Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
She hated to see him go, and hoped that one day she would get to stay with him the whole night. Before he left, he did promise her he’d be coming to visit tonight. He forbid her to go wandering into the forest to wait for him.
“You came back,” she said.
“I told you I would.”
This made her smile. “True, you did say you would, but I didn’t think…” She refused to finish what she was going to say, and instead looked at him.
He’d changed clothes. Tonight he wore a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.
Sitting next to him, Alexander held her hand, locking their fingers together.
“What’s it like, being a vampire?” she asked.
“I will answer all your questions but to do so, you’ve got to do something for me.”
Layla groaned. “I don’t like ultimatums.”
“You’re tired, my sweet, and I don’t like it. I will stay with you, answer your questions, until you fall asleep.”
“You’re staying for me to go to sleep?”
“Yes. You’ve spent too much time awake, trying to see me. It’s only fair I let you sleep and relax. We have all the time in the world to talk.”
She wanted to tell him they didn’t. The moment the threat was gone, he’d be gone as well. They didn’t have forever. He had to know that. Unless he wanted to take her with him? Was that even possible? She had no idea if he would be allowed to take her, but it was certainly a chance she was willing to take.
“If I get into bed, lie down with the intention of sleeping, you will answer any of my questions?”
“Yes.”
Even though she didn’t want to run the risk of falling asleep, it was far too tempting to ignore, so she quickly climbed into bed, settling her pillows, and waiting.
Alexander chuckled, and she loved the sound. He moved to lay beside her on the bed, and she watched as he reached out, pushing some of her hair off her face.
“Ask away,” he said.
“What’s it like being a vampire?”
“I’m not sure I understand the question.”
“Do you feel any differently than when you were human? Do you have super powers?” she asked.
“It has been so long since I was human. I don’t remember the feeling of being alive. I don’t get sick anymore. I used to suffer with the cold, but not anymore. I’m stronger, faster, and I can hear amazingly well. I do have a good sense of smell as well, not as good as wolves, but I wouldn’t joke about it.”
This made her smile.
“Who would win in a race, vampire or wolf?”
“Oh, my sweet, that is not a nice comparison to make. I am a vampire, so it’s only natural for me to say I would win.”
This made her chuckle. “Would you?”
“Absolutely.”
“What about … blood?” she asked.
“What about it?”
“Do you crave it?”
“When you’re young, yes, you crave it. Some vampires never learn to control themselves and the thirst can drive them mad, but that is in rare circumstances. They never live long enough to tell the tale.”
“They get killed?”
“Yes, some get hunted by humans. Others are killed by our own kind. It’s sad, but it’s true. We have a duty to protect ourselves and if we don’t do that, then we’ve failed.”
“But you control it?”
“Yes. I can also eat human food as well.”
“How does that work? Your heart doesn’t beat? How can it work?” She was so fascinated by everything about him.
“Why are there wolves, vampires, bears, witches? It is all a rather fascinating … life, don’t you think? I don’t try to question why I can do such things, I accept what I can do, and then just learn to enjoy the rest.”
“I like that,” she said.
“From that smile on your lips, I can see that.” He leaned in close and kissed her.
She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind all day. It hadn’t affected her ability to work, and she couldn’t help but smile. Alexander made her happy. Being around him made her feel complete, if that was even possible.
“Have you killed people?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Were they…”
“I’ve killed good and bad people, Layla. I’ve not been a good person. In my early days, my thirst for blood drove me to annihilate an entire village. I was young, I was foolish, and then I met a vampire, older than me, and he gave me a warning. Told me that if I continued, my life would end, as would the life of my family line.”
“So, you do have family?” she asked.
He hesitated.
She watched as he rubbed his eyes. “I don’t speak of them. I have … severed all ties.”
“Why?”
“I will not be the cause of their deaths. My very existence puts them at risk, and I couldn’t forgive myself if any harm came to them.”
“So, you don’t see them?” she asked.