The Night Child's Story
The Night Child’s Story
Chapter 1
The last thing I remember as a mundane was the bite. The first thing as a night child that I remember was the scar. The sensation that has never left me is the unquenchable thirst and the -first sharp now dull- pain in my throat. They have always called me a loner it is awkward to live with other night children. They are loud and humans would never come -not if they even had a clue at what lived there- they made sure the humans would never find them.
A night child changed me the month before my 21st birthday. I found the group of night children on the 17th day of my rebirth. I never quite felt like I belonged with them. I was violent with my kind and many others were dead because of me. The others told me to leave to prevent more deaths.
After living there for fifty-five years, I left. I had no one to stay with, nowhere to go. I became the serial killer in each city to which I traveled. There would be a murder every week. They suspected a SK because it was people in their prime age twenty one- twenty five. That was when a human’s blood was the strongest, most filling, and healthiest.
Many night children feared me. I was much stronger than they were. If any one of them came into the city I was feeding in, they would be dead with every one else in the morning. After a couple decades of hunting in back alleys, abandoned warehouses, and other places someone might go to be alone I started luring people to me. A mundane to be the age of twenty-two would be dead the next morning. It was stupid really to be out there with them.
They began to walk in groups thinking the killer was going to be out every night. I knew I could have taken one or two on easily but not five. I was slowly dying without blood to drink. I took for the outer city -the animals might have something for me- there was nothing there but what looked like mummified dogs. I drank them anyway. They had little supply, but a lot of it was diseased. My body kept me well but still demanded blood, what supply I had was just not enough.
I took to the most remote places I could think of, old cars, even warehouses. It is there that my story starts.
* * *
“Marvin, get in here.” A big burly man yelled.
“This place is filled with loads of junk; I got to get through it all first.” Marvin appeared through a hole in one of the boxes. ‘These people were strange after fifty years of wandering around -living off animals with no mundane in sight, everybody was strange.’ I thought. I leaped through the window not caring if they saw me.
“Hey, who are you?” Marvin questioned. I walked silently forward.
‘Why should I answer you? You would not understand.’ I thought. I stared at him, my fangs swelling. I checked with my tongue. ‘I hate this,’ I thought ‘This is not fun for me.’ As I walked towards him, the other man ran to a corner of the building. I would leave him alive for now. I shifted my gaze back to Marvin. I Gazed and then frowned, I shifted forward. Marvin screamed. Before he could throw his knife, my mouth was at his neck
I leaned towards his neck and sank my fangs in. I cradled the corps. Within minuets, my meal was finished. I removed my fangs from Marvin’s neck. The corners of my mouth dripped with blood. The man that was hiding behind the crates ran from the building from fear, mumbling, out of his mind. I felt my strength return.
‘I think that I will stay here tonight.’ I did not bother to wash off the blood. No one had seen me anyway. I spent that night up in the dark rafters foolishly thinking that maybe someone would come looking for them.
A stray ray of light crept along the wall, fell to the floor, and rested on the pale white, bloodless corps. ‘What time is it? Should the sun even be up yet? Why am I still here?’ I silently dropped to the ground next to the dead.
Walking to the window I came through, I dropped Marvin’s knife just inside the window. The cops would find the body and the knife. ‘They can assume anything they want to for all I care.’ I left the crime scene with a smile. ‘They will never find the murder; they need prints for I am dead and have no fingerprints.’
Chapter 2
By midday, the warehouse is far from my mind. I made for the south side of the city. There were more people to blend with. There was a beautiful mundane girl about to walk into a store. “Excuse me ma’am, could you tell me where the nearest hotel is?
“Sure thing mister, it is about two blocks north, and then three buildings left of that. You shouldn’t miss it, it’s called The Plaza.”
“Thank you very much ma’am.” I turned and walked away. On the way, I was studying others seeing how they acted in a big city. ‘Well they act much different then they did fifty years ago.’ As I neared the turn I looked around me again and realized there were very few people around me, ‘this could not be right’ I thought. ‘Where is the Hotel?’
‘I will have to thank Julia. She did very well this time.’
