The Vampire and the Scorpion (Blood and Venom Saga #1)

2. Two

Two

M y arm glitched out, flapping in the air, trying to catch the attention of Top-Hat-Man. I grimaced as he started laughing, yet his large, friendly eyes shone with warmth.

“There you are!” His voice carried over the chatter. He slid through the sea of smokers, who shuffled out of his way. He appeared to be around my age, early twenties, his goatee still a little fluffy. It was dark-brown, matching the shaggy mop of hair barely concealed beneath his hat. “I was looking for you,” he said with a goofy grin. “Is your hand alright?”

I flexed my fingers, palm still tingling. “Yeah, it will live to see another day.” I shook my cigarette packet. “You haven’t got a lighter, have you? I need something to calm me down.”

He plunged his hand into his pocket, withdrawing a clipper. “Only if you got a spare ciggie for me.”

He flashed his white teeth. Strange. I’d not met a smoker with teeth that perfect.

“Seems like a fair trade.” I flicked the bottom of the box, a cigarette popping out. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name. I’m Ava.”

“My name is Austin. And that’s quite the first impression you made!”

“Oh, shut up.” I smirked, lighting my cigarette and handing his lighter back.

“I’m only teasing.” He sparked his cigarette, turning his face away to exhale a large plume of smoke. “So, what was that all about? Your mate—the tall one—is giving that guy hell. He must have done something pretty bad.”

I envisioned Hayley on one of her tirades: her blue eyes bulging and nostrils flaring as she spat venom, always going for the jugular.

“To cut a long story short, we used to date, and now we don’t. We’d agreed to wear amber stickers tonight, but he changed his sticker to green.” I flicked ash from the end of my cigarette, then cringed. “That sounds really childish, doesn’t it?”

Austin rubbed the back of his neck, eyes averted. “Maybe... a little?”

I flicked my cigarette again, more forcefully than was necessary, then sighed. “I shouldn’t have slapped him. And I know I need to move on. I’ve heard it enough times.” I adopted a shrill voice and plastic smile that was more like a wince. “‘ Oh, just let it go! Forget about him .’ But it is easy for them to judge. When they have their heart crushed, they can go crying to Mummy and Daddy—someone who loves them. But when Greg dumped me, I was once again alone. Completely.” My eyes burning, I turned from Austin, taking a deep drag from my cigarette. “Sorry, I can overshare after a drink.”

“I’m really sorry to hear all that.” Austin was looking away from me.

Perhaps he’d noticed the tears welling and was trying to spare me humiliation, or perhaps I was making him feel uncomfortable. I gave myself a little shake and pinched the tears from my eyes as I regained my composure.

“But you know the best revenge is to be happy, right?” he said. “Just imagine his expression when he sees you don’t need him anymore. You’re feeding his ego when he sees you upset.”

I tilted my head, surveying Austin. “What are you suggesting?”

“Well, you could try to part on friendly terms?”

I snorted. This wasn’t an option.

“Or you can fight dirty.”

I grinned. “Now you are speaking my language.”

Austin ripped the amber sticker from my chest, then tore the green sticker camouflaged against his tailcoat and pressed it across the top of my breast, making my skin tingle on contact. “If he can wear green, why can’t you?”

My smile widened. “I like the way you think, Austin.”

“Come on, let’s go back inside. I’ll get you another drink, and we’ll dance together.”

“What about Hayley, my friend? You seemed pretty keen on her?”

This was the only problem when going on the pull with Hayley. I wasn’t overweight, but I wouldn’t have minded losing the extra cushioning, and I suspected anyone I went home with would be disappointed after I’d removed my makeup.

“Your friend is lovely, but I have seen her dancing with two other guys tonight. She’s probably forgotten about me already.”

“I doubt it,” I said, looking him up and down and giving the arm of his tailcoat a little tug. It was loose on him; he was scrawny as he was tall. “But if you’re sure.”

“We could even leave at the same time, so it looks like we’re going home together, if you know what I mean,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. “After all, it’s dangerous to walk home alone.”

His gaze flicked to a missing person poster slapped on the wall, and for a moment I thought his playful expression wavered, but when he looked back at me, his cheeky smile was back in place.

“Just look like we’re going home together?”

“Who knows what will happen?” He winked before stubbing out his cigarette butt on the wall. I mirrored him. “Come on.” He held his hand out to me. I took it.

He guided me straight to the bar. I didn’t need another drink. My lips were already numb, but throwing caution to the wind, I accepted the shot he handed to me.

“Cheers.” Austin tapped his plastic shot glass against mine before necking it and returned to the dance floor. Hayley threw herself around me, giving me a tight squeeze, pinning my arms to my sides.

“Jo has gone home,” she shouted in my ear to be heard over the music. “But she tore Greg a new arsehole. I’ve not seen her that mad before.”

“I’d have loved to have seen that!” If sweet, mild-mannered Jo was losing her shit at Greg, then she was absolutely ready to go home. But I wasn’t. “Do you mind if I dance with Austin?”

Hayley frowned, but soon realised who I was talking about. “You go for it! I’m trying to get with Matt tonight.”

We looked at the treasurer, his arms around the shoulders of his mates, jumping off-beat to the music. His faux hawk was limp, drooping to one side, and he’d spilt a drink down his shirt.

“Whatever floats your boat, Hay!”

She’d told me she fancied him, but I didn’t see the appeal myself. Not that I was complaining; if Hayley were to get jealous, that could ruin my plan, but with her blessing I prepared to make that pompous worm, Greg, squirm.

Austin’s hand was at my waist, pulling me into his body, facing him. Blood rushed to my cheeks as I put an arm around his neck.

