Chapter 2 An encounter with a vampire

ADRIEN

I widened my eyes when the door burst open. Nelson abruptly turned around to cover up for me but it was already late.

"Sir I forgot to... What!"

It took my eyes a few seconds to change, about my fangs, I got that covered. If she saw anything, she might think it was a hallucination.

"Where are our manners? Do I have to remind you all the time that you don't stomp into my office without permission unless I call you in? Are you that senseless to understand that?" I sneered, staring at her furiously.

She stood in the same spot with her mouth slightly opened. "I-I'm sorry sir... I, I. '' She stammered out a few words. She cleared her throat then she walked over. "I think this slipped when I was packing the files so I came to return it. Is there anything you'd like me to work on for now?" She asked.

"Nothing for now. I'll call you when I need you. Leave my office." I ordered sternly.

"All right sir." She nodded then walked out after glimpsing at Nelson who shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"Adrien, did she see anything?" He darted to my front. "Why ain't you angry?"

"I'm not sure and if she does we are going to talk about it later. I'm thirsty for blood, right now." He scoffed. He rolled over to a seat. "Or I should feed on you?"

"That's ridiculous. You'd rather starve yourself. You'd never suck human blood. Are you planning to feed in your office? Why don't you do that before leaving home?"

"I was going to but the maids infuriated me that I forgot to do that before leaving. I might not be able to control myself if I continue like this, I might even suck human blood. Nelson, I'm starving." I said grimly.

"What do you want me to do? Do you want me to feed you mine?" He uttered.

"Ew... Hell no! Why would I suck from your rotten blood? Ew, I'd rather devour Amara than suck your fucking blood." He narrowed his eyes dubiously.

"Wait, are you planning to kill her? I thought you don't suck human blood."

"Not really, I've never tasted human blood before but I'm planning to. Maybe tonight because all the blood I've been perceiving smells sweet." I said demurely. "I can feed on humans without killing them. There's a whole different method. The first time I don't know how it feels because I'm addicted to animal's blood."

"You can't do that to her. I thought you liked her."

"Like her? Oh, that's ridiculous. I'm afraid to fire her because I mightn't find someone as good as she is. This boring chat won't help me, I need to feed." I said hungrily.

"Are you going back home?" I stood up and then closed the laptop.

"Do you have the car key?" I asked while extending my hand for the key.

"You said I shouldn't drive any of your cars." He said as he made a funny face. I felt like sending him some punch, maybe that would restart his brain.

"You know what, never mind." I stalked out of the office with no destination in mind. I wasn't planning to go home.

I sniffed in the smells. It only triggered my cravings because human blood seemed special. I ignored everyone till I reached the parking lot. "Give me the key," I said to the driver. He looked confused.

"I can drive you to where you are heading. Please don't fire me, I haven't done anything wrong." Should I say I was more perplexed than him? Why would I fire him because he hasn't done anything?

"Just give me the key," I repeated.

"Please sir I'm sorry for whatever I've done unknowingly." I arched my brow. He was wasting my fucking time while holding the key. I had zero tolerance for patience.

"Just hand over the key already." I seethed coldly. He handed the key in fear. I overlooked it as I hopped in the car and drove out at full speed. "I'm not sure I hired those monkeys. Imagine?" I'd have to deal with all my workers later.

CLEOPATRA

I knocked on the door thrice but got no response. I waited by the doorstep and then knocked again. The door was opened, Karl. I was surprised when he used his hand to impede the way. He shook his head.

"Are you going to keep me out here, won't you tell me to come in?" I asked.

"Just a second." He shut the door dramatically without letting me in. I snapped my head around, wondering what was wrong with him.

"What's wrong with him?" I muttered to myself. After a few seconds, the door was opened again.

"Please come on in." He moved out of the way as he walked me in. "Ta-da."

I gasped at the sight.

"Happy birthday, baby doll!" They chorused.

I was nearly speechless when I looked around the living room. There were cakes, balloons, flowers, and more that I couldn't even mention.

"Lisa, Dailey, and you, Karl? This is a surprise." I covered my mouth in surprise.

"Happy birthday girlfriend and I love you so much." Melissa hugged me.

