THE VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR

CHAPTER FIVE : RULES

Sienna didn't sleep that night.

She tried.

She turned off her lamp, pulled the blanket over herself, and closed

Then she remembered Kieran standing in the rain.

I'm a vampire.

Her eyes opened again.

She stared at the ceiling.

"Absolutely ridiculous."

She turned over.

Five minutes later, she was sitting up again.

Her mind wouldn't stop thinking

The creature in the road.

Kieran appearing from nowhere.

His red eyes.

The impossible speed.

And then those two words that had changed everything.

I'm a vampire.

Sienna had spent most of her life believing vampires belonged in books and movies. They were stories people told around campfires. Creatures invented to frighten children.

They weren't supposed to live next door.

She looked toward her bedroom window.

The curtains were closed.

She didn't open them.

Not tonight.

She finally fell asleep sometime after four in the morning.

When she woke, sunlight was already spilling across the floor.

Her first thought was that she'd dreamed everything.

Then she remembered.

"Why me?"

Her phone buzzed.

Aria.

Are you alive?

Sienna stared at the message.

She typed:

Unfortunately.

The reply came almost immediately.

What happened?

Sienna hesitated.

There was no way she could explain it through a text.

She couldn't exactly write:

Hey, my mysterious neighbor is a vampire and another vampire tried to attack me.

Aria would either call the police or recommend therapy.

Probably both.

I'll tell you later.

Sienna put her phone down.

She got dressed and went downstairs.

She tried making breakfast.

She burned the toast.

She tried making tea.

She forgot the kettle.

She stood in the kitchen staring at the mess she'd created.

Her thoughts returned to Kieran.

You should stay away from the forest.

Something followed me here.

Something that should never have found you.

Sienna frowned.

That last part bothered her.

Why had he said found you?

Not found me.

Her.

She needed answers.

Unfortunately, Kieran seemed to have made it his personal mission to avoid giving them.

By afternoon, Sienna had decided she was going to confront him.

She crossed the street.

Kieran's curtains were closed.

She knocked.

Nothing.

She stepped back.

"Kieran?"

No answer.

She turned around.

"Looking for someone?"

Sienna nearly jumped.

Kieran was standing behind her.

She stared at him.

"How do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Appearing out of nowhere."

"I walked over."

"I didn't hear you."

"You're not always supposed to."

She narrowed her eyes.

"That's creepy."

"I'll try to be louder."

"You could try."

"Can I talk to you?"

"You are talking to me."

"You know what I mean."

He opened the door.

"Then come inside."

Sienna stopped.

The words from the previous night immediately returned.

Never invite a vampire inside.

She stared at the doorway.

Kieran noticed.

His expression changed.

"You remembered."

"Yes."

"Good."

"You're not offended?"

"No."

"Because I don't want to go inside."

"You shouldn't."

That surprised her.

"You agree?"

"Absolutely."

He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

Sienna folded her arms.

"Okay. First question."

"Already?"

"Yes."

"Go ahead."

"What exactly are the rules?"

Kieran looked at her.

"Which rules?"

"Vampire rules."

He sighed.

"That's a broad subject."

"Then give me the important ones."

He leaned against the railing.

"Why?"

"Because I'd like to survive."

Something in his expression softened.

"Fair enough."

He thought for a moment.

"There are rules about feeding."

Sienna immediately looked uncomfortable.

Kieran noticed.

"I don't hurt people."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to."

She looked away.

"So what do you eat?"

"Blood."

She made a face.

"That wasn't the answer I wanted."

"It's the answer you asked for."

"Do you have to..."

She hesitated.

"...kill people?"

"No."

The answer came instantly.

Sienna looked at him.

She studied his face.

He seemed completely serious.

"Then where do you get it?"

"That is one of the things you don't need to worry about."

"That's not reassuring."

"It's not supposed to be."

She sighed.

"Fine. What's another rule?"

"Never invite a vampire into your home."

"You already told me that."

