sip it

The life Lawrence had been trying to escape had pushed its way back through again. Here he was, working in a bar, drinking until the early hours of the morning, and his sleep schedule was completely back to front. It was New Orleans all over again, except this time he wasn’t feeding on the locals and tourists. At times, he wondered whether this was it? Was this his life forever? It was a depressing thought that he forced out of his mind, but he could feel himself on a slippery slope. One that led to losing control, and embracing the darkness within him. It felt like he was just treading water, desperate to keep himself afloat.

At least tonight he had finished work earlier than normal, giving him the chance to get a good night’s sleep, but also a night away from fresh human blood. Chilled blood bags waiting for him in the fridge when he got home after getting rid of all the animal blood in his fridge.

Lawrence knew the only person who was stopping him from going over that edge was Teddy, afraid of disappointing his best friend. He was part of the reason the vampire kept paddling, rather than sinking into darkness. It had been a long time since he had someone there for him, someone believing in him. However, Lawrence had yet to tell Teddy he had dropped out of school and was back to drinking human blood bags. It was something he was keen to keep a secret for as long as possible; worried Teddy wouldn’t understand and play the concerned parent. Sometimes it was difficult to explain his need for human blood to someone who wasn’t a vampire. He too didn’t understand it as a warlock.

The vampire was ripped away from his own thoughts as a male scream echoed through the air from nearby, which anyone’s hearing could have picked up. A cry which indicated pain, and it was growing louder. He stopped walking, listening for which direction the plea for help was coming from. It was close by, close enough that he could ignore it.

With a deep sigh, Lawrence turned back and headed towards the noise.

“You think I’m a...?”

That familiar female’s voice rang through his ears. The demon dancer who’d managed to sink her claws into him, pushing him to the edge by teasing him with her blood. He'd since found out her name was Hannya, which she failed to share with him. He wasn’t sure if it was some power play on her part or whether she was nameless. Either way, Hannya had managed to unpick his morals, playing a part in his decision to revert back to human blood.

A few seconds later Hannya came into view, leaning into a vehicle with her hand clamped around a male’s jaw. The sound of cracking bones was uncomfortable to listen to. No wonder he was crying out in pain.

Lawrence approached the pair, a slow walk with no hurry. “I was starting to believe you had an invisible chain wrapped around your neck which kept you tied to the Blood Den” Blue eyes stayed focused on the demon, dismissing the man with the now broken jaw, “If you’re going to kill someone, don’t make a scene” Though he was sure the demon didn’t care about making a scene.

HANNYA - let's gooooooooo

Lawrence knew he should have just turned back and headed home as soon as he heard the demon's voice, leaving her to do whatever he wanted with that poor human. But he ignored his morals and followed the voice anyway.

Hannya's head snapped towards him as he approached her, those black demonic eyes out to play. They made him feel even more uncomfortable than the human's shrills. There was nothing behind them, it was unnerving and a harsh reminder that she wasn't just a pretty dancer at the Blood Den. She had been created by the hands of the devil.

The vampire watched as the demon slammed the mortal's head in the steering wheel with such force it split open. He sighed as he drew his right hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose closing his eyes for a moment. "I guess you're not going to bother covering this up either" He responded, his eyes flickering open. The dancer was approaching him. Human blood dripped from her hand, the smell becoming overwhelming with each step she took towards him. Lawrence wanted to step back, run back home even, but he also wanted to stay.

At least her eyes had returned to their normal colour, but it didn't make her any less intimidating. Deep down, Lawrence liked it.

Hannya reached up, smearing the human's blood across his lower lip, his jaw clenched tightly as she did so.

The blood was right there, resting on his lips, ready to be tasted. He promised himself no feeding on humans, but would this technically count? It was like a blood bag, but fresher. Much fresher. He knew the demon wanted him to cave and he wasn't sure why he was putting up a fight at this point. What was the point? So he could stand on his moral high ground telling people he didn't feed on humans. He was one of the good vampires.

Before Hannya tried to tease him with blood, but the skin that lay between her veins and his teeth was a barrier. It helped, but now it was coated across his lower lip.

It was apparent the blood was stirring something inside of him as the veins threaded his face, his blue eyes growing darker. He stared at the demon as he drew his bottom lip between his teeth, raking the blood off before running his tongue across his lip to remove the rest. There was still a bit of warmth to it and it was more satisfying than the cold blood bags he had been drinking from. "Why? Are you offering some fun" He asked, as his eyes faded to their natural colour.

HANNYA

The fact Hannya was willing to leave a dead body in the street unsettled him mainly as it always falls back on the vampires. Hit with the blame for every dead human in Mystic Falls as if they were the only creatures capable of killing. Wolves tear limbs from bodies every full moon, yet vampires were deemed the enemy in the world of the supernatural.

