1
Cassius
Along the coastal line, in between the lush forest and the barren land. Far east, past from the academy's borders. Sitting under a large base of an orange maple tree a book lays open having pages be turned one after another. As I have my back turned and slumped against the orange tree, too focused to not even be able to hear any bird above, flustered or not.
A loud, uncanny, rustling sound behind a murky brownish bush, intensifies as a flock of birds escape. Before I could see what was happening, a taste of metal filled my mouth and a loud bang of my head hitting the hard, unruly bark of the maple tree. My eyes open into a blur of the once barren land into a thick haze.
The back of my head now pressed heavily against the trunk of the maple tree. The pressure placed upon the hand on top of my head never subsided, only forcefully continued as the hand jerked my head to the right.
Now having to face the line of hazy trees and barren land to my right. Dread fills my body as my knees buckle, hands numb and uncooperative. A large body mass pressed in between my open buckled knees, then a long lasting breath releases. A soft, gentle mouth is pressed against the side of my neck, as chills of fear and dread make the hairs of the back of my head rise. The mouth now pressed closely to my neck, bites with enough force to make my body nearly fall to the ground, but a hand on my waist is stabilizing my body weight, carefully to not let me hit the ground.
My body is now ever so sensitive, blood rushes to my neck with the sound of gulping filling my ears, until it stops. Soft lip parts from my neck licking any residue left from my blood. I can feel my face turning bright red as a tomato. As I inhale a gasp, immense pain takes over my body, the pain instantly makes my body want to curl into a ball as my blood feels as hot, thick lava runs through my veins.
But the hand on my waist never lets go, it instead holds tighter to my waist, the hand on my head ceases to exist and re-emerge at the back of my head as it presses lightly. Having my head now pressed against the muscular, toned chest of the body that pinned me to a maple tree. Deep breaths slowly but surely ease the pain that pulses through my veins, as large hands at the back of my head and waist hold for stability and comfort.
My vision soon turned back to its usual as it no longer had that fuzzy texture, leaving my eyes with a burning sensation, enhancing my vision by a mile. Blood that's in my mouth sweetened, as my body convulsed with static electricity. Teeth clenched as a wave of pain fills my mouth, having four of my teeth loosen, opening my mouth automatically spitting all pieces out. Two from the top and two from the bottom, when it feels like hell but feeling the places where they used to be feels surreal as all have been replaced with sharp teeth like canines.
My body still trembles so weakly, unlike anything I've ever felt before.
Looking up at the person who pressed my body against the bark of the maple tree, bit my neck forcefully and held me with warmth and care. Realizing who the person was, my body pales further than ever before, even after having my blood be sucked out by a vampire that was supposed to be legends back in the 2000s.
The person holding my waist and the back of my head gently, is the person everyone fears.
Lazarus. Hayes.
Deep, vibrant, icy blue eyes, with slits like cats meet mine, not with hatred or disgust filled his eyes. But something else like, comforting hurt eyes or either filled with guilt flicker in between the long captivating stare that we both intensified. Only to be broken apart by the close proximity, his hands leaving warmth and comfortable residue, his eyes still fixated with mine like magnets never releasing.
Due to the loss of blood my body fails to balance itself, having my back be slammed against the hardwood of the maple tree leaving me to grunt out loud. Before I collapse to the ground Lazarus breaks my fall, having me be on top of his body and be pressed against it once more. Both his hands clutching my waist easily as my body contorts with surreal pain, that makes my eyes water and a loud unruly scream leaves my mouth.
My blood, my skin, my eyes drenched with pain that subsided minutes ago only to be re-awakened, when Lazarus's hold on me was released. Deep dreaded breaths leave my lungs, as panic starts to arise, only to be stopped by a hand on my waist tightening.
My head pressed against his body inclined to look into his eyes, only to be met with soft lips connected to mine. Soon after our lips part from each other, my cheek starts to burn, the pain in my body, gone. Lazarus's cheeks light up with hints of colour being left behind, as his eyes meet mine once more but this time his eyes are filled with amusement and something else that I can't tell what it is.
A small ghostly smirk appears on his face as we wonder further down each other's eyes, searching for any endearing feelings left untouched. His hands tighten around my waist again as he holds me closer to his face, now having the fearsome leader's face be on the crook of my neck feels uneasy but comfortable.
The book that I was reading beforehand lies close to the maple tree flipping open, as a strong gust of wind from the lush green forest behind leaves a drowsy, cold residue. Releasing to the open barren land where the academy is far to the west of our position.
Where an eerie, tall, dark figure watches us to the north of where we lay, close but far from where I could normally see. Due to the enhanced sight that I received from the bite, my eyes linger not moving until Lazarus's head looks to where my eyes point and focus. To the point that his hands overprotective clutches my waist and my back as he stairs as intently as I did. To the eerie, dark figure, disappearing into a puff of smoke.