Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Thriller

It was the late autumn of 1898, London. Weather was pretty unpleasant; sky has the color of lead most of the time, night followed, and coming as a demon cape over the naked streets of the city. Wheels of the coaches scattered the mud on the cobblestones, bringing last people back to their houses, where they thought they were safe. 
It was like that, roofs and cozily shining windows in the moody darkness made them live away from the merciless rain and wind, which made street lanterns swing on their big black hooks with creepy creeks. But their home could not save them from what was wandering into the corrupted night and what they themselves were created – lust and will for sin.
     “Deer’s horn” was the most visited place at the pub of London that days. First built as a hunter’s tavern, generations beyond memory kept from one of the prominent family hunters. Even today walls kept their trophies. Subsequently place was declared for demolition, before some rich daddy’s boy share the public’s opinion they can’t just close their bar. 
After many negotiations and fights the bar, including the floor above it, was sold and now turned into elite club.
Walls still authentic made of white cut stone; old wooden beams under the ceiling were holding iron chandeliers. The old bar, battered from the thousands of pints was changed with new from dark wood, and behind it were the shelves with a mirror, where all the bottles with alcohol were kept.
Floor was from polished white granite. Old tables, broken from many fights were removed, now there were new tables and seats from black wood and red leather. On the walls lamps imitating old lanterns made the atmosphere more intimate. 
Tonight the place was full and bustling, one of the hardest weeks was ended, the voting for the new mayor of the city. Even profitable aristocratic families could allow a break.

Turned his back to the bar there was a man dressed in dark clothes, he was watching one mincing lady in her expensive silk pink dress, which by his opinion made her looks like fattened for upcoming holidays pig. 
“Good evening!”
A voice distracted him and he turned his head to the one in front of him. A smile hard to be noticed appeared on his lips. He was waiting for this the entire evening.
There was staying young woman; her golden hair was lifted asymmetrical, not too pretentious and not too simple for such occasion. Her face was pretty, innocent and still showing some power of her mind. She had thicky juicy lips and long lashes, under which were hidden the most beautiful eyes he was ever seen by that moment. Sea blue, painted with many green fibers and warm shining. He almost forgot to check the other part of her, spindle shaped body, dressed like made from spider web delicate dark red dress, sticking so tight to her body that he asked himself how was she able to walk without stumble over. 
Her shoulders were exposed, tender, and white. Black scarf was left to fell from them, wrapped around her arms. She was passed twenty, somehow able to combine feminine and innocence. 
He lifts his eyes from his drink and caused the same effect on her. His eyes had nothing together with the dark worried eyes of the gentlemen offering champagne or a dance to the ladies around, they were blue, grey-blue, and when he lifted his head a little bit more they turned bright, almost sky blue. He bowed to her and immediately his eyes got pearl glare.
The face of that man was unpredictable, with no emotions expressed on it. The entire evening he was standing there alone, staring at the crowd, which was split into small and bigger groups of people, sitting around the tables or stopped to talk. Having fun and dancing at the left part of the hall, where was the dance floor. 
He haven’t moved even once, haven’t shake, haven’t express joy, irritation or interest to the surrounding environment although his eyes haven’t missed even a detail of what was happening there.
His hair was black as tar, long and wrapped on the back of his head, much longer than it was accepted to be worn these days. But not breaking the rules made the young woman come and attract his attention, allowed herself to talk to him first. He left his crystal glass on the bar and took her hand with his pale fingers, bowed and kissed her.
“It’s pleasure to meet you, miss…”
“Elaine”
She smiled, pressing her lips to each other, as if she was embarrassed.
“Elaine Burovska.” 
“I’m Alex” he bowed once again. “How can I help you, Elaine?”
She felt his gaze upon her.
“You were staying all alone the entire evening. It doesn’t look like you are waiting for someone. Or am I wrong?”
Two brave notes in one sentence, he accepted the challenge.
“You are right, miss. I haven’t expected anyone.”
He followed the lines of her fragile figure with his eyes without even trying to hide it.
“Do you mind sharing my company?”
Now he smiled coldly.
“Of course not.”
He took the chair next to him and helped her sit.

