Sanctuary's Fiend

The next night I stood in front of Rick’s house. The only human house in this neighborhood. My parents loved it for that reason alone. For the last month, they’d had no need to go to the human side of town for that little extra buzz.

Well, saying ‘side’ made it sound equal. Us supernaturals only made up about ten percent of Sanctuary.

I’d had my hand touching the door for the last minute. I had meant to knock, but I didn’t have the nerve. Now I was just awkwardly patting a door. Come on, Rel, get a grip of yourself. You’ve been invited here.

But every time I tried to knock again, I saw his face, and his smile, and heard his voice. What was I doing here? I wished I’d eaten before I came. I was too nervous to eat, and now I was absolutely starving. I’d been hungry since last night’s meeting in the bunker.

I heard rustling from inside and the door opened.

“Oh!” Mr. Anderton shouted, putting a hand over his heart. “My, Reliquiae, you gave me a shock.” He looked around outside. “Did we not hear you knock?”

Okay, this was my teacher. Not Rick. I could handle this. “No, sir. I...uhh, I just arrived.” Okay, not bad, only stuttered once!

“Well, do go in. I was just marking your test, in fact. Richard’s in the living room. Not to worry, I’ll be out of your hair all night. A teacher’s work is never done!”

“He prefers Rick.”

Oh my God, why did I just correct my teacher. And Rick’s dad. Get a grip!

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

“Right. Well, enjoy.” And with that he went outside to throw out the trash he’d been holding.

I stepped into Rick’s house for the first time. It was exactly what I had expected. A picture of the Queen hung on the wall, and the British flag hung proudly over the upstairs banister. I could see through to the kitchen where a large selection of teas were spread out.

I made to call out to find Rick, but my voice caught in my throat. I cleared it, and Rick appeared from the door to my left.

“Howdy, Rel,” he said.

He was wearing a blue shirt, top button undone, and comfortable khakis. He was sliding around the wooden floors in his socks. He stood about four inches taller than my five foot six. His hair was mousey brown and messy. His eyes were a darker brown, the same color as my hair.

I giggled. Oh God, I never giggle. “We don’t say Howdy in Sanctuary.”

“Wait… really?”

Either he was really good at acting, or I was breaking some serious cultural barriers for him. “Really.”

Whatever the reason, his puppy dog eyes were hitting me hard.

“Well that’s a bit of a blow. Are you sure? The wiki was pretty clear on the subject. Next you’re going to tell me you don’t say y’all either?”

“Well, that’s just a good contraction that you can’t go wrong with. But again, that’s more the southern states. Try saying it again.”

“Y’all.”

With his accent it sounded like he was saying ‘yule’ as in ‘yule log’. So cute!

“Maybe don’t say it, okay?”

He raised his hands as if to complain, but gave up before starting. “That’s probably fair.” He looked around quickly. “Oh, damn it. Look at this.”

“Uhh, what’s up?”

He pointed to the stairs. “My father, that’s what. So immature, honestly.”

I looked again, but couldn’t see anything out of place. “What’s wrong?”

“Just look at this. He knew you were coming so he thought it would be funny. I apologise on his behalf.”

Just then Mr. Anderton walked back in. Apparently he’d overheard Rick and was chuckling to himself. “I’m sorry, Reliquiae, I simply couldn’t help myself.”

“Okaaay. I’m really lost though.”

His chuckling stopped. Both of them looked at me as if I was sick. Was this British humour? “Yes, sorry. I suppose the joke doesn’t translate well. I put up a picture of the Queen and our flag. Just teasing a bit. No offence was intended.”

“Oh. I just assumed that was normal.”

Rick cleared his throat and they both shuffled awkwardly. Despite the awkwardness, it was kind of unbearably cute to see Rick and his dad acting the same.

“I’m afraid not. The British are rather more conservative about showing our… umm, national pride.”

“I see.” This really wasn’t very funny, and the longer this went on it just became more uncomfortable. “I guess the tea selection is a joke too?”

Mr. Anderton glanced at the kitchen in confusion. “Not at all. That’s just our tea selection.”’ Rick cleared his throat again. “Anyway, I’m off to the study to mark more papers. Enjoy yourselves.”

