Nerida

Chapter Two

I slunk back into my driveway and peered up at my two story house. I had been here for over twenty years and still no one suspected anything. I guess it helped that it was miles away from the nearest town, and there were no houses even remotely close by. I was weirdly attached to this house, with it's red bricks, and black shutters. Inside it was even better. As I walked into my home, I admired my grand foyer that showcased a beautiful wooden staircase up onto an equally astounding loft. I had spent many years and thousands of dollars reconstructing my dream home, and it was finally coming together. I slinked off my leather jacket and placed it delicately onto my coat rack. My leather jacket was the only thing I had left of my brief human life. Somehow everything else had been lost or ruined throughout the decades. I let out an exhausted sigh and flopped down onto my way to expensive couch. Luckily, I didn't end up paying a dime. One perk of my eternal damnation, I could very easily "persuade" someone to do anything I wanted. Even as much as I hated myself, I had to admit, it had turned out to be pretty handy over the years.

            I caught a quick glimpse of my reflection in my flat screen, and I studied myself. My wavy hair had definitely seen better days, it looked as if I had the worst case of sex hair ever recorded. I attempted to smooth it down, but quickly gave up with a growl. I didn't care enough. My emerald doe shaped eyes glared back at me, and I could see the hate and discontent in them. My nose was slightly upturned, and my lips were plump and delicately shaped. All in all, I had to give it to myself, I was extremely attractive. Before my immortality I had thin, frail hair, dull hazel eyes, and thin lips. I wore dorky glasses tapped up in the middle. I wasn't completely unattractive, but no one ever stopped to take a second look at me. I was utterly plain. Another perk of my immortal life. When I was changed, all my features were enhanced, and they would always stay that way, for I would never age.

            I grabbed the remote and flipped on the news. Brief images flashed of another attack in the next town over. The news anchor droned on about another body found, drained of blood, with no other damages. Someone was being careless. And I was going to find out who.

            I turned the TV off and thought about my next move. I couldn't go out and track whoever this was, they'd know. But what else could I do? An Idea made its way to the forefront of my mind. Blend in, it said. I had been toying with the idea for the last decade or so, as I had felt my humanity slipping. But how would that help? These humans wont know the first thing about these attacks. But maybe they will. I decided I'd sleep on it. I pulled myself from the couch and up the stairs to my bedroom. I collapsed onto my trusted bed and curled into my comforter, immediately falling asleep. Feeding always exhausted me.

            Waking up was always the worst part of my existence. It was like being changed all over again. Id wake up in an absolute panic, wondering what this intense thirst was, and then it would hit me again. I was a vampire. A 214 year old vampire. Waking up like this was getting old, almost as old as I was. I threw my blanket off of me and made my way to the balcony. I opened the double doors and welcomed the scent of the crisp morning air. I stepped out onto the porch and looked upon my breathtaking view. I could see beautiful mountains, and a widespread lake right in my backyard. I could even hear the faint wet thudding of an elks heart. It brought back the thirst. I just fed yesterday, I thought. I'll be good for a couple weeks.

            I shut the doors and sat back on my bed. I was going to blend in with the humans. But how? I knew I could pass for a high school student, I looked 21 at most,  but did I really want to deal with children? No, not really. College! Perfect! There was a nice community college less than thirty minutes away that would do just fine. Maybe I could find some inside information there.

            I immediately sprang into action, I threw on a red tank and some white shorts and rushed down the stairs and out the door, slinging my leather jacket over my shoulder as I left. This was going to be fun.