FANGS

It was a cold, dark night.

Evan Desmond walked quickly down the lonely road. One of his hands clutched a book, which he held close to him. He had a backpack hanging on his left shoulder, and in his other hand, he held his phone which he was using as a torch light.

'Damn it' Evan muttered as he quickened his steps. Deciding to stay back to read after lecture was obviously not a good idea today. His girlfriend, Jessica would be very pissed. That he was sure of.

Just two weeks ago, they had had a huge fight about him coming home late. But he had his final exams coming up in two weeks, and he had to study. Something he found out was almost impossible to do at home, especially with Jessica always around. So he preferred to study in the college library. But today, he had lost track of time. Hopefully, Jessica would be asleep when he got home, because he was not in the mood for another fight.

The time was eight fourty five, and it wasn't too late. Usually on a normal day, you could see people around by this time. But it was different tonight because it had rained cat and dogs that evening, and no one wanted to be out on a cold night like this.

It was still raining steadily, the steady patter of water against his backpack long since faded to a dull rush in the back of his mind. His shirt was soaked through. He didn't know if it would ever be dry again. The street was wet, but Evan didn't care that the splashes caused by his shoes were probably ruining his pants. He could take of that later, what mattered now was getting home.

Evan tramped his way along the road in irritated silence. It was supposed to be a full moon tonight. Not that he could tell; the clouds above stopped any light from aiding him on his journey.

There were no stars in the sky, and the moon was cloaked in a heavy darkness that fell to the earth. For some reason, most of the street lights weren't on, including the one on this street. Evan figured it was probably some fault caused by the heavy rain, and he was glad that he had his phone with him. He couldn't imagine hurrying home in the dark without some kind of torchlight. Jessica had borrowed his car today, and right now, he regretted letting her borrow it today of all days.

A piercing gust of wind shook the trees above his head, showering his already miserable frame with a fresh deluge. Evan wiped the water from his eyes with a wet sleeve and smoothed his hair back under the protection of his hood. Urggh.... What he wouldn't give for an umbrella right now.

It was a very quiet night too. So quiet that Evan couldn't even hear the usual chipping of crickets. Too quiet that it spooked him a little, yet he hurried on. He would be home in a few minutes, he thought. Where it was warm and cozy. He would have dinner, take a quick bath, and maybe fall asleep in front of the television. He had done enough reading for today.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt something breeze past him. It happened so quickly that for a few seconds, Evan doubted if he had actually felt something. The air around him suddenly felt even colder, making him shiver as goosebumps appeared all over his body.

The road seemed to grow smaller as he walked. Evan wiped his face with the back of his hand in an attempt to see clearly. As he did so, he heard something behind him. Felt the same breeze again. What is it? He turned around.

Nothing.

It was probably some animal, he told himself. Although, he didn't believe it. Evan stopped walking and lifted his phone a little. He looked around him again. Still nothing. No one. But he could feel something... Somehow, he knew. Felt like he wasn't alone. Evan continued walking even faster, but this time it was with a different kind of urgency. It wasn't just about getting home quickly anymore.

Evan took three more steps and then he stopped suddenly. There was something.... Someone actually...a man, standing just few feets away from him. Evan didn't move. He raised his phone slightly, but the man had his head bowed so he couldn't see his face. The man had long hair, but Evan couldn't see what colour. His hair was sopping and stringy, forming viscous threads from his head down to his face. His clothes were wet also, sticking to his body, like he had been out in the rain, and Evan observed that he was making no effort to move.

Evan lifted his phone higher and cleared his throat. "Hello?" he croaked, and his voice sounded strange even to him. Like it was coming from someone from a distance.

He got no reply.

"Hello, is everything alright?" Evan managed to speak again. "Do you need help with something?....."

Still no reply.

This was getting annoying, Evan thought. Although he was frightened, but he guessed this was probably the work of some guys trying to play some pranks on people. But he was in no mood for that and so he decided to let the man know.

"Look, man" he began. "I don't know if this is some kind of sick game you're playing but I'm in no mood for that. It's not cool, you know. You better get out of the way of you don't want any trouble"

Certain he had made his point clear, Evan proceeded to continue his journey home, but he didn't take more than two steps. The man's head lifted, and a shiver went through Evans spine as their eyes met. Even a tool a step backward, and then another.

There was something about that look. Something dangerous and evil about this man. Something that told him that this was not some sort of prank and if it was, he definitely didn't want to be a part of it... Something deadly.

Evan didn't need anyone to tell him what he had to do next. It just happened, like a reflex action. His bag slipped from his shoulder and fell to the ground together with his book, but he didn't notice, still holding his phone, he turned and ran for his dear life.

Evan backed away, but he didn't go far. Somehow he bumped into some else behind him, and for he moment he thought there was a second man, but he found himself staring into the same eyes he had been staring into a few seconds ago.

How that was possible, he didn't know. And he didn't care at that moment. He had other things to be worried about. He opened his mouth to say something, but the man's powerful hand grabbed his neck, cutting off air from entering his lungs.

