54. 1719 - The Margeride Mountains - Spring

The other vampires never followed. I find it unlikely that they would believe the body to have been carried away by animals and any observation would clearly show where he had ended up. For now, I could only hope that I was successful throwing off our scent.

I couldn't wake the man in order for him to eat. I did get him to choke down some water, but in doing so, I feared I would cause him to stop breathing, so I kept this as minimal as possible.

His skin was unbelievably hot to the touch. After the first couple of days however, I saw a significant improvement in the number of bruises on his body. I assumed that the hot skin was related to his healing. The journal regarding these creatures didn't specify the relationship. Regardless, I did my best to keep him cool with cloth dipped in water.

I decided to add my own observations to the journal. This was a unique opportunity for me to learn first hand of the creatures I once believed were only myth.

On the fifth day, he started to move restlessly. All but the worst of his wounds were completely healed. Of the worst, they appeared to be mending rapidly.

I had grown accustomed to the sounds of my guest, so I was well into meditation when I was disturbed by the low growls of an intruder. He had transformed and now stood at the entrance of the cave staring at me. He was preparing to attack.

"I am not here to harm you," I said softly raising my hands up with palms out. I was still sitting on the floor of the cave.

The wolf charged but was not sure of foot, so I was able to quickly move from his path.

"I am the one who carried you from the other vampires," I said pleadingly as the wolf charged again.

After nursing him to health, I did not want to harm him. Again, I was able to easily dodge his attack. Outside of the cave, I once again raised my hands and I knelt on the ground.

"I do not want to hurt you! Please!"

The wolf feigned a charge then turned and ran to the forest. I followed him.

It did not take long for him to find the scent of his group. Following it, he ended at the graves I had dug for them. On his arrival he howled.

It was a howl of such pain and sorrow; I could not help but to pity him.

"They were all killed before I arrived. I was only able to get you away because you fell over the cliff." I said as he turned growling at me.

I kneeled again and raised my hands.

"After I knew you were safe, I collected their bodies and buried them."

With this he let loose another howl and swayed at his spot.

"I am sorry for your loss, but the vampires are still in the area. I don't doubt by now they have heard your cries and are heading toward us even as we speak. We need to leave this place."

Of course there would also be no doubt they would have my scent as well, so I was at just as much risk as the wolf.

The wolf ran into the forest. I decided to leave him to his grief.

I would need to relocate now as it would not take long for the other vampires to catch my scent and find my cave.

As I neared the cave, I heard the sound of struggle. The wolf was in trouble. Without thinking, I ran to him and arrived just as a vampire was poised to deliver the killing blow.

I had no plan and made no consideration for the repercussions of my actions. I rushed the vampire, catching him beneath the arm sending the both of us tumbling to the ground.

Once on the ground, we wrestled as the vampire tried to escape and I tried to hold him back from the wolf. In our struggle, I had not seen the wolf return to his feet.

What happened next occurred so quickly I have difficulty remembering. At one moment we were on the ground. The vampire had thrown himself backward then twisted pinning me to the ground. Then, it was over. The wolf had charged the vampire and removed its head.

"We must burn the body," the man said.

He had transformed back into a human and was now eyeing me from the other side of the vampire's body.

"That will take time and I am sure the others are not far behind," I replied

"This is true but it is the only way to be sure."

"He has no head! I am pretty sure he isn't getting up from this one."

The man returned to his wolf form and crushed the vampire's head in his jaws. He then turned and looked at me.

"There is a cave I know of. It is very difficult to get to. It will require swimming to get to the entrance. Can you swim?"

The wolf paced around me for a moment, then stood at my side.

"Ok, follow me."

With that, we left the scene of our crime.

55. Present

Surely now I had crossed all thresholds for forgiveness. It was instinct, Father. I had no time for thinking. I wanted to protect the man I had saved from the vampires. Yet, I had never imagined at what cost that would be.

As we ran through the forest to the cave I thought of the Gypsy children slaughtered by this vampire or the ones he associated with. In my mind, I saw their smiles of gratitude for justice served.

This was wrong of me. I am in no place to cast judgement on another. Still, I felt no remorse for the death of this vampire. If this would contribute to my damnation, then so be it. I was already damned by a God whose very existence was still suspect to me. If this God would find my actions unworthy then I have no interest in his forgiveness.

Father, I would meditate on this moment often. It was a defining moment for me as I realized that once again, I had allied myself against my own kind. I realized that life is what's most important to me and I would do anything to preserve it.

56. 1719 - The Margeride Mountains - Spring

We made our way to the river. We crossed the river and doubled back several times before we got to the tributary leading to the pool with the cave entrance. I entered the water and motioned for the wolf to follow. We crossed the tributary several times. We doubled back then exited on the opposite side several times. Once we were satisfied our scent was successfully obscured, we traveled up to the pool.

"We dive here and swim down about three meters. Then, we will come to an opening. After going through the opening we only have to swim a short distance until the roof starts to expand upward. Follow that to the cave. It is not long to hold your breath", I said.

The wolf appeared to understand. I motioned to follow and began my descent. Looking behind I could see human legs as the wolf was transforming once again. I kept checking behind me to insure the wolf was following. After emerging from the pool in the cave, I looked back to see he man frantically swimming to the surface.

"It's a bit further than you made it sound," he sputtered.

I had explored this cave several times before and I had left material for a torch at the pool's edge. Lighting a torch I passed some clothes I had left to the man as he was nude. I hadn't given much thought to clothing when changing to a wolf.

"Follow me," I said while I motioned toward the cave's antechamber. After traveling through a short antechamber the cave opened to a larger cavern. In this cavern a previous occupant had left behind a number of cave paintings.

"Why did you save me?" the man asked.

"To be honest, I hadn't given it much consideration. I couldn't just let them kill you," I replied.

"You hunt us, but bury our dead. You save me right at my moment of death."

"I am not one of the hunters. I came here for solitude, yet the vampires and you werewolves have brought your little war to my door."

"Do not ever call us werewolves! We are not like those Romanian dogs!"

"My apologies, I did not mean to offend. What makes them different?"

"When they change they have the mind of a dog. They carry none of their humanity with them. Much as I thought the vampires did, yet you seem to be different."

"Forgive my manners. My name is Carlisle Cullen. Formerly from London, I got sidetracked on my way to medical school and ended up here away from the world."

"By sidetracked, I assume you mean bitten. My name is Victor Reinhardt."

"It is a long story, but no, I was turned in London, but as you say I retained my humanity and wanted to help people."

"I can see how a foreigner of your type could raise suspicion in these times."

57. Present

We continued talking for quite some time. I found myself eager for news of the world but most importantly I was eager for the companionship of another person. After a while, Victor grew tired and fell to sleep. I tended to our fire and marveled at the fact two natural enemies could find such common ground between them. It made me wonder if there was hope for my kind to change their destructive ways and live in peace among the rest of the world.

Father, I had lost my way. While he commented on my retention of humanity, in truth I had spent all of these years in indifference. There were murders of innocents right at my doorstep and all I did was bury their remains. I didn't even bury them for any decency. I just buried them so there would be less risk of others coming to disturb my peace.

Taking action against my own kind, I had cast my lot with the humans, yet I still wondered at the possibilities for teaching others to live as I am. It would be difficult to change years of history, yet it appears time is something that we have on our side.