Chapter 10: Malleus Vampiro

After skipping class the day before, Layla decided she needed to spend the next day studying for her finals, which were only a couple of weeks away.

Layla left her apartment and decided to walk to the library. It was across campus, but she needed an excuse to get out of her funk and walk off some of the pent-up energy that had been building since her date night with Ryan.

She and Ryan left their lunch date on good terms the day before after Layla reassured him that nothing bad was going to happen to her regarding Atreus. So far that had been the truth. Layla hadn't seen or heard from Atreus since that night. If it wasn't for Ryan witnessing him alongside her, she was prone to think that she had imagined Atreus crashing her date.

So, why was it that Atreus' absence disappointed her? Instead of relief, she felt an emptiness. Alongside those feelings, she felt angry. First, at herself for pining after some stranger as she had been, and second at Atreus for causing the emotionally traumatic events in the first place.

The sun shined brightly as Layla walked across campus to the Rendezvous building which housed the on-site dining for the students. She was in the mood for a cleansing afternoon, so she decided to buy herself a smoothie to contrast with the warm afternoon sun.

With smoothie in hand, Layla started for the library which wasn't too far away. The library was like a sanctuary to her. The majority of the students did their studying online these days, but Layla was obsessed with books in their physical form and she found it therapeutic to stroll through the aisles to find the book she was looking for.

Soon, Layla found herself at the enormous brick building of the library. It was one of the oldest buildings that made up the college and had hardly been touched, leaving it unblemished by the updates and renovations. When Layla stepped inside the cool air kissed her warm face.

It was quite dim in this building with its original lighting and the air smelt like musty paper. Layla waved at the clerk at the front desk and made her way across the old wooden floor, her footsteps echoing softly across the vaulted ceiling. She made her way into the study hall of the library. Wooden tables lined the room with matching benches. Above the tables was the second-floor balcony that wrapped around the study hall. There were a few students and professors sitting at the tables, their noses to their books. Everything was quiet.

Layla let out a breath. She had needed this.

Setting her backpack and her cup on one of the empty tables, Layla pulled out her phone to find the list of books she would need to finish her studies. After a quick visit to the front desk to find the locations of the books, Layla set off to the heart of the library by skipping the elevator and taking a set of iron stairs up to the second floor.

On the second floor were rows of books that fit snugly from one end of the floor to the other. Layla scanned her list once again before making her way through the aisles to find what she would need.

A little bit later, Layla found all the books she needed except for one. Her anthropology book.

With a small stack in hand, she made her way to the last book's location. Layla scanned through the directories of each aisle until she came across the anthropology section. Once there she walked between the bookcases slowly, her eyes scanning the titles. Finally, she found the one she was looking for.

Layla managed to grab the book and add it to her stack in her arms when her eyes caught sight of something. A book stood out among the rest. It was bound with dark brown leather and had brandished designs on the spine. The title read - Malleus Vampiro: A Treatise on Vampires.

Placing her other books on the floor, Layla pulled the leather-bound book from its home amongst the others and opened it. As her eyes skimmed the pages, she caught a couple of words; SHADOW STALKERS, BLOODSUCKER, PHANTOMS.

Curious at the last word, Layla stopped on the page and read on.

'Vampires have the ability to appear and vanish at their own will right before your eyes.'

Something dropped in Layla's stomach as she thought about Atreus and the strange vision she'd had of him the night before last. He had done just that, he disappeared without a trace as if he were never there at all. Her throat went dry as she thought about all of the strange moments that she'd had with Atreus since she'd met him.

The shaking of the stone coffin minutes before she met him and the strange clothing he was wearing that day.

His choice of beef tartar at the restaurant.

How every time she had seen him it was at night.

The way he had gripped her hair and bared her throat.

The strange dream she'd had where he had actually bitten her.

Layla closed the book quickly and stared at its cover. Was she really considering this right now? Was she really weighing in her mind that Atreus was a vampire?

The alternative was that she was going nuts. And neither option was ideal.

Layla ended up adding the book to her pile to look over later. Right now, she needed to study.

She returned to the study hall and set her pile of books on top of it. With a sigh, she sat down and pulled the anthropology book to her, and opened her notebook. Soon she was lost in her studies, finally able to get her mind off of the events over the last couple of days.

