SAVE ME

-The Ripper-

One was on the piano, providing us with a jaunty tune that I had asked of her. Another was draped across the sofa, lazily smiling up at me but her gaze remained empty which made it easier to fill with my own thoughts. The other, I tightly embraced, clinging onto her as my jagged teeth sunk into her flesh.

More!

Many more were scattered all around the room. Most of them, I had already compelled and there were others who were trying to hide from me or find a means of escape.

Foolish…

Once I felt the one in my arms' knees buckle and her desperate grasp onto my clothes release, I gave her the mercy of freeing her from my clutches. After acknowledging the low thud of her landing on the carpeted floor, she was already forgotten.

More!

My mind was trained to follow this command and find another that would sate me. I glanced around the room and grabbed the first one closest to me. My hands gently wrapping around her frail body as I trailed my fingers up the back of her corset, toying with the ribbon as to appease her.

A sultry lust now hooded her drooping eyes. However, it was soon erased when I began to taste her. The hot stream slowly dulling to a sensational warmth as the blood trickled down my throat. Though, each drop that caressed my tongue, only made me crave more.

More!

-The Human-

"Who's next?"

His question was obviously meant to sound playful but all I could detect was the desperation that broke through what he intended to be menacing and sadistic. Somehow, that despair actually highlighted the emptiness that he was trying to fill by feeding on blood.

"Me!" a young golden haired woman with a tattered dress approached him. Her arms flung around him with a falsified flamboyance and a plastered grin.

Another, dark-haired woman pushed the other one away and tried to grip at his britches. "No – n-no. Me!" she pleaded, pouting. The others had also been spelled, which was the only reason that could explain why they were now scrambling towards the beast.

Realising just how powerful he was, heavy breaths left me but I clamped a hand over my mouth, hoping and praying that he wouldn't notice me under the large wooden table.

The thought was as naïve as the reason as to why I was here.

Jessica had been the one to encourage me to stay with her. I was to say no but the look on the man's face made me want to make sure that my friend got home okay.

Now, my eyes darted to where she now lay, on top of the pool of her own scarlet blood that drenched her skirts. Her bloodshot eyes bulged out of her sockets and her mouth parted as she remained still…never moving.

Releasing a shaky gasp, I trembled and tried to muffle out the cries but it was too late.

The inevitable happened as the monster gripped the heavy table and easily lifted it. Within the shadows, I could still see gleaming white teeth from his vicious grin. His two sharp teeth purposefully displayed to instil fear within me but I was still distracted with the memory of how they had broken into Jessica's flesh; tearing – ripping until her jugular was opened.

B-blood…so, much blood…

I had tried to help but he had pushed me onto the wall and after watching him drain her, I clambered towards the table and tried to make myself as small as I felt.

"Hello there beautiful" he beamed but gave me no chance to form a coherent reply. His callous fingers gripped my shoulder as he hauled me up to him. The other hand released the table, leaving it to crash back down onto ground, sending tremors across the creaking floorboards.

I bit my bottom lip, not caring if fulfilled what my mother had warned me about – breaking skin and drawing blood. Then again, that would only entice this animal further.

Seventeen females had died at his hands within half an hour, yet he was not satisfied and I feared that he may never would be. The hollow bottomless blackness of his eyes confirmed this but I still wondered, how many more would follow after me?

What had happened that would make him this way?

"You really are beautiful" he murmured, gazing into my eyes and I watched as the veins that once protruded his skin gradually fade and something about him made him seem lost. A small part allowed me to feel a spark of hope that may allow me to get free. "It's just too bad" he murmured wistfully and gave a sigh, thus bringing back the unending hunger. "We could still have a little fun first" he offered and any faith I had was soon diminished.

"P-Please…" I stammered, realising what he meant when his hands began to hitch up my muddied skirts. One landing on my thigh and slowly inching higher and I felt myself lose breath.

Every muscle was tightened and I shivered when his cold breathe on my neck and the tip of his wet tongue dart out to tap my skin. When it was withdrawn, he replaced it with his nose which skimmed up the nape of my neck as he soundly inhaled, "You smell delicious" he huskily whispered and wrapped one arm around my waist, pulling me onto his front. "But I suppose that you will taste even better" he added and I felt myself grow limp in a submissive manner when his teeth caressed my skin.