"Come on, let her go. I need to give her a warm hug too." Dailey said. I walked over. I couldn't describe how I felt but the feeling was good.

"Who planned this?"

"Karl's idea. He bought all this. My gift is going to be special." Lisa said.

"Well, I bought you a present and I hope you love it." She opened a box and unwrapped something. "I didn't know you'd be wearing a pink dress today. I'm so glad the pearl ribbon will match your outfit and hair."

"It's really pretty," I said cheerfully.

"Just your favorite color." She motioned me to turn around and I did. She packed my hair into a ponytail, using the ribbon. "It looks great on you."

"Everything looks great on her." Lisa rolled her eyes playfully. "I should have brought her something too." She muttered but I heard her. I placed a hand on her shoulder. I grinned as I played with her cheeks.

"You all have done enough."

"Aren't we starting the party?" Karl interrupted.

"I'm taking everyone out, let's party tonight." Said Lisa with a grin.

I slumped to a chair and then shook my head negatively. "I'm not interested. If you're planning to celebrate with me it should be here. I'm not intending to go out for a crowded celebration." I complained.

"We are clubbing tonight and you dare not say no to this," Karl said enthusiastically. He picked a pancake and forced it into my mouth.

"I'm not interested," I said with a mouthful.

"I'll have you dragged along," Dailey said.

I threw my hands in the air to surrender. "Whatever." I sighed loudly.

*

BRENDA

"That stupid child." I massaged her shoulders tenderly. "Your father and I have to fight over the same issue because of her. I'm afraid he'd favor her more than you." Mom uttered frustratedly.

"Why don't you return her to where you picked her from? You have me now and besides, you don't like her anymore." I sat beside her and then held her right hand.

"He doesn't want that. He said he had been the one taking care of her ever since she was a kid so that makes her his daughter. That's absurd."

"Ridiculous. Why would he say that? I'm his daughter after all. Why did he care so much about Cleopatra? Mother, if you don't do something about this I'm sorry I'll do something stupid." She grabbed my hands abruptly.

"Please dear, don't do such a thing. She has been our child before I gave birth to you... I know how hard it'd be for your father to abandon his adopted child but I promise you that I'll do something about it."

"I don't believe your words," I replied with a scowl.

"Believe me, Brenda. She'll leave this house very soon. Perhaps I'll ask your father to arrange a marriage for her. She's old enough for that after all." I was going to jump up out of excitement but I had to conceal it. I would want to back down.

"So I'm the one that owns the new car? I know you got the car for me." She lifted a brow, baffled. "You don't know anything about the car? You're not the one that bought the limo?"

"I don't know the car you're talking about. I didn't order any car..."

"Dad did..."

"He must've got it for you then."

"You think so? He didn't buy the car for me."

"How can you be this sure? Don't get it twisted. He'll hand over the key to you once he gets back from work."

"It's Cleopatra's. It's pink so definitely, he bought it for her as a birthday gift." I whimpered with frustration.

"What? Please Brenda look at me..." She cupped my cheeks to make me look at her. I shoved her hand, already pissed up. "Eh, Brenda."

"Leave me alone. I hate you all!" I walked out. I'm pissed. "I swear Cleo, you have to pay for this."

***

Adrien hasn't fed even when he left the company. Nelson was worried about him as he kept calling but Adrien chose to ignore the phone while it rang. He was at his favorite spot, perhaps waiting for that ugly old jerk.

The moon came out and the stars shone so bright. He was on top of the tower. He put his hands behind him and rested on them. His legs were swaying in the air.

"Are you waiting for me?" The voice was unfamiliar to him so he didn't bother to look behind him.

"Nope." He pouted and released the smoke from his mouth. The breeze caressed his face tenderly as he shut his eyes. "Don't mess up my mood, just leave." He said. His voice embedded caution, only if the vampire behind him listened.

Did he understand any slightest meaning in his sentence? Don't mess up my mood; you still have a chance to escape. Just leave; stay if you dare.

"You are waiting for Ging, aren't you?" He looked back and then teleported instantaneously from where he was sitting. He grabbed the guy's neck and shoved him against the wall.

His speed was extraordinary, it made the vampire wonder who the hell he was. He was strong.

