Alone
'Edward Anthony Masen',
, 'Edward Anthony Masen'
, 'Edward Anthony Masen'
, 'Edward Anthony Masen'
I kept repeating to myself over and over again as I walked the dirty streets searching for my next meal. Focusing my thoughts allowed me to drown out the minds of passing humans within a three mile radius in any direction. I hated my ability. I helped me survive, of course, but mostly it felt like a curse.
I was aware of some unkind and disturbing thoughts as I walked, but let them be. Tonight, I was looking for something special. A certain type of mind. There had been a murder in the town earlier today and the sheriff had no leads. As soon as darkness fell, I went to the area to search the trail of the murderer. He had a heavy scent. It was not difficult to track, and so I set off to find him. I would not have taken an interest in him; but he demanded my attention by violating and killing an expectant woman. It was almost as though he was taunting me, daring me to find him.
For a long time I had moved from town to town, mindlessly wandering about. Nothing drew my interest, nothing mattered. The world around me changed constantly. Small settlements became saturated with humans and became towns. Industries were founded. New things were discovered and yet I stayed the same. Never changing, never aging, never discovered.
'Edward Anthony Masen'
I briefly wondered what my poor mother and father would say if they saw me now. They were better off dead. I could only remember what they looked like from a picture I took after the burn. It was one of my few treasured belongings in this world. It had withered over time, no matter how I protected it. I knew I could let it go, my perfect memory would always keep it; but something made me hold onto it. It was the only proof that I was once human, now turned vampire; a predator.
I heard the mind I had been searching for and turned the corner to follow his scent.
'Not particularly appealing if I say so myself'. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
The town life was relatively quiet, despite the increased noise in the direction I walked to. A bar came into view. Intoxicated blood! As it were, that was my favourite.
Sometime ago, I had decided to hunt the scoundrels of the human population, and let the innocent roam free. It made me feel better about what I was, absolved for being what I am. My ability allowed me to choose just the right prey.
I located the man and walked into the crowded little space. The smell of human, blood, sweat and alcohol clouded the air. I walked straight to his table and sat across him. I noted some clouded minds around me wondering who I was and where I had come from. Some lady who sat on the lap of a drunk wondered if I'd make better company that the ignorant, overweight fool she was to please that night. I shuddered at her thoughts.
"I have a job for you. Follow me out" I instructed my prey, and stood to leave.
His thoughts were muddled. He was confused but he followed, as I knew he would.
I led him behind the smelly bar and drained him - almost dry. He didn't even register what was happening until I was done. Pathetic!
I threw his body in the nearest dumpster after making a large cut on his side. The little remaining blood will spill out, and deter any questions about the cause of his death. He could not be found without blood in his veins. I gave the place a once over and left. There was no evidence that I had been there.
It was time to move on.
I had been close to this town long enough. As I left towards the outskirts of the town, I stole into a tailor's shop and changed into new clothes. I had no destination in mind. I walked slowly on foot in whichever direction my feet chose.
I liked travelling alone, without the chatter of a companion or their mind. I avoided any and all of my kind whenever I could. Humans stayed away easily. They were afraid of me; afraid of being in my presence. I preferred it that way.
Sometimes I wondered how it would have been like, had I stayed with my creator. But knew I had no regrets with the choice I made. I dismissed that thought as soon as it would come, always. I had briefly seen into his mind. It was enough to know what I was and how to survive. He was pure evil, as were those with him.
Town after town I travelled. After a while, I closed in on another town. There was a trail of vampire scent near the outskirts. I stopped still to locate the mind, so I would know which direction to go to avoid a confrontation. It took a moment before I heard a female mind. Her thoughts were consumed by her mate. She was waiting for him to return to her. I searched for the thoughts of the male and found him disposing of his hunt, ready to find his female. Satisfied, I turned around to leave the area in a different direction. I gathered that they had just arrived here, and would not be leaving soon. So I would.
I hadn't hunted for a few days. I could last a few more.
It had been a relief when the drive to consume all blood left me. It had been powerful beyond belief. I had killed and drank as much as I could, though being mindful of the rules. No one had taught me about the rules; I learned them during the burn from the minds close to me. In their concern to keep the 'newborn' under control, I learnt of our world, rules and a ruling class we all obey. I took care to not draw attention to myself in any way since I was created, and thus survived.
I climbed high up in a tree to wait for nightfall, so that I could leave to find my own feeding ground. All the while, I kept track of the mated pair not far away from me. While there, I observed the life nearby. I watched a lioness mount its prey in the distance, and silently applauded it for its skill. When the day drew to an end I jumped down the tree and started to walk further South; leaving the claimed town. I could have run, but there was no hurry. There never was anything to hurry for. So I mostly walked.