Ole!
Who: Amanda Tanen (thefierceness) & James (neverwillstop)
What: OM NOM NOM. Amanda goes into town alone, and makes the mistake of letting James accompany her.
When: The evening of 1/7/08.
Where: Just on the outskirts of town.
Rating: R for blood, gore and death?
The castle was quiet as residents with bedtimes began to slumber. With so many steady breaths and heartbeats, it was a wonder how a vampire like James didn't go mad. Despite his refusal of the Cullen's "truce", he hadn't fed recently, and his throat burned. He needed to quench his thirst; he would be in better shape afterward. A trip to the city, he thought, although the thought rather bored him. What had happened to the days of chasing his victims and playing mind games with them? The city's people were far too easy to capture. They all tasted the same. He needed fresh blood, but found it too soon to stir up trouble.
Or was it?
He had just stepped off of the stairs when the smell hit him. It was delicious and alluring, tempting yet satisfying. He had recognized the scent almost immediately; it belonged to one "Amanda". He always felt guilty when he looked at her. Victoria was his soul mate, but certainly there was no harm in looking while he was here. Even if "looking" had turned quite intense upon their last meeting, perhaps almost deadly.
He wouldn't let that stop him. As she walked by, he quickly fell in step behind her, inhaling the trail of her scent as they walked. He could become quite intoxicated by it if he wasn't careful.
Amanda had been strutting right past the stairwell, her poise strong and her gait a rather healthy speed bordering on brisk. With each click of a heel and those narrows eyes focused only on where it was she had been going made it understandable that a woman such as herself would not notice the man behind her. In all honesty, she had never paid too much attention to those around the castle. They were all so wrapped up in their own problems or other people's problems, and none of it seemed to make any real difference, nor did it make for any interesting gossip for that matter. It was fine in her mind however, she was going to treat this place as something that would be the equivalent of an escape from her usual surroundings.
Though, at this point, the castle had been rather quiet, which had been saying something, really. Was it the corridor? She did manage to pick up another set of feet behind her, though she was nonchalant in getting to see who it was. When she turned the corner, her head peeked over her shoulder and caught the sight of that familiar face-- James-- trying to catch up and follow her. Amanda sighed. Guys really did try, didn't they? She would "ignore" him for now, just to play hard to get, because, really? She was.
Women, particularly human women, were a lot easier to read than they gave themselves credit for. He knew her game well, having played it countless times over the last century, so he did exactly what she was looking for. He continued to follow her, slowly allowing himself to gain speed just slightly, until he was at her side. He glanced down at her with a wry grin.
"Don't you know that it isn't safe for pretty young women to go out alone at night?"
She humored him a scoff as her attention turned to him only briefly, looking forward again as her steps did not falter in the slightest. "So? You're coming with me," she said, as if she had willed him at her side at that particular moment in time. Men were all the same, after all. If you already had them at your heels, no matter how far you walked in them, they were definitely going to follow.
Amanda continued on her way, pausing for only a moment to speak with him, not bothering to give him another glance. "So. James," her tone suggested that she had barely remembered his name, even though it had stayed in her mind. It was another trick she had, to make it seem as though it was a rather large compliment for her to have remembered such a name. "Do you plan on hitting the town as well?"
James couldn't help but chuckle to himself. She was quite good at playing hard to get. No matter how he tried to convince himself that he was onto her game, and that he understood her every move, he couldn't deny the affect she was having on him. It didn't help any that she still smelled delectable. She was going to town? Even if he hadn't intended to, he was certainly going with her.
He stepped into her line of sight, standing just a slight bit closer than she probably expected of him. "I can't have you going alone. What if someone came after you? I won't have that on my conscience."
He gave her the once over, eyes briefly examining her state. He didn't need but a glance to see that she was dolled up for wherever she was headed. "You're certainly inviting trouble wearing that."
What was with this guy and his lack of personal space? Amanda's eyebrow raised again as she allowed a rather nicely manicured hand to touch on his shoulder and ease him away with feigned disgust. She allowed her push to be a little firm, but as her fingers moved away from his shoulder, they more than likely brushed over his jacket playfully, out of that particular force of habit. She ran her hand through her hair when she was done, pushing those nicely groomed waves away from her face.
She still wouldn't allow him another gaze. "You're coming after me. What does that do for your conscience?" Amanda couldn't help but grin again, thinking this all something of a game. "Does that conscience of yours tell you that the competition would be trouble? Not that it would matter in the long run, really."
Fine, fine. With her shove, which had the same effect as pushing a brick wall with one's hand, he teetered himself backward, taking a nice step back to allow her the room she desired. The wave of her hand sent a very subtle wind toward him, her scent with it. He closed his eyes for just a second, taking it in. When he'd first met her, he'd only briefly thought of killing her. Such a divine looking woman deserved to live and grace the eyes of men (and some women). But the longer he stayed in her presence, the more often he saw her, the less he could control of his most primal of urges.
"You've found me out," he said with a grin, putting his hands up. "But can you blame me for trying? Call me selfish, but I'd rather not share you with the rest of the trouble that lurks out there. You'll find I'm trouble enough."
He turned, and began to walk, his eyes forward. "I'd like to come /with/ you, if you don't mind. Though, if you'd rather I come /after/ you, that can be arranged as well."
And Amanda pushed through the front doors of the castle; her warm breath exhaled a chuckle, allowing a rather nice mist to disappear into the cold night air. She huddled a little closer into her warm clothing, not allowing any of the wintry ambiance to affect her whatsoever. Her eyes did glance at James in the slightest, her lips curling again as she lowered her gaze, minding the ice on the sidewalk. "Really. It's not like it isn't obvious. Me? I have to be used to it. It's like, a pretty girl's curse."
It's not like it was a curse back home, really. It was one fling after another in Manhattan, and it had been something she was rather used to, though it wasn't until before she had arrived at the castle that she had started to think that such a lifestyle was starting to get... kind of old.
