DANIEL HERON: BECOMING

34 - I'm fine. Just... tired.

After Teresa explained the plan, sergeant Novik stood in disbelief. What did he agree to?

It all seemed so simple. He gives a lift to Teresa, Ana and Daaniel to the park, there they feed on Daniel's blood, thusly invigorated they head out to hunt for the vampire who should embark on his nightly quest, while the sergeant waits with Daniel in the police car. Very simple, if he manages to ignore the thoughts of the thousand things that could go wrong.

He decided to put all his trust in the two vampires. Two very deadly vampires. The last time he asked them to take care of someone, five young men lost their lives, their bodies burnt to ashes along with the old factory.

Sergeant Novik hated that part of his job. He despised himself after he made the call, asking them to take care of the problem. Convincing himself that he had no choice, that he had to obey the mayor's wishes, didn't help. He knew, should he refuse, the mayor would make sure he was replaced. Sergeant Novik loved his job, it was in his blood. There was nothing he'd rather dedicate his life to, however, sometimes he felt like the mayor's puppet.

This time it wasn't the mayor who asked him to let the two vampires do something they weren't allowed to legally do themselves, but he knew it was only a matter of time before the question of why there was a murderer loose in their quiet town would arise.

The sergeant looked at Daniel. They were alone in the living room as the two women were getting ready for the venture ahead. Daniel sat in the armchair, with eyes closed. Looking at him, Novik couldn't help but feel deeper respect for the young man who, on the day he found out he was seriously ill, offered himself as a sacrifice to save others. That wasn't something anyone would do. But that was something Sergeant Novik did.

After Teresa explained that drinking someone's blood does not mean that the person would die, or worse, turn into a vampire, the sergeant suggested that one of them feeds on his blood.

"No way!" Daniel said. "After Teresa took a few sips of my blood to heal herself, I was in a haze, like my body got temporarily disconnected from my brain. If something gets messed up, we're gonna need you up and ready."

Like it or not, the sergeant had to agree that it would be unwise to render himself incapacitated in the situation they were in.

The sun hasn't set yet when Teresa and Ana joined them in the living room. Both dressed in black, they were ready to go. Ana's chestnut hair was tied in a tight bun at the back of her head. Teresa carried a large dark bag tossed over her right shoulder.

The darkness began holding on to the tree canopies when the police car pulled over at the side of the desolate road near the park. The sergeant was correct to assume that its presence would chase away the shady guys who used to gather at that part of the city at night.

"It would be best if you waited outside," Teresa said to sergeant Novik, and he, knowing what comes next, did not oppose.

Daniel sat on the back seat of the car, Teresa to his left, Ana to his right. Were it any other occasion, he would be thrilled to be with two gorgeous women, but tonight, instead of excitement, fear lined with terror grew inside him.

He was the one who suggested them to feed with his blood, yet he found himself unable to slow down his heart beats.

"Ready?" Teresa asked.

He looked at her, pale, but brave. "As ready as I'll ever be."

He closed his eyes, and tilted his head to the right, exposing his neck to Teresa. He felt Ana gripping his hand a moment before sharp teeth pierced his skin.

It was all over in a matter of minutes. While his mind was still in a haze, someone's palms cupped his face and turned his head to the left. A soft whisper touched his ear, followed by a shiver down his body as he felt another bite to the neck.