“Jen? I don't think this is a good idea.” I whispered to my friend. The old iron gates of the house towered over us as we stood on the sidewalk, the overgrown garden looked like it would spring to life at any moment and pick us up from our spot. Yet even with all that there was a perfectly clear path leading to the doorway. A path that we, well Jenny, had to take and knock on the door. The name of the game? Ding Dong Ditch. The victim? The beautifully abandoned 1835 American Townhome on 1313 Hollow Street.

I looked up at the house again and took a deep breath. All we had to do was walk up the path, record Jenna knocking on the door and we were free to go. Well I was free to go whenever I pleased but being that Jen was my only friend  and had asked for my moral support I was now part of this whatever it is.

“You ready to do this Ana?” Jen asked, she had a determined look on her face that left no room for any argument.

“Fine. Let's do this.”  I replied taking a deep breath and turning on the camera on my phone as we started up the path.

The things people do to get into a sorority, never cease to amaze me. Jen wanted to join the Kappa Alpha something or other, and was given a list of task to complete. Yet even that didn't guarantee her acceptance, hence the recording. Apparently the leaders would then watch the video submissions and vote on who they allowed to join. In other words all this could be for nothing.

We continued up the path, the plants seemed to shrink back as we walked by making the place seem a tad bit more welcoming. About halfway up the path we heard a loud bang. Jumping out of our shoes  we turned to find Derrick and his jock buddies holding a stick and laughing.

I felt my face turn into a tomato as I remained on the path, while Jen laughed along with the boys.

“Hey, so are we going to take a picture of you at the door and get this over with?” I asked, reaching down to pick up my phone. Thankfully nothing was broken and the recoding was still going. They all looked at me like I had grown an extra head and continued to laugh.

“Oh Ana, you are dumb aren't you?” Derrick laughed as he threw his arm around me.

“Jen isn't the one that's supposed to go up there, you are.”  One of his buddies stated with a smirk while throwing an arm around Jenna.

“Sorry, Ana, but I really wanted to join and they said all I had to do was get someone to knock on the door. I'm sorry, but you know how much this means to me.” My once best friend and soon to be former roommate notified me.

I felt like an idiot. Jenna and I had been best friends since we ran into each other in 7th grade, the hallways were crowded and the textbooks were stacked so high in my arms I couldn't see in front of me. Since that day we were inseparable, but I guess joining a sorority and partying every weekend had become more important than us at some point.

I looked up at the group, my vision blurry from the tears that were threatening to come out at any moment. I don't know what came over me but at that moment I turned and ran up the path and to the front door. All I knew is that I wanted to be no where near them, and the house as spine chilling as it had looked only minutes before now welcomed me into its embrace. 

The door flung open as I reached the top step, I could hear Jenna and her new friends calling after me, but I was too hurt to care.
The door slammed shut after me, and I could hear the bolts shift and actually see the locks turning. Yet I wasn't scared. Looking out the window I saw Jenna and her crew walking away from the house laughing.

So much for best friend.

I looked around trying to take in my surroundings. The foyer I was standing in had a giant crystal chandelier. I stood in awe as the light that seeped thru the windows reflected off the glass and danced around the room.  A marble staircase wound up the back completing the beauty of the room.  After admiring it for a few minutes I decided it was best to find a way out since the front door was obviously a no go.

I followed the left hallway and came upon the fully furnished sitting room complete with a large wood burning fireplace. I continued my way down the hall, the further I went the more comfortable. I took a left turn and found myself back in the foyer. The stairs called my name and like a moth to flame I followed up.

This place is beautiful

From the top of the steps I could admire the chandelier even more. Rainbows of light reflected down, and I could see a kaleidoscope of color on the floor where I had been standing earlier.

Down the hall I came across what I assumed was the music room. The large black grand piano as a centerpiece. Carved ivory keys made it even more magnificent, and before I realized what was happening I was sitting on the bench.

