A vampire's Choice
Chapter 12

Babying the second can of Coke Roger had gotten her, they both sat in silence. Lisa had so many questions she wanted to be answered, but she did not know where to begin. Clearing her throat and opening her mouth, she began to speak, but Roger beat her to the punch.

"As Micheal said, I am a vampire. And yes, I do drink blood, and no, I will not drink yours,” Roger explained, knowing she was also wondering about the rest. He watched as she took it in, the vein popping on the side of her neck at the mention of blood. Lisa is safe in his presence, for now, but he still wondered what she would taste like. The first night he had saved her, she was bleeding, and the smell of her blood had been intoxicating. He remembered his fangs had extended at the sight of the red liquid, but he had controlled himself when he had truly looked at her. Rebecca had allowed him to drink from her once, the taste of fresh blood hitting the spot, but in the back of his mind, a voice had screamed it tasted wrong. The reason did not stay long for she had caressed him, and the rest was history.

"That is good to know," Lisa replied, relieved, "but how did you become a vampire? Were you born like this. How old are you? Do all vampires look like you?” The words came tumbling out when she began. Something within her was curious, and she wanted, no, needed to know more.

Roger couldn't help but smile. She reminded him of a child who just received a new toy and urgently wanted to play with it. He watched as her eyes sparkled and grew big, the edges of her mouth slightly rising to form a smile. The reaction was strange, but he played along. "Slow down. All will be answered in due time. But to begin, I was bitten and then turned. The whole process is a long story that I will not get into now. As far as I know, there are no natural-born vampires, but I can not tell you why, for it is a mystery. As for my age, physically, I look 28, but I am nearly 250 years old."

Lisa's mouth dropped open with the mention of his age. She could not even imagine that many years, yet that is what he said. For the age he looked, Roger was right. Scanning his features, she absorbed all the details—skin as white as milk, hair, and eyes the same. Looking closer, she picked out small pieces here and there. A few scars littered his face, some more prominent than others. The biggest one ran from the middle of his forehead, close to his hairline, all the way down his left cheek. Being the same color as his skin, one had to really focus to see it. But once she saw it, the rest slowly began to pop up. Another smaller one caught her attention. It lay directly on his jawline, disappearing underneath his chin. Being focused like that allowed her mind to open up and let her admire his features. The pale skin aside, he was pretty handsome. A robust and short jawline lined the bottom, while a full head of hair was at the top. A sudden urge to run her finger through his hair made her grasp the can harder, spilling a few drops on her fingers, but she did not care. She was entranced by him, by what she observed. Slowly traveling from his jaw, she rested her gaze on his lips. They were full and looked inviting. An Image of her lips on his seared in her mind, igniting a fire in her. The heat spread downwards, resting at her core. Never has she felt like that, but she loved it. As the tingling grew, so did her gaze. Tearing her gaze away from his mouth, his nose was next. It looked normal, not too big or not too small. So, she kept exploring until she landed on his eyes. Pure black orbs looked back at her, and the shock of seeing them shook her straight. The heat that had started vanished quickly, replaced by fear. The shock made her tighten the grip and the can, spilling more than just a drop.

"Sorry," Lisa muttered as she finally looked away and down, seeing the dark liquid coating her hand. Letting go of the can and wiping her fingers on her pants, she builds up the courage to look up, seeing white eyes instead of black. "Why do your eyes turn black?"

Roger had allowed her to fulfill her curiosity, sitting still as she gazed upon him. He had loved it, for it would let him do the same. She and Rebecca could be called twins, but the longer he stared, a few differences popped up. Both had the same eyes, one green and the other blue. He had loved that about Rebecca. It made her stand out from the other woman, and now it made Lisa stand out to him. Their hair was the same shade of blond, and he bet her's would also shimmer in the sunlight. Only Rebecca's was longer, reaching just above her behind, and Lisa's below her shoulder. He knew to compare the two was wrong, but he could not help it. Watching her brought back all the memories and feelings he had lost over the years.

