Love Bites

I lean against the grimy wall outside The Night Owl, a clandestine underground club known only to a select few in New York City. Concealed within the folds of my leather jacket is a stake, a weapon that has served me well throughout my vampire-hunting career. The clock nears three in the morning, and the creature responsible for a trail of lifeless bodies remains unreachable. This vampire must be ancient, possessing an intellect that outmatches any foe I've encountered before.

Observing a group of individuals exiting the club, I note two young women, likely younger than myself, arm in arm with two elderly gentlemen. The girls, donning short dresses and high heels, emit an obnoxious laughter as they depart.

A sense of restlessness gnaws at me. It has been nearly a week since I last engaged in a thrilling pursuit, while the body count continues to rise unabated, each victim discovered only blocks away from The Night Owl. Most of them are young girls who ventured out alone after leaving the club.

The club's door creaks open once more, revealing a girl of my age, her golden locks cascading down her back, and her legs boasting a flawless tan. She stumbles unsteadily down the dimly lit alley, an easy target. I trail behind her cautiously, maintaining a safe distance, a master at concealing myself within the shadows. Despite my smallish size, I possess a natural talent for remaining hidden.

As I continue to tail the vulnerable young woman, my senses remain keenly attuned to the surroundings. A flicker of movement in the periphery captures my attention, drawing my gaze towards a towering figure. A tall man with long dark hair, he seeps an undeniable allure. But it is his eyes that give him away, bathed in a soft, ethereal gray hue that only confirms his true nature as the vampire I have tirelessly pursued.

Realizing that he intends to make his move on the drunk girl, I swiftly emerge from the concealment of the shadows, my grip tightening around the stake hid within my jacket. Determination fuels my every step as I approach him, ready to confront this ancient and cunning predator.

As I cautiously approach the vampire, my heart pounds in my chest, a mix of fear and determination coursing through me. There is an undeniable tension in the air as our eyes meet, both of us instinctively recognizing the lethal threat we pose to each other.

Without a word, we engage in a fierce battle, our movements swift and calculated. Each blow exchanged carries an unexpected force, as if there is an unseen connection guiding our actions. It confuses me and unsettles me, but I can't deny the strange chemistry that seems to exist between us. Every time my skin rubs against his, my body feels like it's on fire.

It becomes apparent early on in the fight that neither of us wants to kill the other one. What the fuck is happening? This has never happened to me before. Our eyes meet for a brief moment and I can feel the butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

"Why do I feel this way?" I mutter under my breath as we continue to fight.

The vampire's eyes narrow, a hint of intrigue shining through his cold gaze. "You feel it too, don't you?" he replies, his voice laced with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

There is a pause in our battle, a momentary lull where we both seem to question the nature of our connection.

In that moment, I realize I can't bring myself to take his life. The chemistry between us, this strange pull that defies reason, has clouded my judgment. Confusion washes over me, and without a second thought, I turn and flee, leaving behind a perplexed vampire.

"What just happened?" I whisper to myself as I run through the darkened streets, my mind racing with unanswered questions.

How could I feel anything other than hatred for a creature like him? What is this mysterious connection and why does it make it so difficult for me to fulfill my duty as a hunter? I am so confused right now.

As I swiftly navigate through the dimly lit labyrinth of New York's alleyways, a sudden force slams me into an unforgiving wall. My arms are trapped, rendering me unable to grasp my weapon. It's the same vampire I encountered at the club, his penetrating gaze fixated on me with a mix of intrigue and curiosity.

"What are you?" he inquires, his chilling breath grazing my neck. Shit. Panic courses through me as I realize my impending death.

"I am a hunter," I respond, opting for the truth rather than falsely claiming humanity. While I may possess striking similarities to humans, my enhanced speed, strength, and night vision set me apart.

"Impossible," he murmurs into my ear, his grip on my arms unyielding.

"We hunters aren't as rare as you think," I assert, endeavoring to maintain composure despite the precarious situation.

"That's not what I meant," he replies, slightly loosening his hold to allow me a closer look at his striking features. With a strong jawline, straight nose, and captivating gray eyes brimming with curiosity, he exudes an undeniable handsomeness. His flowing black hair cascades down his back, adding to his enigmatic allure.

I catch myself momentarily fixating on his lips, berating my own foolishness. Why on earth would I entertain thoughts of kissing a vampire? An evil undead creature of the night? If my fellow hunters ever found out, they would surely disown me.

"I don't understand why, but I can't bring myself to kill you. So either end me or release me," I confess, desperately attempting to steady my breathing and exude a sense of calm.

He scrutinizes me for a few more lingering moments before finally relinquishing his grip on my arms. A faint pang of sadness washes over me as I lose the sensation of his touch.

"My apologies. You may call me Lucius," he nods slightly, his lips pressing against my hand, sending shivers down my spine. I instinctively withdraw from his touch.

"While I may spare your life, I have no desire to befriend you. Your trail of bodies across the city must come to an end. Now," I assert, keeping a firm grip on my stake, now liberated from his grasp.

"Shall I let myself starve?" He inquires, his voice laced with desperation.

"Not my concern," I retort, taken aback when he unexpectedly grins at me, revealing a set of pristine white teeth alongside two menacing fangs.

"People are perishing," I press on, bewildered as to why I find myself engaged in a heated discussion with a vampire. Apart from exchanging insults during battles, I had never actually conversed with one before.

"People always perish," he counters, his tone matter-of-fact. "But I am neither foolish nor reckless. It is another vampire who is responsible, aiming to annihilate the city so that vampires can seize control."

"What?" I ask, shocked to the core. Why is he revealing this information to me?

"I am here to track him down and put an end to his nefarious plans," he replies calmly.

"But why would you do that? Wouldn't a city teeming with vampires be preferable for a vampire like yourself?"

"I am a member of a resistance group known as Lumanari. We advocate for a natural equilibrium between humans and vampires, concealing our existence and only killing for sustenance. The Stygians, on the other hand, are the vampires you should be concerned about. They revel in killing for pleasure and are hell-bent on eradicating humanity for good."

I always believed vampires are vampires. Is he trying to tell me that there are good vampires and bad vampires?

"What I don't comprehend," he continues, his voice tinged with curiosity, "is this inexplicable connection between us."

"What connection?" I feign ignorance, although his piercing gaze tells me he sees through my act.

He reaches out, his hand gently grazing mine. Instinctively, I try to retreat, but he intertwines his fingers with mine and draws my body closer to his.

"You feel it too, don't you? In all my four centuries of existence, I have never encountered this sensation with anyone else. And yet, I don't even know your name," he whispers into my ear, causing electric currents to surge through my veins. Part of me wants to pull away, but deep down, I find myself inexplicably drawn to him.

"You don't need to know my name," I assert, disentangling myself from his hold. "I'm going to assist you in eliminating the Styg—whatians."

His eyebrow quirks up in astonishment. "You are? How?"

"I have a plan," I lie, attempting to sound confident. "I'll meet you outside The Night Owl tomorrow at midnight to discuss it." With that, I abruptly turn on my heels and briskly stride away, unable to resist the nagging feeling that he might still be observing me from behind.