Tales Of Mython Collection

Chapter 6

The weeks flew by and, to both his pleasure and distress, Conrad found himself studying alongside Ashley for many of his lectures. Those not with her seemed to, by some fortune, have either Jack or Tess in attendance, and so he had quickly found himself welcomed into their small group. A blessing and a curse. His infatuation had not passed as he hoped. If anything, her grasp on him increased as she became a shadow in his every thought, always present, haunting him.

Seeing Ashley each day was sweet torture. Every time her witch eyes locked on him he lost a little of his resolve to stay hidden. To his frustration, he adored her, everything about her from her messy rusty locks to the way she always found a smile. She worked hard and most days seemed on the verge of being burnt out, and yet she never once complained. She was everything his old friends were not, and part of him wondered if she would be able to accept him as easily as she did everyone else. He banished the thought as soon as it surfaced.

A silky voice beckoned him as he stepped from the faculty lounge, where he had once again refused Adele’s suggestion that he should consider changing his discipline. Everyone, in this academy and his last, thought he should follow in his mother’s footsteps, but that was not the future he wanted. He knew what he wanted—an image of Ashley surfaced in his mind—“No,” he growled almost silently before turning to see who had called him.

“A group of us are getting together at Michaela’s house tonight, will you come?” The brunette knew she was attractive; whether it was the nymph in her or just her own confidence, he couldn’t tell. But Conrad knew her type. She belonged to the popular cliques, just as he had in his last academy. He had been just like them, confident, outgoing, and always engaged in one activity or another, that was, until Rei had turned everyone against him. What had happened to her hadn’t been his fault, he’d had no part in it.

“So are you coming? I can send the invite through the—”

“Can’t. Sorry, excuse me.” He hurried past, head down. It was not the first invite he’d had to one of the social events; in fact, they seemed to come in an endless stream. No one seemed to realise he preferred his current companions, the genuine kindness. He would not repeat his past mistakes. His old friends had been popular, too, part of the clique everyone craved to be in. Friendship didn’t matter there, not really, or his childhood friends would not have turned on him so readily. Something had altered in him the day he saw their once-friendly expressions marred by hatred.

He had always been proud of what he was—proud of their heritage, their calling—but her words had cut deep and were echoed on everyone’s lips. He was a monster, an abomination, disgusting, unlovable. He had trusted Rei so completely. Yet she destroyed him, and he had never quite found balance since. It was one of the reasons he was finding his growing attraction to Ashley so distressing. She haunted his thoughts, rekindled everything within him he thought he’d lost. He felt whole, complete, at ease whenever she was near and such a pull terrified him. She was human, it could never be, and even if there was a way, he couldn’t face such rejection again, not from the person who had possessed his heart with a single glance, from someone who felt like home. To see her look upon him as Rei had, as his friends had, would be his undoing.

In a country where preternaturals were accepted without question, he wondered why what he was earned so much ire amongst his so-called friends. He had sworn never again. Never again would he reveal himself to another, never again would he be judged in this way. He could still see the fear in the eyes of those he had called friends before they turned on him. The popular crowds were fickle. This time, he would make certain he could truly trust the people he chose to associate with and even then, he would never show them his other-self.

He sped into the lecture room, not quite as early as he’d intended. His face brightened as he saw his friends deep in conversation, and the pang of disappointment on discovering Ashley wasn’t amongst them was buried before it could be noticed. Even he tried to ignore it.

As he pulled his seat around to sit opposite them, his gaze flickered to the corner as his hackles rose and he recognised the heavy aura belonging to the vampires. They were part of the reason his mother had moved here. Not this group per se, but she had uncovered something interesting about this locale. Of all the country, this one territory had the lowest reported numbers of non-consenting preternaturals and PB affliction statistics, with the highest rate of missing persons.

