Bloodl.u.s.t

The incessant noise of moving cars manages to destroy my peaceful slumber. I blink my eyes open partially while trying to shift my body into a more comfortable position.

Nah. Nope. Ugh.

"Sloths sleep for lesser time-span than you do." Comes a snarky comment in a familiar voice. It takes my mind a little time to identify the owner of the voice.

"What the hell!" my eyes snap open, immediately realising I'm sitting in the passenger seat of a moving car. Also, I register without looking who the driver is but just to confirm I move my gaze slightly and there he is sitting, back straight like a rod yet looking absolutely comfortable.

No, no, NO!

The memories rush in along with the panic and I feel my heart hammering against my c.h.e.s.t, threatening to pop out of the rib cage.

"Now, that's the kind of reaction I expect to get from humans when they realise what I truly am." His gaze is on the road ahead but his tone succeeds in giving me goose-bumps. I gulp, moving my fingers quietly towards the door to unlock it. His eyes follow my movement for a second but then go back to focussing on the road ahead.

Locked. Damn!

What's the worst that can happen? He wouldn't really kill me, would he? Sure the real vampires had to be like the ones in the books- misunderstood, not as fearful as they are assumed to be and who knows even somewhat… kind?

But then the image of his scarier version flashes across my eyes and my heart almost skips a beat.

He's a vampire and you're as good as dead, you fool! So much for wanting all those things to be real!

Somehow I can't help but agree to my inner voice. Edward never looked that scary. Fear follows excitement, not the other way around. I was excited to know he was a vampire but all I can think of right now is the numerous ways in which he can kill me.

"Now that you're sober, let me ask you a question." I flinch at his tone. It literally sounds that scary. There's a pause wherein he jerks his head and holds my gaze with his. His eyes have lost all the warmth they held when I'd talk to him for the first time. His eyebrows narrow infinitesimally as if saying, 'Lie and you'll regret being born.' A shiver runs down my spine.

"What is that mark on your back?" He shifts his gaze back to the road, sounding completely calm. Like the calm you have before the storm.

"Huh?" My fingertips instinctively reach the spot on the base of my neck which bears the birthmark I've hated since I saw it for the first time. It looks like a long faded ribbon, curled twice and ends with a drop shaped scar. The whole ribbon is bright pink and the skin there looks swollen but the drop scar is a dark red and flat making it look like an engraved tattoo.

"It-It's a birthmark." I answer, feeling confused at his interest in my rather ugly birthmark.

"Don't. lie." The temperature in the car drops by several degrees. Metaphorically.

Shaking my head, I reply, "I'm not-"

"YOU'RE LYING!" the car jerks to an abrupt halt. I'm almost thrown out of the windshield. It takes me a moment to realise I'd covered my ears since his voice sounded that deafening. His arms grab mine, gripping painfully. His eyes turn red and darkened veins begin to appear again.