Crimson

03

He plagued my thoughts all that night as well as the next day when I was getting ready to go to work. Clambering into my black Nissan, I threw my stuff on the passenger seat and leaned my head on the steering wheel. I took a few deep breaths before sitting up and gripping the wheel with both hands.

"Get it together Ajae."

A few hours later I was sitting at the front desk of the pharmaceutical company that I worked for. My fingers skittered across the keyboard, logging in a few patient's updated information. But I wasn't focused on that, the thoughts of Kai invading my mind. For some reason, they plagued me, wouldn't leave me alone.

Had he done something to me last night? Maybe the substantial blood loss was finally getting to my head. Or maybe it was something else entirely.

I jumped when my manager Gina placed a hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay."

I nodded, looking up at her. "Yeah, yeah fine. I'm fine."

She eyed me critically. "You didn't hear me the three times that I said your name. That and you're really pale."

Letting out a sigh, I turned back to the computer, typing in the last bit of a log. "I'm okay, really."

"Go home Ajae, take the rest of the day off. You look sick."

I spun to face her in my chair, craning my neck the best I could to see her. "Are you sure?"

I had wanted nothing else than to go home the second I got here this morning.

She gave me a nod and I pushed myself out of the chair, gathering my things before walking to the door and clocking out. As soon as I was outside, I took in a huge breath. Now that I was out of there I felt like I could breathe.

People pushed past me, their faces void and uncaring. Nobody knew me, nobody wanted to know me, nobody even gave me a second glance. That's what I love about the city; everyone is just as uninteresting as the next person and not a single soul gives a crap about you or your life.

My eyes are drawn to the left of me like a magnet. Something in my being urged me to look that way desperately and I followed its plea. But what met my eyes was not pleasing and to say that my soul yearned for it almost disgusted me. Because there he was in all of his stone cold arrogance walking towards me from within the sea of unknown people. The happiness was sucked mercilessly from my body as my eyes followed his movements. I was expecting him to make eye contact with me and smirk in that threatening way of his. But when he passed without even sparing me a glance I was struck with almost a sense of disbelief. Of course he wouldn't look at me, he probably didn't even know that I was here. I was simply another one of his midnight meals that he throws away when he was done. My eyes followed him as he strode by almost in slow motion, his expressionless face reflecting perfect nothingness. I stood frozen in the middle of the sidewalk, my eyes following him until he was sucked into the crowd and I couldn't tell him apart from the next person.

Blinking several times, I was pushed aside, people bumping into my stiff form and mumbling a set of profanities under their breath. I clutched my hair as I spun and began to walk to the small parking garage that I had left my car in.

What had he done to me and why can't I get him out of my head? I see him everywhere, at work, in my home, out in crowds. And in my head it doesn't make sense because I know that he isn't really there. But my being wishes him to be and so he is.

I take in a shaky breath as I find my car within the sea of other black ones that look similar. I throw my purse into the passenger seat as the engine roars to life and I speed out into the crowded streets, wanting so suddenly to be alone and without the view of other human beings.

As soon as I pulled into the driveway, I quickly shut off the engine and hurried into the house. The sky was cloudy and grey but I didn't bother to turn any lights on as I threw my blazer and purse onto the counter before kicking my simple black heels off into some dark corner of the kitchen.

I walked to the decorative circular mirror in living room to inspect if what Gina had said was true. My skin glittered with sweat even though I didn't feel hot and my skin was indeed paler than usual. My eyes drifted to view what was behind me and what came into my vision angered me.

He was there again. But I knew that my mind was making it all up.

Growling, rage consumed me as my hand flew back before connecting with the reflecting surface, shattering it and sending shards spraying across the floor. My breathing was harsh, the anger coursing through my veins. My hand stung with pain and small smears of blood were left where the mirror no longer existed.

"Why would you do that?"

I jumped at the sound of a deep voice and spun around to meet hazel orbs that stared down at me much like all of the other times. I stared at him wide eyed as he menacingly towered over my small form. This was not a figment of my imagination.

"How and why are you here?" I snapped.

He completely ignored my question as he walked briskly towards me and I matched his movements, backing into the wall next to the shattered mirror. He reached for my hand and I quickly jerked it away from his grasp, holding it slightly behind my body.

"Don't touch me."

"Or what? What will you do, what can you do? You're only a human, a tiny and weak human that can do nothing to stop me."

Glaring at me, Kai forcefully reached for my wrist and pulled it towards him, my body following.

"I'll...I'll call the police."

"And say what? That a vampire is in your house and you're afraid that he's going to make you a meal? They'll never believe you, humans are all ignorant creatures."

I glared at him the best I could as he held my hand in his much larger one tightly but not enough to hurt. He towered over me and his eyes seemed to see into my soul.

"Just who the hell do you think you are? First you attack me and drag me into an alley and now you're in my house."

"And yet, you seem to like my presence," he retorted.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "That's just wishful thinking on your part. You know nothing about me."

"Sure sure."

I stood just a foot from him as he slowly began to pluck shards of the mirror from my skin, our conversation forgotten as I winced every time he ripped a piece out of my flesh. He dropped them onto the floor in an uncaring manner, soft plinks echoing throughout the small house. Kai then harshly pulled one out, more blood surfacing on my delicate skin. I flinched and let out a pained gasp.

"You did that on purpose," I growled.

He smirked, not meeting my glare as the last few shards left my hand. Then slowly, my hand traveled to his lips.

"Better not waste it."

I looked away as his pink tongue flicked out from between his lips to lick the blood off. From the corner of my eyes I could see the glowing red of his eyes as he lapped up the crimson liquid.

And then he was gone in the blink of an eye, my arm swinging down limply to my side, the coolness of his skin touching mine left behind as my own warmth returned, the essence of him ever being there completely gone.

But he still haunted my dreams that night.