Saved by a Vampire

Chapter 9

One second, Hannah was stalking me like prey. The next, she was frozen by a set of icy fingertips.

“Hannah, my love, please do not hurt the human girl. Something tells me she is important,” said the man. I soon felt Chris’s body against me, breathing me in to calm himself. I could not see the strange man, but what I had seen and heard reminded me of someone.

“What are you doing here?” Chris yelled, shaking me to my very core.

“I could ask you the same thing, my son.” The realization hit me; it was Chris’s father. The eyes were the same and the voice was as calming as Chris’s.

“She wanted to come see her friend.” Chris blocked my eyes with his body, trying to shield me from Hannah, his father, and my potential nightmares after seeing my best friend as a killer.

“I was coming to see Hannah too. She has become my new friend.” I could hear the malicious smile in his voice. He kept his words purposefully simple, as if talking to a child.

“May we leave, Elder?” Then, I realized underneath Chris’s fury, was a slight tremor. He was afraid.

“Of course, my son.” But he did not move and the door out remained blocked by Hannah and her new “master.”

“Please move.” Chris’s anger began to snake through his words.

“Oh, all right. But, we’ll have to meet again, little one.” He looked directly at me, temptation raging in his eyes.

Chris rushed me out of that house as soon as Hannah stepped a foot away. He threw me in the seat, and immediately after, we were driving down small back roads. Both hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. His eyes stared straight ahead. The needle rose dramatically into the 80 MPH range. I began to panic. My breath got shorter and faster and my hands grabbed the seat if only for moral support. Then, the roaring in his ears died down and he heard my breaths. He slowed down.

“I’m sorry.” Chris glanced at me quickly. “I’m sorry he turned your friend.”

“What will happen to her?” I asked. Chris was silent.

“He could kill her, or he could raise her into a productive vampire.”

“Which is more likely?” My voice began to shake.

“I honestly don’t know, Lily.” I did not start bawling. She was not dead, yet. I was hopeful.

We rode in silence. I wanted this to stop. Not only had I lost my friend, but I was living with a complete stranger, who could have the urge to suck me dry. My eyes wanted to cry. My throat wanted to scream. My arms wanted to punch and pinch and throw things. But you can’t always get what you want.

“Lily?” He said gently.

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay? Because I’m really sorry. We should’ve gone sooner. I should have taken her in as soon as I took you in.” He kept glancing over at me.

“Then, why didn’t you?” My voice was strangely calm, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.

“Because I’m not in love with her. I’m in love with you. I guess I kind of wanted you to myself for a little while.” He pulled over. I couldn’t talk. What could I say to that? Should I be angry at him for putting his selfish wants in front of my friend? Or do I acknowledge that there is no possible way he could’ve known what her fate would be? I saw the guilt and embarrassment of me not saying anything back.

“You don’t have to say anything. I’m sorry.”

“Its not that… I mean I care for you. More of, I’m grateful to you. But, I barely know you. We just met.” He said nothing, yet his face was hurt. He didn’t look at me or say anything for the rest of the ride. When we arrived to his home, he went straight inside.

I went in more leisurely. I felt it necessary to give him some space, even more so because he was a vampire. Jamie and Haleigh were sitting at the island in the kitchen. When they saw me come in somewhat ashamedly, Haleigh went to Chris and Jamie stood up.

“What happened?” She asked, draping an arm over my shoulder.

“My friend was turned into a vampire by Chris’s dad and on the car ride home, Chris told me he loves me. The fact that he loves me is the reason why we didn’t go and see Hannah sooner.”

“So… are you mad at him?”

“I don’t know.” I sighed.

“So what are you feeling?”

“I feel grateful to him. But, I just met him.”

“I’m guessing you told him this.”

“Of course. Then, he looked all hurt and didn’t say anything for the rest of the ride.” I was getting exasperated just from remembering what happened.

“Oh, okay. What about Hannah? How do you feel about her?”

“She’s not dead. I feel as if she can still be saved. I mean, you and Haleigh are made vampires and you turned out alright.” I looked up at her and she smiled at me.

“Well, at least you’re optimistic.”

“What am I supposed to do about Chris?”

“Do you love him?”

“Not really. I barely know him and we haven’t even gone out on a date. Besides I think he would do better with Haleigh.” She laughed at this. My eyebrows furrowed together.

“Haleigh and Chris don’t like each other like that! She respects him a lot. She was his first made vampire and first to join his coven. She can get pretty possessive, but only has his best interests in mind. She didn’t want you two to hurt each other. More importantly, she doesn’t want him to suck you dry. She had a human lover years ago, but she couldn’t control herself one day and drank from him.”

“Oh,” was all I could say in response.

“I would think about your feelings for Chris. From what I’ve noticed, his love hasn’t gone unrequited.” She left me alone in the kitchen. I just threw my head in my hands.