The walk to her house was odd.

She didn't recall telling him which way to go? Which alley to take to reach her home?

Yet he moved like he knew everything.

Each time they would enter an alley, he would get in front.

Hiding her .

So it was odd. Strange and yet so. . normal. She didn't feel like this was happening for the first time.  He was the one leading her to her very own home. Watching his trench coat bellow slightly in the soft wind had him look like her guardian who fell from the sky only for her.

He knew the girl had no idea he was watching.

Watching her lips frowning.

Watching her take a sneak peek at him when she thought he wasn't looking.

If only she knew. .

She was the reason he was in. . turmoil.

Sex wasn't adding up.

Blood wasn't good enough.

Days weren't. .fun enough.

Truth be told , he had no idea why he was stalking her since the last one week. There was just. . something primitive. . territorial in him demanding from him ,almost forcing him to go out. Watch her like a hawk.

Be her shadow.

And she knew she was being stalked. May be she knew it was him . .

May be.

And may be she. . liked it.

Being stalked by him.

But then. .who wouldn't? He thought , smirking.

As he walked beside her, his hands deep in the pockets of his coat . .he took a breath in.

Inhaling the clean , pure scent of her blood.

Closing his eyes just for a moment, he admitted to himself. It was the most peculiar  blood he had ever known. It was natural . .it reminded him of nature.

And. .

No blood stood a chance against hers.

But it didn't mean he was going to suck her dry right here. Much to human's dismay , he wasn't a rabid vampire out to stick his teeth in the girl's throat at the first chance he get. There were more things to do in life than just sucking blood of a human.

He never liked how his kind were portrayed in books. Yes, once upon a time he did read all the bullshit . . curious as to what humans thought about his being?

After reading, all he thought was. . .blasphemy!

Damien had only one question.

Humans portrayed themselves in books as a being with feelings . .a being who could get happy, sad, angry. .while his beings get to be portrayed as rabid animals? Who had absolutely no job but to run after blood?

Yes blood was a necessity but it wasn't like if he didn't drink , he would drop dead in the next minute.

It didn't work that way.

Humans tended to get biased when it came to his lot. Painting his great-great-great grandfather , Count Dracula,  as a monstrous man . . plotting evil strategies against humanity.

If their were rogue vampires , then there were human murderers.

"This is so strange. ."

He heard her talk. Voluntarily. For the first time.

"What is?"

"You. . walking home with me. I mean. .i don't even know you. .," She trailed off, her voice low.

He smiled , looking at the dark pavement.

"What do you want to know ,Sarah?"

There was silence and then—

"Why are you doing this? Why are you here? You don't know me. ."

The streets lights weren't bright enough to light up the way, the area was barely lit. He didn't fail to notice how she get close to him, her shoulder nearly touching his bicep.

"You have so much of them. Questions. The whys. Why not let it flow ? Let it be ." He said softly.

"I can't afford to just let it be. The least you can do is tell me what you do and—"

This time he glanced at her, freezing her tongue right there.

Who could talk when he was looking ?

Not her.

"I work. In the blood bank." He said smoothly.

Well, it was half the truth anyway.

"Really? Then you must have seen them." She said, a hint of wonder in her voice.

"Who?"

She whispered. "Vampires."

He nodded. Of course.

"Ah yes. Vampires. Indeed , I see them. More than I like." He chuckled darkly.

He had heard her gasp.

"How-how are they like?! Are they actually hideous? Have gnarly nails? And do they sleep in coffins?!" Her outburst was really . . . endearing.

Damien pushed his hand in his hair, ruffling them a little.

"Listening to your . . assumptions about vampires is amusing but no. .vampires are as normal as humans. Much to human's disappointment vampires actually have a life." He shrugged .

She was silent and he knew why.

Embarrassed for her outburst and a slight shade of judgement.

He laughed making her heart thud.

"It's fine . Even vampires are judgemental  about humans. They often wonder if humans can really walk in the daylight? Can the slightest pressure on their throat kill them? . .so yes. Judgement is from both sides. "

She didn't even realize they had reach her home. The hideous door sticking out like a sour thumb.

He had slowed down right in front of her "home". As she turned towards him . .her eyes fell on his hands and she thought fleetingly. .the grocery bags didn't belong in his hands.

The moonlight was hitting his face , outlining his jawline. The messy hair , the deep blue eyes turning almost black . .the marble skin. .

Yes, the bags didn't belong in his hands.

He was fit to be a roman king.

"I was thinking. .i saved you, and I helped you shop. Let me rephrase. . tried to help you and now I'm standing here . Don't you think I deserve a cup of hot chocolate?" He asked with mild humor.