Luckily enough, she arrived here soon after. She had met a great guy and now that they were actually close enough to not have to put a front on for each other, it was actually kind of nice. She had to tell James straight. "But, you know..."
She was certainly a curse, particularly to male vampires. Or was it just him? Whether he acknowledged it or not, he did have a history of fixating on one woman at a time. He'd had his sights on Bella since before his arrival, but it seemed that now his attention was being drawn toward Amanda. Not that he was at all complaining. She was not as great of a challenge as of yet, but perhaps she would prove him wrong yet.
And... ah, there was always a catch, wasn't there? He brought his hand up to his still heart and winced. "It's always too good to be true with women like you, isn't it? What is it? Husband at home? Not interested in men?"
She allowed a rather forced laugh to be heard, actually rather amused at both of the speculations, but trying to hide such signs from James as she threw her scarf around her neck. Amanda huffed again, fingers moving to her locks as she spoke, her tone rather casual as she went on about that which actually made her stay at this castle more than pleasant, content in its throes.
"Not too long after I arrived, I met someone really attractive, really irresistible, and, yeah, his own kind of charismatic. After a pretty intense meet-up, we started seeing each other." She smiled a genuine smile once these thoughts ran through her mind again. "I know what you're thinking, I can get anyone I wanted, and believe me, I can, but really? I have it good right now. No complaints... which is saying something. Screaming it."
That did little to tame his thirst, but it would make seducing her a little more challenging. There was also the matter of a boyfriend seeking revenge for his lost love, and though that never proved a challenge, it was rather tedious. No matter, really. With so many vampires running about the castle, the blame could easily be pinned upon another.
He relaxed his shoulders, and even dropped his head slightly. "Isn't that a shame? Not for you, of course, but for trouble like me. That's wonderful for you, finding someone to love." He continued to watch her movements from the corner of his eyes, noting each subtle movement and keeping an eye out for habits that he could use to his advantage later tonight. "This doesn't mean I can't accompany you tonight, does it?"
She scoffed. "I don't know if it's love just yet, but who knows, really. It's not like any of us have ever been in a situation like this before, the whole having to be devoted to one another thing? Yeah, I admit that it's a nice change not having to worry about being pushed aside for another conquest, but okay, it just might be something I need to get used to as long as I'm here."
This was the point in which Amanda had found herself rambling. So it was something new, yes, but that didn't mean she had to talk the ear off an acquaintance about it. Perhaps this was her own way of being able to both reject someone and allow all the thoughts that had been running through her mind to be expressed? She shook her head and continued, "Well. Aside from the chick flick nonsense, I'm sure you've had something to look forward to once you arrived here. This place is full of a lot of singles, you know."
James honestly couldn't remember the last time he allowed a woman other than his mate to talk as much as he allowed Amanda. Normally he was through with them fairly quickly, considering it lucky if he even caught their name before they stopped breathing. It was... quite different. Of course, he listened with intent; one never knew when a human would blurt out something important. When she spoke of what he had to look forward to here, well, there really wasn't a whole lot.
He wasn't going to tell her that.
Shoving his hands in his pockets to appear more natural, he gave his shoulders a shrug. "There are some lovely ladies here," he said, "though you're definitely higher on the list than most." Flattery was important. It put him on their good side. "Honestly, I'm really not the sort to play women like a sport. If I find a woman intriguing, my attention is solely on her." It was true, though. He only focused on one prey at a time.
She couldn't help but smile at that last line, though she couldn't help but be reminded of all those weeks spent with Daniel back home, the one-night stands and the impromptu make-out sessions with strange people around the office, and that annoying Nick Pepper. Those days were capricious and rather shallow, but Amanda would have liked to think that she grew out of that once she had made out with the wrong person, the crush of a friend. There weren't going to be any strange, lusty excursions on her part anymore, right?
"Okay, so I know that I'm usually the most sought after person in any room, but really," Amanda said, her hand on her hip, and her eyes rolling toward James. "I'm trying to be the good girl here. Maybe if you checked in a little earlier, you'd have a piece of this, but come on now, James."
The town was getting closer with every step, and Amanda moved her eyes forward, smirking a little."Oh, but I'll introduce you to one of my friends. Are you the kind of man who digs ponchos?"
He had to give her credit for her effort. It was clear to him that she was really devoted to whatever human she'd attached herself to, and for a moment he felt a bit sorry for her that she would soon have to leave him. Here was hoping they'd parted on good terms. Or perhaps bad terms, to make her mate's revenge all the more humorous. But despite her efforts, nothing was going to change his mind. James had spent too much time around her. He'd become familiar with her scent, with the way that she ran her hand through her hair or placed it upon her hip, and even her speech patterns. There was certainly nothing that would deter him from getting what he wanted now, not while he was still thirsty.
"Ponchos," he said, looking up in thought, deciding to humor her question. "I've been to Mexico a few times. The women there are quite... spicy." He chuckled to himself. "But I'm afraid I'm a bit too heartbroken to consider anyone else at the moment. Perhaps soon."
As the town's lights grew closer and the castle dimmed behind them, they came upon a rather darkened path, one he easily guided her on as they walked. He placed his hand upon the small of her back, glancing up as if the sudden darkness had surprised even him. It hadn't, of course.
"I know you're trying to behave and all," he said as they walked deeper down the path, coming up behind a few dimly lit buildings, "but perhaps I could just have one kiss? Surely I should be rewarded for guiding you to the safety of the town."
Really, Amanda was always the first person to defend random kisses, be they innocent or not, and though she had always been the first to give either of those kinds of kisses a try, she was a little wary in giving a taste to James, especially since a sample had always lead to wanting the entire package. She had already known that he had feelings for her, be they merely lust or a full-on crush since they had first met, but she had tried restraining herself from giving into more temptation than she was used to. Her heels clicked on the concrete firmly, the rather stern sounds echoing down the narrow path they had traveled down.