His mother was investigating if there was any correlation, while his father, a renowned Blue Coat, looked into the missing persons. The call of the deceased had been loud, impossible to resist. His parents had agreed to share information given that the chances were, with such combined statistics, there was a dark angel at work putting those suffering from unwanted transitions out of their misery. Together, they were certain to find an answer. His parents made a formidable team. His smile faltered as he caught the tail end of Jack’s sentence before his words stilled mid-word, as if not wishing to share his conversation. Normally, he would have pleaded ignorance, but the topic intrigued him.

“Counter-vampirism?” he echoed in a whisper. Jack clasped his hand across his mouth, his eyes darting to Tess as if to question how much he could have overheard. “How could you hope to accomplish such a thing?”

“We were speaking hypothetically,” Tess interjected, casting a berating look towards her friend. Conrad was part of their group, but there was still a lot about his friends he didn’t know.

“Of hypothetically contaminating water?” Conrad pressed.

“If there was a cure, would this not be the best delivery method?” Tess proposed. “It was discussed in Jack’s ethics and philosophy class today. You can’t think we were serious.”

“I suppose, but—” Conrad began, shedding his thin jacket to reveal one of his almost sculpted short-sleeved t-shirts.

“How are you not cold?” Jack questioned, smoothly changing the topic, pulling his own jacket tighter as if to emphasise his point.

“Hot-blooded, I guess.” As he answered, a warm sensation enveloped him, its familiarity now more like a soft embrace than the discomfort he had once felt. Raising his vision towards the door he felt the smile illuminating his features as he watched Ashley skilfully balance two trays, while using her elbow to push the door wider. Just as he moved to help, a female student rose, holding the door and earning herself a smile he wished he’d been the recipient of.

As usual, the tray contained a number of hot drinks which she distributed to the small group in attendance. In the few months he had been here, Conrad had quickly realised this was a ritual that not only he looked forward to, even the lecturer enjoyed this regular treat courtesy of their student. Ashley made the best hot chocolate he had tasted, and everyone seemed to agree as they thanked her for their boon.

“Why is it that the school cafeteria allows you to use their supplies?” Conrad questioned, eyeing the metal cups suspiciously. It was a thought that had been playing on his mind, but he had never thought to ask. He placed it to his lips, breathing in its scent before taking his first sip.

“My supplies, their utensils,” she corrected, with a playful wave of her finger.

“Have you not noticed that she doesn’t leave with the rest of us?” Jack commented, as Ashley took her seat beside Tess after depositing the final cup in the place where the lecturer would stand. “She stays behind after hours to help clean in exchange for use of the kitchen.”

“You really can’t be trusted with secrets, can you?” Ashley sighed, turning her reflective eyes towards the ceiling. Conrad had seen first-hand how they altered slightly in shade depending on her mood. The light shade they adopted now suggested she was more amused than annoyed. “Until I can replace my cooker, it’s helping me out more than them. Besides, it saves me waiting around for my shift, and everyone is feeling the recent strain of absences.” Ashley lifted her cup, not quite managing to disguise her yawn. He felt his lips twitch, thinking the fact she had tried was adorable.

reallyAs they settled down to the lecture, Conrad felt his vision being drawn towards the vampires. They were eyeing him with an all-too-familiar contempt; their kind were often wary of his. Then again, this group seemed to show the same kind of animosity towards the few other preternatural beings in attendance. Oddly, he thought, they didn’t appear to hold any contempt towards Ashley. They even graced her with a smile as they accepted their drinks. Then again, although part of him wanted to believe she was something more than human, he wasn’t sure if she was anything more than enchanting, and their lack of reaction served only to confirm what his senses told him. She was human, normal—except for those witch eyes, he added to himself.

except for those witch eyes, “You can tell, can’t you?” Ashley whispered, nudging him lightly with her elbow. He hadn’t realised he’d been staring. In his last academy he had always had to be alert, especially around preternaturals more prone towards violence. One of the young men blew him a kiss, causing a fit of chuckles from his friends. “How?”