The noise from the back of the hall was keep growing, people were drinking and laughing, you could hear people cheering each other, the ring of glasses. Skull with the deer horns was looking at them from the west wall with his empty eyes, like a ghost from the past times.
“Why you prefer to spend your time alone In a bar, full of strangers?” she asked.
“I don’t have to talk with people when I am with people” he said, and obviously she liked the answer. “And you? Are you alone too?”
“Oh” she waved her hand disparagingly, full of sophistication, the same with she would hold cigarettes. “My father is here”.
She nodded at one of the noisiest companies.
“Just if I had to listen one more haggle for arable land, I would forget the propriety and change the champagne with scotch.”
Something shiver inside him, and that thing wanted to squeeze teeth into her naked shoulder, push her on the polished bar and possess her here and now. He could see the same desire in her eyes, but he could not just take her like that. Well, he could, but Alex was mastered this game perfectly, seduction was one of the most fine crimes, and he would play the game tonight.
“Are you from Russia?” he asked. “You speak English so well.”
“You too” she bowed her head and coquet moved her fingers among her collarbone, careless. She was playing with his self control.
But the answer didn’t show she was starting to move under his skin.
“I have to. I travel often.”
“We settled here when I was nineteen, my mother was Russian, she… She died.”
She bowed a sight  and Alex could read sadness into the beautiful lines of her face. He almost wanted to take her into his hands, but he had to remember they were still in the bar, surrounded by people.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, Alex. But shall we not ruining the evening with my sadness. Tell me why are you traveling so often? What are you so busy with?
He smiled. Here the game was about to begin, the one he played very well.
“I write” simply said Alex. “And play, from time to time.”
“Oh, a musician?” she was fascinated. “Would you play something for me?”
“For sure.”

They was running into the pitch-black night, their steps and laughter echoed from the cobblestones, their shadows stretched under the lights of the lanterns, before they turn behind the corner and street got lost into silence again.
“My father will kill me!” said Elaine laughing, hiding her mouth with hand.
“Let him try.”
They were reached the door of his lodging. Huge empty house in one of the side streets leading to the center itself.  He took her in hands and bring her inside.
He go up to the second floor, walking through the dark corridors without having a trouble with the darkness or the way, opened the door of the bedroom and took her in, laying her down on the bed. It was one of those old double beds with wooden columns, hidden by crimson veils. 
He bends forward and crawled over her. She smiled nervously before Alex pressed his lips into her neck and his fingers started impatiently undressing her, he felt his desire was growing.
“Wait, it’s so dark. Can’t you just light some lamp?”
He slapped his palms and the entire floor start shines, covered with hundred candles.
“How did you do that?” she gasped.
“Focus” he said, removed her coat and his black jacket, and then his shirt.
He was watching her observing him, his every move, he released his hair and it spread out, hiding his pale shoulders. It was so long and dark, reminds for the night.
“You are rebellious” Elaine took his face into her hands, he stand above her and took her body, lifting it next to his. “And wild. I even would say you are… Dangerous.”
Cynical smile came on his face, still cold and calm, hardly showing any expression. Despite that his hands took the dress off from her shoulders, his lips followed, biting her skin.
What was happening around this man, she was attracted the way she couldn’t explain. Elaine drop a sigh under the attack of his kisses, there was something close to animal into him, like she was a piece of meat, meant to satisfy his hunger. 
“This… This is so bad. So, so bad!”
“Oh, I can make you a lot of bad things” he said, but not like he was treating her.
Elaine raised her hands and her fingers disappeared into his black hair, he came even closer then.