‘Oh crap, night child.’ The only thoughts I could here were other night children and animals because of what my diet consists of. This was bad, very bad. ‘This one thinks I am a mundane.’
I walked forwards with confidence. I saw a flash of movement. In addition, my nose picked up the scent of silk and denim. ‘Jeans it could be a man or woman. Then again silk is only worn by women here’. I heard the soft thud of stilettos landing on the sidewalk that I was. It was clear enough that she was about four squares behind me. Before I could protect myself or turn to show, I was a night child also. I felt fangs along my throat. “You’re not a mundane.”
“No I am not. Now if you could just point me in the direction of the hotel. I would be pleased.”
“You got a name mister?” The female seemed intent on knowing who I was.
“Yeah I got a name” I did not plan on giving it to her though.
“Well, what is it mister?” Would this woman not leave me alone.
“Fine, If I tell you will you leave me alone?” I looked at her with annoyance.
“Of course, I’m not one to annoy on purpose.” She smiled slyly.
‘It is not nice to read another’s thoughts.’
“Sorry mister won’t happen again.” She had a lovely smile.
“Will you quit calling me mister.” I hoped I seemed angry and not smug that she had good manners.
“I would but I still don’t know your name.” She gave me a smirk.
‘Cocky isn’t she,’ I thought. “I apologize ma’am, my name is Xavier.
“You’re him.” She seemed in awe. ‘You’re the night child who went missing fifty years ago.’ I started to walk away. ‘How did you get blood? You were out in the wilderness.’
Go away mind speaker.’ I kept walking.
‘Oh come on I am not going to run around telling everyone you are back. Please I just want to know.’
‘I do not want to go back to my past there are things that should stay locked away.’
‘Fine do you want anything to eat I am sure Julia has sent someone else this way.’
“No thank you.” I said kindly. ‘I already ate last night.’
‘Some of your mystery blood I presume?’ She questioned.
‘No ma’am it was just a person on the north side of the city.’ I said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I have to go find the hotel now goodbye.
* * *
I wandered around the south side for about an hour before I realized I was traveling in circles. ‘How long have you been following me?’
‘How many times have you passed that construction sign? I believe four times.’ She snickered.
‘I have a good explanation, I was thinking.’
‘What about mister, your past?’ ‘I’m one of you, surly you can tell me.’
‘I simply do not want to talk about it. It is part of my past and the past is gone. Drop it and leave me alone.’
‘Fine, be like that. I was just trying to-’
‘Annoy me to death, no pun intended.’ I interrupted and walked away with anger burning in my eyes.
In the distance, I heard singing. “Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining.” The steeple of a church was in the distance. The mundane holy groups thought they were so smart. The thought of the myth that the oldest night children made up so the mundane race would think there was actually a few ways to have us killed. The only way to kill us is to cut our head off and burn it so the brain can no longer control the body. The mundane race disposes of the body somewhere away from the main cities.
‘That is quite strange. I do not remember letting you come along for the walk.’ A black cat walked right by me, it had been following me for around 15 minuets.
‘Meow’ the little one could read my thoughts.
‘Why little one can I not bring myself to drink your blood,’ I asked the feline.
‘Meow,’ was the reply I received from her,
‘Oh that is great news of course you would not know and why am I talking to you in the first place you are a cat. Thankfully, it is not close to Halloween. I would not want you running away because I am cursed. Oh well, I believe I am already cursed.’ I bent down and scratched her between the ears.
‘Prrrrr,’ this cat liked affection. I sat down on a park bench and the little one came, jumped up and settled in my lap. The park was almost empty aside from the few pigeons scurrying around looking fir worms and such.
‘Do you have a name little one? Where are your owners?’
‘Meow.’
‘I will respect your wishes young Sasha, as of the other question?’
Sasha Prrrrr’d sadly. ‘Oh, you have none. I am sorry. So how are you, street cat Sasha?’
‘Prrrrr, Meow!’
‘Ah yes I suppose I should tell you my name shouldn’t I? My name is Xavier.
Meow?