“Maybe the same way you can?” he ventured, quirking an eyebrow in the hope to tease some information from her. He hadn’t missed the way her eyes altered when she recognised someone who wasn’t human. There was no judgement, no prejudice, just recognition. He wondered how a human could sense something so intricate. Most preternaturals were aware of others, but identifying the species was something few could do, and a trait he was thankful for.

“Hey, Ash,” Tess interrupted. “Dad got some comp tickets to the movies, wanna come?”

“That would be amazing.” Tapping on her phone, she brought up her shift rota. “How’s tomorrow? I have the day off.”

“Lies,” Jack hissed, comically feigning heart pain.

“You know I never work spring equilux,” she said, and there was something in the way her vision shifted to her drink that he couldn’t quite place.

“Equilux? I never pegged you as superstitious,” Conrad said, glancing at the date on his watch, double-checking it. With so much happening over the last few months, he had missed the approach of the Spring Equinox. It had slipped his mind completely until she reminded him that the time of equal night and day was almost upon them. He glanced at her again. Few humans attached any relevance to the genuine time of equality. Most didn’t even realise the equinox was not it.

“Are we going back your place after?” Jack posed. “Sleepover?”

“Of course! Don’t we always?” She glanced towards Conrad, as if weighing her thoughts. “You’re welcome to join us if you don’t mind the couch.”

Conrad wasn’t sure what movie they had just watched. Sitting beside Ashley had been his first mistake. The scent of her hair had tormented him, the sweet honey aroma more appetising than any of the snacks they had purchased. He had never seen her with her hair down or straightened before. The way it cascaded down her back like a waterfall of liquid fire, shimmering in the light of the film, begged him to reach out and touch its silky texture. While her gaze remained transfixed on the screen, her expressions altered with whatever occurred, her emotions on display, unfiltered for all to see.

Occasionally, she would turn towards him, giving him the most brilliant smile, often as his fingers brushed hers within the popcorn bucket he had brought for her. The way she glanced at him made him want to shuffle closer and execute one of those clichéd moves from the old-fashioned films, allowing him to embrace her.

He had almost done it, but every time he worked up the courage he reminded himself of his past. If he were to hold her, he knew he would want more, need more. To try to change their friendship would be to risk himself again. The part telling him it was worth the chance just to feel her lips upon his, to explore the ever-present tether, was growing louder, more difficult to ignore. But even with the best intentions, his very nature meant they could never be together. His love would consume her.

“So, what is it about the equilux that sees Miss Workaholic take a day off?” Conrad broached, breaking his thoughts away from the torturous adoration as he fell into step beside Tess to filter into the foyer. He turned to Ashley, noticing her steps had frozen as her eyes caught a glimpse of a stranger across the foyer.

Something akin to reluctance seemed to flash across her features, gone in the blink of an eye to be replaced by an empty smile, lacking its normal warmth. Conrad studied the figure for a moment. Vampire, his senses warned, typically handsome, with dark curls fell to his shoulders, emphasising his jawline. His eyes held something like longing as he looked towards them, towards Ashley, he realised.

“Taking a bet?” Jack interrupted. Ashley glanced around before nodding and disappearing amidst the crowd.

“What? Did I miss something?” Conrad glanced around, his vision panning the surroundings until his sight rested on her warm aura. He froze, his heart lurching as she saw her grasp the back of the vampire’s head, pulling him down into a sensual kiss.

In that instant, it was as if his world turned to grey. He watched as the figure’s arms wrapped around her possessively, his slender fingers threading themselves in her hair in the same way he had longed to. He glanced away, a hand to his chest as he struggled to breathe and kept his vision anywhere but there as the seconds seems to stretch into hours. “Bathroom?” he questioned weakly, as his wandering gaze encountered Tess, earning him a curious look.

“Just over there.” She gestured towards an alcove to the left of the stairs that led down from the screens they had just exited.

“Thanks.” His legs could barely move him quickly enough through the crowd. The door swung shut with silent swish. Breathlessly, he placed his hands in the sink, breathing deeply before scooping his palms beneath the tap, trying to wash away the disappointment he knew he had no right to feel with the ice-cold water.

