Chances Are?

-Foreword-


Somehow or someway, you have found out something you shouldn’t have. I should kill you were you stand to protect not only my family, but my race as well. Still, you must be an inquisitive mortal to have not only found us out, but also had the courage to seek me out. I guess we need no introductions, but for edict sake, I will go through the formalities. I am Michele Gloria Du’Pree, and yes, I am a Vampire in a sense. But for the rest of this conversation, however, I will refer to us as “Immortals”, thank you.

We should not be having this talk you know, and more than likely, I will take the memories of it once I have indulged myself a bit. Still it is the least I can do since you have shown both courage and ingenuity in not only discovering the truth, but also finding me. Normally, I would not be so forgiving. But for tonight I feel generous for some strange reason. So, where to begin? Well, I guess I can start with the basics and let you in on the really juicy tidbits later.

First off, as you might guess, I am quite dead and no longer need to draw breath. Bullets and blades are not as effective as you might think. I can heal almost any injury with the exception of decapitation or burning. Sunlight is one such way to destroy me, but I would not be foolish enough to meet a mortal during the day. Not while your greatest weapon against me still burns in the sky. As for the old movie cliché’s about us: Stakes, Crosses, Silver, Running Water, Coffins, Garlic, and whatever else they have come up with lately, pure nonsense! Do not make me laugh! Still, if you wish to try, I will indulge your efforts and will enjoy watching your face turn ghostly white from their lack of effect.

What was that you asked? Ah yes, Blood. That part is very, very true and let me tell you, if I were not quite so sated at this moment. We would not be having this discussion. I must drink blood to survive, heal my wounds, and fuel my abilities and wondrous gifts. There are times I feed for the sheer pleasure of it and when I do, it is bliss beyond words for me. Your blood not only fuels my body, but sates some of my earthly desires as well. Your emotions are like flavors to me and I have my favorites and my brothers and sisters have theirs too. Just like in the movies, we all feed the same way. Our incisors lengthen to fangs and we then bite down on one’s neck, or wherever else will suit us at the moment. We drink our fill then leave our prey in either a state of total bliss or to be placed in a body bag for some other mortal to clean up at some later time. However, not before we close the wounds, with a mixture of our own blood and saliva.

Still, I was not born like this, and I was created by one whom I will not name, but only call him my “Creator”. I am an elder, and no thrall, otherwise known to you mortals as a slave. I was reborn into this world with not only a new body and wondrous gifts, but most importantly, freewill. He holds no power over me but my loyalty, which I give freely. Just as my own Prodigy, my creation was reborn the same way. Only once in our entire lives can we make another like ourselves, one with free will, a companion, for their creator to spend eternity with until the end of our days. So you may realize now that we are quite immortal and time means little to ones such as ourselves. I, myself, am well over two hundred years old and look not a day over twenty one. Just one of the many perks of being dead already as you might guess.


You ask of my abilities and gifts? Well, there are differences, so I will explain them. But only as an elder would, for that is what I am. First off, not only am I stronger than you are by at least ten times a mortal’s normal strength, but I am much faster as well. I can move so quickly than your feeble human eyes cannot track. I’ve already explained that our bodies arrested the state of death. So you could suspect that I can not only take severe punishment, but can easily outpace you. I need not to neither eat nor breathe. All my kind possesses such abilities, and not only are we physically more able than you, but we can even draw you to us. We have an ability called “Charms” whereby at anytime we can make ourselves appear more seductive and inviting, as long as you show some general interest. All of my kind possesses the ability to charm an individual. But I, as an elder, cannot only summon the ability to charm you, but also whole groups of mortals and a single immortal as well! I can even reverse my ability to make myself less obvious to you. This allows me to pass unnoticed and you would never know I was there at all. I can hide and remain unseen by a mortal if I wish. Or make myself so seductive that you will do what I ask, for as long as you wish to please me, and it brings no harm to yourself. These are called “Abilities” and we all possess them in some way or another, be it elder or thrall.

You now ask of my “Gifts”? My, my, are we not just the most curious mortal I have ever met? But, let us not be too pushy either, please! I said I would indulge you, so I will explain. You cross into dangerous territory here, Mortal, and know this. You ask of the true nature of the elders and we are quite secretive. But let us continue on. We are all reborn with gifts that assist us and not only help us to hunt, but aid us in survival as well. Only elders develop vastly powerful gifts. But it is rare when we “turn” a mortal to a thrall, that they may receive such a gift. This, however, is most uncommon. I, myself, have a few, as does all of my entire family, but we rarely share. Only those who are directly linked in blood may share in a common gift like my prodigy and I. But not all of us do. Gifts can be anything from furthering our own amazing abilities to some that are most frightening. I do not wish to even try to list all that I have seen in my life. So I will only tell you of my own. I myself, dear Mortal, can use any suitable shadow as a doorway, as long as I know both the entrance and the exit points beforehand. Those shadows must remain as I remember them, or I will be thrown back from the starting point. Mortal and immortal minds bend to my will as easily as the suggestions I will give. I cannot only order you to do something against you will, but force you to forget whatever I wish. When I have a hold of your mind, you could not hope to refuse, nor disobey me. All you need to do is look into my eyes for a mere moment and your mind is mine to command as I see fit. My senses are so fine-tuned that they eclipse my own kind’s keen sense of hearing, sight, and smell. I can hear your heartbeat now and smell the blood in your veins as it calls to me and I can see with such keen sight that your very movements are a trail for me to follow. Therefore, running is hardly an option. This is what I meant when I said that some of our abilities are furthered, but with these gifts comes a horrible price. I can see and sense your emotions around me, almost as you would see something right in front of you and sense a cool breeze as it passed by. Your aura is an open book to me as even now and I can see you are still curious, but also beginning to become frightened, as well you should be!

We all Immortals have small, one to two inch claws that can lengthen from our own fingernails when we wish. But I, myself, have claws that lengthen to perhaps four to six inches, and I know how to effectively use them. I enjoy taking my enemies down using them as they are purposeful and razor sharp. Finally, there is my greatest gift of all, and the one that not only other immortals covet, but even my own Mistress envies. I can assume any form I wish to in almost perfect detail. Right down to one’s own walk and voice. I assure you that you see me now as you normally might, but that does not mean that I cannot become someone entirely different at a moment’s notice. No, I cannot shape shift. I only mimic anyone I wish. It must, however, be within reason. I cannot become a bat or a wolf, like Hollywood chooses to portray. Some that I know can do this. But to become a bat is so droll that it is even frowned upon by others of my kind.

