Vivian Delmori: Ego Autem In Nocte

Prologue

The darkness was binding as she walked through the gaping shadows. Lights danced above her in the gloomy sky. They were daggers to her eyes and skin, but welcome. It distracted her from the pain in her side as well the cold, damp ground at her feet. As she walked, her shadow stalked behind her. It was her only witness, confidante perhaps. All of this was irrelevant. She needed to find it, it would save her, be her salvation.

She had now walked for what seemed like ages, sweat beaded on a her pale forehead. She stopped walking and cocked her head, ebony curls of hair fell to her slender shoulder. She squinted, her light honey brown eyes searched for something. Then a smile, toothy, full of life and pleasure. If she only knew her fate.

She ran, twigs cracked, and animals scurried away from her feet. The pain in her side blossomed but she did not care. She was so close to salvation. She jumped and hurled herself over brushes, her clothes were ripped. She was frantic, she needed to reach it. Then she tripped, her jeans gripped by unseen hands. There was a squish and she was coated with mud. She was unmoving where she fell. Only small insignificant whimpers could be heard.

I smiled, it was time. I picked myself up, careful not to make a sound. Now only the steps of nearby pedestrians was audible. The park was dim, but not enough to seriously impair vision. It was easy to tell the girl was dying. Even without the "sight".

"Shit," I whispered. I was irritated, for me to feed she must be living.

The girl hugged the ground in an unrequited embrace. What was wrong with her? Then I saw it, the red glint of blood. She had been stabbed. I almost wretched at such human weakness. There was a presence behind me, I smiled. I turned around to see Able, my familiar. He has been my partner for the last nineteen years. The cat takes a relaxed posture and licks his grey paw. After a few seconds to clean the unseen dirt off, he speaks.

"She is useless to feed on. Not much energy in the dying," he deadpans.

"I am not stupid, I am aware of her position, just as I am of mine. Her remaining life will have to be enough," I reply dully. Pangs of hunger radiate through me. I then lean down beside her unmoving form.

I close my eyes. After a few moments "sight" returns to me. Her body is faintly outlined by a silver-black aura. She would have been so delicious, well I suppose she still will be. She is a reminder death reaches us all. I shake off the thought. I pick up her head, careful to make sure she does not slip. I then lean down and our lips meet, well our energy.

For a second our energies flow with each other, blissful, harmonious, then mine latches to hers. I pull my energy back into me, hers coming with it. A welcome warmth flows into me as she starts to moan. She tries struggling. However, with the blood loss and my superior strength it was lost cause. Once the last ounce of her life force is mine, she is limp in my arms. I release her and her body turns to dust beneath me. I wipe the dust from my perfect red lips.

"Back to earth," I muse to my self. I look up at Able, still preaning. He noticed I have finished and meets my eyes with his glowing green ones.

"Feel sustained?" he asks sarcastically. I am sure it was only said to irritate me because he would know the answer without my assistance.

"No," I respond annoyed. I pick myself up from the dust bellow me, a little disgusted. I hate touching the left overs. I clean my tall, lean, build from the remains. Then check to see if my black curls caught any of her debris.

"Are you ready to go, I would rather not be around when the Hunters sense your feed and come for their form of retribution," Able states. He is obviously no longer relaxed, his tail darts nervously and his green eyes flash gold.

"Of course, no need to fight the dander," I sighed. I get up and trot to catch up to Able. Who did not wait for an answer and was already a few feet away from where he sat previously.