‘That sounds fun. Of course I would love to join you’
‘Prrrrr.’
‘Oh the joy this should be fun.’ Sasha and I hopped up from the park bench. She was going to show me all the back alleys and dead ends that people abandoned and had colonies of mice living in them. Sasha led the way. Now I know what you are thinking. No, I do not find joy in killing and sucking blood from creatures and unaware humans.
The fact that I had somebody to spend time with was what made me happy.
We tried to get there quite fast for there was a mean dog on the loose and had been terrorizing Sasha for a week. We got to the neighborhood where the loose dog was. Then it was upon us for it smelled Sasha.
Then the dog turned and looked at me. I gave a low growl towards the dog. My ultra green eyes pierced into him. The large Doberman took one look into my eyes and turned head over heals, tail tucked between legs, and ran away. ‘Well you shouldn’t have any more problems with him’
‘Prrrrr.’
‘You’re very welcome. If you do have any more problems, you tell me immediately.
‘Meow?’
‘Of course I will help, those biggest rats can sometimes be the fastest and best tasting.’ Sasha sauntered her way to what seemed a slit in the wall. At one time, a mundane had made a small hole in the wall -big enough for only one mundane at a time or in my case a night child. It had to be centuries old the hole was crumbling into itself.
‘You had better be careful going through there you could get hurt. ‘Mew.’
‘Sassy little Sasha, you are not indestructible like myself. Shall we venture into an old place and hunt unseen together.
‘Prrrrr.’ So we went to hunt together that evening.
Chapter 3
It felt like the old days again, slinking through the darkness with a friend to go find lunch. Over the next couple of weeks Sasha and I stuffed ourselves -me with rat blood and her with rats themselves. The first time she watched me feed she backed away slowly hovering in the shadows. I spent the next three hours soothing her small but fast beating heart by telling her over and over again that I only drink the blood of small rodents, birds, and wild dogs. A cat or Kitten has so much beauty in them. I cannot bring myself to take them away from their life of bliss.
‘Mew?’
‘Even if you were an old cat I would never lay a fang on you. I would neither lay a hand on you in a threatening way. You are too much of a beauty to let die. As well as all of this you are my friend. I cannot kill a friend.’
She never thought twice about being in the same room as me when I ate any meal after our conversation. It was not what they say now -love at first site- but more so as a life-long-friend at first sight. Through weeks she became the closest friend I ever had. We took the agreement that we would share the space she found as long as she was able to have the window seat. If it was too cold for her at night I would go to our hunting place -the central park. If I were to miss a feeding session because I was remodeling our place, She would catch a small robin or pigeon to present to me.
* * *
A month… I had been living in a mundane society for a month. To me it was the most amazing thing. First of all I bought the old house Sasha had showed me. Secondly I had a close friend. As well as a companion I had a long lasting supply of food. For me life was bliss.
Originally the place we got through ended up being in the basement with one window. I nailed six tow by fours across the opening we came through so there would be no unexpected visitors. I went up-stairs to the first floor to find that there was another set of stairs at the end of the hall. I couldn’t believe my luck: two stories, a basement and a small attic. I claimed the second story the windows were smaller and it had the only full bath. For Sasha the only couple of places she used was the large window seat a rocking chair I bought and the bathroom. I invested in a litter box for when she was inside.
It was my plan to live here peacefully for a year or two then find a different nesting spot.
* * *
On Thursday the 26th of July, in the afternoon I was awoken by a sudden commotion close to the back door, the hinges creaked with the wind. ‘Sasha are you in here?’
‘Mew’ Came the pitiful cry. I flipped through the air in my room landing on my feet -for I slept in the attic on the rafters it was better on my back- and sped through the opening on the back wall we called our door.
‘Sasha! Where are you?’ Then I smelt him, a dog catcher. I rounded the corner at a neutral speed then I spotted Sasha. “Please release Sasha sir.” The dog catcher looked rather angry.
“Are you this cats’ owner? The man asked.
“Yes, we were just taking a walk she loves eating the rats around here. I apologize; she has no collar to her name sir.” The man gave me a growl and mumbled something about people and their pets.
