The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Epilogue



My name is Nikolai. I am writing this so that you know what I know, see what I see, feel what I feel. I am here to correct any misconceptions the world has about my kind. I am young of age, but old in experience, knowledge and wisdom.



I am a vampire.



I am one of the few vampires that need blood to survive. Not all of us need blood. Some are content to drain energy. But others require more sustenance.

Biologically, it is a medical condition in which we cannot produce enough hemoglobin or red blood cells to sustain us. Therefore we need regular donors.

Vampirism is not something to be taken lightly. Wannabes continue to spread lies about us.

It is also not an addiction. We need blood like humans need food. And yes, we can eat food. Food can sustain us for a short while until we find a willing donor.

As for burning in the sun; that is true. We will not turn into ash, mind you, but we are susceptible to sun poisoning, rashes, and third degree burns if we stay out too long.

Vampirism does not make you immortal. Nor does it make you gorgeous and popular. Or will you have unlimited friends groveling at your feet.

We are not dead. We are very much alive as the human next to you. We do not die when turned, nor do we harbor inhuman strength, though we might seem that way. Nor do we have the ability to fly.

What we do have is the power of the mind. We are mentalists. We need that stability to suppress the hunger. And believe me, it is hard to do.

Our canines seem longer because our gums have receded a bit. We are not sickly thin beyond help either, though we tend to look that way.

I am writing this not because I want to, but because of a certain event in my life that has brought me here. You see, I was not always a vampire. Through the process of a blood transfer, I became one.



This is how it begins...



Chapter 1



"Nik, could you help me bring this into the kitchen?" My Mother had asked.

I picked up the plastic bag of groceries and walked down the path to bring them inside. The sun was dazzling. It made the spring day carefree, with the birds singing, green grass and trees sprouting new shoots of leaves and flowers. I took a deep breath of the clean, fresh air and smiled.

"What a beautiful day," I breathed. I did not want this day to end, it was so stunning.

"Nik? I need that bag," Mom called to me. I directed my attention to her and she was standing just inside the front door of our two-story cottage-style with a wraparound porch. Woods encircled us like the trees were protectors to keep things out. Or keep us in.

I walked into the house and went to the kitchen. I set the bag down and opened the fridge. I reached for a can of Sprite and opened it. I took a long drink, like I was dehydrated. Maybe I was.

"You know, you should drink more water," Mom commented. She put the rest of the groceries away and was now starting dinner.

"This has water in it," I remarked. She gave me an exasperated look and I laughed. She went back to making dinner and I watched her. It was just me and her living here. It has been that way all my life. Mom and I are very close, like best friends. I like that. I would not be here if it was not for her. Or my father.

They divorced three years ago, when I had first started college. I had a choice to live with whomever I wanted. I chose to live with Dad for a year since he was closer to college. I would have stayed had Mom not called me at an ungodly hour of the night, asking me to come back. So I did.

I finished getting my bachelor's in English, so I could write about new discoveries and what not. It was not as productive as I thought so I took an administrative job as a side, though it was full time. It is very laid back, which helps me think. I liked to read in my spare time about anything that I could get my hands on and I also loved to swim.

"Do you want asparagus?" Mom asked, bringing me out of my reverie. I drank the last of the Sprite and tossed the can into the recycling bin next to the trash can.

"Sounds great," I replied as I walked toward her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"What are we having?" I added.

"You are having buttered asparagus, Stir-fried vegetables in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, on a rice pilaf. While I have an opened-faced Turkey sandwich," she said. I grimaced when she mentioned turkey. She tries to support my being a vegetarian. Little did I know that a craving for blood was going to come my way.



Chapter 2



There is a woman at work. She is the same age as I, twenty-three. She has no idea how I long to find out what it feels like to be in her arms, to be the cause of her glorious laugh, to know her eccentrical mind and to feel her astounding energy.

Her name was Sarah, and although she is manager in training, she is not a snob, nor is she out for power. Sarah is the epitome of kindness. Her bewildering and generous personality has made me want to know if she is sweet all the way to her center. I believe I can win her heart; as well as her mind, body and soul. I just have to have enough courage.

We became friends when she first came to this department. She is a great person. I shall find out is she likes me as more than friends.

Today, Sarah was wearing all black. She had a collar on her neck with chains and a ring attached for a leash. I was not sure if she was into Slave and Master, but I am willing to find out.

I walked up to her desk, watching her counting the accounts she had printed. Not something I want to do at seven in the morning. She sensed my presence and looked up at me questioningly.

"Hey, what's up?" She asked me in her deep, groggy voice.

I gave her my daily account summary and she took it with a muttered, 'joy,' and went back to her work.

I stayed where I was, marveling at the way her hair framed her face. She had it down today, and it made her round face appear more oval. She also had fake fangs in her mouth. Not professional, but she was rebellious.

I cleared my throat and she looked up at me with weary eyes. They also had mysteriousness to them and I wanted to know what secrets she kept hidden from me. She wore no makeup, she did not have to. Her hair was a deep natural red, which brought out her green eyes. When I first saw her, I had expected an Irish accent.

"What?" She asked, waiting for me to say something.

I shrugged, "Oh nothing. Just wondering how you are today."

"Considering I'm not a morning person, I'm fine," she replied. I nodded and smiled at her. She tried to restrain hers, but it slid out and she said, "What are you smiling about?"

"What you are having for lunch today?" I asked her as I leaned down to her level.

"I'm having bland vegetarian food with bland chips," she replied. Yes, another vegetarian. We were perfect for each other. Even thought she just recently started, I have been one all my life.

"Are you eating up here, or in the café?" I continued.

"Up here, why?"

"I want you to join me," I said. She gave me a surprise look that was so cute on her.

"What about your other friends?"

"My friends can handle themselves and besides, I would not mind to accompany you to an insipid lunch," I explained to her. She smiled. Such a beautiful smile.

"If the lady would not mind that I bought her something from the café?" I added.

"If you want to, it's up to you." She said brightly.

"Then I will wait for you and we will walk to the café at twelve-thirty," I said and straightened. I started toward my desk when she grabbed my arm.

"Wait. Do you want to go out with me?" She asked. She catches on quickly, I like that. After all this time that we have been friends, I wanted her to know that I wanted to be more than that with her. I just smiled at her, gently took her hand off my arm and walked to my desk.



Chapter 3



By the time lunch came the day had gone from bad to worse. Lack of productivity had Sarah grabbing at straws to keep occupied and me trying to stay conscious. The rest of the department was vying for work as well. Even the manager caught a wink or two. I sighed. What a long and boring day. I had already clocked out of my computer and now stood at Sarah's, waiting for her. She took out her CD player and a book from the drawer for while she ate. I grabbed her hands gently and put the items back. She gave me a puzzled expression and I smiled.

"Today, we are going to strike a conversation, if it so pleases you," I explained. I was still holding her hands. They were cool to the touch and very soft. I wanted those hands to touch me elsewhere. I swiftly brushed the thought away.

"We always talk. What could we possibly talk about that we haven't already?"

"Call me old-fashioned," I said as I put my arm out for her to take. She laughed and took it with both hands. We made our way down the hallway, to the stairwell. When we got there, I opened the door for her. She thanked me and we walked to the first floor.

When we arrived at the entrance to the café, I asked, "What does the lady like?"

She looked around and spotted something from the Chef's Bar. She looked at me and said, "You don't have to buy me anything. I have food upstairs."

"But I want to. Being a vegetarian does not mean you have to settle for a tasteless, frozen patty that looks like congealed gruel," I told her.

"Well, I don't have the money to go out and buy fresh and organic foods," she said.

"I did not mean to offend you, I thought we could indulge ourselves a little with a hearty salad and sit outside to bask in the magnificent afternoon," I explained to her. She looked at me and said, "Man, you do have a way with words. You should be a writer."

I smiled and we walked to the salad bar. She made a big salad, loaded to the rim with almost all the salad trimmings there were available. Mine was a little smaller. We went to the checkout and I paid. She said thank you to me and we made our way to the outside doors. When we stepped outside, the air was as fresh as it could ever be. It also smelled of rain, but there was not a cloud in the sky. I thought it quite odd. I shrugged it off and sat down at a table in the shade. Sarah sat across from me. She opened her plastic box containing her salad and said a short prayer, then dug in. I sat and watched her, not touching my food. Even the way she ate was beautiful; the way her dimples showed when she chewed, the way her lips pursed together. I wondered if she would go out with me. I was not shy, but I was quiet, like her. She was the loner though and I longed to know her deepest, darkest desires.

I was staring at her. I could not help it. She paid me no mind and continued to eat her salad. Every time she leaned in to take a bite, her hair framed her face. The sun's rays caught the back of her hair and turned it into a brilliant reddish gold. I wanted to touch it, see if it was really made of filaments of gold.

She caught me staring at her. That made her blush. I smiled.

"What? You didn't have to do this, you know. If you want, I could pay you back," she said. I gave her a solemn look and replied, "It would insult me if you did so. Besides, you are worth the expense. And I also do not mind knowing I am the cause of your health."

She burst out laughing. She had a wonderful laugh that was infectious. When it finally died away, I took a bite of my salad. She did the same. She was quiet for a few minutes and I could not help but wonder what she was thinking. I looked up from my food and saw her staring at me. I blinked. I had not expected it and it was my turn to blush. I looked away and went back to my salad on the table.

"What?" I asked when I met her gaze again.

"Why you want to go out with me all of a sudden. Why now?"

"Because I feel that we belong together. All those times here, even though we never speak to each other after work, you are truly a great friend," I stated. "And it is not because I only wish to have sex with you." I added.

"So what's this about?"

"Has it not occurred to you that I simply enjoy your company and wish to be more than friends?" I asked, perplexed by her question.

"You do? What's so special about me?"

"What do you mean?" I inquired. She stopped and looked at me. She replied, "I mean, what is your hidden agenda?"

"I have no hidden agenda. You, on the other hand, claim to be mysterious. Do you have a hidden agenda?" I countered.

"I'm not trying to hook up with you," she stated and went back to eating.

I was starting to worry about the direction this was heading, so I chose a different tactic.

"So you do not wish to go out with me?"

"I didn't say that, Nik. I said that most people only want one thing and are out for themselves."

"Can you honestly say that you do not crave a man's touch?" I asked straightforwardly. Me shy? Never.

She blushed, but did not look at me. I continued. "I do not want you to think that is the only reason I want to go out with you." I said and stood up to leave.

"I'm just not used to guys treating me nicely. It always seems like they're only being nice so that they can gain my trust. And when they do, they throw it back in my face and I'm left alone. I also don't think guys can consider me as a girlfriend to them. That I'm not good enough for them," she whispered softly. She had never told me that. I waited for her to continue. When she did not, I went to her and kneeled on the ground beside her. I took her hands in mine and said, "I think that I am falling for you, Sarah. I think you are beautiful. You have a great personality. I love the way you think, the way you handle yourself." I moved forward a bit until my face was inches from hers. She was surprised beyond speech and she moved back a little.

"Please, give me a chance, Sarah," I said and kissed her.



Chapter 4



The kiss was amazing. It was like nothing I ever had before. Surely I have gone out with some women, but none were as passionate, soft and shy a kiss as Sarah's.

I was sitting at my desk, the lunch over so quickly, looking at Sarah who was five desks away at an angle. She looked at me and her cheeks grew red with embarrassment. She liked it as much as I. Maybe even more than me. I was thinking of how good of a kisser she was and what else she could do with them. I could not help myself. I sighed and leaned back in my chair. Three hours until closing and I could not wait until then to get another chance to taste those soft, sweet lips.

