Forbidden Love

Chapter 19

Finally, school was over for the day. The girls seemed to want to hang out somewhere. Saera on the other hand was in the clouds. She couldn't think straight. What was that all about back then? Why did he do that? She couldn't understand him at all. One moment he ignores me completely, the next he acts as if I'm the only one in this world he cares for. Personality change?
Saara's head was throbbing hard. All she wanted to do was run home and crash down on her soft bed. Looking at her overly excited and hyped up friends she was sure that was not possible. She looked ahead and saw the guys huddled in a group. In between them all, right in the middle was Derek. They all seemed to be in a deep conversation about something and of course Kevin was the one holding the meeting right in the middle of the school ground, blocking everyone's path. Just a glance at Derek sent butterflies in Saera's stomach. She wished she could understand these weird emotions she kept having.
"What's going on guys? You lot seem to be in a jolly good mood. Having plans on robbing a computer store?" Caroline made her way towards them and the rest followed her lead.
"We're heading over to the new Gaming centre which opened up recently. With the heck load of homework's we've been getting none of us could go there." Kevin replied with his signature grin plastered on his face. He's the only one among them who acts like a pre-schooler. But this time Saera was well sure that the reason Kevin was more than excited was because Derek was tagging along. That's right, Mectro High's lone wolf is now hanging out with friends.
"Can we tag along as well?" Caroline just had to ask. The rest of the girls agreed while Saera tried to excuse herself from them and leave. But before she could leave Mary wrapped her hands around Saera's arm stopping her from walking away. All she gave was a wink and smile to the girl who had almost succeeded in going home.
Derek did his best to look the other way without seeming obvious that he was ignoring her gaze. Saera on the other hand had her eyes glued on the vampire. The others who had sensed the awkward atmosphere around these two tried to lighten things up. Kevin took this situation as a good time and had ideas of letting Saera and Derek spend more time with each other.
"Sure why not. You girls can come along as well. More the merrier." The other guys seemed too thrilled as well that they were going with girls from their school.
Derek had not expected this change of events.
"Uh. Sorry, I've got to get home quick and..." He was cut mid-sentence by Adam who clasped a hand on his mouth forcing him to stop talking. The guys beckoned the girls to follow and dragged an unwilling Derek along with them. This is bad. I have to get home fast. If Steven or Kathedra are around, Saera could be in trouble. More than that, if the other vampires are out in daylight and see me together with a human slayer, they're not going to let Saera get away easily. No matter what excuses he gave, they weren't buying it. How he wished he could knock out Kevin for what he had done.
The gaming centre was completely packed. Not a muscle could be moved. The sweet smell of blood flowing through everyone, the strong smell of sweat and cologne drifted towards Derek making him lose his control little by little. He started to pant heavily but did his best to stay composed in front of his friends. There was one person though who didn't fall for his act. Saera could see right through him. Derek's fighting to keep control. It was a bad idea bringing him here. Without thinking straight she just grabbed hold of his hand and made way towards a gaming booth.
"The two of us are heading over to the racing booth." She waved at her confused friends and dragged Derek away from them. He followed her obediently too weak to resist. He slumped down on an empty booth and rested his head on his arms, trying to keep his thoughts steady. He ran his tongue across his teeth and felt the sharp edges of his canine tooths forcing to break free. He suddenly felt a gentle touch on his shoulder.
"You okay? You look paler than usual." Saera's eyes were drenched with worry. Derek wished he could hold her close. Her comfort was all he needed right now to gain his control. His eyes held her gaze steadily. They seemed sunken somehow. It didn't have the usual compelling feeling to it. His lips were dry and pale. Sweat poured down his brows and forehead. He looked worse than being sick.
"Too many people around. Trying to keep control right now is harder than refraining from consuming blood for a week. Plus I don't have much blood in my system. I haven't been feeding these days" It took a lot of strength to speak out a few words. He felt completely drained out. Saera stared at him disbelief. She knew well that a vampire who had no blood in his system was most vulnerable and could be taken down easily without any effort.
"Why... Why haven't you fed? That's insane Derek!" She tried her best to keep her voice down to a whisper so the guy next to them won't over hear.
Derek chuckled to himself. He had never felt this weak and useless before. And talking about consuming blood to someone out of his family felt weird but at the same time peace in mind and content. He didn't mind looking weak in front of Saera. She was the only the girl in the entire world he wanted to care for him.
"I haven't been able to think straight lately. My minds completely blank. Unfocused all the time. There's someone who's always invading my thoughts." He looked up at her. She stared at him blankly. She had no idea what to say or how to react to this. She shook her head quickly to clear her doubtful mind and looked at Derek once again. She reached for his hand.