“At least keep her within your sight and put a collar on her before she runs away. Man, I don’t get paid enough for this job.” The man released Sasha and she limped towards me. The fur on her leg looked as if it was pasted to her and I could smell the saliva and blood from where she was standing. She tried to walk faster as to get away from the man.
“Wait.” I said with anger in my voice. “What has happened to my Sasha?” I took three steps closer to the man.
“Hey, hey wait a minuet.” He backed up three steps. “Your cat looked like this when I grabbed her. That’s another reason I thought she was a stray.”
“I am going to be as nice about this as possible. I do not want you to touch her or even look at her it would appease me if you were to leave as soon as possible.” He backed up a couple more steps. “I said you should leave. Now!” The man ran to his car and gunned the engine.
When he was gone Sasha looked at me with her yellow eyes. ‘Mew.’ Then she started across the street once again.
‘Sasha I do not understand what you mean by Doberman.’ Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. ‘Where is he Sasha? I will tear the teeth that he bit you with out of his mouth. I will then treat him as the hunted. I will make sure that he will fear; he will no longer be the hunter. I can promise you that.
“Meow” She spoke with firmness.
“Oh my I almost forgot I need to get you to a vets office. It is getting close to dusk and I will be okay to travel.” So we set off to the only other creature I knew in this city. Unfortunately we did not get off on the right foot when we met. It was very dark outside when I made it to the ally where she lived. I made sure not to pick up my feet so she would hear me coming.
‘Julia is that you? I have to say that I am very pleased with your work this month.’
‘Unfortunately it is not Julia. I have to ask you for your help.’
‘Well it’s about time you came back and talked to me Xavier. What do you need help with?’
‘Where is the nearest veterinarians clinic? ‘
‘Well gosh are you that hungry?’
‘Please this is not a joke this is important.’ I held the shallow breathing Sasha into one of the dull street lights. The female Night child licked her lips and I growled under my breath. I hissed a warning then said, “You take one suck of blood or one bite of her I will rip your head off and burn it.” Her eyes snapped open and apologized.
“Call me Heather. The hospital is this way.” She started of at a fast pace but not one that was fast enough to jar Sasha.
‘Thank you Heather. Sasha means the world to me right now. A Doberman got hold of her. Thank you so much.’
‘Honestly you are the first night child to thank me about anything in a long time. We had been walking for 10 minuets without saying anything. ‘How is she holding up because we are almost there.’
‘She is doing ok her heart is still beating and her breathing is normal, I think. thank you for asking.’
‘We are here.’ She ran to the door and rang the bell. We both heard the creaking of a rocking chair three rooms away. Heather rang the doorbell twice this time.
“Hang on, hang on I’m getting there.” An older man yelled. “These impatient people need to learn some manners.” He huffed under his breath. The floor boards creaked under the weight of him. He was not an overweight man but this building was at least 50 years old. “What do y’all want?” His voice cracked on “want” when he pulled open the door and saw Sasha. “Bring the gal in lad, quickly now.” He lightly shut the door behind him.
“Heather…” I shied away from the man. It had been decades since I had been this close to a mundane that I was not about to eat. Sasha cried out in pain. The wound was starting to swell, it was all I could do not to clean the wound in front of the man.
“Heather! You promised me no more accidents.” The man looked alarmed at each of Sasha’s cries.
“It wasn’t me!” Heather whispered. “The male came to me asking for help. He said that is was urgent.” I shifted my weight cradling Sasha to look natural and nodded in agreement.
“Well son, if you know Heather and you’re not dead then you have to be a vampire like her. Don’t be worried about convincing me of your humanness. I hissed and barred my teeth. “I’m very sorry sir, I have many of y’all come in here and don’t care what I call them. You are a night child I presume then? I nodded my head in approval.
“Can you help Sasha?” I was moments away from shifting over to the corner on fear.
“I’ll see what I can do for her.” He was being polite even though I snapped at him earlier.
“Please, be careful with her.” I handed Sasha to him. He nodded in agreement. The man carried her to a small metal table and set her down.