And with that he went upstairs, pulling down the picture of the Queen and the British flag on his way.

Rick’s cheeks were flushed when I looked back at him. “Do you want to sit?”

“I do. It’s one of my top three positions.”’ He was so easy to talk to! I hadn’t stuttered once!

“Oh great, this way. What other positions do you enjoy?”

“Standing. Walking. Running, sometimes.” I answered, not skipping a beat. But just as I finished speaking, I realized what I’d said… and then what he’d said… did we just flirt? No. We were just talking about sitting down. On a couch, to be specific!

The living room looked very ordinary. Nothing noteworthy except that one corner still had a few boxes in it. There was a picture of Rick, his dad, and another man all together on the mantelpiece. Two couches were around a wooden coffee table, facing towards a TV in the corner.

I walked up to the picture. It looked like a typical fishing picture, but Mr. Anderton and the other guy were wearing uniforms of some kind - before I could see it properly, Rick darted round the other side and picked it up.

“Oops. That’s not meant to be out.” He laughed nervously. “Just another joke from my father.” He placed it back in one of the boxes in the corner.

“Wow. Mr. Anderton likes jokes more than I expected.”

“Who? Oh, my father. Yeah. He’s always getting into some sort of trouble.”

Teachers were amusing? This was new information to me. Although Mr. Anderton was probably the youngest teacher I’d ever seen. He was still really old though.

“Would you like a drink before we start? Tea?”

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that tea rack you’ve got.”

“Oh, no. It’s simple really. Come to the kitchen and I’ll explain it.”

“I think we can save that for another time.” He looked crestfallen that he wouldn’t be allowed to talk about tea. I was still really hungry though. “But, do you have any food? I hate to ask, but… I’m really hungry. Just something small.” I couldn’t eat too much in front of him. He’d think I’m a pig.

“Of course! Let’s go into the kitchen.”

I followed him in. “But still, no talking about the teas, okay?”

He laughed. “I’ve got food to talk about now, so no problem. What do you feel like having?”

As we stopped in front of the refrigerator, I waved my hand casually as if I didn’t care. But I did. I was incredibly hungry, and a very picky eater, too. “Oh, whatever you’ve got.”

He held his hands out as if to stop me. “Hold your horses, partner–”

“We also don’t call each other partner.”

“Oh… right, well, hold your horses, gal. You can’t just give me free rein over your food like that. It’s dangerous. I may take advantage of it.”

“Honestly, I’m so hungry right now, you can definitely take advantage of me.”

Wait, what did I just say?

“Right.” His voice broke as he said it.

He cleared his throat. “Right.” Deeper now. “How about a sandwich?”

I walked round the center counter, leaning into the corner opposite him. “What have you got?”

He opened the refrigerator, his back to me, and started poking around. “Have you heard of marmite?”

“No. What is it?”

He began explaining what sounded like a failed science project as he continued poking around in the refrigerator.

As I looked at his back I could feel myself getting more hungry. Hell, at this point, I’d eat the failed science project if it would fill me up.

He may not have been wearing the skin-tight t-shirt that Johnny had, but looking at his back, I found myself yearning to touch him. It wasn’t an obvious thing he had. I couldn’t really put my finger on it. I just liked him. I could talk to him. Even when I was feeling really embarrassed. Somehow the words just came out, and the next thing I knew I was laughing.

But wow, was I feeling light headed now! “Blood sugar getting low over here. Anything will do.”

He stopped rummaging and pulled something out. Then he turned to the center counter, facing me now, and started assembling a sandwich.

Okay, this was a much better view. He didn’t have the hard, sinewy muscles of Johnny. He wasn’t quite as fit, but still strong. For a moment I pictured myself in his arms. Mmm.

“Pardon?” he asked.

Oh jeez. Had I just moaned out loud? “Nothing. Just a bit dizzy.”

He kept assembling a concoction involving bread and black filling. Talking all the time, something about still waiting for the rest of their belongings to arrive from England, and how much better the weather was in Sanctuary – but I couldn’t seem to concentrate. Every now and again he’d stop and chuckle to himself. What a goof.

