The next night, Talia kept looking out the window. It was a normal night, slightly windy and cool. No sign of Kain. Bedtime came and she crawled under the covers with trepidation. She was scared at the prospect of being jolted awake like the previous night. Maybe he would just drain her this time. She fell asleep agonizing over it. But the next morning she awoke, still alive, unharmed, with no sign of any visitors. Kain had not come. She felt relief... and disappointment.
Days passed. Then a couple weeks. No unexpected visits. She was surprised at how much she found herself thinking about him, particularly on a rainy day out in her field. She distracted herself from the monotony of threshing wheat by reminiscing of the first time they had met, smiling to herself now at how fearless she had been then.
She finished and bundled her haul, then headed into her little house to begin cooking supper. She entered and closed the door, then walked right into a barrier. She jumped, and stared into a pale face, a wicked grin. It was him.
Despite her scare, she smiled. "You came."
"Do not be so quick to celebrate," he snapped. "I came to talk."
She sat down at the small kitchen table and he followed suit, sitting opposite her. "About?" she asked.
"About what I am." he said. "You now know I am a vampire. And I require human blood for sustenance."
"Yes, I know. I've heard many stories-" Talia began.
"Faugh! Stories, indeed." Kain spat. "If you wish this to remain a civil meeting, please do not tell me any of your ridiculous fables."
Talia was a bit taken aback, but nodded in compliance.
Kain continued. "You will not desire my company once you have heard what I will tell you. I have killed countless people. Men and women, young and old, some guilty, but many innocent. And I cared not for their pitiful pleadings. All I ever cared for was their blood."
Talia looked at the table, blinking, a somber expression on her face.
"Do you not hate me now? This monster before you?"
Talia opened her mouth slightly, then closed it again. She didn't know how to respond.
Kain leaned back and crossed his arms. "You should also know that I am leading a clan of vampires. We shall make this land safe for no one. One day, we will be herding your people like cattle, for no other purpose than for our consumption."
Talia got up and walked over to the window, looking out at the full moon in the sky. She said nothing. Kain sat silently, watching her. She stood unmoving. He listened for the sounds of weeping, waited for her to start pleading. But she simply kept staring out at the moon. It infuriated him. He stood up, shoving his chair back, and stalked over to the window. He seized her by the shoulders, turning her to face him.
"You insolent girl!" he yelled. "If you had a brain in your head, you would be pleading for mercy right now!"
Talia's expression darkened. "Why do you seem to be trying to draw certain responses out of me? I am not one for playing games. If I will die anyway, then why don't you just kill me now?" she yelled back.
Kain snarled, hurling her across the room and onto the bed. She landed hard, the wind knocked out of her. Kain flew over, landing on top of her. He roared terrifyingly, his mouth opening wide, his ivory fangs bared. She squeezed her eyes shut. This is it. I hope it doesn't hurt too much. She thought.
Her eyes flew open again in surprise when Kain's mouth clamped down over her own. His tongue invaded her mouth, slithering against her own tongue. "Mrrph!" she blurted, flabbergasted. Kain growled against her lips and she fell silent.
His mouth left hers and traveled down her neck. She braced herself, waiting for the piercing sting of fangs. She felt his tongue again, this time licking along the side of her neck, up to her ear and back down. She gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut again. Why didn't he just get it over with already? One of his strong hands reached up and tangled itself in her hair. The other wrapped around her back and pressed her body tight against his own.
It wasn't until his mouth returned to hers and he began to kiss her in earnest that she began to think that maybe his intention was not to kill her - at least not at this moment. Despite her fear, his current actions were incredibly arousing and she found her breath quickening. She tentatively returned his kiss, and he responded by gripping her body tighter against his, signifying that this was indeed what he wanted. He kissed her a moment longer before pulling back, releasing her and standing up, leaving her exhausted and panting on the bed, looking up at him in confusion.
"Cherish that memory, as it was the last pleasure you shall experience," Kain growled, just before shifting into bat form and swooping out of the window and away into the night.
Chapter 4 coming soon...