Chapter 1
The last thing I remember as a mundane was the bite. The first thing as a night child that I remember was the scar. The sensation that has never left me is the unquenchable thirst and the -first sharp now dull- pain in my throat. They have always called me a loner it is awkward to live with other night children. They are loud and humans would never come -not if they even had a clue at what lived there- they made sure the humans would never find them.
A night child changed me the month before my 21st birthday. I found the group of night children on the 17th day of my rebirth. I never quite felt like I belonged with them. I was violent with my kind and many others were dead because of me. The others told me to leave to prevent more deaths.
After living there for fifty-five years, I left. I had no one to stay with, nowhere to go. I became the serial killer in each city to which I traveled. There would be a murder every week. They suspected a SK because it was people in their prime age twenty one- twenty five. That was when a human’s blood was the strongest, most filling, and healthiest.
Many night children feared me. I was much stronger than they were. If any one of them came into the city I was feeding in, they would be dead with every one else in the morning. After a couple decades of hunting in back alleys, abandoned warehouses, and other places someone might go to be alone I started luring people to me. A mundane to be the age of twenty-two would be dead the next morning. It was stupid really to be out there with them.
They began to walk in groups thinking the killer was going to be out every night. I knew I could have taken one or two on easily but not five. I was slowly dying without blood to drink. I took for the outer city -the animals might have something for me- there was nothing there but what looked like mummified dogs. I drank them anyway. They had little supply, but a lot of it was diseased. My body kept me well but still demanded blood, what supply I had was just not enough.
I took to the most remote places I could think of, old cars, even warehouses. It is there that my story starts.
* * *
“Marvin, get in here.” A big burly man yelled.
“This place is filled with loads of junk; I got to get through it all first.” Marvin appeared through a hole in one of the boxes. ‘These people were strange after fifty years of wandering around -living off animals with no mundane in sight, everybody was strange.’ I thought. I leaped through the window not caring if they saw me.
“Hey, who are you?” Marvin questioned. I walked silently forward.
‘Why should I answer you? You would not understand.’ I thought. I stared at him, my fangs swelling. I checked with my tongue. ‘I hate this,’ I thought ‘This is not fun for me.’ As I walked towards him, the other man ran to a corner of the building. I would leave him alive for now. I shifted my gaze back to Marvin. I Gazed and then frowned, I shifted forward. Marvin screamed. Before he could throw his knife, my mouth was at his neck
I leaned towards his neck and sank my fangs in. I cradled the corps. Within minuets, my meal was finished. I removed my fangs from Marvin’s neck. The corners of my mouth dripped with blood. The man that was hiding behind the crates ran from the building from fear, mumbling, out of his mind. I felt my strength return.
‘I think that I will stay here tonight.’ I did not bother to wash off the blood. No one had seen me anyway. I spent that night up in the dark rafters foolishly thinking that maybe someone would come looking for them.
A stray ray of light crept along the wall, fell to the floor, and rested on the pale white, bloodless corps. ‘What time is it? Should the sun even be up yet? Why am I still here?’ I silently dropped to the ground next to the dead.
Walking to the window I came through, I dropped Marvin’s knife just inside the window. The cops would find the body and the knife. ‘They can assume anything they want to for all I care.’ I left the crime scene with a smile. ‘They will never find the murder; they need prints for I am dead and have no fingerprints.’
Chapter 2
By midday, the warehouse is far from my mind. I made for the south side of the city. There were more people to blend with. There was a beautiful mundane girl about to walk into a store. “Excuse me ma’am, could you tell me where the nearest hotel is?
“Sure thing mister, it is about two blocks north, and then three buildings left of that. You shouldn’t miss it, it’s called The Plaza.”
“Thank you very much ma’am.” I turned and walked away. On the way, I was studying others seeing how they acted in a big city. ‘Well they act much different then they did fifty years ago.’ As I neared the turn I looked around me again and realized there were very few people around me, ‘this could not be right’ I thought. ‘Where is the Hotel?’
‘I will have to thank Julia. She did very well this time.’