The scent of arousal tickled his nose, her arousal, and he watched as her gaze stuck on his lips. Taking a deep breath of her delicious scent, he did the same. Pink, full lips were slightly open, her tongue peeking through the slits. They looked soft and inviting, begging to be nibbled on. The image popped in his head. Usually, he would see Rebecca in his fantasies, but this time it was Lisa. He imagined her against him, their bare skin touching as he devoured her lips, his hands roaming her body. The fantasy was edged on by her arousal, getting turned on by just looking at him. The splashing of liquid on the table made him glance up to her eyes, seeing the fear in them. He knew what it was. His arousal had turned his eyes black, which she did not expect. As she dried her hand on her pants, Roger took a moment to calm his nerves and try to get his eyes back to normal. He must have succeeded, for when Lisa looked back up, she was not frightened anymore.

"My eyes are a direct correlation to my nature. With most supernatural, their eyes show their true nature, especially when the beast comes forth."

Lisa was confused. Does that mean he wanted to kill her just then? Why else would his eyes shift? "So, your beast just showed itself. Does that mean you want to hurt me?" Deep down, she knew it wasn't it; that is why she was still sitting and not running away screaming.

Roger looked away, focusing instead on the wall, and finding it fascinating. "Yes, and no," he searched for a way to explain what had happened without letting her know he was thinking of fucking her. "It changes to black when our emotions get high. Usually, anger triggers it but not now. Like I said before, do not fear me. I won't hurt you."

For some unknown reason, Lisa was offended that he was not looking at her. A stab of pain clutched at her heart, the reaction unusual. She needed to leave, and now. A yawn broke out as her body agreed with her, and she quickly covered it behind her hand. Roger turned back towards her, finally noticing how tired she was. Deep, dark bags perched beneath her eyes, her skin pale. Upon seeing this, he did a quick scan of the rest of her. The ponytail supposed to keep her hair up had loosened, allow hair to spring wild around her. The slight movement of her hand showed her fingers were hurt with dried blood coating the tips. She must be exhausted from the last couple of days, yet here she was sitting with him. Why?

"I think it is time you went to bed. I can always answer your questions tomorrow." Roger stood up without waiting for her response, the chair scraping on the floor as he pushed it back.

The word bed made Lisa perk up, so she gladly obliged. Getting up, she trailed behind Roger as he led the way. Leaving the kitchen, he made his way through the maze of corridors and up some stairs. She tried to memorize the way, but it was all too confusing, and her tired, drooping lids got in the way. Roger finally stooped in front of a door, one that seemed familiar to her. It was the same room she was in the last time she was here. Turning around, Roger opened the door as he watched her, soaking up her appearance before letting her go.

"Everything you need is inside, but if we missed something, the phone on the side table connects to housekeeping, and they will assist you."

"Thank you..." A blur of a shadow moved away as Roger hurriedly left her behind, afraid he might be tempted to finish what he started in his fantasy.

Lisa felt saddened that he had just left, and she did not understand why. He was a stranger to her, yet he felt somewhat familiar. Maybe it was because he was a vampire, or perhaps it was because she had just experienced a significant loss. Either way, tomorrow, she would find out the reason. Tomorrow she would worry about her future and where to go from here.

After a long, searingly hot shower, Lise went over all her bruises. The tips of her fingers had been torn open, but now they were almost healed. Something inside her had changed but was it for good? Finally, in bed, she could enjoy the comfort she had ignored the last time. The mattress dipped below her body, sucking her deeper into the comfort. Letting out a sigh, Lisa spoke to herself, "A girl could get used to this.". The room was cold, so the blanket was a heaven send. Snuggling deeper down, she finally allowed herself to recap all the events of the night. The monster kept flashing before her, the death in his eyes. It was the same black as Roger, but it was different at the same time. Behind them was an actual devil, one that wanted to hurt her. Shaking her head, she loosened the image of him before focusing on Sam. Her sister was trying to protect her, and now she was all alone. As their previous happy memories played like a movie in her head, Lisa allowed herself to grief. A waterfall of tears burst from her, and so she let them. Crying until she fell asleep. All the trauma from the last couple of days had been too much for her body, and thus Lisa slept through the night. No nightmares about sharp teeth or blood-soaked claws. No angel with black eyes or demons tearing her apart.

