Part 1: The Love of a Vampire

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Hikre's breath came in short, angry gaspes. His large wings beat in perfect synchronization to his breathing. His head echoed with his parent's angrily shouted words. 2

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"What do you mean, you won't marry Kirstali? She's a perfectly good vampiress...and she has pure bloodlines. Not a drop of mortal blood in her!" His father had said, waving his arms with rage.4

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"Son, you must think about what you are doing." His mother spoke up. "Look at your poor father...you've upset him quite badly. Now, tell us, why have you refused to marry Kirstali, the vampiress that we have chosen for you, and one of the most desired vampiresses of the underworld? What more could you possibly wish for in your mate?"6

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"But, mother...you don't understand. I do not love her...I don't even know her! How can you expect me to choose for a mate someone that I do not love?" He tried arguing.8

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"Love? Surely you would not speak about love!" His father's face was now red, and his shouting had increased in volume. "Love is what killed your sister! Remember? She 'fell in love,' and look where it got her!"10

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"I don't care what you say! I will not let you force me to take a mate of one whom I myself do not choose! I, and only I, will be able to truly find my one true love, and it is she that I shall take as my mate...no one else."12

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"What?" His father shouted, more enraged than ever now. "You shall do as we say or...or you shall no longer be the heir to the vampire throne! Now, if you wish to have your inheritance, I suggest that you apologize to Kirstali for the scene you created earlier, and ask her to be your mate. Well?"14

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Hikre looked at his father, and knew that he could not do as he said. "I am sorry, father, but I cannot. If you wish to take away my throne, so be it. I am leaving, and I will not come back until you see the truth in my words. I wish you peace."16

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"No! Son, wait!" His mother had cried, as he took to the skies. "Where will you go? How will you get by? Don't leave us!"18

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He thought about turning back, and almost did. But then he heard his father's voice rise above his mother's frantic pleas.20

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"Fine then! Leave us! Have we raised you only to betray us now? Leave then! I care not. But know that if you leave now, you will never be coming back. Do you understand, Hikre? Never come back!"22

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And with that, Hikre had flown, higher and higher into the sky until he had no longer been able to see his parents. He was leaving of his own choice, and he was not coming back.24

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Hikre was now in the mortal world, more alone than he had ever been in his life. His parents had disinherited him. He had lost his throne. He was banished from the underworld. Yet he felt more free than he ever had before. Perhaps...perhaps this would not be so bad a change.26

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He had to admit, he would greatly miss his kind, caring mother, so gentle in everything that she said and did. And he knew that, in his heart, he would miss his father as well, even though he was a sour, prickly old man, who had delighted in nothing more than ordering him about.28

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Hikre was surprised as he felt a drop of moisture on his cheek. A tear. He was crying. Crying for the stubborness of his father. Crying for his heartbroken mother. Crying for the life he had lost.30

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Suddenly, he heard the most beautiful sound that had ever reached his ears. Somewhere, not far below him, a girl was singing.32

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Hikre swooped down near the ground, landing with a skilled grace. He quickly hurried behind a tree to hide himself, and he was not a moment too soon.34

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At almost the exact same moment that he made it behind the tree, the girl came into view. Hikre felt his heart leap as he saw the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. 36

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She had shoulder-length black hair with lavender streaks. Her eyes, a bright emerald green, were shining in the dim moonlight. Her flawless skin was a warm tan, and her body was graced with luscious curves. She was perfect.38

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And her singing was just as perfect. Her eyes closed slightly as she hit each high note with an amazing ease. Each perfect, melodious note stirred Hikre's heart. He knew that he would never hear anything even close to as amazing as this mortal's voice. He wanted nothing more than to hear it for the rest of his life.40

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He suddenly knew, without a single doubt, that he was in love. This mortal's beauty, her voice, the song she was singing...it was all too much, and his head spun. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe. He became lightheaded, and had to lean against the tree for support. His heart had been stolen, and there would be no getting it back.42

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As the girl began to move past him, he reached into one of the hollows of his cloak. Pulling out a small black pouch, he dumped the contents, a gold glitter-like substance, into his hand. Taking a deep breath, he blew it in the direction of the girl, and watched as it settled upon her.44

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He smiled, satisfied, as the girl moved out of his sight. He had covered her with his dream dust; he would now be able to visit her in her dreams. He could not wait for this beautiful mortal who had captured his heart to fall asleep. For he knew that as soon as she did...her affection would be one step closer to being won.46

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But for now, he stepped out from behind the tree; he had no need for cover anymore. Unfolding his wings, he tested them quickly before leaping into the air and taking off.48

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He didn't know exactly where he was going, but he did know one thing. He could not leave this town until he had either earned this goddes-like girl's love, or be utterly discouraged by her. For now, he had simply to find a place that would hide him from the mortals come morning.50

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He, as a vampire, had the powers to disguise himself as a normal mortal, but it was wearying to do so often. So he decided to refrain from doing so tonight. He needed to save his energy for now.52

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He suddenly spotted a small shack, placed in what seemed to be a very odd spot. It was surrounded only be forest, and there were no houses nearby. Hikre did not want to question this; he was just glad that he had found shelter.54

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Swooping in towards the shack, he landed on top of it and listened for any sounds of human life from withing. Hearing nothing, he decided that it was safe for him to enter. He jumped off, using his wings to slow his momentum enough that it would not hurt as he landed.56

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He slowly opened the door of the shack and peeked in. "Hello? Does anyone dwell here?" He asked. There was no answer.58

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Taking this as a good sign, Hikre eased the door open the rest of the way and stepped inside. There was no light, save for that of the moon shining through one dirty window. But Hikre was accustomed to the dark, and had brilliant night vision.60

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He looked around, and saw that it was hardly furnished at all. A small cot lay in one corner of the room, with an equally small table and a single chair in another.62

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He walked to the corner which held the cot, wincing as the floorboards creaked. He was sure that this shack was abandoned, but he still didn't like to make much noise, just by habit.64

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He slowly eased himself down onto the cots. He was exhausted, and he wanted to wait for the beautiful mortal to sleep so that he would already be in her mind when she was there. He closed his eyes, and slowly drifted to sleep. His last thought before he was overcome by sleep was that he would soon be talking to his beautiful mortal.66

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