I could feel the cold air against my pale skin. The rain saturated my long blonde hair – a welcome blessing.

The dark night crackled with electricity, a clap of thunder echoed through the sky.

This was my favourite time of day – night. Not that we have a choice now. Our kind had been reduced to hide in the dark; shadows of old in a dangerous world.

Yet we were not the danger, despite what most choose to think. The real danger lurks out there, walking amongst your kind.

I could smell him from where I stood with my back against the wet stone wall. His scent, once a mixture of musk and cigars reeked of alcohol, stale on my nostrils. He was heading in our direction, like planned.

Oh, blast!

No! I felt myself scream. The boy next to me squeezed my hand, his palm cold on mine.

Why don’t I listen anymore? Mother said it would be a bad idea. Now I am stuck here, in an alleyway while it pours down with rain and my dress is now ruined!

“We didn’t plan for this,” I hissed softly to the boy next to me. I glanced up at his face, my glare melting as I stared into his golden eyes.

I wonder if he knew he did that, the thing with his eyes, or if it was unintentional.

Was he completely oblivious to the butterflies in my stomach, the thoughts in my mind?

Do not be afraid. Even the voice inside his head was melodic and calm. She will be safe, I promise you.

He showed no response to my thoughts.

“Let us go – now, before it is too late.” His voice was quiet, so low that only she could pick it up. It was like he and I were on the same frequency.

He moved his body out of the shadows, walking gracefully in the alleyway. A turn to the left was all we had…

The scream pierced more than my ears. It shattered every bone in my body, every moral piece of fibre I had tried to retain, all these years past. It reverberated through my body, leaving me helpless, weak.

A hand on my curve of my spine pushed me forward, and I found my legs.