Ella & Vlad at the end

# 2 - Vlad

Having faintly heard distant gunshots Vladimir woke with anxiety.

Looking out windows he paces the farmhouse interior.

With each window view checked his cursing goes from under the breath to audible, "crazy bitch better not got herself shot - AGAIN."

Staring towards the city he knows what's she's been looking for. The idea of being normalized seems a mere romantic notion to him, that'll only get them killed, "irresponsible foolishness."

Alike an addict's addiction, nearing sundown Vlad's mind tastes and smells blood, creating a craving. "Eight hundred years together and still feels like I'm dealing with a teenager."

Waiting for Vladimir to answer questions an open laptop, with blank screen sits upon the dinning table, "damn things." Can't use the old excuse couldn't find anything to write with. He sighs deeply. Kinda liked where technology was going. Could watch almost any soccer match while just about anywhere in the world.

A warmhearted grin forms as he reminisces on the extremely distant past. Unable to speak in animal form and being female Ella had a great desire to communicate. Tired with the limited replies of nods no and yes Ella acquired a blank tomb; Writing out simple questions, considerations and impressions, at first. Vladimir struggled with it in the beginning. Over time and seeing she wouldn't stop he became more receptive.

Touching the space-bar he brings up the waiting message. Grumbling away he reads it, "ah still pushing her idea." Hard enough to find healthy animals these days. Let only one person who is uninfected. Horrible man made virus. Those that survive with it look like the living dead. Especially the children born to this world that survive. Real world Zombies. Thin, sunken black eyes, droolin', snottin', and shitting all over themselves.

Not wanting to reply he closes the cover. Stupid. Better off to keep doing what we've been doing. Looking for farms with unattended healthy animals. Keep them breeding as long as possible. We got it made here. Get many years out of the place for sure.

Unable to keep still Vladimir goes outside to pace off nervous energy. Nice and quiet theses days too. Fewer people on the planet now than when I was a boy. Why must she always seek out new things?

Though appearing to study the distant property-lines Vlad's mentally lost in memories. Had it good way back then. Damn indoor plumbing comes along and hiding out in the wilderness isn't good enough anymore.

Frustrated he sits in a porch swing with a sigh, "I hope she's okay."

Staring towards the road he jokes, "can't replace her with any ol'canine."

As muscles begin to twitch and tighten up, the change can be felt coming on. Slowly unbuttoning the shirt Vladimir gets ready. I hope she makes it back.

Freeing arms from their sleeves he keeps watching for her. Unsure who has it better, loving the ability to fly, finds the smaller bat form demeaning and unattractive. Larger than normal vampire bats made him a target for many predators. Ella almost triples in size keeping predators at bay, however her travels come with limitations. Both have noted in one of their journals wishing to be able to switch places.

As the surroundings become darker Vladimir's eyes roll back. His arms fold into their sides and fingers span out. The body begins to darken with soft tiny hairs as he shrinks in mass. Distorting from Vlad the man to an eagle sized vampire bat.

Beating wings hard he escapes the pants climbing into the night sky.

With worries for Ella he flies towards the city, emitting ultrasonic waves.

Detecting only small rodents and flying insects he attempts to curb the inner craving.

Locating an out in the open mole he dives from the night sky. The unsuspecting mole is caught underfoot. After a quick sniff for safety the mole becomes an appetizer.

Emitting a teeny burp Vlad the bat takes back to the sky.

Working the area in search of Ella he takes advantage of any easy prey. Some tasty little morsels out tonight. Bigger would be better though.

One more mole eaten Vladimir takes to the sky sensing something bigger.

Getting some height he makes a couple circles of the immediate area. A mile away a thin, two legged being is walking on the road. Ensuring its' not a threat Vladimir cautiously flutters closer.

Walking slowly and clutching itself makes him nervous they're an infected out wandering. Not wanting their place or food stocks found he realizes that is the direction they are going.

Formulating ideas on redirecting them Vladimir gets close enough to see it's only Ella returning, naked. Obviously cold clutching herself for warmth. Relieving Vladimir some she appears to be uninjured.

Gliding in, at her eye level, he chastises her with mouse like squeaking, "one of these days you're not going to make it back. You need to think better. And again gone so long have to sneak back naked."

The rapid chirping heard only lets her know he's upset. Unable to understand she plays cute holding out the left arm. "Oh how nice of you to come out to meet me like this. You know I luv it when you do. Always so worried for me."

Landing on her arm Vlad goes on despite not being understood. "Don't be cute Ella. Look at you filthy and shivering. You're lucky no one is around to take advantage of you." Extending his wings to wrap her, manages to cover most of her upper body.

"What's that? I missed you too," Ella snuggles him in planting a soft kiss between his big ears.

"Jeez I wish you wouldn't kiss me like that when I'm like this." Deep down inside he does like it, especially being untouched in many years. "I suppose those gunshots I heard earlier had something to do with you?"

"Oh and trying to keep me warm." With the other hand she cuddles him in for the remainder of the walk back. "Um Vlady hunny, perhaps a bath, you are starting to smell worse than your droppings. Seems like every few springs your pheromones get more pungent. You trying to attract other bats? Hmmm?" She laughs lightly as normal female bats are tiny compared to him.

Together so long both have love for the other however they've never been lovers. When both were actual adolescents and sex drives at a peak they tried risky experimentation.

Only as a human would he be any real use to her. While in wolf form she can't completely control herself. In writing Ella requested Vlad engage her wolf, more of an alpha, her wolf wasn't having it. Nearly nipped many times Vladimir tired of the pursuit. The last attempt he took great time to massage Ella's canine joints and muscles. Figuring she was calm enough to mount he quickly found her canine teeth around his neck.

Both appreciated and almost needed each other's companionship. Unable to satisfy each other sexually caused minor tension. They agreed in writing to seek out desires elsewhere.

Testosterone induced Vlad probed more frequently for partners. The first couple of his ladies were inconceivably killed, by a jealous wolf.

Being human during the night Ella had fewer chances, winter months allowing her the most time. She once found an awkward young man who treated her tenderly. Thinking there maybe more there she wanted to fully confide in him. An envious bat found them spooning. Jealousy drove Vladimir's bat teeth into the sleeping, young man's neck.

After that disturbing incident a new agreement was written up. They were only to take on lovers who were horrible people in life. That way the bloodlust could be satisfied as well.

In the new millennia Ella was losing interest in sexual partners. The wolf DNA keeps her body almost as hairy as some men, especially from the waist down. The shaving time never seemed worth the effort put in by the male.