Prompt 2 of 31

The Writer's Book of Matches pg. 57 "Okay, it's true. I believe in vampires. But I have proof, okay?"

(P.S. these are all chosen at random.)

Start time: 11:13

"Okay, it's true. I believe in vampires. But I have proof, okay?" Derrick Trund said, running a hand through his long black hair. He leaned over the table closer to his friends, Janithyn and Garith. For the past thirty minutes he had been bombarded with questions from his comrades about his shifty appearance at the metaphysical section of the book store in downtown Boston.

"Well where is this evidence?" Garith said. He casually took a sip of beer from the half empty pint glass.

Jan leaned closer to Derrick. Her eyes wide behind her cat eye glasses.

Derrick's dark brown eyes flicked from one friend to the next before he opened his mouth and showed them his teeth. His canines were a little longer than normal.

Garith laughed, choking on his beer.

"That's your proof? My aunt Cecilia had abnormally long teeth too. You've proven nothing."

Derrick's face soured.

"They're not long enough because I'm new. I am a vampire. Not even a year old."

Jan gaped.

Garith just shook his head and chuckled.

With an uneasy hand Jan touched Derrick's hand. Immediately she retracted it.

"You feel like ice."

"You're imagining things, sis." Garith said.

Jan determinedly wrenched her brother's hand away from his beer and stretched it to Derrick's hand. He knew he could have met them half way but he couldn't have cared less about proving his point. He had other things to worry about.

Garith's finger tips rested on Derrick's hand for less than a nanosecond. He pulled his hand to his chest and stood up, the wooden chair scraped across the barroom floor.

"What the fuck," Garith said.

Derrick rolled his eyes and motioned for his friend to sit.

"I've been a vampire for the past six months and haven't hurt either of you yet. You have nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, now." Garith said, he took a step back, his voice getting louder.

Derrick could feel the eyes scattered around the bar looking at him. He had to nip this in the bud. He quickly stood and with sweeping moves, grabbed Jan's wrist, and hook his arm around Garith's and pulled them to the exit.

"Let go of me freak," Garith said. He attempted to pull his arm free but failed miserably.

The tension, excitement, and panic of the other patrons filled the bar to the brim and Derrick could feel his urge take hold. If he remained a second longer in Trombo's bar he would become ravenous. He knew from experience.

The cold autumn air embraced them with stiff arms outside the bar.

"Calm down, Gary," Derrick said.

The vampire let go of his friends. He could sense that Gary wanted to run but couldn't. He was afraid.

"I sought you two for a reason."

Jan's eyes widened behind her glasses.

"Why?" she said softly.

"I want to undo this and I know you can help."

"Is that why you started talking to us?" Jan said. Her shoulders went slack.

Derrick's expression was pained. He knew this would eventually come to light. Yes, he had treated them worse than any other kid during high school. Yes he had thought they were a couple of freaks then but now that he had been turned he knew they would understand. But even now he couldn't bring himself to say it. He was going to have to soften the blow. Plus, it may have started out trying to use them but his heart had changed since then. It only took taking away his mortal soul to do it.

"The why isn't important. You two have become my closest friends these past few months. You're the only ones that spend your waking hours in the dark. But it's more than that." He knew he had to deliver something quick. "You two are professionals when it comes to the paranormal."

Garith crossed his arms over his chest and held his head to the side. The energy radiating from him was beyond skeptical.

Jan on the other hand, she beamed at Derrick.

"Of course we'll help," she said.

"Jan!" Garith said. "Obviously he's using us. That's why he's been spending time with us. Obviously. God, how could we be so stupid. He wanted nothing to do with us in school."

Jan turned furiously to her brother. A few strands of hair fell from her messy bun.

"What does it matter how he treated us then."

"Because he's using us, sis."

"No he's not. Think of how long he's been hanging out with us and hasn't even brought up the topic of ghosts, werewolves, or vampires once! If he wanted to use us he would have just done it."

Garith turned to Derrick and pressed his lips together into a thin line, his bushy brows formed a single line. He looked back at his sister and the two held a silent argument that ended with a punch in the chest from Jan to Garith.

"How can we help?" Jan said cheerfully.

If derrick's heart was still beating it would have began to race with excitement. Instead he was filled with even more cold.

"Coincidentally enough I was in search of a book that Mr. Nemmits said you had purchased."

The two siblings looked at each other puzzled.

"It's called the La Inverser La Mort. It was written by Pierre-Jacques Lefevre."

The two remained silent.

"Do you know what book he's talking about?" Garith said, he pointed a thumb at Derrick. "Sounds French."

"I think I know what you're talking about. Let's go to our place." Jan said.

End time: 11:53