Taking What's His

Chapter Nine

"Vampire."

******

"Correct! You win the grand prize!" Ruby answered sarcastically as she took a step closer. "S-stay back!" I yelled, scooting away from her until my back hit my dresser. "I'm not going to hurt you. Come on, let me see your hand. You need to bandage it up. It's bleeding everywhere." she huffed with a roll of her eyes, not abiding by my wishes and coming ever closer. "I said stay back!" I screamed in hysteria, clutching my bleeding hand behind my back. I didn't want her anywhere near my blood.

"Ruby."

Ruby turned around, and I stared with wide eyes at Ashton who sat on the outside of my window sill. "Leave her alone for now. We'll deal with this in the morning." Ashton commanded in a hard tone. Eyes flaring, she grit her teeth and crossed her arms, giving him a stubborn look. "Leave Ruby. Now." Ruby sighed theatrically, throwing her hands up in the air before trekking over to the window and swiftly jumping out of it. I briefly wondered if she hurt herself doing that considering we were on the second floor, but those thoughts soon fled as I turned my attention back to Ashton.

He stared at me silently as I pressed myself closer to my dresser, squirming under his intense gaze. Hot tears prickled in the corners of my eyes and threatened to spill over, but I at least held them back for now. "Delilah." I jerked violently when he said my name, no longer enjoying the shivers that went down my spine with how his mouth seemed to caress it. He sighed irritably, pinching the bridge of his nose betwixt pale fingertips in an expression of aggravation. "Get some sleep." he finally spoke coldly, his eyes for once emotionless before he disappeared into the night.

I scrambled up and slammed the window shut and locked it once again, a chill seeping into my bones as I realized that even locked doors and windows wouldn't be able to keep them out. How was I expected to sleep? I shakily climbed into my bed and wrapped my blankets around me, angling myself so that my back was propped up against my headboard and my body was turned toward the window. How had I not realized sooner? There should have been something about them--some small hint that warned me of what they were.

I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Vampires? Surely such supernatural creatures only existed in books and t.v. shows. They weren't a part of the real world. Yet--they were. It was a frightening concept to comprehend. I intertwined my fingers to stop my hands from trembling as I took a deep breath. How was I supposed to deal with this? No one would believe me if I told them. "Oh yeah, by the way vampires actually exist." I'd be locked up quicker then you could say crazy. What was I supposed to do? They obviously weren't going to leave me alone...

I stilled. What if--what if they were planning to kill me because I knew their secret? A choke and nothing more left my lips at the thought. Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes as I glared at the window where Ashton had previously sat. Instead of horror, anger now course through me like a tsunami. "Why me?! Why!?" I screamed out loud, hot tears burning my skin as they cascaded down my cheeks. I buried my head in my arms and let my sobs overtake me, somewhat enjoying the breaking down of my sanity.

*****

I could taste the salt of my tears on my chapped lips as I watched the early morning light flood through my window. They had not come to bother me during the night; I had stayed awake all night, fighting sleep and watching my window like a hawk. My eyes felt heavy, and they hurt when I blinked but I refused to close them and give them the rest they needed. I had not come up with any solution to my problem during the longest night of my life--instead I spent it thinking of every vampire movie and t.v. show I possibly could and what would have happened if the protagonist had reacted as I did.

Bella wasn't freaked out at all when she finally figured out that Edward was a vampire. She gladly accepted it--was the girl mad? Who just accepts the fact that someone they know has to drink the blood of others just to stay alive?! I mean seriously--they're dead for God's sake! They're like zombies...sort of? And Elena, she had the right reaction--somewhat. When she found out Stephan was a vampire she freaked. But then the next day she went to meet him and talk about it.

Dracula--well that was absolutely no help. It just showed what monsters vampires actually were. They killed others just to keep themselves alive. I cringed at the thought, quickly burying the gruesome memory of that time before it surfaced. I turned my thoughts to something else. What was I going to do? I wasn't planning on going to school--I refused to. There I would be with them--how many of them were there anyway? Was it just Ashton and Ruby? Or was the whole town infested with them?

A knock on my window startled me from my thoughts. Fear instantly gripped me as I saw Ruby, not waiting for me to answer before she broke open my window and slipped inside. I scrambled up and tripped to the other side of my room, pressing myself in a corner. She stayed by the window, giving me the space I needed. "Well, you obviously didn't get any sleep. I knew that already though--I could hear you crying." She spoke softly, which was unusual for her. She was usually so loud and robust--the chipper Ruby I knew, or I thought I knew had changed.

"Delilah--I'm not going to hurt you. You know that right?" she asked with a hopeful look in her eye, taking a step towards me. "Stay away from me." I whispered, putting my hands out in front of me, as if that would stop her approach. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of my hand which was still bleeding, although not as profusely as before. Blood had dried to it, making a red crust around the gash, and pieces of fluff from my blanket were stuck to it.

"You really need to clean that up Delilah. If you're not going to let me look at it, you need to take care of it before infection sets in." she commanded. I instantly drew my hand back to my chest, covering it with my other one. She regarded me silently, mahogany orbs silently probing and assessing before she parted her lips to speak. "Eat something and get some rest. You're in no condition to go to school today." I scowled at her. 'How can I sleep knowing that there are blood sucking monsters around?'

She turned to the window, ready to leave once more. "Don't worry, I'm going to school today. Ashton will stay and guard your house but he can't get in. You'll have to invite him in." she explained, as if she can read my thoughts. I snorted. "No way in hell that's happening." She gave me a lopsided smile before disappearing out the window, shutting it as she left.