Falling for the Vampire - Complete Box Set: Falling for the Vampire

COMPLETE

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Tully Belle © Copyright 2015

All Rights Reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imaginations or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author.

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Version 1.01

Last Updated: September 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

PART FOUR

PART FIVE

Other books by Tully Belle

CHARACTER LIST

Emma Hazelton

Eldest of the Hazelton girls. About to turn twenty-one.

Rose Hazelton

Middle Hazelton sister. Nineteen years old.

Elizabeth (Beth) Hazelton

Youngest of the Hazelton girls. Seventeen years old.

Steven Hazelton (Uncle)

Brother of Edward. Uncle to the Hazelton girls. Current owner of Hazelton Manor.

Edward Hazelton

Father to the Hazelton girls. Rich. Owned Hazelton Manor. Married Sarah Clark. Died ten years ago.

Sarah Hazelton (nee Clark)

Mother to the Hazelton girls. Married Edward Hazelton. Died ten years ago. Friends with Silas Nathanial when she was younger.

Silas Nathanial

Vampire. Was turned almost twenty one years ago. Was best friends with Sarah when he was a human.

Mrs. Nenken

Housekeeper. Came to Hazelton Manor when Edward and Sarah died to help look after the girls and keep the house.

Terrell Winchester

Chef. Has been at the Manor for six months.

PART ONE

1

EMMA

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Ice crystals cracked on the window and I stirred awake, turning my head in the direction of the sound. A pattern had formed that looked like a thick tangled cobweb, obscuring the view into opaqueness. Even the warmth from the room wasn’t melting the ice on the glass like it usually did. It must be colder outside than I thought.

My bed was next to the window and I reached up to close the curtains when a dark shadow crossed the panes.

At first I thought I’d imagined it, I was still sleepy from my dreams after all, but when it passed again, the chill from outside invaded my bones. I lay quietly barely daring to breathe as I stared outside.

It was him. I knew it.

We’d heard rumors, my sisters and I, but no-one had seen him. No one that had lived to tell anyway.

There was evidence though. So much evidence.

Dried splattered blood lay on paths in the daylight, an animal sucked to death nearby. But he didn’t venture out in the daylight. He was a night dweller. Nocturnal. A killer.

I dared to look across at my two younger sisters. Both were fast asleep. Nineteen year old Rose had her head turned toward the wall and my youngest sister, seventeen year old Beth dreamed peacefully. Neither knew that he was just outside our window.

Tap, tap, tap.

My heart jumped into my throat.

Go away, I willed silently. Leave me be. I shut my eyes tight and pretended it was just a tree branch scratching against the window in the wind and nothing more sinister.

Open the window, let me in. His voice was deep and soft. He whispered the words breathlessly. Open the window, he repeated.

I will not, I thought to myself. I will not let you in.

Tap, tap, tap.

Beth stirred and groaned. If he continued to tap on the window like this then he’d wake them and terrify them. No, I couldn’t have that.

I slowly inched over and reached into the drawer beside my bed, pulling out a newly sharpened butcher’s knife.

I knew he was watching me so I made no attempt to conceal what I was doing. My hope was that if he saw me with it he’d leave and bother someone else. Preferably somewhere far away.

Go away, I hissed as quietly as I could. Or I’ll call my uncle. He’ll set the dogs onto you.

You won’t call him, he said.

I paused, how could he know that? It angered me that he would be so presumptuous, but worse that he would know that I wouldn’t call my uncle. He was right, I wouldn’t call him. Not this late at night, and certainly not to our bedroom, the only room at Hazelton Manor where we felt safe.

Then I’ll call the police.

I don’t want to hurt you.

I still couldn’t see him. I inched closer to the window searching for his face. If I could just look into his eyes and show him that I would go through with my threat to call the police then I was sure he’d leave.

He said no more as I leaned closer to the windowpanes, the knife still clutched tight in my fist.

I reached my hand up to the glass to wipe away the ice crystals. Even though they were on the other side of the window the warmth of my flesh should be enough to melt them and clear it enough so I would have a better view.

Where are you? Show yourself, I demanded. I would need to give the police a description.

I jumped back and gasped when he appeared in the window. One minute I couldn’t see anything and the next he was standing there.