So, dear Mortal, now you know a great deal, and I hope you enjoyed, our little time together. I also hope I have answered some of your questions. But, I have become bored of this conversation now, and the time has come for us to end it. Oh, do not walk away! Who said you could keep the information I gave you? That was never part of the bargain! I only said I would indulge you and I have done so. So please, do not run because both you and I know it is pointless and it will only infuriate me. Just stay still and relax. There, are you feeling calm now? Those are the “Charms” I described to you. Do you not feel wonderful? Now, dear Mortal, look into my eyes and I promise I will not hurt you, much. I said before, I was sated, but I never said I was full. Since you have taken some of my time I feel you should indulge me for a spell. So, on your knees now please, and tilt your head to left slightly. I promise, not only will you not ever remember this experience, but when you wake, you will feel bliss such as you were never meant to feel. This will take but a moment, and I hope it was worth it for you. I must, alas, do what I must, to make sure that not only my family is kept safe, but my race stays hidden from your kind. Relax now and enjoy. This will be the last time you ever speak to me or see me again. Ciao, dear Mortal……


















An Entry from my nightly Journal,
My name is Michelle Gloria Du’Pree and I am over two hundred years old, and I am what is called Immortal so I cannot die. We call ourselves Immortals but to mortals we are simply called, Vampires. No one can know how much I truly loathe that word. Since we are so much more, and truly creatures of the city since it is much easier to live where the prey is. It is quite true that we are very nocturnal and daylight is fatal to us, but still it is much easier to hunt and feed at night where mortals are a lot less alert. The cities of this world not only provide us with almost an abundant supply of prey but also let the strange or unexplainable fall through the cracks of their society. Every large city has an Immortal population and one the size of New York can easily sustain hundreds of us for years. We live in the shadows on the fringe edge of human existence and make sure our lives stay hidden from their prying eyes. One’s that figure out the truths are seldom aloud to live with that knowledge. My kind rules over most cities from its shadows though influence, crime, and politics but rarely revel ourselves to anyone unless we must. Our lives are spent with our own kind, far away from the lives of curious humans who would sooner destroy us over misunderstandings and fear. Segregation is the only way to survive and keep ones sanity, along with safety in numbers theory that our society uses to keep ones like myself safe. We are rarely alone and the myths that we are solitary predators are just that, a myth. Since my own companion and lover is never far from my side at any given moment. So we are rarely alone and more than likely have ones watching over us most of the time.

With that said I was not always blessed with one to share my life and nightly pleasures with. For a long time I was as close to a loner as I could be, I was never truly alone but never close to anyone either. After my creation so long ago by my own creator I found myself yearning to experience all that life had to offer. I made my fair share of mistakes along the way too, since I was headstrong, young by immortal standards, rebellious, and most of all openly defiant as well. I never saw the reason for our segregated existences at first and just wanted to live my life on my own terms because while I was mortal and still drew breath, I was never able to do just that. Being young I never actually listened to my own creator’s advice. As much as he tried to steer me in the right direction and act not only sensible but also proper at the same time, still I did everything my own way most of the time. As much as I hate to admit it now, I made quite a few mistakes on my own that caused me a lot of pain in the end. Like what do you ask? I may be immortal but at the same time many of my new friends were not over the years; most of the time I had to leave them and go on with my life since I would not age and they would. On a rare few occasions, I even had to watch some of them die. To have to watch someone you cared for just die while you lived on was unbearable sometimes. The profound sadness that accompanied it was unlike any I had ever felt before. Each time it happened it hurt more not less like I would have expected it to, until one night when a dear friend of mine died from an overdose before I could reach him and embrace him as my companion. I paid for his funeral and burial but never attended either and to this day, I have never visited any of their graves either. I just could not after all that we had shared. After that I learned my lesson and left the world of mortals behind with them in it. I did not belong in theirs and they did not belong in mine. It was that simple. That is when for the first time I began to feel lonely and began to search for a companion for myself to share my nights with. It was not for quite a few years later that I met my beloved Zack.

Speaking of him, I do think that our first meeting back in the club not so long ago was not quite our first. I think I may have met my dearest companion, lover, and fondest friend almost a dozen years prior to his embrace. Still I never told him nor would I, but not out of fear and possible anger or anything else for that matter. I just have no way of proving it to either him or myself that the young blond haired, green-eyed boy I met long ago was him at all. He never told me his name nor did I spend that much time with him but in the little time I did, I felt they were so similar, caring, gracious, loving, and most of all vivacious. So I have my suspicions that Zack and I met long before I embraced him as my own and my lover. If I cannot prove it to myself then why should I burden him with the idea of it? This only makes me believe one thing; that Zack and I were destined to be together from the beginning, because on that night I saved his life not once, not twice, but three times before we parted ways. Oh Zack, if only I could prove it, I would confide in you and our love would come full circle.

Till next we speak journal, my name is Michelle Gloria Du’Pree and you alone know my most intimate secrets. Only my beloved knows almost as much as you and one night soon he will read these pages and he will share fully in my life.
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New York City; and the year was 1981, my city, and not Paris nor London not even Rome can compare to its splendor. For someone like me, it’s a glowing palace of glass and steel surrounded by surreal architecture of a divine sight. To others it is a dark and foreboding monster, as dirty as the grit that lay upon the streets. This city is as alive as I am in a way and it needs to feed just like I do. Still unlike what sustains my body, blood, this city feeds on innocence and just like me every few nights it needs a fresh meal. Chances are that tonight could be just one of those nights where the city must slake its own hunger and feed. For every now and then it becomes restless and aggravated as I do. My night started out like any other but it quickly became one of those nights, where I became annoyed at the boredom my life had taken a turn towards as of late. I was so jaded when I left the club that night and decided to take a long walk through the city that I love so much. It’s amazing what you can find when you just open your eyes and see what’s going on any given night. Chances are you may be a little more than surprised at what you find.

