Joseph’s POVI have never been much for company. I spent most of my nights alone. As a vampire, having friends seemed pointless. The friends I did have died long ago, just like everyone else in my life. I was used to the loss, though it made wanting to get close to anyone unbearable.The longer I lived, the more loss I endured.I wish to not be burdened with that dreadful feeling ever again.Meeting Tessa certainly wasn’t on my agenda when I moved to the city. But as I walked the mildly crowded streets and passed by her, the scent of her blood drew me in instantly. There was something about her that made me want to lose control.She was on her way to the bar. What she was doing at a callboy bar was beyond me. But she was with another girl, someone more ordinary, someone who didn’t capture my attention as Tessa did.When we passed, we locked our eyes. At that moment, it was like time had stopped. Her heartbeat quickened its pace, pumping the very blood that caused me to become ravenous
Tessa’s POVI stared at Joseph with an open mouth, shocked that he had just admitted to me that he was in fact a vampire.He seemed so calm and casual about this whole ordeal too. I must have looked like a deer in headlights in comparison.“Do you wish to ask me any questions?” Joseph finally asked, breaking the silence between us.I realized I had been staring at him dumbfounded for a long while, unsure of what to say. But I nodded. I had a million questions surfacing in my mind. I was between the stages of being utterly terrified, and extremely excited.A real vampire.I believed him too.That’s what was most absurd to me.“Tell me about your life as Christopher Moore. That would mean you are actually hundreds of years old, right?” I finally managed to ask, recovering myself.“Something like that,” he answered. he answered plainly and simply. “Chris was actually my main identity. I was born Christopher Moore.”“His identity has always been such a mystery…” I breathed. “Just like Jos
Joseph’s POVTalking to Tessa had become somewhat natural. It was a strange feeling and everything in my body was telling me to continue this conversation.She stared at me with wide eyes and for a moment, I wondered if I had said too much.“What do you mean by that?” She finally asked after what felt like a lifetime of silence. “You are attracted to my blood? Like a mosquito?”Her comparison took me by surprise, and I almost burst out laughing.“No,” I said, trying to hide the amused smile that surfaced on my lips. “I don’t go around biting humans and leaving annoying and itchy little bumps on them.”“Then what do you mean?” She asked a little more firmly and clearly annoyed by my teasing.“I mean I’m attracted to it. It’s akin to human love when they are alive. As long as the same blood flows through you, I would harbor feelings for you akin to love.”She looked alarmed by my explanation. I had definitely said too much that time. It was as if she had never heard those words before.
Tessa’s POVEvery ounce of my mind was telling me to run for the hills. I kept telling myself, “Tessa, are you insane? How could you stick around knowing what you know?!”But my body wasn’t listening to my mind. I sat in the living room of Joseph’s house, staring up at this incredible man, with a racing heart, knowing that he was a vampire. I should have been afraid for my life. I should be running away and screaming. I shouldn’t ever look back.But I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to experience more.I’ve only ever written about vampires. But finding out true facts about real vampires could greatly benefit my writing.But with all the information he had given me, my mind felt like it was going to explode. I needed to leave and wrap my head around everything.He seemed to understand.Just as I grabbed my purse off the table, I accidentally knocked it over. I sighed, reaching to grab my phone that had fallen from my purse, and frowned when I saw Ruby’s name appe
Tessa’s POV“She has the very same bite marks on her body as all the other victims around the city recently,” I pointed out. “Which means they really were vampire attacks. This whole time…”I peered up at him as he nodded his head once.“Yes,” he answered. “That’s why I’m here. To put a stop to that. The problem finding them and capturing them.”Knowing there are vampires running around the city sent a shiver down my spine.This death was too close to home. This was somebody that I knew and liked. This was my classmate. Just earlier this afternoon I lent her my cardigan that she was still wearing and is currently inside of the body bag with her.This could have been any of us.It could have been me.I wrapped my arms around my body, hugging myself tightly. I felt cold and ill at the very thought that vampires were lurking around, draining humans of their blood, and killing them.Joseph was a vampire, but he had said that he was highly trained. These vampires were considered new, and t
Joseph’s POVThe same familiar officer that typically stands guard near the entrance of the building and takes his job way too seriously was getting on my last nerve. I already couldn’t stand this man, now it seems he’s about to pose a threat to Tessa.His hand was still wrapped around his gun, long after I explained that Tessa wasn’t an issue, and that she was going to remain by my side during our time here.He was very persistent in getting her out of there, despite me telling him that wasn’t going to happen.I could feel Tessa’s fear boiling inside of her as she hid behind me. She also noticed the gun and she worried that he might use it on her. I wouldn’t put it past him to do something stupid like that.Jordan was a fairly new Nightwalker officer and he played everything by the book. This wasn’t a bad thing exactly, but in this situation, it was very annoying.“Step back, Officer Jordan,” I warned for the hundredth time.He was still glaring at Tessa like he was worried she would
Tessa’s POVIs this why Joseph didn’t want to come with me to this examination? Because he knew this was going to happen?I felt humiliated that he didn’t give me even the slightest warning.I was even more humiliated because this woman I had never met before, Lisa, was staring at me and waiting for me to get completely undressed.“It won’t take long,” she assured me, a frown on her face. “I’m assuming they didn’t explain what this examination is.”“Not at all.”She sighed and shook her head.“I shouldn’t be surprised.”She went towards the counter and pulled out what looked like a flashlight.“This is a black light. When I turn off the lights and point this at you, it’ll show me all areas in which you could be infected.”“Infected?”“They really explained nothing,” she said, furrowing her brows together.“Vampires release a venom in their fangs when they bite a human and this venom will possibly turn you into a vampire if you are killed with it in your system. There are usually trace
Tessa’s POVThe realization was in Joseph’s eyes as he continued to stare at me. Chief Mulligan was also staring at me, but his look was more out of curiosity than anything.I stared between them both, very confused.“Why are you looking at me?” I asked, a little worried clear in my tone.“Because there’s something about you that’s special…” Joseph said, almost thoughtfully. My entire face warmed as he continued to stare at me. “I mean your blood…” he adds. “It’s addictive. It’s almost potent. So, when others are around you, they obtain your scent for a short while.”“My scent?” I asked with a frown. “Like the scent of my blood?”“Vampires have a very keen sense of smell,” Joseph nodded. “So, we can pick up the scent of a human easily.”“So, what does any of this mean? What do vampire attacks have to do with me?” I asked, raising my brows.“The victims…” Mulligan began slowly, meeting my eyes. “Have they been around you?”I thought about it for a moment before nodding my head.“The vi