Frank

I thought I was just imagining it, but when I heard a second agonised scream, I knew I was awake and not dreaming. I sat up right in the bed, my head spinning from the suddenness of my movements. The room was dark, the curtains shut over and slits of moon light coming in from the gaps in the curtain. The room was too still and too quiet. It didn’t feel right and I found myself staring at every dark shape and shadow in the room. I slowly peeled the sheets off of my body and swung my legs over the side. I steadied myself on the post nearest to me and shuffled forwards shakily, slowly making my way over to the door.

I paused as I grasped the door handle. Gerard had told me not to go anywhere in the palace without him. I stood there for what felt like ages, running the idea of leaving the room over in my head. In the end I just gritted my teeth and opened the door and stepped out into the corridor.

I began walking in the direction I thought was Gerard’s study, trying to remember where it was. I found myself in a corridor I’d never seen before and my heart picked up speed. There was a clattering noise coming from the bottom of the stairs to my left and I froze in panic. There was giggling coming from the bottom of the stairs and the sound of two people moving up it. My eyes searched desperately for somewhere to hide as they got closer and I spotted an alcove hidden in darkness further along the corridor.

I set off in the direction of the alcove as fast as I could and I as quietly as I could whilst the two people appeared at the top of the stairs.

I watched them move along the corridor with wide eyes. It could make out Mikey’s face in the darkness, his hair messed up and his shirt unbuttoned just past his chest, revealing smooth white flesh and flat hard muscles. His arms were thrown around a girl dressed in the tiniest dress I’d ever seen. The straps of the dress had slid down her shoulders and her long golden hair was coming out of the perfectly styled bun on top of her head.

The clattering noise was the sound of her heels scraping and knocking against the floor as the two of them clumsily made their way along the corridor, their lips and hands roaming all over each other.

I shrank back into the shadows as they passed me, my breath catching in my throat as Mikey growled and shoved the girl against the wall and kissed her fiercely. I stopped myself from gagging as her hands slid down his back and wormed their way into his tight black jeans. His head titled to the side as he kissed her neck and she threw her head back, her mouth hanging open as she groaned. I scrunched my eyes shut as Mikey’s hand grabbed her leg and tugged it up to his hip, sliding his hand over her bare knee and up her slim thigh and up her skirt.

I waited in the alcove with my eyes shut until it was quiet again in the corridor and the sound of
Mikey and the girl was a distant noise.

I exhaled shakily, letting out the breath I felt like I’d been holding forever. I cautiously slipping out of the alcove and dashed along the corridor. I stumbled around a corner and saw I was standing in front a set of stairs I recognised. I caught my breath and headed up the gleaming marble stairs, my eyes fixed ahead of me.

There was a light coming from underneath a shut door in front of me, spreading a yellow glow across the floor. I walked up to it, remembering it was Gerard’s office.

I knocked but was answered with silence. I knocked again, waiting. There was still no answer. I bit my lip and twisted the handle and the door swung inwards silently.

The overhead chandelier was lit up brightly. The wall at the back of the room that was made of windows displayed an inky coloured sky spotted with tiny glistening lights. The curtains weren’t drawn and most of the windows were opened, a soft and warm breeze shifting into the room through the open window.

Gerard was sat on the ledge of the window, cigarette dangling loosely from his long pale fingers and his head turned away me, resting against the wall as he gazed out at the sky.

“Gerard?” I said quietly, slowly stepping forwards.

He turned his head to look at me and I flinched. His skin looked even paler than usual and his eyes were pitch black, a burning fire simmering there. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot and his lips parted slightly when he saw me.

“You should be sleeping,” was all he said before he carelessly raised his hand and took a drag of his cancer stick.

“I woke up. There was screaming,” I mumbled.

“The night is always full of screams Frank,” Gerard murmured, looking back out of the window.

I didn’t know what to say to him. He was acting so distant and it was frightening me.

“Are you OK?” I asked.

“I’m tired Frank, that’s all. You don’t need to worry about me,” he answered blankly, still staring out of the window. “But really, you should go back to sleep.”

“Don’t you want me here?” I asked a little boldly.

He slowly looked over at me again and I gulped at the sight of his hunger filled eyes.

“It’s best for both of us if you leave,” he replied.

I held my ground, not budging. “You’re hungry.”

