Ancient One

Afternoon crept up on me like a shadowy thief in the night. I had tried to search for Rakesh in the area I had last seen him in but had no success. My grandparents warned me that I'd not find him and even if I did, it wouldn't be during the day time but I refused to listen like a stubborn child.

I fell back onto my bed with a small sigh of defeat. They did not chide me or comment on me returning empty-handed. I figured they were happy with the results even if they didn't voice them. I held my mobile above my head and began to browse my social media page to see what my friends were up to.

I must have fallen asleep as I woke to a light tap. I wasn't sure what it was at first, thinking it was my phone vibrating on the wooden flooring. I lazily groped around, found it and began to scroll through the messages when another tap alerted me to the actual source of the sound.

Glancing up with a blink, I saw Rakesh at my bedroom window with that smug little grin of his. How he managed to get on the balcony I had no idea, but I imagined he climbed up somehow.

The little bastard. I had spent all day looking for him and he just turned up unexpectedly in such a place instead. Slowly, I made my way to the sliding door, unlocking it. Only a faint hint of natural light was left on the horizon. It was as though he really was a vampire.

I wasn't sure what to say to Rakesh at first. Rather than ask the questions that had run through my mind all day, the first thing out of my mouth was, “what do you want? Are you some sort of stalker now?”

His grin grew and I instantly wanted to smack his stupid face.

“Did you not just spend all day searching for me?” He asked with a tilt of his head.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. I stood in the doorway, keeping him from entering my room though I wasn't sure if I could stop him with the height difference between us. He did not seem to desire to intrude, however, which made me feel somewhat more comfortable with his presence here.

Rakesh's gaze shifted over to the other balcony, the one belonging to my grandparents' bedroom, but there was no movement as far as I could tell. I wondered at their reaction to him being here now.

“How did they react? Should I be prepared for a stake to the heart?” Rakesh asked with that same stupidly smug smile.

I shrugged my shoulders and then said, “at the very least, or silver bullets.”

Rakesh seemed to find that amusing as he uttered a cheerful little chuckle then looked back to me. “And what of you?” He asked me with an inquisitive tilt of his head.

“I haven't decided yet,” I admitted with a shrug. I didn't believe in this whole vampire thing but if he was the reason my parents were gone or worse, dead, I wanted to know one way or the other. “I'd like to know what you know about my parents before I figure out if I should punch your teeth in or not,” I added with a blank stare. I still didn't like this man.

Rakesh smirked wider before he gave my head a condescending pat. I hated him even more. I was not a child and was about to protest his actions before he pushed my chest. It felt light, yet it was enough to send me back into my room. I blinked, confused as time seemed to go slow. Something shiny sped passed between us and Rakesh leaned back away from it slowly.

It was only after he picked the dagger up, that I realised what it was. “What the fuck,” I said under my breath as I regained my balance, my eyes were wide open.

“You could have hit your grandson,” Rakesh said as he looked to the side.

Grandson?! I peeked my head out of the door, and sure enough, my grandfather was there, holding another dagger which he was readying for another attack. He was not kidding when he said he wanted to kill Rakesh!

“Kayden! Don't just invite a vampire into your room!” He scolded me and I held up my hands in defence.

“I didn't invite him for a start! And enough with the vampire talk, Gramps!” I shot back.

My reply must have been exceedingly funny to Rakesh as he sniggered softly before he added his own quip, “Ancient One, not Vampire. At least don't group me with those uncultured beasts.”

My grandfather snorted and tossed the dagger right at Rakesh, though the man seemed to gain superhuman speed and strength as he caught the dagger between his fingers.

I was gobsmacked.