"So he turned you into a mouse?" Connie said when Steven went to meet her.

"Yes and now I have a craving for cheese."

"Really? Cheddar or provolone?" She joked.

"All kinds but don't worry it'll fade. He's done this before, he's also claimed that he'll eat me if I make him angry enough but I think he's bluffing."

"Why? Isn't he a devil?"

"Half devil. Like me he was born from the union of a dark creature and a human."

"Does he follow Satan or God?"

"I don't know. He says that he follows neither but I've seen him praying once or twice so maybe he follows God."

"I've been told that devils are to be greater feared than vampires, werewolves, and every other monster."

"That is true. Devils were the first monsters ever created, they are ten times as strong, fast, cunning, and dangerous as any vampire. They say a devil is beyond redemption and for centuries that was true until one human gave half of her immortal soul to a devil who saved her from a fate worse than death. My mother and his father are very similar." Steven explained. "Both were creatures of darkness who turned away from their former evil masters due to the love they felt for a human."

"Tell me about your mother. How did she and your father meet? When did she stop drinking human blood?"

It was a long time ago. My mother was part of a group of vampires who spent the nights hunting down humans to offer to drain them of their blood. One night in particular they went to attack a group of people watching a young performer, my father was that performer. Unfortunately for them a group of vampire slayers were nearby and expecting their attack so they ambushed them. Some got away others were killed, my mother was badly injured but she managed to crawl away somewhere before she could be staked."

"What happened to her?"

"She couldn't move, it hurt too much and sunrise would arrive in one hour. The other vampires who had not been staked had left her for dead, abandoned her, thinking of nothing but themselves. But my father who had been hiding from the massacre saw her on the ground shivering, bleeding, and scared to death of the sun that was coming to take her life. She expected him to run off and leave her to die just as her own kind did but he didn't. Instead he took off his long, dark, heavy coat, and covered her with it so when the sun rose up she was protected from it."

"He covered her from the sun?"

"Yes and then he took her back to his house and placed her in his basement where no sunlight could get in then later he brought her a pint of his own blood because she was half starved. It was the first time anyone had showed her any kindness. It surprised her, this human was kind enough to protect her from the sun and give her blood while her own kind left her. It was then my mother realized that the real monsters, the real garbage that needed to be purged from this world were vampires. "

"Wow. That's pretty intense."

"Tell me about it. Hey I gotta go but I'll see you tomorrow same time."

"Okay."

He then disappeared into the night while she returned to the organization to get some sleep. The next morning she was woken up real early by the alarm. Apparently last night ten people were attacked by a vampire and it was when the other slayers discovered that Steven was no longer in his cell.

"How did he escape?" Solomon asked.

"Don't know sir." Lars said.

"Who was watching him last?"

"Connie sir."

"Connie how did he escape?" Solomon asked her.

"I...I don't know sir." She lied avoiding eye contact.

"Yes you do. You're not looking at me in the eyes, you only do that when you're lying. Tell me the truth. He was half starved and weak so how could he have escaped unless he didn't." He said suspiciously. "Did you let him go?"

"He...He wasn't a threat."

"Connie you know better than to do that!"

"He was dying in there! He looked weak! And he didn't drink any of the human blood you left him so what was the harm?"

"Connie I've warned you about how cunning these vampires can be. It could've been one of his tricks."

"But he's half human."

"Half human or not he craves blood and that makes him dangerous."

"But he's never hurt anyone."

"Tell that to the ten people who were just drained dry last night." Lars protested. "Last night something drank every last drop of blood that was in those people's bodies. If it wasn't him then who was it?"

"There are other vampires running around here Lars."

"True as that maybe." Solomon said. "We can't take any chances. We must locate that creature and any other running loose. Steven is a bigger threat because he can strike during both day and night time hours so we must begin our search now."

"But what if you're wrong about him?"

"If there's one thing I've learned from my family Connie it's that never trust anything that needs human blood to survive."

"Sir hate to interrupt." Another slayer said. "We have another attack taking place downtown."

"Alright everyone get down there now and don't hesitate to kill if needed."

Connie and a group of slayers drove downtown to find a group of people on the ground, some were already dead while others barely alive. All of them had huge punctured bite marks in their necks which were bleeding immensely.

"Get these people back to the organization." Connie said.

The bodies of the people were loaded into several vehicle and taken to the organization were there doctor would try to give them a formula that would not only save them from their injuries but also from becoming vampires themselves.

"Help me." Connie heard a voice squeak.

It was then she noticed a foot sticking out from behind a turned over shelf. Using her strength she pulled the shelf away to find a woman about a year younger than she was lying on the floor. She had a black eye, a bleeding nose, and several scratches and bruises but not signs of bite marks.

"Hold on." She said. "I'll help you."

She picked her up and took her to the last vehicle leaving for the organization. She noticed that he was clutching something in his fist. When they arrived at the organization she was taken to the clinic to check for bite marks, as she was taken there she dropped what she had been clutching in her hand. Connie picked it up from the floor and to her horror she knew exactly what it was.