He had spent so much time with the small group that he had failed to consider Ashley might have a boyfriend. The realisation struck him harder than he had expected. It should have been a relief that she was taken, now he had another reason to deny what his soul cried for. A reason not to ask if she would consider sharing dessert again one evening, alone—an invitation that had been on the tip of his tongue more times than he could count.

It was a blessing she worked so much that the opportunity had never arisen, that she was in another’s arms. It would save him the hurt that was sure to follow this detestable infatuation. This was what he told himself, yet the pain of seeing her in arms that weren’t his felt far worse than any past betrayal.

He thought he had settled for admiring her, for refusing the yearnings and protecting himself, but the image of her kissing that vampire plagued him. Why did his heart and his other-self keep insisting they could make it work despite the fact she was only human? He felt as if he lived in a state of constant contradiction, needing her so desperately he would risk anything, while needing to protect himself from the rejection that was sure to follow. Massaging his chest slightly, he tried to return his breathing to normal.

He should be happy, relieved.

So why did he feel that the very breath had been stolen from his lungs? He glared at himself in the tarnished mirror, startling as he realised he was not alone.

“You okay?” Jack stood watching him, a look of genuine concern etched deeply into his brow.

“Yeah, just a little light-headed. I think the heat in there got to me.” Conrad dipped his hands in the water again, allowing its freshness to wash over him as he attempted to gather himself and guard his treacherous emotions.

“Tell me about it. I know it’s still officially winter for a few days yet, but it was like a sauna.” Jack fanned himself, blowing out an uncomfortable breath before coming to stand with him beside the sink.

“So, is Ashley’s boyfriend coming tonight?” he ventured, using the paper towel to cover the disappointment he knew was visible.

“Sorry?”

“The guy she was with a moment ago.”

As a look of realisation crossed Jack’s face, Conrad realised, in that moment, that his friend had seen right through him. Perhaps it was the slight tremble in his voice that had given him away, or the telling look he hadn’t managed to conceal.

“Oh, you…” He glanced towards the door, as if his vision could penetrate the barrier to focus upon their friend.

“Please don’t say anything.” His voice came out a near silent plea.

Jack pushed a hand through his hair, flustered, fidgeting slightly as his gaze turned to meet Conrad’s directly. “Look, Ashley… well, it’s… complicated.”

“What about her isn’t?” He forced a smile. If there was one word he could have used to sum her up, that would have been it, if only for the reason that she made him feel so confused. She was his complication, one he couldn’t seem to work past.

“You’re still coming back with us, right?” Jack must have sensed his hesitation, his discomfort.

“I—”

“Please. There"re some things she needs to tell you, important things that have no place beyond our circle. Just give her—”

“Jack, Conrad, you guys in there?” Tess’s panicked voice echoed alongside the pounding on the door. “Jack, get out here now. Ash collapsed!”

Conrad’s heart began to pound. His feet seemed frozen in place, but all he wanted to do was to run to her.

“Shit.” Jack glanced towards Conrad. “I gotta—” he gestured towards the door. “Damn it,” he cursed, dashing from the bathroom. It was a few moments before he could follow, and he froze again as he saw her, his beautiful source of anguish. She sat upon the vibrant carpet, her skin deathly pale, her gaze fixed blankly ahead while Tess fussed around her, stroking her hair, speaking softly while Jack attempted to dispel the crowd.

