Warning: 18+ readers only; this blog is dark and full of terrors!
This story contains questionable religious themes of a sexual nature, as well as mild to graphic gore, and scenes of a very erotic nature. Do not read on if these are things that you may find offensive or upsetting!
Even though Greg had been drained almost entirely of blood, there was no investigation, no questions. According to the papers, the whole town was "rocked by the local suicide". Suicide. Apparently, the groundskeeper found him in the morning before starting the end of term clean up. He was quoted in the Gravebrook Telegraph: "If I hadn't found him then, he wouldn't have been discovered until the kids came back." It was a horrific thought; a two week decomposed body and screaming children. For days, it was all anyone could talk about. He was a pleasant guy, said his peers; bright and funny, said his teachers. His family couldn't figure it out. "Why would he do something like that?" It was my fault he was dead and yet... I should have cared a lot more. Why did I feel so callous?
The fire escape was barricaded, as expected, but the town had more or less returned to normality by Tuesday. What little blood had surrounded his body was cleaned and bleached promptly, and the headlines were back to more critical gloom and doom. The only difference was the row of white bouquets - lilies and carnations mostly - and letters lined up in front of the school gate, expressing grief and feelings. If my mum said more than two sentences to me a day, she might have conveyed some kind of condolences other than the offered "Oh I'm so sorry your classmate died. Don't let it affect you too much". Of course, other than that, she said very little on the subject which suited me just fine. I don't think I could have handled it, pretending to be as shocked and upset as my classmates were.
Kaleb made things better. I didn't see him, but I could feel him... he would send me messages, convincing me that feeling that way was better than letting guilt consume me. Although I knew it wasn't - although it probably was, for him - it made me feel better regardless.
It was Wednesday before I saw him again. I waited until my family was sleeping before creeping out of the house, and it was nearly eleven o'clock when I reached the park to await my vampire.
I didn't even know he was beside me until I heard his voice. "Nathaniel."
I jumped a little and turned to him, seeing his smiling face, cheeks blushed and warm looking.
"Did I startle you?" He chuckled. "Sorry."
"Don't sneak up on me!" I smiled and studied him; the torn black skinny jeans tucked into his boots, teamed with a stylish, modern grey trench coat, stopping just passed his hips, so different from the red one he usually wore. The belt was tied at the waist, making his figure a little feminine, but that only attracted me more. "You look... nice." Now I was the one blushing.
"I made an effort," he said, feigning an arrogant smile, flashing his fangs, sending bubbles swirling in my stomach. "Do you wanna do something fun?"
It was just before midnight when Kaleb dragged me by my sleeve into the old film house by the bell tower. The foyer was empty save for the elderly clerk sleeping behind the ticket counter - or at least I hoped he was asleep - and the place smelled like stale popcorn and despair. The whole cinema seemed run down, and the tattered posters on the walls displaying the film selection left little to be desired.
"They show Dracula every night," Kaleb said excitedly, contemplating the other posters. "I've wanted to see it for the longest time, but I didn't want to go alone."
"I've never been here before..." I looked around us, surveying my desolate surroundings. "If you want to see a vampire film, I'm sure they're playing Twilight across town."
"You are such a child," Kaleb said, throwing me a look of amused disapproval. "It'll be fun. There's no one else in there." A sly smile. "We'll have the whole place to ourselves." His eyes gleamed, a little bit of pink making an appearance, reminding me of a few nights before. I wonder what that means...
I tried to fight my blush but failed. "I suppose that's okay then."
Kaleb escorted me passed the ticket desk, through a battered entryway and down towards another door adorned with SCREEN in copper letters. The hall sported a dozen sconces installed on the ratty walls, but very few had working bulbs, making it all the eerier. The screen room was small; no more than fifty square feet, containing maybe thirty seats on each side of the aisle, and I wondered how it was still in business.
"This place is..." My voice trembled. "Perfect for Halloween..."
"It's not haunted, you'll be fine." Kaleb headed up the steps to the back, and I followed.
As we sat down, old adverts began flickering on the screen, reminding us to turn off our mobile phones and enjoy the film. When the lights dimmed, and the movie started, I couldn't help thinking about how perfect this was: the grey film, the empty theatre, the vampire. It wasn't usually my scene, but at that moment, it was wonderfully fitting.
I'd never seen a film as old as this and horror wasn't really my thing so I can't say I was terribly enthralled by it, but it was certainly different from any date Elias and me had.
But I wasn't even sure this was a date. Kaleb had been with me over an hour, and he hadn't so much as accidentally grazed my knee with his hand. I looked over at him, his elbow resting on the arm of the seat, his fingers stationed at his mouth in thought. I heard his voice, but his lips didn't move.
"Is this honestly what mortals think of us?"
I smiled, shaking my head at him and whispered in his ear. "You're thinking way too hard." I caught a faint scent of soap from his hair and uncontrollably reached to touch it. The soft, dark locks fell between my fingers, rebounding the flickering light from the screen. I instantly wanted to know what shampoo he used. Before I could even finish my thought, I heard his voice again.
"I don't use shampoo." He turned and smiled at me briefly before turning back to the screen, sending the bubbles dancing again.
"Stop smiling at me like that!" I nudged him playfully.
He leaned toward me, keeping his attention on the screen. "Sorry." And then his voice. "Watch the film and stop staring at me."
He was right; for the last half hour, I'd barely taken my eyes off him. I felt terrible for not paying Dracula much attention but looking at Kaleb was far more interesting. He dropped his hand down, his arm resting against mine. It made me think of countless awful romantic comedies, but I wanted to skip the coy touching of hands, the slow lean in.
I turned towards him, reaching my arm around his shoulders and pulled him towards me. He tilted his face, looking me straight in the eyes. It felt nice to be in control, to be the one initiating the contact. Any shyness I may have had before melted away. I kissed him lightly, checking the temperature of the moment. I didn't wait for much of a response before moving in for a hotter kiss. I felt his hands on my neck and then in my hair. As Dracula devoured some poor woman, I devoured Kaleb.
He'll get you. The tree, the apple.
I pulled away, suddenly breaking the kiss. Kaleb looked at me, concern ruffling his features. "What's wrong? I didn't bite you, did I?"
I didn't know what to say, so I lied. "Um, a little. But it's okay."
A dark look crossed his face, denoting disappointment and hurt. It was just for a split second before he turned back to the screen, quickly engrossed again. He didn't say another word until we left the theatre.
"You don't need to lie to me." As we stood outside in the dark and barren streets, he leaned against the wall, turned away from me. He didn't sound hurt anymore, but I could tell he was still bothered. "I know when you're lying. You're very convincing, I'm sure, to human eyes." He finally looked at me. "But remember, I'm not human."
I moved to stand in front of him. He looked a little paler now than before, and his eyes had lost their vibrant glimmer.
"I..."
"You don't have to say anything. You don't even have to think about it, and I know."
I felt a little exposed, knowing how much of my mind he could read. My heart was jumping.
"Please... close your mind to me. Unless you need me, keep it shut tight, okay?" He looked so sad and tired, flecks of purple beginning to show in his eyes. "I don't want to know when you lie to me."
I lifted my hand to his face, and he looked away. "I'm sorry, Kaleb." I wanted so badly to kiss him, but I knew it was dangerous.
He stroked my fingers gently, offering me a tired smile. "I have to go." His eyes met mine. "It's passed your bedtime, too."
He disappeared before I could say anything else, but I understood why. If he'd stood there any longer, I'd be dead. But I wanted that apple from him.
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