It was a torn piece of green fabric from Steven's coat. She couldn't breathe, there was no way Steven could've done this. He couldn't have attacked all those innocent people. But then again vampires were cunning, clever, and manipulative. Maybe it really was just a trick. Maybe all this time Steven was just playing her and yet despite it he seemed so sincere and genuine.

"Connie one of the men attacked is awake." The doctor said. "He wants to talk to you."

She went into the clinic to speak with the man who called for her.

"Can I help you sir?"

"Is he dead?" The man asked.

"Who?"

"The monster who attacked us."

"No sir he got away but we'll catch him. It would help if you could tell me what he looks like."

"He was a large, barbaric man with black hair and these horrible red eyes. He called himself Steven."

Connie felt an ice cold chill down her spine. He did do it and she let it happen. She let him go, she let a monster run free and attack all these poor people. How could she be so stupid and trust him? Well she wouldn't make the same mistake twice. When it was time for her to meet Steven she had a wooden stake and a string of garlic ready to use on him. They met in the alleyway like they did earlier and he dropped from the night sky. Seeing part of his jacket torn was all the confirmation she needed.

"Hey Connie."

"Freeze." She cried holding up a gun ready to fire a wooden stake.

"Whoa! What's going on?"

"This Steven! What is this?!" She threw the torn piece of fabric at his feet.

"Where did you get that?"

"In the hands of a frightened girl who had been attacked by a vampire or should I say a half vampire."

"Connie I know how this looks but you have the wrong idea."

"Then explain to me why this boy had part of your coat and why a man we rescued claimed that you did it."

"He's lying! Either that or he's mistaken because I would never hurt any human needlessly."

"You drank the blood of fifteen people!"

"That's not true! The very scent of human blood sickens me!"

"Why should I believe you?!"

"Connie please listen to me! I would never do something like that I swear!"

BANG!

She shot a wooden stake which he dodged. She made her aim again, she was trying to kill him. Steven realized he was going to have to reason with her later. Before she could even think about shooting again he flew off and vanished. She spent the rest of the night and the next day searching for him but there was no trace of him any where. Solomon insisted that she rest when she got back and he would send Lars to take her place. After getting six hours of sleep she went back to the clinic to check on the victims. The doctor had managed to cure a few of them while others died. The fourteen year old girl she found had only suffered minor injuries and a broken nose. She was about to be released.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you." Connie said to the girl.

"It's alright." She said.

"It's my fault, I let Steven attack you."

"Steven?"

"That was the name of the monster who hurt you."

"No I know who you're talking about. He didn't hurt me."

"What?"

"He saved me."

"Are you sure we're talking about the same guy? Great big fellow, black hair, red eyes that sometimes turn amber."

"Yes that's him and he didn't hurt me. He didn't hurt any of us."

"What exactly happened last night?"

"I was at a party with my friends when out of no where this thing came crashing through the window. It look like a giant bat. It started grabbing my friends, biting their necks, and tossing them on to the ground like they were garbage. I was the last one he went after, he grabbed me by my throat and got ready to bite me when he came in."

"Steven?"

"Yes. He tackled the monster and began choking it, I was dropped and I hit my head on a stone which broke my nose. The creature over power him and for a moment I thought he had been killed. Then it grabbed me, threw me against the wall which is how I got my black eye by the way, and lunged for me with his fangs bared. Before he could bite me the one who called himself Steven took me in his big arms and shielded me from the creature. There was hard blow and the shock of it caused me to tear part of his jacket off. He then threw the beast high up into the air and laid me down behind a shelf where he told me to keep quiet until help arrived. That was the last thing I remembered before I blacked out. When I woke up I heard you and the slayers helping people."

"You're positive he didn't hurt anyone?"

"Yes."

"Okay then listen I'm going to have them take you home okay?" Connie said. Once the girl was safely escorted home Connie began looking for Steven, it was night time so she had to be extra careful especially now that she knew there was another blood sucker out there. However as she searched she was greatly confused. "If Steven really did save that girl's life and if he really didn't harm those people then why did that man say he did?"

"Good evening." A voice said startling her. She jumped and turned to see a man. He was tall, slender, pale, and well dressed. "What are you doing out in the night by yourself young lady?"

"I'm looking for someone."

"Who?"

"A...A person who's very dangerous sir."

"Are a police officer?"

"No I'm a vampire slayer."

"Vampire slayer? Aren't vampires just a myth? I never thought a bright, intelligent, and pretty young girl like you would believe in such a silly thing."

"There as real as Satan is sir and I must advise you to return home because there are two known vampires on the loose."

"Why? I'm not afraid of vampires."

"You should be. Even I'm afraid of vampires and I'm hunting them."

"Do you work for that Van Hellsing organization?"

"Yes."

"You know they really shouldn't be sending a young girl like you on a mission alone by yourself. Quite un gentleman like."

