8. Stay away

Suzanne's standpoint

"Thanks for showing us to our room," Claudia said politely to the captain. He took off his hat and bowed gentlemanly.

"Anything for a beautiful lass like ye three,"

"But you have never seen our faces before," Kassandra protested.

"My beard knows lovely damsels when it sees one," we giggled at his humor. "the name is Captain Leadbeard, it's a nickname so don't take it seriously. If you ever need anything, be free to come on out and ask ye old man."

"Sure thing, captain, bye," he threw his hat back on and stepped back so Claudia could shut the door. Claudia shut the door gently and bolted it.

"Sugarplum, really?" I snorted at Sandra.

"Whaaaat," she whined, taking off her mask. We did the same.

"Are you alright, Suz? Your hands have been shaking since you touched that guy," Claudia asked with concern. Indeed, my hands were trembling badly. I looked at my hand and smiled, it was odd and yet pleasing.

"I don't understand it, but there was this severe surge of electricity when he touched me, like…like… I don't even understand it."

"Maybe because it's the first time you are touching a vampire," Sandra said unsurely.

"Have you forgotten that time we ran across some group of vampires who tried to drain us? It isn't my first." I reminded them.

"Like I said, it is your first time touching a vampire, you never held their hands, did you?" She had a point there.

"I mean the guy is freaking smoking and mouth watering and all, but I think you should stay away from him, something about the two of you in the same place doesn't feel right." Sandra said with a thoughtful look on her face.

"You're right, I plan to keep my distant as far away as possible. That guy will find out who I am easily, I'll ace up my spell."

"Awwwn, look at my little orange making sense," Claudia teased playfully. Sandra pouted and twinkled her eyes cutely.

"Don't say it, Claudia," I laughed, "don't say it."

"You're so cute," Claudia said it anyways. Steam puffed out of Sandra's nostrils and ears.

"I'm going to destroy you!" And the pathetic attempt to pin Claudia down began. I turned my attention to the window, trailing off. My heart skipped back there when he touched me, it felt like I had held those hands before. Manly, strong but yet again, soft. His hand was cold, cold like a vampire's should, but why did it make me shiver and my spine run cold?

The main question was how was I going to avoid him when I work 'for' him?

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After staying in our cabin for a while, Kassandra wandered off to explore the ship while Claudia went to check their weaponry or challenge any man to arm wrestle. I remained in, studying the paths to the temple. If I had my tail or could swim in the water for long, I would be there in less than two days, but alas, I had to endure. Finally tired of studying and avoiding thinking of that man, I slipped on my half mask, stood up and exited my room.

My feet took me to where it wanted to be, another cabin not too far from ours. The door was slightly open, giving me a small view of the inside. A big part of me kept urging me to go in or peep in, see what's in there. I had never done such before, invade someone's privacy. I shook the thought off and tried to leave, but my feet wouldn't budge an inch.

"What's your damage, legs, move!" I yelled in my head. I heard a slight movement in there, someone was in there. "Legs, please, obey me." I pleaded, but it still didn't budge to my command. My hand moved forward and pushed the door a little, my head coming closer.

It was the vampire guy. He stood sideway, his body facing the ray of sunlight coming through the window. He was shirtless, a book in his hands as if trying to gather information. My jaw dropped open, I had never seen a sight as beautiful as what I was beholding. His body scintillated to the accordance of the sunlight, coruscating like actual diamonds in a pale white sky. His torso was an embodiment of perfection: immaculacy that got me wondering how it was possible for someone to be blessed with a perfect bod. Then I'm reminded that vampires are one of the most alluring and irresistible creatures in existence.

I had to look away, his unintentional mesmerisation was pulling me in. It wasn't my first time seeing his kind, I loathe these creatures so why was I so attracted? The beating of my heart was starting to tear my chest in half, threatening my breathing and stability of sanity. I had to get away before I…too late.

I screamed as I fell into the room, should have hit the wooden floor but I was already in his arms before even I could blink. My face fell in his chest as his hands held my torso in check. Heavy breath left my mouth, breath of embarrassment and shock. Could I look up? Am I mad? I remained there. Not just because I was embarrassed, my face was in the chest I was ogling, and gosh! He smelt so good!

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, thank you," I said into his soft skin. I could hear his heart accelerating, mine was about to jump out.

"What were you doing there in the first place?" There was the billion dollar question, one customised to smite me. My face burnt from embarrassment, my lips beginning to tremble. "Are you going to answer that and get off me?"

"Please, it's so comfortable in here," I only realised what I said after I said it. I was out of control. I jumped away from him, avoiding his eyes by all means. He folded his arms, waiting for an already obvious answer. I couldn't help but trail his movement with my eyes, blatantly ogling the way the corded muscles of his arms moved, the pectoral muscles to the muscles of his abdomen. It was all muscles.

"Ahem," he coughed irritatedly, snapping me back to reality. I didn't know what lie to construct.

"I…I…er…I was…was…" I glanced at his face to see him smirking, not an irritated smirk. His eyes held suggestions, shameless suggestions that he was ready to put into action. So, I blunt out my folly and yelled out the first stupid thing that came to mind. "Stay away from me, you pervert!" I turned and ran out of his room, running far away from his room and mine. I ran to the hold to hide from my humiliation.

"Stay away from me, really, Suzanne!" I yelled chidingly, I had completely made a fool out of myself. I slammed my head on a wooden pillar and whimpered exasperatedly. "I'm never going to live off this shame, what came over me back there, why Suz, why did you do that?"

I had no idea but that man was sexually dangerous, and I was going to stay away from him as far as possible.