Condemned

Day of the Damned

Daniel’s POV: 

           Gloomy grey skies loomed overhead. The clouds providing much needed shelter from the typically offending sun. The morning was cold. Even colder than it should have been in New York, mid October. Not that I really would have noticed had it not been for the goosebumps that suddenly broke out across Elise’s arms as she scurried down the busy sidewalk. The cold didn’t bother my kind. But i was, as usual, hyper aware of how it, or anything affected Elise. She pulled her white wool scarf up to fend off the chill and glanced over her shoulder. She was anxious. If she had been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of me today she would undoubtedly recognize me. The magic of the marking would have all but worn off by now. Long gone was the amnesia that came along with it. I sighed to myself, knowing that wouldn’t happen. She was mortal after all and no match for my heightened senses.        

      She stopped at a table manned by a younger woman. Handed her, what I could only assume was money and politely accepted a rose in return. I was far enough behind that I didn’t have to stop, only slow my already excruciatingly slow stroll. Their exchange was brief and then Elise kept moving. As I approached the table the woman jumped out at me. I hadn’t been expecting that. She looked up into my eyes and froze. The smile melted from her face as her human senses suddenly registered the potential danger. She pulled away, and blinked. Shaking off the feeling she smiled again. “Good afternoon sir! Can I interest you in a rose? A bouquet?”        

        “No, thank you.” I scoffed moving past her as quickly as I could mimicking human movements. The woman and I both turned and looked in the same direction. My gaze frantically searching the crowd for Elise. I could still smell her. I looked down, confused, and followed the woman’s eyes to the corner of a building. Elise stood behind the corner of a brick wall watching our exchange. Our eyes met. Anger flashed through me. She had planned this. A laugh erupted from my throat. She had planned this, I thought again. She somehow knew that I had been following her. That was new. I would have to be more careful next time. She was getting more cleaver. She smiled at me triumphantly and then turned and ran down the street. God, I missed that smile. She wouldn’t smile at me tonight. 

                                                                                         **** 

            The moon hovered overhead. The night had cleared up considerably since this afternoon. I waited in the alley beside Elise’s apartment. I could smell Victor in the air. He’d been hovering all night. My lips pulled back in an instinctive snarl exposing my teeth, just as Victor finally came into view. His platinum hair was styled in a wave and clashed with his equally porcelain skin.         “Good evening, Daniel.” Victor stated with a smile. “It is a beautiful night, isn’t it?” He took a deep breath and spun around. “Goodness, she smells marvelous tonight, doesn’t she?.” My fists balled, but I straightened in my stance. I wouldn’t let him rattle me.        

        “What are you doing here?” I asked as calmly as I could, knowing full well that he intended to mark Elise, should my resolve falter. “She’s getting easier to find.” He hummed, looking over his perfectly manicured hands, and breathing in deeply. His dark eyes hungry with thirst. My jaw clenched. I didn’t want him anywhere near her. “She’s fighting you, isn’t she?” He asked. A teasing tone in his voice.         

          “No.” I lied. 

        “Come on Daniel.”   He laughed. “She was always a bit feistier than you could handle. Besides, I smell her fear.” He hissed bearing his teeth. A clear sign of aggression for my kind. "Now, why on earth would she fear you? Unless... " My body instinctively readied for a fight. “Calm down, I’m giving you tonight.” He reassured me. “I just wanted you to know, that I found her first this time. I could have taken her. Properly marked her, and then...” his voice trailed off just as I found myself barreling towards him. My body collided with his making a sharp noise, reminiscent of the sound of metal on metal. He flew backward and hit the adjacent brick wall, denting it. A few bricks crumbled around him as he picked himself up. His smile was gone. He didn’t appreciate being caught off guard. Neither did I. His usually brown eyes were a dark ebony as he seethed.              

        “Stay away from her.” I growled out the order.       

        “This is the last time I do!” He growled back. “If you don’t mark her for good tonight, she’s mine. And you’ll only have yourself to blame.” His promise echoed through the alley as he disappeared. Had I been mortal, I would have missed it.        

