Page 28 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

AURORA

T y and I sleep through the night in a tangled mess of limbs. His story had left me raw, his grief was so like my own, only with a suffocating amount of guilt too. I hadn’t let him see the tears I shed for him as we’d folded ourselves together underneath the covers.

He’d fallen asleep before me as I’d gently stroked my fingers through his hair in some effort to soothe him. In the twelve hours or so we’d spent together, we’d gone from strangers to pouring our souls out to each other.

Seems weird I know, but it’s like I’ve known him my whole life. His presence just settles something in me, a deep yearning I hadn’t recognised until he came into my life. Knowing more about him, sharing these intimate moments, have only strengthened the feelings I have for him.

“I want you to be mine.”

He’d said it during that heated conversation where I’d tried to run. He hadn’t made any kind of move since, but my interest had now completely surpassed crush and was bordering obsession. It was so fast it was stupid.

I had way too much information to process, a new identity to explore - Like being a fucking vampire. I shouldn’t be contemplating a romantic relationship on top of everything else.

But I was. My body welcomed his heat, his gaze. Gods, whenever our eyes met my insides melted and burned.

My heart beats out of rhythm as Ty’s arm around my waist grips tighter.

I dip my nose into the thick curls on his head and inhale, already his scent has become a crux I don’t want to lose.

The solid mass of him curled around me brings me a comfort I haven’t felt since before the crash.

I’d also slept more in the last day than I had in weeks, the nightmare being completely absent.

Between that, and the blood I drank, I’m more rested and able to function than I have been in so long.

I keep mulling over the strange feeling as I unconsciousness pulls me under once more.

I wake a little while later to find the bed cold.

For a second I think it was all a fever dream.

But as I inhale and I can still smell him on my sheets.

I curl a fist around them, scrunching the duvet up around me, as if some of his heat could still be there.

It's cold though, telling me he must’ve left a while ago.

Blinking the sleep from my eyes I sit up, grabbing my phone from the floor. As it unlocks the notes app is open, a new message on the screen.

I didn’t want to wake you. I have to return to the pack. Stay safe and hidden. I will be back as soon as I can. I’ve left a blood packet for you in your desk drawer for today - your stalker

My stomach hollows. I don’t know what I wanted to read but there’s no mention of what we went through yesterday. I wonder if he feels the same sense of peace it brought me.

I stare at the screen long enough it turns off. I tap it and unlock it again, entering my password. Hang on a minute.

I jump to the text app and click on stalker.

How do you know my phone’s passcode?

I hit send, then remember the last part of the note.

I leap from the bed and dash to the desk.

Sure enough, inside the top drawer is a packet of blood.

I’m staring at the packet in my hand, the blood sloshing around inside, as my phone pings.

Tossing the pack back in the drawer I grab my phone from the bed.

Red’s Stalker: My stalking abilities know no boundaries Red.

That should be creepy as hell but I smile.

Thank you for the blood.

I type and send. Then add,

And thanks for yesterday, I’m glad we finally talked.

I hit the delete key repeatedly.

Yesterday was both the worst and best day I’ve had in a long time.

Delete.

I loved meeting your shadows.

Delete.

Dammit. I lock my phone, throwing it down. No wonder Ty didn’t leave anything about yesterday in his message to me. I can’t form words either.

I take a shower, dress for the day, and tidy my room as I replay every word from yesterday.

I go to put my glamour back in place but pause. I don’t need to hide myself anymore. My skin looks healthy, my eyes far less tired. I do hide my hair colour once more though, it still feels too raw to have it on show. Like my brunette version isn’t the one dealing with a tragedy.

I can’t believe I just needed to drink blood.

I can’t believe I’ve thought that without freaking out, like drinking blood is such a normal thing.

Speaking of blood. I open the drawer again. It’s instant, the burning at the back of my throat.

The hunger.

Now I’ve decided to acknowledge the voice in my head, it seems more controllable, like it was yelling for attention before, making me lash out. I pick up the pack, embracing this new me.

How am I meant to drink this without my handy vampire with fangs around? I suppose scissors will have to do.

I head down to the kitchen to find some, and maybe a glass. Thankfully, I leave the blood pack upstairs as both Bree and Claire are sitting at the breakfast bar. I freeze as they both look up.

“Hey,” I say hesitantly.

“Morning,” Bree muffles around a mouthful of porridge.

“Hi,” Claire surprisingly adds. I give her a small smile as I cross the space, and start opening drawers looking for the scissors.

“Rory, can we talk?” Claire’s voice cuts through the noise of my digging through our utensils, making me pause. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone off on you.” She’s still sitting but has turned on her seat so she’s facing me. I turn too, giving her my full attention.

“You know I didn’t want to hurt your brother right?” At least emotionally, I mentally add.

“I know, I just got super protective. He might be my older brother but he’s still my brother and I didn’t think you liked him.”

“I don’t,” I rush out. I may have had a small flicker of interest but it’s a distant memory now that a certain other guy has decided to stop keeping his distance. “And I’m truly sorry he got hurt. And I shouldn’t have ran out of there. I panicked but it’s not an excuse.”

