Revenge

Revenge is a disease that takes over the mind. One who wants revenge will never stop until they succeed in getting what they want. That's all revenge truly is, a want. You don't need revenge, but something in your heart says you need it. Revenge can make you feel whole once again.

I needed my revenge. The boy had taken my mentor away from me. He was my inspiration, my hero. I looked up to that vampire.

The moon was full tonight, causing the light to reflect off of my pale skin. I walked casually down the streets of Stokerton, glancing behind my back every so often. Elysia was in a buzz after D'Ablo's death. I refused to let anyone sneak up behind me.

I reached the mall that was my destination and made my way to the movie theater inside.

I wasn't going to kill the boy just yet. All I was looking for tonight was information. I needed to tear the boy apart, starting with his loved ones.

His death would be slow, painful. I could picture his screams now, a pleasured shiver running up my spine. The Pravus would pay.

I sat down at table near the theater, watching the teenagers make their way through the mall. The smell of blood was overwhelming. It had been about a month since I fed, my hunger beginning to get the best of me.

I needed to be careful, though. The Slayer Society was cracking down, killing vampires like there was no tomorrow. Hunting had become more and more difficult.

This, I believed, was also the fault of the Pravus.

Breathing in, I could smell the unique scent I was looking for.

Half-human, half vampire.

The Pravus had arrived.

Looking through the crowd, I spotted the teenager. His pale skin was in great contrast with his dark, black hair. He was hand-in-hand with a girl. She had black hair and was laughing at something the vampire boy had said.

I raised an eyebrow, now curious. Was this girl his lover? If so, Vladimir was breaking the rules. A smirk played on my lips. I possibly had found a way to tear him down. According to Elysian law, if a vampire were to enter a romantic relationship with a human, they only had two options. Either the human be executed, or the human must be turned into one of us.

I pondered the idea of the human knowing about Vladimir. Did she know that he was a monster? Did she know that he had massacred my mentor?

Listening closely, I picked up on some of their conversation.

"I don't know, a horror movie doesn't seem all too romantic for our one year anniversary," the girl said.

Vladimir laughed, pulling the girl closer so that their faces were inches from one another. "Listen here, Cassie Barker, our anniversary is next week, and I have a lovely date planned out. This," he gestured towards the theater, "is a date so you'll shut up about me not taking you out in a while."

The girl, Cassie I presume, gasped playfully, "Well then, Mr. Tod, maybe we should just go home and forget about this little pity date." She winked at him, grabbed his hand, and pulled him towards the theater.

Cassie Barker

This girl was my ticket to revenge. Soon, I was going to report the illegal couple to the counsel. However, I needed more evidence first. Before I could find more evidence, I needed to feed. My hunger was beginning to exhaust me.

Scoping through the crowd, I found the perfect young woman. She was alone, digging through her purse for something.

Where the hell are my keys!? I could've sworn I put them right here.

I slipped out of the woman's mind, leaving my table and walking a few feet behind her. The crowd was my friend tonight, keeping me hidden whenever I needed it.

Once we got outside, I moved towards an empty alley. I pushed into the woman's mind, convincing her to come to the alley. She stopped in her tracks, turning and walking towards me. I let my fangs slip from my gums, anticipating the kill.

I backed deeper into the alley, the woman getting closer. Timing my attack, I jumped from my hiding place and slammed the woman's shoulders against the wall.

A scream escaped her lips. I couldn't take the chance of being caught, but her fear was entertaining. Putting my finger to her lips, I said, "Ssshh, wouldn't want to alert anyone, now would we?"

Her eyes grew wide, but I wasn't sure why. I hadn't exposed my fangs to the woman yet. That's when the wind was knocked out of me. I crumpled to the ground, my hands reaching for my sides. I turned to see a man behind me, stake in hand.

A slayer

I wasn't careful enough, I didn't check for slayers before attempting the kill.

"Hey mosquito, hungry?" the slayer said, preparing for another attack. The woman ran, all the while screaming. Great, another meal lost.

I jumped up, not wanting to fight. My body didn't have the strength.

"I don't have time for this, slayer."

Using my vampiric speed, I ran past the slayer. I didn't slow down until I was out of sight of the mall.

Sitting on a bench at a bus stop, I took a moment to breathe and think of my actions. How had I not detected the slayer? I was usually so good at telling slayers apart from normal human beings.

Revenge

It had overwhelmed my mind so much, that I had not properly surveyed the area. My anger only grew towards Vladimir. Now, I wanted him dead even more. He had almost gotten me killed, and I had never even said two words to the abomination.

Tomorrow, I would find more information on the girl.

"Cassie Barker," I spoke the name aloud. She was the answer. She would be the end of my pain.

Cassie Barker was my revenge.