The Vampire Stalker

Chapter 3

I STARED AT HIM for a few seconds, stunned by his pitch-perfect performance. Then I started to laugh. I couldn't help it.

This guy had deliberately done himself up to resemble Alexander Banks. The windswept hair was one thing — lots of guys were adopting that style these days to get girls' attention. But the whole outfit, including the coat and high leather boots ... it was an Alexander Banks costume.

Leave it to me to be rescued by some Otherworld-obsessed weirdo.

"What is so humorous?" he demanded, arching a dark eyebrow.

"You look a lot like him; I'll give you that."

"A lot like whom?"

"You know, Alexander Banks from the Otherworld books."

He looked puzzled. "I do not know what books you speak of. In any case, I must be off to the Byward District to see if I can pick up his trail. Do you know, perchance, how I can get there from here?"

The Byward District. It was the notorious area of Otherworld Chicago where the vampires congregated at night before prowling the city in search of prey.

I didn't know why he felt he had to continue the joke. I felt an uneasy twist in my stomach. Something was definitely off about this guy. "I'm sorry, but I'm not into the role-playing thing. I'm a fan of the books, too, but I need to deal with the police right now." I turned to walk to the elevator.

"You will offer me no help?" he asked.

I looked back at him again. Seeing the intensity in his eyes, I felt a frisson of fear. "My mother's waiting for me upstairs and could be down any second. And there's a security camera over there." I pointed to it, perched above the mirror to our right. I caught a glimpse of myself and the Alexander look-alike looming in front of me.

He seemed confused. "Only minutes ago, I saved your life, and now you act as if I am threatening it?"

"That man wasn't necessarily going to ..."

"Vigo Skaar never leaves his victims alive."

Something stilled inside me.

No, this is ridiculous. He's just trying to freak you out.

And it was working.

"Vigo's just a character in a book, okay?" I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the third floor, but jumped back when a booted foot lodged itself in the door. It automatically reopened.

"Not so fast." His dark eyes were penetrating. "Not until you explain why you doubt who I am."

I stepped out of the elevator right away. This guy was getting scarier by the minute, and I'd always had a fear of being cornered in an elevator. At least in the lobby, someone might come in. And the threat of the security camera might make him think twice if he had any intention of hurting me.

"Why don't we sit down," he said. It was clearly not a question.

When he took my arm, I didn't resist. I let him walk me over to the sagging chintz couch. He sat down next to me.

"I would like to know why you do not believe what I'm telling you."

I inched away from him as subtly as I could. "I don't know what to say. I told you I just want to call the police."

"And I told you, the police are ineffective. Rather than patrolling the streets at night, they adhere to the curfew. They are not qualified to take on Vigo and his coven. This cannot be news to you."