9. Xeraphine

9

Xeraphine

T here isn't enough of my blood laced on my tongue to hold him for long, but requesting him to sleep will give me the chance to at least get away.

Fucking prick.

Fucking good-looking prick.

Watching his head bounce on the floor when he fell to the ground was so satisfying. Looking at him lying there, I really should try to separate his head from his shoulders. I should, fucking Gods, I should. Yet, I'm hesitant, and I'm angry that I am. I'm going to convince myself it is because I'm too exhausted to think coherently. I'm honestly not even sure I could rip his head off with how shitty I feel.

As I step over his body, I stare down at him, finally being able to take a moment to look at him; to really look at him.

Both of his arms are tattooed, all the way to his biceps, where his shirt stops me from seeing the rest. I truly want to inspect them; I've always wanted tattoos. Unfortunately, my skin doesn't take to the ink, and I end up just sucking it into my bloodstream. Which honestly isn't the best feeling.

I linger on his face, and then get onto my knees beside him. Truthfully, I'm a bit worried to feed from his lifeforce. His desire alone tastes fucking phenomenal, and I fear it' ll ruin me. It's as if nothing will ever satisfy me again, and I'm forced to keep him alive, or suffer eternity unfulfilled.

Slipping my thumbnail across the vein at the side of his neck, I watch his thick, nearly black blood seep from him.

Just a little more… I'm unsure why I have to convince myself to take his blood. It won't kill him. However, I know enough about Vampires to understand their draw and why Mundanes have such a hard time saying no.

I cannot become addicted to him… I can't…

Leaning in, my tongue a mere inch from his neck, I hesitate. Don't do it , I hiss out in frustration at my brain.

"Asshole, Vampire!" I'm on my feet so fast I nearly stumble. Maybe he'll see this act of kindness, fuck right off, and stop stalking me.

Buzz. Buzz.

I've been in bed for the past four days straight, and haven't moved. I'm pretty sure I'm dying.

Buzz. Buzz.

I honestly don't even want to get up and grab my phone, which fell from the bedside, I think, two days ago. I know that Sydni is a mess trying to get in contact with me. But I'm tired, and this is the only place I know he can't get to me.

Why…? I just keep asking that fucking question.

I was getting so close... Do I seriously have to move cities, again? No, I refuse to allow him to run me off!

Sidence is where I know I'll find them. If not all of them, at least some. There are answers here and I didn't go through the last ten years of shit for nothing.

Except, what am I to do?

I should've killed him, but even then, they would just send someone else after me. At least with this psychopath, he hasn't reported me to Achille. It's only a matter of time before he gives up, maybe I just need to ride out his patience. If I stay in my apartment long enough, maybe he will give up.

I hear my front door unlock and my brain ceases to function. There is only one person that has my key, and if she's here, that is not good.

"Phiny-bear?"

"Shit—"

I somehow find the strength to roll from my bed, a loud thump following. "Leave, fucking get out of here!" I grab my phone, Fucking two hundred missed calls?! Over a thousand messages. Syd!!

"Oh my Gods! Phiny!" She's at my side in the matter of three strides and rolls me onto my back. "You... You're so pale!"

"I'm always pale, you dimwit. Leave, Syd, and pretend like you got lost, damn it!" I groan out, my arm wrapping up and over the side of the bed.

She's not moving, and truthfully I didn't expect her to. Plus, Kairhyse doesn't seem to be an idiot, he probably hears me telling her to go. He's a creepy stalker, not a deaf stalker.

If he touches her, I swear I'll pop his head clear off his shoulders. Just like I did with Mathas.

Suddenly, and without warning, Sydni is stripping her clothes. I immediately close my eyes, "Listen, you're pretty, princess, but I don't want to see you naked."

"Feed, Phiny. I know you don't like me like that, but you need to. Have you seen yourself?"

No, I haven't, but I don't need to. I understand what is happening to my body, and at some point, my horns will begin to protrude, and that damn tail will slither its way above my ass. It'll be when my skin will peel, and I'll become a weird-looking alien thing.

"Phiny, feed, it's fine."

She thinks it's because I don't find her attractive, pfft, how wrong she is. I've always told her that she may be pretty but I could never touch someone like her. It isn't because of the type of person she is, because I'd ravage her pussy just like I would the next. No, it isn't that I don't find myself attracted to her, it's because I wouldn't want to hurt her.

"Put your Gods damn clothes back on, Syd, I'm not feeding off of you!"

Damn it though, I can smell her through her panties. No, no, I can't. I would not be able to stop. I would kill her, I know I would.