The chilly breeze of an early spring night whipped though the cavernous avenues and the city’s streets but the cold didn’t bother me since I no longer felt such subtle changes in temperature. I felt the coolness against my already cold flesh but it did little to bother me and the jacket I wore was more for appearance than anything else. As I walked down the avenues of this great city my anger and sorrow were getting the better of me. Once again another night seemed so surreal to me. The routine I had fallen into was getting to of me, and if you need to know one thing about being immortal; is that routines were not good. My life as wondrous as it was, had taken a turn for the worse, but most say that when you pass your first century and are heading close to you second it happens. As I turned the next corner heading up town again, I just blended in and out of the crowds of people on the streets. What a marvelous place Manhattan was and how my kind could not grow to love a city of this magnitude were beyond me. This city was as alive during the night as it was during the day I suspected since I arrived here from France around 1794, and had never seen the city during the day, ever. Still this city never failed to spark my interests on nightly basis. If I wasn’t perusing the clubs, I would go out on an all night shopping spree, or I could always spend a quiet night alone in Central Park, or I could do just what I was doing now, walking the streets of my city “people watching”. On any given night the city could provide me with a myriad of ways to entertain myself, but not tonight. At the club I am part owner of called The Factory, the city’s hottest night club, I just couldn’t take sitting in there anymore! The tediousness of this eternal life can be quite annoying sometimes and on more than a few occasions I have become irate lately. My creator and I have been watching this city for my Mistress for about a decade now, as she relaxes somewhere in Paris or London. After many nights of just doing nothing I had another episode that resulted in a few broken baubles in the Viper’s Club, the private club for our kind in The Factory. So after a large verbal altercation with my creator, I decided to leave and find something to do that didn’t involve any of them. As dangerous as it was for one of my kind to be without another I decided to throw caution to the wind and just go out and people watch. Most women that looked like me would never just randomly wander the streets at night of this great city. Being only five foot three inches and maybe one hundred and ten pounds at the most, with long jet-black hair and deep blue eyes, not to mention very voluptuous body, I could easily be singled out as a target for any number of random acts of violence here. But my most striking features are my perfect alabaster skin, my full lips, and my angelic like facial features that my family is known for. Still I could care less if anyone even tried to accost me. My strength was ten times what my body could only hope to possess. My speed was so swift that to a mortal’s vision I looked like a blur, and with my body already dead, bullets and blades meant nothing to me unless you could cut off my head! Still, I had other gifts from my embrace that would aid me if I needed. Mortal’s minds bent to my will as easily as the suggestions that I would give them. I could assume anyone’s form I wished, making me impossible to keep up with in crowds since I could be anyone. I could simply walk through a shadow and out of another, and when combined with my speed it made it quite difficult to see me. Finally there are my claws, which most immortals say are unlike any others; long, slender, and razor sharp and I know how to use them! Along with my fangs and the ability to charm whole groups or to pass unnoticed through the crowds made me more than match for any mortal that wished to cross my path. Still the night was young and I was eternally so I made the turn at the next corner that headed towards Midtown to see what the heart of the city had to offer me on this night of monotony.

After about an hour of walking and one or two small purchases that did almost nothing to alleviate the mood I was in, I decided to walk a little further into Midtown. I was used to calling this area “the Tourist Trap” since this was as close to Penn Station that I liked to get these days. But Times Square was always alive with people at any given hour and seeing my immediate need of some way to entertain myself, I decided to press on. As I walked along, the avenues peeled away like one would peel a piece of fruit. I hardly cared and I didn’t even stop to say anything to the group of young men who were shouting suggestive obscenities my way. Normally I would have stopped and had a good laugh or a meal at their expense, but I had no desire to deal with scum like that tonight. So after an uneventful stroll through Times Square, I decided to do a little shadow hopping and head back closer to home; 5th Avenue. Museum Mile would be a nice way to relax and breaking in to one was always easy for me, since no walls could hold me back. I had spent many a night just wandering the halls of the many museums; viewing fine art in its entire splendor. I do enjoy art in all its forms and have quite a collection of my own, but I also enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of the museum halls at night.

I exited a shadow close to Central Park and only a block from my desired destination; The Met, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art was wonderful at night when you had the place to yourself. It was located right on the famous Museum Mile and the grandest museum in the entire city. As I walked closer to the darkened building I laughed a little to myself that it had closed over five hours ago. I giggled as I looked in one of the few windows and found a suitable shadow there in entry way. I glanced around quickly to make sure there was no one watching and stepped into a large shadow near the locked doorway and a second later out into the lobby! Once inside I altered my appearance slightly because while illusioned mirrors never showed the features of an illusion, that went for cameras too. While I used an illusion I never had a reflection in a mirror, so camera could not see me either. I walked through the lobby and decided tonight I was in a modern art mood so I began to make my way to that section of the Met. Some beautiful Picasso’s and maybe even some lovely Beckmann’s seemed to be the order of the night, so I walked along in silence as I enjoyed my quiet time. Later depending on how the opportunity presented itself, I would get myself a nice little snack and spend an hour or two in here alone. It was a relaxing way to deal with the stress that comes from the daily grind of being immortal.

Luck had had it that my snack was to before and not after, so once I had found a suitable little resting place for my guest, I wandered through the halls amongst some of the magnificent art here in the museum. As I did, I kept thinking about my life and how it had taken a turn for the surreal as of late. I felt old an outdated, like the centuries of my life had pressed on and left me behind in a rut that I had no chance of escaping. If found a small bench and sat as I continued to think and reflect on this life I led as one of the walking dead and as amazing as it was to never fear death anymore and enjoy my life eternally young and vivacious. But while my body did not age my mind did. I would be eternally young, in the body of a young adult who had just come into her prime; a young, beautiful and voluptuous woman. But my mind was that of someone who should have died over a lifetime ago. The years pressed on whether I wished them to or not and much to the chagrin of this life, friends and lovers came and went while I pressed ever on. Even my good friend Sophie Trelin had moved on with hers and had a budding sister and prodigy to spend her nights with now. I did and still do enjoy both their companies but I began to get the distinct feeling sometimes that two is a company and three is a crowd. So as of late I had left Sophie and her young prodigy, Paige, to their own lives. I fell back into my ways of being a loner and by myself. A prodigy is something to be treasured and treated as such, and as much as I desired a companion of my own, I either met with disastrous results or never found one suitable enough anymore. I wanted mine to be perfect like Sophie’s and someone to share my nights with, my life with, and of course moments like this; alone in Manhattan’s grandest museum on the mile. I stood up and began to stroll again a little but my mind raced with thoughts of depression and self loathing. This happened to me a lot lately and I had only admitted it but a few years ago. I was lonely. So I sat once again on another bench further down the hall. My own creator was so involved in his own ideals that differed from mine. As much as I did enjoy his company in small doses, I had found in this modern era that that we had grown apart of late. My mistress and I had not seen eye to eye for quite a long time and I had no wish to try to mend old wounds. Then there was the club I co-owned with my creator. As enjoyable as it was sometimes, in my life places like that got old fast. With my already brooding life and loneliness I found myself on more than a few occasions quite surly and even more than annoyed. I had taken to activities such as breaking things, and causing trouble, that had landed me in quite a few verbal arguments with my creator. Still where I used anger and rage to deal with my life, sometimes I had to come to grips with the idea that I was yearning for more from this life and loneliness was closing in on me. Suddenly, my eyes opened and wide as I stood up and nearly picked up the stone bench I was sitting on and hurled it at the wall! Who was I and what was I thinking! I am Michelle Gloria Du’Pree, first daughter of House Du’Pree, and the ruling house of New York and all of North America! Besides I was never lonely before. I never needed anyone, let alone some youngling, and most of all I was immortal and above such petty and feeble mortal emotions! All of a sudden I felt dirty, and like the world of mortals had once again laid their disgusting hands upon me. I nearly retched at the thought of it. I sniffed the air and felt like this place had too much of their scents in here as well. I had to leave and felt I wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon, as beautiful as the art was, it was tainted with their stench. I looked at one of the shadows on the wall and stepped into it and back out where I had entered from. I had an immediate need to be away from the world of mortals and their pathetic kind soon enough. I looked about and began to walk again; Washington Square Park seemed like a good place to alleviate my new found stress. I had the immediate need to be alone for awhile and away from both mortals and my sudden sense of self pity and contempt.