"I'd love to give you a taste, but really, it's one of those times where I'm going to have to deny you access. Maybe we can find you someone in town, you're not completely unfortunate, you know." She pulled away in the slightest, those sharp heels moving her a few steps in front of James, her eyes glancing back at him as she gave him a small smile. Honestly, if she hadn't have promised the commitment to Crowley, they wouldn't still be talking at this moment. "You came out all this way, why not take advantage of your trip to town?"
Ah, so she wasn't going to give in, was she? That only made things a bit more interesting. Though he had simply asked for his kiss, he really wasn't asking permission. That would be like asking his prey if he could drink them dry before doing it anyway. He was going to get that kiss and far more whether Amanda consented or not.
She had turned to smile at him, giving off another one of her dull suggestions of finding someone in town. More townspeople? Hardly what he needed, or craved at this point. Amanda had become his prey, and that was quite unfortunate for her. In the time it took for Amanda to turn her head forward once again, James had moved himself in front of her, finally revealing to her but a taste of his speed. He stood inches away from her; Amanda's issue with personal space would not be an issue for much longer.
"Really, now," he said in a much lower, more raspy tone. His hand lashed out and around her, holding her firmly in an unbreakable embrace. His other hand came to tilt up her chin. "I think I deserve just a small reward, don't you?" His cold lips brushed against hers before she could utter another word.
It was strange. A chill ran up her spine at the sight of James in front of her, rather sure that she had distanced herself from him enough to be just that one step ahead of him. Amanda couldn't help but pause as an eyebrow was lifted at her attempt to wrap her brain around what just had happened. There was no way he could possibly have been that close to her, could he?
She also couldn't help the quickening pace of her heartbeat as the kiss came at her, the chill of her lips, the same chill that lingered upon her spine giving her goosebumps and making those hairs stand on end. She felt that familiar touch, a strange cool hold on her, something that severely contrasted the familiar warmth of Crowley, though admittedly, made her heart stop at the forcefulness of what he had given her. It was almost like she had been in a movie and the cold night was hers. After all, it was she that was so sought after, it was she who could invoke such a spontaneous act of lust.
Amanda inhaled sharply, pulling away from the kiss, though she found the hold on her rather difficult to escape. She allowed another breath to reach the night air, her eyes looking up at James as if she had been frozen in place by that cold touch of his, those intense eyes of his, her body forced to tremble in his presence. Just what was it about him that caused her to falter in such a way?
At last it seemed he had finally had his affect on her. She had put up quite the battle in resisting, something quite notable for a small, human woman. He held her gaze for a moment longer, wondering if he should thank the poor lighting for not revealing the dark, black color of his eyes, the only physical indication of just how great his thirst was. He tried to sense what she was feeling. Could she be frightened? Or was she simply confused and surprised? Such emotions escaped him, not having felt them in over a century. He was the predator now. It was his duty to inflict those emotions upon his prey.
"That wasn't bad, now was it?" He chuckled as his hand moved through her full, blonde locks and brushed them behind her shoulder. His cold fingers lightly ran along the nape of her neck, until they came across the faint pulsing of a vein. Finally, he would make his kill, and oh, how he would savor it.
He dipped his head low, inhaling as his lips drew closer to her neck, and that flow of blood that tempted him so. As he exhaled, cold breath touched upon her neck, followed by his own lips as he gently kissed upon it. He was so very close...
A lip trembled at the touch, and Amanda found herself practically immobilized by the hold he had on her, her skin almost numbed with the chill that had been unleashed with but a simple breath. Her fingers moved to his chest, her hands grasping at his jacket, though her mind had been muddled enough at the circumstance to be unsure as to whether or not she should push him away. The kisses at her neck were not helping the whole decision whatsoever, though once she had closed her eyes however, all that she had seen, all that she had thought of was that strange demon of hers and how she preferred that warm touch of his over the stunning touch of James.
"I..." She knew at that moment, at that passing thought, she really had changed for the better once she had begun to work at it. All that she did to impress everyone was really frivolous, and brought hangers-on to her that were only okay for perhaps eye candy or a strange form of conversation. That was all James was to her at that point, and all that he could hope to be. Amanda swallowed the lump in her throat as well as a stifled sigh at the kisses-- they were still affecting her, after all-- those hands of hers pushing at him in an attempt to separate the two.
"No," she said.
He couldn't help it, he just couldn't hold it in. He laughed. No? It was far too late for her to be saying no. She should have said it during their first encounter. She should have said it during the second. She should have said it this evening before they'd even left the castle. Now that he was holding onto her, locking her, /trapping/ her, telling him "no" was pointless.
After pulling away from her neck, he peered up at her. She was angry now, and her pulse quickened. He could hear it now, the throbbing of her heart in his ears. It was quick and slightly erratic, almost as if she were on the verge of panic. How deeply she must have felt for the poor sap she claimed as her own. He softened his expression for one last time. It would be the last polite gesture he would use toward her before he was through with her.
"I'm afraid you don't have much of a say in this any longer, Amanda. You see, this isn't about being devoted to a mate, or even wanting you sexually, though you are a fine piece of work. In reality, all I really want from you?" He grinned, baring those perfect, white teeth of his. "Is your blood."
His hand clenched tightly around her waist, dragging her body forcefully into his in one harsh movement. He lowered his mouth to her neck once more, dragging his teeth along her skin before he found that pulsing vein that practically called out to him. And without another moment's hesitation, he sank his teeth into her skin, savoring the sudden flow of hot blood that rushed into his mouth.
It was like a moment's passing, much like the time it took for James to get that grasp on her, immobilize her with only a grasp, and seize the opportunity that had been unwittingly provided for him. It was all done in a fluid motion, as but a single heartbeat was heard between the grasp, the sensation of being bitten, and the striking the pain resulting. All of it did not seem to register once she had felt herself gasping and the blood entering her throat once it was punctured. Her body flinched violently, the same inherent reaction from that which would have to fight for its life.