I take a shaky breath, "Thank you, but put your clothes back on."

"Did you... just thank me?"

There is no way I can banter with her right now, so I just nod and rest my forehead against the mattress. I'm honestly not sure what I'm going to do.

Buzz. Buzz.

"Break that phone for me..." I hope she doesn't take me seriously because I can't really afford to buy a new one. I'm grateful she only grabs it and looks at who the message is from.

Her eyebrows pull together, "It's an unknown number." She hands it to me, and with a trembling hand, I read it:

Unknown Sender [18:56]

I owe you for not killing me.

I'm far too exhausted to find a way to type, so I press down on the mic and say, "Fuck you." And send the message on its merry way. It doesn't take but a second to see those three dots pop up, showing that he is typing back.

Unknown Sender [18:56]

Let me in and you can feed, but I'm not allowing anyone else in to do so. Send your friend home.

Who… in the fuck… does this guy think he is?

Sydni looks at me, thankfully she is putting her dress back on. She's worried, and I don't blame her. I'd be worried too. The last time I was like this, I had just been shoveled out of my crypt. She has never seen me so drained, and I had hoped never to let her.

I hate this guy. I fucking hate this guy so much.

I hold no self- pity for myself because I deserve this just as much as the ones I've killed deserved to die. But I'm so close. I can't roll over and give up. Not after everything I've been through. What is a little bit of humiliation in letting this Vampire help me? It wouldn't be the worst thing I've done to myself, so who cares…

Pushing down the mic again, I seethe, "If you fucking touch her, I will kill you, slowly."

The concern on Sydni's face as she leans toward me makes my skin crawl. I shake my head, I don't want her to touch me. If she does, I know exactly what I'll begin to do, and I'm terrified I won't stop.

Buzz. Buzz.

Unknown Sender [18:58]

I just want you. I didn't touch her coming up and I won't as she's leaving. Now hurry, little demon.

Fucking weirdo. What's his obsession?!

"Syd." She gives me a weak smile, "I need you to leave." The way her eyes widen into circles makes me let out a minuscule laugh. "That stupid prick Vampire is here. I can't have you here. I don't trust him."

"The one that is trying to kill you and give you to Achille?! Phiny-bear, I'm not leaving you."

I shake my head and sigh, "What will you do, my sweet idiotic cotton candy princess?"

Her lip trembles like she's going to cry.

"Don't you dare, I'm not going to die, stop being dramatic." Sure, Kairhyse could remove my head and take me back to Achille in pieces, and I would have absolutely no way of defending myself.

Do I think he'll do that? Honestly, yes. Yes, I do.

However, there is enough telling me he is enjoying this sick game with me that I may just get a small meal to suffice for the next couple of days. Maybe he'll even show pity and allow me to feast on someone else after this.

Or… I'll take enough of his lifeforce to end his existence.

I'm desperate at this point. I really don't want my horns and tail to show up. They're such a pain to put away.

"Go, Syd. Sorry to trouble you."

Her arms raise and I sink back further against the bed. I can tell that it pains her that I won't give her any affection, but that's just not the kind of person I am. "Text me?" she asks, dropping her arms.

"I'll call you, how's that." I do my best to smile at her.

She gives me the gentlest of nods and moves through my bedroom to the front door where she pauses. The wide-eyed expression she's piercing through it tells me he is standing there waiting for someone to allow him in.

Sydni can't, she doesn't live here and has never slept in this apartment.

After the shock settles, I see her features go harsh and she points at him, "Hurt her, and I'll… I'll… take your fangs!"

Fuck, she's so cute.

"Yes, ma'am." I hear him chuckle, that low-rumbling one that flutters my pussy. Why are all the attractive one's freaks? Ugh.

I'm going to regret this.

I've been using that word too much these days: Regret. I let it settle in my mind, fighting with the part of me that knows allowing him into my home is a mistake, and the other that needs him.

"Come in, Kairhyse. Remember that threat about touching her." I force myself up, barely, and sit at the side of the bed. I stand and take a deep breath before finding the strength to step from my bedroom and into the living room.

He's coming through the door and as he does, Sydni glances at me. He's just as attractive as I remember him to be. His gaze immediately comes to mine, as if Sydni no longer exists in the room.

Shifting to look at my princess, I give her the go-ahead, and she exits my apartment.

"You need to forget you ever saw her," I hiss as he closes the door behind her. "Do you understand me?!"

His eyes narrow on me, and my anger surges, "Answer me, you fucking prick. You need to forget you ever saw her, do you understand me?!"

Oh shit, I shouldn't have screamed. That made me lightheaded.