An almost inaudible sound of footsteps echoes through the shadowy alleys of Totthenam, on the outskirts of London.
They belong to a young boy. Blond hair. Amber eyes.
His name is Lyon Blayne, and he's a vampire.
Or at least, that's the only explanation that's ever made sense to him.
For two years now, he's been tormented by an unbearable thirst for blood.
But becoming a vampire isn't supposed to work like that.
You're supposed to be bitten, and he's sure that never happened.
The thirst is unbearable.
Once, he tried to resist it for three weeks. It was hell.
He couldn't stop shaking.
His body felt hollow, and his mind was falling apart.
He needs to drink every day, but somehow, he manages to hold back—two or three times a month is enough to keep the worst symptoms at bay.
Tonight is one of those nights.
He calls it the hunt.
It sounds cruel, but he's never left anyone with permanent damage.
He walks through the dark alleys, waiting.
When he spots someone alone, he strikes.
He's fast. Strong.
So quick they barely notice until it's too late.
~Tonight's my lucky night!~ he thinks.
It's been less than thirty minutes since the hunt began, and he already spots a girl walking alone.
He freezes.
She's older. Beautiful. Long, straight platinum hair. Eyes like emeralds.
He knows her instantly.
Brianne Leviantis. Eighteen years old. President of the student council at his high school.
~What the hell is she doing here at this hour? They say she's been with half the guys in class. Even a few teachers. Should I risk it? Her blood might be full of diseases…~
But he has no choice.
He feels like a junkie, desperate and shaking, ready to take a hit even from a dirty needle.
He moves behind her silently, step by step.
Now, he's just one step away.
He can already feel her heartbeat pounding through her neck when...
—WOOOM!
A violent gust of wind hurls him backwards, slamming him into a metal dumpster.
~What the hell was that?!~
Lyon quickly scrambles to his feet and ducks behind the dumpster, heart racing.
~Where did that wind come from?!~
Brianne turns around, her eyes locked right on him.
«Lyon Blayne. Come out. I know you're there.»
A chill runs down his spine. He stops breathing.
~How the hell does she know it's me?!~
With nowhere to hide, Lyon steps out from behind the dumpster, cornered.
«What were you trying to do?» she asks, her voice sharp and cold.
Panic hits him like a wave.
~What do I even say? That I wanted her blood? Maybe I should lie. Say I wanted to rob her. But that might just make it worse.~
She walks toward him, slow and confident.
Her hips sway with grace.
Her breasts, full and round under a sleeveless white shirt, bounce softly with each step.
«Elaine was right. You have the Vampire Crystal,» she says softly, exhaling in relief as she examines him closely.
«I… what?» Lyon stutters, totally lost.
«The crystal in your heart,» she says. «How else do you explain what you were about to do?»
«I… so I'm really a vampire?» he mutters, stunned and embarrassed.
~Yeah… I've got this insane craving for human blood, and I'm way stronger and faster than any normal fourteen-year-old… but I figured there had to be some kind of weird scientific explanation…~
Brianne gives a faint smile, then takes him by the wrist.
«Come with me.»
Before he can respond, she drags him into a narrow alley and starts unbuttoning her shirt.
A black lace bra comes into view.
Lyon swallows hard.
Her skin is a warm amber tone, perfectly tanned. And her breasts—somehow even big than they looked under the shirt.
«W-What are you doing?» he stammers.
«Blood stains. Hard to clean. So come on—just do what you came here to do.»
Those words shake him.
He hesitates for a moment, but the withdrawal takes over immediately.
His fangs grow longer. His amber eyes glow red.
She's taller—at least ten centimeters.
With those heeled boots, he has to stand on his toes to reach her neck.
Her breathing speeds up.
Her blood is something he's never tasted before.
Sweet. Intoxicating. Like an aphrodisiac fruit juice.
Instinct takes over.
He slams her against the wall.
His chest presses against her soft breasts.
His hands pin her wrists against the wall.
An erection, sudden and uncontrollable, presses between her thighs.
His jeans barely hold it back.
It pushes under her black miniskirt.
He sinks his teeth deeper.
The blood flows from her neck.
It drips down to her chest like a hot red river running along hills.
Moans escape her lips.
Moans of pain? Or something else?
Lyon is too lost to notice.
«L-Lyon… that's enough,» she gasps, trembling.
She gently pushes him away—her cheeks flushed, lips pressed tight.
Is it because he just drank her blood?
The helplessness she felt, pinned to the wall?
Or maybe the hard erection she clearly felt between her thighs, even through his jeans?
He steps back, reluctantly.
His heart pounds.
Blood drips from the corners of his lips.
He snaps back to reality.
He's just as shocked as she is.
~W-Why did she let me do it? Maybe… she likes me? No way. That's impossible. She's Brianne Leviantis—the idol of the school. She could have anyone. I'm a nobody. But then… why…?~
Brianne takes out disinfectant and cotton from her bag.
She dabs at the bite marks, then calmly buttons up her shirt, as if nothing had happened.
Lyon watches her, still confused.
~Cotton and disinfectant? Yeah, girls carry all sorts of stuff… But seriously? It's like she knew this was going to happen…~
«Does anyone know about this… peculiarity of yours?» she asks, serious.
«N-No… I don't think so,» he replies, still dazed.
She nods.
«Good. Tomorrow, after class, meet me in the student council room. I'll explain everything. Now go home.»