Catch Them

I feel my blood pressure rising, my heart pumping it faster. Fear is delighting. That's the only thing I know now, as the host of the party approaches me.

He smiles; a cold thrill goes up my spine, and I freeze. I have to act normal. That's the way it's supposed to go. But when he puts his arm around my waist, I try not to scream.

"What's your name, dear?" He says in a sugary, sweet voice. I can hear his struggle to speak English. I know his name, but I will pretend I don't.

"My name's Morana," I answer, and he frowns. "What's your name, now?"

"Anghel. My name's Anghel. Can you speak Romanian?"

I can, but I tell him the opposite. Rule number 1: Get him out of his comfort zone. Rule number 2: Don't get bitten. Three, four, five, and the others don't exist. However, if a hunter tells you something about them, that hunter needs help. That's one of the things I learned in the last week, while we were planning what is going to happen tonight, and one of the things I'm proud of knowing.

Ace told me he has only used the "third rule" once, when he was hunting down a werewolf by himself, and he was about to get killed because nobody understood. After that, he asked Sergei, his employer, for a helper, and who would've been more helpful than the new inmate from London, the one he paid heavy money for? He actually paid 600 crowns for me to be brought in Moscow, and, with the sedatives they gave me, it brought them to 700 crowns. It feels good to know you're worth more money than you've ever personally owned.

"I don't remember inviting you, but I'm glad you're here. Where are you from? My dreams?"

I fake laugh, pretending I liked his pick-up line. In reality, it was really awkward. Vampires may be handsome and elegant, but they have less common sense than a five year old does. But it's better this way because, no matter how hard they try, they can't make me fall for them. The corner of his mouth twitches when he realizes I didn't see it as good, and he squints his eyes, frowning.

He passes his hand through his brown, wavy hair, and I lean on him. Whatever I do, I don't have to look him in his eyes... I don't have to look him in his beautiful, hazel eyes... fuck. I just did. He intentionally spills his drink on me, but I can't complain. He's divine...

"I'm sorry," He says, and I couldn't care less about my brand-new white dress. "May I help you clean yourself up? Outside? Where we're alone?"

I nod without thinking, and he grabs my hand. Allure. He used allure on me. It's too late. We're already far away from the rest, and Ace is nowhere to be seen.

He smirks, and his teeth are sharp and white as the snow I have encountered on my trip here. He invites me to sit on the edge of a fountain while kissing my neck like he can't wait to pierce it and wound it and feel the copper taste of blood on his tongue. I don't say anything. I'm too scared to even move, and no one notices. Why would someone look in our direction? Why would Ace even bother to do his part? I lure him here. He kills him. That's how it's supposed to go. But only I did my part.

"You know, milady, you're pretty fierce." He teases, removing the collar of my dress with his big fingers. "If I were you, I would've run a loooong time ago." He says, lazily passing his tongue over his teeth.

Now, I know what to do, but I have to gather the guts to do it. I sigh, holding on to his shirt.

"Wait a second." I smile, and he looks at me. "You have something on your shirt, too. Look, right here!" I call, pointing at a nonexistent stain.

I stand up, allowing him to see his "reflection." He giggles, staring at the second night sky that you can see in the water.

"You know, it's not that big of a deal." He lies, pretending he saw it. "Now, I think we can go back to..."

He didn't get to finish. I put him down, holding his head underwater. He tries to free himself, but he stops moving when my count gets to 200. Wherever my partner is, he should know I refuse to collaborate with him after this.

________________

"I don't care if you were drunk, I don't care which girl winked at you. You should have been there. That's what partners in crime do. They have each other's back, and you didn't have mine when I needed you. You're a horrible person, Ace."

Of course, I didn't say that. I chose to stay quiet and not say anything. Silence hurts more.

"I swear, I'm sorry! I won't do that next time. I swear on my life."

"And my life? Did you forget you put it in danger last night, or do you think it's less important than yours? Talk to me, Atanasie, and I'll leave you alone. You won't hear from me, and I'll bring you a better helper, one that doesn't need you to kill any kind of monster. Oh, yeah! I'll pay any amount, only if you answer. Do you think my life is less important than yours?"

That's what I told him on our way back, and I don't feel bad. He can't just apologize and be forgiven after I nearly died because of his stupidity. He can't get away with this so easily. I'm going back to London, and I don't care if he follows me on my way or if he chooses to stay behind. I'm going back to hunting mermaids. Alone.