‘Oh crap, night child.’ The only thoughts I could here were other night children and animals because of what my diet consists of. This was bad, very bad. ‘This one thinks I am a mundane.’
I walked forwards with confidence. I saw a flash of movement. In addition, my nose picked up the scent of silk and denim. ‘Jeans it could be a man or woman. Then again silk is only worn by women here’. I heard the soft thud of stilettos landing on the sidewalk that I was. It was clear enough that she was about four squares behind me. Before I could protect myself or turn to show, I was a night child also. I felt fangs along my throat. “You’re not a mundane.”
“No I am not. Now if you could just point me in the direction of the hotel. I would be pleased.”
“You got a name mister?” The female seemed intent on knowing who I was.
“Yeah I got a name” I did not plan on giving it to her though.
“Well, what is it mister?” Would this woman not leave me alone.
“Fine, If I tell you will you leave me alone?” I looked at her with annoyance.
“Of course, I’m not one to annoy on purpose.” She smiled slyly.
‘It is not nice to read another’s thoughts.’
“Sorry mister won’t happen again.” She had a lovely smile.
“Will you quit calling me mister.” I hoped I seemed angry and not smug that she had good manners.
“I would but I still don’t know your name.” She gave me a smirk.
‘Cocky isn’t she,’ I thought. “I apologize ma’am, my name is Xavier.
“You’re him.” She seemed in awe. ‘You’re the night child who went missing fifty years ago.’ I started to walk away. ‘How did you get blood? You were out in the wilderness.’
Go away mind speaker.’ I kept walking.
‘Oh come on I am not going to run around telling everyone you are back. Please I just want to know.’
‘I do not want to go back to my past there are things that should stay locked away.’
‘Fine do you want anything to eat I am sure Julia has sent someone else this way.’
“No thank you.” I said kindly. ‘I already ate last night.’
‘Some of your mystery blood I presume?’ She questioned.
‘No ma’am it was just a person on the north side of the city.’ I said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I have to go find the hotel now goodbye.
* * *
I wandered around the south side for about an hour before I realized I was traveling in circles. ‘How long have you been following me?’
‘How many times have you passed that construction sign? I believe four times.’ She snickered.
‘I have a good explanation, I was thinking.’
‘What about mister, your past?’ ‘I’m one of you, surly you can tell me.’
‘I simply do not want to talk about it. It is part of my past and the past is gone. Drop it and leave me alone.’
‘Fine, be like that. I was just trying to-’
‘Annoy me to death, no pun intended.’ I interrupted and walked away with anger burning in my eyes.
In the distance, I heard singing. “Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining.” The steeple of a church was in the distance. The mundane holy groups thought they were so smart. The thought of the myth that the oldest night children made up so the mundane race would think there was actually a few ways to have us killed. The only way to kill us is to cut our head off and burn it so the brain can no longer control the body. The mundane race disposes of the body somewhere away from the main cities.
‘That is quite strange. I do not remember letting you come along for the walk.’ A black cat walked right by me, it had been following me for around 15 minuets.
‘Meow’ the little one could read my thoughts.
‘Why little one can I not bring myself to drink your blood,’ I asked the feline.
‘Meow,’ was the reply I received from her,
‘Oh that is great news of course you would not know and why am I talking to you in the first place you are a cat. Thankfully, it is not close to Halloween. I would not want you running away because I am cursed. Oh well, I believe I am already cursed.’ I bent down and scratched her between the ears.
‘Prrrrr,’ this cat liked affection. I sat down on a park bench and the little one came, jumped up and settled in my lap. The park was almost empty aside from the few pigeons scurrying around looking fir worms and such.
‘Do you have a name little one? Where are your owners?’
‘Meow.’
‘I will respect your wishes young Sasha, as of the other question?’
Sasha Prrrrr’d sadly. ‘Oh, you have none. I am sorry. So how are you, street cat Sasha?’
‘Prrrrr, Meow!’
‘Ah yes I suppose I should tell you my name shouldn’t I? My name is Xavier.
Meow?