"Nik," that was my manager calling me. He motioned for me to come forward and I stood up. I saw Sarah stand as well and wait by her desk while our manager took out the keys and opened the door to the office next to our department. He stepped inside and turned on the light. Sarah was right behind him and I at her heels.

"Have a seat," he said and sat down at the desk by the window. Sarah stood with her hands behind her back by the wall and stood very straight Even though Sarah wore all black, she had an air of authority. I was right. She does handle herself well. I, on the other hand, stood by the door.

"I have news of your eventful lunch," our manager said. He was bald, wearing a blue, white and black striped sweater with black slacks and polished dark brown loafers. He was in is late fifties, and the type of guy who liked to crack offbeat jokes.

"My, word travels faster here than sound does through water," I quipped.

Sarah laughed at that. I managed a smile. Our manager asked me to repeat what I said and I did. He laughed and said something corny that made us laugh harder. After that bit of tension left, he got right back down to business.

"I'm just saying that if you two are going out and what have ya, that I'd like for you to handle it outside of the work area. Just to pacify my manager," he explained. It was more of a fast jumble of words but if you actually paid attention, you could understand him.

Sarah nodded and replied with a short, "yeah, sure."

Our manager nodded and headed out the door. I motioned Sarah after him and shut the door behind me. She went to her desk and sat down like there was nothing wrong. I went to my own desk and sat down to look at her. She looked at me and I flashed her a knowing smile. She glanced away bashfully and I chuckled. I had hoped she was not busy tonight for I had plans for us to go out.

Little did I know that the universe had plans for me.



Chapter 5



"I am sorry I embarrassed you today," I said over the phone.

"That's okay, but truthfully, I'm not much for public displays of affection," Sarah replied on the other end. I had asked for her number after work. I had also asked if she were so inclined to go to a movie, but she instead offered me out on a picnic for tomorrow. I accepted and was now talking to her on the phone in the kitchen. I did not have a cell phone, but I am sure to get one this spring season.

Tomorrow was Saturday and the weather was looking up. I could not wait for the picnic with Sarah. Many possibilities ran through my mind of what would, or could happen. I shook my head to clear the images and turned to Sarah's voice on the phone. She was silent and I had thought she hung up.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver.

"I'm here," she replied. I heard her yawn and did not think what time she went to bed. It was well after nine-thirty.

"I am sorry if I have kept you later than your time. I will let you sleep," I said.

"Oh. Ok. I'll see you tomorrow then around noon," she replied.

"I wish you a good night and sweet dreams of me," I added. She laughed and said goodbye, then hung up.

I put the phone up and headed upstairs to my room. I went to my bathroom and turned on the light. I glimpsed at myself in the mirror and wondered if Sarah really liked me, or if she just went with it. I stared at my brown eyes and dark hair that fell in my face. My hair was shoulder length and I had square features. I appeared handsome enough, but maybe not for her. From what I have known from being friends, she was not the type to judge on looks. So why am I so concerned about mine all of a sudden? I wondered. I sighed and went to the tub to turn on the shower. When the temperature was to my liking, I stripped and stepped in. The warm spray hit my chest and I moved into it. I shampooed and rinsed my hair, still thinking about Sarah and that kiss. How her eyes were half-closed when I pulled away. I wanted to kiss her again, but the lunch was almost over. My thoughts kept going to that place where all thoughts go in a man and I tried locking it away. I did not want to think of her like that. It was too soon. But when I lathered myself with soap, I noticed that I could not get away from those thoughts of her under me, with me inside her. Her moaning with pleasure as I roam my hands over her body. I grew hard just imagining this and I forced myself to think of something less graphic and sexual. I thought of tomorrow's picnic. I thought of Sarah in a form flattering outfit—which, to me, was any outfit she wore—watching her eat a succulent grape, licking her fingers clean, her lips sweet from the grape juice. I sighed, wishing she was here with me.

I brushed my teeth in the shower and washed my face. Then I turned off the water and stepped out. I had hoped the weather would stay fair for the next day for our picnic. I may get another chance to kiss her. It felt so good the first time. Maybe the next time will be better.

I went into my bedroom. I did not bother to dry off with a towel; I needed something softer against my skin. Like Sarah, I thought. I went to my dresser and took out a pair of boxers and put them on. Then I went to bed. The covers were cool against my flushed skin and I relaxed, turned the light off and burrowed underneath. I slept with Sarah's laugh in my head.



Chapter 6



I awoke to a peculiar sound in my room. It was still dark out and I reached over to my bedside table and pressed down a button on my alarm clock. It read 1:58 am. I groaned and stretched, agitated at being awoken at this hour.

I turned my head toward my window and saw a shadow outside of it, then it was gone. I thought it to be branches of a tree when I realized I did not have a tree outside my window. I watched, trying to see it again. It darted past my vision and I flinched, not expecting it. It looked to be a human shape, but if there was no tree, how was it up this high?

I sat up, still looking at the window. The shadow came back. This time it stayed and it looked to be a shadow of a woman's form. At first, I thought it to be Sarah trying to scare me, but the thought flew from my mind when I heard a ghostly voice call my name.

"Nikolai..."

It sent chills down my spine and I watched as the silhouette of a hand with long nails scraped down the glass. The sound was agonizing and I put my hands over my ears, but did not take my eyes off the window.

Should I call the cops? No, by the time they came here, the woman would be gone.

Nikolai..." She said again in a low, seductive voice. Another wave of shivers went down my spine and I tried to shake off the feeling.

"Who are you?" I called out. I wanted to turn on the light, but that would require my leaving the comfort of my bed. Yes, I was a little frightened. I did not know if this woman meant any harm. I was about to find out.

"Come. Open the window, Nikolai," she said in the same tone of voice. I swallowed and felt a pulling sensation emanating from her. I tried to resist, but I reluctantly got up from bed and went to the window. I pushed back the curtain and gasped when I saw a face. She was more beautiful than I had ever imagined. She was not as beautiful as Sarah, but close. Her skin was a dark tone, as was her hair. She had blood red lipstick on and nails to match. Her eyes held a mischievous sparkle and she grinned.

"Open the window, Nikolai," she whispered. Every instinct told me not to, but it was like I had no control. I opened the window and helped her inside.

She was only an inch or two shorter than I, but she held a gait that was vaguely conceited.

When our hands touched, I only knew her. I was sentient of her sumptuous, full lips, her dark secretive eyes, her lush curly hair that fell past her shoulders, the curves of her body. I was stunned beyond words by this woman. She had on a form-fitting T-shirt and even tighter jeans. She stepped closer to me which put her face inches from mine. I stepped back, unsure of what was happening. She smiled and stood closer. I realized my mouth was hanging open. I closed it and swallowed. When I could finally speak, I asked, "Who are you?"

Her hands roamed up my chest that sent a shudder through me. I tried to suppress it but I was under her control. I could not move. I started to panic, but she gazed at me with those dark, mysterious eyes and said in a whisper, "I'm whoever you want me to be."

She grabbed the back of my hair and pulled to expose my neck with a strength unlike any other woman's. I grunted from the force and struggled, but she held on tight. I felt her left hand caress the right side of my neck and it sent tingles in that area. Her lips brushed the spot she caressed and I gasped in voluntarily. I tried to push her away by the shoulders, but she held my arms back. I was mystified about how a woman could be stronger than a man and not look it. Some wonders never cease.

"What are you doing?" I managed to say.

"Making your darkest desires come true," she said, breathing onto my neck. She licked the vein and it made me grow hard against her. I gasped in pleasure and she laughed, but did not stop. I did not like what she was doing to me. She was not Sarah. I wanted this woman off of me. I strained to get away again and she pushed me. It caused me to lose my balance and I fell to the floor. In seconds she was on top of me, restraining my arms.

"Let me go," I demanded. I tried to throw her off by rolling, but her legs were wrapped tight at the waist. Then she hit me. The force made me hit my head back onto the floor with a thump and a slight dizziness overcame me. She forced my head to one side and rested her mouth on my neck. Then she bit down. It hurt and I cried out. What the hell? Is she biting me? I clenched my hands into fists and with all my might, pushed her off of me. I sat up as she stumbled away and my hand went to my neck. I did not see any blood when my hand came away. Before I knew it, she was on me again. This time she kneed me in the stomach, hard enough to knock the wind out of me. I lay there, coughing as her hand grasped my throat and I started choking. I gripped her arms and tried to pull her hands off of me, but to no avail. She bent down again and her teeth pierced the vein in my neck. Then she sucked. It hurt, like needles piercing the skin, but slower. I could feel her drawing my life force away and I tried to scream, but her hands were still wrapped around my throat. My mind grew fuzzy with questions of who and what she was. I could feel myself growing sleepy, too weak to even keep my eyes open.

"Stop, please," I pleaded to her.

The pain was now more of a tingling all through my body. I became languorous and could do nothing. I felt myself slip away into that nothingness. I did not want to die, not yet. Please do not let me die in this stranger's arms, I pleaded to whatever god would hear me. Finally, she withdrew and I was left weak and gasping for breath. My body was limp and I tried to lift my arms. They felt like a dead weight and I was able to only lift my hands. I slowly turned my head toward her and saw her looking at me with a smile. She still had my throat but I was not choking. My mind had thoughts of Sarah and I wondering what could have been. Then a question arose in my head. Had this woman before me just drank my blood? Who the hell was she? My brain was swirling with mad thoughts of death and vampires and things draining my blood. I shut my eyes tightly to drive away the images and dizziness. When I opened them again, I saw her lift her hand and she slit her wrist with one of her long, sharp nails. Her blood dripped on my face. She leaned down until her wrist was inches from my mouth. I twisted away from it. I was not going to be like her, I would rather die then face Sarah tomorrow with whatever this woman has turned me into. She put her wrist closer to my mouth and said in a whisper, "Drink."

I shook my head no. that movement created a dizziness that I was sure to throw up from, but did not. She repeated herself and I could still not move as a drop of her blood hit the side of my mouth. Without realizing it, I licked that side of my mouth and tasted her blood. Suddenly, I wanted more. With a sudden burst of energy, I snatched her wrist with my hands and sucked at the wound. I felt her life force flow inside of me, down my throat, into my stomach. Her blood was bitter but I did not care. The sensation of her blood mingling with mine felt good and I did not want to let go. It was almost to the point of orgasm, it felt so good. I then wondered if Sarah's blood was sweeter.

"Enough." She said firmly. I did not stop. Finally, she wrenched her wrist away and I lay back down, gasping for breath. I could feel her blood coursing through my veins. I could not believe what I had just done. The thought sickened me enough for me to turn my head, waiting for the inevitable. It did not come. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her get up and walk toward the window. She sat on the sill and looked back at me.

"'Til we meet again," she said with a smile and vanished. I was left on the floor to die. That is what it felt like anyway. I tried to move and managed to roll to my right side. I curled myself into a fetal position and awaited Death to come for me. I had never felt this sick in my life. I did not know what my body wanted to do. Should it send up what I had put in it or take it? I felt an unbearable pain and my muscles convulsed against it. I cried out and clenched my fists. I was going through this change alone. The pain intensified and I screamed Sarah's name. I then fell unconscious.



