Changeling by Steve Feasey

taken up the fluttery arrhythmia that he had almost become accustomed to now, and the familiar feeling of dread began to creep its way through him again. He sat up on the bed and swung his legs over the side so that he faced her.
    She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice: ‘You know, despite everything that you are probably thinking to the contrary, you have to believe him when he says that he has been looking out for your interests for a very long time and that he has things to tell you that are truly important for you to understand about yourself.’
    ‘He hasn’t really told me anything. Just that he knew my parents and that I’m in danger,’ Trey said. He gave up trying to sound tough and aloof, and his voice sounded high and fragile to his own ears.
    ‘You’re safe now that you are here with us. I think that Lucien’s just really unsure of how to begin telling you everything. He’s very worried about how you’ll react.’
    Trey shook his head at this, a hot anger building up inside of him. How was it that these people presumed to know so much about him, and why were they not willing to simply tell him what was going on?
    Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door. When it opened, Lucien’s face was revealed in the gap. ‘Ah, wonderful! You’re awake, Trey. And the two of you have met.’
    ‘Not really, Dad. Trey’s literally only just come round,’ the girl replied, smiling warmly at him.
    ‘Then allow me to make the introductions. Trey Laporte, this is my daughter, Alexa Charron. Alexa, this is Trey.’ He looked sheepishly over in Trey’s direction. ‘Tom has made some tea,’ he said, as if everything that had happened to Trey that day would be set right by the hot drink. ‘And there is food, if you feel up to eating something. I would recommend that you do – we don’t want you keeling over like that again.’ He looked at his daughter again and smiled. ‘Alexa, I’m sure that Trey would appreciate a quick tour of his new home before we sit down for dinner. Perhaps you’d be so kind as to show him around?’ He nodded in Trey’s direction and closed the door.
    Trey looked at the closed door in disbelief. Clearly, revealing that you were a vampire did not rate highly on Lucien Charron’s list of things to freak you out. Sensing his mood, Alexa leaned forward and placed her hand on his arm.
    ‘Let go of me,’ Trey said, pulling free of Alexa. He tried to get to his feet and almost fell over again as the blood rushed to his head. Regaining his balance, he looked about him frantically, wondering what he was going to do.
    ‘Take it easy, Trey. You passed out. My father carried you into your room – sorry, the room that will be yours, if you choose to stay here with us – so that you could lie down.’
    His head spun as his brain raced through scenarios and possible outcomes of the situation he now found himself in. He had willingly allowed himself to be brought here to this place, despite a growing feeling that something was very wrong about the whole thing. The man called Lucien had freely admitted to him that he was a vampire, and now it seemed that he had been drugged and brought here to this room while the vampire’s daughter sat guard over him to ensure he could not escape.
    What have I done? How could I have been so stupid? I’m going to die, and I led myself into this like some lamb to the slaughter.
    He needed to get out of here. Get away from this apartment and let the authorities know what was going on here. The moment he considered this, he realized how stupid an idea it was. What would he tell the police? That there was a vampire living in this apartment in Docklands? OK, he didn’t have fangs, or claws, or wear a cloak and walk around saying, ‘I vant to suck your blut.’ But he was a vampire nevertheless. He could almost hear the police laughing him out of the station.
    ‘Do you want to just sit down and talk about things?’ Alexa said from the chair.