7. Haunting Beauty

Chapter 7

Haunting Beauty

Vanessa

I couldn't let it go.

He had been forced to.

"Let me go!" I had pleaded with him that night, and his answer was one that replayed over and over in my mind, no matter how much I tried to let go.

"That won't be happening, Peach." The way he had said it sounded like an eternal vow, like he would never allow such a thing as to let me go. Something he had confirmed when I had begged some more, telling him that I would just disappear without saying a word. And his reply to this had come firm and hard.

"I suggest not pissing me off with thoughts of you going anywhere."

I wondered what he thought when finding me gone, vanished without a trace. Because he didn't know my name, nor did he think to ask. Something I would have, no doubt, foolishly given him because I seemed unable to deny his requests. Did all Vampires have the ability of mind control? Were his powers manipulating me? Had it all been a trick like when commanding me to sleep?

I felt like a fool every time I thought about it like that.

I also couldn't stop thinking about him… and that was the problem. I couldn't get him out of my head. To the point that I was spending all of the next day going through the motions of life and living it in a daze. A questioning one at that. Asking myself constantly why hadn't I told Stacey what happened? Why hadn't I gone to the cops about the murder? Why hadn't I said a word of truth, instead masking it with the lies I told my best friend when I returned?

I told her that I accidently passed out after hitting my head when walking in the graveyard in the dark, stupidly deciding that was the best place for my ‘walk'. I was surprised she believed it, as much as I wasn't, because it sounded more like something she would do than I would. But nevertheless, she accepted it and after hugs of relief, we moved on.

Well, we moved on after I called the cops to report that I was no longer missing. Not that they seemed to have made a big deal out of it but then again, it hadn't been for more than twenty-four hours and I was an adult, so couldn't say I was surprised.

No, what had surprised me was the way I had clung to him the second that tattooed brute had come near me and pulled a fucking big knife!

Although that wasn't the only thing that had been surprising, because hadn't he been the one to stand in front of me in that protective way? No, stop thinking about it! Christ, how many times had I chastised myself already?

"Hey, Messy Nessy, you cleaning that thing, or trying to get a home run? Because I think you're well past third base," Stacey said in a teasing tone, jarring me from my thoughts. Also making me realize that I looked like I was trying to jerk off the coffee machine's steam wand that warms and froths the milk. I tossed the cloth aside and released a frustrated sigh.

"Are you alright? Only, you seem really distracted… was it…?"

I turned to my best friend and watched as she pushed her oversized glasses up her nose.

"Was it what?" I asked, feeling tense… did she know something?

"You know, the fortune teller, because you know it was just a load of baloney, right? I mean, she told me I would end up with three kids living in New Jersey and married to an electrician."

I laughed at this before saying, "She didn't tell you that."

"No, but it made you laugh, besides… it was a plumber," she said, now faking sucking someone's cock and making me laugh even louder as she walked away ready to cash out.

God, I loved Stacey. She always knew how to make me feel better. Meaning this time when cleaning the machine, I did it concentrating on the job at hand and actually getting it done without trying to make the thing spill its load.

"Right, that's me done, do you need anything else doing?" I asked, knowing Stacey was heading to her uncle's tonight for dinner.

It was a Friday night tradition she always invited me to. Sometimes I'd go, but when I didn't, I used the alone time to watch some of my favorite sitcoms, like Fraser or Friends. Of course, I had seen them all a million times and remembered most of the lines, but it was either that or read one of the many books I had on my never ending to be read list.

"Nah, you go ahead, I will see you at home tomorrow. I'm gonna stay over tonight because Jenny and the kids are flying in and… oh you know all this, go, go and don't forget to double lock the door…"

"Yeah, yeah alright, Mom, will do. Have fun with your nephews," I called back after grabbing my jacket and satchel, making my way to the door as I was stuffing my arms through the sleeves.

I hooked my bag across my torso, knowing that after last night, I really needed to start carrying it with me. Thankfully, getting home this morning hadn't been too hard, seeing as I could walk it. Of course, it had taken me over an hour to get from Park Avenue all the way to Lower Manhattan, especially when I was constantly looking over my shoulder, like any second I was expecting to see him chasing me down the street.

But there had been nothing.

