The Mafiaso And The AD 1024

The Innocent

The next morning, the city was alive with its usual buzz. The sun barely peeked through the clouds, casting a soft, grey light over the streets.

I walked with purpose, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of the night before-thoughts of Donte, of the dangerous connection growing between us.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't completely rid myself of the nagging feeling that something had shifted, something beyond my
control.

As I turned a corner, heading toward the café where I planned to grab a coffee, a familiar scent hit me-blood, fresh, and potent.

I stopped in my tracks, my senses sharpening as I scanned the area. The scent was strong, almost overpowering.

My gaze shifted to a narrow alley, a dark, shadowed space between two towering buildings.

I moved closely and moved cautiously. The steps silent, of blood grew

stronger, mixed with something else - fear. As I reached the edge of the
alley, I saw them: a vampire, hunched over a stranger by a dumpster, fangs buried deep in th person's neck.

The victim, a young woman, was pale, her body limp as the life was drained from her. Rage flared in my chest, and I felt my own vampirism awaken.

My fangs elongated, my vision sharpened, and my muscles tensed with the urge to attack.

But as I prepared to strike, I noticed something strange about the vampire.

She was small, her frame frail and trembling.

With a swift movement, I grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her away from the woman.

The vampire stumbled back, startled, her eyes wide with fear. That's when I saw it-she was just a child.

Her face was round, innocent, no more than ten years old, but her eyes were a darken unnatural red, filled with cofusion and terror.

She looked up at me, her Iips stained with blood, and whimpered, "I don't know what's going on... I'm so hungry..."

My heart twisted at her words. She wasn't some predator out for blood - she was a child, scared and lost, trapped in a nightmare she didn't understand.

My anger dissolved, replaced by a deep sense of sorrow and responsibility.

The woman she had attacked was still alive, barely, her neck bleeding profusely.

I had to act quickly. lgnoring the child for a moment, I focused on the woman, placing my hand over the wound.

I concentrated on my vampire powers, commanding the venom in her bloodstream to recede, to leave her system completely.

The bleeding slowed, and the poison drained away under my influence.

Her breathing steadied, and the colour slowly returned to her cheeks. "Go," I whispered her, my voice calm but firm. the command

infused with my power."You."You were never here.

You'll forget everything that happened. Go home, and don't return to this place."

She blinked, her eyes glassy and unfocused before nodding and staggering to her feet.

Without a word, she walked away, her steps unsteady but growing stronger with each step.

She would be fine-she wouldn't remember the attack, wouldn't carry the scars of this encounter.

I turned back to the child, who was watching me with wide, fearful eyes.

She flinched as I knelt beside her, but l reached out slowly, gently, trying not to scare her more than she already was.

"Hey," I said softly, soothingly. "It's okay. You're going to be alright."

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "l'm so hungry... I don't want to hurt anyone, but I can't stop..."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling the weight of her words.

This child was a victim too, turned into a monster by someone else's cruelty, abandoned to fend for herself in a world that would only see her as a threat.

I couldn't let her continue like this. I couldn't let her suffer.

"You won't have to be hungry anymore," I promised, my voice steady.

"I'm going to help you." She looked at me, hope mingling with her fear, as if she didn't dare believe me.

But she didn't resist as I placed my hand on her shoulder, channelling my magic.

This time, it wasn't dark magic-it was something else, something older, something rooted in my witch heritage.

I began to cast the spell, focusing cusing on the essence of what made her a
vampire.

The magic flowed through me, warm and bright wrapping

around the child like a protective cocoon. Slowly, I unravelled the curse that had been placed on her, stripping away the vampiric nature that had been forced upon her.

Her red eyes faded, turning back to a soft brown.

The sharpness of her features softened, and the fangs receded, leaving behind the innocent face of a human child.

She blinked, confusion clouding her expression as the hunger that had consumed her vanished.

The spell finished, and she collapsed into my arms, unconscious.

She would wake up with no memory of what had happened, no memory of the terror or the hunger that had driven her to attack.

She would be a normal child again, free from the curse that had almost destroyed her.

I held her for a moment, a wave of exhaustion washing over me as the magic settled but was worth it she was safe now, free.

As I laid her gently on the ground, I whispered a final incantation, ensuring that she would remember nothing of this night.

She would wake up soon, and someone would find her, care for her.

She would have a chance at a normal life.I stood up, looked down at her peaceful face, and sighed.

I had done what I could, but the weight of what had happened lingered in the air.

There were so many more out there-more victims, more innocents caught in the crossfire of a world they didn't understand.

But at least this one was safe. For now.

I turned and walked away, the alley behind me growing darker as I stepped back into the light of the street.

My heart was heavy, but my resolve was stronger than ever. I would protect those who couldn't protect themselves, no matter what it took.

I turned and walked away, the alley behind me growing darker as I stepped back into the light of the street.

My heart was heavy, but my resolve was stronger than ever. I would protect those who couldn't protect themselves, no matter what it took.

And as I walked, I couldn't help but wonder how many more were out there, waiting to be saved?