Chapter 44:

-Lesson Three: Learn to kill-

Michael went back to get his coat shortly and he put it on again. Together, they came back on the streets. Few cars drove about this time through the streets of L.A. and hardly were people to see, only strange people were still on the streets, like hookers, drug dealers and tramps. While Alex stared at these people, Michael walked without to waste only once a look.Michael turned into a dark dead end where he found two older homeless men, the held a bottle of schnapps in the hands and snored. Alex seized Michael's sleeve and shook the head.

"You cannot do this. They're innocent and defenceless..."

"And they won't find any future on the street. Either they die of an illness or they get killed. What I'm only doing, I redeem them from their misery."

Caleb grasped the one between the trashcans and bit him into the throat and tore at the flesh. Michael took over the other and did the same, but in the contrast too Caleb first, he sucked his victim empty and after he enjoyed the rest. It was repulsively to watch it. Alex closed the eyes and turned away itself. He could smell the blood, almost taste it. It smelled differently, than that of Michael... somehow sweeter. Stabbing and hammering in his head drove him crazy and tried to calm his head with both hands, he lost his balance and fell on his knees.Michael like also Caleb heard a dull sound, immediately, they turned around and saw that Alex was on the ground. Michael ran to him and knelt beside him and wanted to help him, however, Alex raised his right arm and hit Michael. It came suddenly and it wasn't a simple beat, it was led with big power, so that Michael fell to the back. Alex breathed heavily and he seemed, to have pains in the stomach, because he lasted desperately with both arms the stomach now, bit itself on the teeth and held the eyes closed. Michael brought Alex closer to himself another time

"Alex, do you hear me? Try to breathe deeply."

"Aua... it hurts... my stomach, it hurts infernally. Argh!"

"Look at me... look at me, Alex!"

Alex opened his eyes and Michael saw aghast to Caleb

"I never should have done this, Caleb. It was too early."

"What is with him?"

"It won't last more long and he will change and my blood accelerated all. He demands blood, only so he can ease his pains."

"But he doesn't want to kill."

"Find a weak victim and bring it here, then, he simply must learn it, so hard it will be."

Caleb left the dead end and went in search of a suitable sacrifice.A while he went up and down the streets until he found a young-looking tramp. Perfect. However that one seemed to be sober and with plain mind all what he did was looking for food or if he was successful he found money in sewage holes and other niches. Caleb cleared the throat and spoke to him.

"Apology, but I need help. a young lad is injured and I can find nobody."

"Sure, where is he?" he immediately placed himself helpful and he backtracked Caleb where Alex still sat writhed in pain at the ground, but now in Michael's arm lying. The undreamt-of tramp bent down to the boy, but a hit of Caleb on his back head knocked him out and he sank to the ground.

"I could find nothing else, anyway nothing pure."

"That's fine." Michael awakened Alex with easy pats on his cheeks. As he opened his eyes, they still had this blue. "Alex, you must drink something to get rid of the pains, did you understand? however, Caleb brought you somebody but must still... kill him yourself."

Alex sat up itself trembling and looked uncertainly at the unconscious young man beside him and then back to Michael. Then, he crawled to the body and looked at him. He still didn't know how he should start. He felt the neck and also the breast and he could hear the pulse and even the blood, how it streamed through the whole body.His gaze stared a while on the more delicious artery at the neck. He sensed, how his own one heart was tearing more and more and the desire for blood grew more and more. His stomach hurt like hell. He cried out. now, his teeth had grown to fangs and without hesitating and thinking, he drilled his fangs for the first time into living flesh and let the blood stream down his throat. It was like nectar, ambrosia... like fire, that awakened him to life again.At once he felt better and even stronger. Michael got up again on his legs. He was impressed, however he had to the stop Alex.

"Alex, you must stop. He is dry, let it for good."

Alex panted and looked at him. The blue vanished in his eyes.

"I want more."

"Not now. You must act slowly. We will hunt again tomorrow and if you're ready, you can even select your sacrifices. You need sleep and let's go home now, before Kathleen is. We're already late anyway. Are you ok, son?"

"So-so. Ask me later once again."

Alex was somewhat wriggly on the way home if he met people... nervousness and desire. Michael noticed that, and seized Alex at the arm in order to keep him away from temptations. Unwillingly Alex resigned and together they crossed the last hours of the night.