A few hours later, Layla was on her way back to her apartment with a much heavier backpack than when she started. When she finally stepped back into the sanctuary of her room, she dropped the heavy bag on the floor with a thump. She went into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich before she went back to studying.

Minutes later, she dragged her backpack over to her desk and sat down taking a bite out of her sandwich as she powered on her laptop. Just then her phone dinged. Layla pulled it out of her pocket to find a text from Mia waiting for her.

MIA: I'm going to die…!! :( :(

LAYLA: Why what's wrong?

MIA: Math is wrong… and apparently I'm wrong at Math! :"(

LAYLA: lol… do you want to come over? I can help you study

MIA: OMG! Yes, TY! I'll be over in an hour.

LAYLA: K! <3

Although Layla was doing fine in her math class, it would be nice to spend some time with Mia today. Besides, she had done plenty of studying in the library, so it wouldn't put her behind to help Mia out a bit.

Layla took another bite out of her sandwich while digging in her bag and she remembered the leatherbound book she had found at the library. Slowly, she pulled it out of her backpack and put it on the desk in front of her. Flipping to the first page she skimmed the text.

'Vampiric entities exist in cultures across the world. Hysteria follows the legends of these phantoms, causing mass burnings and hangings of suspected vampires. Every culture has its own lore regarding vampires. These malevolent spirits would contaminate the living by biting them and drinking their life force to sustain their own.'

This gave Layla pause as she remembered Atreus' elongated canines. She chewed her lip softly as she read on.

'Some cultures believe that vampires are demon-like creatures with wings and horns. While other cultures describe them as bloated, pale creatures with fangs. In European lore, they would inspect the dead to prevent them from rising from their graves by judging their composition. A vampire would remain untouched by decay even days after their deaths.

To prevent the dead from rising, European cultures practiced staking the corpses in the heart with a crucifix. Other apotropaic magics used to protect victims from these shadow stalkers are garlic, rosemary, holy water, and wild rose.'

A knock on the door startled Layla from her reading. She closed the book and stuffed it back into her backpack.

"Coming!" she hollered as she stood and walked to the door. When she opened it, Mia slipped inside holding something behind her back.

"I've got a surprise!" Mia cooed, a devious look in her eye.

"What is it?" Layla asked wearily.

Mia pulled a bottle of liquor from behind her back and gave it a little shake.

"You ready to study?" she asked excitedly.

Layla put her hands on her hips and gave Mia a look but against her better judgment she let out a laugh and said, "get a glass you lunatic."

Mia squealed with excitement and went into the kitchen to grab two glasses and some cola from the fridge.

Layla plopped on her bed and Mia was right behind her handing her a glass before she crawled onto the bed.

"I thought you needed to study," Layla said, eyeing Mia.

Mia shrugged. "I do, but I also needed a mental break. Which I'm told helps you retain information easier."

Layla snorted and watched Mia pour them both a drink before setting the liquor bottle on the bedside table.

"So, how did your thing with Ryan go yesterday?" Mia asked, taking a long drink of her beverage.

"It was good," Layla said with a shrug. "He said he was worried about me hanging out with Atreus. But I haven't seen the guy, so I don't think there is anything to worry about."

"Yeah, but apparently he isn't one anyone can read," Mia commented with a raised eyebrow.

"Ugh, honestly, I'm over it," Layla said unconvincingly.

"Yeah, sure," Mia said with a snort then lifted her glass. "Oh well, here's to forgetting our problems until tomorrow!"

"H*ll yeah," Layla chimed in with a grin and took a long drink before blanching. "Yuck, Mia, what is this?"

"Whiskey," Mia said with a shrug. "It'll put some hair on your chest."

The two girls burst out laughing and took another cringing sip.

A couple of hours later, Mia was sleeping in Layla's bed and Layla was back at her desk with the vampire book in front of her.

Mia was right, she wasn't over it. In fact, her thoughts were racing even more now that she had found this book.

She thought of Atreus. About his stunning smile and those sharp canines. His intoxicating smell and his hypnotic voice.

Even with what had happened the night before last and all her doubts, concerns, and his strange resemblance to vampirism…

She wanted to see him again.