A vampire's Choice
Chapter 8

Roger's heart stopped at the scene before him. Lucky for him, the streetlight perched in front of her shop, dark against the sky. Yes, lucky for him, but unlucky for the humans inside. Inching closer to the door, glass crunched beneath his soles, indicating why his suspicions were confirmed. Any skilled assassin knows that the less light there was, the chances of being seen were exponentially lower. Without confirming it was the streetlight that supplied the glass, Roger swiftly advanced, only stopping when shadows of figures inside cast over the sidewalk, the moon's glow exenterating the dark. The shop's door was clear to the world; only a closed sign hung in the middle. Peeking inside, the scene before him washed dread over his being.

Even with the darkness clouding inside, the three shadows were unmistakable. Two were on the floor, the first bending over the second one. The stench of death mixed with blood washed over his senses, the ratched smell not doing anything for his hunger. The third shadow moved out of the corner of his sight, more prominent than the other two combined. Instantly he knew who it was, the recognition lifting the lid from the seal that held his anger intact. Rising slowly from his crouched position, Roger took a deep breath, trying to slow his beating heart, before opening the door.

"Don't you dare move, or I will have your heart," Roger demanded, seconds before the monster had advanced upon Lisa.

For some weird reason, relief flooded Lisa as the familiar voice fluttered into the shop. She took a chance and looked away from the monster before her and the new one who just entered.

Luke swerved his head to the new player that has entered the game, the player he had hoped would show up. Before him stood this Roger the entity had spoken about, the vampire. In a split second, he looked over this man; since the last time they had met, Luke was in beast mode, only caring about the kill. A White suit adorned his body, one much smaller than his own, a bleak accompaniment to his white skin and white hair. With quick precision Luke had seized up his opponent before settling his gaze on the black eyes, filled with the look of a hunter. Luke could admire others, for he also had it, but not now, not on this prey.

"I was wondering when you would show up," Luke spoke up, but his voice sounded broken, more like an animal croaking.

Taking a small step forward, Roger moved into a defensive pose, ready to attack at any sign of aggression. "Glad to meet your expectations, but like I said before, Leave, or I will kill you."

Lisa was gone from Luke's mind as he turned his body and attention to the vampire. His chest rose and fell as his breathing deepened, allowing his body to grow. The animal side of him took over and opening his arms and hands; he felt his blood pump faster and muscles expanding. Sharp nails pushed from his fingers and curling up, ready to slash at his opponent. "You can try."

With a mighty roar, Roger jumped forward, moving in a flash, faster than the eye could see. With the same power as his opponent, Luke saw him, and he also jumped. Their bodies collided mid-air, the force of the two slamming together, making a loud bang.

Lisa's eyes had finally adjusted to the darkness and were able to make out the sharp features of Roger. She wasn't sure if she was glad to see him or scared now there were two monsters stuck in her shop. They moved in a blur, suddenly the beast responsible for Sam's untimely demise was before her, and the next second he was gone. The crack of their fight indicated where they were, so she turned her head to look but only saw two shadows wrestle on the ground. As they were preoccupied, Lisa took the time to glance down at her friend finally. Fresh tears sprung in her eyes as she gazed upon her the now lifeless hazel eyes of her best friend and sister. Her usual tanned skin was pale and dark in contrast to the red blood pooled around her. Memories of their loving time together flashed before her but were torn away as the other noise in the room became louder. The sound of teeth tearing of flesh demanded her attention, followed by the loud grumbling of coarse voices. Silently saying goodbye to her dear friend, Lisa turned once more to the two creatures fighting. They have still darkened shadows shuffling about, making it unable to see who was winning. Either way, the winner would still most likely kill her.

With the commotion happening, she saw her chance to get away. Slowly standing up, Lisa peeped down at her friend for a final time before shuffling back, keeping her eyes locked on them. The sharp corner of the table dug into her back, but the adrenaline stopped her from feeling the pain. Using her hand to guide herself away and into the kitchen, she finally allowed herself to take a deep, calming breath as the swing doors closed in front of her, closing the monsters away with them. Hurrying around the equipment to her bag popped up on the table. Grabbing it and shoving the rest of the content into it, she stopped for a couple of seconds to listen. Her heartbeat pounded against her chest, drowning out the rest. "Calm yourself," she whispered to herself. She needed to think, to get a way out of here, but if she could hardly think over her own heart, then what else was left. But every time she closed her eyes, the blood popped up, accompanied by the soulless gaze of her friend. Abruptly, the shattering of glass pulled her back just in time. She had almost spiralled out of control from the loss of grieve, but the sudden fear for her own life took priority. Ignoring her fears, Lisa spied around the room, looking for her next plan. The knife holder on the opposite table caught her attention, but then the memory of Sam stabbing the beast rushed fast, disappearing just as quickly when she realized it would not help. These creatures were not man, and so man-made weapons would probably not do harm.