I had watched him in the act and witnessed how easy it was for him. I knew that he revelled in the idea of a fighter – someone to show their fear. Although, occasionally he would accept one he had charmed as to get the feed and move onwards. This meant that he expected me to plead for my life and then he would find some thrill with this. However, I simply squeezed my eyes shut, hoping that the darkness would shadow any terror that would be read within my eyes.

Then, I waited.

Waited and mentally smirked at his feeble attempts at scaring me. I noticed how his hold had tightened and his fingers were inching higher and his breaths heaved against my neck. Several times, the teeth would leave a trail on my skin and I heard his low murmurings of deliberation.

Suddenly, his tricks stilled and my hitched breath as released as I accepted the cruel hand that fate had dealt me. However, fate seemed to have many more cards to play as the reason behind his reluctance was explained with a thundering demand from what I knew would be my saviour.

"Stop!"

-The Raven-

"What do you think you are doing?" I glared down at the person that was supposed to be my brother. Any attachment that we had – blood or love was now diminished and after many attempts at salvaging it, I realise now there was nothing left to salvage.

My brother's widened eyes fell once again into a look I had grown accustomed to; an easy smile and a lazy gaze. "Having some fun" he smirked widely but I grimaced at the sight of his blood stained lips and clothes. Without a care, he flung the lady in his arms, onto me. "You should join me" he urged with a laugh and stumbled to take a bottle of wine and guzzle it down.

At his distraction, I held the girl gently to me, wishing I could offer some kind of comfort that would soothe her tremors. Upon gazing down at her, I found that she was staring at me; with large fearful chocolate brown eyes that sparked with hope? Her full pink lips parted and her flushed cheeks hollowed as she tried to even out her heavy breathing. Her long dark brown hair – I hated it because there was a reminder within her mahogany locks. Then again, the young girl's hair seemed to differentiate with the unique burgundy lightings to her hair.

Damn my brother!

Something within her snapped and before I could help it, her quivering form had slipped from my fingers and landed onto the ground. Two hands resting on the ground as she continued to release shaky gasped breaths.

Damn him!

With an exasperated sigh, I blurred around the room, grabbing the girls present by the shoulders and forcing them to meet my eyes. "Go now and forget this" I murmured and looked around, angry at the sight of several dead bodies. What I presumed was a dozen girls or more, had been

I had been too late…

Clutching a handful of my locks, I inhaled once again and the exhaled. My fingers finally let go and I tried to smooth it back, all the while composing my despair as I turned to my brother.

"Oh come now, brother…" he slurred, trying to place his stained hand onto me, but I slapped it away and grabbed his neck, slamming him onto the far wall.

"No more" I hissed and disgustedly let go of him.

No more!

I shall no longer subject myself to this – t-this madness.

"It was just a little fun" he tried to defend himself and I scowled at his words. From my peripheral vision, I shamefully glanced to where he was opening another bottle – this time, it was rum. "You need to relish in this life – learn how to make it pleasurable" he purred, taking more of his drink.

At that moment, I realised that I hated him.

"I will not have this anymore!" I thundered, storming over to him with clenched fists. "There is no helping you" I glared down at him, hoping that the warmth in his gaze would return; wishing that I could see a shred of remorse that may give me hope, but no. There was nothing. This only seemed to anger me more and I acted upon my frustration, taking a handful of his shirt and pulling him up to face me. "I swear I will-"

"Don't"

I was stunned to find that the voice neither belonged to me or my little brother…but to the young timid girl who had unravelled from the crumpled heap and was now staring up at us. A silent plea now glistening in her glassy brown eyes and her bottom lip was now nervously trapped between her teeth.

Her chimed voice was so compelling that I found myself releasing Stefan, causing him to stumble away from me. I turned to the girl, wondering why she had tried to stop me. This was her attacker – was she not pleased by me getting some sort of revenge on her behalf.

She continued to stare at me, unblinking but her shoulders slumped in relief, with what I could only assume was her response to my compliance.

Why did I listen?

Never mind, it didn't really matter. I just needed to get her out of here – out of harm's way.

"You" I rasped but then cleared my throat when stalking over to her. My brother was already forgotten when we locked gazes once again. She took one tentative step back and I was somewhat pleased that she identified the danger she was in – even with me. Her intuition may just help keep her alive. Then again, somehow she had found herself here.

Well, it seemed she was fortunate that I was here. "Come with me" I demanded, not really caring for her reply.

Taking her hand, I pulled her towards the door and out into the cold night.

A/N: What do you think?