"Did he use humans for his experiment again?" Adrien asked the guy who wouldn't stop grinning. He noticed how fragile the vampire was, he could only think of him as half-vampire.

"Are you surprised? If you are waiting to see him, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a thousand years."

He hasn't let go of his neck. A red mark appeared on Adrien's neck. He put a hand on his forehead. "Ahh!" He groaned silently.

"Oh, you also have the moon mark? You won't be able to resist human blood whenever the mark comes out. Am I right?" He smirked mischievously.

"This is just a waste of time..." Before the guy knew when he was going to do it, Adrien had already pulled out a stake and stabbed him right in his heart.

"Nooo..." He screamed as his body started fading.

"I hate the game Ging is playing. Dumb human." He dusted his hands and then hid the stake. Ging happened to be an old doctor who had lived a hundred years before. He used human beings for experiments by transfusing vampire blood into their body system. During the process some became immortals. Adrien has encountered him many times but he was unable to take him down.

He returned to his spot. Since the moon mark has appeared, he has to try to stay away from humans. He jumped down from the tower. He strolled down the road. He could sense some vampires among humans as he kept on walking. He didn't intend to hunt for vampires tonight, how he was going to feed was what mattered to him.

"I should have vodka tonight." He halted at the entrance of the boîte. It was a nightclub that belonged to a Frenchman and it was a favorite spot for every vampire. They'd be able to feed on humans without anyone's notice. He glanced around before walking in. "Oh." He puffed air out as he headed inside. As he stepped in, it was lively and the music was loud and people were dancing to the beat. He walked into the VIP lodge.

"Bartender!" He tapped the button on the table.

"Oh sir, you are here. What would you like me to offer you?" The lady asked him in a seductive voice. It was obvious Adrien wasn't in the mood to fuck any bitch tonight, he rolled his eyes with irritation.

He ignored her seductive smirk. "Vodka only."

"Don't you need anything else?" The lady tilted forward, moved her face close to his as she moved her hand to his thigh and rubbed on it seductively.

"Are you sick of living?" He rasped coldly.

That was a harsh question and it frightened her. She panicked as she walked away to bring in his order. He was cold like his face. He brought out a cigarette pack from his pocket.

"Here sir." He put the cigarette in his mouth. The lady moved over and lit it for him.

"If you ever need my service, just call me." She admired his beauty before walking away.

"Ugly duckling." He cursed underneath.

He could sense everything from where he was. He only needed some time alone.

**

Brenda walked over and ignored everyone. Lisa looked at her disgustedly. "What the heck is she doing here, Cleo?" Dailey asked hostilely.

"She told me she was bored at home so I asked her to come over. Is everything OK?"

"Of course, everything isn't fine. She's not welcome." Dailey said sternly.

"Of course, I'm not here because of you guys. I'm here because of my sister and if you aren't comfortable, you should leave us." She shouted.

"Stop Brenda." Despite how she treated Cleopatra. She would never shut her out.

"Such an arrogant bitch." Lisa snarled.

"I won't have you abuse my sister, Lisa. Please, she's also here to have fun. Moreover, she's old enough."

"Fun or stalking you?"

"Whatever you called it." She gulped down her cocktail. "I have to pick up this call, it's Dad." She said as she excused them.

It was a nice move for Brenda to carry out her evil plan. "I'm going to use the restroom. Tell Cleopatra that I'll leave immediately and she shouldn't worry about me."

"Are you going to hook up with someone tonight?" Karl asked. Apart from Lisa who didn't like her, Karl and Dailey didn't care. Brenda was secretly crushing on him but Karl never noticed that. He thought of her as a younger sister. He loved Cleopatra instead but he never told her about his feelings.

She left their side and sidled across the room.

Brenda walked up to Justin and then whispered something to his ear. "You are going to pay me, right?" Justin asked.

"And why should I pay you? Aren't you secretly crushing on her and if you think you can't do it, just forget about it."

"Wait, are you sure about it? What if she doesn't want me?"

"Then force her. I'm sick of her being a virgin, she needs someone to do it for her but she's afraid to ask." Justin nodded happily. He took a last glance at her before walking out.

