The Vampire Covenant

Chapter Seven

"Oh God... Should I go back and get it? No, I don't have enough time." she debated with herself. The blinking clock on the dashboard read three minutes to half past ten, and that made the decision for Ophelia.

She revved the engine and sped off.

It was a long drive, made even longer by Ophelia's worry and nervousness. She ignored most of the speed-limit warnings and prayed the officers on duty and patrol wouldn't stop her. Thankfully, none of them noticed the black Jeep going eighty miles per hour on the Westwend-Stratford Highway.

Finally, Ophelia arrived at the 24-hour drugstore in 14-Yule Street in Stratford, and got out of her car. The parking lot was empty, save for a red Lamborghini that was parked perfectly parallel.

She thanked God the drugstore was deserted and only the cashier would have the horrifying ordeal of seeing her disheveled hair and watermelon patterned pajama onesie. A flush crept up her face and she regretted not at least changing into a jeans and oversized t-shirt.

Ophelia went round the store, grabbing the needed drugs. She made her way back to the counter and dropped the items, flashing a smile at the cashier and snatching a handful of candy for William.

"Can I see your prescription?" the cashier murmured, dropping the novel she was reading and running the items through the machine.

Ophelia brought out the paper, and slapped it on the counter with more force than she intended.

The woman behind the counter eyed her annoyingly, and when Ophelia gave her an apologetic look, she inspected the prescription and continued smacking on her gum.

After much scrutiny and examination, the cashier became content that the paper wasn't forged and packaged the drugs.

Ophelia paid, and hurried out.

A tall silhouette stood next to the red Lamborghini, arms folded, wearing a black tuxedo suit. It was too dark to make out the person's face, but Ophelia vaguely wondered why the person was wearing a tuxedo.

"I'm wearing a onesie." She reminded herself with a laugh. If anyone there was dressed in a peculiar manner, it was her.

She slid into her car and closed the door, putting the locks back in place. She released a long sigh and started the ignition. Happiness and pride of a mission successful made her turn on the radio and she sang along to every familiar song that played.

A few minutes into her triumph, and halfway home, Ophelia's car sputtered and slowed. The engine gave a low hum and finally died, releasing a large amount of exhaust.

"No, no... no... no... no! Don't do this to me please!" Ophelia wailed, starting the engine again. It sprang to life, and again conked out.

She punched the steering wheel in frustration and gritted her teeth to stop the curse word on the tip of her tongue. Ophelia snagged her phone from the passenger seat next to her and unlocked it.

"f**k!" she finally let out, realizing the area had no signal.

Her heart didn't drop to the pit of her stomach until she noticed the surroundings where her car had stopped. She was somewhere on the Westwend-Stratford Highway, and the dark woods on each side of the road gave her an eerie feeling. The lamplights were dim and too far apart, and the highway was completely deserted. It was devoid of any sign of life except for the elfin woman who now sat shivering in her black Jeep and contemplating her next course of action.

Ophelia summoned enough courage, and shakily stepped out of her car. It wasn't midnight yet, so she was safe, right? The cellphone still had no reception so she opened the hood of the car.

Even with her phone's flashlight, everything was a jumble of wires and machine. She had no idea what to do so she slammed it close and got back in the car. The night air filtered around with little flies and the wind brought the smell of greenery and sewage.

"Can this day get any worse?" Ophelia complained.

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed. Fat drops of rain pattered on her windshield, and she sighed, too drained to curse. The option on her mind had been to try and run home, but there was no way she could make it back before midnight.

Ophelia felt desperation, and clamped her hands together, silently praying for a way home.

Just then, a red Lamborghini sped past, slowing when it came close to the black Jeep, and completing coming to a stop a few distance away.

Ophelia threw the door open, and disregarding the fact that it was heavily raining and she was wearing a onesie, sprinted towards the car, throwing her hands in the air and yelling for help.

A tall figure stepped out, shielding himself with a black umbrella. She skedaddled to a halt the moment she came close enough to see his face.

Ophelia suddenly became awfully aware of her appearance. Her red dyed hair was wet and stuck to her skull, the tips that stopped to her shoulders dripping rainwater onto her watermelon onesie pajamas. Her slightly downturned eyes lacked any eyeliner or eye shadow and the spaces underneath them were hollow and dark with stress. Her lips were chapped, and as she stared up at the form of the stranger, she cursed the genes that made her short, bony and small.

"Please, my car stopped. I have to get home before midnight and there isn't any reception around here." she explained.

"How awful..." The stranger deadpanned emotionlessly. He continued staring at Ophelia, his eyes the only thing moving. He didn't even offer to share his umbrella, and she stood there awkwardly as the rain pelted down on her.

Ophelia was dumbfounded. The man didn't make any effort to move towards the car, neither did he say anything else. He simply kept scanning her up and down, a bored look on his handsome and somewhat ethereal features. He looked so pale in the night he could've been a ghost.

"Get in." he finally said.

"Ex –excuse, me?" Ophelia stammered.

"Cinderella's coach has lost its magic before midnight, so I'm going to help her get home." He murmured, taking a glance at the expensive Rolex watch on his wrist. "Less than thirty minutes to midnight. We don't have much time." He added.

"I was thinking maybe if you can help me fix my car? Not, um, not you driving me home..." she confessed. There was no way in hell she was letting a complete stranger who was particularly too attractive and weird drive her home.

"A pity... I don't fix cars." He said flatly.

Ophelia bit her lip and contemplated her options. She was still standing in the rain, while he was safely under his umbrella, not even a speck of rain on his perfect tuxedo. A ghostly smile appeared on his peach lips as he examined the decision-making process Ophelia was going through.

Stay here and wait for another form of help; breaking grandmother's most important rule and signing my life away, or trust this off-putting handsome stranger to drive me home; and risk getting kidnapped or murdered? She weighed her options.

"Take your time." He encouraged sarcastically, intently peering at Ophelia.

After a moment's thought, Ophelia ran back to her car, and the stranger turned on his heels, and opened his car. He slid in and spared a glance at the review mirror.

Ophelia's form sprinted back towards his car, clutching her phone, wallet, car keys and the paper bag containing Sam's drugs. The stranger smiled to himself, and unlocked the passenger door.

"Cinderella wears a ball gown. Why are you in a onesie?" he asked when she settled in the car.

"It's a long story." Ophelia squeaked. She nibbled on her bottom lip, and her face reddened with embarrassment. "And don't even think about k********g me, because I know karate. I will not hesitate to break your spine." She threatened in a low, but nervous voice.

The stranger chuckled. "Kawaii..." he mumbled to himself in Japanese with another secretive smile, and revved the engine.

Ophelia snuggled into herself, the cold air blasting through the air conditioner making her already drenched body shiver. She mildly worried about ruining the interior of his car with her wet clothes but dismissed the thought since the seats were fine black leather. Just one soggy gremlin won't destroy the car.

Noticing her chattering teeth and shivering, the stranger reached to the air conditioner and turned off the cold air, changing it with the heaters.

A few minutes later, the car warmed, and they sped through the highway in silence. Ophelia sighed. She had trusted an off-putting handsome stranger to drive her home, and risked getting kidnapped or murdered.

Her karate skills weren't a lie though. She really could break his spine if she tried. The only issue was, he probably could break hers without even trying.