THE BEASTS OF THE WOODS HOWL

PART III. HUNGER IS A CURSE.

Most clans across Balveria express contempt for feasting on humans. A savage practice to be left in the past along with the prejudice vampires suffered. Now they are free to shape the future in their own image, disregarding human tradition, and therefore disregarding human existence altogether. For centuries humans delivered that monstrous vampire narrative. Once Belveria rose, though, it was essential to erase it from history in order to develop a new narrative for vampires alike: one where vampires not only possessed enhanced abilities and features that make them superior to humans, but also to remove passion's wildness which too may be perceived as wicked and violent. This could not be entertained anymore, and so humans and vampires severed ties across borders and removed each other from their bounty lists.

Well, ideally. But it has been known that humans cross over the border to burn down towns, with children and families, for sport. So they may return home and be called brave. And it is known that once in a while a human may stumble upon a vampire shrivelled up from the thirst, in need. Accidents happen all the time. Aleksander was no exception.

What he didn't know was the enormous power human blood gave vampires. It's possible that power is another reason human blood is off the menu. Once a vampire starts feeding off a human, it's like trying to stop a runaway train.

Now a grey corpse, the traveller lay half under the snow bed with a melted face and bloodless. Little Red lost in the woods. Little red, did you suffer much? Little red, did you make it to grandmother's house?

Aleksander wiped his mouth, idly watching the sun crest the sparkling mountains. He took a deep breath. Never had such energy filled him before, making his eyes color crimson. His lips and cheeks flushed rose. His mind, though, was no longer his own.

Bad wolf, are you satisfied yet? Bad wolf, have you become the beast yet?

More blood, he needed more. A hammering bothered his head, and a restlessness tingled his legs. He wanted to bound to each mountain tip, claim each wood as his own. This was how vampires should feel everyday of their lives. Oh, they could conquer this world and the next and the starlight could only watch and wait its turn

Turning back to the corpse, Aleksander knelt down and took from the body the knife that nearly pierced his chest, the canteen, the jerky, and the fur cloak to replace his shredded one from the Citadel. Placing each item on his person he set forth back to the mountain pass and as he did so the looming trees stared down, each a pair of eyes to witness the wicked lengths survival brings sentient beings to commit.

Stretching his body as he walked, he recognized that his broken arm has healed and his bruised body returned to a peach color. This was the gift given by human blood, Aleksander thought. But the consequences were not beyond him. He craved more, but he couldn't bring himself want animal or chimera blood. No, only human would do. In the vampire's nation, though, it would be impossible. There was nobody to feed on, and as time passed the blood seemed to spike every instinct until they shadowed his ability to think like a storm cloud blacks out the sun.

Aleksander squeezed his eyes closed and rubbed his temples. He had to focus. The beast still lurked in the pass, he was sure. Only this time, he would have the strength to take it down.

Just as before, the mountain pass' rocky sides screamed against the wind. Between them, snow flurries danced in their strange cloud current upward and into the sun. The air sparkled and gave way to new visibility. The Beast stalked along one rocky mountain side, white fur bristling in the hushing wind. It was clearer to see how the chimera was patched together with pieces of normal animals. It's hulking body resembled that of an overgrown grizzly bear with white fur. It's lion tail whipped around smoothly, brushing the top surface of snow. However, the muzzle on the bear like head was scaly and elongated like an archaic dragon, and in it's jowls hung a fleshy ligament from it's lunch.