TAP TAP TAP. This is not what he expected to happen! The reminiscence when he laid eyes on Zoë the first time, gave him a masterful plan where he would surely be victorious in his plot. She wasn't supposed to become a vampire! Things should have been different. Nodnu's boots clicked across the hard wood floor.

Earlier he watched Zoë's first feeding from the shadows. A vampire! Of all things to go wrong, why did it come to this? If she were human, his plan would work but now. . .

"Ahhh!" Nodnu kicked the wall, leaving a very distinct dent. He went to a shelf and withdrew from a drawer a small green bottle. On the cover it read, "Reality Distort." The substance will enter the body and by the preference of the one whom first casted the spell, shall the victim submit to the caster of the spell's reality.

In other words, with this simple potion could Nodnu manipulate any person he desired. If Zoë would partake, she would become whatever he wished. Zoë would be his forever and in slaying Simon, could he play out his game as the hero! This he planned not seeing one little mistake: if a vampire drank it, the dark blood would immediately rid this spell from the body, causing the potion useless.

This was his pleasure, this creating of his reality. He needed this victory! Whether or not Zoë would be his, he would not allow himself to lose. All this work would not go to waste.

Nodnu placed the green bottle into his black jeans and left the Salem house. The wind blew his hair askew and his coat flapped violently, but the rest of him was unruffled. The world flew past his clenched fists.

Simon plucked a rose from a darkened yard and placed it in Zoë's hair. She smiled up at him. They walked along the street looking for a place to stay. Very few passed them but those that did gave them fearful looks, although not knowing what to be afraid of. Zoë found this strange. Did the people somehow sense their nature? Her nature. About a week had passed since her change. Things still felt strange and new but she somewhat got used to it.

"Can you read minds?" Zoë asked Simon, used to her never-ending, random questions.

"Yes," he said, "Although I can't always. I can sense strong emotions and thoughts but sometimes it's not clear. Don't worry, I can't read other vampire's minds, but you can send out messages telepathically to them. Soon you will learn how to use vampire skills like this in time."

"Thank you so much for everything. However, please listen. There's something wrong. I sometimes get this horrible feeling in my chest. Don't give me that face! It's not hunger, it's . . . something else."

Simon slowed his pace and paused before speaking. "Occasionally, vampires feel premonitions. This is indeed strange. I do believe your other vampire friend hasn't forgotten you. I felt around him something strong back in Salem. He has something else planned for us but to tell you the truth, it's a very vague idea."

Zoë stopped walking. "But he let us go!"

"Yes, he did. It seemed too easy. Please Zoë, don't stray too far from me. I'm the only one who can protect you."

The girl looked at him with sad eyes and nodded her head. Nodnu was sweet to her. It does make sense, though. He wanted something that he never did ask for. The more she thought about it, the more it troubled her.

"How about here?" asked Simon.

"What?"

Simon and Zoë walked over to a deserted building. Could she smell the scent of the year 1910's old business material inside? Woh. "Let us stay here? We can make it work." The edifice was obviously stable and the rest of the neighborhood was deserted where hardly any people would show up to bother them.

"Okay." Zoë went inside and found the floor was grimy and filled with dirt. "Well now, isn't this pleasant?"

Behind her, Simon chuckled. He moved quickly (If Zoë was still a human, she probably couldn't see his movements so distinct) and took to the top floor.

The rooms above were worse. Piles of trash were left by homeless residents and rat droppings sprinkled the floor. This did not phase Simon one bit. He began cleaning out the filth and sweeping the floor with a broom, found somewhere. Such speed he used! Only seconds passed before the place looked livable.

"Look at this!" Zoë spotted a strange machine in a nearby room. It appeared to be a huge ancient printing press. Simon himself went looking around the rooms.

The girl found a corridor and entered the closest room. It was filled with piles and piles of yellowed paper. The next room was empty and the next had a broken down desk lying in the middle of the floor.

She entered the last room. It was larger than any of the others upstairs and was the most crowded with paper and junk. If she had her human smell, a scent of rot would've bothered her. She squeezed into a small passageway and picked up a stack of paper that read, "Report: Secrecy of Business. Things remain normal. Plans for new employers are scheduled for next Thursday. . ." Other papers contained the same boring things.

At the back of the room was locked vault. From the scratch marks on the lock, many people tried to open it. She saw the handle and without thinking, ripped the metal door off its hinges. Surprised by her strength she dropped the door. It gave a big clanking crash.

There wasn't much to see inside the vault. Everything had been cleared out.

Breath. "The heart remains vaulted, my love." It was not Simon's voice.

Zoë whipped around and inches away was the vampire Nodnu, smiling pleasantly at her.

"Wh-What are you doing here! Si---!" Nodnu placed one hand over her mouth and the other on her back. She was locked in his arms.

"Don't worry. Your true lover will be here to rescue you soon, but I don't believe his weak skills will stop me." Nodnu smiled down at Zoë struggling in his arms. "Oh, my dearest." He placed his cheek against Zoë's cheek and let out a soft cackle.

Movement came from behind them. "Zoë, I heard a loud sound---!" Simon froze when he saw the others.

"It's you!" Simon gasped! "Let Zoë go right now!"

"Or what? Do you want to fight for her?" Nodnu's voice became angry, "I should never have brought you back! Things would have worked perfectly if you hadn't changed her! You lowly scum, in time I will kill you!" Nodnu gripped Zoë harder and she gaped her mouth and bit as hard as she could into his hand. He let out a yelp of mostly anger, and continuing to hold the girl, he whipped forward and kicked Simon in the stomach.

Simon flew back and stacks of paper flew up around him. He landed hard. Nodnu dashed out the room and disappeared with Zoë.

Trembling, Simon picked himself up and ran for the door but the other vampire vanished completely.

Indeed, Nodnu was superior.

No.

Do what you can, Zoë. Get away from him!