“Gracie, be careful. I don’t need anyone else to go missing.”

“Don’t worry, maman, I can take care of myself.” 
 

Their conversation stirred excitement in me. Gracie was leaving the protection of the oh-so-great and noble deputy, exiting into the threatening night to go pick her sister up from the train station nearby. I couldn’t wait to nuzzle into the soft flesh of her neck.

I watched from my perch in an oak tree, as chestnut hair exited the house. If only her hair was red...
CLAP
CLAP
CLAP

Her feet hit the pavement harder, indicating she was jogging to the train station. I kept thinking about her gorgeous accent as I watched the girl’s brown curls bounce as she ran. The sight made my whole body twitch to be next to her. 

I jumped out of the tree, landing silently and making no more sound than leaves rustling in the wind. I stalked silently after my lovely Gracie, slowly gaining on her with my long, quiet strides. 

I turned through the streets, jumping a fence to get ahead of her on her path to the station. No one bothered me, because no one was out. Any human with common sense would stay inside at night when a serial killer was on the loose. That’s why I had to follow her; she was too trusting of others. But that's what made her so lovable.

The sky thundered loudly before weeping over the eight losses that the small city of Springsdale had suffered from. My throat burned with thirst; I couldn’t remember the last time I drank something, and the rain seemed to mock me for it. I pulled my hood up over my hair and kept walking until I was standing in the shadows of an alley.

Cold bricks pricked my back as I leaned on a building. I didn’t have to wait long before a girl's light steps neared me. She was walking now, getting her breath back after jogging a few blocks. Gracie turned around, stopping on the sidewalk illuminated by a street lamp, to look behind her. She felt my bright eyes; she felt them studying every graceful movement.

Gracie turned her back to me, which was a big mistake.

I came up behind her and clasped a hand over her mouth, and an arm around her waist. Her body stiffened with fear before she began thrashing violently against me, but her small size of 5'5 was no match for me.

I pulled her into the alley, deftly avoiding her kicking legs, and pushed her against a wall. “Let go of me, you jerk!” she shouted in a heavy French accent after I had removed my hand from her mouth.

“Hush, girl. This will only take a few moments.” I smiled beneath the shadows of my hood. Her eyes were dilated with fear, and that only made my smile grow.

I leaned into her, and pressed my lips to hers. She went completely still against the wall as I kissed her. Gracie was rigid with fear; I could even taste it in her mouth. Her soft hair caressed my hand as I played with it between my fingers.

I pulled back, only to be punched in the face by the small brunette.

The blow stunned me, and I fell backwards onto the wet ground. My hood fell off, blinding me with the sudden exposure to the street lamps. “Alek?” Gracie whispered once she saw my face.

“Oh I’m so sorry!” she came over to me and knelt on the ground. She combed my dark hair out of my eyes. Gracie brushed her soft lips over mine, before pulling away and slapping the smile off my face with a firm thrust of her hand. “How dare you scare me like that!”

I chuckled, rubbing the side of my face, and pushed myself off the ground. “I couldn’t wait to see you,” I told her.

“So you attack me in the middle of the night?” she asked, placing a hand on her hip in defiance. I gave her a small smirk, drawing blood to her cheeks.

“It was pretty funny, but what are you doing out here at this time of night? Don’t you know there’s a serial killer on the loose?” I asked, flirting with her at the same time.
My eyes stared at her lips for a few moments, before wandering to her slim neck, and back to her lips. I suddenly had the need to kiss Gracie again, just like we had in the past.

“I think I can take care of myself. I managed to knock you down.” She smiled happily, poking fun because she had taken me by surprise.

“I just don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.” My tone lowered, and my shoulders dropped.

“Alek...” She hugged me tightly, then. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, nuzzling my nose into her neck to get closer.

I brushed her silky curls aside, stroking her head to comfort her. “I... I think I love you, Alek.”

I bit into her throat by the light of the street lamp.

The blood of a young lover always tasted the best. The rich, red liquid flooded my senses, and it gushed down my throat. The power of holding someone's life in my hands was intoxicating; I chose whether they lived or died. The feeling mixed with the heady sensation that came from drinking blood.

I could feel the girl, whose name escaped my mind, struggle against me, but my strength and tall stature was too much for her. Ever so slowly, she stopped moving as I drained away her life. Her warmth faded away, and soon she was dead on the cold ground. I reveled in the fresh kill, and the new blood that coursed through my body. It always gave me a sense of euphoria when I fed.

I breathed deeply through my blood stained mouth, thinking about the four other girls I’ve killed. Only the whispery sounds of foot steps coming from behind, drew me out of my thoughts. I turned quickly, ready to pounce on whatever was moving, only to face a tall, blue-eyed red head.

“And that’s how it’s done. I do believe it’s your turn,” I tell the girl.

Emily kissed me passionately and flashed me her fangs.

“Such a pity that someone as young and pretty as her had to die, but didn’t she know there was a serial killer on the loose?” Emily teased. I smiled to myself; Emily surpassed the dead girl's beauty any day of the week.

“Didn’t you hear?” I asked my eternal mate, “There's two of them now.” I flashed Emily a brilliant smile. I pulled her out of the alley with my arm around her waist so she could complete her next kill. "On with our little game."