Gerard’s P.O.V
I can sense as I awake that, above these restrictions of stone, the sun has given way to the moon's white reign and allowed the angrily burning stars to dance again.
I am soon able to discern the shape of my own body and pick out the soft ruffles in the red lining of my coffin, the absence of light means nothing to my eyes.
For a few irrelevant minutes I remain within the coffin, just pondering which member of our species decided that a vampire's coffin shall only open when the occupant clicks their fingers. I always feel no less than utterly ridiculous performing this unnecessary action. The levels of my pride are too high for me not to value my kind above everything, but I am intelligent enough to register their stupidity. Superficial, vain, creatures they all are. Raising an eyebrow to the overwhelming black, I snap my fingers against each-other and rise along with the well-designed creak of my sleek coffin lid.
Along the engraved smoky walls, candles show off their wavering orange flames, causing elongated shadows to flicker hauntingly against the soft light.
"Nice nap, hey Gerard?"
An elder vampire with tousled black hair pulls his stained lips upwards into a leering smirk as he lounges against the cold wall.
"What were you dreaming of, some other little faggot?" He laughs far too loudly and folds his thin arms over his chest in a way supposed to intimidate me.
"Shut up Billie, maybe that's you." I roll my eyes, a gesture far less angry than my emotions. But my comment wipes that ugly sneer from his taut face.
"You're sick." He spits and pushes his unfeeling body away from the wall as I step out of my coffin.
The burn of his words is too infuriating for my façade of calm to remain in place; I blitz past him and all the others in a spinning blur - ignoring the call of my brother to join his hunt gathering and rendering me at the exit in a fragment of seconds.
The weighted slab slowly makes way as I push it to the side and step into the concealed grove. The air hangs a deep blue around me, still but never quite silent. I feel stronger as I begin to make my way through the evening, the moon's pale wash of glow touches my translucent skin and settles my fire. I don't need to feed tonight but I do want to seek out this pretty little newcomer. It doesn't take me quite so long as I expected.
Once I am at the forest's edge, beneath the whispers of wind in the leaves, a recognisable body collides directly with mine. My eyes drink in the boy's horrified expression with matching shock. He wasn't meant to find me. I know all too well that his mind has been fed with prejudice; the only thing fluttering through his head other than fear now will be despise. I have no clue whether he carries a stake, no clue just what this kid will do.
"Human..." I am the first to pass words from my lips, albeit not as eloquently as I would have liked them to. The next two things to run through my head are:
1) I prefer methods of stalking where I don’t have a chance of dying
2) I really don’t want this guy to scream
“Please, don’t freak out.” I have no idea what I’m doing, I’m not used to fumbling over words. “I’m not like that. I don’t bite...” I make a half-hearted attempt to conceal the sly smirk crawling onto my features as I add, “Or suck in this case.”
All the blood seems to have been drawn out of the boy’s face, leaving it a white to rival mine. I can hear his breathing, ragged and heavy, along with his beautiful pounding heartbeat. For a moment, I think he may finally speak, but he collapses to the ground instead.
All I can do for a while is stand uncomfortably next to his unconscious shape, wondering what I am supposed to do now.
Slowly, I sink to the ground next to him and remain crouched there. Light blue veins follow the curve and shape of his neck carelessly, a pulse echoing in my ears. I don’t usually get the chance to just listen, but now I relish the sound of something as meaningful as life.
Tenderly, I rest my hand against the boy’s cheek. The warmth calls a smile onto my face and I trail my eyes over the body. His face is strikingly formed, his hair softly complementing his features. I graze my lip slightly with a pointed fang and push my arms under the warm boy, scooping him into my hold and standing. Beneath the flashes of blue through silhouetted leaves I carry him back to the vampire threshold. As soon as I am underground again, every black eye flicks suddenly to me and fangs glint in the candlelight.
“He’s breathing.” Hisses a younger vampire called Ricky, pushing his long black hair from his eyes with an elated smirk.
“Fuck off, this one is not food.” I bare my fangs and narrow my eyes, training my glare on everyone individually.
“He’s pretty.” A female says, batting her stupidly long eyelashes flirtatiously.
“Just all clear out.” I growl menacingly and blitz over to my coffin, where I lie the boy down carefully. I’m really beginning to worry about him, he’s been out for a long time now.
None of the others argue anymore, I did say they were stupid not dangerous.
I wait cautiously at the boy’s side, a long fingered hand resting on the coffin’s lip. I watch how the candlelight reflects off the rings in his lip and nose, creating a golden aura surrounding them. I still hear his heartbeat, wild and enrapturing.
It doesn’t take a long time for him to start stirring, his eyelids twitch as his body wakes up before his mind has completely registered the change. Eventually, his eyelids flutter open to reveal eyes a tawny mixture of hazel and green.
“Are you alright?” I ask, keeping my voice soft. His pupils dilate rapidly and I see fear creep back into his once peaceful face. In an unthinking panic, he starts to twist around… as if to escape.
“It’s no use, you’re in a coffin.” I inform him, feeling somewhat awkward at our horribly cliché meeting.
