Mesmerized | ✓

7

While Yuli was taking a shower Carl waited patiently on the sofa and felt the clarity wash over him again, slowly. It was like gradually getting better after experiencing the worst of fevers. He tried to make sense of what had happened at school. All he knew was that once again everyone was in love with Yuli with one exception of Candace.

He didn't know how the girl could resist his tricks but he was glad she did. At least Carl didn't have to worry about her anymore. He looked to the door that would lead him right into the welcoming arms of freedom. All he had to do was step over the threshold and run for his life.

Maybe then it would be easier but here, being separated from Yuli only by a thin wall he could sense the mystical aura radiating from his body. Carl closed his eyes trying to sort his thoughts out. Yuli was clearly a dangerous individual that could not be trusted under any circumstances. Yet even without direct contact Carl felt a pull towards him that couldn't be ignored.

And even with all of that going on Carl still tried to remember about the importance of his college work so he pulled out one of his course book and started reading the chapter they had been analyzing that day but his mind was still elsewhere. The letters didn't seem to want to come together to create a word and even if they did, each time they spelled out Yuli. After a few minutes Carl gave up and pushed the book away.

But once Yuli got out of the shower and joined Carl on the sofa the reasoning behind him wanting to do any school work became completely ridiculous. He felt his muscles relax and his racing thoughts came to a halt. The boy looked like someone from a painting that belonged in an art gallery. His red hair was damp and he smelled of Carl's soap and cologne. "I am hungry." He stated.

"What do you want? There are eggs, some chicken or we could order something." Carl proposed nodding at the fridge.

But Yuli had his green eyes fixed on him. A smile spread across his face as he covered Carl's hand with his own. The touch thrilled him, made his blood run cold and he couldn't determine whether that was a positive or a negative feeling. "No, not like this." He said and as soon as the words left his mouth Carl knew what he meant.

And though his mind was under a thick foggy duvet, he still felt scared, but didn't object when Yuli grabbed his hand and led him out of his apartment, and later onto the streets. He followed the boy obediently hoping that somehow Yuli would change his mind. But obviously he wasn't going to as he searched the faces of the people they were passing with hunger.

"You can't just take someone off the street like that." Carl pointed out, not wanting to be dragged into a crime that could grant him a life sentence. But Yuli stroked his hand with affection and some of the agitation left him.

"Don't worry." Yuli said reassuringly pulling Carl into one of the dark alleys that were mostly empty as they served only as routes for the delivery trucks for the local restaurants and shops. "I can sense despair and a death wish!" He said with excitement searching the alley. "Oh, there you are!"

The alley was dark and ominous-looking. For a moment Carl didn't see anyone but after a moment he noticed a bundle of rugs and dirty clothes hidden among the cartons. It was an older man, clearly asleep, homeless by the looks of it. Carl looked at Yuli to find him staring at the man with visible disgust. "Leave this man alone." Carl said quietly grabbing Yuli's hand and trying to pull him away. "Please."

But the boy wouldn't move with his eyes fixed on the man. "This is far from pleasant for me, Carl." Yuli said finally looking at him. "I would rather it be a young, clean, girl." He pulled him closer. "I am doing this for you. Nobody misses him, nobody wants him. The world will be better off without him."

"But-"

Yuli looked at him with a condescending smile, as if he was talking down to a stubborn child that just didn't know any better. "Do you prefer me to go after a young girl? Because you know how easily I could find one." He gestured at the man. "The choice is yours."

It was a choice no one in their right mind would ever make. They would protest much more than he did. They would drag Yuli away by force and go to the police if they had to. But Carl was too weak and he was definitely not in his right mind. He looked at the man trying to picture the poor girl that had died before. "Okay. Take him." He said quietly, defeated.

"I knew you'd come around." He said sweetly but then grimaced looking at the homeless man that was about to become his supper. "Don't look away." Yuli said softly to Carl before kneeling down next to the man. His lips parted and two pointy fangs made their appearance. He put his hands on the man's shoulders and leaned it, biting his neck while still maintaining eye contact with Carl.

The man didn't wake up, didn't even move. His eyelids only fluttered a little and he moaned, as if enjoying Yuli sucking all of his blood. Carl wanted to look away. He didn't want to see the man turn more and more pale with each passing moment. But his gaze was locked with Yuli's and he was unable to move.

Some of the blood spilled from the wound making a small poodle. Yuli's pants got drenched in it but he didn't seem to care. It took him almost fifteen minutes but when he was finally done he stood up, blood staining his hands. Yet, as horrific as that looked Carl wasn't as terrified as before because somehow he knew that Yuli didn't intend to hurt him.

But he still felt some form of fear and disgust at what the boy possessing features of an angel truly was. "Are you a vampire?" It sounded ridiculous, like he was quoting Twilight but there was no explanation other than that or Carl being crazy.

*****

Yuli chuckled at Carl's silly question wiping the remains of the man's blood off his face. He knew what humans perceived as vampires and he had to admit that he resembled them in some way. His true nature was far too complex for Carl's simple, dazed mind to understand. There was no point to it, and yet Yuli decided to amuse himself a little bit.

"There are no such things as vampires." He said walking over to Carl. His friend was wearing a hoodie over his shirt which would be perfect for covering the blood stains so Yuli began to pull it off his body. Carl didn't resist and just gave the piece of clothing to him without a question. Yuli quickly pulled it on, wrapped his arm around Carl's shoulders and began to guide him back to the apartment.

"Then what are you?" Carl continued to ponder.

"I guess I'm what you would call a merman." Yuli answered feeling silly using that name for his race. "But it's far more complex than just swimming around with dolphins all day long."

Carl didn't look convinced. "I don't understand." He said.

"Of course you don't." Yuli said with a smile. "I don't have a fish tail because I decided it would be more fun to live among the humans." He tried to explain, not feeling the need to reveal his true purpose. Carl opened his mouth, clearly to ask another question, but Yuli pressed his index finger to his lips with his free hand. "That's enough for now. Maybe I'll tell you more some other day."