Chapter 7



I should have died, but I awoke to a blinding light. I blinked my eyes against it and moved my right arm to cover my eyes, but I was awake and I may as well get up. I sat up with effort, my body sore from last night's event. I was a bit disoriented to where I was and I blinked my sleepy eyes to adjust to the light. I noticed I sat on the floor of my bedroom. A sudden realization came to me about the woman from last night. I think she gave me a disease. I shuddered at the thought but could not shake away the reality. I glanced at my watch for the time and noticed I had just enough time for me to get dressed and meet my beloved Sarah. I grunted as I rose off the floor and went to my bathroom. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and gasped. I did not look human. My face was pale with dark circles under my bloodshot eyes. My eyes, I thought. They looked different somehow. I turned my neck to see the wound she made and there, right in the middle, were two small puncture wounds. I touched it with my fingertips and it was a little sore. The blood had seeped out and now was a dried pool at my shoulder. I bent down under the sink and grabbed some alcohol, cotton balls and bandages. With everything on the sink, I turned on the faucet and rinsed the blood away from the wound. I was as gentle as I could be, because it still hurt. When it was clean enough, I dabbed some alcohol on a cotton ball and gently stroked the wound. It stung and I let out a hiss from the pain. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I thought about what happened last night and realized that I had drank her blood as well. The thought made me sick and I immediately went for the toilet. I wretched up bile and stomach acid that burned my throat. Why would I do such a disgusting thing? Finished, I flushed and went to the sink to rinse my mouth. I heard a ringing downstairs and Mom yelling in answer. I heard her speak to someone on the other end. I glanced at myself in the mirror again to make sure I looked okay for Sarah. I honestly did not feel like going anymore, but I did not want to chicken out and tell her over the phone. It was a good idea though. I walked back into my room and threw on some clothes. Regular jeans and a T-shirt should do for today. I heard Mom call up to me and say that the line was for me. I walked down the stairs to the kitchen and picked up the phone.

"Hey, you awake?" Sarah's voice came from the other end. My world did not seem that bad anymore and I managed a smile. Then I realized that she could not see it.

'"Yes, I am awake," I said hoarsely. I cleared my throat of the remaining bile and waited for Sarah to speak.

"Good. Where did you want to meet at?" She asked. Her voice was like a bell to my ears and I wondered what her blood would taste like. I stopped myself. What is wrong with me?

"Hello?" She said on the other end.

"I am sorry. I had not managed adequate sleep through the night," I said to her. "How about a park?" I added.

"Ok. Which park?"

I could not think of one. My mind was reeling from the events of last night. I have yet to tell Sarah what happened. I did not think I was up for it. But it is nearly impossible to hide a bite mark on your neck. Even with a bandage.

She had mentioned the Augusta Park and I agreed to meet her there. I told her I had some news for her. She sounded eager and I hastily told her it is not something to be excited about. She was silent for a while then asked if I was okay. I told her I was fine and that I will see her at the park. I hung up. I touched my bruised neck and sighed. I packed away lunches in a cooler and grabbed a blanked for us to sit on. I called out to Mom that I would return soon and left.

When I walked outside, it was blistering hot. The temperature amazed me. It was not summer, it should not be this hot. The sun's rays hit my skin and I felt it burn. Was I imagining it? No, I was not. I looked down at my hands and arms and realized that I was actually burning in the sun's rays. Maybe that was why I thought it was so hot out. I hurried to the car and got in. The shade was conspicuously cooler. I looked at my hands and noticed a slight redness to them. I shook my head and started the car. I backed out of the driveway and turned onto the road. I made a right at the stop sign. The park was not far, only a mile away. I would have walked, but the heat would get to me faster.

When I reached the entrance to the park, I found a parking space and waited for Sarah. Soon, I saw a blue Dodge Aries enter the park. It was Sarah and she parked next to me and got out. She smiled at me and I got out of my car as well and walked to her. I was sweating in the heat and did not want to touch her, but she grabbed me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Her hold was strong and comforting. I was a little worried at what she might think of my condition.

"You're sweating, are you okay?" She asked. She pulled back from me so that she could see my face. I looked at her with blurry eyes and suddenly, I could not breathe. I took in a deep breath. It felt as if my body was immensely weak. Drops of sweat pooled out of my pores and my body tingled. Dizziness overcame me and I collapsed to the ground. Sarah went down with me.

"Nikolai?" she called frantically. Her voice was fainter. I felt like I was going to pass out, but I willed myself to stay conscious. I felt a cool wind touch my face and it felt so good, I did not want to leave. It was over almost as suddenly as it came. I looked up at Sarah and raised my hand to her face. I cupped her cheek with my hand and she held it with one of hers. She closed her eyes and I cupped the other side of her face with my other hand.

"Open your eyes," I whispered to her.

She did and there was concern and love of friendship for me. I was touched. Maybe she did feel the same way about me as I did with her.

"Let us have our picnic," I said softly. She shook her head no and said, "You're not in any condition to be outside. Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"

I smiled feebly and looked her in her eyes. They were darker than I remembered.

"I need to get in the shade, away from the sun," I replied in answer.

She nodded and she helped me stand. We went to a nearby tree and I sat down with my back against it. She told me to stay and went to get the food from the coolers. When she got back, she set the food out and organized it in a neat little space. She spread a blanket over the grass and moved the food onto it. Then she sat down and looked at me. I reached in the cooler but Sarah stopped me. I looked at her, waiting.

"I brought something special for us," she said. She pulled out a package of meat and set it down in front of me.

I found that I was ravenous and yearning for meat. I did not want her to see me this way, but it was a spur of the moment thing. I seized the package and tore open the plastic. The meat was soft and firm at the same time. My mouth was watering with the anticipation of tasting it. I wanted to devour it.

"Nik?"

Her voice made me look up at her and she was inches from me, worry making deep lines on her face where there was none before. She touched my right cheek with her hand and it felt cool. I closed my eyes and rubbed her hand with my cheek.

" You're burning up. Are you going to tell me what's going on with you?" She asked. I managed a weak smile and replied, " I do not know if I should tell you or not."

"Look, I care about you Nik. Please, tell me what happened to you," she said. I sighed and looked for the words to start off with. Finally, I gave up and just said, "Last night, I awoke to someone calling my name. I thought it to be you, but when I went to the window, it was not. It was a dark woman with dark hair. She made me open the window for her and let her in." I stopped. I did not know if I could go on. I did not want to, but I felt that Sarah would support me in whatever happened next.

"I could not see her face clearly, but she had sparkling, mysterious eyes. She bit my neck."

Sarah gasped and her eyes looked to my neck where the wound was. She reached out a hand and I snatched it, not wanting her to feel the monstrosity of it. But she looked at me with a pleading gaze and I sighed. I dropped her hand.

When she touched the wound, I felt a jolt of electricity flow through my body. I gasped pulled back, away from her. My hand went to the place where she touched and I felt heat.

She looked just as stunned as I.

"Did you feel it too?" She asked me. I stared at her for a bit, and then nodded.

"I've never seen real vampire marks before," she commented. I opened my mouth to say something, and then shut it. She cupped my face in her hands and said, "We need to find her and—"

"And do what, may I ask?" I had interrupted her. She did not like that at all. She looked at me with exasperation; almost the one Mom gave me.

"Nik, what if she gave you a virus or something?" She inquired. "It could be the reason why you're sick now and can't hold anything down." She had a point. I nodded in agreement.

"You are right. I need to find her and figure this out, before it gets worse," I said.

"I'm going with you—" she started.

I shook my head no and replied, "This is between her and me, Sarah. It is too dangerous for you."

She moved closer to me, as if to kiss me, but held my face firmly in her hands. I had no choice but to look in her deep green eyes.

"Don't argue with me. You’re not in any condition to. I'm going with you in case you need help. I can take care of myself. And besides, I know a thing or two about vampires," she said. I just looked at her. I did not think it was all that surprising considering what she wore to work. I hung my head in defeat. She was obstinate alright. And I think I give up too easily.

She asked if I was hungry and I gave her an exasperated look. She smiled and fixed some sandwiches. I ate a little, not too much for fear of getting sicker. I tentatively took small bites of my sandwich and felt the contents go down. It did not come back up. I sighed in relief and took bigger bites. Before I knew it, my sandwich was gone and it took me by surprise that I ate it and wanted more. I looked at Sarah and noticed she was staring at me. I looked away.

"Do you want more?" she asked. I glanced at her and she had a smile on her face. I smiled as well and nodded. She fixed another one and I almost did swallow that one whole. I was feeling better, now that I had real food inside me. I was getting stronger physically as well.

Satisfied, I leaned back against the tree and watched Sarah eat. It was funny the way she ate and I started laughing. She looked up at me questioningly.

"I am sorry, but you have a funny way of eating," I said, still laughing at her.

"Oh. I suppose my way of eating is more humorous than you practically swallowing your food whole?" she asked me. I laughed all the harder. When I settled down, she was looking at me, annoyed. I moved forward on my hands and knees toward her until I was inches away. She sat back a little. I closed the space and kissed her. Tentatively at first, then it grew to something more. She returned it as passionately as I and I grew hard with desire. I entwined my fingers in her hair and leaned over her until she was underneath me. I kissed her harder, thrusting my tongue inside. She whimpered and put her hands on my chest. I groaned with pleasure, but she pushed my chest back.

"We can't do this Nik. Not yet. It's too soon," she said breathlessly as she broke away.

"I am sorry," I said and got off of her. She sat up, her cheeks red with what could have happened. I rubbed my neck where the bite was, staring into space. Thinking if I was the same person I was two days ago. That woman did something to me and I was going to make her talk.

Finally, the sun's heat grew too much and I sadly told her I had to leave. She wanted to come with me, to make sure I was going to be okay. I told her that she was sweet but I had to decline her offer. I was afraid that if she went home with me, we would do things we'd regret. I was not ready for that. I had more pressing matters and did not need more problems.

With the rest of the food packed away and in the trunks of our cars, I hugged and kissed her goodbye and walked her to her car. I smiled down at her and whispered, "'Til we meet again," in her ear. I hugged her again and went to my car. Not waiting for her, I drove back home.



Chapter 8



At home, I left the cooler in the car and walked inside. I was feeling like doing nothing but sleep. I barely made it to my room and dropped onto my bed. I thought about the picnic, how Sarah thought it considerate to indulge in a little meat every once in awhile. I did not admit it to her, but that was what I was craving right now. My stomach was full, and I was content at the moment. I kept thinking how I was going to solve this problem when my stomach growled. I could not be hungry, I just ate. But it was not food which I craved, it was blood. My body grew tense with the thought of it. I grimaced against the growling and tried to think of something else. My body would not cooperate, so I sat up in bed and took in slow, cleansing breaths. When I was calm enough, I thought about calling Sarah back to tell her that her wanting to come over was not a bad idea at all.

A sudden pain behind my eyes gripped me and an image flashed in my mind of the dark woman. She was smiling at me, beckoning me to come to her. I shook my head and yelled no aloud. I grasped my head with both hands and clenched my teeth against the pain. The woman kept calling me to her; I kept saying no and shaking my head. The pain became unbearable and I screamed.

I was aware of hurried footsteps along the stairs. My door opened and Mom came rushing in, looking frantic from my sudden outburst. She came to me and sat down beside me. She rubbed my back to try and comfort me, but it was like she was rubbing sandpaper against me. I moved away from her and stood up. She came up to me and reached out a hand.

"Do not touch me!" I yelled at her. She looked stricken and frightened for me or from me, I could not tell.