‘That sounds fun. Of course I would love to join you’
‘Prrrrr.’
‘Oh the joy this should be fun.’ Sasha and I hopped up from the park bench. She was going to show me all the back alleys and dead ends that people abandoned and had colonies of mice living in them. Sasha led the way. Now I know what you are thinking. No, I do not find joy in killing and sucking blood from creatures and unaware humans.
The fact that I had somebody to spend time with was what made me happy.
We tried to get there quite fast for there was a mean dog on the loose and had been terrorizing Sasha for a week. We got to the neighborhood where the loose dog was. Then it was upon us for it smelled Sasha.
Then the dog turned and looked at me. I gave a low growl towards the dog. My ultra green eyes pierced into him. The large Doberman took one look into my eyes and turned head over heals, tail tucked between legs, and ran away. ‘Well you shouldn’t have any more problems with him’
‘Prrrrr.’
‘You’re very welcome. If you do have any more problems, you tell me immediately.
‘Meow?’
‘Of course I will help, those biggest rats can sometimes be the fastest and best tasting.’ Sasha sauntered her way to what seemed a slit in the wall. At one time, a mundane had made a small hole in the wall -big enough for only one mundane at a time or in my case a night child. It had to be centuries old the hole was crumbling into itself.
‘You had better be careful going through there you could get hurt. ‘Mew.’
‘Sassy little Sasha, you are not indestructible like myself. Shall we venture into an old place and hunt unseen together.
‘Prrrrr.’ So we went to hunt together that evening.
Chapter 3
It felt like the old days again, slinking through the darkness with a friend to go find lunch. Over the next couple of weeks Sasha and I stuffed ourselves -me with rat blood and her with rats themselves. The first time she watched me feed she backed away slowly hovering in the shadows. I spent the next three hours soothing her small but fast beating heart by telling her over and over again that I only drink the blood of small rodents, birds, and wild dogs. A cat or Kitten has so much beauty in them. I cannot bring myself to take them away from their life of bliss.
‘Mew?’
‘Even if you were an old cat I would never lay a fang on you. I would neither lay a hand on you in a threatening way. You are too much of a beauty to let die. As well as all of this you are my friend. I cannot kill a friend.’
She never thought twice about being in the same room as me when I ate any meal after our conversation. It was not what they say now -love at first site- but more so as a life-long-friend at first sight. Through weeks she became the closest friend I ever had. We took the agreement that we would share the space she found as long as she was able to have the window seat. If it was too cold for her at night I would go to our hunting place -the central park. If I were to miss a feeding session because I was remodeling our place, She would catch a small robin or pigeon to present to me.
* * *
A month… I had been living in a mundane society for a month. To me it was the most amazing thing. First of all I bought the old house Sasha had showed me. Secondly I had a close friend. As well as a companion I had a long lasting supply of food. For me life was bliss.
Originally the place we got through ended up being in the basement with one window. I nailed six tow by fours across the opening we came through so there would be no unexpected visitors. I went up-stairs to the first floor to find that there was another set of stairs at the end of the hall. I couldn’t believe my luck: two stories, a basement and a small attic. I claimed the second story the windows were smaller and it had the only full bath. For Sasha the only couple of places she used was the large window seat a rocking chair I bought and the bathroom. I invested in a litter box for when she was inside.
It was my plan to live here peacefully for a year or two then find a different nesting spot.
* * *
On Thursday the 26th of July, in the afternoon I was awoken by a sudden commotion close to the back door, the hinges creaked with the wind. ‘Sasha are you in here?’
‘Mew’ Came the pitiful cry. I flipped through the air in my room landing on my feet -for I slept in the attic on the rafters it was better on my back- and sped through the opening on the back wall we called our door.
‘Sasha! Where are you?’ Then I smelt him, a dog catcher. I rounded the corner at a neutral speed then I spotted Sasha. “Please release Sasha sir.” The dog catcher looked rather angry.
“Are you this cats’ owner? The man asked.
“Yes, we were just taking a walk she loves eating the rats around here. I apologize; she has no collar to her name sir.” The man gave me a growl and mumbled something about people and their pets.
