Forbidden Darkness

Chapter 3

"When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability. To be alive is to be vulnerable."
-Madeline L'engle

---

On the night of the ball, Augustine confidently stepped through the front doors of the town hall with Rosaline at her side. The orchestra's beautiful melody flooded the large circular room, and the walls were decorated with silky white banners and an assortment of flowers. The space was illuminated by an elegant crystal chandelier and an array of candles on each of the small tables that were spaced evenly throughout the room.

It wasn't long before Rosaline was swept away by one of her several admirers, and Augustine was left on her own. She didn't mind though, and tonight was her time to enjoy herself. She took extra time to understand her surroundings and note where the exits were located; she could only imagine the chaos that would erupt if she killed a vampire in the open. Before leaving the inn earlier that night, Augustine slipped her blade under one of the folds in her rich gown. It brought her comfort, even if she wouldn't see the vampire tonight. If she did, she knew that she would be able to complete her assignment quickly and effectively.

Augustine swiftly crossed the room, careful to avoid the many dancers who were oblivious to those around them. A server nimbly passed through the crowd, gracefully carrying a tray of glasses that held a soft gold-colored mixture. Augustine slipped a glass off of the tray and offered the server a smile in thanks. She gave the glass a quick sniff, taking in the slight grape scent.

Champagne, she thought, and debated whether or not she should take a sip. She had never had alcohol before, as it was against the law for active hunters. A single drunk hunter could put the entire league in danger if faced by a vampire. Augustine pushed the thought away and took a sip regardless; she figured that it would help her blend into the crowd. Her nose subconsciously crinkled at the bitter taste, one that she did not enjoy.

"I recommend the sparkling lemonade. It's much more flavorful," a male voice spoke over Augustine's shoulder. Augustine abruptly spun around on her heel and faced the owner of the voice. A flash of recognition crossed his expression as she turned, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it came. He offered a sly smile, his lips pulling across his handsome face in a mysterious manner. Bridger, Augustine thought, but she maintained a composed expression. She refused to let him see what she was thinking.

The boy held two glasses that looked similar to the one already in her hand, and he offered the second one to her. She took it without hesitation and allowed herself a small sip, simultaneously setting the awful glass of champagne on another server's tray as he slipped past.

"Impressive recommendation," Augustine spoke with a small grin as the sour flavor flooded her tastebuds. Bridger released a light, effortless chuckle at her comment. She couldn't help but smile, and she observed that he was wearing a tuxedo that must have been just as expensive as her dress. It was a deep black, and it seemed to match his eyes quite nicely.

"Only the best for the most beautiful lady in the room," He replied with the same crooked smile that he offered earlier. As his lips parted, a set of perfect white teeth emerged, no inhuman fangs in sight. The blood rose in Augustine's cheeks against her will, turning them a rosy pink. He was charming, there was no denying that, but she refused to let her guard down. Although perhaps to gain his trust enough to bring him somewhere else, she would need to act much less shielded than she was.

"What's your name?" Augustine questioned a moment later, a hint of seduction in her tone. As she spoke, she slightly tightened the gap between them. Her dress complimented her movements and made her look much more graceful than she felt.

"Bridger Abbott," he replied with the same tone, his voice slightly husky. Her eyes met his for a moment, and she noticed that flecks of gold were scattered throughout his amber irises. Her breath hitched, but Bridger began speaking before he had the chance to catch it.

"You know my name," he said, cocking an eyebrow as he continued, "so what shall I call you?"

"Augustine," she replied instantly, her expression tightening slightly as she thought about the words he used. A bit old fashioned, but what could you expect from a vampire who had to have lived over one hundred years? She had to admit, his way of speaking was appealing, and she was a bit surprised that he came to her when any other girl in the room would fall to her knees. Maybe his charm was how he managed to slip by unnoticed by the hunters for so many years. Nobody had ever questioned who he was.

"Lovely," he replied genuinely and held a hand out towards her.

"Dance with me, Augustine," Bridger commanded, but his tone wasn't forceful. Her name rolled across his tongue with ease.

"I don't dance," Augustine replied quickly, a hint of embarrassment playing across her features.

"You do tonight," he responded easily and took her hand, leading her towards the dance floor. He walked fast and swiftly, and Augustine had trouble keeping up with him while she trotted in her heels. They set their glasses on a tray as they made their way to the center of the room, and Bridger subtly spun Augustine so that they stood face-to-face.

He effortlessly set his hand on her upper back and pulled her closer towards him. Augustine took his other hand in hers and set her free arm on his shoulder. The classical music flooded her ears as they broke into a slow waltz. It wasn't particularly fitting for the song that was being played, but the pair simply followed the other couples who danced in the same fashion.

"Who says you can't dance?" Bridger questioned and smiled down at Augustine. He was a full head taller than she was, and her hair brushed against her lower back as she tilted her head back to view his face.

"I never said I couldn't dance," she began and let out a soft chuckle, "I said I don't dance," she corrected, subconsciously biting her lip.

"As if there's a difference," Bridger replied jokingly as their pace sped up. For a moment, Augustine lost sight of her assignment and became absorbed in the moment. She was experiencing the life of a regular human for the night, without a care in the world. She felt almost at peace until she was pulled from her trance as the melody came to an end. She hated to admit it, but she did feel comfortable around Bridger. She would tell Rosaline that she only acted this way for show, but she felt some sense of familiarity. Augustine knew she'd met Bridger before, but she couldn't recall where or how.

Rosaline noiselessly slipped up behind Augustine and caught a glimpse at Bridger.

"Augustine, we should go," she said, her announcement sounding much more aggressive than her usual tone. Her unexpected words caused Augustine to flinch, but not enough for Bridger to notice.

"Right, it's getting late," Augustine told Bridger apologetically as she slipped out of his grip. She quickly turned to follow Rosaline out of the building when Bridger lightly caught her forearm.

"What are you doing this week?" He asked softly.

Augustine met his eyes for a brief moment before leaning over and picking a slip of paper up off of the floor. It must have fallen off of one of the server's trays, as it labelled some sort of strange food. She noticed the outline of a pen in Bridger's chest pocket, and she quickly slipped it out and jotted her number onto the strip of paper.

"I'll let you know," she said with a sly grin as she turned and sauntered out of the ballroom. 

---

Hi all! What do you think of the story so far? Constructive criticism is always welcome!

How do you feel about the lengths of the chapters? Should I make them longer?

Thank you for reading and I appreciate your support! :) <3