Dark Hunger

"A vampire?" a bulky woman, wearing a plaid jacket and black pants, interjected. "Come on Sam, are ye all right? Is yer head paining, ye? There's no such thing as vampires!" She rolled her eyes and took a swig of her scotch. "Go and eat some quail broth." 

"I am no' wrong," Sam replied, his eyes bulging at the woman. "The rumor is going on in our community. And 'tis a woman vampire." 

The woman paused abruptly, eyes widening as she saw the man. "Mayhap it's a deranged man or woman who thinks they are vampires?" 

Sam shrugged. "Mayhap. 'Tis hard to say though. The woman has fangs and red eyes—that's what someone told me." 

"Do ye ken what ye are saying, Sam?" said another man next to him, who had lines on the side of his eyes. 

"Aye," Sam replied. "I am no' just making things up, Rory." 

"Ye are mad. Red eyes and fangs?" Rory scoffed. "Did you see a vampire movie yesterday night?" He picked up his can of beer and chugged it half down as others laughed at him.   

Silence followed in which Laurel thought that most were trying to make a theory out of Sam's information. It was time to strike. "A woman with red eyes?" she asked from where she was sitting. 

They all whipped their heads to look at the beautiful woman with thick red hair and gray eyes. Ever since she had entered, they were aware of her charming personality, but refrained from talking to her. 

Laurel read them with ever-scanning eyes and said, "What if I say that I actually saw that woman?" 

"What?" Sam and Rory said together. Then Sam looked at all of them. "See I told ye!" He looked triumphant. He had heard this rumor in the community and was only spreading the gossip, but his gossip would come true—that would make him look authentic. 

Laurel pursed her lips. She picked up her crystal and sipped single malt scotch. She lowered her eyes and then traced a finger around the glass's rim. Sighing deeply, she said, "Actually yesterday I came across a woman with red eyes while me and my husband were traveling here. She was wearing shades even when it was dark. We happened to be in the same lift while going to our rooms. When I was about to step out, I bumped into my husband and dropped my purse. The woman—" Laurel rubbed her neck and looked at the group with strained expression, as they waited for her to speak further, their anxieties rising. "The woman bent down to help me, and her glasses slipped down. And it was then when I saw that she had red eyes." 

They all looked at her as a healthy dose of fear radiated from their eyes. She heard the woman gasping. "Ye mean that the woman is right 'ere? In this hotel?" It was their worst nightmares coming alive. 

Laurel nodded. "She is. I was really scared and exited the lift, you know." She bit her lip and then sipped more scotch. It was soothing as it burnt her throat down. "I was wondering whom to share this information with, but I am glad that I found you all." Her hands swirled some magic.

"Are ye sure lass?" Rory said, still not able to believe. 

Laurel looked up at them through her dark eyelashes. "I saw her blood red eyes and I can never forget them…" She shifted on her bar stool, her lips quivering. "I couldn't sleep last night. So, I came out onto the balcony of my room, but I was shocked and stumbled back with fear when I saw the same woman, standing on the railing of my room, staring at me. Shocked, I ran inside and closed my door. I rushed to my husband and curled up." She looked at their faces. And they were… stunned. "I may be wrong… but how is it possible that I run into those red eyes, twice?" 

The woman gulped down the remaining scotch and then wiped her mouth with her sleeve. She motioned the others with her chin. "Come out, we have some work to do. She rolled her sleeves up. She was going to find it herself. 

Laurel could feel the unease, the fear and the anxiety that the group exuded. She knew that by the time she would come back, Elize would be gone. This group would do something. "But I have a request." 

"What?" the woman snapped, scowling at her. Her mood had plummeted. 

"My husband is very strict about these things. Please don't tell him that you heard it from me." 

"Don't worry lass," said Rory. He looked at the woman and said, "Let's go Mavis!" 

"Thank you," Laurel smiled, showing how assured she felt. "If you will excuse me, I have some work to do, but please be safe." Saying that she walked to the door. Before exiting, she said, "I would suggest that you go and check the floor above mine. We are on the nineteenth floor." She gave them a thin smile and then left. When she was out of the lobby of the hotel, it was already twilight. Along the cobbled path, the lights were dim. Soft, cool wind was blowing, bringing light snow with it. Laurel dug her hands in her jacket's pockets and chuckled. Then she walked outside the hotel. 

The group of five burly men and a woman entered a lift and went straight to the nineteenth floor. There was no way they could go to the twentieth floor because it was a private floor and well-guarded. Two of them stayed on that floor, while the other three went down to the lobby and waited. It was a matter of deep concern. If what the young said was right, then either they had a deranged woman at large or she was a fucking vampire. They would catch her and take her to the sheriff. 

--- 

"What will I do in the restaurant?" she snapped at Caleb. "It's not that I can eat food." 

"It is not safe to be alone," he said as he made her wear the sweater. "Plus, it is better than to be cooped up here." The wolf had plans.. He grasped her hand and dragged her to the door.