“Thanks. I spoke to David again yesterday, he said you’d talked it out. He called me a bitch by hanging this over you,” she says sheepishly.

“You can be so stubborn,” Bree chimes in. Her wide grin makes me chuckle.

“I know!” Claire retorts, playfully punching Bree’s arm, “I’ll work on it.” She turns back to me, standing from her chair. “Hug it out?” She opens her arms and I step into them.

“Forget it and move on?” I ask as our arms wrap around each other.

“Forgotten,” Claire agrees. It feels good to put this behind us.

I inhale, realising my mistake too late. A sudden pain hits my upper jaw, causing me to flinch.

“Hey, you ok?” Claire pulls back but keeps her hands on my arms.

I zero in on a patch of soft skin, where her neck meets her shoulder. I swear I can see her pulse fluttering beneath. A pulse means blood. Sweet flowing blood. I swallow the excess saliva suddenly swimming round my mouth. I nod with a tight lipped smile, not risking opening my mouth to speak.

I shouldn’t be this close to anyone. Ty’s warning fires through my head.

Claire doesn’t seem to notice how I’m warring with the predator in my head as she pulls me in closer again. My face ends up right beside her fluttering pulse point.

Oh, fuck.

I stop breathing. It eases the desires a little.

Claire finally steps back and I escape to the other side of the room.

Not knowing what to do I grab a glass, quickly fill it with water and chug the whole thing.

It doesn’t fully quench the raging thirst but the action soothes my throat a little.

I keep the glass to my lips and inhale, as if the glass can act as some sort of mask to the scent of my best friend mere feet away.

“So, my ballet group is organising a night out at Matches next weekend, it's our last chance to have a blow out until after the solstice with the winter showcase coming up, are you two up for it?” Bree asks, back to attacking her porridge.

“Yeah, sounds fun. Good choice with Matches,” Claire replies.

“Thanks, it was my idea. Plus, they’ve got the VIP mezzanine, which I’ve booked for us.” Bree moves to wash up her bowl. “You in Rory?” She looks at me.

“Yes, sounds good,” I say, trying to use as little oxygen as possible so I don’t have to inhale.

“Maybe you two can finally get laid this year,” Bree giggles.

“You too!” Claire admonishes.

“I’ll have you know I have a date already lined up,” she announces like we won’t both jump on that bit of information. It's the distraction I need, refocusing me away from the murderous thoughts..

“Who? The girl you danced with on Hallow’s Eve?” Claire asks.

“What girl?” My eyebrows jump up at Bree.

“After you left, I went to find this one,” Claire answers for her, “and she’s practically climbing this tall brunette in a killer catsuit outfit.”

“Yes, that one. Her name is Amelia. She’s a stage tech in training.” Bree can’t hide her smile. I also notice the blush to her cheeks and quickly look anywhere else.

“You never mentioned this to me!” I pout.

“Look, it's new,” Bree interjects, “this will be our first date apart from grabbing a quick coffee this week.” She gives us both a look which says we need to be on our best behaviour next weekend.

“I’ll be flying solo,” I tell them, although the thought of asking Ty to join me is tempting. Would he be able to come? Can we be seen together in public? All questions I have zero answers for.

“Me too. Although, if it's your whole troop going I wouldn’t mind some hot male dancer giving me attention for a night,” Claire adds. I note the pained look on her face.

She dated someone pretty seriously in our first year which ended horribly and hasn’t trusted anyone since. It clearly still haunts her.

“What about you Rory?” Bree asks me. “Am I playing wingman to the pair of you?”

“Er…,” I stumble, “I don’t know.”

“Gotta get back in the saddle sometime.” Bree wiggles her brows in my direction, her face a clear reflection of the plotting going on in her mind.

“I know.” I take a shallow breath, folding my arms across myself. “I might’ve been messaging a guy,” I say hesitantly. It's so soon after what happened with David I don't want to appear cold.

“You have?” Claire says, eyebrows raising. “Is that why you didn’t get with my brother?”

“Yeah, sort of,” I sheepishly admit. “I’d seen this guy around campus a few times.

A couple weeks back we ran into each other in the library and started talking.

We exchanged numbers.” I know I can’t tell them all the details but it feels good to talk about this to my best friends.

“He’s quite mysterious and keeps to himself but we’ve been messaging since and he’s been getting more open. It’s not gone further than that.”

“But you’re hoping it does?” Claire asks, sounding genuine in her interest which makes me relax.

“I think so.” I totally know so.

“Well, invite him next weekend, let’s see if he can pass the best friend test,” Bree orders me, a chagrin smile on her lips which makes me smile back.

“Maybe. I don’t know if it's his scene.”

“Well, you wont know if you don’t ask,” she says, like it's so easy.

“Shit, is that the time? I need to go.” Claire suddenly jumps up and starts shoving stuff in her bag.

I glance at the clock on the wall and realise I too am running late. After skipping classes yesterday I really can’t afford to miss today too.

Five minutes later, no time for drinking blood, Claire and I are leaving the house, leaving Bree behind. She’s on a rest day to work on her routine plans.

Dashing to the campus together we barely speak but I’m so relieved to have my best friend back. The tension between us is completely gone.

Although, I have a much bigger secret now.