"Nikolai, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Just, do not touch me, please," I pleaded. "Get Sarah on the phone and tell her to come over," I added. I kept grimacing against the pain and the woman's beckoning call. I did not know what was going on, but I did not want to go to her. I thought that maybe Sarah would know what to do, since she claimed to know some things about vampires. I saw Mom nod her head and she went downstairs to the phone. I overheard her conversation with Sarah and then she hung up. She came back to me, worry and fear in her eyes. I noticed the vein in her neck, pulsating to a frantic beat. I stared at it, fascinated by the effect. I moved toward her. Mom backed up, unsure of what to do.

"Nik? What's wrong? Talk to me!" She said. I tilted my head to one side and came closer. I could feel my body changing. Into what I did not know, but the new sensations were overwhelming.

"Sarah's going to be here any minute. You two can handle what ever this is, please Nik, you're scaring me," She said. I heard her heartbeat in my ears as if it were my own. Loud and beating hard. I could barely hear my mother's voice from the noise. I put my hands over my ears, as if to stop the noise but that did not work. I would not have known Sarah was here had Mom not suddenly looked out past my door. She rushed out of my room and down the stairs. I followed her and we came to the front door. I moved Mom out of the way and flung the door open. Sarah stood there looking puzzled.

Is everything okay?" she asked, darting glances at my mother and me. I yanked her inside by the arm and shut the door. I kissed her long and hard. I was filled with so mush desire I wanted to rape her then and there, but I dare not. She was not expecting the kiss and that made it all the sweeter. She broke away and looked embarrassed at my display of affection. I took her hand and led her upstairs to my room. I shut the door behind me.



Chapter 9



"I thought you wanted to be alone," She asked when we had privacy. I went to her and kissed her again, not wanting to let go. My hands roamed up and down her back and sides. I could not get enough of her. Finally, she pulled away and I gazed in her eyes.

"She is calling me, Sarah. Beckoning me to her and I do not want to go," I blurted out. I wanted to take it back. I did not want Sarah to know that some other woman was trying to call me. It felt like cheating. I knew she did not think so, but it was different for me. I was a guy. And I did not think of Sarah to be the jealous type, but if it was me, I would definitely be jealous.

Sarah moved to my bed and sat down, looking very delicious at the moment. She wore the same thing at the picnic, but somehow, it looked different. The way she sat on stopped me from pacing the room. I stared at her, wanting to ravish her. I shook my head to clear the thoughts, but I kept her gaze.

"Nik, you're staring at me," She said. I looked away and muttered a sorry to her and walked toward the window. I drew the curtain away from the window and I half expected to find the Dark Woman there. But she was not. Neither Sarah nor I said anything and the silence was loud in my ears. I heard her come up behind me. She did not touch me, but my back started tingling at the closeness of her. Several shudders went up and down my body. I felt her hand lay gently on my left shoulder. My body became flushed with heat by her touch. The heat traveled down to my groin and my hand was inches from grabbing myself.

"Please, do not touch me," I whispered at the glass. Her grip became firm and she turned me around to face her. Her eyes held a hunger to them that I had only thought came from me. I stared at her in amazement and confusion. Her eyes sparkled with mischievousness, and she smiled. She kissed me then, deep and passionate. I hesitated, just for a bit, then returned the kiss. I kissed her harder, tongue darting inside her mouth. I needed to know what she tasted like and it seemed I could not get enough. She mimicked me and shoved her tongue inside as well. She tasted so sweet. I bit down on her lip a drew blood. She gasped and pulled away from me.

"You bit my lip," she said and touched it with her fingers. I leaned in and whispered, "Let me kiss it and make it better. I kissed her again and sucked the blood into my mouth. It was as sweet as candy. I let go and traced her jaw line with my kisses, traveling down to her neck. There, I savored the taste of her, sucking her skin while she gasped in pleasure. I desired her more than anything right now and I needed her to know that. I broke away and whispered into her neck that I only needed her right now. She sighed and I continued sucking.

Suddenly, she pushed me away. I looked at her, my brows furrowed in confusion.

"We can't do this, Nik," she whispered.

"You cannot deny me as much as I cannot deny you, Sarah," I told her. I held out my arms for her. She just looked at me, unsure.

"Do you not trust me?" I queried.

"I don't trust myself," she said. I closed the space between us and put my hands on her shoulders.

"Please, Sarah. I only want another taste of you," I whispered gently. I was close enough to feel her heartbeat within mine. It felt wonderful. These new sensations were overloading my body and mind.

"You're a vampire, Nikolai!" She exclaimed. It stopped me. The sudden realization slammed into me. I stared at her in shock and backed away. I could not believe it. I was not a vampire. Was I? It could not be possible, could it? Surely not. But if I wanted the truth, I only had to look in Sarah's fearful eyes.

"No..." I whispered. I gripped my head and started yelling no over and over. Sarah came to me then. I wrenched away from her, yelling at her to not touch me. She just stared at me.

"Do you not know that I am now a monster? I am a monster that feeds on others! Horrible!" I yelled. "I will kill the bitch that did this to me," I added.

"Nikolai?"

That one word snapped me to attention. It was soft and sounded like a little girl's voice. I slowly dropped my hands and glanced at Sarah. Her beautiful face ruined by fear and worry for me. She stepped up to me, cupped my face and made me look in her deep green eyes.

"You are not a monster. You are just unsure of what this is and where it leads to. I believe that woman who was here last night can help you. We both need answers. We have to find her if you want to survive," she stated. I tried looking away, but she would not let me. I took hold of her wrists gently and pulled away.

"Please, you do not know what this feels like for me. I do not want you to know."

"Listen to me, Nikolai. We are both in this together whether we like it or not. She brought us into this world against our wills. Now she's going to find out that Karma can be a real bitch," Sarah said.

"I am trying to deny this, but it gives me pain. And when I see you, I have this desire that needs to be sated. I fear that I will never look at you and think of tasting your blood, or how much it turns me on," I said to her. It was the truth. I did not want her to know it, but I could not hide forever of what I have become against my will. I set my jaw hard and narrowed my eyes. Sarah nodded, as if she knew why I had become angry. As if she knew what I was going through.

"You can't deny this, Nik. It's become a part of you now," she explained. I sighed.

"You are right. I cannot deny it. But I fear for you Sarah. I do not want to think of you as food or as sex," I said. My voice was small and a little high-pitched.

"Do you have that craving now?" she asked.

"I always seem to have it. I have not had enough to satisfy the hunger," I told her.

She took something out of her pocket and handed it to me. It was a peppermint candy. I looked at it, then at Sarah.

"Are you trying to say something?" I queried. The corners of her mouth curved upward. But she shook her head no and replied, "It's for you anyway. Maybe it'll take your mind off of certain things for awhile."

I nodded and I opened the candy. I popped it in my mouth and the flavors mingled together. It was both more minty and sweeter than I had remembered. I bit down on it and crunched the candy. It tasted good. I swallowed and it went down to my stomach. I had expected it to come back up, but it did not. I sighed relief and asked for more. She had none, but that did not matter. I smiled at her. She smiled back. I embraced her tight and did not want to let go. Her body felt so good nestled in mine. It was like we were molded for each other. My desire grew, but I controlled it. We had much to learn.



Chapter 10



We were down in my kitchen, Sarah cooking in a skillet. Mom was sitting at the table, a safe distance away from me. We had told her what happened to me the night before, and she was shocked beyond belief. I felt sorry for her that she knew what sort of a monster lived inside me. But that was why Sarah was here. She was support for my mother. A little girl talk and Mom should be able to handle me.

I was getting better at controlling the craving myself. Sheer will power was all it took and I had to say that I had more than enough to keep this side of myself at bay.

Sarah sat a plate on the table, which made a clatter and the sound made Mom jump. I looked at her, trying to comfort her with my gaze but she would not look at me long enough. I sighed and turned back to Sarah. I went over to her and stood behind her. I put my hands on her shoulders and rubbed them. I then rubbed her arms, up and down in a lazy pattern. I bent my head down and nuzzled her neck.

"How can you let him do that to you. Doesn’t he scare you, Sarah?" Mom asked.

"He's not a monster. Just confused right now," Sarah replied. She squirmed away from me and told me to go sit down. I complied and sat at the island so Mom would not have to be scared. I felt so sorry for Mom. I wanted to tell her that I did not mean to scare her, did not mean to for her to fear for her life. I wanted to say that I loved her. That I would never hurt her. But my mouth would not cooperate.

I put my elbows on the table, put my face in my hands and sighed. This was going to take some getting used to.

Sarah finished cooking and she sat at the table with Mom. Sarah had no meat on her plate, but Mom's did. Mom thanked her for the dinner while Sarah said a prayer over her food and looked at me. She motioned for me to sit by her but I shook my head. She insisted and I had to comply or else she would drag me to her.

I sat down next to her and moved my plate closer to me. I picked up a fork and felt as if I was being stared at. I looked up just in time to see Mom looking at me in worry, then she glanced away.

"Mrs. Pierre, you need to acknowledge your son," Sarah said, breaking the silence. Mom looked at her as if Sarah were trying to tell her how to raise me.

"He is not my son," She stated as a matter-of-fact. I dropped my fork in utter amazement. No. She did not just say that. I was no longer her son? I could not think, or move, I just stared at her. I tried to say something, anything that would make Mom take back what she said, but the shock I was experiencing was not letting me.

When I was finally able to speak, I said, "You do not know how hard it is for me to deal with this. You do not know what it is like to have something evil inside you, trying to tear you apart all because you deny it. You cannot fathom the tremendous will to keep something like this at bay. I did not choose this life. Someone else did. If you want to be angry at someone, direct it at the woman who did this to me."

My voice rose in pitch from the growing anger inside of me. I stood up and went to walk away when Sarah grabbed my arm. I wrenched my arm away from her and looked back at Mom. She had tears in her eyes, but they did not fall. I was on the verge of tears myself. If I did cry, so be it. If it showed her that I was still human, I would gladly cry until my soul could no longer take the pain and flee. But alas, it did not come. I sat back down and looked at the two women before me; one, ready to support me in anything that would happen, the other disowning me. All of us needed each other, but how to tell Mom that I needed her most right now? I let out a breath I had not known I was holding and whispered, "I need you, now more than ever. Please, be on my side. I am still your son. I just have a sickness that I need to be cured of. Do not disown me. I do not know how to control it but I swear, I would never harm either of you in any way." Then I cried. I could not help it. Everything that has happened to me in the past two days put too much stress on my heart. I was not able to handle it. I put my head down on the table and cried so hard, it hurt. My heart broke into miniscule pieces. My soul had a gaping hole in it where I thought love was, but now was gone.

I felt someone hold me and I wrapped my arms around her. It was Sarah. At that point I knew, that even if she was uncertain of what might happen, she would always be there for me. I then felt Mom on the other side of me, holding me as well. I cried even more in joy, instead of pain. I held Mom tighter and did not let go. It gave me utter joy to know that Mom somewhat understood what I was going through. When I was finally able to stop, I wiped my eyes and saw Mom look at me sorrowfully. I nodded and said everything was going to be okay and hugged her hard.

Sarah cleared her throat, which made me look up at her. She smiled slightly. I let go of Mom and sat up in the chair again. I began to eat, thankful that I had everything I could ever need.