I don’t know what I was expecting he’d look like, but it certainly wasn’t the man that was standing outside my bedroom window. This man was only a few years older than myself, yet had a wisdom in his features that was uncommon with youth. His eyes were dark, almost black and they had a fierce intensity to them.

His hair was light, almost the color of the moon and hung long to his shoulders. I’d never seen any man wear his hair this way, not any man that lived around here anyway.

I couldn’t tell much from his clothing, except that it was dark, maybe black, and draped over him like a heavy coat.

Are you pleased with my appearance? he asked. He spread his hands wide so I could get a better look.

I am pleased that I will have a good description to tell the police. I kept my eyes locked with his so that he would know that I wasn’t going to be easy prey.

Call them. He leaned against the frame outside and I could see the slight curve of his lips as he turned up the corner of them into a half smile, half smirk.

I will.

Go ahead, I’ll wait for them right here.

I glanced over at my sleeping sisters and back to him. I insist that you leave here this instant. I’m not letting you in.

Then come outside instead.

Was he kidding? As if I would go outside with him.

Tap, tap, tap.

Stop it! You’ll wake my sisters.

Come outside with me, Emma Hazelton. I won’t hurt you.

He knew my name. I wasn’t expecting that, but then most people in town knew about us, so it wasn’t such a stretch. No. You’ll kill me.

I will do no such thing. I would never kill a beauty such as yours. His eyes drew me in and I almost believed him. Something about the way he was looking at me lowered my guard.

Why do you want me to come outside?

Because, dear Emma, I’m hungry and I want to drink your blood.

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2

SILAS

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Emma’s face was intoxicating. I almost felt drunk looking at her. Her rich chocolate brown hair that hung down her smooth curved back, curled at the ends. Her pale blue eyes were bright with life. Her soft plump lips ached to be bit and sucked.

I told her the truth, I had no intention of murdering such beauty, I wouldn’t. I won’t.

She stared at me with such defiance that I didn’t expect. Most humans are terrified when they see me, but here was Emma Hazelton almost daring me to touch her.

I wanted to touch her. I wanted to devour her.

Would you like an appetizer with your cup of blood, sir? She lifted her eyebrow to mock me. I’m sorry the kitchen is closed. She drew the curtains across the window with force. She was still on the other side of it; I could trace the shadowy outline of her body from the dim light behind her. But I wasn’t giving up so easily.

I tapped on the windowpane again. If only I could get her to stare deeply into my eyes, I still had a chance of luring her outside.

She appeared again, this time she’d bought her knife higher as if to threaten my life, but steel would do me no harm.

Look at me, Emma. Trust me.

Trust you? She almost laughed, but stopped herself as she whipped her head back around to check on her sleeping sisters. I don’t trust anyone, she whispered through clenched teeth.

I knew your mother.

That’s a lie.

I knew her before she died. She had such a sweet singing voice. She used to sing lullabies to send you off to sleep when you were a child. Do you remember that?

Emma hesitated as if trying to determine whether I was telling her the truth or not. Her grip on the knife softened. I don’t believe you. Her resolve was weakening.

Look me in the eyes and you’ll be able to determine if I’m telling the truth or not.

She paused before leaning closer toward the glass. I nearly had her.

Search for the answers, Emma.

The answers...

I locked my gaze to hers. A few more seconds and I’d be able to get her to do anything I wanted. Can you see the truth?

Yes, she whispered breathlessly.

Good. Now open the window and come outside with me.

Yes, she repeated as her fingers fumbled on the latch. I’m coming outside.

I had her.

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3

EMMA

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I could hear the words escape my lips and watch my fingers open the window as if I was in a dream. Everything happened in slow motion and it seemed like I was in a deep fog and could only see a few steps ahead of me. The cool breeze rushed across my face as I climbed into the window frame and jumped across to the ground outside.

He was taller than I was, and much stronger. Everything about him exuded a raw power and I was fascinated by it. I knew something wasn’t right, but I didn’t know what. It was like my mind had switched off and I was no longer in control of my senses, yet everything felt like it was supposed to be.

You have no shoes, he said, looking down at my bare feet on the cold wet ground. That won’t do.