“At least keep her within your sight and put a collar on her before she runs away. Man, I don’t get paid enough for this job.” The man released Sasha and she limped towards me. The fur on her leg looked as if it was pasted to her and I could smell the saliva and blood from where she was standing. She tried to walk faster as to get away from the man.
“Wait.” I said with anger in my voice. “What has happened to my Sasha?” I took three steps closer to the man.
“Hey, hey wait a minuet.” He backed up three steps. “Your cat looked like this when I grabbed her. That’s another reason I thought she was a stray.”
“I am going to be as nice about this as possible. I do not want you to touch her or even look at her it would appease me if you were to leave as soon as possible.” He backed up a couple more steps. “I said you should leave. Now!” The man ran to his car and gunned the engine.
When he was gone Sasha looked at me with her yellow eyes. ‘Mew.’ Then she started across the street once again.
‘Sasha I do not understand what you mean by Doberman.’ Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. ‘Where is he Sasha? I will tear the teeth that he bit you with out of his mouth. I will then treat him as the hunted. I will make sure that he will fear; he will no longer be the hunter. I can promise you that.
“Meow” She spoke with firmness.
“Oh my I almost forgot I need to get you to a vets office. It is getting close to dusk and I will be okay to travel.” So we set off to the only other creature I knew in this city. Unfortunately we did not get off on the right foot when we met. It was very dark outside when I made it to the ally where she lived. I made sure not to pick up my feet so she would hear me coming.
‘Julia is that you? I have to say that I am very pleased with your work this month.’
‘Unfortunately it is not Julia. I have to ask you for your help.’
‘Well it’s about time you came back and talked to me Xavier. What do you need help with?’
‘Where is the nearest veterinarians clinic? ‘
‘Well gosh are you that hungry?’
‘Please this is not a joke this is important.’ I held the shallow breathing Sasha into one of the dull street lights. The female Night child licked her lips and I growled under my breath. I hissed a warning then said, “You take one suck of blood or one bite of her I will rip your head off and burn it.” Her eyes snapped open and apologized.
“Call me Heather. The hospital is this way.” She started of at a fast pace but not one that was fast enough to jar Sasha.
‘Thank you Heather. Sasha means the world to me right now. A Doberman got hold of her. Thank you so much.’
‘Honestly you are the first night child to thank me about anything in a long time. We had been walking for 10 minuets without saying anything. ‘How is she holding up because we are almost there.’
‘She is doing ok her heart is still beating and her breathing is normal, I think. thank you for asking.’
‘We are here.’ She ran to the door and rang the bell. We both heard the creaking of a rocking chair three rooms away. Heather rang the doorbell twice this time.
“Hang on, hang on I’m getting there.” An older man yelled. “These impatient people need to learn some manners.” He huffed under his breath. The floor boards creaked under the weight of him. He was not an overweight man but this building was at least 50 years old. “What do y’all want?” His voice cracked on “want” when he pulled open the door and saw Sasha. “Bring the gal in lad, quickly now.” He lightly shut the door behind him.
“Heather…” I shied away from the man. It had been decades since I had been this close to a mundane that I was not about to eat. Sasha cried out in pain. The wound was starting to swell, it was all I could do not to clean the wound in front of the man.
“Heather! You promised me no more accidents.” The man looked alarmed at each of Sasha’s cries.
“It wasn’t me!” Heather whispered. “The male came to me asking for help. He said that is was urgent.” I shifted my weight cradling Sasha to look natural and nodded in agreement.
“Well son, if you know Heather and you’re not dead then you have to be a vampire like her. Don’t be worried about convincing me of your humanness. I hissed and barred my teeth. “I’m very sorry sir, I have many of y’all come in here and don’t care what I call them. You are a night child I presume then? I nodded my head in approval.
“Can you help Sasha?” I was moments away from shifting over to the corner on fear.
“I’ll see what I can do for her.” He was being polite even though I snapped at him earlier.
“Please, be careful with her.” I handed Sasha to him. He nodded in agreement. The man carried her to a small metal table and set her down.
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