“I’m always hungry,” he whispered, shifting his body around to face me fully.

I watched with my heart in my mouth as he smoothly slid down from the window ledge. The way he moved towards me reminded me exactly of a cat, his body slick and graceful and prowling towards me like a predator.

“You don’t have to be hungry,” I told him, trying to stop myself from stuttering.

“Oh, I know,” he breathed, his body alarmingly close to me now. I stared straight into his jet black
eyes, not breaking my gaze away from him.

I flinched a little when his big white hand suddenly flew up and cupped my cheek gently.

“I want to help you Gerard. Please,” I whispered, begging.

He stayed silent as his hand moved up my face and tangled into my hair, playing with the strands.
He studied my face and I started shaking as he leant even closer.

“Would you let me?” he whispered.

I swallowed and nodded frantically. “Yes.”

He smirked, chuckling darkly. “You trust me too much.”

I’d never seen him like this before, so seductive and beautiful and dangerous. He was hypnotic, his every breath and movement holding me captivated. I knew I should be running for the door, but my legs were locked in place by some unknown force and my own desire to let him drink from me.

He leant forwards towards my ear, his other arm coming up and pulling me to his body.

I shivered when I felt his breath tickle my ear and I could imagine the smirk on his face even though
I couldn’t see him.

“Are you scared of me Frankie?” he breathed into my ear, withdrawing slightly and nuzzling my neck.

“N-no.”

“I don’t want you to be frightened.”

“I’m not.”

“Good,” he whispered.

The next thing I knew his lips were on my neck and my eyes were fluttering shut as he gently kissed the skin over my pulse. I let out a shaky breath as began sucking there and his teeth grazed the skin.
I let out a small gasped as I felt two pin like objects pierce my neck suddenly. I was expecting to be screaming and writhing in pain but it was more like passing out, going dizzy and numb.

I gripped his shoulders as his hold on me tightened, dragging me impossibly closer to him. He moaned against my neck, making desperate mewling and whining noises as he drank from me.

I felt my heart pound against my chest as my knees went weak and I began to sag down to the floor, Gerard’s body guiding me down. I let him straddle my hips as he lowered me to floor and continued drinking from my neck.

I closed my eyes and tried to keep my head from spinning. I had a death grip on Gerard’s shoulders as he drank and I gasped as he thrust his hips forwards into mine.

I bit my lip as my breathing turned into pants as he gently rocked against me, his hips pushing into my crotch firmly with each thrust.

He suddenly ripped himself away from me with a loud intake of breath, crawling off of me as fast as he could and backing himself into the desk, his back hitting the oak with a thud.

I sat up and saw him staring at me in disbelief and horror, his breathing short and fast. His eyes were huge and were back to their normal colour of hazel now, his mouth open in horror and his chin smeared with crimson blood, droplets dripping off of his face and staining his shirt.

“Frank,” he gasped. “Fuck. What… oh God.”

“Gerard? What’s wrong?” I asked, my head still whirling.

His hands came up to grip his hair in fists. “I can’t believe I just did that. I could’ve… you could be
dead.”

“But I’m not, I’m OK,” I insisted, shifting to my knees and moving towards him.

“No!” he shouted. “I shouldn’t have even fucking touched you!”

“Gerard, please, I don’t care! I don’t want you to be so hungry you’re in pain! I want t-”

“You need to go,” he cut me off. “I’m so sorry Frank. I’m a monster. You need to leave.”

“I don’t want to leave you Gerard, I-”

“Please,” he begged his eyes filling with tears. “Please Frank. I’m begging you. Just leave, for God’s sake.”

I opened my mouth to speak but not a word came out. He stared at me, his eyes begging and pleading and brimmed with tears. I got up shakily and glanced over my shoulder at him as I reached the door.

“Gerard,” I said, my voice sounding desperate.

“Please Frank, just go,” he pleaded, not even meeting my eyes.

I forced myself to walk out of the room instead of rushing back to his side and holding him and wiping away his tears. I let my feet carry me forwards to the bedroom whilst my head swam and throbbed with pain and confusion.

I crawled back into the bed, my body trembling as I smashed my face into the pillow, my sobs muffled. I let myself cry for a good half an hour before I rubbed my eyes furiously and calmed my breathing down again.

I slid a hand up to my neck and shakily pressed my fingers against my pulse, feeling the tiny puncture marks there.