Instead of fetching them for me he picked me up. His strong hand encircled my waist and the other arm lifted my feet off the ground and cradled under my knees.

Where are we going? I asked.

Would you like to see where I live?

I found myself nodding.

I’m not sure if I was seeing things truly as they were, but when he leaped into the air it felt like we were flying. Whatever the mode of transport we took, I could tell we were going very fast. Far away from Hazelton Manor and far away from my home.

A distant thought entered my mind that something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I tried to hold on to the thought, make it stronger, and make it clearer.

We have arrived, he said. We reached a stone landing cut high into a tall mountain. The only mountains that I knew were ten miles away from where I lived. My sisters and I liked to look out of the window and imagine ourselves on the snow-capped range sometimes when we talked about our freedom. We couldn’t have reached that far in just a few minutes, not on foot, but perhaps we had been travelling faster than I had first thought. Nothing was making any sense.

He placed me down on the ground, the rough stone floor cold on my bare feet. An opening in the rock face looked warm and inviting and I was drawn toward it.

This is where you live, I said. I knew it was true the moment I stepped inside.

Luxurious tapestries hung on the wall, rich brocade carpets lined the floor. A black velvet sofa, long enough for eight people to sit at together sat in the middle of the room.

A warm rich scent of jasmine and sandalwood filled the room from candles, hundreds of them, that sat on shelves, tables, even the floor. It made the room glow with light so bright it could almost be daylight. The only thing that betrayed the time was the dark sky and thousands of stars that twinkled outside.

Do you like it? He seemed genuinely curious about my answer. He came over and stared deeply into my eyes and the same warm feeling of contentment washed over me again. I don’t let just anyone see where I live.

Why not? It’s lovely.

His lips curled into a smile and he leaned closer. His nostrils flared as he inhaled my scent. You are lovely, he said. I could drink you in all night.

I’m sorry? I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly.

A drink. Would you like something to drink? He stepped away and turned his back to me. His shoulders were drawn tight as if he were tense and struggling with some internal battle within himself.

Yes please, I said. Something warm if you have it.

Something warm. The words left his lips in a whisper before he shuddered slightly. He walked to a long countertop and opened the cupboard below bringing out a bottle of brandy and one glass. This is all I have that warms. He poured the liquid into the glass, filling it about one third.

Alcohol. My uncle did not let me or my sisters drink alcohol while under his roof. That made me all the more eager to try it. I walked over and took the glass from him, inhaling the strong scent. Are you having any?

No. I cannot stand the taste.

Then why do you have it here? If you don’t like it and you said you don’t have many guests. I didn’t wait for a reply before bringing the drink to my mouth and letting it slide between my lips. It burned my tongue and I could feel it travel down my throat and into my belly, but it wasn’t unpleasant and it did indeed warm me. I liked it.

He scoffed and gazed at me with a strange look in his eyes. A valid question. I don’t know why I have it. Perhaps as a reminder for what I can no longer have. He stepped closer and I instinctively placed the glass to my lips to take another drink.

Why aren’t you scared of me, Emma?

Scared of him? Why would I be? He seemed a charming host if maybe a little intense, but I had no sense of dread from him. Or did I? I frowned as I tried to figure out what I felt right now and realized I felt nothing. Nothing except the feeling of this not being quite right had begun to bubble inside me again.

Who are you? I asked. What is your name? I realized I knew nothing about my charming host. Why did I come here if I didn’t know him? It went against everything that I believed in.

Silas Nathanial, he said as he bowed low. But you can call me Master.

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4

SILAS

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The recognition of where she was and what she was doing here was slowly dawning on her. I’d let the truth come to her before advancing. I wanted to see the fear in her eyes and her knees weaken before I took the blood from her veins.

She stared at me, trying to place me as she stepped back toward the sofa. Then the moment happened. Her lips parted and she slumped, falling down to the black velvet sofa as she looked at me with wide-eyed horror.

You are going to kill me.

I shook my head. No, I told you I wouldn’t, I meant it.

The cold had made her nipples pert and they strained against her thin flannel nightgown as her chest heaved in heavy gulps. One day I’d pierce the creamy skin of those breasts and watch her blood run down over her nipples as I licked it off