As I walked away from The Met and away from my moment of self loathing and pity I walked along towards Washington Square Park. But my keen ears picked up something that intrigued me so I decided the park could wait. I rounded the corner to see a woman being roughed up by a few thugs and being shoved back and forth like she was a rag doll. Now, I am in no way a saint but to see a woman being manhandled like that just made my blood boil. I turned the corner fully to see them stop their abuse of her at my approach. Then one of them decided to confront me, which I was in no mood for either. He walked right up to me and I could see that he was only some hired goon that worked for the local mobsters here in the city, scum at best. I continued on my way past him until he put his hand on my shoulder stopping my progress.
“Streets closed lady, you might want to go back the way you came for your own sake.” He said and then blocked my path once again.
I looked up at him and sneered back. “Since when did the city start hiring someone like you to direct traffic?” I asked him smugly.
He only stared back at me and grabbed my shoulder roughly pushing me back the way I came. Now I was angry! How dare this slimy mortal place his hands on me and leave his nauseating stink upon me! He gave me a look like he would strike me, but no such blow came.
“Get the fuck out of here before they find you floating in the East River you bitch”, he said back in an angry tone.
I looked back at him and then just gave him an obscene gesture and turned to walk away but he wouldn’t let it go. Stupidly he followed me away from his friends.
“Hey you got a problem lady, because if you do I can help you with that!”
All I did was turn and look back at him. “Go fuck yourself you greasy pig. I would not touch you if you gave me every dime you ever earned or will earn you pathetic excuse of a life!”
As I walked away he took the bait and followed me around the corner to where it was dark. Before he could say another word to me, I turned and rushed right at him. He began to pull out a gun but with my speed I was the quicker, and with two deft quick moves I had him. Not only was he on his knees but bleeding from both his nose and lip, and begging for his life.
I looked down at him and grinned back. “So what were you saying about throwing me in the East River before? Because where I am standing right now, I cannot see that happening, you worthless excuse for a stain on society.”
He looked up at me and his voice trembled as he spoke, “What the fuck are you?”
I only giggled dryly in response to his question, “Your worst nightmare; a bitch with an attitude and with enough moxie to back it up!”
With that I grabbed him by his throat roughly and my fist connected right into his chin then I flung him like a like a toy through the air. He sailed a foot or two and slammed into a wall of the building, and then landed in a heap on a pile garbage bags, where he deserved to be.
As I walked past, I made sure to kick over one of the garbage cans on top of him. “I guess you are in the right place now since trash like you belong with the garbage.”
With my rage hardly sated I decided the rest of his friends deserved a few short beatings along with nice long naps, so I turned the corner again back the way I had come before. When I rounded the corner I saw one of them slap the woman hard. She spiraled to the ground and that made me even angrier than before. I may be nothing close to mortal but I pride myself on being a woman and to watch another being treated like that was too much for me to bear. I walked with a renewed vigor in my step. It had been so long since I had anything close to a good fight. There were only three now, and hardly an effort but if I just used my strength and speed I could make this sporting at least. The first one rushed me with a knife but with a quick move I side stepped him and as he passed me by, I kicked his knees out from behind. As he landed on the ground knees first the back of my hand slammed into his temple and he hit the ground with a hard thud. The next one dug in his pockets for something, but I hardly cared. I just grabbed his long coat and slammed him a few times off on the cars parked in the street. I punched him hard in the gut and then the chin and I left him sprawled across a car hood. The last one was smart though and grabbed the unconscious woman’s body pulling her in front of him as I approached. As I got closer he took out a knife and put it to her throat.
“Go ahead bitch, get closer, and I’ll slit her throat before you even touch me. Do you even know who you’re fucking with? Do you!” He said back still holding the knife and inching it closer to her throat.
I just stared back at him with a smug expression o my face. “Should I care and for that matter do you know who you are fucking with since you put it so elegantly?” He looked right at me and then like a fool into my eyes and I smiled a bit. “Drop the knife and place the woman on the stoop next you. Then come to me, fool.” His eyes glazed over and the knife dropped to the ground with a light clink. He laid the woman on the stoop and then turned to look at me again. “That’s it, just come to me now and I will not hurt you. You have done so well.” I purred to him softly. He took a few shaky steps and met me where I stood and I smiled. “Now kneel in front of me and crane your neck to the right please, and I shall reward you my little puppet.”
He did as I asked of him and I felt my fangs slide slowly into my mouth as I looked down at him. I smiled a little letting him see them, but my hold on his mind was too great. He never moved. The artery in his neck pulsed with life and I lowered my head slowly sniffing the air looking for any signs of drug abuse. He was clean to my surprise, so before he could blink I grabbed him gently by the chin and held his head. Then I bit down gently at first, then more forcefully once my fangs slipped through his flesh. I pulled him closer to me in a crushing hug like a predator would. He quivered a bit but then stopped as I took sustenance from him letting the fresh blood slide slowly down my throat. I allowed myself a few long draughts and then closed the wounds with a mix of my saliva and blood and he dropped to the ground in front of me quivering. I felt refreshed and renewed from my latest feeding and looked at all of them sprawled out on the ground. Then the woman began to stir. I walked silently over to her and she moved a bit more.
“Are you alright?” I finally asked with a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
She looked up and then suddenly tried to stand. “My son, they were after my son! Oh God where is he I told him to run! They didn’t get him did they?”
She looked up at me like I had the answers to her questions about her missing offspring but really I could have cared less. I did this to alleviate some of the boredom in my life and because I was insulted, not because I cared about her per see.
I looked down at her and then turned to leave. “No I have not, and I would say he will be home soon enough. But I would get back to where ever you call home tonight before he does.”
But she looked up at me and began to sob. “This is our home and it’s because of my ex-husband being involved with those men that we are so much trouble. He skipped out on a debt to them. I threw him out a few years ago because of the lifestyle he led and to shield my son from it. But now they want their money and if they can’t find him they will use his son to draw him out, or to force me to pay, I suspect”. She said and began to get up but almost fell again and I grabbed her arm to steady her.
“I will help you into your home and be on my way.” I said back softly to her and helped her to her feet. “Your son will be home soon enough.” I then took her inside and up two flights of stairs to her doorway. But when I tried to leave she stopped me.
“Please if only for a moment could you stay since you helped me.” She said back to me with a concerned face and opened her door slowly.
I looked at her and nearly laughed, but agreed. “Sure, if you wish, but only for a moment since I am busy tonight.” With that I walked into their small apartment and couldn’t believe how mortals lived in such small and cramped quarters these days.

