Starlight

Fear - Maya

He knows. James knows.

"Please," I sob, "don't hurt me. I didn't choose, I didn't!"

By now, James has sunk to his feet beside me and is rubbing my back in a comforting manner. No matter how hesitant he may seem, I can't help but be consoled by him.

"Shhh," James soothes.

He seems to have stopped taunting me as the expression in his face has softened. I don't like the side of him I saw before and never want to be bared to it again.

"You must hate me," I say.

"No," he murmurs. "Of course I don't." I swear, his voice changes in two seconds. While before it was understanding, it is now more solid and put-together, less emphatic - he can't know how I feel.

"Why? Why don't you?"

James pauses, peering into my face. In this short moment, his eyes are all I see; the inviting, rich shade of brown, the flecks of gold radiating around an ink-black pupil.

Suddenly all I want to do is fall - fall for him. It would be so much easier now he knows.

He blinks slowly and his lashes brush his cheek bones, given how long they are, making him appear much younger than he is, although I know differently. James has seen things - things that have aged him.

When he doesn't speak, I ask him, "How?"

Immediately, he understands. "Because of what I am."

I swipe my hand across my cheek, wiping

the tears away. "And what....are you?" I have no idea where this is going.

James averts his eyes, shifting slightly on the floor. The light of his bedroom now falls perfectly on his face, illuminating his tawny skin. He opens his mouth, as if to say something. My eyes are drawn to his mouth automatically. He looks to be making a decision.

In the end, he rises up from the floor, moving to a door on the opposite side of the room.

I scramble after him. "What are you doing?"

He takes out a key from his jeans pocket, thrusting it into the lock and turning his head around. His eyes are heavy-lidded and he seems unsure about what he is doing, but is going ahead with it anyway. "I thought it would be easier to show you."

And then the door opens.

"What the hell is this?" I shriek, backing away from him. My mind is frenzied as my eyes widen at the sight before me.

"It's what I am, Maya," he says, surprisingly calm. He starts towards me with his arms outstretched slowly, as if I am a frightened animal he is trying hard not to startle.

"You're a - a hunter," I breathe.

"Yes," he answers, all the while coming closer, closer.

The only thing I think to do is run - because James wants to kill me.