Amanda's dominant arm tried to push James away, as her other made an attempt to reach for the journal at her side. She would manage to open it just a crack, and shout the equivalent of the first few letters of Crowley's name, as her throat had begun to think of better uses for itself, such as trying not to choke on the blood that had begun to spill through her neck. The breaths came easy rather than stifled, as the man at her neck found a way to drain the blood from her neck, almost emptying it. She would try shouting again; the journal would certainly pick up the sounds of a struggle, right?
Legs kicked and Amanda thrashed against her attacker, the arm that had been trying to push him away moving toward his neck, trying to pull him away from her as much as she could, something to buy her a little more time. Fingers attempted to grasp at his windpipe as his teeth did to hers, but she had found her grasp wasn't what it had normally been, and yet another cold shiver began to wash over. This one was much different than before, it was far more amplified than a simple fear.
The taste was divine, perhaps even better than he'd expected of someone who was presumably not a virgin. He drank eagerly, almost gulping the warm blood as quickly as it escaped her veins. His teeth sank deeper into her skin, tearing it as his thirst only grew. He really didn't mean to mar such perfect skin, but when was the only barrier between him and what he wanted, certainly it had to go.
The way she thrashed against him, struggling to free herself only served to further excite him. He rather liked when his prey put up a good struggle, and he remained still, allowing her the weak, futile attempts she made. When she went for his throat he chuckled, a few droplets of blood seeping from the corners of his mouth. As if a lack of air would stop someone who hadn't breathed a real breath in ages. He only really needed the one hand around her waist to hold her up, and his hand came up to hold her hand. His lips parted briefly from her neck. "It's almost over."
He lifted her higher until her feet no longer touched the ground. His teeth sank into her skin once more, another rush of blood flooding his mouth. His eyes rolled back as he drank her, draining her of more than just the warm liquid he couldn't get enough of.
Her fingers tried to do something, anything, to his neck to try and pull him off of her, but the grasp on her wrist was more than enough to pull her off of him. Amanda could feel her body getting weaker with each moment and all she could muster was a few angry gasps as she felt her head getting lighter and lighter and a horrible sensation burned within her stomach. She would continue to fight, however, both hands now moving to his arm in an attempt to try and pry him off, but at this point, her grasp was something that had been growing exponentially weaker by the moment. Gasps broke the silence, anything louder had become an impossibility.
She would continue to kick at James, though her legs merely brushed up against his. If he hadn't lifted her from the ground, she imagined she wouldn't have been able to keep herself from toppling over, her body had become that weak from the blood that had been draining from her body. Fingers tried to grasp deeper into his arm despite all the strength that had been pulled from her body were trembles from her body struggling to stay conscious. Her eyes narrowed, her vision had begun to blur, but she caught those eyes of his and gave him a look that showed the complete disdain for what trickery he had allowed her to fall into, the intent glare giving him a knowing look that showed just how he could burn completely for what he was doing to her.
The glance had been only brief, however. With a gasping breath and a last, lingering spasm of her ever struggling body, she found those narrowed eyes narrowing more. Amanda was silent when her eyelids fell.
James could feel himself regaining strength that he had nearly forgotten he'd had. The townspeople had done so little to satisfy his craving, each taking on a strange, peculiar taste. They weren't nearly as fun to kill, either. Amanda, however, had been intriguing from the start. Her confidence had been her downfall. Had she been the least bit wary of him, she might not have fallen into his trap. He found it rather amusing that all along she had assumed that she was the one with all of the control in their situations. How very wrong she was.
He felt her body go limp, and noticed that her eyes had closed. At least she had lost consciousness now, and perhaps the pain had left her as well. He really didn't have anything against her, but as a human he couldn't help but toy with her as well. The pulse was gone, which meant that the blood would no longer be flowing so easily. He hoisted her limp body up a little more, repositioning her in his arms to allow himself better access to her neck and shoulder.
As he drained her body of the last remaining amounts of blood, he noticed something on the ground just at their feet. He pulled away from her neck, licking his lips as he narrowed his eyes a little. A journal? Certainly not his, as it was left upon his bedroom desk. This would be quite bothersome, as he had no idea how long that had been lying open on the ground. With a grunt of annoyance, he kicked the journal with his foot, and it landed a distance away, cover closed.
"Can't have anyone finding you before I can make my getaway," he told the unconscious Amanda.
As she slipped into unconsciousness, she wasn't sure which of it was making her slip further and further away from her usual vivaciousness. Was it the fact that she had most of her blood drained from her neck, or had it been the fact that her breathing had become rather difficult since jaws were clasped on her throat? Had it mattered at this point? Thinking about it all had made her realize just hard it was to keep a solid thought in her mind, her brain already deciding that keeping aware of her surroundings and the pain that had so tormented her before blacking out didn't matter, so why should breathing and keeping that weak pulse steady matter?
There was no telling what the cold feeling was that had been encompassing her. Was it the grip that James had her under, or had it been the cold concrete where she was going to lay for as long as she could, or had it been the touch of death that she had so feared once trouble had hit her? The feeling of a few heartbeats becoming exponentially slower was her only response, and a breath was exhaled, both meeting each other and fading away as she felt that same chill take her over, the one last caress.
Kneeling down, James laid her body gently onto the ground. She was dead, and there was certainly no point in bruising the body further. As he knelt beside her, glancing at her lifeless body, he felt no remorse for his act. After all, it was just how things had to be. Vampires needed to feed, and humans were dumb enough to allow themselves in dangerous situations that a vampire very well couldn't resist to take advantage of. He brushed a few stray strands from her face.
"Thank you for a lovely night on the town," he said with a grin, before rising to his feet. He casually stepped over her body, not even glancing back to look at her once he had began his walk back toward the castle. With Jasper running about, perhaps his act would go unnoticed, or would even be tied to that miserable Cullen.
He wondered how long it would take the residents to find her body. After all, there was no telling how long the journal had been open. He wouldn't worry about it for now, already considering who his next victim would be.