Shocked by the man's strength, Evan's phone slipped from his hand, but before it did, he caught a glimpse of the man's face.

He had a venomous sneer on his face.... And his teeth.... Evan couldn't see clearly, but....Were those fangs? His eyes.... This wasn't the time to think.

Evan tried to fight back, pushing desperately with his hands and legs but his efforts proved pointless. He felt himself suddenly pushed and held against a pole. Then he felt something sink painfully into his neck, like two sharp needles, digging into his carotid artery. Evan tried to scream, but the man had a death grip on his throat.

He could feel his strength leaving his body. Blood oozed from his neck and from the strangers mouth and dripped all over his shirt, mixed with the rain and fell to the floor. A minute later, he wasn't fighting anymore and the stranger let go of him.

Evan Desmond's lifeless body slid slowly and soundlessly to the ground.

"Did you guys hear?" Vivian said to Isabella and Emily as she rushed to join them at the bar.

Isabella rolled her eyes before she turned to face Vivian. The three of them were students at Maddox University, Greenville, and they all worked evening shifts at the bar and grill that had just opened up three days a week. It was almost eight o'clock, and Isabella knew that soon the place would be filled with customers, as evenings and nights were the busiest part of the day. She didn't have time for Vivian's chatting, and that was something Vivian was really good at doing.

"I'm guessing you are going to tell us anyway, so just tell us so we can go back to work already. What did you hear Vivian?" she asked, looking like she was already bored with the topic and Emily giggled.

"A guy died last night, idiot" Vivian replied. "His name was Evan David... Desmond... Or something I guess. Anyways he was a student too. They said some girls found him on their way to school this morning and called the cops. Scary, isn't it?"

Isabelle picked up a glass from the counter and began to wipe it with a towel. "Yes, I heard about that too. Really tragic. I heard they said it was some kind of animal attack.... We all really need to be careful, because if there's some weird animal out there attacking people, I definitely don't want to be a victim"

"It's such a shame though" Emily cut in. "I passed by his hostel off camp this evening on my way here, and there were pictures, candles and flowers.... There were so many of them that the thought just made me so sad.... All those people, unhappy. Looks like a lot of people are going to miss him."

Vivian sighed."Oh please" she said, gesturing with her hands, "College kids are just too dramatic. I saw the hostel and the crowd. There's no way that he knew that many people."

Isabella shook her head and glared at Vivian, a look of disbelief on her face. "Wow, Vivian, can you please not talk like that. Someone just died. Jeez, anyone who heard you would think that you were in some kind of competition with him or something."

Vivian simply rolled her eyes, giving the impression that she was done with the topic. "Okay, Mrs perfect" she said. "I'm going back to work" She turned and walked quickly to the couple who had just finished eating and were requesting for their cheque.

Emily and Isabella stared at each other in disbelief.

"Don't listen to her," Emily said. "You know how Vivian is. She can be very annoying sometimes and she might talk carelessly, but you know she's really good inside and can't really hurt anyone. That's all that matters"

Isabella nodded in agreement."I know" she replied and picked up another glass. "Still, sometimes, I just want to punch her in the face"

Emily chuckled.

The vampires arrived at the meeting venue one after the other.

They passed up the quaint old stone staircase to the long banqueting hall with its paneled oak ceiling, which in these modern days had been transformed into a bright, pleasant drawing-room, from the windows of which was presented a marvelous view of the hills beyond.

Samson Perry looked around the huge paneled hall in which he sat and frowned. He did not want to be here, and he couldn't wait for this stupid meeting to be over. But he couldn't leave just yet. Some one.... Some idiot among them, had been hunting humans, feeding and leaving a trail of bodies behind them.... And now a meeting had been called.

That kind of attitude didn't bode well for other vampires. Especially if someone got caught in their carelessness and blew their cover. And doing something like this, was exactly the kind of thing that could out them all to humans. The humans already had their theories about the incident. The news called it an animal attack, but it was just a matter of time before someone started to dig deeper. A matter of time before someone would want to know what kind of animal just drained a person of blood, and Samson was in no mood for that kind of drama.

If things kept going this way, it would be a matter of time before some hunter came around town to sniff around. Samson didn't want that. Honestly, all he wanted right now was to live his cursed, immortal life in peace. And another fight with hunters wasn't going to get him that. He was done with that kind of life. He had people he cared about now. People he didn't want to lose and that made him vulnerable.

Samson Perry wasn't a perfect man. Hell, he was a One Hundred and Fourty three year old vampire, and in those years, he had done some things he wasn't so proud of. But that wasn't the point. Right now, someone was going to blow their cover simply because he couldn't feed without murdering innocent people.

Samson was tall, heavily built and had a commanding presence. His dark hair was short and thick, and he had dark, piercing eyes. Eyes that looked very angry in that moment.

Those eyes were focused on right now on Jacob Saunders, and Jacob glared right back at him. Vanessa, Samson's friend who he regarded as family, nudged him with her elbow. He didn't reply and she had to nudge him again before he finally turned his attention to her.

