Chapter 2

The Inn

I sighed, and glanced down at the figure in my arms- bundled in my burgundy scarf, hand woven, that I had received from Rome some centuries ago. He was fast asleep, nestled to my chest like a pup- and snoring slightly. I wanted to grin- but my lips, so set in their ways of frowning, refused to do so.

'How had I gotten stuck with him?' I wondered.

I had wandered onto that beach, attracted by its golden sand and cool white water, with nothing and now- left with a small child. Even worse, no matter how I tried, I could not abandon the boy. I had only known him a minute, and yet felt like I had known him for years. Like a long lost friend…….

I shook my head at my foolishness, my gray hair brushing softly over my neck and shoulders, and began my ascent to the city above us. Where the beach, bordering the ocean like a golden ribbon, was beautiful and clean- while the city that neighbored it was dirty and cluttered; people crowding in it like pigs in a sty. Smoke ran thick from factories- and cobble stone roads were littered with trash and the homeless. No one smiled, their minds centered only on themselves and their own self gain, and the sky above was always a depressing shade of gray; that seemed to suck the very happiness from all who toiled under its melancholy clouds. I flinched at such filth- but swallowed my disgust. I needed to find a warm place for the boy. Though I could endure any weather- and any terrain- the child could not. My eyes were drawn to him once more. Another point against him, and still, I cared for his well being. Sticking to the shadows, and running silently like a cat in the night, I reached the city in minutes. The stench that seemed so vile from my rock haven on the sand- seemed almost unbearable now. I had to use all my self restraint not to lift a hand to my face to protect my sensitive nose of such smells. Tucking the sleeping boy under my baggy jacket, I slipped around soot covered building after soot covered building, searching for someplace that would accept us. It took me almost all night. I was unfamiliar with the place, and the moment someone saw my hair, or my eyes- they would look at me with eyes of fear and distrust- and cast me from their doors; like one would a stray dog. I growled deep in my throat, and sat down on a patch of dry road I had found next to a bakery. It was out of business. My red eyes glowed with anger, and I was tempted to slay the next person who refused us- slicing their necks open with a flick of my wrist. 'Stop it, you must keep a low profile,' I berated myself- and forced my lips closed from my snarl. If my eyes did not scare them- my fangs sure would have.

A small whimper caught my attention- and I looked down at the boy in my lap. He started to shiver- and then suddenly sat up. "Wah? Where am I? Mom, dad!? Where are you?!" he shouted, and looked up at me. His blue eyed widened, and then he looked to the hands that restrained him around his waist. A nightmare, I thought. That must have been it. "Are you an orphan?" I asked, not bothering to keep my voice gentle. The boy turned his head down, and clenched his dirty fists. "Yes. I'm am alone-," he whispered, and then met my eyes ",-thank you for bringing me back. I- I guess I'll be leaving now." He made to get up- by my hands did not move. "No need," I said, and dared him with my eyes to challenge me ",I will be finding us a place to stay. You can leave in the morning when the sun is up." It was a stupid move- but I didn't want him wandering around in the dark. When the sun was up- then, I could leave him. Why would I want him to stay anyway?

Then, the boy displayed quite a show of emotions. Fist surprise, his blue eyes widening to the size of plates. And then, uncertainty- looking away, and his fingers twiddling at the course fabric of his shirt. Then, pure happiness. The emotion that always caused my heart to tremble like a bird when I saw it, just as it had on the beach. "Oh thank you!" he shouted, and threw his arms around me. I could have stopped it; I could have avoided them. But- I didn't. I found myself wanting it. He smiled, and laid his face against my chest- and was soon dozing off to sleep once more. He was so warm, I noted distantly, and let him settle down into a more comfortable position. In seconds- he was back in his dream world- and I deemed our rest at it's end. I stood up, keeping the boy close to me, and continued my search in the dark; the time of day I was born for.

I did, eventually, find an inn- thankfully before the sun rose. On the outskirts of the city, where mist hung around the buildings like smoke- I found it. It was run by an old woman, half blind- so she couldn't see my eyes and hair. I paid her with a few golden coins I had remembered to bring with my that day- and bought us a small room that stank of rats and rotting wood. But the bed was clean and big- just what I had been looking for. I lit a couple candles- and set the boy on the sheets- shrugging off my voluminous coat that was heavy with rain. I sighed in relief; if felt like a weight had been lifted. My white shirt beneath the jacket was coarse and wrinkled, but it would keep the bugs away. I sat on the edge of the mattress- and saw the boy was awake. He was sitting- his brown shirt two sizes to big covering his knees almost like a blanket. He was looking at me from beneath his bangs- his blue eyes gleaming in the candle light. I kept my eyes cold when I spoke. "We must share this bed for the night. Sleep to the right and don't touch me," I said, and took off my boots. The boy nodded, and then looked down to his hands. Silence enveloped us- and I had begun sinking into my own thoughts- when he spoke.

