Inquest (15 page)

“What brings you to a club on a Wednesday night?” she asked.

“I'm visiting the area, and I want to live it up here as much as I can. I figured I'd check out a party or two and see what you city folk do for fun. What about you?” He leaned against the brick exterior of the club and glanced over at her casually.

“Birthday party,” she mumbled, and then nervously leaned against the wall as well. “You're obviously not from here.” He must have been from one of the more rural areas if he was referring to her as ‘city folk.'

“Gee, you think?”

“So where are you from?”

“Does it matter?”

It didn't, but she still wanted to know. “Yes.”

He turned his body, now leaning onto the wall with his left elbow supporting him. A small laugh escaped his lips and he shook his head. “It doesn't matter. Don't ruin the moment by asking a lot of stupid questions.”

She blinked a few times with surprise. “We're having a moment?”

“Yeah.” He kept his eyes locked on hers. He must have known the effect they were having. When she looked into them, she could see gleefulness inside him, as if he were playing some kind of a game and winning. It took her a moment to realize she was the game and she was letting him win. As much as she wanted to stop him and take back control, she found herself unable to.

“Sorry, it's that smell again,” he said. The next thing she knew, his body was pressing hers against the wall and his nose was sniffing along the curve of her neck. He paused at the flesh connecting it to her shoulders and kissed it ever so gently. “It's intoxicating. I hope you don't mind if I have a taste.”

“Taste? A little taste couldn't hurt, right? Only a tiny one,” she stammered. What was this strange tingling she was feeling inside? She couldn't understand why she enjoyed what he was doing so much. It felt so wrong, but in a good way.

“Of course,” he murmured, and that was when he bit her. It didn't hurt as much as startle her. The bite itself was filled with a raw and intense passion.

The pain lasted for only a brief moment and then she was filled with a sense of euphoria mixed with confusion over why it felt so good. Why didn't she want him to stop? Her body tingled inside and out in ways she never knew existed. Just as quickly as he had sunk his teeth into her skin, he pulled out again and fled down the street. Several minutes passed before she regained her composure and everything started to sink in.

Her hand instinctively went to her neck to numb the lingering sting. This also shielded the wound from unwanted stares. The bouncers nearby watched her curiously, no doubt wondering if she was just relishing in the moment of a lover's sweet kiss. In some ways, she was, because she certainly didn't feel any fear and was still lost in the wave of euphoria. With her free hand she pulled out her cell phone and dialed 411.

“I need the number for a cab company, please.”