What: OM NOM NOM. Amanda goes into town alone, and makes the mistake of letting James accompany her.
When: The evening of 1/7/08.
Where: Just on the outskirts of town.
Rating: R for blood, gore and death?
The castle was quiet as residents with bedtimes began to slumber. With so many steady breaths and heartbeats, it was a wonder how a vampire like James didn't go mad. Despite his refusal of the Cullen's "truce", he hadn't fed recently, and his throat burned. He needed to quench his thirst; he would be in better shape afterward. A trip to the city, he thought, although the thought rather bored him. What had happened to the days of chasing his victims and playing mind games with them? The city's people were far too easy to capture. They all tasted the same. He needed fresh blood, but found it too soon to stir up trouble.
Or was it?
He had just stepped off of the stairs when the smell hit him. It was delicious and alluring, tempting yet satisfying. He had recognized the scent almost immediately; it belonged to one "Amanda". He always felt guilty when he looked at her. Victoria was his soul mate, but certainly there was no harm in looking while he was here. Even if "looking" had turned quite intense upon their last meeting, perhaps almost deadly.
He wouldn't let that stop him. As she walked by, he quickly fell in step behind her, inhaling the trail of her scent as they walked. He could become quite intoxicated by it if he wasn't careful.
Amanda had been strutting right past the stairwell, her poise strong and her gait a rather healthy speed bordering on brisk. With each click of a heel and those narrows eyes focused only on where it was she had been going made it understandable that a woman such as herself would not notice the man behind her. In all honesty, she had never paid too much attention to those around the castle. They were all so wrapped up in their own problems or other people's problems, and none of it seemed to make any real difference, nor did it make for any interesting gossip for that matter. It was fine in her mind however, she was going to treat this place as something that would be the equivalent of an escape from her usual surroundings.
Though, at this point, the castle had been rather quiet, which had been saying something, really. Was it the corridor? She did manage to pick up another set of feet behind her, though she was nonchalant in getting to see who it was. When she turned the corner, her head peeked over her shoulder and caught the sight of that familiar face-- James-- trying to catch up and follow her. Amanda sighed. Guys really did try, didn't they? She would "ignore" him for now, just to play hard to get, because, really? She was.
Women, particularly human women, were a lot easier to read than they gave themselves credit for. He knew her game well, having played it countless times over the last century, so he did exactly what she was looking for. He continued to follow her, slowly allowing himself to gain speed just slightly, until he was at her side. He glanced down at her with a wry grin.
"Don't you know that it isn't safe for pretty young women to go out alone at night?"
She humored him a scoff as her attention turned to him only briefly, looking forward again as her steps did not falter in the slightest. "So? You're coming with me," she said, as if she had willed him at her side at that particular moment in time. Men were all the same, after all. If you already had them at your heels, no matter how far you walked in them, they were definitely going to follow.
Amanda continued on her way, pausing for only a moment to speak with him, not bothering to give him another glance. "So. James," her tone suggested that she had barely remembered his name, even though it had stayed in her mind. It was another trick she had, to make it seem as though it was a rather large compliment for her to have remembered such a name. "Do you plan on hitting the town as well?"
James couldn't help but chuckle to himself. She was quite good at playing hard to get. No matter how he tried to convince himself that he was onto her game, and that he understood her every move, he couldn't deny the affect she was having on him. It didn't help any that she still smelled delectable. She was going to town? Even if he hadn't intended to, he was certainly going with her.
He stepped into her line of sight, standing just a slight bit closer than she probably expected of him. "I can't have you going alone. What if someone came after you? I won't have that on my conscience."
He gave her the once over, eyes briefly examining her state. He didn't need but a glance to see that she was dolled up for wherever she was headed. "You're certainly inviting trouble wearing that."
What was with this guy and his lack of personal space? Amanda's eyebrow raised again as she allowed a rather nicely manicured hand to touch on his shoulder and ease him away with feigned disgust. She allowed her push to be a little firm, but as her fingers moved away from his shoulder, they more than likely brushed over his jacket playfully, out of that particular force of habit. She ran her hand through her hair when she was done, pushing those nicely groomed waves away from her face.
She still wouldn't allow him another gaze. "You're coming after me. What does that do for your conscience?" Amanda couldn't help but grin again, thinking this all something of a game. "Does that conscience of yours tell you that the competition would be trouble? Not that it would matter in the long run, really."
Fine, fine. With her shove, which had the same effect as pushing a brick wall with one's hand, he teetered himself backward, taking a nice step back to allow her the room she desired. The wave of her hand sent a very subtle wind toward him, her scent with it. He closed his eyes for just a second, taking it in. When he'd first met her, he'd only briefly thought of killing her. Such a divine looking woman deserved to live and grace the eyes of men (and some women). But the longer he stayed in her presence, the more often he saw her, the less he could control of his most primal of urges.
"You've found me out," he said with a grin, putting his hands up. "But can you blame me for trying? Call me selfish, but I'd rather not share you with the rest of the trouble that lurks out there. You'll find I'm trouble enough."
He turned, and began to walk, his eyes forward. "I'd like to come /with/ you, if you don't mind. Though, if you'd rather I come /after/ you, that can be arranged as well."
And Amanda pushed through the front doors of the castle; her warm breath exhaled a chuckle, allowing a rather nice mist to disappear into the cold night air. She huddled a little closer into her warm clothing, not allowing any of the wintry ambiance to affect her whatsoever. Her eyes did glance at James in the slightest, her lips curling again as she lowered her gaze, minding the ice on the sidewalk. "Really. It's not like it isn't obvious. Me? I have to be used to it. It's like, a pretty girl's curse."
It's not like it was a curse back home, really. It was one fling after another in Manhattan, and it had been something she was rather used to, though it wasn't until before she had arrived at the castle that she had started to think that such a lifestyle was starting to get... kind of old.