Of course, she wasn’t going to tidy up her mess though. It was Hannya. Came and went as she pleased, expecting everything to fall in place around her which happened in Emerald City, but out here things were different.

Pushing the deceased male to the back of his mind the vampire focused on Hannya. The blood smeared across his lips. The demon pushing his buttons. As though he was glued to the spot Lawrence didn’t move as the demon enticed him with the fresh blood covering her hands, pleased to see him raking it from his lips. Praising him for giving in and he couldn’t decide whether he hated it or loved it.

He hated how he was controlled by blood, but this was not the blood of his victim. He hadn’t killed the man, she had. Lawrence was trying to rationalize his decision in his head, but his thoughts were cloudy, his mind preoccupied.

But better— Her words rattled around his head. A promise which made his skin tingle and the hairs on his body stand up.

Lawrence watched on as she brushed the blood across her lips, inviting him to taste it. Suddenly her fingers worked her way through his hair, pulling him close to her. Her lips pressed against his, the taste of blood on his tongue once more as she nibbled on his lower lip, though her bite softer than expected. Within seconds he gave in, placing his hands on the arch of her lower back pushing his body into hers. He pulled back for a moment, catching his breath as the veins threaded down his face showing her his pretty eyes. His right hand travelled up her back, before resting on the back of her neck. The sounded of his pulse beating beneath her skin was deafening to Lawrence. He removed his left hand from her back, bringing it up to brush her hair back off her shoulder.

He couldn’t resist it anymore. Blood. That was all he could think about.

It was what she wanted from the moment she met him. In an instance, Lawrence’s teeth were locked on Hannya’s neck, his grip firmly on her nape as he pulled her closer.

Lawrence pulled back after a few seconds. Despite being a demon she was inhabiting a human body, presumably one that couldn’t withstand too much damage. One that couldn’t lose too much blood. He took a deep breath in an attempt to regain control of himself as he wiped Hannya’s blood from his lips. “I live nearby” Only a few streets stood between them and her promise. There was no need to wait for Hannya’s response to his invitation. Instead, Lawrence picked the demon up, hands cupping her ass as he halted her up with ease, pushing her legs around him.

In a blur, the pair were outside of his apartment building and he dropped Hannya to her feet. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his fob before swiping it. Again, he grabbed Hannya and pulled her into the apartment building. Seconds later they were in front of Lawrence’s front door, he was pushing the door open tugged the demon inside.


HANNYA

Lawrence wasn’t overly eager to leave the dead body on the street for someone to find, but also his attention had been ripped away from that by the demon. It was someone else’s problem now.

The laugh that rolled out of her mouth penetrated his ears. As though there was something sinister lurking behind it. He’d seen those empty eyes staring back at him only a few moments ago, something that still made his hair stand on end.

As they entered his apartment he dropped her down, without caution. He let the door swing close behind him as she strutted through the small hallway, peering into his bedroom for a moment because heading into the kitchen. He followed in her footsteps, tossing his keys down on the kitchen side, “We like to live a minimalist life” At least he did. A man who owned very little, having left Canada with just a small rucksack on his bag. His parents told him he was only allowed to take a few pieces with him, to avoid suspicion. He wondered did they keep his belongings after he left, as something to remember him by or was it all tossed into a fire a few months later. Erasing any memory they had of him.

His blue eyes were back on her body, exploring every inch with his gaze. He remembers a lot of the things she said last time, prompting a small smile to appear on his face. As she reached out towards him, he moved closer to her. Her legs snaked around his waist, holding him tightly in place.

“You can have anything, and as much of it as you want.”

There it was again. The invitation to drink from her, telling him he could take as much as he wanted. There was no point fighting it anymore, he’d already caved. Already lost the battle. Everything Lawrence had been working hard towards the past few years was being plucked apart slowly, but surely.

At that moment he didn’t care. The promises he made to himself and Teddy were about to be broken, he knew that, but couldn’t stick to them. He’d already had a taste of her blood. It was so rich and his taste buds ached for more. Lawrence hated that she’d manage to pick him up like a piece of putty, moulding him into whatever she pleased.

As she tilted her head the familiar veins crept down his face. His stomach was crying out for food. For blood. Hannya’s blood.

With one swift movement, his teeth locked around her neck. His teeth penetrated her delicate porcelain skin. Once the blood started to flow he didn’t want to pull back as he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her closer. As close as she could get.

There was no denying Hannya’s heart was slowing down rapidly, but even that wasn’t enough to deter Lawrence. He wanted more, but as her body started to grow heavy against his frame he quickly pulled back.

“They can also jump bodies when too much harm has come to their host”

Teddy’s words rang through his head, louder than Hannya’s slowing heartbeat.


HANNYA