A time ago, there would be nothing from stopping me from my desires, if I wanted to try something, I simply took it.

Blood was never something that even crossed my mind until this nightmare started, until I became the monster I am today, a thing of the night and something parents warned their children about.

As much as I tried, for as long as I've attempted, there was no stopping the thirst for what I needed to stay alive- blood, I wanted to deny what I was as much as possible, but the harder I tried, the more worse the symptom's of my monstrous condition were.

My veins felt like they were on fire, my bones felt like they would turn to dust as the symptoms grew worse, the only curse was the only thing I could now consume.

Fresh blood instantly relieved the pain, and made me feel like a brand new man.

I hated what I had become, with each person I drank from and then wiped their memories of our unavoidable and unpleasant time together, the more inhuman I felt, like a piece at a time was taken from me, until it was becoming harder and harder to act human.

"Sir, your complexion is back to normal, would you like some tea?" Lenard asks, making me turn away from the window, overlooking the grounds of the house.

"Thank you." I simply said, heading over to my schedule for the next month.

Lenard made me tea and then left the room, closing the double doors behind him, not before bowing his head as he left, leaving me alone in my studio on the top floor of the house.

Staring at the swirling tea forming into a colorful orange, I couldn't help but think of a certain woman's eyes in the water- Eloise Anderby.

What was it about her that I found interesting? Alluring even.

To the eye she was a beautiful woman, she dressed nice and she was polite to those around her, I would need to spend more time around her to see more of her character, but from what I've seen so far, she's someone I could see myself forming a relationship with.

Look at me go, I didn't even know if she liked me as a man, and there I am getting carried away.

The only thing was, I didn't know what I wanted from her.

I didn't want to drink her- yet the thought had came up multiple times since I shared a meal with her.

When emotions failed me, I turned to books, poems in particular, and after scurrying my library for half a day I had finally found the words that felt the most appropriate to what I felt for Miss Anderby.

In the words of  Li Qingzhao;

Veiled in thin mist and thick cloud, how sad the long day!
Incense from golden censer melts away.
The Double Ninth comes again;
Alone I still remain
In silken bed curtain, on pillow smooth like jade.
Feeling the midnight chill invade.
At dusk I drink before chrysanthemums in bloom,
My sleeves filled with fragrance and gloom.
Say not my soul
Is not consumed. Should the west wind uproll
The curtain of my bower,
You'll see a face thinner than yellow flower."

Women were always better at expressing themselves, with each word I could relate to her feelings, but of-course there was no way to know if what I could feel was the same as this woman, but one thing was true.

Eloise really was as pretty as a flower, there is no other way I could express it better if I tried to.

Yet I knew this was not love like the talented Mrs. Li Qingzhao, but longing, perhaps for a happiness I could've had in my past life.

I wasn't capable of feeling love, certainty not for something that will eventually die, but- I couldn't deny the type of curiosity I was feeling when I was around her, I knew eventually that I would take my guard down and devour her-

Blast this, what was I doing, still thinking of her after three full days have gone by?

My studio landline rings and I stomp over and pick it up. "Yes?" 

"Sir, a Miss Anderby is here, would you like me to send her up?" Lenard said, making my brows furrow in confusion.

"She's here?" I asked, to confirm, encase I misheard.

"Yes Sir." There was a pause. "In the lobby."

How curious is the first thing that came to mind, how curious and bold of her to make the first move and come here, I could not help myself but sigh out impressed by such a woman whom I had only known for not a week.

"Show her to the library, I'll be down in a moment." I declared, putting the phone down.

I needed to clean myself up, with possibly the quickest shower of my life, the oil paint had managed to find itself on my white shirt as patches of color dried to my skin, it wouldn't bother me if that small voice in my head reminded me to constantly be self aware.

With just that, I headed down the steps, my impeccable hearing picks up Lenard asking sweet Eloise if she'd like any tea or something to eat whilst she waits, to which her gentle tone replied 'No thank you.' 

How bizarre today was turning out to be, it'd be three days since I saw last her, having been focused on my night job and reviving my bag of boned body to it's peak state, I had not left the estate since arriving home that night.

As I got cleaned, clothed and comfortably presentable in how I looked and smelled, I made my way to where I know Miss Anderby would be, the grand library, the place I found most private for visitors, especially ones that I liked.

I could smell her sweet fragrance, just like flowers- I thought I was particularly amusing that not only did I think she looked like a flower, but now she was smelling of them, a really bizarre day this was indeed.

Opening the door to the library, Eloise was looking at something in her hand, which my vampiric eyesight saw that she had a book the closer I got, to which she almost dropped when I closed the doors quietly behind me.

"I'm sorry, did I startle you?" I asked, coming closer to her, noticing her cheeks turning pink and she scurries to put the book back.

