“Are you all right?” Dante asked Michelle.
“I think she broke a rib…” she said weakly.
Dante got closer and brushed her hair away from the side of her neck, where he noticed copious amounts of blood on one shoulder, the one thing his vision picked up without any trouble. “Don’t worry. It’s hers,” Michelle said with a reassuring hand on Dante’s arm. “I shot her in the face.”
“I heard,” said Dante, impressed, massaging her neck affectionately. The gesture formed a small smile on Michelle’s lips. “Just rest.”
“No argument here.”
Dante again walked out to the hallway. Vickrant was in the same position; Alex was gone. He raised his head to listen. She had just exited the building and was running as fast as she could from the place. He didn’t blame her.
Dante picked up the limp and moaning Vickrant. “Tell me where your child is.”
“I will tell you nothing. What manner of freak are you that feeds on your own kind!”
Dante snapped Vickrant’s jaw to the side, dislocating it in the process. “I am unique. Your blood makes me stronger, and if you won’t tell me what I need to know, there is nothing more to say.”
Vickrant barely had time to scream before Dante bit him.
*
Alex’s feet pounded the pavement, the stitch in her side threatening to cripple her, yet she kept her feet moving. It was a dream, a nightmare, a hallucination. This wasn’t happening. Something, however, told her that wasn’t the case, and she should stop and think. She came to a halt and put her hands on her knees, struggling to catch her breath.
“Alexandra…”
Alex screamed, and tears formed before she could stop them. She was afraid she was losing her mind. Dante was standing there in front of her. How could that be? He stood so perfectly still, his gaze never leaving her, though she found she could not look at him. All she could see in her mind was the thick stream of blood on the left side of his chin.
He took a step forward and she could not suppress another terrified shriek.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Just…stay there!”
Dante did as she asked, much to her relief. There was nothing said for some time, Alex taking the time to stop crying while Dante was simply a statue.
Alex took a deep breath. “What do you want?”
“To see if you’re all right. And answer any question you have,” he replied gently.
Alex gave a disbelieving chuckle. “All right then. Who the hell are you?”
“My name is Dante Delavega, though I have been known by many others.”
“How could you throw that guy against the wall like that?”
“I am not normal.”
“Yeah, I could tell that already. So what are you?”
“…Not human.”
Alex paused at this, unsure of what to think. She clearly knew he wasn’t, and the tone of his voice, though light, demanded that she take heed.
“You look human to me.” She felt like kicking herself, but was having a hard time thinking of anything sensible to say. This was no sensible situation.
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“So, what are you then?”
Dante caught her gaze finally and held it. “I am a vampire.”
Alex snorted. “Vampires aren’t real.”
“I assure you they are. I can give you further proof if you wish.”
“No thanks!” Alex said louder than she meant to, holding her hands out before her, as if they would thwart the monster she’d seen back in the apartment. What am I doing here? she thought. Is this even real?
“Alexandra, believe me I have no intention of harming you,” Dante said sharply, snapping her attention back. “I meant it when I said I care about you. There is much more you need to know. If you would only let me explain—”
“Please don’t,” Alex said backing away from him. “I…I can’t. Just please stay away from me.”
“Very well,” replied Dante with a sigh. He looked…sad, Alex thought. “If you will not let me take you home, then please take Michelle’s car. Here are the keys.” He placed a key ring on the hood of a nearby parked car and backed away. “I’m not going to force you into anything. They are there if you want them.”
Alex opened her mouth to answer, though she didn’t know what to say. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples where a headache was forming. “Just, please go—” she started, but when she opened her eyes again, he was already gone.
*
Another quick knock on the door hurried the last two steps on the other side before it was opened.
“Hey,” said Lauren.
“What the hell is this?” Matt said through a yawn. “What are you doing here?”
“I need a place to crash.”
“Well that’s great, but why are you telling me? What about your lovely boyfriend?” Matt added.
“I wanna come in,” Lauren replied heavily.
“Why here? Don’t you have a home to go to, or several?”
Lauren couldn’t help
