(Titleless for now)

Prologue1

A vampire standing in a church.  Maybe an unusual sight, but not for this one.  A small grin flitted across his pale, flawless face.  He ran a white hand through his black hair as his other hand gently found the shot glass that he pulled from his pocket.  It was his only reminder of what he had once been before he had been turned; a worthless, lazy drunk.  Now his face was always smooth and his eyes were clear of bloodshot veins.  But that was all in the past.  Now he had power and control…and didn’t have to worry about his body being addicted to useless substances like that. He walked silently in the dark church, his feet never making a sound.  He paused and dipped his glass into the holy water.2

“Fucking bless me,” he muttered and swallowed it in one gulp.  He shivered as the water burned all the way down, making his throat raw, and a bit of smoke drifted between his smiling lips as if he were being burned.3

“Who’s there?” an old, hoarse voice called out.4

The vampire was mildly irritated that someone had already caught note of his presence.  He shook his head as he stuck the glass back in his coat pocket. He would have to make this quick. 5

He drifted through the shadows quickly towards the sound of the old man’s breathing.  He slunk up behind the old man, drawing the switchblade from his pocket.  He didn’t even bother speaking with the old man before he killed him.  Why bother?  Just kill and leave; that was his policy.  So he slit the old man’s throat with one quick slice of the blade.  He threw him to the ground and pounced on his bleeding throat.  The blood burst into his mouth and burned his tongue.  He drew back for a moment and then laughed.6

“Ah father, we are not as holy as we say, now are we?  Only sinner’s blood burns, you fucking bastard.”7

He managed to drink him dry, but the blood burned all the way down.8

Chapter 19

“Max,” he said, staring into the mirror at the pale face and the big, green eyes, the only color on his face other than his lips, which still had a reddish tone to them.10

“Max, that’s my name.  That’s who I am.  I’m still Max…still Max.”11

He looked down at the dead girl on the floor.  Her throat was a gaping slit of ragged flesh.  A little blood was staining the floor.  He hadn’t even known her name, but it didn’t matter.  He had to follow the policy; just kill and leave.12

He put on his tattered leather jacket and looked back in the mirror.  The tan of his face was back.  His hands were their normal color now too.  He looked normal now.  Yes…normal.  He looked back at the dead girl; grimaced…left his dorm room, locked the door behind him.  He would dispose of her later.   Right now he had to get to class.  What a loss though…she had been some good sex, considering they had been drunk…13

He strolled swiftly to his art class with new drawing ideas twitching through his mind.  Gruesome images of naked women laying mutilated on the ground, with him holding—14

“Hey Max.”15

He responded immediately to that voice, his knees feeling a little weak.  It was the one who had turned him.16

He was standing there under that same tree outside of the main building.  Light between the leaves played across his white face, and the smile twisting his pale lips was friendly.  He must be in a good mood, Max thought hopefully.17

Max looked quietly at the man who had turned him.18

“Sit with me for a moment, Max.  You’ve got five minutes still.” The sun glinted on his fangs as he spoke.  They were useless nowadays, since most vampires used knives to slit their victim’s throat instead of their teeth.  It was much quicker that way.19

Max sat obediently next to him.20

“Yesterday, when I was in the main office, there was a girl there.  She said she was looking for you.  I told her I knew you, and I’d be happy to set up a lunch date for you two,” he said grinning slyly.21

“Who was it?  What did she look like?  Did she say what she wanted?”22

He laughed at Max.  “Ah Max, I’m surprised that you are so surprised.  You are a ladies man, the girls are all over you.  Why would one girl matter?”23

“Just tell me who it was,” Max persisted.24

“She said her name was Jess.  She was in a hurry, didn’t have the time to stop and chat.  That’s all she said.”25

Max was quiet for a moment, searching his memory for that name.26

“She was small, as in petite, skinny, your height almost, pale, green eyes, long brown hair, dark clothes…” He paused smiling. “Yes I’m very observant.”27

Max rolled his eyes.28

“Well, I have eyes, why not use them?” he said with a wave of his hand.29

Max stared off thoughtfully, his gaze moving only to look at a passing pretty girl.30

“Jess?”31

“Well, that’s what she said.  I’m assuming it was Jessica, but she was in a hurry.”32

“Is she coming here today?”33

“Yeah…I told her I’d introduce you at lunch.”34

Max stood up.  “Okay, see you then Johnny.”35

Johnny watched Max walk away.  A perfect creation, almost as perfect as himself.  His skin was tan from feeding, tan like he had been before he was turned.  Max was his favorite creature.  Johnny had been fascinated with those green eyes of his…vampire eyes on a human, who had seen such things?!  He had had to have him.36

And now this girl, coming to look for him.  She seemed like another perfect prospect.  She had seemed desperate to see Max like…love…  But he could make any girl love him.  She would fall willingly into his arms.37

Chapter 238

Johnny found her in the office again.  He had been thinking about her hungrily all day.  She was waiting in the college’s main office, just where he had told her.  She was obedient, like Max.39

Johnny gave her a friendly smile, even risked letting his two fangs show.  He assumed she was a typical vampire fanatic and would probably be more overjoyed at the sight of sharp canine teeth then shocked.  She didn’t seem to care though, just twirled her hair in her fingers as she looked around nervously, flashing him a weak smile.40

He approached her cautiously, judging how he should act around her.  He decided not to hold her arm, like he would do with most girls to flatter them.  He chose casual over charming and shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered up to her.  She seemed to relax a bit, his pose must be something familiar.41

He smiled and said, “Come on, I told Max to meet us for lunch.”42

She stood up and walked quietly next to him.  He watched her fumble for something to say, but she seemed at a loss for words.  He spoke for her.43

“Nervous?”44

She looked up at him, startled by his voice.45

“Well…a little bit.”46

“Don’t worry, Max is a great guy.”47

“I know that.”48

“How?”49

“We used to know each other back in high school.  Then we got split up…it’s a long story.”50

“Ah.”51

They walked the rest of the way in silence.  Johnny was already pleased with this catch…she would make a lovely little vamp.52