"Because it's important."

"Why?"

Kieran's expression became more serious.

"Because an invitation creates a connection."

"What kind?"

"One that can be difficult to break."

Sienna looked at her own house across the street.

"So if I invite you inside..."

"I could enter freely afterward."

Her eyes widened.

"You couldn't before?"

"No."

"Even if you wanted to?"

"No."

She stared at him.

"That's actually comforting."

Kieran raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because it means there are some things even you can't do."

"I never said there weren't."

She smiled.

"You're not as powerful as you pretend."

"Be careful."

"Is that a threat?"

"No."

He leaned slightly closer.

"It's advice."

Sienna held his gaze.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

She became strangely aware of how close he was.

She stepped backward.

"So..."

"Another rule."

Kieran noticed but said nothing.

"Vampires can't lie?"

"We can."

"Can you?"

"Yes."

"Have you lied to me?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Sienna's smile disappeared.

"That's a yes."

"I've avoided telling you things."

"That's not the same as lying."

"No."

"But you have lied."

Kieran looked toward the road.

"Yes."

"When?"

"When you asked whether you were safe."

"You said I was."

"I wanted you to believe it."

"So I'm not safe."

"Not completely."

"Because of the creature?"

"Because of what is coming."

She stared at him.

"What is coming?"

Kieran remained silent.

"Kieran."

He looked at her.

"I don't know."

"You said something followed you.

"What?"

"Someone."

"A vampire?"

"Possibly."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Sienna became frustrated.

"You always do this."

"Do what?"

"You give me half an answer and expect me to stop asking questions."

"Because sometimes the full answer would frighten you."

"Maybe I deserve to know."

"Maybe."

"Then tell me."

Kieran's eyes met hers.

"I don't know how many are looking for me."

The words silenced her.

"How many?"

"I don't know."

"One?"

"Maybe."

"Two?"

"Possibly."

"More?"

He didn't answer.

Sienna's stomach dropped.

"Kieran."

"I don't know."

She stepped away.

For the first time, she noticed how quiet the street was.

The houses around them looked completely ordinary

A car passed at the end of the street.

Everything looked normal.

Yet Sienna now knew that normal could be an illusion.

She looked back at Kieran.

"Why did you come here?"

He didn't answer.

"Seriously."

"I needed somewhere quiet."

"That's it?"

"No."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I was hoping to disappear."

"From the hunters?"

"From everyone."

Sienna's expression softened.

"You were running."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I was tired."

"Tired of what?"

"Being found."

For a moment, Kieran didn't look like the mysterious vampire who had appeared in the rain.

He looked lonely.

Sienna didn't know why that affected her.

Maybe because she understood loneliness better than she wanted to admit.

She looked down.

"I know what it's like to want to disappear."

Kieran looked at her.

"You do?"

"Sometimes."

"Why?"

"People get exhausting.

"That's true."

She smiled

For a few moments, they stood quietly.

Then Sienna noticed his hand.

A small scar ran across his palm.

"What's that?"

Kieran immediately closed his hand.

"What?"

"Your hand."

"It's nothing."

"That's another half-answer."

He looked at her.

"Old story."

"You have a lot of old stories."

"I've had a lot of time."

Sienna's curiosity returned.

"How old are you?"

"Old enough."

"That's not an age."

"It's the answer you're getting."

"Are you hundreds of years old?"

Silence.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"You are."

Kieran said nothing.

"How old?"

"That's complicated."

"That's not an answer either."

"You're very persistent."

"You're very secretive."

"Fair."

She smiled.

"Did you really live through history?"

"Some of it."

"Like what?"

"A lot."

"That's incredibly unhelpful."

"I know."

She laughed.

Kieran watched her for a moment.

There was something different in his expression.

Sienna noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were looking at me."

"I know."

"Why?"

He looked away.

"You laugh more than you think."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you don't seem as serious when you're laughing."

Nobody had ever said something like that to her.