She offered me a drink which I refused of course, since I was quite full already from my latest meal. Then she stared right at me like she was searching for something.
She looked away after staring for a moment or two, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, but I never got you name?”
I just looked back at her and smiled, “Nor did I give it, but if you must know I am Michelle, and that is all you need to know.”
She looked back a little shocked but then calmed again. “Nice to meet you Michelle I’m Barbara…”
Quickly I put my hand up to stop her quickly before she finished, “Your first name is just fine, so if I am asked later if I know you, I really do not. After all, I did just assault three men in front of your home you know?”
Barbara laughed a little but then was serious again, “Well Michelle, I owe you one and you seem not to trust too many people either.”
I just grinned back at her but thought of how easily she could have died tonight too. “We live in New York City when did trusting anyone become a good idea around here, Barbara?”
She laughed a little again and then sat. “Are you sure you didn’t see my son? He’s only seven years old and new to the City. We just moved here from Long Island and he hardly knows anyone or anything around here.”
I looked back at her and smiled again. “He should be here in a moment and I have to go. It was nice to meet you Barbara. Please try to stay safe.” And I began to get up and walk towards the door but she stopped me once again.
She began to get up as well but then spoke once again. “Please in your travels if you see a seven-year-old boy with blond hair and green eyes, wearing a blue jacket please bring him here his name is…”
I just put up my hand once again. “I will look as I go but I am not going to stop my life to find your lost son when I am sure he will home soon enough. Still, no names please so if I am asked later; I do not know either of you.”
Barbra only nodded back at me as I opened the door to exit her small home, “Please, if you see him, I will pay you to bring him here. I don’t have much but I’ll give you what I have”.
I again smiled back at her but shook my head in response to her offer. “Please… you offer me money when I have more than enough to live my life. I am not interested in taking yours, but like I said, I will look as I walk. If I find him I will send him home, but I do believe I will pass him in the halls as I walk down. Goodnight.”
She started to say something else but I shut the door in response. I had no intention of looking for a lost child in the night. I was no hero nor was it my concern. She was mortal and I am immortal why would one lost child concern me? Still, somewhere in the back of my mind as I climbed down the stairs with hardly a whisper, I felt like I should at least try to help find a scared and lost child in my dark and ominous city.


Back out on the streets I noticed right away that all the creeps that I had easily dispatched had fled. The car I had slammed one of them onto was gone as were they, but still I didn’t care. To me this was just another night in my life and what could a bunch of mortals possibly do to harm me anyway? So once again I turned west and headed towards Washington Square Park to enjoy my quiet time. As I walked along the thought of Barbara’s plea kept nagging at me but I kept walking along trying to put it out of my mind. Still something about this woman and her son was intriguing to me but it wasn’t my affair, so why should it? I began to try to remember a tune or something to get my mind off what had just happened. Still it nagged at me about a lost child new to my city. A child alone in this city at night was a recipe for disaster but still why should it concern me? Wasn’t it his mother’s job to raise him and not mine since I would never be able to bear children anyway being the way I am? I looked back briefly to see Barbara stumble a little out of her apartment building again. I turned back and watched as she used the handrail to steady herself and she began to walk down the stairs. If those goons came back now she would be defenseless against them, but a mother’s love of her child was greater than that I figured. Reluctantly at first I walked over to her quickly to stop her.
“What could you possibly do in your condition Barbara?” I said to her starling her as I walked out of the shadows again. “Come to think of it I think you should go to the hospital before you injure yourself.”
She turned to look right at me but nearly lost her balance, “I’m fine really, and my son needs me. I can’t just sit here and wait for him to come home. He’s my son and he’s out there all alone.”
I helped to steady her and began to walk her back to her apartment building but she stopped again. It looked like she was about to weep very soon and I tried not to notice.
“Please I need help and I can’t call the police since they are looking for my ex too. He’s just an innocent boy caught in the middle of all of this. He needs help and I have to find him.” She said back wobbling a bit more.
I helped her sit on the stoop trying to calm her once again. “Look, I will go and take a look around and see if I can find him.” I said to her helping her sit on the stoop to keep her from falling. “Still, I do not want to know his name just give me something of yours to prove that you sent me. If I find him I will bring him here. If not you will find the item you give me at The Factory tomorrow night. Just go inside and lock the doors and lay down before you harm yourself. If he is around, I will find him I promise you.”
She looked up at me and smiled. “Thank you so much Michelle. If there is anything I can ever do for you please let me know.” She said back and steadied herself on the railing.
I frowned back at her but I could still never let this child be out here on his own. “Just go inside before those creeps come back and we have more problems. Leave finding your son to me this time”.
She gave me a small heart shaped ring and then I watched her walk inside again. As soon as she was gone I frowned then sighed. Once again I let the world of mortals hauled me back in when all I ever wanted to do was leave it for good. Sometimes my conscience was more of burden than my immortality could ever be. So I walked off and sniffed the night air looking for the scent of a scared child.

I had hardly walked a half a block before a picked up the scent I was looking for. It smelled of their apartment and innocence but there was a tang of fear in the air too! Where ever the child was he was not only alone but frightened as well. I took off as swiftly as I could, running through the streets as nothing more than blur. When I passed the first corner I dove into a shadow and quickly appeared on the other side of the street. This type of pursuit was nothing new to me but most of the time I did this to track potential prey, not to find a lost child. I streaked past the horse paddocks, passing by the same black car I had seen before. The scent was getting stronger as I raced through Central Park. Up through the tree line the scent was the strongest, and there on one of the small hillocks I saw a sight that made me want to scream. It was one thing to push around a woman but it was another to manhandle a scared and defenseless child and threaten him with a gun! My rage got the better of me as I jumped into a shadow and then back out behind them. My claws were fully extended as were my fangs and the first strike at the one at my left sprayed the entire area with blood. My claws raked both his back and head in grisly pattern of gore. He screamed and landed on the ground with a sickly splat of blood and torn flesh. I looked down at him squirming and then stomped on his throat, snapping his neck in the process with a resounding pop. I growled in protest at the other three. One of them grabbed the child while the other two leveled pistols at me to stop my progress. I let out a let guttural hiss in response as I charged them with murderous intentions. Before the first shot was fired I moved quickly to the side striking the one to the right low, splitting his stomach open like a ripe melon. His innards splashed out onto the grounds as his friends shrieked in shock at what he had just seen. He landed in a heap of bloody gore on the dirt and I turned on his friend quickly. As he turned to fire at me I dove into another shadow and was gone from sight once again as his friend uttered his last cries through bloody gasps. A moment later I appeared in the trees next to my last attacker and my claw plunged into his back and out of his lower chest. He tried to cry out, but nothing but blood ran out of his mouth and his last looks in his eyes were ones of fear. I immediately noticed him as the one I had fed off of earlier and just smiled again at him as he whimpered and died in my arms. Quickly I tossed him to the ground and took off again after the one who had fled with the child. He felt he had a head start, but I knew better and took off through the trees trying to get in front of him. As I passed him by, I saw him half carrying, half dragging the small boy and I stopped a bit up front to wait for him. As he passed me by, I grabbed his coat from the shadows and tossed him backwards into the trees with one hand. He landed with a hard thump. The boy tried to scream out but I put my hand on his head and shushed him.
“I am a friend of your mother’s and she told me to give you this”. I said softly to him handing him the small ring and he looked up at me but said nothing back. “Now stay right here and be quiet. I have to make sure this one never tries to hurt you again.”
I watched as he sat down exhausted and scared in the middle of the small concrete path, looking at the ring. I walked back into the woods. There on the ground trying to get up was the one I had thrown. He stood up and began to say something but I grabbed his throat tightly; too tight for him to talk.
I looked him in the eyes as I forced him to his knees. “Shut up! A child! You would menace something as beautiful and innocent as a child with a gun! What kind of creature would harm something so pure when one like me would not?” My eyes must have blazed the cold blue as I have been told they do when I am angered, because his face shifted to one of fear. Against my own will, my claws extended once again, cutting deep into his flesh as I throttled him. My fangs extended and I looked at him as I hissed, “I should…drain you fucking dry…you pathetic excuse for a man and…and I think I will!”
With that I savaged his already torn neck and ripped open his flesh as I gulped at his blood as it poured out of his tattered throat! I threw a tight squeeze around him trying to force the rest of it out into my mouth as I heard both ribs and muscles popping and breaking. Blood squirted into my mouth and on my face as I savored the last of it since it was the sweetest at death. His struggle ceased quickly as I crushed his body and drained out his very last remnants. Then I tossed his broken and desiccated carcass to the ground with a thud and let out a growl into the night sky. As much as my darker half relished these kills, in the back of my mind I had to calm before I turned on the boy! As I did just that, I walked back out onto the path to see him sitting quietly not saying a word. He was just staring at the ring in his small hand. Even as I walked up to him, he hardly noticed my approach as silent as it was.

