Dark Good Looks

What are you?

Her mother's gentle knock on the door was a welcome interruption. "Annie," she called softly. "Is everything alright?" Annalise took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "I just had a bad dream," she lied. Her mother's footsteps retreated down the hall, and she knew that the lie had bought her a little more time.

The creaking grew louder, more insistent. Annalise's eyes shot open, and she saw the curtains billowing in the breeze. She sat up slowly, the candle on her nightstand casting eerie shadows across the room. Her heart pounded in her chest, a drumbeat echoing the whispers outside.

The handsome man appeared at her window, his eyes piercing through the darkness. He was tall, with broad shoulders and hair that shimmered in the moonlight. His gaze was magnetic, and Annalise felt a strange, uncontrollable urge to invite him in, as if he were a long-lost friend. But something about his presence filled her with a primal fear, as if the very essence of the shadows had taken human form.

"Annie," the man whispered, his voice a seductive caress. "Let me in, love. I've come to take you away from all this pain." His smile grew wider, almost feral, and his eyes glowed with an eerie green light that seemed to bore into her soul. Annalise's resolve wavered, but she clung to the knowledge that this could not be her father. Her father's eyes had been warm and comforting, not cold and hungry like this creature's.

Her teeth clenched, she forced the words out. "No," she said firmly. "You're not welcome here." The man's smile never faltered, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly malice. "What. Are you?" She continues to force more words out.

The unexplainable handsome man smiles wider. Sharp fangs glimmering in the moonlight.

She knew what he was. Her father told stories of creatures that looked human but fed on blood, vicious, cold monsters. "Vampire" she spits the word out like a curse. His smile only grew wider, the shadows in the room seeming to dance in amusement at her revelation.

"Yes, my beauty. An immortal. Now why don't you let me inside? I could break this window or I could... go through your mother's room." He taunts.

Annalise's blood turns to ice at the thought of this creature near her mother. She gathers all her courage and strength. "You will not harm her!" she says, her voice shaking.

The vampire laughs, a cold, dark sound that sends chills down her spine. "Ah, so protective of your mother, yet so willing to throw your father to the wolves. How charmingly naive you are, Annalise."

"M-my father?" Her hands start to shake. "What did you do to him?" Annalise doesn't even take a moment to think about why or how this monster knows her name.

The vampire's smile widens even more, showing off his sharp fangs. "Your dear father? He's not as lost as you think, my love. In fact, he's quite busy with matters of his own. But I assure you, he's alive and well. For now, anyway." His eyes bore into hers, the malicious glow intensifying.

Annalise clenched her fists, fighting the overwhelming urge to let him in, to believe his lies. But she knew better. The whispers had led her to the truth, and she could not be swayed by the false comfort he offered. "Get away from here," she hissed, her voice strained with the effort of keeping the creature at bay.

"Ahh well, I guess I'll just have to let myself in. Too bad poor mommy might hear" the vampire tilts his head. Pushing the window upwards harder, the wood Annalise was using as a stop begins to creak louder, close to giving out under the pressure.

Annalise's eyes widen in horror. Without another word, she jumps from the bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor. She grabs the first thing she sees, a heavy, dusty book from her shelf, and swings it with all her might at the vampire's face.

The swing doesn't phase him. Annalise is in reach of him now, the vampire grabs her wrist firmly. And it feels like a cement block is around her wrist. She's stuck in place with nothing to do but let him in.

"Only if you promise not to bite me." She whispers

The vampire chuckles amused. "Fine. I'll play. I promise I won't bite you" he says, his grip loosening slightly. Annalise's heart races as she tries to think of a plan. But she knows she'd be putting her mother and brother in danger if she does anything else. So she removes the wood that was keeping the window from being opened further and steps back.

The vampire glides into the room, his movements graceful and unnerving. He takes a deep inhale, his eyes closing in pleasure as if he's breathing in her fear. "Thank you for the warm welcome. It's been so long since I've had some fun." He sits down on her mattress. "I am Prince Xander of the Sterling family. I've been watching your village for quite some time." He says dramatically. "And you are?" He tilts his head, and suddenly lets out a hearty laugh.

"I'm Annalise. Daughter of the village's protector, the man you've taken." She says with a tremor in her voice. She tries to keep her voice steady but the fear is clear.

"I've taken no man." He gasps dramatically, "we do not hunt in this area" He says. Annalise takes this opportunity to pull away from his reach, backing up until her back hits the wall.

"But your kind does!" She stammers. "My father has been gone for weeks!"

"As I've said, I've taken no one. I cannot speak for everyone in the kingdom. But, maybe if you come with me, we could find him. He had been on business in my city and he disappeared before we were finished." Xander frowns.

Annalise is weary of this offer.

"What would you want from me?" She asks, her voice shaking slightly.

"Well we can speak of such things after we decide what happens next." he smiles softly.

The whispers grew in Annalise's mind, a cacophony of doubt and fear. Yet, she couldn't ignore the desperation in her heart to find her father. "How can I trust you?"

Xander sighs "Oh what must I do to gain your trust love?" He places his hands on his thighs. She didn't notice before how Xander was in a loose button up and tight slacks. Her eyes lingering on his chest for just a moment before shaking whatever feelings she had coming up away.

"Look I need your help. Your village's whispers are growing too loud for my kind to ignore. We need someone to silence them, to keep our existence hidden. In return, I shall help you find your father, I assure you I know nothing of his whereabouts but I can guide you to places and people who may have seen him. I have my resources, as you do with your book." He says, his voice soothing.

Annalise's eyes widen at the comment on the book, "How did you..?" She doesn't finish her sentence.

"How did I know? I have my ways." Xander smirks. "But you're next in line for protector and without your father the lines between the worlds are failing. But then again, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have a deal?" He extends his hand out to her.

Annalise wearily puts her hand in his. "Deal." She says, her voice trembling.

Xander's smile widens, "Wonderful. Now, let's get you dressed for the journey. I don't think your nightgown will suffice for what we're about to encounter in the woods at night." He stands up and heads towards her dresser. Pulling out some pants and a shirt that look like they fit her well. He comes over and lays them on the bed. "Oh and I'd pack some food if I were you. I don't stop for anything."

He says with a wink.

Annalise nods, swallowing her fear. She dresses quickly, the warmth of the fire in the hearth offering her a semblance of comfort. As she pulls on her boots, she glances at the book suddenly on her bed. She stands shocked for a moment before continuing.

The whispers that had been so reassuring before now seemed like a warning, a siren's call that had led her into the arms of a monster. But she had no choice. Her father's fate was tangled in the threads of this creature's words, and she had to follow them, no matter how treacherous the path.

Annalise shoves the book deep into her bag. Thinking about how she's about to leave everyone behind.

"Johnny." She whispers his name as if calling a ghost. She knew she had to tell him, he had to be aware of what was happening. But she knew the danger that came with telling him. So she wouldn't put him in that danger. Vampires were just a scary story to him still. Not reality like it now was for her.

With trembling hands she scribbled a quick note. "Johnny. Don't look for me. Stay safe. I will keep the book hidden. I'll find dad and what's going on with the farms. -A" She knew he'd understand, she hoped.

The vampire, Xander, was waiting for her outside her room. He had been so quiet she had almost forgotten he was there. He offered his arm as if they were going to a ball. "Ready for your grand adventure, little protector?" He smirks.

Annalisa nodded taking a deep breath trying to calm her racing heart. "Let's go." She whispers. "You have a lot to tell me..."