Chapter 11



After dinner, I told Mom of my plans. At first, she did not think it was a good idea to go out in my condition. I stated that if I did not know what to do with this, then there might come a time when it would get so strong that I would not be able to control it at all. She nodded reluctantly and I kissed Mom goodbye on the cheek. I followed Sarah out the door to her car. We had waited until dusk to search for that mystery woman. Sarah thought that maybe since she is just getting out and about, I could find her with my supposed connection to her. I had hoped Sarah would be right and we would find her so I will finally have some answers.

Sarah drove and we headed into the country. I followed my instinct. The woman's call was faint, but with the coming darkness, she was getting stronger. I gave Sarah directions on where to turn on what roads. By the time we got to a secluded place, it was full dark and it was not even eight pm.

Sarah parked a little away from a clearing. She started to get out but I grabbed her right hand. She stared at me, waiting for my next move. I leaned over to her and held her face in my hands. The shadows fell perfectly on her face. She looked so sexy, it was hard not stare. I lowered my eyelids to half-closing. She closed the space between us and I felt her mouth on mine. Her lips were so soft and full, I wanted to devour her. But I did have some self control. It did not seem like she did, for I could feel her desire coming off of her in waves. It fueled my own desire. My hands moved along her shoulders, to her back. They finally settled on her waist. Her hands were tangled in my hair. She settled in a half-sitting, half-lying down position and I moved over her. Her hands roamed down my back, to my waist and she lightly scratched my back up and down with her nails. I gasped. This was more pleasurable than I had imagined. I did not touch her anywhere else. I did not want to make the first move. It was all up to her.

Her kiss became more passionate and she was breathing heavily. Her mouth was wet and I broke away. I lowered my mouth to her neck and sucked, enjoying her hands on me, they way she tasted. I wanted to draw blood, wanted to know what she tasted like from the inside. Then I heard a shrill scream. I stopped kissing Sarah's throat and moved over to my side of the car.

"Who was that?" Sarah asked, breathless. She was staring at me, waiting for me to say something. She touched my left shoulder with her hand and I jerked away from her.

"She is here," I said in a harsh whisper.

Sarah moved closer to me. I tried keeping her away, but that was not working. Suddenly, Sarah's door flew open and hands seized her by the back of her hair and dragged her backwards out of the car.

"Sarah!" I shouted for her and got out of the car from my side. I saw her being pulled away, kicking and screaming. They were fast and before I knew it, they vanished into the woods.

"No!" I yelled and ran as fast as I could in the direction I last saw her. Suddenly, her screams stopped and the silence of the night was too loud. I stopped in my tracks and strained to hear anything that would lead me to her, but I heard nothing.

"SARAH!' I screamed as loud as I could.

"Shouldn't you be screaming my name?" Came a voice from behind me.

I whirled around to face her and barred my teeth. She stepped closer to me. No, not stepped, glided as if she could float on air. Impossible, I thought. I looked down to see if she had feet or if she were a ghost. She was solid.

She reached out her hands up toward my face and I staggered away from her. She was faster than she looked and I realized I could not move. She grabbed me and we fought. She seemed much faster and stronger now than I remember.

"Why are you doing this?" I hissed at her. The shadows played on her face and made her look evil. Her dark eyes were deep enough to drown in. I glanced away. She grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her.

"Where have you taken her?" I said through clenched teeth. She smiled evilly. That did it. Adrenaline surged through me and fueled my anger. I snatched her hand and jerked it away from me. She slapped me so hard, I spun half-way around. I spit out blood and that gave me an idea. I turned to face her again and smiled at her. She seemed perplexed by my sudden mood swing.

I grabbed her and pulled her to me. I kissed her hard. She hesitated, then wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back. I gathered her whole mouth into mine and bit down. I tore her mouth away and spit. I licked my lips and her blood was bitter. I spit that out as well.

She screamed and I slapped her. I had never harmed a woman in my life. I have harmed this one twice. She had tears streaming down her face. I held no compassion for her. My body wanted her blood now that it had a taste.

She was busy shaking and cradling the place where her lips had been and screaming. I took my chance and pulled her by the top of her hair and forced her neck back to expose it. I caressed it with the tips of my fingers. She sobbed. The taste of her blood made me hard with desire but I would not give her the pleasure.

I lowered my mouth to her and pierced it with my canines. She gave a startled cry as I drew her blood into my mouth.



Chapter 12



I let go of her when I felt her life force almost fade away to nothingness. I let her fall to the ground at my feet. She was breathing shallow breaths, but she did not move otherwise. I stood over her and said in a voice so low and full of venom, I hardly recognized it was me.

"Now, tell me where she is and I will let you live."

She lay there, gasping, curled in a fetal position. She was cradling what were once her lips in her hands. I knelt down beside her and tucked a strand of curly hair behind her ear. She flinched when I touched her.

"Where is she? Tell me now," I whispered harshly.

She looked at me then. Her eyes became defiant and she said, "I made you. I'll make sure you never see her again because of what you did to me."

Her words were almost incomprehensible, but I could make them out. Anger turning into fury, I picked her up by her throat with one hand and stood up. I held her, dangling in front of me. She choked and gasped, trying to breathe. She slapped at my arms, but I held on. Her nails gouged my forearms and I hissed with the pain but still did not let go.

"Where is she?" I yelled at her.

"Kill me and you will never see her again," she managed to choke out from the blood and lack of lips. I growled and threw her to the ground like a rag doll. I stalked toward her, wanting to finish her off, when I heard a blood-curdling scream pierce the night. It was inside my head and it brought my attention to my main purpose. I turned to the direction they took Sarah. They are killing her, I thought. My heart fell to my feet and I started running.

I crashed into the woods, tree branches whipping at my face, cobwebs getting tangled in my hair. I yelled for Sarah. No answer. My dear Sarah, alone in the woods. Kidnapped by monsters and I was one of them.

I stopped and used my senses instead to try and find her. I caught a faint smell off to my left. Sights, sounds and smells were magnified by the turn and I took advantage of it. I was slightly surprised that I could see almost as clear as day. I had an agility that I had not known I possessed until now. I was also stronger, and that made all the difference when I came up against my enemy.

I moved through the woods, more resolute to find Sarah. Every sound that was not my own, I targeted. Then I heard a faint whimpering just ahead of me. I walked as stealthily as I could toward the edge of a clearing. I did not think I was stealthy enough, for I could hear everything. I saw Sarah lying on a stone table, her wrists and ankles shackled to it. Another table was off to my right and there was what looked like an altar in between them. The empty table held what I thought to be torture devices. Some of them were covered in blood. I shuddered.

Sarah was gagged and blindfolded when I reached her. I touched her and she managed a loud scream through the gag. I put my hand over her mouth and shushed her, telling her it is okay, it was only me. She stopped when she recognized my voice. I took out the gag and tore off the blindfold.

"Nikolai," she whispered and I put a finger to her lips to keep her quiet. I went to her shackled wrists and tried to find a way to get them off. I needed a key that I did not have. I went over to the other table and found what looked like to be a twisted invention of pliers and went to the shackles. I gripped one and squeezed the metal with the pliers. I let out a battle cry and it broke in pieces. I was taken aback by how much stronger I had gotten. I did the others the same way and helped her in a sitting position.

"Are you alright?" I asked her. I was scared that she had endured the worst and I looked her over for any cuts or patches of blood. I saw one patch near her neck. I gently grabbed her chin and forced her head sideways. And there, near her vein, were two small puncture wounds. I stared at it, dumbfounded that they had done such a horrible thing to her when all they wanted was me. I realized that she was crying. I embraced her and did not let go. I wanted all the pain she had endured for me, gone from her memory, out of her system, into me. I should have never allowed her to come with me. I vowed never to let her get hurt again.

"Come, let us leave," I whispered and asked if she could walk. She stood and she stumbled. I immediately caught her before she fell. I picked her up and carried her to the car. We were almost there when I felt something hit the back of my head. I dropped to the ground and landed on Sarah. She scrambled out from under me and I yelled, "Run!"

"Not without you," she said and tried to drag me across the ground to her car. Her attempt was feeble and I wrenched away from her. I was able to rise to my knees and grabbed her by the shoulders and I whispered, "I love you Sarah." I felt something hard hit the back of my head again and I heard a metallic clang before my world went black.



Chapter 13



I awoke in a dark place. I tried to move, but my arms were chained above me. I could not see, no light to reflect. I heard a rustling next to me and flinched away from it.

"Sarah!" I yelled out for her. My voice was coarse and my head hurt. The floor was icy cold below my knees and I heard a scurrying in front of me. I realized that I must be in a basement. I sensed someone with me and called out.

"Sarah?" I called.

Suddenly, I felt fingers roam over my chest. I then heard cloth ripping apart and my shirt fell away from me. I felt nails scratch down my torso, hard enough to draw blood. I hissed at the pain. The nails stopped at my waist and I felt a tug on my jeans. I squirmed away and the hands tightened around me.

"Why do you deny me?" A low seductive voice asked. I snarled, instantly recognizing the woman in front of me.

"Because you are a monster and I refuse to have relations with you," I spat out. I felt a sharp point at my stomach and I tensed in surprise.

"I can tear you apart, piece by piece. Just like you did me," she said. She stuck in the knife and I cried out in pain.

"All I did was rip off your mouth to make you stop talking," I said snidely.

With a sudden fierceness, she shoved the sharp blade deep into my stomach. I screamed and she thrust it in further. I could feel stomach acid spill over my intestines and out of the gaping hole as well as blood. I coughed and clenched my hands into fists I yanked at the shackles holding me, but it was no use. They were stronger at the moment.

The woman pulled the blade out slowly, just to intensify the excruciating pain. I screamed again. She then began to pull at my zipper.

"No!" I yelled and tried to squirm away. I was not going to let her do this to me. I felt the blade ram inside me again as she clutched my throat. I could not scream this time and I thought she would crush my larynx from her strength.

She took the knife out again but kept her hand on my throat. She used her free hand to open my jeans. I struggled, wanting her to stop. Using all the strength I had to force her away from me. I tried to stand, but the loss of blood was taking its toll. It was no use. Her hands tightened on my throat and she pushed the jeans down to my thighs. I pulled on my chains, desperate to make her stop. I pulled until my biceps could no longer provide any more power and they ached with the effort. I then yelled from the effort, but the chains held.

The cold wrapped around me like an obsessive lover. My nipples were hard and I was erect from the cold, not from anything else.

"What do you want from me?" I managed to choke out.

"I want your body, Nikolai. Can't you tell?" She said. Her fingers lightly touched me and I shuddered involuntarily.

"And I can tell you want mine as well," she commented. I was going to comment, but did not want more pain. She started stroking me with her free hand, her other hand still on my throat.

I gritted my teeth against and yelled, "Get off of me!"

She pulled upward and I gasped. Her hand tightened on my throat and my teeth hurt from clenching them so hard.

"Let go of me!" I screamed.

"That's not going to work, Nikolai. You need to say the magic word," she whispered in my ear. If that was what she wanted, then be it. She squeezed harder on me and I grunted against it. She continued with slow, even strokes. If she wanted me off, she was doing a hell of a job.

She pulled me closer to her and kissed me. Her kiss was hard to come by; I felt a mass of muscle and bone. I willed myself not to heave, but it was gross, even by a guy's standards. I wanted Sarah. An image came to me then, of Sarah getting treated the same way I was being treated right now. That will never happen.

"You like that huh?" She asked breathlessly. Her hand ran up and down my length harder and a moan escaped me. I closed my eyes as she continued. My body was tingling with pleasure. I started moving with her, against my will. I could not help it, it felt so good. I had never had this done to me before and the experience was beyond describing. It was slow going. I wanted her to go faster.

