Page 6 of Bite Me Baby
Xavier
AsImaterializeinmy living room, my enhanced senses immediately detect the presence of an uninvited guest. My fangs instinctively descend as the simmering anger rises within me, ready to strike and defend my territory from any intruders. The audacity of someone trespassing in my home without permission sends a flood of rage through my veins.
My steely gaze sweeps the room until it comes to rest on the figure of Marcus, casually sitting on my plush velvet sofa with his arms outstretched on the back. His ankle is resting on his knee, and his long coat is unbuttoned, revealing a black shirt underneath. He looks at ease, as if he has every right to be here.
I approach him with calculated steps, my eyes narrowing with suspicion. Marcus is one of the few people who has earned my trust over the years, but even he knows better than to enter my home uninvited. I wonder what has compelled him to break this unspoken rule.
“Marcus,” I say, my voice laced with controlled fury. “To whom do I owe this unexpected pleasure, and since when do you enter my home without an invitation?”
He turns his head to face me, and a small smile plays at the corner of his lips. “It has been a considerable span of time since our previous interaction, and an undeniable urge compels me to extend my inquiries regarding your well-being.”
“You haven’t seen me because I’ve been busy with those wretched women from the dating site you signed me up for,” I growl in response. “I knew it was a terrible idea, and I should never have agreed to it.”
“Is that the entirety of your tale? I had anticipated regaling encounters with your intellect being challenged by a masterful vampire hunter. Please, I implore you, elucidate upon the state of your amorous endeavors.”
“No vampire hunter is going to best me.” A smirk twists the corners of my lips as memories of past encounters with vampire hunters flood my mind.
A decade ago, a group of armed humans surrounded me in a dark alley, their eyes glinting with deadly determination. I had just finished feeding and my powers were at their peak. The hunters were no match for me, but they didn’t know that.
The leader of the group, a wild-eyed man with a crossbow, stepped forward and bellowed, “We know what you are, vampire! You’re going to pay for all the innocent lives you’ve taken.”
I cocked my head and chuckled darkly. “Innocent lives? I have never taken the life of an innocent.”
My eyes blazed with a familiar heat as I surveyed my would-be attackers. They brandished stakes and silver bullets, but it was clear they had no idea what they were up against.
The leader lunged at me, but I was ready. With a fluid movement, I sidestepped his clumsy attack and plunged my hand into his throat, tearing out his windpipe and leaving a gaping wound from which blood poured forth like a river.
“You should have listened to me,” I growled, throwing his body to the ground along with the bloody organ. Baring my fangs, I took a step forward, basking in the fear that radiated from the other hunters like a noxious cloud.
The other hunters backed away, their hands trembling with fear. They had seen the full extent of my power, and they knew they were no match for me. With a cold smirk, I disappeared into the shadows, leaving them to pick up the broken pieces of their shattered illusions.
As I come back to the present, I realize that Marcus is still looking at me with a quizzical expression, waiting for an answer to his question. I level a scorching glare at him, my eyes boring into his with an intensity that can rival the heat of a dragon’s breath. “Dating in this new world is bloody horrific. I don’t know how human men go about it. It astounds me they can still meet a woman they want to spend their life with.”
He raises an eyebrow, a look of amusement flickering across his face. “How arduous could it possibly be? Simply take her to an elegant location and impress her. With three centuries of experience to hone your charm, it ought to be a trivial task.”
With a heavy sigh, I shrug off my jacket and collapse into the armchair, feeling the leather creak beneath my weight. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with my charm,” I protest. “I’ve fucked princesses and queens, and I’ve faced down werewolves, goblins, and fae warriors, but these women, these fragile humans, are the ones who seem to pose the greatest challenge. On Monday, I took out a woman named Sarah. She was a beautiful human woman, but there was something about her that rubbed me the wrong way. She was too clingy and needy, like a lost puppy seeking attention. She wouldn’t stop touching me and giggling at everything I said. It made my skin crawl, and I had to remind myself to keep my fangs in check.”
I lean back in the chair, closing my eyes and reliving the discomfort of the date. “The restaurant was elegant, with soft candlelight casting warm shadows across the table. We ordered our entrees, but within minutes, Sarah was begging me to turn her into a vampire so that we could spend an eternity together. I know I’m a handsome devil, but I didn’t expect her to be so forward.” I open my eyes to see Marcus staring at me.
“Judging by the expression upon your visage, it appears that you did not acquiesce to her proposition, did you?” He asks.
“Of course, I didn’t accept her offer,” I snap, feeling my patience wearing thin. “In three hundred years, I have not turned a single person, and I wasn’t going to start with Sarah.”
“Why, pray tell, have you not ventured into the creation of your own progeny? Amongst your vampiric brethren, it is a prevailing inclination to amass legions and extend their dominion, after all.”
“I haven’t met anyone I feel is deserving of such a gift, and frankly, I don’t have the time or patience to teach a new vampire how to control their thirst and coexist with humans without causing chaos.”
“You were not instructed, and yet you have flourished,” he remarks. “However, if I may express my viewpoint, on certain occasions, you do exhibit a rather theatrical temperament. Nevertheless, as a whole, you persist as an admirable individual.”
“Yes, thank you for reminding me that I was simply a meal and that my sire didn’t stick around to teach me anything,” I reply, my voice dripping with bitterness. “I had to learn everything the hard way, and I refuse to subject anyone else to that kind of existence unless they are truly worthy.” I don’t want to dwell on the past anymore. Over the years, I have concluded that I was merely prey that day in the forest. Though a bond was formed between me and my sire when I was turned, I never saw her again, except for fleeting moments of déjà vu in unfamiliar places, which I took to mean that she had been there before me, and I was somehow feeling her presence. “Let’s focus on the matter at hand. Can we please discuss my dating woes now?”
“Indeed, my long-time companion. Pray, do enlighten me on the details of your encounter with Sarah,” he says with a chuckle.
“The night ended with her insisting that we go back to my place. I knew I couldn’t let that happen and that I needed to get rid of her before she became even more attached. So, I did what I had to do. I took her to her apartment and fucked her then I beguiled her, making her believe that the date had been wonderful, but that we were better off as friends.”
“It appears that your quest shall require unwavering diligence. For verily, it is an undeniable truth that not every fair maiden you chance upon shall reveal herself as the epitome of compatibility,” Marcus imparts sagely, accompanied by a nod of wisdom.
“How many human women have you dated? I’m starting to think that you know nothing about women,” I retort. “On Tuesday, I met Emily at another restaurant. She was a petite human with delicate features and a warm smile,” I begin, trying to paint a picture of her. “But as we started to talk, I could sense it wouldn’t work because her scent was off.” I can detect subtle nuances in a person’s scent that humans can’t. It is both a blessing and a curse. I have to constantly resist the urge to feed on those with an enticing aroma, but it also allows me to identify potential threats before they even make a move. “She kept talking about the benefits of veganism and how it was better for the environment. Then she enlightened me on her health and how veganism had improved her overall well-being, like I cared about that. The grand finale to the date was when she told me how pure her blood was and offered me her wrist for a taste. I could barely contain my disgust. She was a vegan, Marcus, a fucking vegan! Her blood tasted like dishwater. I tried to keep up a polite conversation, but I couldn’t shake the taste of her blood from my mouth. You know that I like to partake in my partner’s blood while we’re fucking; it’s the ultimate level of ecstasy for both parties involved, but with Emily, I couldn’t even fathom the idea. Her blood was far from arousing.”