With a final sweep of her shop and no plan, the open door caught her eyes. The small bathroom they had inside could not barricade her from the death that indeed awaits her, but the small window perched above the toilet might just save her. Sprinting towards the room, she pondered about turning on the light, but any beacon to her position might change the men's plans: coming for her instead of each other.

Closing the door as softly as she could, Lisa turned to the window and went to work. No time to think, only to act. Closing the lid, she stepped onto it, hoisting her body up as she grabbed the ledge. The bag in her hand got in her way as she worked on unlocking it, so she pulled it over her shoulder, thrusting her right arm through the strap. She focused on the latch with the bag secured, but it was slippery, making her struggle. Her hands were shaking too much, the adrenaline pumping double-fold. Once again, she forced herself to take a deep breath to calm down. By the third intake, she was in control and begun again. Working swiftly, she unlocked the latch and pushed it up. A gust of cold air slammed into her face, drying the last of the tears. The shock woke her up, fueling her determination. Noticing now the hole was too small, she quickly removed her back again, throwing it outside. Using her upper arms, she pushed herself up, peeking her head out. The shop's back alley was empty, only the moon as illumination. With no time to look for someone or scream, Lisa quickly scrambled out. Her freedom was so close, only her feet left inside the building. As she crawled out, with a final kick, she was free, but only for a second. A hard hand grabbed onto her ankle with pain piercing her skin as sharp points punctuated flesh, dragging her back.

Lisa let out a scream as her body jerked backward. With a glance over her shoulders, she met the gaze of the monster. His eyes were pure black again, blood-splattered against his skin. Teeth bared at her, the usual pearly whites darkened by the blood of his enemy.

"Not so fast." Luke groaned.

**********

The two monsters were matched. Both from different species, but each fueled by other motives. Luke bit into the soft flesh of the vampire as the blood filled his mouth, his face frowning in disgust. This blood was tainted, and he hated the taste. A pained scream filled his ears, and so he crunched down harder, the sound fueling him. He loved causing pain, ending lives, and he would marvel at ending this pathetic creature.

As the fight had begun, Roger had been distracted by Lisa. The fear of seeing her hurt overriding his senses. He did not know why but he would give up his life to save her, and now was a perfect time. As the beast fell on top of him, claws scratching down his side, he kept half his senses focused on her, to the erratic heartbeat in her chest. Claws had emerged just in time, so he stabbed the beast in the side, his fingers lodged into the flesh. The move angered the beast, and in the next second, a mouth closed over his shoulder, the teeth tearing at him. The pain was too great, and before he could stop it, he screamed. The sound doubles as the teeth sink in more profound, and the blood flowed more. Losing this much blood would kill a human, but luckily he was not one, but what it did do was make him lightheaded. Using force, Roger pushed harder at the hand already inside the beast, the sudden move caught Luke unaware, and he shot away from the vampire. The sound of skin tearing away crashed Roger's senses before the pain hit. A chunk of his shoulder was gone, in the mouth of the beast as he flew back, crashing through the front, landing on the sidewalk. The few seconds of peace were heaven, and Roger used it to look for Lisa, but she was gone. He honed his senses, pushing past the pain to focus on his hearing. A defined heartbeat echoed in his ears, her heartbeat. She was not in this room anymore, wondering where she was.

Luke rose from the floor, spitting the piece of flesh to the ground. This was getting annoying. He needed to end this thing before he could savor in killing the girl. Baring his teeth and letting out a growl, he zoned his eyes on the vampire, watching as he turned to look at him. Gaze upon the one who will kill you, Luke spoke in his mind before crashing through the glass wall, jumping at him.

Roger had a split second to react after he heard the ferocious growl to act. He had to give it to the monster; he was fast and robust. The only weakness he learned was that the beast was more beast than human and did not think ahead. Their bodies collided again, but the head start of the beast had thrown Roger back, and he collided with the wall, the crack knocking the remainder of his breath away before he could recover or act, strong fingers wrapped around his throat, pressing hard.

Luke finally had the upper hand, and he would enjoy this. Leaning in close, he pressed his face up to the vampires, their noses barely touching, and spoke, "I am the superior being. Know that I will enjoy ending your life. But not as much as I will enjoy killing her. Only after I have had my way with her."