I looked down at him staring at the ring in his small hands, and then knelt beside him to see if he was hurt at all. His jacket was torn and he had a small cut on his chin but other than that he was no worse for wear. I began to think he was either mute or deaf because he looked at the ring and nothing else at first. Then I realized how easily human beings were shocked from being scared, as he began to look around again. At first he looked at me frightened, but as I allowed my own innate charms begin and he calmed quickly. He just kept staring at me then tried to speak for the first time but nothing came out. I smiled a little trying to be as inviting as I could, but this was a small child; and not some man looking at me with his own desires. Still he continued to stare at me.
“Come and I will take you to your mother. She is worried sick about you, you know?” I put out my hand but he didn’t take it and I was in no mood for idle tribulations right now, “Come on unless you would like me to leave you here.” I said more forcefully, but still he just looked at me. Then his face changed a little.
“My mommy said I wasn’t to talk to strangers in the city at all. I don’t know you and how come she’s not here?” He said back still with a confused look upon his face.
I only smiled a little to him again. “Your mother sent me one way while she looked another. Now come here and let’s go before we have more problems.”
He looked at the ring in his small hand and then to me again, “You look like an angel”. And I would have blushed if I could but then his face changed. “But why would an angel have blood on her face?”
I put my hand up quickly and felt the sticky fluid on my face for the first time. In my rage and curiosity I forgot to wipe it away! I looked up again but only saw him run off into the trees as quickly as his little legs could carry him. Now I had a dilemma. The boy had seen too much and if I didn’t do something quickly I would be declared a criminal against my kind! It was forbidden to allow any mortal the knowledge of the immortals, supposedly decreed by the Dark Mother herself. If he told anyone what he had seen or thought he had seen, I would be judged for the full weight of my crimes. Even if no one believed him, my kind knew the truth and they would silence anyone with even the slightest scrap of knowledge of us. If I didn’t catch him and take the memories of this night from his mind my own life would be in jeopardy now! I sniffed the air again and took off as quickly as I could, but I had to be gentle. This was a child and not some brute that had seen what he shouldn’t of. His small mind could be broken if he saw more and to be the cause of a child losing his mind would haunt me until eternity. I had to fix this before it was too late, for both of us.

How stupid could I have been? I was almost two hundred years old and over two hundred if I counted my mortal years. I was no fledgling immortal! To walk into plain sight before checking myself after I had fed was foolish to say the least. Now I had a scared child running through the night with a small amount of knowledge of the existence of the immortals! Even if no one believed him, the information was not something I myself of a powerful and ruling house could allow. If he told his mother and she believed him, what would happen next? I knew what would, and many of times did I have to judge one of my own kind for such stupid and ignorant acts. My mistress would be called home at her next available convenience and she herself would judge me. She was not known amongst our kind of being lenient or merciful either. My punishment, depending on how quickly these mortals were silenced, could be painful or even result in my own destruction. Not to mention my own mistake would be the cause of the deaths of a mother and her young child, because I was careless. If I wished to keep my immortal life and preserve theirs, I had to catch that boy and purge what little information he had before he was able to tell another. As I rushed through the park I easily picked up his scent but before I could close in on him the scent ceased. I stopped running and sniffed about like a predator that had just lost her prey, but nothing came to me. We were near the old amphitheaters and still nothing but the scents of the coming spring and the city came to me now. I sniffed again but still there was nothing until I walked a little bit and found my answer. The little one had run through a very deep puddle and obviously slipped in it from the looks of it. The water from the puddle had washed the scent off his small body and had rendered my ability to track him by scent useless till he dried off. Still, I wasn’t without options and looked around to see a set of small wet footprints leading behind the amphitheaters. I looked around like I was confused and let my heeled boots click loudly on the concrete. If he was hiding nearby he knew all too well I was here and looking for him. I made like I was walking in the wrong direction and then silenced my own steps once I was convinced he thought I was gone. From a crouched position near the edge of the pavement, I saw him emerge from his hiding place. He began to walk back the way he came from but I had other ideas and began to move silently through darkened trees along the path. He never even knew I was there or that he was being watched. Since this was my element, the shadows were my realm. When he knelt down to tie his shoe and tried to wipe the water off of him I walked up behind him silently.
“You cannot run from me little one, and you have seen something you should not have.” I said from behind him. .
He looked up quickly and went to run again but I grabbed him from behind and lifted him off the ground. He struggled with his jacket but I spun him around to face me again.
“I will not hurt you and your mother did send me to bring you to her. So stop all this incessant struggling and running and behave yourself this instant”.
He only looked up at me and then tried scream out as I put my hand on his mouth tightly to stop him. I looked into his eyes and my patience had run out!
“One more peep out of you and the next place your mother will see your face is on the back of a milk carton! Do you understand me? Nod once if you do or so help me the next sound you hear will be the snap of your little neck!”
He stopped struggling and then quieted a little bit but the terror in his eyes was enough to make me sick. I myself would never ever hurt a child since they are innocent and pure, but I couldn’t let him go with the knowledge he had. I took my hand slowly off his mouth and then looked at him, trying to be as caring as I could. “Now if you will just come with me I will take you to your mother.”
He looked back at me and let tear roll out of his eye, “You’re not going to hurt me like you said you would, are you?”
I smiled at him warmly trying to ally his fears. “No, unless you give me reason to. All I want to do is take you to your mother and be on my way, nothing more.”
He looked at me still a little scared. “Really, you’re not lying are you? I saw the blood you know? I know what you are I saw it in a movie, a vampire right?”
I only smiled again wider trying to look as unthreatening as I could. “I am only here to make sure you see your mother again. My name is Michelle and you can trust me that I will not harm you.”
He looked at me with a trusting face and then it changed to one of fear again. From behind I heard footsteps and then a voice. “Give us the boy or we will just take him from you when you’re dead.”
I placed him on the ground and turned quickly to see nearly a dozen men looking at me guns drawn and I pushed the boy a little behind me. I only smirked back at them. “And who might be asking me such a request? It would be rude of you to just ask something of me before introducing yourselves properly.”
One tall and thin man stepped forward and looked right at me. “Give us the boy, and we won’t ask again, but if you must know Mikhail Demonostrav has requested his presence”.
I smiled back in response, but knew full well that this boy and his mother were in real trouble. Russians! Most people in this city knew to never double cross them or you were dead. Even I, as an immortal, knew well enough to steer clear of the Russian mob and now I was neck deep in their affairs. In my mind I kept thinking to myself to give them the boy before I have problems of my own now. Still something about both this boy and his mother made me want to help them. Before another word was said I heard the slide of a gun cock back and I knew this wasn’t going to go well, but I had to play along. I pushed the boy further behind me and then looked back at them.
“So what’s to say if I give you what you want I will leave her with my life?” I asked him sarcastically.
He grinned back to me, “Nothing, I would have to say since you’re with the boy, and not our associates, that you must have interfered with them. Now, give us the boy and I will go easy on you, since you are as lovely as you are. We may even be able to work out this small debt to us”.
I scowled at him and then sneered. “Never, I will not be one of your whores to pay off some imaginary debt! To so insult me and then ask for something, no demand it! I would rather watch you and all your friends simultaneously shoot each other”!
The next sound I heard was the sound of silenced gunfire. I shoved the boy out of the way as bullets slammed into my chest! So quick to try to kill but the pain was real enough. As I fell to the ground and I heard the boy scream and the man yell back to stop shooting. Blackness was closing in and I watched as the boy was snatched up. I felt my blood run down my chest and then nothing, as my world went black and my body tried to heal.