Luckily enough, she arrived here soon after. She had met a great guy and now that they were actually close enough to not have to put a front on for each other, it was actually kind of nice. She had to tell James straight. "But, you know..."
She was certainly a curse, particularly to male vampires. Or was it just him? Whether he acknowledged it or not, he did have a history of fixating on one woman at a time. He'd had his sights on Bella since before his arrival, but it seemed that now his attention was being drawn toward Amanda. Not that he was at all complaining. She was not as great of a challenge as of yet, but perhaps she would prove him wrong yet.
And... ah, there was always a catch, wasn't there? He brought his hand up to his still heart and winced. "It's always too good to be true with women like you, isn't it? What is it? Husband at home? Not interested in men?"
She allowed a rather forced laugh to be heard, actually rather amused at both of the speculations, but trying to hide such signs from James as she threw her scarf around her neck. Amanda huffed again, fingers moving to her locks as she spoke, her tone rather casual as she went on about that which actually made her stay at this castle more than pleasant, content in its throes.
"Not too long after I arrived, I met someone really attractive, really irresistible, and, yeah, his own kind of charismatic. After a pretty intense meet-up, we started seeing each other." She smiled a genuine smile once these thoughts ran through her mind again. "I know what you're thinking, I can get anyone I wanted, and believe me, I can, but really? I have it good right now. No complaints... which is saying something. Screaming it."
That did little to tame his thirst, but it would make seducing her a little more challenging. There was also the matter of a boyfriend seeking revenge for his lost love, and though that never proved a challenge, it was rather tedious. No matter, really. With so many vampires running about the castle, the blame could easily be pinned upon another.
He relaxed his shoulders, and even dropped his head slightly. "Isn't that a shame? Not for you, of course, but for trouble like me. That's wonderful for you, finding someone to love." He continued to watch her movements from the corner of his eyes, noting each subtle movement and keeping an eye out for habits that he could use to his advantage later tonight. "This doesn't mean I can't accompany you tonight, does it?"
She scoffed. "I don't know if it's love just yet, but who knows, really. It's not like any of us have ever been in a situation like this before, the whole having to be devoted to one another thing? Yeah, I admit that it's a nice change not having to worry about being pushed aside for another conquest, but okay, it just might be something I need to get used to as long as I'm here."
This was the point in which Amanda had found herself rambling. So it was something new, yes, but that didn't mean she had to talk the ear off an acquaintance about it. Perhaps this was her own way of being able to both reject someone and allow all the thoughts that had been running through her mind to be expressed? She shook her head and continued, "Well. Aside from the chick flick nonsense, I'm sure you've had something to look forward to once you arrived here. This place is full of a lot of singles, you know."
James honestly couldn't remember the last time he allowed a woman other than his mate to talk as much as he allowed Amanda. Normally he was through with them fairly quickly, considering it lucky if he even caught their name before they stopped breathing. It was... quite different. Of course, he listened with intent; one never knew when a human would blurt out something important. When she spoke of what he had to look forward to here, well, there really wasn't a whole lot.
He wasn't going to tell her that.
Shoving his hands in his pockets to appear more natural, he gave his shoulders a shrug. "There are some lovely ladies here," he said, "though you're definitely higher on the list than most." Flattery was important. It put him on their good side. "Honestly, I'm really not the sort to play women like a sport. If I find a woman intriguing, my attention is solely on her." It was true, though. He only focused on one prey at a time.
She couldn't help but smile at that last line, though she couldn't help but be reminded of all those weeks spent with Daniel back home, the one-night stands and the impromptu make-out sessions with strange people around the office, and that annoying Nick Pepper. Those days were capricious and rather shallow, but Amanda would have liked to think that she grew out of that once she had made out with the wrong person, the crush of a friend. There weren't going to be any strange, lusty excursions on her part anymore, right?
"Okay, so I know that I'm usually the most sought after person in any room, but really," Amanda said, her hand on her hip, and her eyes rolling toward James. "I'm trying to be the good girl here. Maybe if you checked in a little earlier, you'd have a piece of this, but come on now, James."
The town was getting closer with every step, and Amanda moved her eyes forward, smirking a little."Oh, but I'll introduce you to one of my friends. Are you the kind of man who digs ponchos?"
He had to give her credit for her effort. It was clear to him that she was really devoted to whatever human she'd attached herself to, and for a moment he felt a bit sorry for her that she would soon have to leave him. Here was hoping they'd parted on good terms. Or perhaps bad terms, to make her mate's revenge all the more humorous. But despite her efforts, nothing was going to change his mind. James had spent too much time around her. He'd become familiar with her scent, with the way that she ran her hand through her hair or placed it upon her hip, and even her speech patterns. There was certainly nothing that would deter him from getting what he wanted now, not while he was still thirsty.
"Ponchos," he said, looking up in thought, deciding to humor her question. "I've been to Mexico a few times. The women there are quite... spicy." He chuckled to himself. "But I'm afraid I'm a bit too heartbroken to consider anyone else at the moment. Perhaps soon."
As the town's lights grew closer and the castle dimmed behind them, they came upon a rather darkened path, one he easily guided her on as they walked. He placed his hand upon the small of her back, glancing up as if the sudden darkness had surprised even him. It hadn't, of course.
"I know you're trying to behave and all," he said as they walked deeper down the path, coming up behind a few dimly lit buildings, "but perhaps I could just have one kiss? Surely I should be rewarded for guiding you to the safety of the town."
Really, Amanda was always the first person to defend random kisses, be they innocent or not, and though she had always been the first to give either of those kinds of kisses a try, she was a little wary in giving a taste to James, especially since a sample had always lead to wanting the entire package. She had already known that he had feelings for her, be they merely lust or a full-on crush since they had first met, but she had tried restraining herself from giving into more temptation than she was used to. Her heels clicked on the concrete firmly, the rather stern sounds echoing down the narrow path they had traveled down.