Anger burst forth as Roger grabbed onto the hand holding him. His right hand quickly positioned to slice at his neck, but before either acted, a noise from the back of the shop distracted them, both turning in that direction. It was Lisa, they both knew it, and she has just given her location.

Luke was faster in acting, the ultimate victory in his sight. Before Roger could do something, Luke closed his fist, crushing the vampire's neck. Letting go, he watched as the motionless body slumped to the ground, his head hanging at an unnatural angle. Luke wished he could have made him suffer, savoring in the torture. He was even thinking about keeping the vampire alive just to watch him have his way with the girl and then kill him, but this would have to do. Added noise followed from the back and he quickly zoomed on it. Turning towards the swing doors, Luke took his sweet time stalking her. He could hear everything, and from her labored breath, he could tell she was trying to escape, but she was too slow.

Pushing open the one side and stepping in, Luke scanned to room. There was no sign of a human, only useless junk around. Behind a closed door, he heard shuffling and an erratic heartbeat. Following the sound, he stopped in front of it and pondered his choices. To break down the door and show your strength or open it softly and surprise her. The latter won out as the thought of stalking her was more enticing. Wrapping his finger over the cold handle, he twisted it slowly and push it open. He did not know what to expect but seeing a pair of feet hanging mid-air was not it. He watched as they slowly left through the window, and at the precise time it would have been free, he grabbed onto her.

"Not so fast." The fear in her eyes as her head shot towards him was exhilarating. Needing more, he pulled on her, her whole body coming back in.

Lisa leads out a scream as her hands dragged over the rough ground, tearing at her soft fingers while trying to grab onto anything. She hastily searches around her as her body is pulled to the ground. It was happening slowly, and she wondered if it was the adrenaline making time slow or was it the monster toying with her. As her legs went deeper inside and lifted off the ground, she kicked, and tried to shove off his hold, but to no avail. His fingers only sunk deeper into her flesh, eliciting a painful howl.

"Stop fighting and accept your fate. " Small little growls popped up over his voice as he spoke, the true beast finally rearing its head.

With a final glance back, Lisa felt true terror. More than the other night, more than her whole life put together. In his black eyes, she saw a true monster with no humanity. The look made her fight harder, so ignoring the pain, she kicked out again. Her left foot not in his grasp made contact with his face. The shock made him step back, only the hold on her was still there, and it made her go with him. The final tuck pulled her through the window as her hands frantically swung to grab the ledge, but her body crashed into him, and they both tumbled to the ground. He was made of steel, with the impact knocking out her breath as her head hit a solid jaw. Stars burst into her vision as pain washed over her already bruised body. Her mind decided. Beneath her was the monster who wished her death, and any second now, she knew he would wrap his arms around her, crushing her body and soul, until she was gone. Her eyes closed as she imagined the end. At least the pain would be gone, and she would be at peace. But as her last precious seconds ticked by, nothing happened. Making her wonder if she is already dead.

"Get up."

His voice made her eyes shoot open and look up at the ceiling. She could only see the white in the darkness, no detail, but she still focused on that. It must be an angel since there could be no other explanation for being alive. The monster had had a grip on her with death in his eyes.

"I said, get up."

It cannot be. Lisa twisted her head down and saw him; he was upside down and staring at her. The muscles in her neck groaned aloud as she kept staring but finally twisted her whole body to be in the correct position. The movement alerted her to the body beneath her, and she quickly jumped up and away from him. The beast was motionless, his eyes closed, making her confused. He had her, pulling her in, but now he was dead.

"He is not.” Reading her mind, she turned towards the source. The man was perched against the wall, his shoulder holding him up as his other hand cradled the other side. The white suit he had on was dark now, full of blood, making her wonder who's it is.

"You stopped him?" Lisa said in disbelieve as she stepped towards him unknowingly. This was the second time he had saved her. Maybe he was not the monster she pictured him to be.

"I tried my best, but listen, we need to get out of here. I have a car outside..." before he could finish, darkness engulfed his senses, and he blacked out, tumbling forward.

On instinct, Lisa reached out to grab him, but he was too heavy, and they both fell to the floor. With his unconscious body pinning her down, a decision had to be made. She laid eyes on the swing doors and the freedom behind them. Looking back down, she watched the man breathe, and another choice had to be made. He might look like a monster, but he had saved her for some unknown reason, and now he needed help, so she made up her mind. She would help him now, and when he was better, she would demand answers to all the questions she had before going on her way. Lisa's shop was ruined, her best friend was dead, and a psycho killer is hunting her. Life was going downhill, but maybe this man could help her.

Sᴇarch the FindNovel.net website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.