A ray of light peeked through the almost blood-red curtains, a sign of morning washing over Lisa's sleeping frame. Roger stood statue-like as he peered upon her. No anger or fear gripped her delicate features, for once she looked calm and rested. A slither of blond hair draped over her cheek, a few pieces stuck between the pink lips of her luscious mouth. Roger reached towards her on instinct, eager to touch her again, but inches from her face, he stopped himself. Instead, he focused on her breathing, watching her chest drop and rise slowly. The longer he watched her, the more he thought of Rebecca. The love of his life that had ultimately destroyed his. She had been a ray of sunshine at the beginning of his vampiric life. Changed against his will, Roger had gone years surviving in the dark, and not just to hide from the sun. No, he had despised himself, still does. Those days had been different. Creatures of the dark were not only feared but hunted in the name of God. To seek redemption for the actions he had ultimately been forced to do, Roger had tried his hand at savior. Living amongst the humans as one of them, helping them when needed, until the fateful day he was caught. After that, he had retreated back to his cave, only to emerge when she arrived.

Roger had been out hunting when he came across a female, Rebecca, being attacked by bandits. Thinking back on that memory and knowing how it ends, Roger should have seen it was all a setup just to get to him. Allowing himself to smile, Roger played the memory back like it was yesterday.

The woods were as dark and eerie as the night before, a warm welcome to the gloomy cave he resided in. Since humans never wandered in these parts, Roger was allowed to push the boundaries of his powers, to lavish in the feeling as he ran through the dense-packed trees and sleeping animals. Feeling the cool breeze brush his skin as he moved in a blur, never once out of breath. A small stream burst through the vegetation before him, so he slowed his movement, coming to a stop almost inside the water. Since he could not practice his skills, sometimes just stopping was difficult. The clear water rushed downstream, the few fish still around calmly gliding around, not sensing the monster watching them. Bending down, Roger scoops some of the freezing water in his hand, splashing it on his face. With his eyes closed, he allowed himself to enjoy the simple pleasures his condition allowed. Not only were his senses heightened, but his body felt every sensation double fold. The drops trickled down his forehead and cheek, the light touch sending goosebumps down his spine. Savoring everything while he had his eyes closed, Roger opened his other senses. Nature hit his nose first. The dirt smelled fresh; it was the only way he could describe it. The cave he inhabited was filled with musk, the damp surroundings an irate to his body, but since it kept the light, and humans, out, he had to suffer in silence. Dozens of flowers bloomed all around, the mixture of soft and subtly sweet with the bouquet of soil a sad reminder of what he had to give up. Next, he opened his ears and was assaulted by a mixture of sounds. Owls' hoots echoed around them, the grooming of feathers so far away, but sounded like they were right next to him. Worms digging in the ground beneath his feet replaced the birds. Roger still struggled to focus on one sound or to block it all out. That is why he needed this place to train, to ensure what had happened before will never happen again.

Keeping his eyes closed as he absorbed it all, Roger used his senses to walk about the place, making sure not to disrupt nature. Climbing over fallen trees and ducking beneath branches, a particular sound caught his attention. The low beating of the heart called him forth, the soft breathing of a deer leading the way. For months now, he had lived off the blood of animals. It was not as good as a human's, but it did the job. Inching closer to the sleeping animal, Roger slowly opened his eyes, eager to find his dinner. Beneath scrubs a few yards away, a small brown body lay inside a broken tree trunk. The moon illuminating it, not that he needed any help with seeing the creature. Careful not to step on any branches to alert his prey, Roger maneuvered closer until he could almost reach out and touch the animal. Guilt washed over him as he imagined what he was about to do, but he quickly shook it off. It was this or a living, breathing human. Just as he was about to grab the deer, a high shrill blasted his eardrums.

