Carmine is shivering. The sea breeze is surprisingly chilling and her red, sleeveless satin dress is doing little to keep her warm. It's 8:15p.m. and Billy is still nowhere to be seen. She starts picking at her dry, chapped lips until they bleed, and then lapping up the little droplets of blood pooling into her mouth. She had promised herself to stop doing it... But old habits die hard.

Several of her classmates have already gathered across the street, outside the Millenium Commodore hotel, chatting with each other and greeting their friends as they pull up in limousines and taxis.

Carmine's body begs for the warmth of the outdoor heat lamps but her ego forbids her from mingling with her peers until she meets up with her date. Where is he? She rubs her palms together and then hugs herself. Goosebumps run up and down the length of her arm.

The waves are crashing harder along the man-made seawall, flicking salty spray onto Carmine's face and neck. Her eyes water from the sting and her nose is dripping a little. 

This is a horrible idea. But Billy seems- Well. And a little part of Carmine wants to see-

The other part of Carmine wants to run home. Why did she agree to attend this horribly gaudy and superficial celebration? But if she went home early her Mother would give her the old "I told you so" spiel. No, she can't leave early. Not after she spent all day convincing Red that prom night was a good idea.

Maybe Billy is caught up in traffic. Maybe he has a family emergency.

Just then, a red convertible pulls up to the hotel. The driver is a gorgeous blonde exchange student from Sweden. And Billy is in the passenger seat. Billy quickly unbuckles his seatbelt and exits the vehicle. He goes around the front of the car and then opens up the driver side door. He takes the blonde's hand and together they walk up the steps of the hotel. Billy hands the doorman two tickets and then ushers his date inside.

Carmine's heart sinks. How could she have been so foolish? What the hell got into her to make her suddenly so naive and giddy? Like a goddamn child she fantasized about her first real date. Her first real kiss. Not one of those slimy tongue dances she did to seduce disgusting ritual victims, but a real, warm, melding of lips.

Billy must pay.

A small knot of rage quickly threatens to explode like dynamite within her stomach. Carmine's vampire blood boils and lashes through her veins, seething with hatred.

How dare this wretched boy shame her?

In her mind's eye, Carmine flocks to the hotel entrance, slams open the door with her savage strength, drags Billy away from his bimbo date and ravages his body until he is in bloody shreds. Then she walks out the door, triumphant and redeemed.

But of course she isn't stupid.

No. An ostentatious show like that would no doubt have her imprisoned for life. Or the death sentence. His punishment will come. Slow and steady. When it happens he won't even know why he is being punished.

He will only suffer.

"Are you ok miss? You're shivering."

Carmine startles in surprise. She jerks around and discovers the source of the concerned voice. It's a young man in his mid-twenties. Another scoundrel who wants to grope my breasts or stare at my ass?

They're all the same.
Not to be trusted.

"What do you want?" Carmine snaps. Her ankles are chafing badly against the silver strap of her high heels. All she really wants to do is go home and take a hot bath. Forget about this nonsense for a while.

The man looks slightly offended by Carmine's bitterness. "I was just wondering if you were ok? All your friends have gone inside already for dinner and I just noticed you were still standing on the other side of the street, shaking from the cold."

"Why do you care?" Carmine's stomach grumbles. In her excitement to get dolled up for prom she didn't anything all day.

"Sorry. It's just, I work for the hotel," the man smiles, trying to be friendly, "Sebastian. Sebastian Hunter." He extends his hand but is only met with further dismissal.

He drops his arm back down to his side. "I was just doing a last check to see if we were missing any guests before locking up the front entrance for the night. We have a policy for tonight that if any prom attendees are more than thirty minutes late they can't attend the event anymore because the doors will be locked. You know, for security reasons." Sebastian brings his palms up to his mouth and tries to warm up his hands with his breath.

"I saw you arrive at eight sharp and it's just...well you've been standing for half an hour in the freezing cold and-"

"It's none of your business." Carmine turns away, crossing her arms. Who does he think he is? Why can't he just leave her alone? "I'm FINE. You can go back to work."

Sebastian eyes Carmine shivering body up and down and then shrugs off his coat. He lightly wraps Carmine's bare shoulders and arms with the polyester zip-up. Before she can object, he sprints across the street and disappears back inside the hotel.

The coat instantly warms up Carmine's frozen skin and briefly softens her heart too. She shouldn't have been so rude towards him. He was just doing his job after all. Sebastian's jacket smells faintly of cologne and hand soap. A comforting, masculine scent that makes Carmine feel as if she is wrapped in the cozy embrace of a lover.

Still. She can't keep it. I don't need a stranger's hospitality.

Carmine is about to run across the street to return the jacket when Blake calls her. His special ringtone is an ear-piercing rock song - 'his fave jam'. Taking her numb hands out of the coat's fuzzy pockets, she removes her cellphone from her little clutch and answers it. "Blake? What's going on? Why are you calling me?"

"Sorry Carm. I know you're at prom," Blake is panting weakly. "I just-I didn't want to tell Mother or Father."

"What is it? Are you okay?" Carmine straightens up her back and starts pacing. Blake sounds frightened and weak. What did he do?

"I-I found a dead body," Blake cries, voice trembling and laced with lust. "Help me."

***And so the fun begins. Thoughts on Sebastian Hunter? ;) Up next...2 half vamps and a dead body = recipe for disaster?? Vote if you enjoyed this chapter and add to your reading list to keep up with new chapters. Thanks, Chesmok***