“It’s okay, she’s my sister,” Jack announced, his arms waving as if to shoo everyone away. “Diabetic. She’ll be fine.” He tossed his keys to Tess. “Grab the car,” he commanded, before moving to sit beside Ashley. He broke off a piece of chocolate from a bar stashed within his coat pocket before placing it in her hands and guiding it towards her lips. “Come on, sis,” he almost growled as Ashley sat there looking dazed. When she didn’t respond, he passed a hand through his light-brown hair quickly, his glare enough to dispel the remaining people who were still lingering, whispering. Red lights illuminated the outside of the cinema. Before Conrad had time to register what he was doing, Ashley was cradled in his arms.

sis“I’ll carry her to the car,” he said, before any objections could be voiced. His stomach churned as she nuzzled her head against his chest. He frowned as Jack held the door. There was a little too much familiarity with her friends’ actions to sit well with him, and the story they had just woven was an obvious lie. The question was, why. Why would they leave her in this state when the best place for her would be in hospital, being checked over? People didn’t just collapse for no good reason.

He glanced around, questioning why her boyfriend had abandoned her, a protective annoyance creeping over him as he wondered if his sudden disappearance was because he was to blame. He pushed the thought of him away—the image of her locked in his embrace—as her warmth against his chest caused his own temperature to rise. It was then, as she lay helpless in his arms, he heard a whispered warning as clear as if it had been in his ear. ‘Mine.’ He paused, hoping the voice had only been within his mind and not escaping his lips.

‘Mine.’ Jack grabbed the door, ushering them quickly into his car. Conrad glanced behind them, expecting to see her boyfriend make another appearance, but was more than a little relieved when he didn’t. Although such a realisation sent him into turmoil. How could someone just slink into the shadows, leaving the person they cared for to fend for themselves? Even if he was a psychic vampire, if he had taken too much—losing himself in the moment as was so easy to do in her presence—it was his responsibility to make sure she was safe.

That had to be it, he had to be the reason her friends knew what to do, why they seemed so well-versed and unfazed. It was far from the first time this had happened. It could even explain his absence. If he were to be caught causing such damage, the P.T.F or Blue Coats would need to step in.

“Ash, you with us?” Tess called back over her shoulder. When she didn’t respond, Jack opened the glove compartment of the car, rummaging through before pulling out a small tube.

“Get her to drink this.” He tossed it back to Conrad, who pulled at the tab, placing the liquid to her lips. She seemed to suckle instinctively, swallowing the sugary gel.

“What was that back there?” Conrad asked, squeezing the remaining fluid into Ashley’s mouth before glancing at the label—isotonic energy gel—a quick way to replenish energy. He was liking this less and less. “I’ve seen her eat. No way this is diabetes. Is it something to do with that vampire back there?” He failed to hide the bite in his voice, but hoped, by proving he already knew what her boyfriend was, it would encourage them to be honest with him.

wasvampire “Yes. But now’s not the time,” Tess called back.

“Clearly you’re too familiar with this. Don’t you see he could be doing lasting damage? Why won’t you let someone look at her? Report him? Something?” Suddenly, her constant exhaustion made sense. She wasn’t just overworked. Her boyfriend was slowly killing her and for some reason everyone was turning a blind eye.

“Trust me, hospital is the last place she wants to be, especially tonight,” Jack added, seeming to angle himself towards Conrad in an attempt to stop his foot pressing on the imaginary brake.

“What’s tonight?”

“The worst day ever, twice,” Ashley whispered, blinking slowly as her confusion seemed to wane. Conrad wondered what she meant, putting it down to the lingering confusion. “How bad?” she croaked, her hand moving slowly to squeeze Conrad’s leg in what he thought was intended as a comforting gesture. “Sorry,” she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.

“Small crowd, no familiar faces.”

Ashley nodded, relief seeming to transform her tired face from worry to relaxation. She closed her eyes, shuffling slightly to lean her head on Conrad’s shoulder.

“I owe you an explanation… but can we leave it for tonight and just watch some movies and order pizza?”

“One condition,” Conrad whispered, lifting his arm so she could rest more comfortably. “The takeaway’s on me.” He looked at his arm cradled around her, wondering why he was doing this to himself… why he was savouring this moment of closeness and the soft fragrance of her hair, while knowing it could never be. He relished the feeling of her warmth against him as her breathing slowed and allowed his own head to fall back to gaze towards the car’s roof despairingly.

She would be his undoing, of this he was certain.

