ANITA

"It was a dare, Ani, calm down."

Calm down?

"We're supposed to be back together, Eric," I reminded him as he glanced up at me with a guilty expression.

Six weeks of being apart clearly hadn't taught him much.

Six weeks of soul searching and wondering if Eric and I were worth giving it another go, despite the fact that he had a roving eye, he swore this time it was just me.

Liar.

Why did I ever believe his bullshit?

My fists bunched up by my sides as I gritted my teeth.

"I'm done with this."

Saying it aloud was relief within itself.

I felt lighter.

"It was just a fucking kiss, Ani, it didn't mean anything. Why are you so childish?" Eric crossed his arms as he glared at me.

How the hell could he turn this around to me?

I'm childish? Me?

"How dare you? You're the one kissing random fucking girls at a party, dickhead!"

My heart thumped in my chest as I stormed away, knowing if I stayed with Eric right now I'd punch him.

"Ani…"

"Just leave me alone."

He sighed.

"Come on, Ani. Let's play the game at least."

The nerve of this man.

I didn't even turn around to look at him as I pushed the door open, inhaling the crisp autumn air.

"I'm serious, fuck off."

He must've given up because seconds later the door behind me slammed.

"Fucking dick."

The garden was cloaked in darkness, and something made my skin prickle. Like a warning.

Come on, you're getting the Halloween jitters.

There's no boogeyman out here.

But then I saw him.

I froze, not daring to breathe as I tried to see him clearly.

He tilted his head, and the movement made me yelp out loud.

"Jesus! What the hell are you doing hiding out here?!"

His voice was lazy like he'd just woken up from a long-ass sleep. Croaky, yet alluring.

"Needed some air. Not a fan of parties."

Then why is he here?

"Yet here you are, at the biggest Halloween party this side of Nottingham."

State the obvious, Ani.

"So it would seem."

I peered at him but still couldn't make out his face.

"So, what did you come as?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest as he rose to his feet.

"A vampire."

He strode forward, waving a hand at his clothes that were covered in blood.

But it wasn't the blood that caught my attention.

It was his eyes.

They were the colour of honey and as light as the sun at midday.

His skin was alarmingly pale, and I marvelled at how well he'd done his make-up. His cheekbones—wow—that was contouring on a whole new level.

A shiver ran through me when he stepped forward, and my eyes darted around us instinctively.

"I think you went a bit far with the blood, but other than that, you win first prize for your costume."

He chuckled, and his gaze drifting over my body.

"A witch. Know any good spells?"

I didn't miss a beat.

"Why, do you want more victims?"

The man paused, tilting his head to the side as he listened.

To what? There wasn't a sound, other than the dulled sound of music coming from the house.

Those eyes though. I could get lost in them.

He smiled faintly before returning his attention back to me.

"Aren't you scared?"

He stepped closer, almost as though testing his question.

"Of what? A vampire?"

I rolled my eyes but my skin tingled the closer he got, and the whiff of metal filled the air.

I frowned.

"That actually smells like blood," I whispered, my gaze moving to his chest.

His shirt was soaked with a violent red, and when he smiled, his fangs appeared pink. "Did you use animal blood?"

He clicked his tongue, inhaling the air around him deeply.

"Yes."

"Oh."

He reaches out to stroke my jawline, and his fingers are like ice.

"You're freezing." I gasp, clutching his hand on mine without thinking.

I need to warn him up.

A smile spread across his face as he chuckled.

"You can't."

My eyes widened at his words, and I backtracked in my mind to make sure I didn't say that aloud.

I didn't.

"What?"

He shrugged, staring down at my hands that were wrapped around his.

"Can I have my hand back?"

It wasn't warming beneath my fingers.

What the hell?

His thick coat and heavy boots must be keeping him warm—how else is he able to sit out here in the cold?

Maybe he's on drugs.

I sighed, releasing his hand.

"Well, you're freezing. You should probably get back inside and warm up."

He burst out laughing, and I stared at him in confusion.

"Is that an invitation?"

"Yeah; whatever." I was getting bored of the vampire act now. "But there's garlic in the kitchen."

"Ah. It doesn't bother me. I noticed it earlier when I took the whiskey. What's Eric done to you?"

He swigged the whiskey, his eyes on mine the whole time.

"He's a dick. We've only just got back together and I found him kissing some girl here."

The words spilt out of my mouth and I forced my lips shut, wondering why I still wanted to talk.

I wanted to tell this man everything.

"What's your name?" I blurted out, as he raised his eyebrows. "Your real name, not your vampire one."

This seemed to amuse him further.

"Oh, okay. My real name is Jackal."

I wrinkled my nose.

"Like the dog-wolf thing?"

Jackal moved his head, his eyes narrowing.

"We have company."

I frowned as a man stepped out from the trees, my heart in my throat as he licked his lips. He had light eyes too, but he was covered in more blood than Jackal.

Everything about him screamed danger, and I moved back toward the house.

"Go inside, Ani." Jackal drained the whiskey, tossing it onto the grass beside him. "Now."

I didn't ask questions.

Opening the door to the house, I sighed with relief as the music and laughter greeted me.

Normality.

But I couldn't tear my eyes away from the garden.

"Come on, babe. Let's make up."

Eric.

"Fuck off."

Eric groaned, lifting his beer to his lips.

"You're overreacting."

I was too intrigued with what was going on outside to entertain Eric's bullshit any longer.

Jackal had walked toward the man, and they'd faded into darkness.

Impossible.

It wasn't that dark.

Eric had disappeared, and I stepped closer to the glass.

I couldn't see anything.

My fingertips pressed against the glass, the chill from outside meeting my skin with a shock.

Where was Jackal?

And that scary guy—where are they?