And why the hell had that affected me? I swear I was losing my God damn mind if I wanted anything to do with that man. No, not a man, a fucking Vampire! It must be mind control, it had to be. Maybe it took time to wear off or something. Yeah, that must have been it.

I walked outside, pulling my jacket together and zipping up my padded khaki, parker style jacket as the cold bit into my skin. Okay, so bad choice of words… the memory of him sinking his fangs into my neck assaulted me yet again.

I lifted up the cream, fur trimmed hood, and I tried to shake it off as I began the twenty-minute walk home. However, now that it was getting dark earlier, I couldn't help but feel uneasy, constantly looking over my shoulder again. Which was why, in the end, I opted to head to the subway, because that way I wouldn't be alone. There would be plenty of people clocking off and trying to get home just like I was.

I would have caught a cab but I didn't really have the extra funds to splurge out on that luxury. So instead, I made my way to the station feeling better the second I saw the crowded space. Then I got on my train and took my seat, eyeing people around me like everyone else did.

There were business folk in suits, parents with their children, construction workers, and a few giggling teens talking about some party on Saturday night. Most people had their faces illuminated by their phone screens as they swiped away at them, trying to kill the time with social media. The woman next to me was scrolling through cooking videos, no doubt thinking about what to cook for dinner.

All of it was perfectly normal.

Human.

I couldn't help but wonder what this journey would have been like had they known what was truly lurking on the streets of New York. That muggers, rapists, thieves and murderers weren't the only threats out there. Would everyone simply be calmy living their lives like this or would everyone be looking over their shoulders like I was? I could just imagine the panic if people knew.

If people knew about… him.

I couldn't help but close my eyes as I let my head fall back, last night's events once more playing out in my mind. Those intense green eyes of his and that knowing grin… The large hands that gripped me and the feel of the solid wall of muscle at my back. Why couldn't I stop thinking about him?

"Her mind is yours," the big brute that worked for him had said, and this above all else was what worried me the most. What had he meant by that? How was my mind his? Of course, he soon proved this tol be true because the last thing he said to me caressed my consciousness.

"Sleep, my Peach… sleep for me."

The memory of which had me suddenly jerking awake and startled the second I realized where I was.

I was still on the subway.

Only now the people that had once surrounded me no longer filled the seats. I shook my head, seeing we were pulling into a station and, unfortunately, it wasn't the one I had wanted. Central Park… Jesus, how long had I been asleep? But wait, that meant I had gotten on the wrong train to begin with.

How had that happened?

Feeling significantly freaked out, I quickly got off the train and started to make my way up to the street level. I barely understood what was wrong with me because I honestly didn't feel like myself. In fact, I felt like I had last night, when I kept walking myself right into trouble, unable to stop. Which was why I couldn't help but make my way toward Central Park. Crossing the road and entering the barely lit park, which wasn't exactly safe at night. But like I said, I couldn't seem to help it, like something was compelling me on. So, I followed the pathway around the lake to my right and a kids playground to my left.

And I just kept going.

My feet just kept walking until I made my way around the lake and even another playground. I had no idea what part of the park I was in, having never visited this part before. How long had I even been walking? I couldn't seem to remember.

I approached a circular garden, one perfectly manicured, and as I followed the path around I couldn't help but gasp at the fountain in the middle… Three bronze ladies danced in a circle, each holding hands as they laughed, their faces full of mischief and glee.

I could imagine in the light of day it was a cheerful sight but right now, it was nothing short of creepy. It was as if any minute I expected their heads to all turn my way and scare the shit out of me.

"What the hell am I doing here?" I asked myself aloud, and my answer came from behind when I heard a rustling noise.

I turned and saw a man dressed in black with his hood raised emerge from behind a bush and began heading my way.

Oh, hell no.

I quickly ran back to the main path, this time following it around until I saw a small brick building. A sign that said Men told me it was a public toilet. It was also covered in twisted vines and little brick hexagon windows.

I kept running, looking behind me to check if anyone was following me when I should have been looking straight ahead. Because suddenly I ran square into someone. Someone big enough to catch me, and someone strong enough that they didn't even take a step back from the force. Of course, my body's natural response was to bounce back, something I would have done had the person not gripped the tops of my arms to prevent this.

My panicked heart skipped a beat as I started to look up… and up some more. Then the moment I reached the stranger's face I couldn't help but gasp.

The man was beautiful.

Hauntingly so.