Peter did his best to stroll casually.Students basking on the lawns and enjoying the glaring sunlight looked at him as he passed.His attire, well suited to a courtroom, stood out like a clown costume at a funeral on campus, but Peter didn’t really mind.The library was but a stone’s throw away.But on his casually innocent way past the linguistics building and toward the library, Peter’s composure was ripped from him wholesale.
Right in front of him, just outside the university, was Puck.The young man wasn’t dressed like he had been last night.His hair was less messy and his clothes more casual, less revealing.
Puck was facing off with another vampire.The vampire was taller and meatier than Peter.He certainly outmatched Puck.As if to prove that, the vile vampire grabbed Puck by the arm.Puck said “no,” loud and clear.
Not a siren ex, but better.
Peter crossed the distance between them at human speed, but he was no longer strolling.Before Peter got there, Puck dropped his shoulder bag in his struggle to get free.It landed on the ground with the telltale sound of a laptop sustaining some breakage.
“You’re coming back with me,” the vile vampire said to Puck.
When Peter got within reach, he closed his hand around the other vampire’s wrist and squeezed so hard that something broke with a noise far more satisfying than a succubus crying.Which was neat, because the vampire let go of where he had been bruising Puck’s arm and instead hissed at Peter.
“Hands off,” Peter said, completely calm.
“The fuck do you want?”the vampire asked.“This one belongs to me.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Peter saw Puck’s eyes widen.There were tears there, and Peter did not like that, not in the least.Puck bent to pick up his bag, then glanced at Peter, shocked, trapped.So scared.
Peter turned his full attention to Puck.“Have you consented to be his?”
Puck shook his head.“No.”
Peter turned back to Grabby Meathands and smiled brightly.“There you have it.I think that solves the issue.Might I suggest you leave town?”
Grabby Meathands sniggered.“Who do you think you are?I take what is mine.Some fancy asshole in a suit can’t stop me.”
Once more, Peter considered the wisdom of going into law for his latest career.Had he instead become an assassin, he might’ve looked scarier on the outside.Instead, all he had was this very nice three-piece suit and the lavender tie.I shall have to resort to violence after all.
He twisted Grabby Meathands’s wrist farther, and almost in the same heartbeat, he delivered a gut punch too fast to evade.It was doubtful any of the students out enjoying the sun even saw it.
The other vampire bent over, though not as low as a human would have.His wheezing was very satisfying though.Then he sank to the ground after all.
Nice.Fool should always kneel.
“The name is Peter Collins.”Peter pulled a business card from his suit jacket.“I enjoy suing people and long walks on zombie-infested beaches.Please refrain from bothering my client any further.”Meathands had only a T-shirt on, so Peter, unwilling to put his card into Meathands’s jeans pocket, stuffed it instead into Meathands’s mouth before turning to Puck and saying, “Let’s go.”
Puck had the good sense to follow Peter, even if Peter had to lead him along by the elbow with some gentle pressure.
Once they had walked about two dozen steps, the tension Puck had been holding inside came rolling through and out of him, and Peter could tell the young man wanted to run.Peter tightened his grip on Puck’s elbow.
“Running is not advised.People like him see it as a challenge.Makes them feel powerful.”
Puck looked at Peter.“Have you been following me?Stalking me?”
He tugged his elbow out of Peter’s hold.Peter let him.
“No.Stalking would really eat up a lot of time.I was just here hoping to see the friend of a friend.Fiancé of a friend.Try breathing.I know you’re high on adrenaline and want to do things without thinking about them first, but try to focus on breathing instead.”
“Are you for real?”
“Yes, very.In through your nose, out through your mouth.Or the other way around.I can never remember.”
Perhaps I should try yoga for a change.I think I would make a good yoga teacher.What do they call them, sensei?I’d make a good yoga sensei.
“How is the laptop?”Peter asked in a bid to distract Puck when they turned left into the linguistics parking lot.
“It’s…broken, I think.I hadeverythingon there.Fuck.”
