"Helen run," Samuel snapped at me, panic flooding his eyes. I stared at him mutely over the coffee I had lifted half-way to my mouth.
"Now, for fuck sake, they're here." Giving me a rough shove he turned in the opposite direction. My stomach curdled like milk on a hot day. They had found us.
Dropping my cup, the remnants of my drink splattered in all directions decorating a passing woman's white trousers with mucky stains. Not waiting to see her outraged expression I wound through the busy crowd slow at first, due to the gaggle of girls in my way, then quicker as desperation set in. Weaving around some groups then ramming my way through others I made headway down the long hill. My feet slapped the ground as I pounded the pavement, limbs jarring as each foot landed on the hard ground.
Snatching a quick look I saw Samuel as he intercepted a pale skinned interloper, just as another closed in on him. My stomach flipped as I lost my stride; I almost turned back, but fear for myself drove me on, away from Samuel. Tears of shame and horror streaked my cheeks, blurring my vision. He would make it. Wouldn't he? The hope was that he would fight his way free, without having to worry about me.
We had become complacent. Months had gone by without a whisper of any others on his trail. At first Samuel had followed his practice of moving on every few weeks, with me trailing in his wake like a lost puppy. It was a comfortable routine. I had never travelled very much, now I was seeing all the cities I had seen in pictures and movies. Samuel seemed to revel in showing me all the haunts. From the regular touristy bits to more obscure sights.
His schedule became mine, and I slept during the day, becoming a regular night owl. The only time we spent any time apart was when he needed blood. That was the longest couple of hours each day. Of course he still took from me, but he needed more than I could give. As stubborn as he was I had to force him out the door that first time to take from another. Guilt marred his face when he returned; you would have thought he had cheated on me with another lover. As much as I would try to reassure him, it seemed to be difficult for him. As twisted as I am, this pleased me. He still wanted me.
We had spent too much time in Glasgow, just because we both had taken to it so much. The accents dripped off the local's tongues like honey, and coarse language flew like spit. The contrast between the drunkards that swarmed the darkened streets on a weekend and suave shoppers tripping between 'Primark' and 'Thomas Sabo' during the day was fascinating. We had been here for two months and now we paid the price.
My lungs were burning as I streaked down past late night shoppers, mingled with gathering groups getting ready for a night out. Why would they choose here? Why now? Not exactly discreet, so many witnesses. Of course, if Samuel and I were to disappear off this street tonight, no one would ever be able to find us. No CCTV footage run on late night crime programmes would be able to help us. My legs pumped faster as my arms clutched at my heavy breasts, unwieldy and painful.
Turning off the main pedestrian area I ducked onto a side road, then again, zigzagging into hiding. Samuel had told me before that if I had to run, then I should keep going and not look back, never look back. As the seasoned hunter he may be able to pull that off when danger licked his heels, but as the hunted my eyes darted wildly like the prey I was. There was nothing behind me except bewildered glances.
Gradually I slowed, reassured that I was not being followed; my breath took longer to slow down. Matching my pace to those around me I tried to blend in slipping in behind a group of women on their way to a night of debauchery, or maybe they were just heading out for a drink, either way worked for me. My hand shook as it reached into my pocket for my phone, should I call him? Disgusted with myself I shoved it away; I would only be endangering him. Well done to me, if he was hiding and then his phone went off, giving his position away. God I wasn't cut out for this shit.
No doubt mum would ask why I couldn't just meet a nice boy and date like a normal girl, but then, she was hardly the best one to be giving advice. Marrying an abuser then letting him move onto his children excluded her from giving dating advice, that and I no longer speak with her. A powerful hand gripped me, yanking me to the side behind a heavy van. A clammy hand clamped over my mouth just as my mouth opened to scream.
"Not yet dearest. There will be plenty of time later for screaming."
Terror gripped me as I saw Samuel unconscious on the floor of the van, hands and feet trussed so that he looked like a chicken ready for the market. A large gash ran from hairline to his jaw. The large hand that muffled my moan of distress was replaced by some sort of fabric wadding stuffed into my mouth. Fighting the urge to vomit as the stench of petrol invaded my mouth and nose; my eyes smarted and watered as I was bound and thrown in beside Samuel. Shuffling I lay next to him resting my cheek on the cold, greasy floor, but I kept my gaze on his face looking for any signs of life. A snort came from my abductor as the door rolled closed and darkness shrouded us.
...............................................................................................................
The ripped vampire stalked towards me, oversized muscles straining the sleeves of his shirt. Really that was just overkill. Vampires had strength that no human could hope to best, yet they decided to send the hugest one I had seen yet. My only form of defence, avoiding eye contact and scrunching into the smallest size I could manage, did not seem to be working. But neither had I expected it too. It certainly had no effect on the last four occasions, but I was working on instinct and fear.
I hadn't seen Samuel at all within the few days I had been here, although it could have been a week. Or two. I didn't know, having slept much of it. I was gradually being drained dry. Each visit saw a new set of fang marks and less of the red stuff left for me. What with the size of this one I figured he would be enough to finish me off. My only regret would not being able to see Samuel before I died.
My eyes burned as hot tears rolled from the corners. I wondered if he were already dead. I had stopped asking, my words bringing only unwelcome attention but no answers. My heart told me he still lived, but how would I know. Wishful thinking was unreliable at best. Still I could not bear to believe otherwise.
An iron grip squeezed my arm pulling me to my feet, and I yelped in pain. Pulled from the bare windowless room, panic fluttered a moment in my belly before flopping in an exhausted heap. The energy I needed to care about my predicament eluded me and I was towed along, feet shuffling on the stone floor. My head raised enough to realise we were headed towards a solid looking wooden door, that looked to have been made from recycled railways beams. The rusted hinges screeches in protest as the door was pushed wide. Tripping over my own feet I was yanked upright, pulled along once more until we stood in the centre of a long cavernous room, dotted with a half dozen stone pillars.
The support that the hulk had afforded me was gone as he released my arm and stepped away to join the crowds that lined the room. My knees buckled and they slammed into the stone floor, my hands shooting out to stop my face receiving the same fate. Callous laughter erupted from around the room.
"Enough." My head rose at the masculine voice in front of me.
Seated in two chairs atop a stage were the two cruellest looking creatures I could ever have had the misfortune to meet. Beside the man who had spoken was a woman, whose cold stare made a shiver crawl through me. She leaned forward as if to get a better look at me, and a puzzled expression crossed her face.
"So you are the human who Samuel sees fit to co-habit with? Rather a runty specimen, are you not. I'm sure he could have picked more wisely," she said, a wearied look softening her features.
"I am Arthur and this is my wife Loretta. We have searched for our son many years only to find that he has picked up a pet along the way. It perfectly complicates matters you see. He insists that he will not be without you," the man said disbelief in his voice.
Not just any man, but Samuel's father it seems. I could never get Samuel to tell me anything about his origins, or why he was being hunted. This was just perfect. And who was he calling a pet? Annoyance streaked through me, before the meaning of his words hit me.
"Samuel's alive?"
