4 What Am I?

William's eyes shot open. He gasped for air. Pulling himself from behind the crates. Confused and a bit scared he stood on shaky legs. His head pounded and his vision a bit blurred. He stumbled to the mouth of the ally. The sky was full of rain clouds. Enough sun light seeped through to see it was daytime. The sky rumbled in warning of the rain soon to fall. He staggered toward his home knowing his mother would be very upset.

By the time he got to his door the rain was pouring down. But he didn't care he just needed to get home. Stumbling up to the door just as one of the house servants opened the door. "Master William. Is that you?" He looked up to see his manservant Andrews.

William nodded, "I… I was mugged… I think… I woke up in an ally. My head hurt…" He knew he wasn't making much sense but he really wasn't sure what happened.

Andrews opened the door ushering his master inside, "Come in quickly Master, before you catch your death of cold."

At the word death William involuntarily shivered but he did as the man said and fallowed Andrews inside. Once inside Andrews rang for the kitchen staff to heat some water for the master to bath in. Then helped Master William to his bed chambers so he could get out of his soaked clothes.

"I will let you mother know you are home safe. She was so worried when Hennery returned and said you left the party without him." Hennery was his coach driver. He had been informed by one of the other drivers that it was heard that William ran out of the party earlier. They had heard their master talking to another party goer about it. He told Hennery so he would not be out there waiting all night. Since then Hennery had spent most of the night looking for William. Only coming back the wee hours of the morning empty handed.

By the time William had stripped down Andrews was returning with two buckets of steaming hot water. Followed by two other male servants with the same. "Luckily the cook had all ready been heating water when she saw the rain clouds figuring you'd need it when you returned home." Pouring the water in to the tub he then helped his master in to it. "Is there anything else you need master?"

"No just leave me alone for awhile please…"

With a nod he left. William sighed and sunk down into the water trying to absorb the heat in to his chilled body. He sunk his head under the water. He'd been like that a few minutes before he realized his lungs were not stinging in need for air. So he sat and waited, and waited, and waited. Still no overly need for air. Strange. He sat back up out of the water. He got up and stepped out of the tub. Walking to the full length mirror in his room he looked at himself. He looked paler then usual. He lifted his hand to the mirror when his eyes landed on his neck. Then it all came rushing back to him.

"My god! What did she do to me?"

'I don't think god has anything to do with us now' a voice came from his head.

"Who are you?"

'I'm the one who is supposed to be here. You on the other hand are supposed to be long gone. I'm not sure what happened but this is not right'

"I'm going insane"

'good, maybe you won't be that boring to be stuck with then. Because what I can see of your memories, your seriously missing some backbone. Not the memories I would have thought would be tied to an annoying soul who refused to leave when they were supposed to.'

William not sure if he was just complimented or insulted, most likely both. Was at a loss for words. Finally regaining some sense of thought he asked his reflection, "What am I?"

'Well isn't that the million dollar question. Normally the answer would be vampire but your not. Not completely anyway. First you have a reflection and second well, you're here… you should be off somewhere in holding till I get dusted and you move on to the after life'

"Vampire?" William felt ill.

'Too bad it's raining we might be able to see how you handle sunlight. I can tell you inside, no need to breath and you lack heart beat. But funny thing your digestive system seems to be working. So you may feel a little hungry for human food. Which is all fine and dandy for you. But I need something else to survive…'

The voice was cut off as there was a knock on his door. "William?" it was his mother.

William pulled on his robe and opened the door. His mother was there along with Andrews who was carrying a platter of food and drink. Setting it down on a small table in Williams room he left William and his mother to themselves.

William hugged his mother, "I'm so sorry I worried you"

She smiled and hugged him back, "As long as your home safe that is all that matters."

William looked over the food his stomach growled. He pulled up a chair for his mother to sit on and he sat on the end of his bed.

"I'm not sure what happened. I think I got hit on the head. Most likely a mugger I just found myself in an ally this morning with a headache."