Just him and me, enjoying ourselves in his kitchen. Him enjoying making a sandwich - very slowly. Me… almost fainting in the corner.

“Mind if I get some water?”

“Sure, the tap’s just there.” He pointed to the basin. I wasn’t that light headed!

“There’s another lesson. It’s a faucet.” I poured myself a glass and drank. I downed the entire glass in a single gulp. Suddenly my hunger was almost gone. Instead, I was so thirsty. I poured myself a second glass. Then a third.

“Uhh, are you okay, Reliquiae?”

“Yeah, fine.” I was not fine. “Just a bit thirsty. How’s that sandwich coming? And it’s just Rel.”

“Almost there.”

I determined to not drink any more water. A fourth glass would be weird. I turned back to him, still leaning against the counter.

Oh, he looked great. And now, he was all mine for the night. No stupid cheerleaders to draw his eye. He looked so tasty.

Wait, tasty? That was a weird thing to call him. The dizziness must have gone to my head. I think that’s where dizziness started, anyway.

Oh, why hadn’t I had anything to eat back at my house. This was just embarrassing. If I actually passed out, I bet I’d be the laughing stock of the school by next week.

My head started to pound. My mouth was dry. Seriously, had I been sucking on a sponge before I got here? I realized that my head was pounding but… my heart was pounding out of sync.

My eyes snapped up, and locked on Rick’s neck. As if I was wearing binoculars my vision zoomed tightly to focus on just that sweet neck of his. So thick and strong. I found my dizziness gone. I walked slowly around the center counter towards him. The whole time I could hear my head pounding. No, his heart beating.

I was right next to him, and he hadn’t even looked up. He’d barely even moved. In fact, he was moving in slow motion. That was very weird.

I leaned into him from behind. I breathed his scent. He’d hidden it under some cologne, but I could smell him. A strong, musky oak, with a hint of sweetness at the end. He was just tall enough that I couldn’t reach his neck from behind. I reached up slowly to touch it. Just to feel it. I wanted to feel him pulse beneath my fingers. That was all. Just to feel him.

And then time began again.

He spun around. “Woah! Sorry, I didn’t even see you there. Here. Marmite sandwich!” He literally jammed the bread into my mouth, which was already hanging open.

I bit down without even thinking about it, and… I gagged.

“Yes. It does that if you’re not expecting it. Just give it a chance.” I was about to slap him, because whatever that was, it was an assault on me in some way. But he added. “For me?”

Damn it. He gave me those puppy-dog eyes as well. He was excited and wanted me to like it. I put it back to my mouth. I sniffed it. It didn’t smell bad. I took another bite.

“This tastes like salt and ground up mushrooms mixed with dirt.”

“That’s about right, sure. It’s great stuff.”

I put the sandwich back on the plate. “At least I know I don’t like whatever that is.”

“Sorry. I’ll make you something else.”

I no longer felt dizzy, and my feeling of hunger was barely noticeable. What on earth had happened there? Was that… Did I just… I buried my head in my hands.

“Are you okay, Rel?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Just the light headedness going, is all.” I looked up and forced a smile. What was wrong with me? Was this vampire stuff? My parents would know. Yes, get through tonight, and ask my parents. “Let’s study.”

“Okay, sure.”

We walked back to the living room and I sat down on the couch.

I pulled a book out of my backpack. I might be a wreck now, but I hadn’t been before, and I had prepared.

“So, what are you going to teach me?” he asked, sitting down next to me. I was still feeling a bit weird, but even so I could tell he sat closer to me than he needed to. Or was this just normal in England? I looked at him, but he was looking straight ahead. I put the book on the table but all I could feel was his thigh against my own.

“I got into the American football team. Did you hear?”

That broke the spell I’d been under. I giggled. Again. “It’s just football here.”

“Right. Sorry. A bit redundant, I suppose.”

“But yeah, I heard. Are you enjoying it?”

“I haven’t been to any practices yet, so I can’t say. I like sport, but I don’t know if this is for me. America does sports very differently to England. Much more… organized.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sure you’ll be happy about being surrounded by cheerleaders?” I asked, my stomach clenching at the thought.