Refusing movie night had left Will with a hollow pit in his stomach. It had pained him almost as much as discovering Conrad had been invited. Every year they would make plans the day before, not daring to broach the topic any sooner. It was a difficult night for Ashley, one she hated to spend alone. This one night they always had a sleepover, watched movies, cooked disastrous foods, and ordered takeaway. Anything to ensure the night was a good one. It was a painful anniversary for more reasons than one. Not only had it been the day she became an orphan but, by some cruel fate, many years later it was also the night the accident had happened.

Ashley had stepped away from the car only moments before the collision occurred, propelling the vehicle down the small embankment. The driver had sped away, not caring for the devastation he had left in his wake.

Will knew she still had nightmares, although not as frequently as before. She had survived only with minor scratches caused by the debris from the initial collision and, despite her phobia of hospitals, she had stayed by her parents’ bedside, but after weeks of false hope, they had both succumbed to their injuries. The doctors had said the burns had been too severe for beings of their nature to survive. The accident had been a tragedy, but, if he were honest with himself, it had also been the excuse he had needed to insert himself into her life. They shared a pain, one of loss.

His level of understanding had been something neither Jack nor Tess could offer, despite their age-old friendship. He knew she still blamed herself, and had suffered with survivor’s guilt for years. It was their common ground, the one thing they talked about alone. Their secret.

This time every year, when night and day were in equal measure, she would surround herself with those she loved and, in her own way, both celebrate and mourn the lives of those she had lost. It was a night she never wanted to spend alone, and one he could never imagine not been a part of. There was nothing that could have kept him away, except for this.

Tonight, as much as he wanted to join in, to find joy within her presence, he couldn’t. He was in trouble, and the less time he spent in their company at the moment, the better. Slowly, he had been pulling away, watching his friends from afar, knowing the ones he owed money to watched him for signs of any weakness they could exploit. He had not quite scraped together enough for the payment this month, and now he had to repay them in other ways.

Often vampires were known to bleed someone owing such a small amount. He was short of less than the price of a meal, but because he had been using the Taphouse to supplement the payments, he was, literally, tapped-out, a phrase they assigned to regular donors who couldn’t safely give again until their blood count rose.

Given his abilities, he replenished quicker than most, but the test still showed he was not suitable. So he had to do something far more excessive. It was his first warning. If he defaulted again, things would only escalate and people he loved could be hurt.

His entire body trembled as he held the coarse metal key in his grasp. It still showed the rough edges from the less than perfect mould it had been cast from. Not for the first time, he was grateful for the glamour charm. If the apparently disabled cameras did detect him sneaking into the faculty head’s office, they would find no trace of the person existing before tonight.

The metal rattled from the force of his trembling fingers as he inserted the key into the lock, turning it with more ease than expected. Quietly, he crept to the desk, his heart pounding as he fumbled through the room from memory. The academy was submerged in darkness, only the occasional flicker of torches from the outside patrols breaking the unnerving blanket.

He ducked behind the desk, expecting, like happened in so many movies, for a guard to happen past the door, shine the torch within and investigate further. It didn’t happen. He connected the small device the vampires had given him to the faculty data storage device. The tiny, blinking red light was almost undetectable, yet to him it felt like a beacon announcing his presence.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly and he focused on his surroundings in an attempt to distract himself. The sickly odour of smoothies brought his focus to the small bin that hadn’t yet been emptied, another complication he hoped had been taken into account. When the blinking light finally turned green, he snatched the magnetic device away, securing the door behind him, leaving no trace he was ever there. Or at least he hoped this was true.

He sped to the agreed meeting point, shedding his glamour as he pulled off the black sweatshirt. Any who saw his change would have thought it nothing more than a trick of the light; after all, a face and hair colour didn’t change when someone pulled a jumper over their head.

The vampires had chosen his regular Taphouse near the cinema for the exchange. He opted to donate here because it was one of the calmer locations he had visited. The interior was maintained to a high standard. Low level lighting, easy on the eyes, flickered almost like candlelight from large chandeliers and mounted sconces.