His mother looked concerned, "Should we send for a doctor?"

William shook his head, "No, I'll be fine." he ate some of the food but found the gnawing hunger was not subsiding. 'eat her.'

"What?" he dropped his fork his eyes going wide.

"I didn't say anything" his mom looked concerned.

'I said eat her! I need the blood. WE need the blood!'

"No! I won't do it!" I can't kill my mother, he shouted in his head.

"Do what?" his mother stood up and approached him. That is when it hit him the sound of her heart pumping the sweet smell of her blood flowing threw her veins.

"No stay back" he shouted to his mother.

His mother rushed to the door. "I'm fetching the doctor!"

'Damn it! WE NEED THE BLOOD TO LIVE!'

"Then I'd rather die!"

'Fine, not your mother. One of the servants…'

"NO! No one!"

'you won't be able to help it. Soon the hunger will consume you and you will rampage and kill them all. Is that what you want? Think about it one now or many later. Maybe even your mother!'

"NOOOOO!!!!" William threw off his robe and quickly dressed. Going downstairs, grabbing his heavy coat and boots he took off out the door. It was no longer raining but the sky was still overcast.

He'd been wandering around for hours. The clouds started to break up around sunset and now the moon peeked in and out between the last remaining clouds. The demon within him did not speak to him after they left his home. William almost was certain it was sulking.

He found himself wandering threw the graveyard. He was starting to shake the hunger in him burning and stirring. When the sounds of a struggle brought him out of his thoughts. There was a young man fighting another man a good ½ a foot taller then him and broader. William was sure the smaller one was in for a beating. But no the smaller one seemed to have the upper hand. The sight of this made the other half of him nervous. Sensing something in the air that it didn't like and tired of fighting the hunger the demon seemed to tuck itself deeply away from the surface consciousness.

William on the other hand stood quietly and watched the fight unfold. That is when the moon peeked back out from behind a cloud and in the moonlight William saw the demon face of the taller man. Letting out a gasp at the man's face.

This was a vampire? This is what he was supposed to be? Did he look like that now? His hands touched his face but didn't feel any difference.

His gasp got the attention of the vampire as it turned. The smaller male taking advantage of this distraction slammed something in to the vampire's chest and it disintegrated before their eyes. By the time William's brain caught up with his eyes the young male was walking away.

"Wait! Please!"

The young man continued to walk to the gates of the graveyard where a carriage sat with an older looking gentleman waiting outside it. "Please wait! It's about that man back there… he was a vampire was he not?"

The young man stopped and turned around. With a small frown he looked at William curiously. The older gentleman approaching them, "What do you know about vampires?"

He looked at the older gentleman, "I.. I got attacked by one yesterday night.. She bit me…"

The older man nodded to the younger one who pulled out a long sharp piece of wood and approached him. His demon hissed, as he felt his eyes flash.

William realized after his demon's reaction what the younger man was going to do, "No please don't kill me! I'm not one! I swear!... at least not fully…"

The younger man looked to the older one for guidance. The older man nodded, "It's you duty. Probably some kind of trick…"

"No! No trick!"

But the younger man advanced on William. When another carriage pulled up at high speed. A man jumped out, "Stop!" the young man stopped in his tracks while the older gentleman walked up to the new arrival.

William could hear pieces of their conversation, "….seer told us….special case…. We must be sure he's the right one" the new comer looked at William, "Tell me your name sir!"

"W-William. William DeWinters III" the man's eyes grew wide.

"As in Lord DeWinters?" he them shook off his surprise, "Doesn't matter William was the name I was given. Ok come with us. You will travel with me"

The other man interceded, "Perhaps due to his nature he should travel with me…" the other man nodded. With that he got back in to his carriage.

William shakily followed the other two men to their carriage. The older gentleman took out a cross and sat on one side with the younger gentleman as William sat across from them. Hoping he was making the right decision.