THE CHALLENGE

Stephan sat in a café outside, opposite him was Nathan Ravanith. Ravanith had thick black hair with pale skin. His eyes were emerald green and seemed to glow at times. The Stephan mixed his cream into his coffee slowly, waiting for Nathan to finish looking over the list of names. It was almost complete, he had only a few more to pin down. Then they could create their trap, and show them what betraying the night world led to. I a grim smile spread over his face.

Nathan laughed. "You're already thinking about the blood aren't you?"

"Nathan, I can already taste it." he said raising his glass in a slight toast. "I leave in a week to show that to the council."

"So no one has seen it yet?" Nathan said glancing at the list one more time.

"Only you." Nathan was Stephan's second. Their friendship went back to the middle ages, when they had jousted together. Nathan was the only one who had been able to beat him at the games, and because of that Stephan rewarded him with a new life.

"Will you be a the mayor's ball tonight? At the landmark center, your grandfather will be there."

Stephan sighed, his "Grandfather" was actually the oldest living vampire in his family. "No I think I'll play the game tonight, interested?

Nathan smiled, an evil smirk that changed the features on his face somehow. The change made him look as if he were related to Satan himself. The game was simple, but most entertaining. Humans were so quick to through their lives away, Stephan was happy to take it. They would search out those who wanted to die, and simply help them along their way. The goal was to find as many of those people as you could and finish them off.

"This time I will beat you." Nathan growled, but there was amusement in it.

Stephan laughed. "We shall see. I'll meet you on bored the Mississippi Queen then to compare our results."

"You're on."