Nothing came out, I just sat there thinking. The last time I had played anything was the last time I had seen my parents. Closing my eyes I thought of all the happy memories that we had shared and let my soul do the talking for me. I played like I had never played before. It was as if my life depended on it, and the more I played the more at peace I became. As the last note left the keys, I what sounded like a clap.

Startled I looked up only to be met with a pair of mesmerizing  violet eyes. Fear shot thru me as I remember the myth that surrounded the house. As abandoned as it appeared on the outside I realized that during my self guided tour, I had not encountered a single speck of dust.

“Who are you?” I managed to ask with a shaky voice.
Does it matter? He's probably the serial killer that made this place home. 

He remained quiet, looking at me with those eyes that seemed so unreal and after an eternity of staring he turned and walked away.

Follow him! My subconscious yelled.

“Wait!”I called after him, pushing back front the piano and rushing to catch up.

Either he walks fast or I'm just slow.

I caught up to him down the hall, he was standing in front of a portrait. Curious to see what he was looking at I moved closer. My breath hitched at the sight before me.

It was me. Or at least someone who looked like me, except for the eyes. The eyes were the same shade of violet as the stranger before me. My eyes too in the picture, I or the woman who looked like me was wearing an old fashioned white dress, complete with an intricate headpiece and is that a veil? It was a wearing portrait and I hoped the creepy man next to me was not a stalker who developed an obsession with me and now planned to keep me captive.

“Who are you?” I questioned taking a step back.

He turned to face me, the glow of the moonlight that passed thru the stained glass behind him added to the mystery of this person.

Wait. Moonlight? How long had I been trapped in here?

As if sensing my shock, he sent me a warm smile, And with that my insides felt like they turned to mush. 

So much for serial killer.

Before I could return the favor he moved, I closed my eyes as I felt his hands slide up my arms. His hands stopped at my neck, and slowly I felt him tilt my head to the side. I held my breath. Never in my life had I been in a situation like this. His warm breath fanned the side of my face and then it was gone.

I opened my eyes, I was leveled with chest. His very firm and broad suit covered chest. I forced myself to look up and was met with  glowing violet rings.  His eyes were glowing! A Portuguese cut amethyst had nothing on him. Hypnotised by their beauty I didn't feel his hands on me again. Slow strokes on my arms as if he was trying to keep me warm or even comfort me. I sent him a smile and in return he sent me one back.

As I trying to take a step back he leaned back down. Holding me as he snuggled his face into the crook of my neck, then without warning I felt an excruciating pain and the world went dark.

I was floating on a cloud. Or at least that's what it felt like. The bed had nothing on my old beaten and worn dorm bed that I was finally getting used to. And the blankets. Is there such thing as a million thread count? Because that is what I felt I had on me.

My eyes finally opened and I found myself in a grand bedroom. The burgundy canopy over  the bed was held up by large wood post. I looked down, and I hissed, my neck was sore like I had slept wrong all night as was now trying to make it work like normal.

My hissing must have woken him up, because out of nowhere Violet eyes was on me. Concern etched across his face and worry clear in his eyes. He reached out with one hand stroking the hair back from my face, and making me forget about my neck.

“You are doing so well, Love. Just hold on a little bit longer.” He whispered as my eyes closed once more.

My body was burning, I could feel sweat trickle down my face, my whole body sticky with it. That wasn't all though. I also had the world's worst migrane, my brain felt like it was going to explode.

What is happening to me?

My heart began to race, my breathing became erratic and my body was shaking. I forced my eyes to open and found that Violet was shaking me, his face and eyes full on panic.

My eyes fell shut and once again my body began to shake.

“Open your eyes, Love. Stay with me just open your eyes.”  His voice pleaded with me, even in his state of panic his deep velvety voice sounded like music to my ears. If I wasn't dying I would be swooning, trying desperately to fall into his arms.

“Love, here drink this.” He held up a cold object to my lips and tilted my head back. The warm, sweet liquid was smooth and eased the pain in my body. Whatever tea it was, I needed a whole warehouse of that, when I got out of here.