And she found herself nodding vigorously.

"Of course! Come on in!" She said and nearly flew to the front door.

Trembling fingers reaching in her bag for the key . .why were her hands shaking?

Unlocking the door , she stepped in and—he didn't.

Her house dark, she turned around at him . .

He was standing on the threshold  watching her.

As if. . expecting something.

"Damien?" She took his name. . whispering it.

"Yes?"

"Why aren't you coming in?" She asked puzzled. Did she upset him in some way? He didn't want to come in? Just the thought made her stomach drop.

"You aren't letting me. In."

What?

Now that really was confusing.

And then he spoke again.

"Would you let me in  Sarah?"

"I-i already did—"

"Would you let me in Sarah?" He repeated. This time a strange allure to his voice.

And she didn't think much.

"Yes. I'm letting you in."

××××××××××××××××

Leaned against the marble shelf, he had crossed his arms over his chest. . watching a very nervous human work around him.

She looked like a nervous wreck.

He wanted to see when. .when will she crumble under the pressure of his gaze.

Not many lived up to his expectations.

He had taken off his coat, dumping it on a worn out couch, he had felt her eyes shifting from his biceps to his chest . . .all he had on was a button down black shirt . The sleeves rolled up to his elbows , the thick sinewy veins adding to his enticing aura.

She wanted to take a break from him, run away to take a breath away from him. .so she came up with an excuse.

"I'll put them in the kitchen and be right back." She had said.

Amused, he had watch her hightail from the tiny living room with an old TV and a brown leather couch that had seen good days.

But he didn't let her get away from him.

When she was placing the pot on the stove, he had entered the kitchen. She had her back to him. .and his eyes had fell on her long brown hair cascading down to her lower back. .and he had wondered.

Wondered how he didn't notice her hair first?

Raw silk.

Pure unadulterated silk.

And Lord she was humming to herself , trying to calm down her knotted nerves.

That's when he had cleared his throat .

And it almost gave the poor human a heart attack.

The spoon in her hand had met the ground with an obnoxious clang, spinning around . .her eyes as wide as doe. .she looked at him in disbelief.

Her chest raising and falling.

Damien just moved in. .two feet in . . leaning against the shelf. Crossing his arms.

"You might catch fire." He said .

"What?"

Dumbstruck. She was dumbstruck

He sighed.

"You have your back to the stove. its on, Cinderella." A little sarcasm coloring his voice.

As soon as she registered what he said, she cried "shit!" and whirled around . . stepping away from the stove.

Bending down and muttering to herself, she picked up the spoon.

He could see she was . . cooking something.

"What's that on the stove?"

She stood up straight and then she stirred the brown liquid in the pot with the spoon.

"Hot chocolate. You wanted one right?" She had her back to him and hence the confidence in her voice rejuvenating.

"I want so many things, Sarah but right now hot chocolate would do." He smiled when she glanced at him almost shyly.

"It's almost ready. ."

And then after ten minutes , she had poured it into two cups . Offering one to him as she took hers.

Graciously he took the cup from her, his hand grazing hers. .

Hastily she pulled her hand back and then she started to walk. Until—

"Where to Sarah?"

Sarah turned towards him. .a little confused.

"To the living room?"

He shook his head.

"No need. This kitchen is fine. It's. .," He took a sip of the hot chocolate, his eyes looking at her over the rim of the cup, " intimate."

The blush on her cheeks spilled .

Tucking her hair behind her ear, she didn't reply and just moved . . standing opposite him. She too leaning against the shelf.

Both of them sipping on the liquid .

Damien watching her blatantly.

Sarah trying to look away anywhere but him.

"Sarah, do you believe in love at first glance?" He asked suddenly.

She was glad he did. . because the environment was turning into a hot oven.

"No. ."

"How so?"

"It's. . simple. You cannot know a person at first glance. . falling for beauty at first glance  is . .shallow. My mother says the body will decay but the soul won't. " She said suddenly missing her.

"Well. .i think it's possible. To fall in love at first glance." He said calmly.

"It's my turn to say. .how so?" She mocked earning a small smile from him.

"I would say some souls are intertwined with each other. All they need is one glance to know each other. For instance , my sister met her husband at a ball and one week later they were engaged." He could see the amazement in her face.

Also he was quite surprised at himself for giving away such personal information.

"Wow. A love like that is like the moon. It's not for everyone. Only the blessed can get it." She said almost wistfully.

He gave a dry chuckle.

"No. It's for everyone but not everyone have it in them to go far enough. "

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