"Fuck me harder, bitch," I whispered ruthlessly. She stopped what she was doing and slapped me. It stung and I clenched my teeth against it. She let go and moved away from me.

"Is that it? If you want me so bad, you cannot start something and not finish it," I told her. I had no idea where she was, but I could speak now that she no longer held my throat.

"I want to know something," she said. I heard her shuffle her feet closer to me.

"Do you want her to die?" she asked me.

"I want you to finish what you started. You want me that bad, then do it," I growled.

She grabbed my head and pulled it back and to the side. Then I felt her pierce the vein in my neck and she began sucking blood. Not again, I thought.

After she was done, she moved away from me and said, "I bet she never did this to you. Did you like it?"

"You will die," I heartlessly replied. She hit me with something hard on the left side of my face. How can she see? I did not know, but it hurt and it was hard enough to leave me semiconscious. I vowed to do the same to her when I got the chance.



Chapter 14



I was losing a tremendous amount of blood because of my stomach wound. I had no donors or any way to heal myself. I weaved in and out of consciousness, my body weak, my arms an insufferable weight that seemed to pull my shoulders out of their sockets. My knees ached from the cold hard floor. My pants were still at my mid-thighs and I could care less about that at the moment. My mind kept playing tricks on me. I would hear screams in my head that sounded like Sarah, which would jerk me awake and I would yell for her. There would be no answer and the screams would stop, suggesting that it was truly only in my mind.

I must have lost consciousness again, for when I came to, I noticed something different. I still could not see and I was having trouble staying awake. My body no longer felt pain or cold and that was a bad sign. Dawn should be approaching and the vampires will sleep. Maybe it was already here. That could be why I have not been bothered. The dark woman left me alone to die, why I did not know. I never did anything to her.

I thought of Sarah and where she was as of this moment. I called out to her, but my voice was weak and I barely heard it myself. We were both going to die; Sarah may already have and is now waiting for me on the other side. I prayed for Death to come for me if Sarah were dead. No reason for me to live.

No, this is not how I wanted to end my life. I wanted to have a chance to love Sarah fully. But my mind wanted to sleep. It kept trying to pull me down into a spiraling void of blackness, blacker than what I saw when my eyes were open. Sometimes I could not even tell if I was awake or asleep with the darkness so complete.

I threw my head back and screamed Sarah's name for the last time. That effort caused me to writhe in pain. I was still alive after all. I yelled for her again. This time the pain was more relentless and I used it stay alive. But what was the point if Sarah was dead already? I shook my head to banish the thought. No, she could not die. I would not let them kill her.

The pain was so intense now that I felt I could not go on. I could feel the wound festering, becoming stiff with the blood crusting over. The internal bleeding was going to be the death of me yet. If no one else came down to torture me more.

I could not stay awake much longer, my body aching for sleep.

Then I died.



I should have stayed that way. But I saw a light from behind my eyelids. It was extremely bright and it blinded me. When I was able to tolerate it, I opened my eyes and I saw a bare bulb hanging by a staircase. I realized then that I was in an unfinished basement. I saw a person standing next to the light and I tried to sound menacing. But all that came out was a hoarse grunt. It was too much. I could not take it anymore. I was willing to die, but she would not let me. A day must have gone by if she was here. Mom would be worried about me.

The dark woman made her way towards me, close enough that I could smell her raw desire. I spit at her feet. She kneeled down next to me and grabbed my chin. Then she kissed me fervently. I did not return it; rather, I was too weak to do anything but accept the kiss and think that she was Sarah. It got to the point where I actually thought it was Sarah and I kissed her back, tears escaping me, running down my cheeks. My heart ached in joy at finally knowing Sarah was alive, right here, kissing me. I longed to hold her, embrace her. To feel her body against mine, but something was keeping my arms back. I strained against it, but whatever it was, was too strong for me. More tears slid down because I was not able to hold Sarah. God, she tasted so good. Slightly bitter, though. I wonder why...

I jolted back into reality, realizing that I was not kissing Sarah, but the other woman. I pulled away and for the first time, I saw fear in her eyes. I hesitated. Why was there fear? What did she fear? If I was able to find out, I could keep her out of my life for good. But she brought me into this world of hers. I need answers and I need them before I die. That inspired confidence inside me and I felt a little stronger now.

She stood and backed away a little. I saw her pull back her right leg. I knew what was coming, but why she was going to do it, I have no idea. Then she kicked me. The force knocked my head to the side so hard, I hit it on the wall behind me. My vision swam in swirling colors and my head rolled forward again. I waited for the dizziness and pain to pass before moving. I grunted against the pain, but it was dull. I was dying and I needed a hospital fast. But if Sarah were dead, then there was no point. I had to think that she was alive. I saw blood spill in front of me and I looked up at the dark woman. She had her wrist slit open, holding it close enough to where all I had to do was reach a little bit and suck. My body convulsed for wanting the blood and I cried out in agony from the sudden movement.

"Give me what I want, and I will let you live," she said.

"If you must kill me, then do it. I will not fight. I have lost the will to," I said. She knelt down beside me and cupped my face.

"I want more than your body. I want your heart."

"It is yours for the taking. Let us go. I only wish to know one thing," I whispered. She put her arms on my shoulders and that stretched my own to the point of breaking and I cried out from the excruciating pain. I looked at her and asked, "Why are you so evil? I have done nothing but exist in the wrong place at the wrong time. What is it that you want from us?"

She looked at me, considering. I saw something flash in her eyes, but then it was gone. She lowered her wrist to me and said, "Take it before I change my mind."

I did. I sucked hard, drawing as much blood from her as I could. She tasted bitter, but that did not matter. I needed it for survival. I only wished it was Sarah who I was drawing the blood from. Maybe hers would taste sweeter. I had yet to find out.

She wrenched her arm away from me, leaving me gasping for breath and not at all satisfied. She stood up, grasped my left wrist and opened the shackle. My arm fell to the floor, lifeless. She did the same to the other one and I fell to the floor in a fetal position, trying to heal myself. I closed my eyes and awaited Death to come. I then felt cold bags being thrown against me. I opened my eyes and one fell on my face. It was then that I noticed what they contained. I grabbed one and it burst open. I drank as much as there was in the bag and threw it away. I shakily reached for another one and opened that as well. I became ravenous for another while the dark woman watched me.

"Why have you let me go all of a sudden?" I asked in between gulps.

"Because I don't want you to die, not yet. I turned you for a reason Nikolai," she stated. She kneeled down next to me and I saw that her features were of compassion. It took me by surprise. Compassion for me? I could not speak or look away from her as she kissed me again. Her saliva mixed with the blood in my mouth. I swallowed, but did not return the kiss, nor did I pull away from it. I knew what she wanted. She turned me into this monster so she and I could be together. She was lonely. I was not the one to comfort her. The only attraction I had for her was that she was still human, despite otherwise. She broke away.

"Where is Sarah?" My voice was raspy. I cleared my throat, but it was no use. The screaming from the pain and the icy coldness left my throat sore to the point of, where even a breath was painful.

"She is alive and well, my young vampire," she said. Her eyes glittered with excitement when she called me that. I scrunched my face in disgust.

"I need to see her," I demanded. I felt stronger now. I looked at the hole she made in my stomach. It was healing, but slowly. I had forgotten I was naked and my jeans were still at my thighs. I did not know if I had enough strength to pull them up. I lay back on the floor, exhausted, not caring about anything except Sarah.

"Bring Sarah down here," the woman called to the top of the stairs.

I heard two sets of footsteps. One was soft, the other was forceful. I looked up and saw Sarah emerge down the steps, accompanied by a huge muscular man that I had no doubt could break a five inch thick cement wall. I rose into a sitting position, pulling my pants up to my waist. But not before Sarah saw what they had done. My cheeks grew red in shame and I hung my head. I did not want her to see me like this, but I did not have much of a choice.

Sarah jumped the last of the steps and ran to me. She embraced me and I grunted in pain. She let go and looked at me. I assessed her damage and saw that she had little. But when I looked in her eyes, I saw different. I saw fear. They tortured her as much as they did me. Maybe even more, I thought disdainfully.

"My god, Sarah. I am so sorry," I whispered.

She hugged and kissed me. I returned it harder. I would not let go. There was a longing in her returned kiss that I matched in body, mind, and soul. I would never let her go. Never, I vowed. This was between me and this dark woman whom I did not know the name of. The realization caught me off guard and I wondered why I had not asked.

Sarah pulled back and smiled. I managed a weak one closed my eyes. She was safe with me now. Now I could finally rest. I lay back down on the floor and inhaled deeply, then let go.





Chapter 15



I awoke in a hospital, confused as to why I was here. Then I remembered; the agony, the knife wound in my stomach, the certain death that I had miraculously escaped. Or am I dead and just in the other realm, getting healed? I moved my hand and touched my stomach. There was a bandage over it. I sighed. I was going to live.

I noticed that I was hooked up to an IV. I looked around, but no one was here. No Sarah, no Mom. I fumbled on the side of the bed for a switch to alarm a nurse and found it. I repeatedly pressed it until a nurse finally showed. She came up to me and said, "Well, you're awake. You took quite a beating. I was surprised when your girlfriend came in that you were still alive."

I stared at her.

"Where is she?" I managed to choke out. The nurse drew back the sheets a little and inspected my wound. She nodded as if satisfied, then took my blood pressure.

"After I make sure you're doing okay, both your mother and girlfriend can come in," she replied. I sighed and settled back, relaxing on the bed. I felt a sharp pain on my arm and winced as I looked to see the nurse drawing blood.

"Can you tell me what happened to you?" she asked. I looked at her and shook my head no. She nodded in respect and took the blood sample. Then she left and shortly after, Sarah and Mom came in.

Mom got to me first and squeezed so hard, I was choking. She was sobbing and yelling at me for scaring her. I shed a few tears myself. After Mom finally let me go, Sarah came over and placed my hand in hers. Her hands felt so warm against my cold, lifeless ones. I looked to Mom and said, "I want to go home. How soon until they release me?"

"They want to keep you overnight, just to be sure you don't go into shock and all that," Mom said. I did not want to be here and I grabbed at the tubes in my arms. I took them out and Mom asked me what I was doing.

"I am going home," I told her. She came over to try and stop me from taking the rest out but I slapped her hand away. I sat up straighter, aware of my stomach wound and swung my legs off the bed, onto the floor. I stretched as much as I could and grabbed my things to leave. Sarah had not said a word since she came in. I looked at her. Her expression was apprehensive.

"Let us go home, Sarah," I said and put on my shoes. Mom caught me from walking out and I saw fear in her eyes. I held her back.

"I am okay. Trust me. Let us go home and we will talk about it then," I told her and walked past her.

I walked out the door, turned to find which way to go and turned left. I heard soft footsteps behind me and I turned to find Sarah. I smiled. I walked slowly, not sure if my legs could hold me up. But they did. I felt Sarah grab my hand and we walked out of the hospital.

Mom was with us and she said that she would follow us home. I nodded and got in Sarah's car. Mom wanted me in her car but I told her I had to talk to Sarah first.

We were silent as Sarah drove to my house. I was too frazzled to talk. Yes, I had lied to my mom, but it was important that I stayed with Sarah right now.