She looked down.

"You're strange."

"So I've heard."

"And annoying."

"Frequently."

"And mysterious."

"Apparently."

She smiled.

"But not as scary as I thought."

Kieran's expression changed.

"You shouldn't say that."

"Why?"

"Because you don't know what I am."

"I know enough."

"No."

His voice was suddenly serious.

"You don't."

Sienna looked at him.

For a moment, she saw something behind his eyes.

Not anger.

Fear.

Fear that she would get too close.

She wanted to ask.

But before she could, a sound came from the street.

Footsteps.

Both of them turned.

Someone was walking at the far end of the road.

A man.

Dark coat.

Dark hair.

He stopped beneath a tree.

Sienna couldn't see his face clearly.

Kieran could.

His entire posture changed.

"Go inside."

Sienna looked at him.

"What?"

"Now."

"Who is that?"

"I don't know."

"You clearly do."

"Sienna."

His voice was sharper this time.

She looked toward the stranger again.

The man was gone.

She frowned.

"Where did he—"

Kieran grabbed her wrist lightly and pulled her behind him.

Sienna stared at him.

His hand was cold.

But this time she didn't pull away.

"What's happening?"

"Nothing."

"You keep saying that when something is definitely happening."

Kieran looked toward the empty road.

Then back at her.

"I need you to listen to me."

"Okay."

"Don't walk home alone."

"I live across the street."

"I know."

"Then—"

"Don't go near the forest."

"I won't."

"And if you hear someone outside at night..."

He paused.

"Don't open the door."

Sienna nodded slowly.

"What if it's you?"

Kieran looked at her.

"Especially if you're not sure it's me."

That sent a chill through her.

She swallowed.

"Okay."

He released her wrist.

For some reason, she missed the warmth of the contact almost immediately.

She hated that.

She stepped toward her house.

Then stopped.

"Kieran?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For telling me."

He looked at her.

"I haven't told you everything."

"I know."

She smiled faintly.

"But you're trying."

His expression softened.

"Maybe."

Sienna crossed the street.

She entered her house and closed the door.

Then she looked through the window.

Kieran was still standing outside.

Watching the road.

Watching the darkness.

Watching over her.

She didn't know when it had happened.

But somewhere between the fear and the questions, something had changed.

She no longer saw only the vampire next door.

She was beginning to see the person underneath.

And that might have been more dangerous than the vampire himself.

Because monsters were easy to fear.

People were harder.

Especially when you started caring about them.

That evening, Sienna was reading in her bedroom when she heard something tap against the glass.

She froze.

Another tap.

She slowly looked toward the window.

Nothing.

Then another.

She stood.

The curtains moved slightly.

She approached the window.

A black feather lay on the outside sill.

She opened the window just enough to reach it.

The feather was strangely smooth.

Cold.

Almost unnaturally cold.

She picked it up.

A tiny dark mark stained its tip.

Her phone rang.

She nearly dropped it.

"Hello?"

Aria's voice came through.

"Are you home?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

Sienna frowned.

"Why?"

Aria hesitated.

"I saw your neighbor."

"Kieran?"

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Near the forest."

Sienna's stomach tightened.

"What was he doing?"

"I don't know."

Aria lowered her voice.

"He was just standing there."

"Alone?"

"Yeah."

Sienna looked toward her window.

The forest was barely visible from her room.

Then something moved between the trees.

A figure.

Tall.

Still.

Watching the house.

Sienna stopped breathing.

"Aria..."

"What?"

"I think someone's outside."

"What?"

The figure turned.

Even from that distance, Sienna knew it wasn't Kieran.

Then—

It disappeared.

Sienna stood frozen.

Her phone slipped slightly in her hand.

"Aria?"

"I'm here."

"I think..."

She swallowed.

"...I think someone is watching me."

Outside, somewhere beyond the trees, a branch snapped.

And in the darkness, something moved.

Something that had been waiting.

Watching.

Getting closer.