"I'd love to give you a taste, but really, it's one of those times where I'm going to have to deny you access. Maybe we can find you someone in town, you're not completely unfortunate, you know." She pulled away in the slightest, those sharp heels moving her a few steps in front of James, her eyes glancing back at him as she gave him a small smile. Honestly, if she hadn't have promised the commitment to Crowley, they wouldn't still be talking at this moment. "You came out all this way, why not take advantage of your trip to town?"
Ah, so she wasn't going to give in, was she? That only made things a bit more interesting. Though he had simply asked for his kiss, he really wasn't asking permission. That would be like asking his prey if he could drink them dry before doing it anyway. He was going to get that kiss and far more whether Amanda consented or not.
She had turned to smile at him, giving off another one of her dull suggestions of finding someone in town. More townspeople? Hardly what he needed, or craved at this point. Amanda had become his prey, and that was quite unfortunate for her. In the time it took for Amanda to turn her head forward once again, James had moved himself in front of her, finally revealing to her but a taste of his speed. He stood inches away from her; Amanda's issue with personal space would not be an issue for much longer.
"Really, now," he said in a much lower, more raspy tone. His hand lashed out and around her, holding her firmly in an unbreakable embrace. His other hand came to tilt up her chin. "I think I deserve just a small reward, don't you?" His cold lips brushed against hers before she could utter another word.
It was strange. A chill ran up her spine at the sight of James in front of her, rather sure that she had distanced herself from him enough to be just that one step ahead of him. Amanda couldn't help but pause as an eyebrow was lifted at her attempt to wrap her brain around what just had happened. There was no way he could possibly have been that close to her, could he?
She also couldn't help the quickening pace of her heartbeat as the kiss came at her, the chill of her lips, the same chill that lingered upon her spine giving her goosebumps and making those hairs stand on end. She felt that familiar touch, a strange cool hold on her, something that severely contrasted the familiar warmth of Crowley, though admittedly, made her heart stop at the forcefulness of what he had given her. It was almost like she had been in a movie and the cold night was hers. After all, it was she that was so sought after, it was she who could invoke such a spontaneous act of lust.
Amanda inhaled sharply, pulling away from the kiss, though she found the hold on her rather difficult to escape. She allowed another breath to reach the night air, her eyes looking up at James as if she had been frozen in place by that cold touch of his, those intense eyes of his, her body forced to tremble in his presence. Just what was it about him that caused her to falter in such a way?
At last it seemed he had finally had his affect on her. She had put up quite the battle in resisting, something quite notable for a small, human woman. He held her gaze for a moment longer, wondering if he should thank the poor lighting for not revealing the dark, black color of his eyes, the only physical indication of just how great his thirst was. He tried to sense what she was feeling. Could she be frightened? Or was she simply confused and surprised? Such emotions escaped him, not having felt them in over a century. He was the predator now. It was his duty to inflict those emotions upon his prey.
"That wasn't bad, now was it?" He chuckled as his hand moved through her full, blonde locks and brushed them behind her shoulder. His cold fingers lightly ran along the nape of her neck, until they came across the faint pulsing of a vein. Finally, he would make his kill, and oh, how he would savor it.
He dipped his head low, inhaling as his lips drew closer to her neck, and that flow of blood that tempted him so. As he exhaled, cold breath touched upon her neck, followed by his own lips as he gently kissed upon it. He was so very close...
A lip trembled at the touch, and Amanda found herself practically immobilized by the hold he had on her, her skin almost numbed with the chill that had been unleashed with but a simple breath. Her fingers moved to his chest, her hands grasping at his jacket, though her mind had been muddled enough at the circumstance to be unsure as to whether or not she should push him away. The kisses at her neck were not helping the whole decision whatsoever, though once she had closed her eyes however, all that she had seen, all that she had thought of was that strange demon of hers and how she preferred that warm touch of his over the stunning touch of James.
"I..." She knew at that moment, at that passing thought, she really had changed for the better once she had begun to work at it. All that she did to impress everyone was really frivolous, and brought hangers-on to her that were only okay for perhaps eye candy or a strange form of conversation. That was all James was to her at that point, and all that he could hope to be. Amanda swallowed the lump in her throat as well as a stifled sigh at the kisses-- they were still affecting her, after all-- those hands of hers pushing at him in an attempt to separate the two.
"No," she said.
He couldn't help it, he just couldn't hold it in. He laughed. No? It was far too late for her to be saying no. She should have said it during their first encounter. She should have said it during the second. She should have said it this evening before they'd even left the castle. Now that he was holding onto her, locking her, /trapping/ her, telling him "no" was pointless.
After pulling away from her neck, he peered up at her. She was angry now, and her pulse quickened. He could hear it now, the throbbing of her heart in his ears. It was quick and slightly erratic, almost as if she were on the verge of panic. How deeply she must have felt for the poor sap she claimed as her own. He softened his expression for one last time. It would be the last polite gesture he would use toward her before he was through with her.
"I'm afraid you don't have much of a say in this any longer, Amanda. You see, this isn't about being devoted to a mate, or even wanting you sexually, though you are a fine piece of work. In reality, all I really want from you?" He grinned, baring those perfect, white teeth of his. "Is your blood."
His hand clenched tightly around her waist, dragging her body forcefully into his in one harsh movement. He lowered his mouth to her neck once more, dragging his teeth along her skin before he found that pulsing vein that practically called out to him. And without another moment's hesitation, he sank his teeth into her skin, savoring the sudden flow of hot blood that rushed into his mouth.
It was like a moment's passing, much like the time it took for James to get that grasp on her, immobilize her with only a grasp, and seize the opportunity that had been unwittingly provided for him. It was all done in a fluid motion, as but a single heartbeat was heard between the grasp, the sensation of being bitten, and the striking the pain resulting. All of it did not seem to register once she had felt herself gasping and the blood entering her throat once it was punctured. Her body flinched violently, the same inherent reaction from that which would have to fight for its life.