If you ever get out of here.
 
A wet cloth was placed on my forehead, I smelt wood burning and heard the crackling of a wrapper.

Is he getting ready to dispose of my body?

I felt the bed dip next to me and was pulled up against a hard chest. Using himself as a me back rest he maneuvered me to a sitting position in front of him. My back to his chest, my head resting comfortably on the crook of his neck and my legs secured safely in between his.

Ahh what a way to spend my last minutes on earth.

“My name is Massimo Ioviero, I was born on Italy about 200 years ago, give or take a few decades” He joked.

Does he tell everyone his life story before killing them?

“I haven't told anyone this story since it happened, Love”  Massimo whispered into my ear.

He continued to talk, telling me how his family was killed in a raid and how he managed to escape by hiding in the horse stalls. His struggles of trying to make ends meet and how he boarded a ship and made his way to the new world in hopes of a better life.

“ I befriended the natives, and would trade with them all the time. One day after picking up some pelts I was cornered by a group of hunters. They were mad that the natives were giving me such high quality pelt to sell and profit from, while they had to go out and chase the prey.”

Massimo stopped, his voice quiet and I felt shivers run up my arms. But his arms quickly brushed them off, the motion was soothing and just as quickly I was warm again.

“ When I woke up I was in so much pain. I didn't know what had happened. But one of the tribesmen had come across my body in the forest and brought me back to camp. I don't know what they did, but after a few days I felt better. I slept all morning and at night I would go out and hunt or keep watch on the village.”

A smile crept up my face at the thought of Massimo sitting on a log holding a bow and arrow, ready to defend the people that saved him.

“ After some time they told me what they had done. They called it a night walker curse. They loved me to much to let me die, but unfortunately I would be cursed to a life in the shadows and an appetite for blood.”

My breath hitched. Night walker? Drinks blood? Is he a vampire? Those aren't real I hit my head and I'm being delusional. I thought to myself.

“I'm not lying, Love. Up until a few hours ago I was the only one of my kind. But now. Now I have you.” He whispered, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me even closer to him.

“What exactly are you?” My voice came out hoarse and my question was shaky, but I needed to hear the answer from him.

“I told you already love. I'm a night walker, a Vampire and until you walked thru the door I was the only one of my kind. I wasn't born out of greed or cursed because I angered someone. I was gifted this life by my friends who didn't want to see me go. I met others who had been cursed. They are the ones you read about or see in movies. Red eyes, turning into bats and burning in the sunlight. I'm not like them I was born from love, and so have you.”  His words were like a lullaby, soothing and relaxing, making me forget or even think about what he was saying. All I knew is that he was still holding me against him.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. I cleared my throat and tried again, this time with a little more luck.

“ But my picture. How did you get that?” I asked curious as to how and why he had a portrait of me in his house.

“ I saw you in a dream. Actually I see you in my dreams all the time. I didn't understand what it was, until last night. But it was your soul calling out to me.” He began leaving light kisses on my neck until he reached my sore spot. There he liked and kissed and once he was satisfied he just rested his head on my shoulder. The room was quiet I had so many questions to ask him but my mind was drawing blanks.

“ I saved a coven of witches from being burned at the stake. They couldn't lift the curse but they gifted me with a soul mate. You, Love.” 

My eyes drifted shut his confession made me smile. And here I thought that soul mates existed only in the movies and books.

That's what you thought of vampires too.

My thoughts became more jumbled, but even then the presence of his body behind me and his arms still would across me made me feel at peace. Like I had come home at last.

“ When you wake up again, Love we will set out to the the world. No one will ever take advantage of you ever again. Not as long as I live, my love.” His promise once again made my body react in a strange way. I could feel myself heating up once again, but I wasn't scared anymore I had Massimo Ioviero to keep watch over me while I slept. My former life already forgotten, thanks to Massimo Ioviero, the vampire with the violet eyes.

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It's over, sorry :(

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