What do I do with my other hand? And what about my legs? Do I move them? Do I sway on the spot? What do I do?!

I licked my numb lips, the rest of my face now equally anesthetised.

Who cares what you do with your arms and legs? No one will remember in the morning. Have fun!

My instincts took control. One hand in the air, I gripped onto Austin with the other, my hips swaying to the rhythm of the beat. Austin’s lips were moving, singing along to the lyrics of whatever trashy song was playing. He bobbed from side to side, stiff, like it was his first time dancing. The hand that had been at my waist slipped down to my ass, pulling me closer. One of his legs was now between mine.

Peeking over his shoulder, I looked around for Greg and soon spotted him, flashing him a wicked smirk before turning my attention back to Austin. He pulled me in even closer, so that now I was grinding against his thigh. Heat radiated up my neck, my mouth suddenly too wet.

“Do you feel that?” he said against my ear.

“What do you—oh!” There was a firmness pressing up against me I suspected was not his keys, sending a spasm through my womanhood.

“I like the way you dance.”

I wrapped both arms around his neck, our faces only separated by his height, his breath warm against my mouth. His lips were close. So close. Impossibly close...

I closed the space between us, my lips on his. Soft, smooth, delicious, his fuzzy goatee tickling my chin.

“Whoa! Get in there, Ava!” someone said, but they were a million miles away. Unimportant.

Time stood still.

The hand on my ass tightened, sending another shock wave between my legs, flooding my mind with impure thoughts. What would Austin look like naked and between my thighs?

Lights went up in a blinding flash. The spell was broken. How long had we been kissing?

A voice rumbled through the speakers, telling everyone to collect their items from the cloakroom, to ‘ Go home safely’ and ‘ Be mindful of your neighbours’. Those who’d survived to closing time were looking around, squinting, just as dazed as I was.

“So, will you let me w-walk you home?” Austin asked.

His voice wavered as he looked at me with raised eyebrows and a hopeful smile. Drunk as I was, I recognised nerves when I saw them.

“I’d like that.”

In the harsh, white lights, I saw Austin properly for the first time. His skin was flawless and full lips so inviting, I wondered how I could have ever considered him ‘ not my type’ earlier in the night.

As we queued to collect my coat from the cloakroom, I spotted Hayley and Matt ahead, hand in hand. She gave me a wave, miming a scream of excitement before leaving with her catch, leaving me with my own.

“So where is it you live?” Austin asked while helping me on with my coat. I linked my arm through his, unsteady on my feet.

“Near the university, Hillwood Road.”

“That’s ages away. Want to come back to mine? I live near the park. That cuts the journey in half.”

“Sure, go on then.” My throbbing feet would thank me in the morning.

Kinwich high street was an ankle killer. I almost tripped on a couple of occasions, its uneven, cobbled paths not suited for drunk girls in ridiculous high heels. But each time I wobbled, Austin held me firmly. We followed a narrow, dimly lit path alongside the medieval, timber-framed houses that lined Kinwich’s streets. I should have been wary about venturing down a dark, narrow street with a man I’d just met, but disregarded the thought. Austin seemed trustworthy enough. Besides, I could take care of myself if I needed to. The slap I’d given Greg was mere horseplay. I’d earned multiple exclusions from school for getting into fights, something I’d boasted about in my youth, but now made me cringe.

We turned a corner, passing Kinwich Cathedral. There was still evidence of the ancient city wall. Weather worn stones looked out of place against the more modern buildings. One last turn and we found ourselves on a path heading out of the city centre and towards the outskirts. The heavy, black, iron gates at the park’s entrance were unlocked. Like the city wall, they’d been left standing for the historical aesthetic.

“It isn’t much further,” Austin said. “We’ll cut through the park.”

The park in which I’d spent my summer looked unfamiliar in the darkness. Naked trees lined the path, beckoning me onward with long, gnarled fingers that cast spindly shadows in the glow of the tall, black lamp posts. The smell of rotting leaves in the dirt wafted on the crisp night air, a welcome earthy scent after the stench of garbage and car fumes that choked the city centre. A layer of frost was forming on the patchy grass of the football field, shimmering in the moonlight.

“I didn’t realise there were houses on the other side of the park,” I said, tottering along the smooth, tarmac path that had been recently re-laid, much to my ankle’s relief.

“There aren’t. Just the showmen’s yard.”

“The what?”

“The site where the caravans are parked.”

I was familiar with the site he was referring to. A vast, flat, gritted surface surrounded by fencing. Sometimes, when it was deserted, teenagers would break in to ride their bikes—though how they got the bikes over the fences had always baffled me. I never would have known that empty, dead space had once been a fairground site if it wasn’t for the black and white photographs of Victorian-style carousels on one of the tourist information plaques that scattered the city. I cast my mind back to last month, when caravans and lorries had parked up inside.

“You’re a traveller?” I asked, but my stomach dropped when Austin sucked in air through clenched teeth.

“We are showmen, not travellers,” he corrected me. “Did you see any flyers or posters for the Christmas funfair? Or the New Year’s funfair?”

“You run a funfair? That must be exciting!” I’d never met anyone who didn’t live in a house or flat before, leaving me with hundreds of questions. “Do you live in a caravan?”

“Yeah. Some families live in posh motorhomes, but I have a small caravan with my... uh... my dad. I-I hope you don’t mind. He won’t be there. We will have it to ourselves.”

I gave his arm a reassuring squeeze, his sudden nervousness endearing. “Only if you promise to keep me warm.” I poked my tongue out when he looked at me with raised eyebrows.

He laughed through closed lips. “I promise.”