The aroma of delicious, if not slightly undercooked, meats wafted around with the mingling of the patrons. Food was served here from opening until closing, with their more favoured vices available to order. The menu changed daily depending on shipments and who came in to donate. Everything from blood to magical essence could be consumed here, but such treats were handled solely as a dessert.

The night was young, and the Taphouse had only been open for around an hour, meaning the customers were few in number. Everyone knew the interesting desserts never arrived until after ten. His eyes wandered the expensive wooden furniture, padded with luxurious fabrics and cushions.

Seeing an open booth far from the regular path of foot traffic, he slid in, placing a card upon the table as he had been instructed. Apparently, this was to ensure his safety until Devon arrived. A human this side of the Taphouse was usually something of a hustler, seeking to peddle their wares without the safety and commission of the Taphouse.

As he sat waiting, he saw a familiar black car pull alongside the cinema’s exit. His skin bristled as Conrad emerged, carrying Ashley in his arms. Something was wrong. For the last few years, he knew she had been suffering from dizzy spells and fainting, but never had he seen her unable to walk. The thought of her being so close to Conrad made him seethe. If anyone should be holding her it should be him, not some stranger who followed her around like a lovesick puppy.

Why she never sought help for her condition was beyond him. Perhaps she assumed that whatever it was would cost her her job. For a long time, he had intended to heal her, confess about his gift and lift the curse from her.

He had played the scenario over in his mind so many times. It was at this point that she would notice him, look at him the way he’d seen her look at Conrad. He’d been waiting for the right moment, a time when she was in desperate need and he could be her knight, offering her salvation through his touch and earning her affections. He snarled at the thought of her within Conrad’s embrace. It should be him there, holding her, comforting her. But since he had come to their academy, everything had changed.

heWill had been working so hard to get Ashley to see him that it bordered on insulting that she seemed too intent on analysing everyone else to notice him. That would end now. Tonight, he would take her from Conrad’s arms and be her saviour. He rose to his feet in determination, but a firm hand seized his shoulder, shoving him down.

“Going somewhere?” the dark voice questioned.

Fumbling for a reason, Will glanced around. “Thought you were a no-show.”

“As if. You got it?” Devon asked, a sneer twisting his lips as he ran a hand through his light-brown hair.

“Yes.” He revealed the small device in his hand, loading the debt tally on his own device, where Devon pressed his thumb to strike the latest payment as complete.

“Now there’s a matter of interest.” He could see the vampire’s hunger as he slid in beside him. “Don’t worry, I know you’re Tapped-out, but if I let you go without at least a taste, it would reflect badly on our arrangement.”

“I thought my job covered it.”

“It did, but our contract says if you default, I must take at least a portion of the outstanding dues in blood. Don’t worry, I’ve no plans to turn you. After all, your blood is too good to pass.” Will felt alarm fill him. “Oh yes, I’ve been here when you were letting, you’ve a taste of magic in those veins. We don’t have many MI letters these days. Worth a lot. I hope you’re getting well compensated.”

Will heard himself gasp as Devon’s tongue extended, the leech-like sucker piercing his flesh as the three jaw plates within closed. It was more shock than pain that caused his reaction, but he could see it had pleased the vampire.

The tongue released him, allowing the blood to flow freely into the awaiting mouth as Devon nuzzled and suckled at his wrist. There were three kinds of vampires he knew of, Will reminded himself, trying to focus on something other than what was happening. There were the ones with fangs, the ones whose tongues pierced the flesh, and psychic vampires, who fed on a person’s energy rather than their blood.

Those from the blood-sucking clans released an anaesthetic and sometimes an anticoagulant, too, depending on how long they planned to feed for. It was said the different types evolved in this manner due to environmental differences. He tried to think of their names to keep himself focused as the room began to sway around him.