"So…… what was your name again?" he whispered, his little hand reaching to play with the ends of his hair. I turned back to him, and wanted to sigh. "Riku. Good night." I laid down in the bed, the mattress meeting my back like the cold dirt beneath our feet- and closed my eyes. I would not sleep- I couldn't; but it was best if the boy didn't know that.

My eyes had not even been closed five minutes before the boy spoke again. "Um… Riku? I- I was wondering- if I could stay with you, a-and not leave in the morning."

My eyes flew open, and I was standing in seconds. I glared at him, and felt my mouth twitch in a snarl. "I do not want you with me. You will slow me down, and will be nothing but a nuisance- you will leave at sunrise," I said darkly- and felt a pang at my heart. Lies- it was all a lie. I did want him with me- not matter how I wanted to deny it. I had been lonely for to long. But I would only put him in danger- I couldn't dismiss the logic. He stared defiantly at me- an act I killed most for doing. "Hey! I could help you! Do you know how good of a thief I am?" he said, his voice slightly stronger. He sat up straighter, and his chest rose with what I think was courage. Funny. Gone was the boy who was so helpless and alone on the beach- and now in its place- was an little arrogant human that thought he had a talent unique. I narrowed my eyes in concealed anger. Humans were so stupid. Every act they did was completely worthless- though they somehow thought they actually had meaning. They couldn't fly, they were blind to the spirits all around them, the were so weak the couldn't eve lift a boulder- and meaningless of all- they lived a lifespan that equaled that of an insect's to a vampire's.

And now- I was staring at another one. I frowned and was about to quelch his outburst when he spoke again. "I can steal blood for you!," he said, his eyes flashing with eagerness ",I know what you are."

My heart skipped a beat at that. In less than a second I had the boy pinned to the damp walls of the room- my hand around his throat and my claws pricking his skin. He squeaked in surprise, and I pressed him more forcefully against the wood. "Oh? You think you know me boy?" I whispered, grinning at him to show my fangs. The color drained from his face. "Then why would you want to help me? I couldkillyou in a moment," I murmured, and glared at him with glowing red eyes. I hated doing that to him. I hated hurting him- my mind was screaming at me to stop. But I had to do it. The boy- he had to see my true self. That would surely scare him away- and then I could move on with my desolate life.

"Because-," he choked out, and his small hands rose to cover mine. Instinctively- I pressed my claws in deeper. But he did not flinch- and his eyes held my own- something almost no human I had met in that town had dared to do. "-because you helped me. You looked at me- and you saw me as a person- not some street orphan who could be thrown away like trash," he heaved, and his eyes glittered with tears. "I want to return the favor."

Suddenly, I released him- and he fell to the ground with a gasp. That was not what I was expecting. I clenched him hands in confusion. Why? Why did he want to help me if he knew what I was? I walked to the bed, and sat down heavily. I hung my head in my hands, and tried to figure out a way to get rid of the boy. "I- know you need blood,-" I heard from the corner of the room, so soft it was like the whisper of the wind ",-I can get you some. Please- I-I just want to stay with you." I looked to him, and saw him standing- tears running down his pale face. Of course- he had no family, so he was trying to stay with the first person who showed him kindness. They must have died just recently.

"I can get my own blood. I've managed on my own without you, for millennias, Sora. You should go on your own way, and let me go mine," I returned, and laid down. I laid my face on the sheets- and tried to think. "But you wont have to deal with humans anymore." I felt a flame of curiosity flare in my mind. "The blood I can get you wont be from humans. From a butcher." He smiled meekly, and walked over to me. "I know the butcher. Hes the cousin of my step- uncle's cousin. It would be a lot easier for you, I know it. I just want to stay," he said, and I saw pure sincerity in his eyes. I sighed. In truth, I had tried that method countless times before- and they had all ended in failure. But, maybe if I had someone else getting it for me I- No. I shouldn't think that. I would only be putting him in danger- if my enemies found out I had a human working for me. But- I was so tired of feeding on humans. Mabye-……… "Fine." I whispered, and saw the boy smile brightly as if he had just found out he was getting a gift. "But, know every moment you stay with me, is a moment you could meet your death," I said, looking at him warily. He nodded eagerly, and jumped onto his side of the bed. Snuggling into the dirty sheets. I smiled- and closed my eyes. It wouldn't work. I knew it. But- I wanted to try this. It had been a long time since I had had a human as a companion….

The last thing I heard the boy say before he drifted off to sleep was a soft "Thankyou."

I hope he wouldn't come to regret it…….

Kay'- second chappie down! Woot woot! Thankyou guys for your reviews!! They are the things that keep me writting this.. So- ya, Riku was a bit aggressive in this one- but he had to be! I cant have big bad vampire like him be a softy, can I? Lol! Pleaze tell me wat you guys think. Adios!