Vampire-Walkers

''So why are we going here, again?'' Hassan said as he stopped his car before the red signal. He frowned at Sania. He already had a job fixing and designing cars and he didn't want to drive again.

Sania leaned closer to him and put a comforting hand on his bulky arm. ''Just have to pick up something for Nayyab. It's her birthday tomorrow.'' Sania lied hoping he would believe her.

''Right.'' Hassan replied and they drove off to the far end of town. The area was pretty scary. There were a bundle of houses covered with bushes on the sides, making them look haunted. Did people even live here? Sania thought. She moved her face away, trying not to fill her mind with useless thoughts.

Hassan parked the car in front of the shop's outside garden. Sania glanced at the board hanged above the shop. FANCY FLOWER-SHOP. She was at the right place.

''I'm going in alone.'' Sania said leaving the Maroon Mazda 6.

''That's fine with me. That place gives me the creeps.'' Hassan shrugged to show his fear.

''It's a flower shop jaani.'' Sania said rollling her eyes. She closed the side door and started to the front door of the shop.

She held the doorknob, before turning it she glanced over her shoulder. Hassan wasn't even looking at her; he was rocking his head to the heavy metal music on his car radio.

Sania felt a chill run down her spine as she opened the door. The shop was dark. A sweet odor swept past her from the array of flowers arranged in different stocks.

''Is there anything I can help you with sweetie?'' A nice womanly voice asked.

Sania tried to make out the shadowy figure in front of her. The dim sunlight that poured from the window showered over the figure. An old woman smiled at Sania some inches away.

Sania opened her mouth, revealing her razor-sharp fangs. The old woman did the same. Their eye color changed to a bright shade of red.

''So he did bite you.'' The elderly woman declared with an evil grin.

Sania's grin was even more devilish. ''Yes he did. But who is he?''

Sania sat across the elderly woman and her equally aged husband on a table. They were at the back of the shop where the aged couple lived.

''So the guy who bit me was your son?'' Sania asked with an expression of interest.

''Yes, he died after biting you...'' Mr. Tahir said.

''Aren't you guys supposed to be immortal?'' Sania asked.

''You mean we, you're one of us now.'' Mrs. Tahir reminded her.

''We are immortal.'' Mr. Tahir confirmed. ''Our son Abdullahl was on a killing spree in Raven City. We put a special person in his drink when he visited us this morning.''

''He thought that he was sick but on his way with us to the hospital. Abdullah felt hungry.'' Mrs. Tahir said with tears in her tiny eyes.

Mr. Tahir put a hand over his wife's shoulder. ''It was for the best Lubna.''

''Can I ask one question?'' Sania said politely.

Mr. Tahir nodded, his wife lying smothered with guilt and shame on the table. Sania looked at Mrs. Tahir's cup, her tea was untouched.

''Is there any way I can control my thirst for blood?'' Sania asked.

''Yes but that will take you 100 years to master.'' Mr. Tahir explained.

Sania stared at him surprisingly with her mouth wide open. 100 years. That's past my life insurance date.

She got up from her seat. '' You must be kidding!''

A smile swept across Mr. Tahir's face. ''I am kidding.''

Sania raised a confused eye brow. ''Then, there is another way.''

There was a brief silence in the room. Mr. Tahir took something out of his coat pocket and handed it to Sania. She examined the object. It was a thumb-sized bottle containing a blue colored liquid.

''Is this going to help me control my thirst?'' Sania asked.

''Yes, drink it all up tonight before you go to sleep.'' Mr. Tahir said.

Sania heard Hassan's car horn beep. ''That must be my boyfriend. I'll be going now.'' She turned to walk away but Mr. Tahir grabbed her wrist.

She stared into his blood-shot eyes. ''Be careful. Any emotion that is above normal can sometimes trigger your thirst.'' Mr. Tahir told her.

''Thanks for telling me.'' She left his grasp and started to the front door of the shop.

''Any buy some flowers the next time you visit dear.'' Mrs. Tahir called after her.

''I will, bye!'' She left the shop and hurried to the Mazda 6.

The title rang like tower bells in Sania's ears. I have to go there, she thought.

Hassan lay on his bed resting his arms behind his head. The bathroom door swung open and Sania came out.

''I can't believe your Mom allowed you to stay at my place tonight.'' Hassan said as she got in beside him.

''She had to. Didn't she tell you what happened last night?'' Sania asked pulling the quilt on top of her.

''Yeah. You were sleepwalking at 4 am in the morning. If your Mom didn't wake up you would've been to Serenity Mall by 5.'' Hassan teased.

She pinched him on the shoulder.

She felt his warm skin. She could literally feel the blood flowing around his body.

He kissed her. That felt so delicious, Sania thought. She put her hand on his neck. The pulse was buzzing around her palm. She wanted to taste him. She wanted to bite him.

He was reaching for another kiss as she neared his neck. She turned her face away. I forgot to take the drink.

She stood up and searched her purse for the bottle. Hassan sat up wondering what was going on.

''Forgot to take your diet pills?'' He teased.

She took out the bottle that contained the liquid. She opened the cap and swallowed it all.

Suddenly, a harsh headache made her stumble down on the carpeted floor. She held the top of her head. There was a loud sound echoeing through her head. Like bells ringing.

''Are you okay?'' He asked rushing to her side.

She grabbed her throat with both hands. She was choking!

Hassan patted her hard on the back. She finally stopped coughing after a while. Hassan let out a sigh of relief.

''Thank God you're okay.'' Hassan said. He was panting harder than her.

''Can you get a glass of water please?'' Sania asked softening her throat.

Hassan nodded and jogged to the hallway and then down the stairs. Good thing his parents weren't home, Sania thought. That noise would've woken them up. Hassan returned some moments later. Sania stood up taking the glass from him. She drank half of it.

''What did you take?'' Hassan asked suspiciously.

''Seriously I have no idea myself.'' Sania said. I knew this will be risky. But I've got to try it. She put a hand on Hassan's neck.

''I don't think this is a great time for a goodnight kiss.'' Hassan said looking at her wide-eyed.

Sania closed her eyes. She waited for the burning touch to propel her. No response. She pushed her palm harder against his skin.

Hassan moved her hand away. ''Let's go back to sleep.'' He led her to bed.