A hard smack to the back of my head jarred me from unconscious state and it was a small dark place. Another bump made my senses come alive once again as I tried to breathe, but no air came in. I opened my eyes fully to see my vision blurred and then realized what was going on. I was in a trunk of a car, wrapped in plastic, and being driven somewhere; not to mention I was angry and hungry too. I extended my claws and cut the plastic easily and cleared it away from me. My wounds were almost healed but the blood it cost to heal them was extensive so I would need to feed again very soon. A little while later as I lay there in the truck and the hunger beckoned me, the car finally stopped and I heard the doors slam shut. The next thing I heard was footsteps coming towards the back of the car and someone speaking in Russian, which I happen to speak as well. They sounded annoyed but still went about their business.
“Too bad, they say this one was quite pretty and could have turned a decent profit. Too bad she’s dead and we’re dumping her here.”
Before they could say anything else the trunk began to open and my fangs slid into my mouth. I grabbed the one who was opening it and slammed his head into the trunk lid hard. Next I sprung out of the truck and with unearthly speed and I tackled the other as we tumbled to the floor. My fangs bit down deeply into his neck before he could use the gun he was reaching for. Pinning him to the ground I bit down harder driving my fangs in deeper into his soft flesh. His blood squirted into my mouth. I let my dark self enjoy this one kill as I greedily gulped down the precious blood that I needed so badly to heal myself fully again. Even injured, mortals were no match for me, and this man died within a few minutes of me feeding upon him. I looked up and saw the other one laying face down in the trunk and my first instincts were to slake my hunger again. Still, I had other ideas. Not only was I pissed off but my five hundred dollar blouse and nine hundred dollar jacket was ruined! I was also thrown in a trunk, wrapped in plastic, was going to be used as a whore, and worse shot for no reason what so ever! Combine that with the bad mood I had been in for close to a decade, I was not one to be fucked with right now! I walked over to the car and grabbed the man by the back of the neck, turned him over to face me, and then slapped him a few times to wake him. On about the tenth one he came around and I just growled a little bit to let him know what he was dealing with. He looked up at me and I watched as the color drained from his face.
“You’re…supposed…to be…dead”, he said in broken English!
I only smiled back a little evilly. “I died almost two hundred years ago and for almost the past decade I have been in a really foul mood! Tell me what I want to know before you end up like your friend over there!” I grabbed his neck and pulled his head violently just far enough to see his friend’s corpse sprawled out on the street. He began to babble in Russian and I clamped down harder on his throat and shook him violently. “Tell me where the boy is before I pop your head off like a beer cap and drink what’s left from you! Do not lie to me either or I will make you suffer in a way none of you pathetic and useless species was ever meant to!”
He looked at me and closed his eyes a little when something warm brushed up against my leg. This disgusting man had just peed on himself and the urine had found its way to my leg! I nearly tore his head off just for that, but calmed quickly enough.
“You fucking piece of shit! Now my three hundred dollar pants are soiled with your foul stench, along with the rest of my wardrobe and if I did not need information from you I would tear you limb from limb! Tell me what I want to know or so help me the last thing you will see is when I rip your head from your body!” I growled back picking him up by the throat and slammed him down violently.
Once again he began to whimper but I slapped him one more time and his eyes opened wide. In Russian and shaky voice he began to tell me where the boy was taken and who it was who took him, which I knew already. But now I had a place to go and look for him too. And I meant to get him back and some payback also. When he was done I looked at him one more time and smiled sweetly, “Thank you so much and also thank you in advance as well.”
He looked up at me still terrified, “For… what?”
I only looked away and then let me fangs extend, “For this!”
With that I bit down roughly on his neck and pinned him down hard and began to feed from him. He pounded on my side with a fist but in response I reached up and snapped his arm cleanly with a sickly pop as his elbow exploded and his arm hung limply to the side to stop him. His feeble struggles ceased quickly enough, and the blood flowed into my mouth rapidly since I had torn open his artery with my fangs. It was laced with adrenaline and fear but the flavor didn’t matter only that I needed it to heal. He died slower than the other did and when I was done I tossed his broken body the rest of the way into the trunk. I grabbed his friend and threw him in there too, then slammed the lid shut. The car was old and where it was parked, downtown, no one would look in it for quite a few days, or until the stink got too bad. I had to make my way uptown again; closer to midtown since that was my new destination. The Pavilion Coffee house and I couldn’t go in there dressed like I was either.