“Umm, yes. Yes, they’re an interesting bunch. It was… I forgot her name…”

“Sasha?”

“Yes, Sasha. She stalked up to me in the middle of lunch with an entourage, and was the one who informed me I was on the team.”

Oh that… acting like she didn’t want him on the team in our meeting. Did she want him for herself? Oh great, the most beautiful and popular girl in school had her eye on my crush. But I had to play it cool.

“Oh? She’s nice, isn’t she?”

“Oh yes! Very nice. Right after she told me I’d made the team, she told me that she would take me out and show me the best local burger bar.”

Oh. My. God.

“That sounds… nice,” I squeaked.

“Yes, definitely. I still haven’t been to one in the month since we arrived.”

If he was going on a date with Sasha, why was he flirting with me? Why was he sitting so close? No. He hadn’t been flirting. Stupid, stupid, thinking he was coming on to me. This was just a study session to him. He didn’t even see me as a girl. How could he, compared to Sasha.

“It sounds like she’ll be teaching you all you need to know about America.” I muttered under my breath, “’And girls.”

“Pardon?”

Oh God, he’d heard. “And pearls,” I said. “Sanctuary used to have a big oyster trade.”

“I never knew that.” No, because I lied. “I hope she teaches me all about that then. But to be fair, you’ve done a great job so far, Rel. It’s all of these small, subtle things. And at least I can stop saying howdy now.” He grinned at me.

I wanted to chuckle, but I couldn’t find it in me. The thought of him and Sasha on a date stayed firm in my mind. And if not Sasha, then any other cheerleader. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything without betraying myself, so I patted him on the leg instead.

Oh my God I touched his leg. I hadn’t even meant to. I’d have done it with a close friend, maybe. In the instant before he could react, I imagined him jumping up, shouting at me to get out.

He looked at me and smiled. I didn’t know you could smile Britishly.

“You have really dark eyes, you know?” he said.

“You have really smooth pants.” Jeez, what did I just say?

“Thank you. Umm, my father picked them out for me.”

“Your dad dresses you?” Rel, stop talking!

His face flushed. “No, I didn’t mean that. Just… okay, what I was about to say doesn’t sound any better. But, he just knows clothes. An age thing, I guess.”

I kept my arms tucked into my lap now. No more mistakes, Rel! “If you ever need help, I could dress you.” Oh come on…

His face flushed even further and he looked away from me to the ground. He cleared his throat before speaking. “I actually didn’t even want to join the football team, you know? I was just trying to fit in. I like sport, and that seems to be what everyone does.”

Through my immense embarrassment, I managed to motion him to continue. As he spoke, I found I couldn’t pay attention. I was looking at his cheek. He was facing straight forward, still looking at the ground. He was telling me something I felt he hadn’t told anyone else, yet all I could focus on was his cheek. And his thigh touching mine. It was happening again. Time was slowing down, and I couldn’t look away from the blood that had rushed into his cheeks. It was so obvious. So unrestrained. So tempting. Even if I hadn’t been able to hear his heart pumping blood, I’d have felt it through his thigh. Our bodies were in sync.

I wanted him.

I leaned into his shoulder. I got closer to the thumping beat I wanted to taste. My eyes were still locked on his rosy red cheeks. His blood red cheeks.

Then I smelled him. I smelled his neck. I saw his pale neck vibrate with every pump of his heart. I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back so I could taste him. He was still unmoving, his mouth open in the middle of talking.

I didn’t know why, but some instinct told me to lick his jugular. Some weird instinct. I knew what to do. I knew what needed to happen. As I did, I felt my tongue rub against my own teeth. I had fangs. His fragile little neck beat against my tongue.

Fangs? Vampire instincts? Someone bigger than me being so easy to move? Time wasn’t slow. I was fast. What was I doing?!

Time sped up again.

Rick was thrown back into the couch. An action that had been so slow and easy for me.

“Woah! What was that? Did you push me…?” He looked shocked.

I stood up and ran for the door.

“Rel? Where are you go–”

I was out of the house. Tears streaked down my cheeks.

I ran.