Her long red hair was styled in curls, making her completion look bright, she was dressed in a black knee length skirt with a light vivid cerulean blue blouse, she looked exceptionally well dressed today compared to when I last met her, which made me wonder- 

Did you dress up for me, Eloise? 

"No- no, I'm sorry, I got curious." She said, hinting towards the books.

"They're here to be touched." I said, politely smiling as I reached out for her hand.

With my eyes on hers, I greeted her the best way I knew around a woman I wanted to court, whilst keeping myself respectful, a kiss on the hand, with a small curt.

She took this with a look of confusion, then a look of awe as I released  her hand slowly, liking the way her hand felt warm on my cold dead skin, ignoring the feeling of wanting to grab her hand again, just to savor that feeling.

"Your visit was most surprising, I hope nothing is wrong?" I asked, gesturing for her to sit on the sofa next to us.

She sits down and shakes her head, a shy smile on her lips. "Um, well..." She clears her thought as I wait for her to speak, finding it more interesting the more she got nervous from my gaze.

Adorable, I thought, I must intimidate this young woman if she couldn't hold my gaze for more than a few seconds.

"I didn't know your number so I thought I'd come here and ask you... which now I see that I'm totally insane, because we're not friends... I'm basically a stranger, and now I feel really mad in the head for coming here, like I'm so sorry, I-I'll go, this was so wron-"

Before she could get up and walk away, I reached out and held her arm, her warm skin invading mine again as I got up from my seat. "Don't." 

I realized I had grabbed her too tightly, so I let go and cleared my throat. "You made no mistake, you're always welcome in my home if you wish to see me."

Her eyes searched mine to see if I was serious, so I leaned forward and went inside one of the draws of the old vintage coffee table and took out a piece of paper, a bottle of ink and a pen.

I heard it's custom now to give your phone number out to those you 'fancy' but never have I had to do this because back in my time, telephones weren't a thing until 1930's, we simply did not do this.

I wrote down my landline number that directly reaches me, and not Lenard, only realizing a mobile device would've been better to connect with her more modernly.

Perhaps I'd buy one?

"Here you are, I'm sorry this is the best I could do." I gave her the piece of paper, to which she accepts with a rose complexion.

I could sit and stare at this girl all day, but the wonder of why exactly she was here invaded my mind, not that I minded, like I had just said, she was always welcome here- something I said to very few people.

"Oh." She embarrassingly muttered. "I wanted to actually invite you to a fundraiser I put together for sick children in the hospital, it's this weekend."

"All proceeds will go towards getting the children toys, better equipment, even clothes." She smiled, sounding very excited for the event.

A fundraiser? Well, it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but it was definitely something I could attend, even donate to, it wouldn't be the first time a hospital wing was named after me from a generous donation.

"That's a wonderful thing, I'd be happy to attend." I said, making her instantly happy. 

"What exactly are you auctioning for proceeds?"

"Some antiques, and a few pieces of art from some kind donators, there is also a vacation holiday for grabs in the countryside." She smiled, sitting back down, paper still in hand.

Paintings? Well isn't this just great timing, I happen to be a avid collector and secretive world known painter, I also happen to own quite a lot of antiques that are very valuable in this day of age, if sold, she could build a new hospital with the proceeds, neverminded toys.

"Are you still accepting donations?" I asked, making Eloise nod her head.

"Of-course, but I didn't come here to ask for your donation... just to invite you." She quickly said, a guilty expression on her face.

I wanted to kiss her, for the first time since meeting her, the urge to take her body in my hands and kiss every part of skin in proximity to my lips, without stopping until I was completely satisfied.

Clearing my throat and getting my mind away from the thought, I shrugged.

"I have pieces that I'd like to donate, and if it's fine with you I can widen the invitations to a few acquaintances with deep pockets and even with deeper affections to your cause than I."

I was hoping for a smile, a thank you, but what I got instead was something much better as Eloise rapidly raised from where she was sitting to come in front of me and wrap her small warm arms around me.

Well, if this was the thanks I would get every time I did something for this women, I see a lot of these in my future, perhaps something with a little less material in my way.

"That would be so amazing, I can't thank you enough, I- I was just hoping you'd come." She chuckled shyly, removing her hands away from me and stepping back.

The coldness that I felt when she let go of me felt suffocating, I disliked it the moment she took a single step back from me.

I swallowed hard and inhaled the intoxicating scent that was very strongly coming from her hair, and without noticing, I had stepped forward and leaned my head down to her height as I zeroed in on her lips, my hands slowly caressing her small ones, positioned by her side.

Eloise... I could hear her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, the rush of her blood pumping from my closeness, my lips inches from hers, and without a doubt that I shouldn't do this, I did that I had wanted to do since realizing that there was no avoiding this woman.

Our lips connected, and euphoria erupted within me the moment she kissed me back, matching the same need I wanted without a word more said.