“I’m alright, by the way.” He mutters, lying still again.
I nod down at him, still concerned for his wellbeing. Luckily he didn’t hit his head as he went down.
I open my mouth again, not quite sure what I plan on saying, but am interrupted abruptly.
“Don’t you dare touch me.” His voice is heavily layered with venom.
I shake my head, watching with mild amusement as he raises a hand and rubs his fingers over his neck, feeling for a bite. His eyes widen curiously as he find none.
“Get me out of here. Now.”
I see a flash of malice in his eyes, although I can also tell by the way he trembles that he doesn’t really see a point in ordering around vampires.
“He’s awake!” I hear a high pitched voice squeal out behind me and sigh restlessly.
“Shit, shit, shit.” Frank’s hands clench into fists and I watch as every fibre in his body tenses, he has caught sight of the others; gathered in lines around the end of the room.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a live one.” Ricky laughs airily to accompany his words, causing me to roll my eyes. More theatrics.
“He’s only messing, no-one here will hurt you.” I whisper to the boy, who has got his hands obscuring his neck. “Get up… I’ll help you back.” I offer, resisting the urge to take his hand.
His enlarged eyes never leave my face as he, ever so slowly, pulls his hands from his neck and sits up in my coffin.
“Go to the other side, with them.” He gestures wildly at the enraptured cluster of vampires – most of whom are rearranging their hair.
It hurts me to see his disgust, made so clear in his every action, but I cross to stand in amongst the others – deciding to walk and not frighten him further.
Trying to make his movements accurate despite his shaking, the boy climbs out of the coffin and shuffles to the grand arch in the wall; he makes a point of not coming too close.
As I walk to meet him, I see Billie throw me a look absolutely riddled with revulsion.
Choosing to ignore him, I gesture for the boy to follow me and he walks cautiously behind me down the passage to the stairs.
“I must be insane, letting you take me anywhere.” He laughs dryly but I know he is trying to conceal terror with humour.
“We aren’t evil.” I say, my tone coming across much harsher than I intended. Trying to find something else to say, I guide the boy up the stone steps and out of the elaborate hatch.
“What’s your name?” Is what I settle on once the blissfully cool night air is relieving the clammy feel of our skin.
He backs a few steps away from me, eyes flickering warily over me and the grove – evaluating exits I assume.
“Frank.” He soon replies, licking his lips in an anxious manner.
“I’m Gerard.” I introduce myself with a flickering smile. “And no, vampires are not set to kill you.”
I know there is no point in fully trying to explain our full nature to Frank, he would neither listen nor be willing to understand.
“Just…” His flecked eyes rest entirely on my face for the first time and his voice wavers unsurely, to my own conceited amusement.
“Just, take me back to where we… um… met?”
His command finishes with a comical raised note, turning it into a question.
“This way.” I try to smile again, though the gesture feels unnatural from lack of use. I most likely just look like an insane mastermind.
Hesitantly, Frank follows me again. Although I quickly notice that this time he is no longer trailing so far behind me.
“How long have you been here?” I turn my head sideways to look at him, but find myself having to adjust my gaze downwards. I’m surprised I didn’t pick up on his height, or rather lack thereof, earlier.
“W-what?” He stammers and shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
“The population isn’t exactly huge, I know you must have moved here pretty recently.” I only offer a slightly more detailed prompt, my query isn’t exactly hard to understand.
“Oh.” He blushes and looks at the ground, kicking up some soil. “About two weeks now.”
“Don’t come so close!” Frank suddenly exclaims, causing me to jump. I hadn’t noticed that we had strayed so near, now our arms nearly touch.
“Sorry.” I raise my hands and step away sideways, creating some distance again. Frank releases an intoxicating breath, showing his relief.
Only too soon, we arrive at the forest’s edge and stand just outside the proud trees, bathed in the moon’s humble wash of light.
“Do you want me to come further?” I question hesitantly, it’s worth trying even if I know the answer.
“No. Don’t.”
Just as I expected.
“Take care.” I say softly, smiling for the third time now. “Check out your head, just in case.”
“Err…” Frank stares at the shining stars, just for the sake of having somewhere to look. I see their light fragmented in his eyes, like flakes of burning gold.
“Yeah, um, will do. Thanks?”
His voice cracks again in his last word as he gives way to the fear still clenching his body.
I simply nod, not sure which words would be fitting now. I quite like how shy he is.
Frank turns away from me and takes a prolonged step down the grassy mound, each dark strand shifting around his feet in the breeze.
“Gerard?” His head twists around, his ghoulishly pale face partially flushed in the cheeks now.
“Yes?” I watch him curiously, feeling unusually glad that he didn’t just run away.
“Nothing.” He shakes his head suddenly and sets off again; this time his pace is hurried and eager.
I stand on the cusp of the forest, content beneath the moon, and watch Frank’s rushed departure.
I would not object to seeing him again.
No, not at all.

Notes

Yaay thank you for reading up to and through the third chapter! Three cheers for you :D This chapter was once again written by WildAndFallen; pleaaaseee vote and comment!!! <3 <3 <3