Chapter 1

"Lizzy! It's finally movie night" Natasha said as she threw her arms around me like we hadn't seen each other in years. "We haven't had one of these in ages"

"I know" I said with a smile "Its just that I've been busy with work you know. These bills won't pay themselves"

"I know" Natasha said "Still you've got to live your life"

"I will as soon as I'm debt free"

Natasha just rolled her eys as if I had said the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.

"So" I asked "What movie are we watching?"

"Nosferatu is out. It's a vampire movie, why don't we watch that"

"Again with the vampires" I said.

"What? They're hot"

"Clearly you haven't bothered to watch the trailer. Trust me this vampire is not"

"Nice try Lizzy, all vampires are hot its a Hollywood rule"

"Says Who?"

"Says Hollywood hence the rule, so we will be watching Nosferatu"

"Alright if you say so" I said with a laugh.

We went over to the cinema and bought our tickets at the booth, after that we bought some snacks and went in.

Two hours later......

"I swear" Natasha said with a dissatisfied look on her face "That has got to be the ugliest vampire I have ever seen"

"I told you" I said laughing "But the movie was good"

"Nevermind the plot" she said "I came here to see hot guys"

"Not all vampire movies have to be Twilight or True Blood"

"Eric Northman mhhhhh... now that's a vampire" she said with a smile.

I shook my head and just laughed as we headed to the food section of the mall we were in.

We ordered a couple of burgers, fries and drinks. We talked catching each other up on events that happened since the last time we saw each other.

An hour and a half later we stood at the exit.

"I'll see you Friday right" Natasha asked.

"You got it"

We hugged, said our goodbyes and walked in opposite directions.

As I walked to my car I started looking for the keys in my purse, the chaos inside didn't make it easy to find them.

"Ah! found you" I said to myself then proceeded to drop them.

I bent to pick them up from the pavement and just as I was unlocking the door to my car a voice startled me.

"Excuse me miss"

I spun around and a man probably in his late twenties to early thirties stood there. He was dressed in black from head to toe, black shirt, black jeans and black boots.

"Yes?" I said cautiously.

There hadn't been anyone in this section of the parking lot as it was mostly empty so why hadn't I noticed him.

"Sorry to bother you"he said "I was wondering if you could direct me to the nearest hospital "

"Are you alright?" I asked not seeing any visible indicators that he might be hurt.

"I'm fine, a friend of mine was just admitted and I'm new to town so I don't know where the hospital is"

"Oh" I said, lowering my guard. He didn't seem bad if he was concerned for his friend.

"There's only one hospital in this small town and it's not too far from here. I could drop you off since it's in the direction I'm headed"

"That's very kind of you miss and thank you. I'm William by the way" he said, extending his hand.

"Elizabeth" I replied, taking his hand which was oddly cold. I told myself it must be the weather given it was quite cold this time of year and it was past midnight.

"Hop in" I said as I unlocked the passenger door for him.

"Thank you" he said again as he slid into the passenger side of my Toyota crown and off we went.

"So, Elizabeth. How long have you been in this town?"

"All my life" I replied "I was born here, never left though I would love to and you?"

"I've been here for about a week, just passing through, though I'm originally from London "

"British, figured given your accent " I said as I turned on the indicator signalling my next turn.

"Yah the accent does tend to give it away doesn't it" he said with a smile.

"It's quite recognizable"

A moment of silence passed before he asked "Do you live alone?"

The question made me pause, but I replied nonetheless.

"Yes, in an apartment downtown"

"What of family,do you have any?"

"No" I replied gripping the wheel "Never knew them, though I do have a best friend who I consider to be a sister. We just watched the new movie Nosferatu"

"Nosferatu huh, that's quite the movie"

William kept asking personal questions. Where I worked, what time I usually got home, if I had any pets or if I was seeing anyone.

Something in the back of my mind warned me that these weren't normal questions to ask especially a stranger but I brushed it aside. Perhaps it was normal to him given where he was from.

Ten minutes later we pulled up to the hospital entrance. It was a 24/7 hospital so they were always open even at this time of the night.

"Thank you again miss" William said as he stepped out of the car.

"You're welcome"I replied "And I hope your friend's alright"

"I hope so too and drive safe Elizabeth"

With that he walked into the hospital disappearing behind the doors.

Something in my gut told me that he was off somehow but I just couldn't place it, so I turned the wheel and headed home.

Ten minutes later I arrived at my apartment complex. I parked my car, walked to my building and headed for the stairs dreading the climb.

The elevator had been out of service for about a month now and the landlord was in no rush to fix it.

"Three flights," I sighed.

By the time I reached my floor I was sweating ready to collapse.

As I approached my door I heard scratches, the sound of claws on wood.

I smiled as I unlocked the door and was immediately greeted by Bruce, my German Shepherd with his tail wagging furiously.

"Hey big boy" I said kneeling to hug him "Missed me huh"

He gave a low bark and kicked my face making my heart melt. He was a loyal friend and my only company besides Natasha.

I locked the door behind me, removed my shoes and headed straight to the kitchen.

I opened the freezer and grabbed Bruce's usual dinner, frozen chicken feet, gizzards, liver and a couple of chicken heads.

I popped them into the microwave to defrost and looked at Bruce who was waiting patiently by his bowl.

2 minutes later the microwave timer went off. As I opened it the smells wafted into the room making Bruce barked with excitement.

"Dinner time" I said as I poured the food into his food bowl and refilled his water bowl.

After giving him his dinner I headed to my room and immediately stripped for a much needed shower.