"Well no one let me go I kind of went on my own."

"Pretty risky don't you think?"

"Sometimes risks are meant to be taken. Listen have you seen a man, very large and strong looking with black hair and amber eyes that turn red."

"Why? Is he your boyfriend?"

"No!" She denied while blushing. "He's one of the vampires I'm hunting."

"I beg your pardon young lady. I meant no insult, actually I do believe I saw someone like that."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"He went downstairs in the basement of an abandoned building. I could direct you there if you wish."

"Thank you."

He offered her arm, she hooked hers with it and he led her down the road to a building in the shadows that looked like it was about to be condemned. He then opened the door which opened to a stairway leading into a basement.

"I don't see him anywhere." She said.

"Perhaps he left. You know are you sure he was the one who attacked those people?"

"I'm not really sure of anything right now. Because one girl said he didn't do it while a man said he did."

"Tell me my dear did you know that vampires are capable of hypnosis? Suppose the real vampire who attacked those people decided to frame that half vampire for the attacks by hypnotizing that man who recovered to lie about who attacked him."

"How did you know that he was half vampire?"

But at that moment her mind went blank and her body went limp as she dropped her gun.

"Come to me." The man ordered.

She had no will to resist, she felt her body move toward him. He pulled her close and ran his fingers down her neck.

"You're blood smells so sweet. I can't wait to taste it."

He was just about to bite her when suddenly he felt something clutch his neck with great strength.

"Take your filthy mitts off her." A voice hissed in his ear.

"Well look who it is." The vampire choked. "The biggest mistake of nature God ever made."

"You know I'm not a fortune teller but I can make three predictions right now. First you're going to let go of that girl, next I'm going to bite your head off, and third I'm going walk out of here without so much as a scratch."

"And how exactly do you think-"

But he didn't get to finish. In a moment faster than the wind Connie was dropped to the floor, the vampire holding her had his head ripped off by fangs biting him hard around his face which was then spit out by him, and he brushed the dirt off of himself. When Connie came back to her senses she saw that once again, the one who had saved her was Steven.

"Interesting." He said. "You won't trust me and yet you trust a stranger."

"To be fair I didn't know he was a vampire."

"Of course not and that's what made you even more foolish. Just so you know he was the one who attacked those people not me."

"I know." She said. "The girl you saved told me that you didn't do it."

"So do you trust me now?"

"Yes."

"Good now then shall I get you back to the organization?"

"Wait a minute. Who was that?"

"That was nothing more than a morsel of what's to come."

"What do you mean? What's coming?"

"A vampire that you and your fellow slayers need to be ready for. It is evil in the form of a woman, a beastly, angry, vile, and cold heartd woman who knows nothing of remorse."

"Who?"

"Ever heard of Dracula?"

"Yes."

"He's a sniveling coward compared to her."

"Who is she?"

"She is called Jasper and she is the queen of all vampires. Human beings are nothing more than vermin to her. She feeds on them whenever she gets the chance, she believes the strong will survive and that the broken are put out of their misery. If any vampire dares shows so much as a millimeter of weakness in front of her she kills them on sight."

"Where is she? Is she coming now?"

"No not yet. She's like a predatory animal who lies in hiding and waits for the right moment to strike at her prey. You're organization know nothing about her and therefore you hardly stand a chance but I know some things."

"So are you saying you'll help us?"

"If the organization will accept my help. Though I'm not sure they will."

At the organization...

"You're suggesting we work with him?" Solomon said.

"I think he's proven that he has no intention of drinking any human blood or harming humans. He knows about a threat that we need to be ready for. So why not?" Connie asked.

"While I don't approve of the idea of this we are desperate for inside information and with his vampire powers we might be one step ahead of those blood sucking demons."

"So you're okay with it?"

"Yes. I still don't like it but I must put what is best for Maine first. "

"Wonderful."

"However you are to keep a close eye on him and make sure he never ever takes a human life. If he does then you are to kill him as soon as possibly. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Good now then we've all had long week. Let us rest."

At that word Connie went to her room and fell asleep. Solomon stayed up in his office, reading journals left written and left behind by his ancestors. Each one said that a vampire should never be trusted. That they were all evil, immoral, and unholy creatures of the night that should be killed. Yet according to Steven his mother who was a vampire who chose to protect and defend humans from other vampires. That she had learned to love and care for humans. Could this mean that some vampires were capable of compassion and understanding? It was the strangest thing he had ever heard of. But maybe he should give Steven a chance.

"I don't blame you for not trusting me." Steven hanging upside down from the window.

"What are you doing out there?"

"Sorry, vampires can't enter one's room without permission. Half vampires can but I think it's rude, so may I come in?"

"Sure."

He came in.

"What do you want?" Solomon asked once he was in.

"Just wanted to make sure you aren't planning to stake me in my sleep."

"No. For now you have my trust."

"That's good."

"But watch your step because-"

"I know and as I said I don't blame you. Now I think I'll get some sleep now, good night."

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