Dragon's Horde Pt. 15
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"So, how long have you been camping here?"
The way the words melted from your tongue felt as clumsy as it sounded. Too heavy for windbitten lips, your tongue had long since turned as heavy as lead. Wiping away the stubborn snot that itched as it dripped down from your nostrils. 'Worse than allergies' you thought ruefully to yourself. Rubbing your arms for warmth, the oddly accented man didn't seem as bothered by the cold as you were.
He stood calm. His eyes searching through the dark with a calm that made him look years older than his age. 'Can't be more than thirty' your mind supplied. His eyes flashed and twinkle as he turned his gaze from the dark to meet your own. For a moment, his eyes twinkled a dazzling amber- almost a deep crimson or maroon. 'A trick of the light' the pounding of your heart made your bones ache. 'Strange man.' Swallowing the build up of saliva in your throat as he had the audacity to send you a small wink. Gently, like a sheepdog herding one of its lost flock, he passed a small waterskin over. His large pale hands hovering inches above yours as the straps from the skin dangled past your wrist and hanging free in the cool night air.
"Its water."
Watching his hand more than the offered drink. Your eyes wandered the rough skin of his fingers. Calloused and rough, his fingers had a more boney appearance than what his frame would suggest. Long, thin, spiderery fingers on each of his pale hands. He could rival the light of the moon is he really tried. 'It's like he has no blood in his body.' The thought sent vicious chills down your spine.
Sensing your discomfort, and almost reveling in it. His lips quirked upwards into a comforting smirk, though his eyes told of a different emotion.
"Hey now, why the silent treatment lil one? Ain't ya thirtsy?"
As if on command, your throat constricted. Whether from the cold air and dry winds, you couldn't tell.
"I-I am. Thank you." Reaching out to grasp the waterskin from his hands. His fingertips briefly brushed against the tops of your hands. Long fingernails ghosted over sensitive skin with such gentleness that it felt like a caress from the wind.
"What you lookin at?"
"Your cla- hands...your hands."
He smiled as he crouched low, moving in steadily so as to not startle further. "My claws?"
His tone shifted higher as he took a seat on the ground beside you. The crunch of earth made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. "No, no, no, darlin. I don't have claws."
Holding up his hands towards the flames. The fire cracked and hissed as the wood fuel combusted under such intense heat. It was odd. 'The fire is so warm, and he's so cold.' Wiggling his fingers as he raised his palms higher. He flexed and curled his digits expertly against the light.
"People like me don't have claws."
Furrowing your brows, his head snapped over from the flames to your gaze with such speed it had you reeling. "W-what?"
"I dont need claws, lil one."
Your mouth went dry. The thought of the offered water wouldn't prove much help.
"W-what do you m-mean" you flinched as the sound of your voice reached your ears. Too small, too light and breathy. It sounded as if you were on the verge of crying.
If he was bothered by your display, he made no show of it. But he continued regardless.
"Much more dangerous without em. I find these work just fine." Lifting his lips into a snarling smile, his teeth glinted a pale white in the yellow-orange light of the fire. Canines as sharp as a knife dragged your focus away from everything else. From the cold, from the night, from the danger of the Horde you had escaped hours earlier.
"What are you?" Your voice came out hollow as the fallen logs you both had wandered past to get to the camp. Deep down, your heart surged with the dark truth that you already knew to be true.
"Nosferatu, a vampire." Draping one arm callously over your small shoulders, he pulled you against his cold side firmly. The he spoke sounded so terribly smug. Like he was proud of what he was, that he took life blood for sustenance. A timbre sounding chuckle shook his frame.
"Now then..how bout you tell me why you smell like dragon."
A icy jolt cemented your legs in place. Even the warmth eminating from the fire cold do nothing in the face of fear that permiated your being. A cold sweat beaded along at your temples. Regret gnawed at your bones, as you knew that nothing in this world was given freely.
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Sorry about the long wait. I have exciting news to share with yall!
I am going back to college!!!
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