Amanda's dominant arm tried to push James away, as her other made an attempt to reach for the journal at her side. She would manage to open it just a crack, and shout the equivalent of the first few letters of Crowley's name, as her throat had begun to think of better uses for itself, such as trying not to choke on the blood that had begun to spill through her neck. The breaths came easy rather than stifled, as the man at her neck found a way to drain the blood from her neck, almost emptying it. She would try shouting again; the journal would certainly pick up the sounds of a struggle, right?
Legs kicked and Amanda thrashed against her attacker, the arm that had been trying to push him away moving toward his neck, trying to pull him away from her as much as she could, something to buy her a little more time. Fingers attempted to grasp at his windpipe as his teeth did to hers, but she had found her grasp wasn't what it had normally been, and yet another cold shiver began to wash over. This one was much different than before, it was far more amplified than a simple fear.
The taste was divine, perhaps even better than he'd expected of someone who was presumably not a virgin. He drank eagerly, almost gulping the warm blood as quickly as it escaped her veins. His teeth sank deeper into her skin, tearing it as his thirst only grew. He really didn't mean to mar such perfect skin, but when was the only barrier between him and what he wanted, certainly it had to go.
The way she thrashed against him, struggling to free herself only served to further excite him. He rather liked when his prey put up a good struggle, and he remained still, allowing her the weak, futile attempts she made. When she went for his throat he chuckled, a few droplets of blood seeping from the corners of his mouth. As if a lack of air would stop someone who hadn't breathed a real breath in ages. He only really needed the one hand around her waist to hold her up, and his hand came up to hold her hand. His lips parted briefly from her neck. "It's almost over."
He lifted her higher until her feet no longer touched the ground. His teeth sank into her skin once more, another rush of blood flooding his mouth. His eyes rolled back as he drank her, draining her of more than just the warm liquid he couldn't get enough of.
Her fingers tried to do something, anything, to his neck to try and pull him off of her, but the grasp on her wrist was more than enough to pull her off of him. Amanda could feel her body getting weaker with each moment and all she could muster was a few angry gasps as she felt her head getting lighter and lighter and a horrible sensation burned within her stomach. She would continue to fight, however, both hands now moving to his arm in an attempt to try and pry him off, but at this point, her grasp was something that had been growing exponentially weaker by the moment. Gasps broke the silence, anything louder had become an impossibility.
She would continue to kick at James, though her legs merely brushed up against his. If he hadn't lifted her from the ground, she imagined she wouldn't have been able to keep herself from toppling over, her body had become that weak from the blood that had been draining from her body. Fingers tried to grasp deeper into his arm despite all the strength that had been pulled from her body were trembles from her body struggling to stay conscious. Her eyes narrowed, her vision had begun to blur, but she caught those eyes of his and gave him a look that showed the complete disdain for what trickery he had allowed her to fall into, the intent glare giving him a knowing look that showed just how he could burn completely for what he was doing to her.
The glance had been only brief, however. With a gasping breath and a last, lingering spasm of her ever struggling body, she found those narrowed eyes narrowing more. Amanda was silent when her eyelids fell.
James could feel himself regaining strength that he had nearly forgotten he'd had. The townspeople had done so little to satisfy his craving, each taking on a strange, peculiar taste. They weren't nearly as fun to kill, either. Amanda, however, had been intriguing from the start. Her confidence had been her downfall. Had she been the least bit wary of him, she might not have fallen into his trap. He found it rather amusing that all along she had assumed that she was the one with all of the control in their situations. How very wrong she was.
He felt her body go limp, and noticed that her eyes had closed. At least she had lost consciousness now, and perhaps the pain had left her as well. He really didn't have anything against her, but as a human he couldn't help but toy with her as well. The pulse was gone, which meant that the blood would no longer be flowing so easily. He hoisted her limp body up a little more, repositioning her in his arms to allow himself better access to her neck and shoulder.
As he drained her body of the last remaining amounts of blood, he noticed something on the ground just at their feet. He pulled away from her neck, licking his lips as he narrowed his eyes a little. A journal? Certainly not his, as it was left upon his bedroom desk. This would be quite bothersome, as he had no idea how long that had been lying open on the ground. With a grunt of annoyance, he kicked the journal with his foot, and it landed a distance away, cover closed.
"Can't have anyone finding you before I can make my getaway," he told the unconscious Amanda.
As she slipped into unconsciousness, she wasn't sure which of it was making her slip further and further away from her usual vivaciousness. Was it the fact that she had most of her blood drained from her neck, or had it been the fact that her breathing had become rather difficult since jaws were clasped on her throat? Had it mattered at this point? Thinking about it all had made her realize just hard it was to keep a solid thought in her mind, her brain already deciding that keeping aware of her surroundings and the pain that had so tormented her before blacking out didn't matter, so why should breathing and keeping that weak pulse steady matter?
There was no telling what the cold feeling was that had been encompassing her. Was it the grip that James had her under, or had it been the cold concrete where she was going to lay for as long as she could, or had it been the touch of death that she had so feared once trouble had hit her? The feeling of a few heartbeats becoming exponentially slower was her only response, and a breath was exhaled, both meeting each other and fading away as she felt that same chill take her over, the one last caress.
Kneeling down, James laid her body gently onto the ground. She was dead, and there was certainly no point in bruising the body further. As he knelt beside her, glancing at her lifeless body, he felt no remorse for his act. After all, it was just how things had to be. Vampires needed to feed, and humans were dumb enough to allow themselves in dangerous situations that a vampire very well couldn't resist to take advantage of. He brushed a few stray strands from her face.
"Thank you for a lovely night on the town," he said with a grin, before rising to his feet. He casually stepped over her body, not even glancing back to look at her once he had began his walk back toward the castle. With Jasper running about, perhaps his act would go unnoticed, or would even be tied to that miserable Cullen.
He wondered how long it would take the residents to find her body. After all, there was no telling how long the journal had been open. He wouldn't worry about it for now, already considering who his next victim would be.