He was lucky enough, Cleopatra was about to head back to her friends. "Hey, baby girl." He called out.

"I know you..."

"Justin, actually I know you too. Aren't you Cleopatra?"

"Yes, I am. What can I do for you?"

"We are actually in the same department. Trust me I've been finding a way to approach you. You seem to be friendly to everyone but we never get a chance to chat."

"So..." She looked at him. She was a bit surprised to be approached by a stranger, especially a weirdo. That was what everyone thought about him. He has a bad tattoo on his body and the way he behaved is obscene. The master of playboys was Jusin and his gang.

"If you don't mind, join me at the table over there." Cleo was about to say something but he put a finger on her pink lips. "Hush, baby. I don't bite. You are here to have fun, right?"

"My friends..."

"Not everyone remembers each other at nightclubs. Don't let anyone deprive you of the night's fun. Come on." He pulled her along with him.

He took her seat before sitting beside her. She cleared her throat to start a conversation, she was trying to make herself comfortable around him. "So did you come here alone?"

He shook his head. He pulled out a cigarette and then lit it. "No, I came with friends. They must be somewhere fucking bitches."

She gulped down the air and then moistened her lower lip.

"Am I not going to ruin your nice moment?" He was trying to hold her but she moved away from him.

"Oh sorry. Of course not. Having you around is great. It's an honor meeting your acquaintance." It's not an honor. She thought. "Here, have some drinks." He offered her a cocktail.

She looked at the drink and then looked at his face. "No thanks."

"Why? Are you nervous? You shouldn't because it's just a drink. It's just a drink that comes from my heart. You don't want to make me feel bad by rejecting it. This is our first time chatting, if you treat me harshly I might think you're not the kind of person I assume you to be and that'd be unfair "

" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to reject it but... I'm just being cautious of what I drink. I'm going to drink it if that's what you want." She gulped the cocktail in one draught. Justin called for more cocktails. A little alcoholic, a few cups would get her tipsy and that was his intent. To get her drunk as Brenda told him.

He puffed out the smoke. "You look like a Barbie doll with this hair. I must say you love the color pink so much." She chuckled.

"Yeah, I love pink."

"And it suits you. Look at your hair." He ran his finger through her hair. She was a bit drunk but she hadn't lost her senses. She scooted a little.

"I should leave." She tried to stand up but Justin held her down.

"Not yet my lady. You gotta drink with me then after that, we are going to leave together." He made her drink more and more till she was intoxicated. He slid his hand under her dress and caressed her bare thigh. He bit his lower lip and leaned over to kiss her.

Cleopatra cleared her throat as she pulled back. "I need to use the restroom. I feel like throwing up." She said,

Inward, Justin was smiling. He smirked as he nodded. She headed to the restroom, a bit intoxicated. She walked into the restroom and threw up. She wiped her mouth and then washed her face to make her vague vision clear. She widened her eyes with her hands. "I need to go home... Dad will be mad at me." She mumbled. She walked out of the restroom. Justin was so engrossed in his phone that he didn't notice her walking away. She wandered around the lobby, she didn't know the exit door but ended up in the VIP room. So calm as she walked inside.

Adrien's fangs were ready to devour anyone. Like other vampires, he craved blood. He didn't care if he was going to suck human blood. He just wanted to satisfy himself before he went berserk. He always got a grip of himself but not when the glow mark appeared on his neck. The mark was almost faded but he has starved himself for too long. He needed to feed. He was afraid he might hurt anyone and he didn't know if he'd ever survive after sucking human blood. He hasn't done that before. His way of feeding was different from how other vampires feed.

He puffed out smoke and sipped his drink. Cleopatra didn't know where she was. It was the footsteps Adrien heard, he refused to look at him. The room was so dark. "Leave!" He warned her imperatively without looking. He was more concerned that he was in his true form. Changed eyes, visible fangs, and that glow mark.

"Um?" Cleopatra yawned feebly.

"Leave now if you don't want to die." He said then looked up at her. She wasn't scared because she wasn't in her right mind. She didn't budge an inch. Without any delay, he instantaneously teleported to her. He was losing grip of himself, his craving was something he couldn't control anymore. He cocked his head to her neck, ready to bite her.