"I don't want to go." Melinda restated.
Sven stared at her long and hard. Then it hit him. He hadn't fed in 700 years. It felt like a ton of lead had been dropped onto his stomach. Searing pain ripped through him like a bolt of ferocious lightning.
Melinda sucked in her breath as Sven doubled over in pain.
What in the world is going on? She asked herself.
Melinda began to walk towards him, but stopped when he weakly held up a hand.
"No closer. I don't know what I might do." he said through gritted teeth.
"What is wrong?" Melinda asked, starting to panic now.
"It has been too long since I last fed. I need nourishment."
"Um...you mean...blood?" she whispered as she began to back up.
Sven did manage to look up then. He wished he hadn't, for it made the hunger grow even more insistent. He could not bear the look in her panic stricken eyes, the paling of her face. To think, one who once had aspired to be something as noble as a knight could cause a woman to look like that.
Sven cursed himself for letting his curiosity get the better of him. He shouldn't have asked questions, he should have forced her to leave. And now, her life really was in danger. He had never let the lust for blood get this powerful before, and he really wasn't sure how long he could hold back before it took him over.
"Leave." he croaked.
Melinda dropped all her fear at the sound of the agony in Sven's voice. She hadn't taken the time to notice how in disrepair his clothing was. Tattered cloth was all that covered him. A long time in a wooden box would do that, she supposed.
As she looked at his now shivering form, tears began to fill her eyes. He was in so much pain. This was no act to lure her in, she knew. She could feel wave after wave of hurt come into him with each convulsion he gave. Was there nothing she could do to help this poor creature?
No, she decided. She had to do something.
"Sven? Is there anything I can do to help? Please, tell me." Melinda begged.
Is she mad? Sven thought. Her life has never been in more danger, and she wants to help me?
Melinda could see that it was taking everything Sven had to fight off the hunger. That thought pained her deeply. He was trying to protect her from himself.
She ran over to him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Please!" she shouted, tears freely flowing down her face. "Please, let me help you! You aren't alone any more, so let me help!"
Sven looked up into her pale eyes, and with that statement, he broke. Not alone? She was willing to help him? How could any human act this way toward someone they had just met? Let alone be like this with a vampire. He couldn't even comprehend it. He knew he had to find someway to get her out of here.
"W-what time is it?" he managed to ask.
It had been nearly mid-day when Melinda had set out from her house. It had been many hours since then.
"After sundown." Melinda said. "Can you get up? I'll help you out of here, so you can...hunt."
Sven's red eyes met Melinda's blue ones, and then, like magic, he was gone.
"What? Wait! Where did you go?"