Page 16 of In the Dark

Okay. Dude was not right in the head, and Key was all alone with him in his apartment, and he needed to get the fuck out of there. “Vampire, you say. That’s… interesting.”

Kelvin shook his head, a small smile on his face. “Interesting.”

“Show me your fangs.”

Now Kelvin laughed and one second he was by the window and the next he was crouched next to Key, hissing in his face and yes, there were fangs. Key screamed. Literally screamed and pushed Kelvin away. Kelvin fell back as Key jumped up, ignoring the way his head pounded, and ran to the front door.

He vaguely heard, ‘not this again,’ behind him, but didn’t care. He was leaving captain fruitcake and his whatever the fuck was going on with his mouth behind. Only he didn’t. He actually ran straight into him and screamed again.

“How the fuck… How? You were there…” He screamed again and again until Kelvin’s hand slammed over his mouth and his eyes glowed red. He hissed again, white gleaming fangs on show and Key somehow managed to not piss himself.

Pushing away, Key stumbled, then righted himself. He stared at Kelvin, who appeared far too relaxed for Key’s liking. Who did shit like that and stood there acting like it was nothing? This guy wasn’t just screwed in the head. He was so far over the fuckingedge that Key was scared. Kelvin stood slightly taller than Key’s own six feet but was broader across the shoulders and clearly more powerful. Yep, Key was scared.

“Don’t be.”

“Huh?” Had he spoken out loud?

“No, but we’re mates, and even though we haven’t mated, some of your thoughts are loud and I can hear them. Strange.”

“Loud,” Key mumbled. Holy shit. What the fuck had he gotten himself into, and how the hell did he get himself out of whatever it was? He placed a shaky hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating a million miles an hour.

“You need to calm down.”

“You don’t say.” Key swallowed and glanced around the living area, searching for his phone or a weapon. A weapon would be nice. How the fuck did this guy know what he was thinking and feeling? Did that mean he knew about the knife thoughts?

Key looked at Kelvin, who nodded once. Key stumbled back, then ran to his bathroom, locking the door behind him. He leaned against it, dropping his forehead so it rested on the cold wood.

“Nice bathroom.”

Key screamed and spun around, seeing Kelvin standing behind him. Spinning around again, he scrambled to open the door, then shot out of the room and ran straight to the front door, skidding to a halt when Kelvin just appeared in front of him. Just popped there out of nowhere.

Key dropped to his knees and bent over, spots appearing in front of his eyes, his arms and legs tingling, his heart beating so fast he thought he might pass out. He couldn’t breathe, and when a hand gripped the back of his neck, Key fell back so he was laying on the ground, staring up at Kelvin who was leaning over him.

“I will never hurt you, Key. You are my mate. I would rather die than do anything to cause you pain.”

“I really need to wake the fuck up.” That was it. This was a nightmare, and he needed to wake up. Now. This shit wasn’t real. You read about it in books and comics or watched movies with hissing vamps in it. It didn’t happen in your own fucking home.

“You are awake.”

“Nope. Seriously not awake and you aren’t talking to me.” Key closed his eyes and pinched himself. Hard. He heard the sigh and pinched again, then snuck a quick look, then slammed his eyelids down tight. “Not real. I hit my head, and I suffered a concussion and now I’m hallucinating.”

His eyes snapped open when a hand gripped his jaw and lips slid over his. He stared into Kelvin’s eyes, seeing the pupils expand, then shuffled back away from him. “Not a concussion. Not a hallucination.”

Key wiped his lips and sneered when Kelvin chuckled. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“I can’t. The man who attacked you is also a vampire.”

That was… great. Just great. “Don’t I have to invite you in or some shit? Do I need to throw rice at you or holy water or… or eat garlic?”

“I like garlic. Holy water will only get me wet, and rice?” Kelvin appeared confused when he said the word rice.

“I read that if you throw rice, then it makes a vampire stop to count it or something.”

“Huh.” Kelvin squatted and rubbed his beard. “That is a new one.”

Key licked his lips, then furrowed his brow. Why did he think that was sexy? No, no thoughts about the sexy but deranged pretend vampire man? He stood and pointed to his door. “Leave before I call the police and report a lunatic is on the loose.”

“They’ll only arrest you.” Kelvin also stood. “Vampires don’t exist.”

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