When we got home, I saw Mom pull in after us and she quickly got out. Sarah and I walked up the path to the front door and Mom rushed past us with the key. She opened the door and it was dark inside. Darker than outside. But I could see. Everything was clearer, sharper.

I wanted to go to bed more than anything and I wanted Sarah with me. I voiced my thoughts.

"First, you need to shower," Sarah recommended. I sighed and nodded. I headed up the stairs, wincing in pain because my knees were bruised. When we got there, we debated who would be the first to shower. I recommended she go first. I wanted to go in with her, but respect for her held me in place. I wanted her so badly now, I could sense her wet skin and hair. Actually feel it. I grew hard and swallowed. Then I managed to get enough courage and walk in. The shower doors were closed, steamed from the hot water but I could see her blurry form through them. I stripped off my clothes and tossed them on the floor. I slid open the door closest to me and there she was. She was washing her hair, eyes closed and I marveled at the beauty of her. She looked amazing underneath the spray. She opened her eyes and when she saw me, she gasped in surprise and tried to cover herself. Too late, I chuckled and stepped in.

"What are you doing, Nik?" She asked as I slid the door shut and moved toward her. I moved in close and put my hands on her shoulders. She looked at me, uncertain and afraid.

"Do not be afraid. I will never hurt you. If you want me out, the say it and I will leave. Never to bother you," I said softly. "But I do not think I can stay in my room and suffer not knowing what your body feels like against mine," I added. I started to slide my hands down to her breasts but she backed away.

"I, I don't know if I can do this Nik. We're barely going out—"

"You do not have to be scared. I understand. But this is new to me, Sarah. But I feel I can no longer deny these feelings toward you," I said, cutting her off. She just looked at me, astonishment plain on her face as well as fear. After all that the dark woman did to me, I wanted Sarah even more. I brushed her wet hair away from her face and cupped her face in my hands. I felt her fear. But I was shocked to find that it was not a fear of me, but of her.

"Sarah, may I ask you a question?" She gazed in my eyes. Her deep green eyes, looking like a vast meadow in the summer.

"Are you--?" I stopped, failing to ask the important question.

"Yes, I am," she said. I bent down to kiss her. It was gentle at first, and then grew to passion. I moved closer to her, my body pressing against her. I slid my length against her and she let out a surprised gasp. I smiled. Her hands were wrapped around my neck. I could feel as if everything was intensified. I looked down at her and bent at the waist. I lowered my mouth to one of her breasts and sucked the nipple while my right hand caressed the other. She moaned and grabbed a fistful of my hair. She tasted so good. I let go and straightened.

"Don't stop," she whispered. I laughed and kissed her. I pulled away and looked in her doe eyes.

"I do not want to hurt you Sarah," I whispered. "I am a virgin as well and I do not want to regret this," I added, caressing her cheeks.

"We've been friends for a long time. I don't see what the problem is. I'm okay with it if you are," Sarah replied and smiled. I smiled back at her and hers faded.

"What is wrong?" I asked, concerned by her sudden seriousness.

"You have fangs," she whispered and drew back a little. I checked my canines and sure enough, they seemed longer than usual. I grabbed gently her and pulled her back to me.

"Please, do not be afraid of me, Sarah. I will not bite you unless you allow it," I said, urging her to stay calm.

She nodded and replied, "Okay," she replied so softly, I was not sure I heard. She rose up to kiss me. It was unexpected and a low sound of pleasure escaped from my throat. I broke away and bent down to kiss her neck. That was when I remembered the wound. It stopped me and I straightened. There was worry etched on her face and I smoothed it away with my hand.

"Relax," I whispered against her ear. I knew she wanted this as much as I. "I will be gentle, I promise. If you do not feel comfortable, tell me and I will stop. Okay?" I comforted. It was all her. She had full control. She could stop this if she wanted to. I would not hold it against her. But I felt her desire as plainly as I did mine. We kissed, the intensity of it was making me almost lose control. She was panting in shallow breaths. I wanted to be one with her; feel what she feels. Have her feel and taste see me as well.

I touched her soft silkiness with my hard length and she gasped. I ached for release, but I did not enter her, not yet. I moved away from her neck and flicked my tongue at her ear. My hands squeezed her breasts and she let out a sharp sound of pleasure. I stroked against her slowly.

She jumped up and wrapped her legs around my waist. I was suddenly inside her and I gasped in surprise. The feel of being inside her almost caused me explode right there. But I did not. She felt so good. I cannot describe how much pleasure tingled through me when she did that. We stared at each other. I saw pain flash across her face.

"What is wrong?"

"It hurts just a little," she replied in a strained voice. I started to pull out and lift her off of me when her legs tightened around me.

"I want this," she said. I smiled.

"Just be gentle and go slow," she added. I nodded and she adjusted herself. That brought a wave of pleasure in my groin and I moaned against my will. I realized that my hands were on her waist and I moved them up to her breasts

"You feel so good," I whispered. It was mostly too myself, but I heard her chuckle and moved closer me, which made me slide in further until I was drenched all the way in her wetness.

I concentrated on her body, inside and out. Part of her back was up against the tile wall of the shower and I rubbed my hands all over her.

I thrust gently. She cried out in pain and pleasure, but she did not let go. She moved against me as I thrust and I kissed her hard. She returned it and grabbed my buttocks and moaned. Her nails scratched all the way up my back, causing me to writhe inside her. Her skin was so soft and wet. I thrust more intensely this time, both of us panting from the exertion. I thrust harder and she cried out in pain.

I stopped thrusting so hard and looked at her.

"I am sorry," I said. I could not seem to get enough of her. I was trying to control myself, but I wanted her now more than ever. My earlier question had been answered; she was sweet at her center.



Chapter 16



After the shower, we went into my bedroom. I looked for some clothes to wear to bed. I grabbed some that I thought would fit Sarah and tossed them to her. She was small, but stocky in muscle. I smiled at what we had done. Was it too soon? If it was we could not go back, it was too late. My smile faded as fast as it came. I thought of her again in the shower. She had cried because of the pain. I caressed her face and told her that I loved her. When she said it back, my heart clenched with excitement and joy.

Suddenly, I did not want her involved in this anymore than what she has been. But it was a little too late for that, she had been bitten, and not by me. I wondered why she had not been sick from it like I had.

Sarah hurried under the covers of my bed and shivered. I smiled and went to her. I pulled the covers over both of us and held her in my arms, keeping her warm. She kissed me, slow and sensual and I felt myself getting hard again. She smiled through the kiss and broke away.

"Are you okay? Does it still hurt?" I asked her.

"A little. It's a throbbing pain, like skin was stretched and torn," she said. I grimaced and replied, "Ouch."

"Yeah, but it's okay. It's not that serious," she added. She rolled over until she was on top.

"You comfy?" She asked. I nodded and replied, "I want to stay like this forever," I answered. She laid her head on my chest and sighed. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight against me.

"Have you ever been loved like this before?" I asked. I mean, without having sex. Have you ever been loved like this?" I clarified.

"Only once, but he practically threw it all away at the first sign of me being clingy," she explained.

"I am sorry. But there was a reason for it. You would not have the pleasure of meeting me," I said. I rubbed her back and she lay her head back down. Her breathing became steady as I continued to rub back and forth. I raised my head and said her name. She did not answer. She looked so innocent, lips parted slightly, hand curled next to her face. I brushed a lock of hair from her face and watched her sleep. I wanted to be inside her again. I grew hard at the thought of it and sighed, exasperated that I was only thinking about one thing. I grew frustrated with myself and shifted, trying not to wake her while I got comfortable. A small sound escaped her, like she protested against the movement. I stretched my legs as much as I could and settled back. I watched her. He wet hair spilled softly across my chest. I had never felt like this with any other woman but her. Even the Dark Woman was no comparison.

At the thought of her, my mind erupted with images of the Dark Woman and what she had done to me, to us. Anger slowly uncoiled from somewhere deep inside and I fueled it. The deep-seated hate was all for the Dark Woman and I could not wait until I gave her what she deserved. How dare she do this to me. I did not know her.

Finally, exhausted from the events, I fitfully slept.



Chapter 17



It was dark. I could not even see my hand in front of my face. I heard a skittering around me and tried to move away. Things were brushing against my bare legs. I stumbled until my back touched a wall. I was trapped. I was afraid and called out to Sarah. I felt soft hands glide up my bare chest. I smiled, realizing that I was not alone. They wrapped around my neck and I was expecting a kiss from Sarah, when I suddenly saw who it was. I opened my mouth to scream, but she clutched my throat, choking me. I grabbed her wrists and tried to get her off of me, but she squeezed harder. I clawed and hissed at her, but she would not let go. She held my throat with one hand and with the other one, pulled on my length so hard, I screamed in pain. But the scream came out as a whimper as her hands tightened around my throat. I grabbed her hands and tried to force her off of me, but she was stronger. I thrashed, trying to escape but I was hers.

"Nik, wake up," I heard her say. Only it was not her voice. It was someone else's that seemed familiar.

The Dark Woman let go of me and held my face in her hands.

"What do you want from me?" I yelled at her when I was able to breathe.

"I want you to wake up," she said. She leaned in and kissed me. I wrenched away and threw her off of me.

That caused me to sit up in bed and I looked around for the Dark Woman. She was not here. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief and looked for Sarah. She was not on the bed. Confused, I tried to sense where she was. Then I heard a soft sniffle and looked down on the floor.

"Oh my god, Sarah," I said and knelt beside her. I went to touch her and she flinched away from me.

"Sarah? Are you okay?" I asked.

"Get away from me," she yelled and scurried. I grabbed her and forced her to look at me. She had deep gouges on the right side of her face. I looked at my hand and saw blood underneath my nails. I sat there, shocked at what I had done.

"Sarah I am so sorry. I had a nightmare and that woman was torturing me. I am so sorry..." my words trailed off. I was shaking and afraid to touch her again for fear of her claiming rape or abuse. Or both. I hung my head down. When I looked up again, tears streaked her face. I felt like crying myself.

"I am sorry," I repeated. She nodded and replied, "Yeah, I know. You were dreaming."

"But it seemed so real, Sarah. It was like she was really here, doing those things. I woke up, expecting her to be here," I whispered.

"It's okay," Sarah said. She just sat there, not moving or saying anything else.

I nodded and stood to go to the bathroom. I grabbed some rubbing alcohol and bandages and went back to Sarah. She was sitting on the side of the bed. I sat beside her and cleaned her wounds.

"What did she do?" She asked me.

"Torture me," I told her. She did not need to know the details of it. I dressed the wounds and put up the rest of the supplies.

"She knows what I fear now. And she will use it," I told Sarah. "But we need her for she knows how to turn me back," I added. I walked to my closet and started putting on some clothes. Enough was enough and I had had more than I could stand.

"Are you going to find her now?" Sarah asked. I turned and looked at her. The bandage on her face was a sore reminder of how much control the Dark Woman had over me. I nodded and turned back around.

"Then I'm going with you and I don't want to hear you say no either," She stated as a matter of fact. I turned back to face her.

"I wish you would let me handle this myself, Sarah. Do you not trust me?"

"Listen Nikolai, she's trying to seduce you. And you're falling for it. If I'm there with you, I can help you," she said.

"So you do not trust me. You do not have enough faith in me to trust that I will not betray you? How did this become about you now?" I asked, anger boiling inside and threatening to spill over.

"It's not about me. But whether you like it or not, I'm involved. I said I'm going with you. That's that," she stated as she got up.

That did it. Before I knew it, I was in her face.

