It was almost half past nine, and Sunnydale was dark. Yet, it was not
asleep. There were people out, maybe working the graveyard shift, aided by
caffeine, or people unfortunate enough to have to sleep in doorways and on
park benches. There were also those within the town's most popular
nightspot, The Bronze.
These were the ones that made his life easy. All he had to do was wait in the shadows, for some naive young thing to step near, away from her safe path under the streetlamps, and into his hands. And teeth, of course.
Here was one now, stepping out of the nightclub, a pretty blond girl, with her friends, a redhead and a dark haired boy. It was the blond that he wanted. Maybe if he was still hungry afterwards, he would have her friends, too.
He watched her, smiling and laughing with her companions. He could sense the blood running through her veins, her heart beating. It was the blood he wanted, that would quench his thirst.
He saw her say goodbye to her friends, and begin what he imagined to be her own way home. His muscles tense and his sharp eyes never leaving his prey, he followed her. He was aware of everything around him, the ground he walked on, the walls and foliage, every tiny nocturnal creature that scuttled and crawled within them. His senses were heightened, and had been for the last fifty years, ever since he had been changed.
He continued to pursue her. At one moment, she stopped, obviously sensing something. He was still; she did not see him. He was surprised to find that he was somewhat relieved by that, as he could easily outrun a young woman, if it came to that.
He was gradually getting more ravenous for her blood. He knew he would soon be able to push back that golden hair and sink his teeth into the soft flesh of her throat. The blood would spurt into his mouth, fresh and warm, sweet and rich. His mouth started to water in anticipation.
After a while it occurred to him that she was walking towards the town's graveyard. He thought this slightly odd, but it did not bother him. Nothing did, much.
The girl soon reached the graveyard. He found himself shocked to see that she entered it. But he still followed her.
She began to slow down, like she was looking for something. He realised this was his chance to move in. His footstep sped up as hers slowed. He was three feet away, two feet away.
He was now close enough to grab her. Close enough to wrap one arm around her waist and push back her hair with his other hand. He raised his left arm and moved it towards her.
She spun around and grabbed it.
"Oh, look, someone was playing follow the leader." She quipped.
It dawned on him that this was the slayer. He had never thought she really existed, just someone made-up to scare little vampires. He now knew that wasn't the case. He received a punch in the face. He returned it. She reeled back momentarily, but then pulled herself together and knocked him to the ground.
He was about to push her off, but stopped when he felt a staggering pain in his chest. He looked down. A stake. Pierced right through his heart.
That was the last thing he saw as he disintegrated into dust.
These were the ones that made his life easy. All he had to do was wait in the shadows, for some naive young thing to step near, away from her safe path under the streetlamps, and into his hands. And teeth, of course.
Here was one now, stepping out of the nightclub, a pretty blond girl, with her friends, a redhead and a dark haired boy. It was the blond that he wanted. Maybe if he was still hungry afterwards, he would have her friends, too.
He watched her, smiling and laughing with her companions. He could sense the blood running through her veins, her heart beating. It was the blood he wanted, that would quench his thirst.
He saw her say goodbye to her friends, and begin what he imagined to be her own way home. His muscles tense and his sharp eyes never leaving his prey, he followed her. He was aware of everything around him, the ground he walked on, the walls and foliage, every tiny nocturnal creature that scuttled and crawled within them. His senses were heightened, and had been for the last fifty years, ever since he had been changed.
He continued to pursue her. At one moment, she stopped, obviously sensing something. He was still; she did not see him. He was surprised to find that he was somewhat relieved by that, as he could easily outrun a young woman, if it came to that.
He was gradually getting more ravenous for her blood. He knew he would soon be able to push back that golden hair and sink his teeth into the soft flesh of her throat. The blood would spurt into his mouth, fresh and warm, sweet and rich. His mouth started to water in anticipation.
After a while it occurred to him that she was walking towards the town's graveyard. He thought this slightly odd, but it did not bother him. Nothing did, much.
The girl soon reached the graveyard. He found himself shocked to see that she entered it. But he still followed her.
She began to slow down, like she was looking for something. He realised this was his chance to move in. His footstep sped up as hers slowed. He was three feet away, two feet away.
He was now close enough to grab her. Close enough to wrap one arm around her waist and push back her hair with his other hand. He raised his left arm and moved it towards her.
She spun around and grabbed it.
"Oh, look, someone was playing follow the leader." She quipped.
It dawned on him that this was the slayer. He had never thought she really existed, just someone made-up to scare little vampires. He now knew that wasn't the case. He received a punch in the face. He returned it. She reeled back momentarily, but then pulled herself together and knocked him to the ground.
He was about to push her off, but stopped when he felt a staggering pain in his chest. He looked down. A stake. Pierced right through his heart.
That was the last thing he saw as he disintegrated into dust.