The Guest & The Change - By M. D. Bowden Page 0,10

this point.

Daniel was taking longer at the bar this time. She looked over in hope that he had found something out, but he was approaching with drinks in hand.

***

Jo felt his jubilation subsiding as effects of the blood rush wore off. He jumped down from his branch, landing smoothly on the forest floor and wandered back to the redheaded girl lying dead on the ground. Her eyes were staring and her throat was bloody. He leant down to inspect her, drawn by the blood, but it was no-longer fresh. It had started to dry and clot on her skin. He reached down and touched the blood, bringing his fingers to his lips to taste it. But it was now stale and didn’t satisfy his hunger.

At this point Sebastian relinquished his branch to the birds and swooped out of his tree, landing on the floor beside Jo and taking his human form. Jo smiled up at him, drawn by his mystique, his powers and their bond. Sebastian laughed, he loved the instant obedience turning someone (usually) created.

‘Who are you?’ asked Jo.

‘I’m Sebastian, and, as you may have surmised, I am also a vampire.’

Sebastian watched Jo look hungrily at the blood.

‘So, you want more do you?’ asked Sebastian.

Jo simply replied, ‘Yes’.

‘I will take you hunting later, but first I need to explain some things to you.’

‘OK,’ said Jo, in Sebastian’s thrall.

Sebastian knelt down so he was at Jo’s level, by the girl, and looked intently into his eyes. ‘You will do as I tell you and you will not draw unnecessary attention to yourself. You will not feed in public; you will only feed on victims in private, or in front of me. You will not return to your human family home.’

‘I will do as you say,’ Jo replied evenly.

He hadn’t even thought of his family up until this moment but now they swam in front of his mind. Sarah, Bea and Megan. The thought of them made him hungry, he longed for their blood.

‘You will stay here now, until I come back for you tonight. Then we will go hunting. For now; sleep.’

Jo nodded to Sebastian, he climbed a tree and found a wide branch hidden from exploring eyes, he sat, legs hanging either side and leant back against the trunk - closing his eyes.

***

Sarah laughed, her emotions getting the better of her. If she hadn’t laughed she would probably have cried. She was glad to see Daniel had bought her red wine, a large glass, which she took thankfully and quickly drank some. It didn’t taste great, wine from dingy bars - not the best, but she needed it. Not just for the frustration of Jo, but it might help her feel a little less awkward around Daniel. He sipped from his own glass. She admired him for choosing wine too - it showed confidence to drink wine in this kind of bar. Jo would have chosen beer or spirits. Drinking some more, she looked up at Daniel and smiled. He smiled back his beautiful smile, making her feel warm inside.

‘Shall we get a table?’ she asked. ‘I’m pretty hungry, how about you?’

‘I would like something,’ he said. She followed him through a side door into another room where there were candle lit booths. With an amused look he gestured for her to sit down first. She slid in and he sat down next to her, their knees touching again. Sarah felt tingles swoop up her body and felt her heart ache.

The wine and the atmosphere, they were doing things to her. She didn’t know what she was doing but it was so automatic - she leant in towards him and placed her head on his chest, reaching up and embracing him.

For a second he froze, then freed his arm and pulled her in closer. She felt him squeeze her again and he leant his head down and Sarah’s heart raced as she heard him inhale, smelling her hair. Emotions were getting the better of her. They were sitting alone in this dark booth, feeling anonymous with music to cover their voices and flickering light only just revealing their presence.

Sarah felt tears rise in her eyes again, from the intensity of her feelings, her attraction to Daniel, her worry about Jo, her frustration with Jo, and with Daniel. He was here, and oh God, she wanted him to be, but she shouldn’t be here.

Daniel reached around with his other hand and stroked her hair while still holding her close. Sarah