The Vampire Prince (Stryders #2) PUBLISHED

Chapter 3: Encounter

"Don't. Move."

The guy froze at his spot. Un-moving.

"I'm warning you," I said with a shaky breath. More times than not, people died by hesitating. This was one of those moments I couldn't think a second thought.

Closing my eyes, going forward with my dagger, I tried to stab him.

Tripping on the ground instead, stumbling forward.

My dagger was knocked out of my hand, and my palms were scrapped from the pavement, stinging. Rolling on my back, I saw stars. But also those piercing pair of gray eyes looking down on me with concern.

"Are you alright?" his deep voice sounded earnest which was a bit discerning. Hastily he jutted out his hands. A gesture of helping me to get up. Because I was still on the floor. Awkwardly.

"Um...." I trailed off not knowing what to say, reaching for my dagger.

The same faraway voice called out again, "Zeke!"

"Come with me," the guy, who I'm presuming is Zeke, doesn't grab my hand, but my wrists. He was taking into consideration of my palms.

I got up with him.

Call it sleepiness, deliriousness of just plain moment of stupid, I ran with him. Even though I was the one that tried to stab him moments ago. We were running more towards the center of town, which made me feel a bit safer.

Running made my heart pump faster, and woke me up a little. Gathering my senses, I think would it be rude if I just stopped running with him?

Our dead end was an alleyway that was closed off, under a bright light.

The stranger, Zeke, abruptly stopped. "I guess that's the end of the line for me."

Turning toward me, his hood fell back. Probably from all the running too. In the bright light, I could finally see a full picture of this stranger. Dirty blonde hair that was short in the back, tousled and longer in the front which was a stark contrast to those gray mercury eyes. High and wide cheekbones with a perfect straight nose. And then his sharp and square jawline carved like marble.

Very attractive.

I hate that my interactions with the opposite sex was minimal, so I didn't know how to act. I mean, yeah, they shouldn't be trusted alone at night, but here my dumb self was. Living my best life doing stupid things for once.

I was out of breath, trying not to breathe in and out too loud. The guy didn't even look phased. Should I be scared of why we were running?

 "Who are you even running from?"

A faint British accent from behind us said, "Me."

I turned around to see a man with a black suite, MMA fighter build flashing his teeth at us- fangs.

Stella.exe stopped working.

Vampire.

Oh no no no no. Not here. Not now. Not in front of me.

I wanted to cry.

Is the world against me? The one time I break the rules, I find myself in front of vampires. All I wanted to do was find Lou- not vampires. 

I hold myself with my hands, staying stock still. I closed my eyes tightly so I don't have to see them eat me. "Please don't eat me."

"We don't eat people," amusement from Zeke. "Reggie here is actually with me."