Oxford Blood by Georgiana Derwent Page A

be social and just having a quiet night.
    Just before nine however, Caroline appeared and all but
dragged her to the bar. “What do you want?” she asked. “I’m buying; I think you
need a drink.”
    “Thanks. White wine please.” Harriet glanced around her
nervously, to make sure Tom wasn’t there. To her relief there was no sign of
him.
    She took her drink and sat down with Caroline. After a few
moments, Josh came in and joined them. He’d calmed down since his earlier
outburst and though he gave Harriet a few concerned glances, he was clearly
trying hard to be cheerful as he sipped his pint of Strongbow.
    They sat and talked for an hour or so, and Harriet had
almost managed to convince herself that this was a normal evening in the
college bar and pushed the horrors of the night before to the back of her mind.
Feeling more relaxed, she went to the bar to buy her round, and suddenly, there
was Tom.
    “So, have you calmed down enough to thank me for saving
you?” he asked lightly.
    “I don’t want to talk to you,” Harriet replied. She knew she
should just walk away but felt rooted to the spot. “I still don’t understand
what happened last night. Maybe you did save me but there was no reason for you
to try to scare me with all that nonsense. So tell me, was it a pathetic joke, were
you on something, or are you actually slightly insane?”
    Tom seemed as conflicted as she felt, glancing around him
and refusing to look her in the eye. He ordered a drink before he spoke.
    “I meant every word of it, but I got carried away,” he said
finally. “I got too close and I told you too much. Remember what I told you
about wearing the necklace and not inviting people in, but otherwise forget
it.”
    Harriet studied his face. His gaze was level and open, with
no sign of malice or trickery. He seemed entirely sober and calm.
    “You really believe this don’t you?” she finally managed
shakily. “It sounds completely crazy to me, but maybe if you try to explain it
to me properly I could understand. Maybe I was too harsh last night. I guess
you did save me. I can’t imagine what would have happened if you hadn’t turned
up when you did.”
    “Nothing much,” Tom said nonchalantly. “You’d have lost a
little more blood. George would be looking a little healthier tonight. He
wouldn’t have been stupid enough to kill you out there. Don’t go around
thinking I saved your life. I just protected your honour I suppose.”
    Harriet was shocked at his attitude. “Tom, please. I don’t
understand. You were all over me on that first day, and then ever since, you’ve
done your best to blank me. Last night you saved me but today you’re all
dismissive again. I’ve long since given up on anything happening between us,
but can’t we be civil? Can’t we be friends?”
    “I don’t have human friends,” he snapped. “I have
acquaintances who are useful to me and I have people who are a source of
regular blood. You’re not useful, you’re downright dangerous and whilst I’d
love to, I’d never dare drink from you.
    “Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be. Do your
best to stay away from me and I’ll continue doing my best to stay away from
you. Believe me, if you ever get into trouble again, I’ll be there and I’ll
keep you safe, but otherwise we should do our best to pretend we’ve never met.”
    Harriet gripped the bar, trying desperately not to cry. She
tried to speak but couldn’t form words through her rapidly constricting throat.
Besides, she couldn’t think of an answer that would help matters. She still
wasn’t sure whether he was crazy or malicious and didn’t know which would be
worse. Tom picked up his drink and strode over to the group of second years
who’d been calling him. Harriet dragged herself back to her table where
Caroline and Josh were deep in conversation.
    “Well?” said Josh sternly.
    “Basically he told me never to speak to him again,” Harriet
replied, her