"Stop it" Vanessa said sternly.

"Stop what?" Samson replied, although he knew exactly what she was talking about.

"Stop giving Jacob that look" she said. "I know that look, Sam. And it's the look you have on your face when you are angry and about to murder someone."

Samson gritted his teeth and slowly returned his gaze to Jacob Saunders, who was now preoccupied with Maddison. He was flirting with her obviously, and Madison laughed heartily, like he had just shared the funniest joke in the world with her.

Vanessa scoffed as she watched the flirting couple too. "That bitch" she whispered to herself, but, Mark, her boyfriend, who was also Samson's best friend, and was seated next to her heard her.

"Watch it babe, you're fixating" he said, grinning at her.

Vanessa turned to him. "No I'm not fixating" she said, "I'm just quietly hating on this bitch. I hate her....and I hate that I hate her."

Mark scratched his ear, "Weren't you the one who was just giving Samson a talk about Jacob. You're doing the same thing with Maddison"

"Hmmmm. She sleeps with anything and anyone that she sees. And I will never forgive her for trying to take you from me, knowing fully well that we were together. She's such a slut. Today it's Jacob Saunders. I wonder who it's going to be tomorrow. She has like.... No shame and it's disgusting". Vanessa replied.

"But she didn't succeed in getting me, did she?" Mark asked. His hand snaked around her shoulder, and then he pulled her close so she he could kiss her forehead. "Just forget about her and let it go....and you too, Sam" He added, reaching out and punching Samson lightly on the shoulder, "Relax man. You know Jacob does most of the things he does just to get to you. Don't let him"

Samson frowned. "Yeah, you are right about one thing" he said to Vanessa, still watching Jacob and Madison, and ignoring what Mark had just said. "I do want to kill him"

All the vampires who had been called to this meeting had arrived, so Jacob Saunders stood. Just like Samson, he was also tall, but his hair was blonde and long, and he usually left it to fall down down his neck to his shoulders. Today, he had it tied in a knot at the back of his head. He wore a pair of jeans and his shirt was unbuttoned, showing off his broad chest. His eyes were blue, giving him an icy, remorseless look.

"Now that we are all here" he began, "Can Felix Taylor tell us why he has interrupted our day for this so called meeting. The last time I checked, there hasn't been any hunter attacks, has there?"

"Sit down, dick face" Vanessa yelled at him from where she sat.

Jacob turned his attention to her, and he gave her a smile that didn't even come close to his eyes, but he said nothing.

Felix Taylor chose to stand that moment, and the eyes of everyone in the hall was immediately on him, waiting for him to speak, and Jacob took his seat.

"I'm very sorry to disturb you all today" he began, "But I felt like this is a very important topic. It might not affect us now, but it might soon, if we don't do something about it. It might be you, or your loved one and I'm just trying to avoid this turning into something else. A week ago, a man was killed in the woods, and just two days ago, another human, a young man this time, was killed.... Drained of blood right in the middle of street. Now the humans say it's some kind of animal attack, but we know it wasn't. We all know it was one of us.... A vampire....."

"Oh cut the crap" Samson said, interupting as he sprang angrily to his feet. "There's no need for us to beat around the bush when we all know it was either Saunders or one of his goons"

Jacob Saunders gave that mischievous grin of his and his and rose slowly to his feet. "You have no proof. That is just a stupid allegation. You have no evidence!" he stated flatly.

"True. But I don't need evidence to know that you and your friends are the culprits behind the killings that have been going on lately. And that needs to stop... Now!" Samson thundered.

Jacob left the place he stood and walked menacingly to Samson. He sized him up with his eyes as he came to stand face to face with him. Samson did not move an inch. He returned Jacob's gaze with equal hate.

"Or what?" Jacob said, with a hideous grin on his face. "What will you do, Samson? I would really love to know."

"Or I will have to stop you myself, Saunders." Samson replied, trying hard to control his temper. And that was something he wasn't very good at. "And believe me you will not like my methods" he added.

"I will be looking forward to it" Jacob scoffed, like Samson's threats meant nothing to him, then he stepped back and turned to the others.

"I will admit that some fragile humans have died by my hands. It's not my fault that they are so weak. But who amongst us hasn't killed a human before? Who?" he yelled, and his voice echoed in the large hall. "Even the self righteous Samson can't say that he hasn't. And yet here he is.... Passing judgement on the rest of us"

Samson raised his head. His eyes had darkened dangerously, and he clenched his fists. He was concerned about Jacob's carelessness, which could cost all of them a lot. And he knew that there were others who were worried too, but most of them were afraid of Jacob, and so they wouldn't speak up. The hunters might be humans, but most of them were pretty strong, especially when they had garlic in their possession. Garlic which could be used to weaken any vampire.

Samson wasn't afraid of Jacob. Actually he couldn't care less about the man. But there were vampire hunters around, and their numbers kept increasing. If Jacob kept up like this, leaving bodies in his trail, it would only be a matter of time before one of those hunters found and attacked them. And the people he cared about could get hurt. Innocent people could get hurt.