What Happens in the Dark

Chapter 19

Monroe and I haven't disclosed the start of this relationship to my aunt, but then again we've barely disclosed it ourselves.

We laid in my bed and his arm was draped around my shoulders.

"Now I'll answer your questions." He sighed bracing himself for the multitude of questions I've been dying to ask him. I spent every hour of class thinking and trying to wrap my mind around the fact he was a vampire. This still didn't seem real to me.

"Okay first. Earlier today you said you couldn't read my mind unless I allowed you... what does that mean?" I asked.

"If you want me to have access to your thoughts you have to say, 'I allow Monroe Cittadino into my thoughts' and that's the only way. Just like in order for me to enter into your home, I have to be lead by you, or I have to be vocally invited in." He explained.

I bit my lip. "So if any vampire is following me, they can just come inside because I'm leading them without knowing?"

"No. You have to know them and that they are there." He looked so bored answering my questions, but I had so many.

"Where are your fangs?"

"They don't come out unless I want them to, or if I'm incredibly hungry." Monroe leaned back on the bed propping himself up on his hands.

"Do it." I beamed.

He laughed, "You're like a kid in a candy store." He slowly lifted his mouth open just enough where I could see, and I saw his canines growing into long incredibly sharp daggers. My eyes were wide.

"Any other questions miss Knight?" He asked.

"Yes, you also mentioned compelling?"

"Ah, yes. Each vampire has the power to control a human, unfortunately, we have to look deep into our victims eyes and tell them what we want them to think."

"Have you used this on me?" I braced myself for the response.

"I would never. Only psychotic vampires would trick someone into having feelings for them. Although I have used it on Mrs. Adams and Mr. Brooks, the principal a couple times..." He trailed off.

"What if some crazy vampire tried to compell me? There's no way to stop being compelled?" I asked frightened.

"Years and years ago, a few Haitian witches came together to make a concoction called Zoe. Zoe means bone in Haitian. The brew they made is a various amount of bone broths and herbs that if worn or consumed, will stop a vampire from compelling you."

"Wow that's really cool." I said thinking about the Haitian witches. My dad was Haitian however he never taught me our history, he did say though that my prophetic dreams that i've had off and on from a little girl, were our ancestors trying to protect me.

"Your skin is cold, but you're not ice cold. I thought vampires had no blood?" I asked touching his arm.

"Assuming you've gotten your only vampire facts from God awful vampire chick flicks, let's set the record straight. I bleed. I eat food, however it has no nutritional value to me, I can eat all the food I want but If I don't drink blood within three days I'll lose my strength, my speed, and my mind will start to diminish until I die of starvation. Which could be a week long process."

I winced thinking of that. "Do you eat from humans?" I was scared to hear the answer even though I shouldn't be surprised.

"I have. I've killed and drained people of their blood, that was until my father showed me how to control my hunger and how important it was to live among humans. We have a lot of blood stored in our home, but we hunt animals, and if we do happen to find a human to feed on, we know how to stop ourselves before the average human passes out from blood loss."