"Dammit woman! Can you not see that I fear for your life? I am trying to protect you and my mother from getting involved in this. It is not too late for you. But this is my war, not yours. You are the bait. Like hell I am taking you with me!" I yelled.

She slapped me, hard. I was more stunned by the action than by the pain it caused. I glared at her. My own hands ached to hit her as well, but I did not. Instead, I clenched them tight until my fingernails drew blood from my palms. I exhaled long and slow to calm myself down. I then hung my head down. She was not backing away. I sighed and turned back to my closet. I leaned my arms along the doorway of the closet.

"Please Sarah. Do this for me. I love you too much to see you in danger. She is too powerful for you and you are not a vampire—"

"Not yet, but I have been bitten. Do not tell me that something is too dangerous or too powerful for me. I probably know more about being a vampire than you do," she said, cutting me off. I sighed long and hard. She had a point. And because of that, she had won.

We dressed in silence, I contemplating about what was going to happen, wondering if Sarah was correct in her argument. She did have an odd way of thinking, and the things she wore further understated my knowledge of what she was really into.

I finished before Sarah and stood by my bedroom door, waiting for her. She was clad in my old jeans that I had since I was twelve and no longer fit into. She fit nicely into them. I did not have small shirts for her but the one she was wearing, a deep green, was a large. It was a little big for her, but she would manage. Her shoulder length hair was wrapped in a ponytail. She was ready to go.



Chapter 18



"Where would she be?" Sarah asked as we got into her car. It was after eight, time for the monsters to come out and play. I was ready for them.

"I do not know, but the place where we were seems to be the source so let us start there," I answered. She nodded and we drove off.

"Do you really want to go there again?" She asked as we drove.

"No, I do not. But I do not have a choice in the matter. She did not give me one," I replied and looked out the window.

When we got there, she stopped the car and turned off the ignition. A feeling of déjà vu washed over me. I stared out of the window, searching for them. It was eerily quiet. Too quiet. Something was going on. Nothing moved outside, no wind in the trees, nothing. The stars winked at me like they knew something I did not. I had a bad feeling.

"I don't like this," Sarah whispered, voicing my thoughts. I felt her hand on my thigh.

"Please, Sarah. I need to concentrate and you are a distraction," I said to her. I did not try to make it come out rude, but I failed. She took back her hand and sighed. I rested my head on the back of the seat and replied, "I did not mean to hurt your feelings, but I must be on my guard. No one can die tonight except her."

"I understand," she said. "I'm scared, Nik," she added.

"So am I," I replied and opened the door. Sarah got out from her side and shut the door. I walked around to her and wrapped my arms around her, protecting her. I thought I heard something and I tensed.

"I heard it too," Sarah whispered softly. We stayed there as still as a statue.

"Come to me, Nikolai," A voice called from inside my head. I froze. I dropped my arms to my sides and walked in the direction the voice was coming from.

"Nik!" Cried Sarah, but I ignored her. The Dark Woman had me in her grip. I could do nothing but obey. Believe me, I tried to resist, but every fiber of my being protested when I struggled against her. I barely heard someone shriek my name before I walked through the door of the house.

It was pitch black inside the house and I stood guard. I cast my senses out, but could not hear anything.

All of a sudden, I felt hands grab me and I jumped back, startled. Stronger hands grabbed my arms and held me. But with effort. I smiled. I had gotten stronger since I turned.

Something hit me in the back of my head and I went down on my knees with a painful grunt. I heard a scream out in the distance and I forcefully tried to wrench away from my captors, but they held on.

Feminine hands gripped my chin. I then felt pain in my solar plexus as something sharp slid in.

"You made this too easy, Nikolai," the Dark Woman said in a sultry voice. I heard another scream from Sarah. I struggled against my captors. One hit me upside my head again. Dizziness washed over me and I shut my eyes tight against it. I willed it away and when I opened my eyes, I could see dimly.

"What is it that you want from us?" I growled at the Dark Woman. I could see her now, just barely.

"I want immortality. And I have found a spell just for that. You and Sarah are perfect for me to become immortal," she added and laughed. It was the most evil laugh I had ever heard.

"You hurt Sarah I will kill you!" I screamed at her. She stopped and looked up at me. She back-handed me and split open my bottom lip. I licked it and tasted salt. She reached down and grabbed my groin. I grunted against it and tried to move away.

"You and I are perfect for each other, Nikolai. You just don't know it. The rage inside you is itching to get out."

"Yeah, to tear you apart with my bare ands," I spat out. The rage grew to the point of exploding. I could not handle it anymore. I screamed a battle cry and tore away from them with all my strength. I realized I was free and started running out the door toward Sarah. I yelled for her once I was outside. I saw her still near the car, fighting off the Dark Woman's servants.

"Nikolai!" she called back. One guy was behind her and getting ready to shoot her. The rest were on the ground, no doubt hurt from what Sarah did. I realized then that she really could handle herself.

I yelled to the guy behind her and he looked at me, just in time for me to hand him a right cross into his face. He went down, knocked out by the sheer strength I put into it.

I went to Sarah and she stood to my left, looking in the direction of the house. I told myself that it is not over, not yet.

"Come on, let us get you out of here," I said, grabbing her arm and pulling her with me.

"Hey, I can walk you know," she retorted. I did not lessen my fast pace or let her go.

When we got to the car, I stopped. Sarah bumped into me from behind and gasped in surprise. I could see the front door of the house. I waited. I did not move or say anything.

"Let's go be—"

"Quiet!" I whispered harshly to her. She fell silent once again and I strained to hear anything out of the ordinary.

Suddenly, the front door of the house opened and out stepped the Dark Woman. I tensed, ready for anything.

"Sarah, get in the car," I demanded.

"No," she replied with equal tone. I was not in the mood for her attitude. I whirled on her and yelled, "Get in the fucking car, now!" Sarah just stood there, looking hurt and angry at me. I did not care at the moment. Then she stepped closer to me and whispered, "Do me a favor, make it hurt."

I stared at her, surprised that she was letting me do this on my own. Then she kissed me. It was intense; to say the least and I did not want to let her go. I did not want to face the evil that was before me. The kiss grew more passionate, then I pulled away. I was aware of the Dark Woman and I did not want to be thinking about her while kissing Sarah. I also did not want to be unguarded. Sarah walked to the driver's side and slid in. She locked her doors and watched me. I turned back to the woman and stalked toward her. When I got close enough, I punched her. She went down and I stood over her. She cradled her jaw, looked at me and grinned. There was fire in her eyes as she stood. I thought I saw a flash of fear as well. Good.

I moved closer and she backed away.

"Turn me back," I growled.

"Give me what I want and I'll go away," she said like a child. I pushed her and she stumbled but did not fall.

"Turn me back and you will live," I growled at her more fiercely.

"If you kill me, you'll be a vampire for the rest of your life," she said defiantly. I pushed her again as I screamed, "Arrogant!"

She lashed out at me and her nails caught the left side of my face. I brought a hand up to it out of reflex. She pushed me back and I lost my footing and fell to the ground. I let out a grunt of pain and suddenly, she was on top of me, arms pinned above me.

" Does this feel familiar?" she breathed and kissed me hard.

I lifted my left leg and caught her on the right side of her neck and threw her off of me. She scrambled up, but I was faster. I grabbed her, pinned her to the ground and straddled her.

"Mmmm," she replied. I scowled and dug out my pocket knife. She could not see what I had and continued to smile at me. I smiled back..

"Is this what you want from me?" I asked her through clenched teeth. Her eyes were wide with fear as I pushed the knife into her throat. I pressed hard enough for her to cry out in pain. Tears welled from her eyes and spilled over, down her temples.

"Do you want me to penetrate you?"

"Go ahead, kill me. You'll never be cured anyway. It's not something you can get a vaccine for, Nikolai," she said, her defiance back in place. I back-handed her, which exposed her neck. A sudden compulsion caused me to lower my mouth to the vein. As I pierced it, she gasped and writhed under me. I held her down and sucked her blood. It flowed into me, like bittersweet liquid candy. Her blood mingling with mine, settling into my stomach and spreading outward slowly, like oil. I almost spit it out it was so bitter. But I wanted to drain her. I needed to feel satisfied and I have not had that chance yet. I wanted her gone forever from me.

She was limp as she whispered for me to let her go. I did not.

"I'll give you the cure if you let me go," she said softly. I almost did not hear her. I released her and looked in her eyes. They held fear. I kept the knife where it was and leaned down toward her.

'Tell me, or I will slit your throat open," threatened. I pressed harder and tilted her head back. Tears welled in her eyes and all I saw was fear in them.

Wait, what am I doing? This is not me. I am not some sick-minded sadist. The realization hit me and I took the knife away. Could it be true? I really am a monster just like her? I got up and started to walk away.

"You fool! You should kill me while you have the chance," She said, laughing from behind me.

"Stay where you are, leave us alone and I will not," I said voice low with venom. I meant every word. I heard her walk up to me. She said, "All I want is for you to be with me, so we can rule the city at least. Is that so wrong to have a consort for that?" She grabbed my arm and spun me around to face her. Her hands went around my neck and she kissed me. I returned it and that surprised her. I kissed her as if she were Sarah. I then thought about how we would make it, Sarah and me.

The Dark Woman broke away and whispered, "I want you." I smiled and backed away from her. I then slashed her throat with my knife. She gasped and choked, trying to stop the bleeding, but it flowed over her fingers, down her hands. She fell to the ground and I stood over her, watching.

"You will die for the pain you have caused me and others. I show no mercy." With that I turned and walked to Sarah in her car. I got in and looked at her. She glanced at me knowingly and we drove off.



Chapter 19



We drove home in silence, I contemplating the situation. I just killed someone. I am truly a monster. No one can help me now. I have to tell Sarah I can no longer see her anymore. She is in danger when she is around me. But I cannot do that to her. She has become the same thing as I. We need each other, I thought. When we got home, I trudged up the stairs, Sarah behind me. We were all tired. Sarah said she was going home to get clothes and come back. I recommended she stay here until daylight comes. I had forgotten that today was Sunday. We had work in the morning. Problems arose in my head about my being a vampire. Will it work between us? Will we find any donors? How dangerous is it being a vampire? I had not known the certain death from not having the ability to produce enough blood was the sole cause of it. And what was I going to do for a job now? I could not go out in sunlight without sun block or being fully clothed. It would look especially peculiar when summer came, wearing long sleeves and pants.

"Nik?"

I jerked out of my thoughts and Sarah stood next to me, looking worried. My gaze drifted down her body. I realized she was naked. I looked around and also noticed we were in my room. I gazed at her and I held her and whispered, "I am okay. You need to stay here with me. We will worry about tomorrow when it comes," I said. I was too tired to protest as she took off my clothes as well. I would have become putty in her hands, had I not been so tired. I suppressed a shudder. I too weak to stand. All I wanted to do was sleep, with Sarah in my arms, knowing that she was safe. I rubbed her back. She eased me down on the bed and I got comfortable. She was on top and laid her head on my chest. I breathed in her scent. It smelled of vanilla and melon. She smelled so good. I was forever grateful that she was here. I loved her as a friend and as a lover. She was loyal to me and I will never betray that trust. And now that she was as much a vampire as I, she was mine forever.

"Thank you for staying with me. You are such a wonderful friend," I breathed. She raised her head to look at me. We gazed at each other for awhile.

"And you are an awesome lover," I added with a smile and kissed her. We fell asleep.