For a moment, his vision fixed upon the grey-coloured text upon the menu, triggering images of Ashley’s smoky eyes. Thoughts of her gave him strength to hold on to his consciousness. He imagined her expressive gaze turning towards him as she smiled, welcoming him into her embrace.

Just as her image began to fade and a cold darkness took root, he felt the pressure upon his wrist ease. “All settled, until next month. By the way, if you want to skip the middleman, I’ll give you a good price to bleed for me. Think it over. You know how to reach me.”

As Devon left, Will let his head fall back against the soft, padded seat, all too aware of the danger of being caught on this side of the bar now Devon had removed the card. Blood-letting was very strict in order to protect clients and donors. They were assigned a number which rated their blood attributes in type, properties, and purities. He was MA+MI60, where MI stood for magic innate, meaning his blood had magic in it, and its overall purity was 60%.

It was rare to find anyone with a score higher than 60%. Even virgins only pushed the balance up to 70%, although they were said to taste purer than their stats, thus were gifted with a V at the end of their statistic. Then there was his Letting ID for people who favoured a certain person; this was like a brand, used to identify regulars since the properties could change depending on the donor’s diet and health.

“You need to leave,” whispered a voice. Its soft, honeyed tones were familiar. It took a moment for him to place its owner as Whitney, one of the servers who was assigned to remove the syphons—the leech-like creatures that harvested blood—from their donors and deliver them to the appropriate customers. She slid into the booth beside him, her hand carefully stroking his arm as she looked upon him with concern.

She always seemed to have a radiant smile, no doubt from the many hours she spent practising for the patrons. “Sitting here is an invitation for others. Come on.” He felt her arm supporting him as she led him towards the back. His balance faltered, causing him to stumble, almost pulling them both from their feet. “I’ll get you something to eat and drink. Devon’s bad news, better if you steer clear from personal dealings. He’s not one to play by the rules.” She sat him in one of the many empty donor booths, fussing around him and repositioning the cushions until he was comfortable.

His eyelids flickered closed for a moment, his heavy limbs unwilling to respond to even the simplest command. He had not heard Whitney leave, so when she shook him gently to place the sweet drink and snacks on the small, swinging side-table, it caused him to startle. The glass cup steamed, its fragrance of honey and chocolate causing a small amount of saliva to pool in his dry mouth. He struggled to straighten himself as she unclipped the table, swivelling it until it rested before him. “You can stay here until you’re recovered. You know the drill. Don’t disturb the donors. I’ll be about, just don’t leave until you’re ready.”

“What do I owe you for this?” he asked, his weary arms extending towards the glass.

“This one’s on me, as long as you promise not to make a habit of what you did tonight.”

“Deal.” She seemed to eye him critically as he agreed to her demands. Obviously seeing that he was earnest, she gave a curt nod before returning to her work.

As promised, she left the door open, and Will allowed himself to sink deeper into the soft cushions, enjoying the way they supported his weight so perfectly. These booths were made for comfort; after all, a donor could be here for hours. The thick glass separating them from each other was a measure to ensure they felt safe, and whilst they were kept separate during donations, they never felt truly alone.

Entertainment was provided and was displayed on one of the glass partitions near the door, where the opacity of the glass altered to allow it to become a monitor. A donor could also register for chat and either type or talk to other willing participants. While they were in isolation, they were never alone, and seeing others offered a feeling of security to everyone.

He glanced towards the booth next to him, seeing a young man with several syphons on his arm. Syphons had been specially bred to draw an exact measure of blood from their designated host, and they tasted delicious, much like the sugar shell of a rich, expensive chocolate, and they were served on a platter and eaten like candies.

Feeling a little steadier, he slowly rearranged his energy in order to replenish his reserves and stop the fading in and out sensation of his vision. As soon as he was able, he would leave. He knew better than to loiter here longer than necessary. He sighed in frustration, knowing that in his current state, there was no way he would darken Ashley’s door, it would invite too many questions and bring a serious tone to what she needed to be a pleasant evening.