Swerving his head toward the noise, Roger quickly zoned in on the area where it came from and was taken aback by what he heard. Four heartbeats jumped out at once: one beating erratic and the other three normal. He knew instantly what that meant, for he has heard it a thousand times before. Sparing a swift glance at the deer, Roger turned back to the noise before setting off. Running at top speed again, he came upon the scene in less than a minute but slowed down before he reached them. Trees blocked his view of them, so Roger gently parted one to get a better look. His past experiences were a hard lesson to learn and one he had taken to heart, so to just run headfirst into the unknown was impossible.

Four figures stood around a fire, the light making their shapes seem like shadows. Roger was about to leave, seeing as it was just an ordinary camping trip, until her pleads for help stopped him. Upon closer inspection, he realized that three of the bodies were advancing upon the fourth, their heartbeat beating faster by the passing seconds. Suddenly, one body shifted to the side, and Roger's heart nearly stopped. Before him was a female, the most beautiful he has ever seen: like an angel on earth, her blond hair piled high on her head with a few trickles framing her face. The fire could not illuminate the rest of her face, but he did see her mouth, and it was open in a silent scream. A blue dress hugged her tiny frame, the bodice pushing her breast together and high. Roger became mesmerized by her, frozen in place as he admired the woman.

"Please... don't..." it was the same voice he had heard screaming earlier, and it finally pulled him back.

Turning his angered gaze upon the other three, he parted the rest of the tree and slowly stepped through. He was in a clearing now, with a cart and horse to his right. The woman fell backward, her hands catching the ground to keep her straight, her scared eyes never leaving the others. Roger did the same, keeping them glued on the three as he prowled behind them, silent and ready to attack.

"We are just looking for a good time, miss,” one of the men slurred.

Even behind them, Roger could smell the alcohol laced in his breath.

"No, please.” The woman kept begging, "Take what you will. Just leave me be."

The second man laughed. "But what we want is you."

The words angered Roger while it frightened the girl, for she crawled back and away from them. Not taking the queue, they advanced upon her. Roger was an arms-length from them and getting closer. The girl's eyes shot between them as she noticed Roger. He ignored her as he stepped closer, but not one of the men. Spinning around, the man saw Roger behind them, but he was too slow.

"Who are...?” The rest of the question drowned out as hands wrapped around his neck, twisting it fast until there was a pop. The other two men did not notice their friend's lifeless body drop to the ground until it was too late. The second man only noticed a few moments before he had the same fate happen silently and quickly.

The third man was too intoxicated to notice or care, only keeping his gaze on the woman. A smirk reached his lips as he realized she had stopped begging or moving away from him. "I knew you would come around. I promise you will enjoy this as much as I will.” he proudly announced.

A tiny smile appeared on the woman's face as she shifted her eyes from Roger towards the man, "I will enjoy this."

A confused look crossed his face before being replaced by fear as a strong arm wrapped around his neck, squeezing the life from him. Arms flailed wildly as he tried to break free, kicking back but only hitting the air. Rogers was not one for games, so he used vampiric strength to end his life, foregoing the pleasure he wanted to watch these rapists suffer. The struggling ended with another loud pop, and Roger stepped back as he let go, watching the body crumble to the ground. Adrenaline rushed through his body, fangs out and ready to attack. The need to grasp their necks and suck them dry was strong, and he was just about to when the girl distracted him.

She slowly stood up, brushing the dirt and leaves from her dress, never taking her eyes off of him.

"Thank you for saving me,” she said, lifting a hand towards him, "My name is Rebecca Morgen, and you are?"

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