        I sighed and leapt up onto Elise’s 8th floor balcony. I peered into the window and saw her standing. By now, she could sense me. She moved away from the window. It was opened. She was expecting me. I slid in too quietly for her human ears to hear. “Why can’t tonight be different?” I heard her say in an exasperated whisper. Because Victor is here. I thought to myself. Because if I don’t claim you, he will. And then... then you really will be a slave. I winced at the thought of what he may have her do. Vampires are notoriously s****l and usually only take human slaves as s*x toys. Many of them are drawn to their venerability. Their mortality. Victor had always wanted Elise. But more so, I had always gotten the impression he simply didn’t want me to have her.

           I was standing directly behind her now. I could smell her fear. Victor was right. I hadn't properly marked her. I never intended to. If I could help it, one day, Elise would have her freewill back. She would live a normal human life without the threat of vampires. I wasn't sure that day would ever come and Victor's obsession was making it harder. I could feel her internal pull away from me as I started the process of bending her will to meet mine. 

        "Why are you hear?" She asked. Condemnation soaking her voice. 

          "You know exactly why I'm here and what I want." I spoke smoothly. Playing the bad guy made it easier for both of us. I ran my hand through her hair. Contact always made it easier. She pulled away, but I was faster. She spun right into my arms. Look at me. I thought. She didn't. She was making this harder than it needed to be. I needed her eyes. I needed her to look at me. She was getting so strong. Her resolve faltered. Our eyes met. "I hate you." She whispered. I know. I thought back. 

        "Relax," I ordered. And that was that. Her demeanor changed instantly. Her big brown eyes taking on the color of honey as she relented to my will. She smiled and reached up on her toes pressing her lips to mine, just as I'd hoped she would. Her hands ran up the side of my face, tangling in my hair. I hated that it wasn't her choice. But still, I missed the way she tasted. Almost as if she had some kind of power over me too, I began to lose control. I grabbed her wrists running my thumb over the scar I had given her. I had started the process of marking her years ago. Now the only way to keep her was to take her, once every 30 days. It drowns out her scent, keeps mine intact and Keeps the other vampires away. It's this or bite her. Feed from her periodically, this oddly felt more humane and strangely satisfied my hunger for her more than her blood. The monster in me took over, and I guided her towards the bed. Her eyes were black now, she was hungry too. She began unbuttoning's her shirt. I made quick work of it, ripping it from her body. She bit her lip and blood pooled beneath the fragile skin. Mine crashed down upon hers, their warmth tempting me to break through. The subtle taste of copper and honey invaded my mouth and my fangs watered. She had broken the skin, just a bit. Her will succumbing to mine. She could sense my hunger.  I found the crook of her neck. The spot where I should mark her. She tilted her head allowing me better access, moaning into me. She only wanted it, because on some level I must have too. I stifled an angry, hungry, maddening, growl as I resisted. I'd better make quick work of this before I lose my resolve. My fingers found the band of her pajama pants. Her hips rose to meet mine. 

      “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” I muttered to myself as I paced the floor. I stared at my captive lying in bed. There was a part of me that hated what I had to do and an even bigger part of me that loved it. Elise never failed to let me know that I was more demon than anything else. But she could never know the truth never truly know, it could jeopardize everything. Most importantly my reasons protected her life. I quickly rearranged the apartment taking anything that might remind her of me. Of tonight. I hoped desperately that she’d forget completely that I was here tonight… though she never had in the past. It would be a lot easier to save her if only she’d stop running from me.  I cast one last gaze at Elise who looked so beautiful and pure as she slept. If only I hadn’t wrapped her into this world those many years ago… she could be free to live a normal life. My head dizzied and I realized I was too worked up. I had to eat. Now. And even with the threat of Victor looming overhead, I still couldn't do it. I still couldn't finish the marking. I couldn't and wouldn't feed from her and take her free will indefinitely. I blinked quickly and flashed out the window.