"Let's get you out of here. You shouldn't be here." She started pulling him up. He almost crashed into her but quickly caught his footing and moved back keeping a safe distance between them. He had a smile on his face.
"Your worried, that I might attack some innocent human right? Don't worry. I've lived a long time. I'm capable of controlling myself." Saera's gaze focused more on Derek. Her grip tightened around his wrist. She seemed angry somehow.
She moved her face closer to his staring at him intently. Saera realized his breath was coming out cold.
"I'm more worried about you than about the ones who are here." Derek seemed taken back. He wasn't expecting this answer from her. She started leading the way to the exit of the gaming centre.
The place had gotten more packed and it was suffocating Derek. It got harder by the minute to get out of this place. Saera suddenly noticed, all around her girls were in groups staring in her direction, whispering to each other. What did I do to them? Oh wait, I forgot. I'm holding the hand of a guy who draws attention much faster than a magnet. Saera looked back to see if Derek noticed this as well. He looked even more paler than before. She quickened her pace and managed to get close to the exit door. Right before she could leave, Saera and Derek came across their group of friends. It seemed like they were looking for these two. Kevin let out a sigh of relief.
"There you are. Where the hell did you two run off to? We've been looking all over. This place is even worse than a zoo. We've been hearing from all over, girls catching sight of an angelic guy with blonde hair being dragged by a girl. We guessed it might be you two." Kevin smiled like a geek but then his smile disappeared when he caught sight of Derek.
"Dude you okay? What happened to you?" Adam touched Derek's forehead to check his temperature and pulled back his hand at once, a shocked expression visible on his face.
"Your ice cold! What's going on?" Every single one of them seemed to have noticed his complexion change. Derek was unsteady and let himself lean more on Saera for support. He tapped her hand softly and she understood the signal at once.
"He's feeling sick. I'm taking home so we'll leave first. You guys can have some fun and then leave." She knew everyone were worried. Kevin reached out to help his friend but Derek moved back saying help from one person was enough.
Saera and Derek made their way outside and into the empty street. Only a few vehicles passed by and there weren't much people around. The inside is a zoo and outside seems like a desert. Saera thought to herself as she helped the weak vampire walk to the nearest cab service.
Suddenly, she felt her hand which was holding Derek's hand being pried apart and the next thing she know, Derek was thrown to the other side. He fell hardly and remained silent, too weak to move around. Saera ran to his side at once and sat beside him. She looked up and noticed three good looking guys sneering at her. They were dark haired with one of them having dyed his hair blonde at the front. Their skin was smooth and flawless. A dangerous aura emitted from them. With a sickening feeling in her stomach, Saera realized who these three were.
Derek sat up leaning on the wall for support. The guy with half blonde hair stepped in front and kneeled down in front of her holding her by the chin and making her look at him in the eye.
"So you're the new Vampire Slayer in town our Derek's been playing with. I must say, I wasn't expecting you to be such a beauty." A smirk was plastered on his cocky face. She slapped his hand away from her feeling disgusted.
"You make me want to touch you more." He reached out once again. A hand grabbed his and jerked it away with quite a force. Derek pulled Saera towards him extending an arm in front of her to keep the other vampire guys away from her. The other two stepped in front and lifted Derek up by the collar of his jacket. Hatred and anger was clearly written all over their faces.
"Don't act so cocky and heroic when your so pathetic right now Ryder." Their sharp fangs had sprung out and was now visible in the broad daylight. They threw Derek back to the ground.
"Because of you being so lovey dovey with a Slayer and breaking the rules we have to pay for it. We can't walk in freedom without looking back our shoulders to keep ourselves from ending up dead. You've broken the balance between us Vampires and the Slayers." Derek was hopeless. He couldn't lift a finger. He didn't care for him at all. All he wanted right now was to make sure Saera got to safety. Saera on the other hand was glued to the ground shivering with fear. The terrified feeling she had the first time she confronted Derek and he revealed his true form was returning back to her. Three vampires, all ruthless and emotionless. What should I do? Why am I so scared? Is this it for me?
"Watch while I suck out all the delicious blood out of you slayer playmate Ryder." A slight glimpse of his fangs through his parted lips creeping close to her was all that was needed to get Saera to her feet and start moving back. Two of them blocked her path from either side while the dark-blonde haired guy didn't stop walking towards her. The smirk he had earlier was still on his face. He caught hold of her chin once again and forcefully made her turn her head the other way exposing her neck. His head dropped down slowly only inches away from her.
"What's going on here?" A voice was suddenly heard from behind them. Derek didn't have to look to know whom the voice belonged to. The others turned around annoyed wondering who was disturbing them. Saera stared surprised and at the same time slightly relieved. At the end of the alley stood a really confused and speechless Kevin.