My eyes opened slowly...Stars. And light rain. It was still night out when I awoke and the storm had quieted down. I must have been out for at least an hour. Surprisingly I wasn't out for longer.

I rubbed my eyes and tried sitting up. I felt so light headed. I looked out the window. Only a few stray droplets continued to fall from the sky. The cold nipped at my face. Waking me up further.

I felt a little dizzy still. But nothing like before when I felt like my eyes would never open again. I had actually forgotten for a moment how I had gotten into this position.

Oh. Right. The vampire. I reached up to feel where the vampire had made the cut and I felt nothing. No cut. Only the feeling of a thin scar. I wouldn't have believed any of it had actually happened if I hadn't experienced it myself, eyes wide open. Mostly.

I looked over to the fireplace where I last saw him, but he wasn't there. Just my pot above some dying coals. As if someone had been cooking.

"Son of a bitch." I cursed. The bastard left. Ditched me as soon as I passed out. I'm so stupid! Trusting a monster to keep its word!? How naive could you get!?

"Pardon?"

The reply came from the vampire. He was walking back to the table with bowls he had found in my back room.

Holy shit...he hadn't left? I was surprised to see him again. It still slightly felt like it was all a dream. To see him was jarring all over again.

"Oh wow, I- I'm sorry. I'm surprised you're still here. I thought you had ran off." I gave an awkward laugh. He seems to have regained his strength. Who knows just how strong he truly is. Better mind my manners till I have him figured out better.

He placed the bowls down on the table and turned to me. Crossing his arms. Cloak, dress shirt, pants, all red of course, minus his black dress shoes. Yup just as I remembered. Though his color choice is understandable now.

"I made you a promise." He said.

"You are surprisingly admirable. For a vampire anyway. Maybe you really aren't the violent killer this town has been dealing with."

"It is the way we are. To be honest and fair. It is only some of what it means to be a vampire. A human would not know that, let alone understand. But I suppose this is a start."

"Well, enlighten me then."

"I will try. But first come here."

Damn it. He keeps pushing my interrogation aside. Fine I'll let him. Only because I smell food and I'm starving.

I started to get up slowly. "You're pushy you know that." My feet felt the cold floor but I could tell they still wouldn't be able to hold me. I'm still weak. "Want to give me a hand, vampire? Its your fault I'm like this." He came around to me and threw my arm around his shoulder. Walking me to the table. "Remind me again why you needed so much of my blood?"

He sat me down on a chair and began his explanation again. "As I said, I had not fed in a long time, human blood keeps me alive..." He replied shortly. "One of the villagers also managed to wound me" he lifted his cloak to show me a darker shade of red staining his lighter red shirt. "The blood lost from that did not help."

I pulled at his cloak "you were hit!?" I lifted his shirt to try and inspect the wound. I can't get answers from a dead vampire. "Why didn't you tell me? You need to get a gunshot wound...stitched...up?"

I saw pale skin but nothing else. Some dried blood around his skin and clothing where the wound should have been but there was nothing. No entry wound, nothing.

I looked up at him. Questioning "What?"

He removed my hands from his clothing, pushing them away.

"I was planning on feeding you before any explaining but I suppose now-"

"No, no you can feed me and explain at the same time, its not a problem."

He gave a soft chuckle "Very well." He picked up the bowls and walked over to the fireplace where he had something cooking above the low cinders "You see..." Balancing the two bowls on one arm he lifted the lid on the pot stirring its contents "...the saliva that vampires have has unique qualities which when applied to a wound..." He lifted the ladle from the broth and poured some into each bowl "...the healing process is almost nonexistent. The wound heals quicker than naturally. Leaving only a small scar..." Putting the lid back on the pot he started back towards me and placed a bowl in front of me "...It is how we are able to remain undetected, we are able to feed with minimal stress on the victim." He placed his bowl across from me and sat.

"So...if I understand correctly. Vampires have magical spit that heals wounds..." I took a whiff of the broth in front of me. Rabbit stew. It smelled delicious "...and can cook?" I pretended to be disoriented "That's a lot of...new...information. I need a moment."

He took a spoonful of the broth and brought it to his lips, careful not to spill any. The monster has manners now too? What a mystery he is.

"Joke all you want, I genuinely believe cooking is an important skill to learn. Any discerning vampire will know how to cook."

"A discerning vampire hmm?" I was skeptical. Vampires. Honorable. Pragmatic. Brave. Not words I'd use if you'd have asked me about them yesterday.

I took my spoon and ate a mouthful of broth. Thick and creamy. Chunks of delicious rabbit cooked to perfection. I scarfed down as much as I could before taking a breath.

I looked up from my meal only to catch the vampire staring at me. Eyebrows raised in amusement.

"Well. If anything you're a pretty good cook..." I complimented him. Not too much. Don't want to seem to friendly just yet. I set my spoon down. Allowing my food to settle. "...now. Are you ready to tell me what's going on, vampire?"

"Have you forgotten my name already?" He enquired.

"No but I don't want us getting all chummy just yet."

"Well then. Human. I shall begin my explanation, it is a rather long one..." He took a breath...and collected his thoughts. I also took this time to prepare myself for the fantastical explanation I'm sure to get from him. Then finally, he began.

"...your town is indeed being attacked by monsters. They are called the vampaneze. They are not us but they are from us. Vampires drink a controlled amount of blood. The vampaneze do not believe in limiting the amount they drink or in keeping the ones they drink from alive. They kill and drink indiscriminately. The amount of blood they drink turns their skin red. It makes them easily identifiable from a vampire. Word of the killings in this town reached my people-which I will not say much about-and we decided to take action. I was sent here to survey the situation and report back if action was necessary..."

He finished his explanation quickly. Getting all the useful information on the table quickly. He stared at me calmly. He was waiting to see how I'd respond. Eventually I did.

"Ok."

He sputtered "Ok?" He was taken aback by my short answer.

"I mean...yeah. It all makes sense. It explains why you didn't kill me and the killings in town and why they only happen at night. And also why the victims are always drained of blood." Truthfully I was completely freaked out. I couldn't believe any of this was real. I mean not only are there vampires but there are two different kinds!? It really all did make sense though. His story fit.

"You are taking all this rather well. I must say I am impressed." He replied. He leaned back in his chair. Pleasantly surprised by my ability to accept so quickly.

"Well I met you didn't I? A vampire. Anything is possible I guess." Now wasn't the time for denial anyway.

"That is true. Do you have any other questions?"

"How long have you been watching us?"

"A few weeks. I felt it was too dangerous, and in bad taste, to feed on anyone from the village. Seeing as how they are all very on edge already."

"Did you know about me? Living here in the woods?"

"Yes. I did not stumble upon you by chance as I was running for my life."

"Have you been watching me?"

"...Yes. Though the Vampaneze seemed not to know of your location. You were safe. I was not worried."

"And if I wasn't safe? Would you have protected me?"

"I would have...I may not be able to save the entire village alone. But I would have been able to keep you alive. If I needed to."

"Why? Why keep me safe? Why save the village? Basically. Why do you care?"

"The vampaneze are murderers, when they get bold, life is wasted. Too much life. It should not be left this way." He explained.

He continues to show me just how wrong the stories are of vampires. Larten...I thought about his words. How they sounded sincere. How he seems to hold admirable values. "...so what are we going to do?"

"We?" He questioned. Eyebrow raised.

"Well yes. I'm assuming you decided you were going to stop them-the vampaneze-and if so. I'm going to help you, Larten."

...

Authors note's: Something a little longer this time. Protective Larten, just wants to keep you safe. Oh man yes I like this image. Oh yeah he also wants to keep to whole village safe but whatever.