusion but he only shrugged so I went to the door and opened it.

I was greeted by a bouncy brunette and I smiled, "Izzy! What are you doing here?"

She shrugged and skipped past me into the living room, "I was just curious if you wanted to hang out." She paused to inspect my apartment before continuing, "Wow, your apartment is so cool. It looks a lot like mine... well the expensive furniture does anyway. The walls and carpet are totally different."

Dimitri sauntered over to me so I gestured to him, "Izzy, this is my friend Dimitri. He is the one who brought me here and he's also the one who turned me."

I could swear her jaw was about to drop open. Dimitri casually strolled over to her and stuck his hand out to shake hers, "It's a pleasure to meet you Izzy." Izzy looked over to me before shaking his hand. Dimitri ambled over to me, holding out a slip of paper, "Here is my address Liz. It's in this building so don't hesitate to come over if you need anything. Don't worry about knocking. My door is always open for you."

I closed the door behind him as he left. As soon as Izzy heard the door latch closed she ran over to me and pulled me over to the couch, "How the heck did you get so lucky?"

I stared at her for a moment, "What do you mean?"

Izzy regarded me as if I had just asked a stupid question, "He is just about the hottest guy I have ever seen. Except for Chase of course. How did you get so lucky?"

I thought for a moment, "Well I don't know. I don't really consider myself lucky. I was walking home from school one day. He cornered me in an alleyway when he turned me."

Izzy burst out in laughter, "Well isn't that the most romantic thing I have ever heard."

Her sarcasm caused me to join her in laughter, "Well if you put it that way..."

"So?" she probed.

"So what?" I questioned.

"So, is there anything going on between you two?"