Bites & Bruises (ManxMan)

Sixteen

My thoughts were haunted by pain and screams, my own agony filled cries causing me to wince as I tossed and turned in my sleep for the fifth night in a row.

I slowly sat up, the need to feed having me restless and irritable. God did I want to just sink my fangs into some tender, vanilla scented flesh, just the mere thought had me salivating and I couldn't help but lick my lips with anticipation.

My room had become another prison yet it didn't have bars on my windows and I wasn't stripped down to just my underwear with a bag over my head, no, instead I wasn't allowed outside the house. I wasn't allowed to go out and patrol anymore, the vampires thought it would be better for me, thought I needed time to recover from my ordeal.

Silly Marius.

If only he knew just how bad I was, how the monster that I had fought so hard to keep at bay was finally out to seek its opportunity after all those years in solitude.

The dull ache in my throat brought me from my dwindling thoughts and I listened to the house creak. It was still dark outside, the moon hanging high among the shining stars, oh what I would give to be outside just one more time...

Just one more time to enjoy the cold winter air, to enjoy the fresh scent of snow, to enjoy ripping into the next human who was unlucky enough to cross paths with me.

Pushing down my dark and twisted thoughts, the sound of quiet sobbing reached my ears and peaked my interest. Curious, I got up from my spot on the bed and pulled on my jeans before heading out in search of the noise.

At first I thought it was coming from the living room yet once I had padded down the hallway, I found it empty. Did I just imagine that? I pondered as a frown came onto my face, I'm pretty certain I'm not just hearing things.

A sniffle.

I turned on my heels to glance back the way I had just come.

A muffled sob.

Cocking an eyebrow, I began to make my way down the hallway again, this time stopping outside a door opposite my own. Despite the anger burning in my veins I couldn't help but glance over at Marius' door, shut and as I listened I found it quiet.

He was no doubt out and about killing things. The bastard.

Without hesitation I reached out and twisted the door handle before entering. Rosá sat in front of her dressing table, gazing at herself in the mirror with a fancy looking brush in hand. On entering, she turned to shoot me a startled gaze and quickly wiped at her face.

"P-Payton, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

For a long moment I did nothing but stare at the woman before me. No longer did she wear extravagant clothes nor make up to hide her pale complexion, it was a sight I wouldn't get used to anytime soon.

Rosá tore her gaze from me lingering in the doorway and went back to looking at herself in the large mirror before her. The long, plain nightdress she wore seemed like something out of the Victorian period and didn't look right on her at all.

It made her look young, the outfit seeming to drown her in white.

"Am I beautiful?"

Her voice had me snapping from my thoughts and I swallowed back a growl that wanted to leave my throat. What sort of question is that? I cocked an eyebrow and came deeper into the room, shutting the door behind me.

"Why do you ask that?"

She refused to meet my gaze and I strode over to sit beside her on the stool.