The warm water relaxed my muscles as I washed my hair "At least we still have hot water" I thought to myself.

Moments later I heard a growl.

Bruce wasn't one to growl or bark unnecessarily. I turned off the shower, perhaps I miss heard.

Again but this time a bark accompanied by the sound of something cracking.

My blood turned to ice.

"Bruce!" I called out as I hoped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself.

As I left my room I noticed a stain on the carpet in the living room. I could barely see it since the only light on was in the kitchen.

I took a step closer and saw red, it was blood.

Another chill went down my spine, goose bumps appearing on my skin. Perhaps Bruce was being naughty and had decided to have his meal on the carpet. And the cracking must have been him chewing on the chicken bones loudly.

"Bruce!" I called out again.

No reply,Bruce had never ignored my call not once. I scanned the living room and found him laying on the coffee table.

"Bruce!" I called as I approached him slowly, but still he ignored my calls.

As I touched him I noticed his body was stiff and cold so I moved closer to get a better look and what I saw nearly gave me a heart attack.

Bruce's neck was broken, his eyes rolled back with his tongue out. Little droplets of blood flowed from his neck onto the carpet.

My heart immediately started racing, the blood rushing to my ears. I could literally hear the thundering sound of my blood in the quiet room.

"Who or what could have done this? Was it still inside, could I escape before it killed me too?"

"Hello again miss" came a familiar voice from the corner of the room.

William.

He was standing there with a smile plastered on his face but his teeth were stained red.

"Apologies about your dog" he said as he stepped into the room "Bruce was it? I heard you call for him. He was making a bit of noise so I had to shut him up. Me I'm more of a cat person not that you asked"

"Ho..how did you get in?" I asked, glancing towards the front door. It was clearly still locked so how had he gotten in.

"Oh well I used the window " he said "You really should lock your windows you know. It's not safe, who knows who or what might use it to gain access to your home"

The window? My apartment was on the third floor of this building. There was no fire escape, no balcony or railings so how did he get up here.

"What do you want?" I asked my voice, trembling "I don't have anything of value and why did you kill my dog?" My words cracked as tears began to flow down my face.

“Like I said, he was making too much noise. And I'm pretty sure apartment rules don't allow pets to disturb the peace. So I was actually doing you a favour but rest easy love, he died protecting you. That should at least give you some closure “

“Closure “ I choked “Are you mad?“

“Far from it. Now as to why I'm here, it's for you Lizzy. You don't mind if I call you Lizzy do you? No? Thanks, so as I was saying I'm here for you”

“For me….?“

“Yes you. You have no idea how much restraint I had to exercise in order not to tear into you tye moment I scented you. You smell so divine, so I figured you had to taste even better” He grinned his smile widening revealing stained fangs.

Those did not look fake.

“Taste me?“ What are you talking about?“

“Incase you haven't noticed darling. I'm a vampire and I'm here for dinner “

He had to be insane I thought or atleast high on some drug. Perhaps he had stolen them from the hospital but Bruce was dead, his body drained of blood and William was here in my apartment after scaling a three story wall.

“Now be a darling and don't struggle “ he said “I promise this won't hurt, but then again you could struggle. I do love it when my food struggles in vain. You see fear is like seasoning, it just makes your blood taste even better”

I turned to run back to my room with hopes of locking the door and calling 911 but William was fast. He grabbed me before I could even make two steps, the towel covering me slipped to the ground.

William let out a low whistle “Such a pretty lady you are” he said as he raked his eyes all over my uncovered body “Don't mind if I take my time”

I tried to grab the towel to cover myself but William slapped me so hard my ears rang. My knees buckled and I felt his body on top of mine. I tried to push him off but it was like pushing a brick wall.

He pinned my hands above my head and then I felt his breath on my neck, his fangs puncturing my skin.

'I'm going to die' I thought 'Oh my god I'm going to die'

As he continued to drain me of my blood I felt weaker with each passing moment, my vision dimming.

“Delicious” he said as he gazed into my eyes. The whites of his eyes were now pitch black his irises now a glowing red.

'He really was a vampire' I thought. At least I was gonna join Bruce but Natasha was going to be really pissed that I died. How ironic that it was her favourite creature doing the killing, a vampire and not the Nosferatu kind.

Suddenly the front door was kicked down and William released me. In walked a tall man with broad shoulders, his chest heaving rapidly.

He looked at my uncovered body for a second then at William over me then his eyes flashed blue.

Great another one, the more the merrier they say. Turns out I was the buffet today.

But hissed at the newcomer like a snake and the man roared in response. A second later I heard the sound of bodies clashing, furniture being thrown about the room. Perhaps they were fighting over who would have me as their meal.

I tried to lift my head, to see what was going on but I was too weak. My head felt like it weighed a tonne.

Then I heard a wet sound like that of a knife slicing flesh.

William's face then came into view, his eyes staring at me unblinking. His mouth was open but his fangs were slowly retracting. I looked down and saw his body wasn't there.

William had been decapitated.

Then suddenly I was lifted from the floor, warm arms cradling me gently.

“I'm sorry” came a deep voice “ I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to protect you”

But I was too weak to pay any attention to the man's words.

I felt cold but he was so warm so I moved closer to him. Suddenly I recalled that I was unclothed but I was too weak to care.

I could hear other voices in the room now but couldn't hear what they were saying.

The man then started carrying me out of my apartment. “No” I said weakly “Please leave me alone, I have nothing”

“Do not worry” he said “I won't let anything hurt you ever again”

“Who are you? Where are you taking me?“ I tried to say but the words never left my mouth as I fell into unconsciousness.