Oh dear. I couldn't believe this was happening. I barely slept that night. I sure as hell didn't want to go to Tristan's house which just happened to be in one of the richest parts of London: Knightsbridge, while I was all the way down in the dodgy end of Wimbledon. If I didn't show up he'd probably come over here and... kill me?
I couldn't deal with this. I picked up the phone and called Artie.
"Hello?" A familiar voice said at the other end of the line.
I forgot about all my problems because I was hearing the voice of a friend I had not seen for 6 months. "ARTIE!! Oh my god!! HOW ARE YOU??" I literally screamed.
"I'm good thanks Atty. You're obviously still mad as ever." Artie said with a chuckle.
I laughed, he always found ways to make me laugh in sticky situations. "Anyway listen Arts, I need your help... or opinion, can I meet you in Starbucks on the Northcote Road?" I asked. Artie lived in a lovely part of Wandsworth and so we often met nearer to him because it was nicer.
"Sure Atts. Half an hour?" He said.
"Awesome. See you there my love."
"Bye."
Suddenly I wasn't so sure. Should I be dragging Artie into this?? What if Tristan's really protective... Nah I don't care, I didn't "belong" to him. Although he did say that I belonged to him and I couldn't argue with a physically strong and seemingly sexually starved vampire.
Wait... now I'm just confusing myself... I really am quite stupid. At A level I did Art, Photography and Theatre Studies: all drop-out subjects. I was a complete drop out.
I set out for the Northcote road. It was a 30 minute walk and when I got there I saw the glowing face in front of Starbucks that belonged to Artie. I pelted at him and jumped on him squeezing him so tight I could have suffocated him, but then I remembered I was extremely weak.
"Ahh Atty. Good to see you man." Artie said in his cool voice. The coolness made me feel good.
"Great to see you too Arts. How was Asia?" I asked.
"Amazing Atty. Elephant Polo, safaris and the base camp of mount everest. Amazing." He said with his massive smile.
We each ordered a coffee and after a couple of cigarettes and a long catch up I needed to talk to him about my problem.
"Artie, I have a slightly weird thing to tell you." I said.
"You Atty. You're good with weird so you don't need me." He said.
"Shut up!" I said, laughing, "Anyway, I'm just gonna come out with it. I have a guy who... kind of wants to be with me and I hardly know him."
"Atalanta Swire! What have you been up to ya little slag?" He said, jokingly.
"He's also kind of a vampire." I said.
The smile faultered from his lips and he turned deadly pale.
"Are you alright darling?" I asked.
"No I'm fine. Atty, just do me a favour just... stay away from him. Sorry, I don't feel so good Atty... I gotta go." He said, he gave me a big hug and rushed away.
I was left stunned. What had just happened? Did Artie know something about vampires? I looked down the street and he had disappeared among the mass of people. It was a Monday so it wouldn't usually be this busy, but just my luck.
7PM was drawing closer. I looked at the card he left me the night before. It said: I AM NOT GOING TO WAIT.
I knew what I had to do. I had to go over to him and say I'm not interested and hopefully he'll be a gentleman and let me go.
I started the long journey to Knightsbridge. I took the tube up and followed directions by sign to Hallsey Square. Number 48... 49... 50... 51. Here it was number 51. It was easily the largest house on the street. I had to be brave and just go in there and say to him that I wasn't interested.
I walked up to the blue door and was about to knock when the door opened and there was the beautiful but terrifying face of Tristan.
"Hello my darling Atalanta." He said with a devilishly sexy smile. He grabbed me around the waist pulling me close to him and he closed the door. I was off my feet and he was carrying me down to the living room floor. He laid me down on a comfortable red sofa. He looked at me with his piercing blue eyes.
He suddenly ripped through off my jacket and I screamed but he very quickly gagged my mouth with a massive, strong hand. He lowered his head to mine.
"Scream, love, and you die." He said smiling.
I turned away from his hand and shouted into the sofa: "I don't want to be with you! I don't know you."
Suddenly the enormous wait of him was off me. I looked around to see where he was and he was nowhere to be seen. This was my chance. I ran up the stairs, and he was at the top of them.
"Love, if you walk out that door you will never leave this house again." He said giving the same devilish smile.
I continued walking. I don't know why I did, but I did, probably because I'm unbelievably stupid. I heard him grow a low rumbling growl and as I opened the door he suddenly came up behind me and closed the door with full force. His huge arms wrapped around me clasping me into a grip of steel.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, terrified.