“Yes,” I whispered, moving in the opposite direction as he approached and I gulped loudly, ready to run as I perched on edge of the hard surface of the table.
“Fascinating.” He turned to the others and ordered the monsters from the room as if he sensed my unease. “Are you alright, Piper?” The mysterious man walked forward, and the terror receded as I saw his familiar face. This was no stranger. The golden color was gone from his eyes and I almost thought I imagined the entire unsettling experience.
“What the hell do you think?” I asked with sarcasm, pushing off the table and onto shaky legs. I nearly fell as I gripped the edge, keeping my gaze locked on his movements. My courage returned along with annoyance. “Professor Black.”
He frowned as he turned, and the light caught his hardened features. “I do not wish for you to be afraid.”
Right. Maybe he needed to rethink his kidnapping tactics. “It’s a little late for that now, isn’t it?” What the hell did the professor want with me? Who or what were those . . . things?
“Why? Because you saw my true form without my glamour? I am the same as I always was, no different other than stripping away the barrier that was between us. Now we may converse without lies.”
Sure. As if I could believe the man in front of me so easily. Why was I here? And where was I anyway?
“You’re upset. You didn’t like waking up around strangers. My apologies.”
“Are you delusional?” I spat, straightening to my full height, and wobbling slightly as my equilibrium evened out.
I was being licked when I woke up. Seriously. Strange creatures had hovered over my body and crowded one another, swiping foreign tongues over my skin. Worst of all, they looked like demons. Not to mention the fact that I could still feel the rough texture on my body and the slightly damp sensation left behind.
Gross.
Every square inch of my skin not covered in clothing had been exposed and suckled as rough tongues lapped at my flesh. I was held down and gobbled up like some wickedly delicious treat.
What. The. Fuck.
“Piper, this isn’t the time to freak out.”
That hardly mattered. It was far too late to stop my frantically beating heart and subsequent terror. In defensive mode, I wasn’t quite capable of being rational.
“Who are you? Wait, what are you?”
He held up his hands and stepped closer. “I’m sorry the kyne bothered you. Newly turned vampires are younglings and have trouble resisting the call of fresh blood. I saw no harm in allowing them to help and properly cleanse your body.”
“Answer my question!” I yelled, so frightened and frustrated I knew I was completely unreasonable in my demand, but I couldn’t help it.
At that moment I became acutely aware that we weren’t alone. The sounds of slurping and crunching could be heard as I spun around in a circle and found the body of some kind of furry creature lying on the ground. It wasn’t the sight of the dead and wounded flesh that made my stomach heave and my gut churn, but the chartreuse-eyed freaks that were eating it. Like seriously scooping out the innards and guzzling down chunks of meat.
Was I in some fucked-up haunted house? A prank?
“Oh my God!” I cried out, hand over my mouth. “Are they cannibals?”
Running for the door, I was caught seconds before I could reach the exit. Black’s arms held me back against his chest as I squirmed, and his embrace tightened.
“Stop struggling. I have no wish to harm you and none would dare to do so on my property.”
“Let me go!”
“Enough,” he growled, spinning me around as his hands gripped my shoulders. “What do you think you see, precious? We’re sanguine. We feed on the blood of the living. We can’t very well leave bodies lying about, can we? It’s just not civilized.”
Civilized? Was he insane? “Killing those you feed on and then disposing of the bodies is civilized?”
Holy shit. Wake up, Piper. Wake up now!
This had to be a nightmare.
Professor Black stiffened. “We don’t dispose of our chosen. They are consumed as part of the natural order. Life, death, rebirth, it all has a purpose. This is ours. Vampires drink blood. It’s how we survive. Our ghouls help us maintain our secrecy. In turn, they are given sustenance. It is a symbiotic relationship that has thrived for thousands of years.”
Did he really believe his ridiculous story?
And what the hell was a ghoul? The guys devouring body parts and slurping up torn flesh and entrails? The same demons crunching on bones right this very second?
I was absolutely sure I was about to vomit or pass out, maybe both.
“You look pale,” he observed. “Are you alright?”
“No!” I yelled and shoved him away, falling down as my ass hit the floor.
“Piper,” he exhaled with a frustrated groan.
Scrambling backward on my hands and knees, my eyes widened as I opened my mouth and let out a bloodcurdling scream. Yes, highly ironic given the circumstances. Delayed, yet effective. Horror scream queen worthy.
Professor Nightmare – forget Black – tilted his head to the side and crossed his arms as if I was the one who was deranged. “I thought you were sensible. You’re completely overreacting.”
In an instant, my sarcastic inner bitch rose to the surface. “Listen, I don’t know what kind of joke you’re trying to pull or what I’ve done to deserve this, but it’s over. Ha-ha, so funny. Pat yourself on the back. You got me. Well done.” I stood and brushed nonexistent dust from my jean shorts, ignoring the numerous bloodstains on my clothes as well as the slightly sticky feeling that lingered on my skin and reminded me that I’d been thoroughly licked only minutes prior. “I’m leaving now. Thanks for nothing.” As I stomped toward the doorway of this house of horrors, I spun at the last minute, glaring when I noticed he was following close behind. “And I’m withdrawing from your class immediately, Professor Black. Peace out.”
Flipping him off, I opened the door and slammed it shut as I made a quick getaway. My heart was hammering so hard in my chest that I thought I would have a heart attack. Were my actions wise? Or even sane? No way!
I wasn’t sure how I made it home. Stumbling so many times I’d have bruises and multiple scratches later, I ran until the surroundings were familiar and campus loomed directly ahead. Immediately making my way into the kitchen, I chugged a huge glass of wine, drew a bath, and quickly washed away the evidence of the crazy and frightening night. An hour later, I was huddled underneath the covers of my bed and fighting sleep as the thought of being followed home kept my brain working overtime into the wee hours of the morning.
The next day, I texted Hep and spilled everything, describing the entire humiliating and terrifying event from start to finish. She was convinced the entire thing was a prank which didn’t help. I was still upset.
“But how do you know it’s a prank?” I asked, sighing.
“Because it’s close to Halloween for one.”
“Okay.”
“And two, we’re still dealing with hazing all over campus.”
True.
“And third, it was dark and full of candles to make it more dramatic.”
Smiling, I was certain she was right. “This is why I love you.”