Red

Jenny was never one to get all excited when it came to camping trips, social outings, clubings or anything that involves relating with people outside her small circle, which was why she had tried to convince Mrs. Price that she could not go on the excursion, but the woman would hear none of it.

"Socialize more Jenny," she had advised when Jenny walked up to her after the announcement. "This is a good opportunity to get to know your school mates and find a new crush." The woman joked, winked and then laughed. Jenny had smiled.

Now standing in front of the century old castle, wearing the ridiculous red dress that Pam had forcefully picked for her, she could not help but feel stupid. She felt that she and Pam looked like lost twin princesses amongst the other students who came dressed in jeans or khaki pants and sneakers. She glanced at Stacey. Make that three lost princesses. Stacey's cousin, Oliver, was with Max, the school's sweetheart and team's quarter back. Obviously the hottest student in school but Jenny found it weird that he always got straight A's.

Which high school sweetheart, with all the attention on him wouldn't take the opportunity to flirt with the girls who threw themselves at him?

He was Pam's obsession. Reason why she had worn the shouting yellow dress to attract his attention, but then he only seemed interested in the tour guide. She made mention of the paintings in the castle being over a hundred years old. Jenny stared at them, taking in the beauty of the paintings, turning around and walking on to observe them, she didn't realize the group had gone on ahead of her, leaving her behind.

A particular painting caught her attention. It was the painting of a handsome Prince in his royal regalia. 1800AD, it read on the plaque below, but something about the painting was off.

At first she thought maybe it was just her imagination, but the painting moved. Its eyes followed her every movement. She stood there, below the painting, mesmerized by the weirdness.

No. She shook her head.

She had to get back to the group.

How on Earth did she get lost?

She looked at the painting again and jumped back with a yelp when it winked at her, her back colliding into the chest of a young man who wasn't there a second ago.

"Woah there, easy red." He chuckled.

Jenny pushed away from him in fright and turned to face him. The corridor was dim but she could see him clearly. His well defined features glowed. She stepped away from him so that her back touched the wall.

She studied him, his skin was pale white and his lips, a tempting shade of red, his long hair cascaded over his shoulders which seemed wet and shiny. He was taller. Much taller and muscular and Jenny found him unresistibly charming.

"You're a long way away from the group. Did you get lost red?"

Jenny couldn't take her eyes off his red lips. She felt the urge to reach out and touch them. How would it feel to have them on hers?

"I... I'm.... I don't know?" She stammered, a bit of fear somewhere at the back of her mind. His bright red eyes was intimidating.

"You shouldn't fear...." He smiled and stretched out a hand toward her, she flinched and pressed her back into the wall, her eyes on his hand as if warning him to stay away. He chuckled, smiled and cocked his head to the side.

"Trying to merge with the wall red? I'm not going to bite you..." He paused, licked his lips letting his eyes travel down her body and then back up, locking eyes with her, he frowned. "...yet."

Jenny swallowed. "Yet?" Her fear returning.

"Rider," A voice boomed from the darkest part down the corridor. "I see you've brought a snack."

Jenny's head snapped. "Snack?"

"She's not. She's mine." The man, whom she now knew as Rider, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to him, gripping hey by the waist. Jenny, shocked by the sudden action tried to push away from him but his grip was surprisingly strong that he didn't even budge. She looked up to him but his gaze was fixed towards the dark corridor like he was looking at someone standing there. She followed his gaze and saw nothing, but the voice that boomed assured her that someone was there. She held on to Rider. Strangely, she felt safe in his arms, in the arms of this odd man who appeared from no where.

"She's free Rider. I can smell her." The person growled.

Rider faced her, the anger on his face softened when he leaned in to whisper to her. His breath fanned her ear and she felt goosebumps form on her skin.

"I need you to trust whatever I do, can you do that red?"

Jenny placed the flat of her palm against his chest to push him away, shaking her head. Her feeling safe in his arms did not guarantee that she should trust him. But Rider hadn't requested, it was a demand. He bit lightly into her neck. Jenny screamed, grabbed at his shirt, felt his teeth sink into her flesh and his grip on her waist tightened, pulling her into him. The pain only lasted a second then she felt numb, her head began to spin.

"Red is a dangerous color on you Jenny." She heard him say before she passed out.

When Jenny came to, she was seated outside the castle's entrance, surrounded by Pam, Oliver, Stacey and their teacher, the rest of the students were scattered around the castle's premises.

"Jenny." Pam squealed

"What happened?" Jenny asked, adjusting her eyes to the sudden brightness.

"I'll get you something to drink." Mrs. Price said patting Jenny's shoulder, then she stood up and left.

"What happened?! You tell us! We found you passed out on the floor of the castle's entrance. Here!"

"I was?" Her head ached trying to remember what had happened. "I was in the castle, somewhere. Lost I guess." She sat up. "There was this weird painting and a strange man."

"Strange man? I would say you hit your head pretty bad. The castle was empty except for us."

Her neck hurt, she touched it, pressed. She flinched. It definitely hurt.

"Jenny! Who gave you this hickey?!" Stacey was alarmed. She rubbed her finger over the red mark. There were two tiny puncture wounds.

"Hickey?" Her mind went back. "Rider! That was his name!" She didn't realize she had screamed, drawing attention to herself. She sank back and lowered her head, placing a had over the marks on her neck to hide it. When she lifted her head, Max was walking up to them. She felt his eyes on her and for a split second they glowed an ominous red. He got down in front of her taking her hand off her neck to study the marks. Pam and Stacey were left speechless.

Jenny studied him, why did his touch feel familiar?

He smiled, locked eyes with her, "Red is a dangerous color on you Jenny."