Haldred Chronicles: Alyssa Read Free Page B

disintegrating into ash.  Alyssa's mind had imprinted
that vision on her memory.
    Never go out in
the sun, never even look at it.  The idea of exploding did not appeal to her.
    She found she
had finished her tea, and now felt conflicted.  He seemed to notice her
nervousness.
    “I can tell you
want to head home.” he said.  His sadness was almost solidified.
    “No no.” she
said immediately.  She found her hand suddenly on his in an automatic effort to
reassure him.  She blushed again, biting her lip.
    “It's just been
a long night.” she said. 
    “But I really
want to see you again!” she managed to blurt out, her hand shooting to her
mouth immediately after.
    Gods I'm such
a child!
    “Great.” he
managed, after several long (very long) seconds of surprise. Surprise, Alyssa
fancied, at the fact that a girl's hand had been on his and the fact that she
wanted to see him again.
    “Ah.” her eyes
flickered.  “Ah, well, why don't you pop in to the Elk’s Horn tomorrow night? 
We could chat during my break?”
    “That would
be...great.” he said but he was obviously still in a state of slight shock.
    Y eah, I
definitely like the awkwardness , she decided.
    She rose,
slowly, and James stood with her.
    “Strange times,
eh?” she said.
    He grinned,
relaxing.
    “But good
times.” he said.
    She gave him a
grin back.
     
    He led her to
the door and they both stood looking at each other for a while.  He at the
door, not wanting to close it, she just outside the door, not wanting to
leave.  Eventually it was Alyssa who leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the
cheek
    “Thanks” she
said.
    He wasn't hiding
his goofy grin.
    “You can stop
that now.” she said, raising an eyebrow.
    “Sorry.”
    “See you
tomorrow.” she said with a smile, before turning to head off.
    She glanced back
to see him still at the door, watching her go.  They waved to each other.  Only
when he closed the door did she step into an alcove and giggle in delight.
    “I just got
flirted with!” she giggled to no one in particular, hugging herself with a
beaming smile that could have melted ice.  She had not felt this happy in a
depressingly long time and wanted to savour the moment.  Even her normally pale
complexion seemed to be beaming with an inner light.  She was doing the oddest
of little hops at the same time.
    She had met a
boy.  A human boy.  Whom she'd kissed!  She was unable to stop smiling.  But
just like most things in Alyssa's unlife, reality decided to step in and ruin
things a just little bit.
            
    “Are you alright
Miss?”
    Alyssa almost
leapt out of her skin, suddenly doing an impression of someone with their back
glued to a wall.  She found herself staring at two Larrick City militia men on
the street, their round rimmed metal helmets and red and blue padded jerkins
identifying them, each holding a lantern and evidently trying to figure out
what the hell was going on with the young woman in front of them.  They had
curious, critical looks on their faces.
    “Oh...sorry!”
she stammered.  “I just, ah, the guy.”
    Both of them
seemed wary of her, exchanging glances.
    “I just got
flirted with!” she blurted out.
    “Okay.” said the
one on the right after tense seconds, his frown deepening.
    She suspected
that they, unlike James, were affected by her unnatural aura.  She took a step
forward to check.  Sure enough both of them stepped back, hands automatically
going to the swords on their belts.
    “I'll just be
going then.” she said, quickly turning on her heel and walking off at a quick
trot before either of them could enquire further.  She could feel their eyes
watching her as she left, with hands she strongly suspected, still on weapons. 
Secretly, she had hoped her experience with James had meant that the aura was
gone.  For good.  That even her vampiric condition was suddenly cured, but the
militia men had confirmed that was not the case.
    She wasn't in a
fairy tale;