I stood frozen, eyeing the dark creature before me. There was something demonic about his face. His piercing red eyes unnerved me, bore into me, terrified me. His mouth opened and his voice was smooth as silk. The most charming voice i'd ever heard from the most terrifying person i'd ever come face to face with.
"Hello there brother. I suppose you've come to purge me for my sins, have you?" I was dumbstruck. I'd never seen him before but he clearly knew our mission here. I had no idea how to answer but somehow summoned the courage to respond.
"I...I don't wish to harm you, sir" I replied meekly. I felt terrified but also a sense of compassion for this lost soul. This dark dreary dungeon was no place for any person to call home. I begin to edge slowly towards him, but he backed away and instinctively hissed at me, warning me off. I stopped in my tracks, heading his warning. As terrified as I was, I didn't want to scare him. He gave me an apologetic look.
"Forgive me, brother. I am not used to being approached by your kind. In truth, I think I've forgotten the genuine nature of human kindness" he lowered his head in shame. I didn't have much time to think but I wanted to help him somehow. What could I do?
"Is there something I can do for you, sir? Anything you want, I'll try and assist you"
He looked up and smiled. It was a devilish grin, but somehow I was unsure if he could smile any other way.
"I'm so thirsty" he said. I froze again. The hairs were standing on the back of my neck as he began to approach me. I backed myself to the wall and he glided through the room like a ghost. He was over to me in seconds. His cool breath against my skin. My heart began thumping in my chest and he listened intently and seemed to be so so tempted by the blood in my veins. I knew who he was. Who my father knew he was. A dark creature. A vampire. He walked like man but he was no creature of light. So why did I feel such compassion for someone who would likely be the reason for my demise?
His deep red eyes looked into mine. His gaze almost softened as he looked into my soul. I knew he could see me in that moment. That whatever he wanted to know about me, I'd surrender it willingly. He was magnificent. His charm was magnetic, I knew I had no choice but to surrender to him. After a while, he decided to speak.
"You are not like the others. Not like that pastor who treats us like rats. Like abominations of the world. Devils lost on the earth on their way to hell." I said nothing but continued to listen. "All my life, I was a lost man. This new life has damned me even further. I never knew love. I never knew compassion. My mother was a prostitute, my father was her client. I was a gutter rat the moment I was born. I took refuge in the sewer one day and never left. Oh the life I wish I'd had. This life could have been so much more. But I live in darkness now. I succumb to my darkest nature. I'm compelled to damnation for eternity." He began to stroke my cheek, I shivered as his touch was ice cold. He chuckled as he noticed the effect he had on me. "I want you to be free of your life of man. But I also want to be selfish and take sustenance from you. I want you to give me life, but I also want you to prove that our kind can be different to what the world sees us as." My heart thumped in my chest. I had never known fear like this. "I will spare you death. But I will take just enough sustenance to satisfy myself. I have tried so hard not to be tempted but I can deny myself no longer. I will bring you new life, but before I do, I need you to heed my words." He took my face between his fingers, in his cold vice grip, he made me look deep in his eyes. I could feel his cool breath on my skin. I felt like my heart had stopped. "Never lose yourself in his new life. Be a good, faithful, compassionate creature. Teach others to remember what it is to be human, what it is to love, what it is to cherish what you have. Promise me this and I will spare you" I gulped. I could barely speak the words but choked out a terrified whisper. "I promise" i squeaked. His lips found my throat and in that moment, my nightmare began.