Candle lights were throwing dancing spots on their bodies wile Alex explored every part of her body with his lips. First were the collarbones, which she used to tempt him t the bar, and he stop ant his favorite place, the neck. It could be because of his nature or something else, but he found it very erotic stimulating woman kissing her there.
And then he turned lower. Making circles around her breasts with his tongue, leaving warm wet trail, and then her nipples, here he allowed himself using his teeth. He liked the way she shakes under him. Moving down to her loins his hand opened her thighs, he could feel how she tightened up.
“For God’s sake, Alex!” she looked at him embarrassed.
“Try again” he said, standing again above her and now used his power to make her lay dawn and pressed her wrists to the bed, just to see the fright into her eyes.
Moving closer between her thighs he moved into her and could feel how her body was twisting from the pleasure. Her lips opened and she was about to scream, but he didn’t allowed her, moving her fingers into her mouth, touching her tongue and palate, his hair was caressing her naked body. 
It was hard to control himself since the very beginning, but now the desire became unbearable. The tension in his wreaths got stronger and turned into burning, his upper lip could no more hide the fangs that came out. Before she could even get scared he bend over her bite her neck, blood immediately came out and two streams rushed to her shoulder. Before reaching the well of her collarbone he took them with his tongue and lead them to his mouth. 
Alex was drinking devouringly, her senses mixed with his. The pain, the fear, the light and joy and passion, and the sadness, the sin, the darkness… he felt all of them into her blood, keeping her into his arms into an unbreakable grip.
And then he moved from her and rise, licking her blood from his lips.
“So that’s what you are” she said, her voice shaking. 
He nodded without a sign of shame. 
“Is that why you took me here?”
She hurried to cover her body, ashamed from her nudity. Now she felt fear, shaken by guilt and pain. She was watching at him, standing in his full dark magnificence, pale, beautiful as a myth for the gods who came on Earth, kidnapping maids. They had such exquisitely sculpted bodies, but also so insidious and dangerous, only one sight needed and you were already under thei devastating influence of their deadly charm.
“Are you…”
She stopped and looked at him.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“Why should I?” he asked. His look caused her shiver down her spine. “You gave me what I wanted.”
“Sex or blood?”
He smiled cynical and again, however irresponsible and insane she felt it, she could swear she was attracted by him.
“You was the most beautiful woman at the bar, and I’ve met my share, trust me.”
He went to the table at the other corner of the room and she could not see him, but a sound like a popping came out. Alex came back with two glasses of red blood wine and gave her one. Elaine took it with shaking hand and drank the most of it at once.
“Is that a part of your plan?”she looked at him and removed the gold curls from her face. “To get me drunk?”
“After dinner I usually drink” he said. At the next moment they both started laughing.
“You know, I noticed something dark in you from the beginning” she started. “And despite of that I came to you.”
He smiled to himself.
“Glad you did it.”
“Where are you going to go now?” 
His sight weigh on her. She was clever, she knew he would never stay once his identity was exposed. 
“Italy Spain, Ireland… Haven’t made any plans.”
“I envy you. For having a chance to travel” added fast, because he look at her almost with frighten. “My mother always wanted to travel, she never could. She wanted so bad to see Venice, Paris, Prague…”
“There’s nothing to see, trust me.” Alex lifted his head and hair throw a shadow on his face. She was trying to guess what he was thinking about, sitting in front of her.
“There are people, buildings, streets…”
“Those things could be beautiful.” Said Elaine, her thin fingers left the glass on the night stand.
“They aren’t.”
Now she clearly saw the sadness, that passed his face, he moved back into the shadow of the veils.
“I’m not traveling, Elaine, I am running. For ones like me there is no place among you.”
He stands and went far from the bed, putting back his trousers on. Then stands near the window she could see only his pale shoulders, moving up and down with every breath.
“But…” she wrapped herself in the sheets and also raised. “You didn’t hurt me. You didn’t kill me. I’ve  heard a tales about about bloodsuckers, how they leave the bodies bloodless, thorn apart, disgraced. Without a mercy! You are not like that…
It needed time before Alex turned, looking at her through darkness, dispelled only by the flickering lights of the candles.
“I belong in shadow, and this world rejects it and the creatures that live in it.”

People thought they were safe in their houses, behind cozily shining windows into the muddy darkness. They could provide them safety against the rain and whirlwinds, but nothing could keep them safe from the vampire, walking among them as a mortal.



 

Thanx for reading and please excuse the mistakes, english is not my mother language. 
Regards.