Glamour

Alexa was working late at the college, as usual. She had a habit of leaving projects until the last moment, and yet they always seemed to turn out well. Perhaps she was one of those people who worked best under a deadline. A thump in the room next door told her that Professor Sydney was also working late. A moment later, he stuck his head in the door.

"Don't you ever sleep?" he asked, his own eyes red-rimmed. He was much older than her, and inclined to be rather moody, and yet she'd always found him somehow appealing. It might have been the combination of ice blue eyes and gold hair, or the British accent. She shook herself mentally.

"My dad always said there'd be plenty of time to sleep when he was dead." She cringed inwardly as soon as she said it. He might be sensitive about his age.

He just chuckled. "Sure about that?" he asked, looking over her shoulder at her work. "It would seem, by your notes, that 'there's no rest for the wicked', as they say." His eyes moved rapidly over the page.

"You've done quite a bit of research, haven't you? Where did you get this?" he asked.

"I have my sources," Alexa replied. She was reluctant to give away the names of the locals who had finally been talked into repeating the legends that swirled around the town of Yfel (one of those unpronounceable old English names that had been carried over to the New World, and ended up as 'Fell') for ages.

"It's a fascinating subject, isn't it," she added thoughtfully. "People seem to be absolutely repelled, and yet riveted by all of these tales of ghouls, and monsters and demons. They never go away."

"There's beauty in evil, my dear. Remember, Satan was once an angel, and the angels are supposed to be transcendentally beautiful. Evil has its appeal." He cleared his throat in an embarrassed manner.

"And now, some coffee, I think. For you as well?"

"No, thank you." Alexa was already poring over her notes again as he left. The room was quiet, and Alexa was almost feeling drowsy, when she heard the patter of raindrops. She idly glanced up, and realized that there were no windows in this particular room. How could she be hearing rain? There were two floors above her; perhaps there was a leak in one of the science labs upstairs. She looked up at the ceiling, but there were no telltale stains that would indicate liquid seeping through the tiles. She turned back to her books.

They were splattered with red and black droplets. She jumped, and felt the sharp pain in her chest as her heart skipped a beat. Idiot she thought to herself. Obviously, something was leaking from the lab upstairs; it was the only possible explanation. Well, she'd go up and have a look.

The lights went out. She heard a yelp from far down the hallway, followed by a stream of colorful language from Professor Sydney. She felt shaky with relief that he was there. What was his first name? Oh yes, Robert. A good, sturdy, English name.

She opened her mouth to call for him, but no sound came out; suddenly, a foul stench filled her nostrils, and two icy hands were at her throat. Alexa, who had always prided herself on her coolness and logic, was seized by a fear so deep and so paralyzing that she couldn't speak or breathe.

A light glimmered from the hallway, and it was enough to show her that whatever was holding her was not human. She felt her knees begin to give way.

Suddenly, she was free. Another dark shape was in the room, and she heard the sounds of a scuffle, followed by a splash and a curse. Then a voice boomed.

"LEAVE IT!" The walls reverberated. Alexa clapped her hands over her ears and scrambled for the doorway. Once in the hallway, her legs finally gave out, and slid to the floor, arms crossed over her head. She sobbed, in great, tearing, heaving gasps. She felt someone next to her, but before she could react, she felt the professor's arms around her. Alexa could feel her heart thudding against her chest, but she couldn't feel his. Pity; it would have been comforting. He didn't say anything, and slowly, she felt herself returning to normal.

"Alright?" he finally asked.

She nodded, and he helped her to her feet. "Let's get your things, then," he said, toggling the light switch in the room. On the third try, the overhead lights went on.

She had no idea what to say to him. "Thank you," she managed, in a quavering voice. She took a deep breath. "You risked your life for me." Seeing his broken mug, and a pool of coffee on the floor, she felt hysterical laughter bubbling up to her lips.

"I didn't realize that hot coffee was an effective means of defense against the undead. It's certainly much cheaper than silver bullets. Or are those for werewolves?" Alexa realized that she sounded perfectly ridiculous.

Professor Sydney looked at her soberly. "It was a young one. Inept, as they all tend to be." He began to gather up her books and notes. "I do know a bit about the subject, you see. I've been here for a very long time; sometimes, it seems like an eternity. I think it best that we destroy all of this. You're getting a little too close for their comfort."

She felt a surge of anger and disappointment as he threw it all into the wastebasket.

"But that's..." she began.

"You know, you're really beautiful," he said, turning to her. She looked at him, and he suddenly seemed younger, even vulnerable. Why had she never noticed how deep his eyes were, how his hair was flecked with copper highlights, how his smile seemed meant only for her.

Why, he's in love with me, she thought with amazement. Such a nice man, how will I let him down gently, after all he's done for me?

He took her in his arms. "I want you," he said simply.

"Robert, really, I'm sorry, I already have a boyfriend, and you being a professor and all," she babbled.

"You mistake my intentions," he breathed in her ear.

And sank his teeth into her neck.