After a quick stop at a store in midtown, where I knew the owner, a very nice Immortal who had helped me out in the past, I got some clean and fresh clothes. Even though the price was unbelievably high, it was a necessity since mine were all ruined. I also needed them tailored right away which was expensive also and then the disposal of my old clothes which cost me again. Being Immortal didn’t mean you did not need money anymore. Still, I paid without question. Once I was changed and freshened up, I departed. Silence was the key to our survival and using one of my own kind’s establishments to clean up and replace my clothes was well worth the price. But with my family’s name, I was treated fairly. The trip to the Pavilion Coffee House was quiet enough but I had to get there quickly before the boy was moved again. If he was, more people would have to die and my search would have to start over. I kept thinking how I got mixed up with this and why in God’s name did I need to see this through. Still, at least my boredom was being dealt with while I tried to recover a stolen child. The coffee house was just like any other, but this one was Russian mob owned and run. It was also a known hang out for Mikhail Demonostrav whom I was looking for at the moment. I strode through the front doors with all the swagger I ever had and looked around. To my surprise I found my tall thin man who had so insulted me from before, along with a few other sitting quietly in the corner, enjoying their time and coffee. I was in luck as well because sitting right across from him was Mikhail Demonostrav. I walked up to them and Mikhail looked up first. Then my friend from earlier looked at me as well.
I only grinned at them. “Gentleman please, do not get up on my account.” I said as I sat next to Mikhail and looked at the one who had so insulted me before and tried to murder me.
He couldn’t believe his eyes that I sat across from him but he never said a word. A long eerie silence ensued next when Mikhail broke it. “I don’t know who you are and why you’re here but I would suggest you leave before things get…ugly, as you Americans like to say.”
I grinned at him again never looking away from the one who had just tried to kill me before. “Now Mikhail is that any way to greet a guest and business associate, hmm?” He only glanced at me a little confused. “Let me introduce myself before you ask me to leave again, Michelle Gloria Du’Pree of the Du’Pree family.”
Their eyes went wide and I smiled back. Like I said before, most everyone steered clear of the Russians but my family was different. A cup of fresh coffee was brought to me and I smirked a little.
“Now, I am not too sure but I do believe the Du’Pree family is the current bank owners you use to finance your operations?” I said as I tapped my pearly white teeth with my long red fingernails. “I would have to say by insulting me, you tend to lose quite a bit in the city, since most all of the criminal underground uses my family to launder money for them. Treat me hostilely again and see what happens the next time you come asking for our help. I will see to it personally that all your percentages are doubled or maybe even tripled next time. You may even find yourselves out of business when it comes to Manhattan. There are plenty of other organizations that would love to make sure you did not do business here again. Let me think, the Japanese, Italians, Koreans, and Columbians would, to name a few. So are we ready to talk yet or should I just leave?”
Mikhail loosened his collar a little and then dismissed everyone else. He was a very smart man. He knew better than to enrage my family since that would end his cash flow and crush his businesses here. The thin and tall man began to leave, but I grabbed his hand.
“Not you, I would like you to stay since you are involved in this, too”. He sat back down and I looked squarely at Mikhail. “So Mickey lets just say by chance you have something I want how would one go about getting it back?”
He frowned back at me but still wouldn’t look at me either. “Who says I have something you would want?”
I only grinned back at him. “Ask your associate here why. He should be able to tell you if he still has the tongue for it.”
As they talked in Russian, I understood every word, but just kept looking at them like I didn’t. Next Mikhail turned to me again. “You ask a lot here. His father owes me a substantial debt.”
I took a sip of my coffee which nearly spat it out, “Ah but what he didn’t tell you, since I was listening was how he insulted me, had me shot, stuffed into the back of a car, wrapped in plastic, and then was going to dump me somewhere. He also offered to whore me out to pay off an imaginary debt as well. If my mistress finds out about any of this she should would be quite offended, to say the very least.”
He finally looked at me and grinned back as well. “So it is true that you and your family are not human and you run this city also. I always thought it was a story that you used to inspire fear amongst all of us.”
I looked back at him shocked a little, but had known that some heads of organized crime knew our true natures. It helped to keep most of them in line to know full well what they dealt with and not to double-cross us. After a moment I smiled again, “So, where is the boy, and he better not be hurt or dead?”
He smiled back a little and then waved his hand slowly. “Of course not, I need that little brat to draw out his father who owes me a lot of money as I said. Why do you care though? What’s your stake in this may I ask?”
I only grinned back at him. “I owe his mother a debt and I plan to deliver. Now, either give me the boy or I will make your life very difficult in the city, not to mention kill everyone in this coffee house for my troubles while you two watch. I am not in the mood for games Mikhail nor do I make idle threats. So unless you want to watch as I fill up those coffee carafes with the fresh blood of you associates here, and then have you join me in a little drink, I would give me what I want.”
He stared at me with a stern look then but shook his head. “I’d like to help you, but what would it look like for me if I just forgave old debts? If the boy’s father won’t pay then he and his mother must. You can understand that can’t you? You happen to be business woman yourself I would say?”
I was losing my temper again but understood him too. Weakness to one’s enemies looked bad, even for Immortals. Then an idea came to me and I reached up and took an earring out of my ear. Tossing it to the table I scowled. “That is a rare blue diamond and it should pay you back the money they owe and then some. I want the boy for it. Do you have someone who can appraise it here?”
Mikhail picked up the earring and then looked at me. “I so happen to, but if you’re lying I will find it quite insulting.”
I leaned back in my chair a bit and smirked back at him. “If you tell me I am lying then I will personally kill my jeweler. Trust me it is real.”
A short man came and took the earring and I watched as Mikhail nodded a little a moment later. “You tell the truth and the boy is in the back. Take him and may we never cross paths again.”
I only smiled at him but shook my head back to him. “You will take me to the boy, with him.” I said back and I pointed to the man I made stay with us.
Mikhail just smiled a little but still kept his stern face from before. “Why do you want Sergey with us?”
I chuckled and looked right at him. “Has he not told you? We are quite good friends and I would love to say my farewells to him as well.” I said back to him with treating grin.
Mikhail smirked as he stood up slowly. “Very well, so come and let’s get the boy. I’m sure his mother is worried sick.”
With that we all departed to the back rooms and I made sure to go last. Dead I was, stupid I was not, and if these bastards even tried to cheat me I would kill them all. We walked to the back rooms and through a set of doors that led down stairs and I only hoped the boy was all right for both of their sakes.

In the basement I felt at home, but I could see my companions weren’t. My kind so loved the shadows and darkness and we are drawn to them like moths to the flame. Still, to watch them squirm in my presence was enjoyable. What I saw next I didn’t enjoy though. The boy was on the floor with his feet bound and his hands cuffed. How could they treat one of their own kind like that and child no less? It took a lot to keep from tearing them both apart right then and there.
He saw me come down and smiled right away, “Michelle! I thought you were dead!” He called out with a wide smile on his face.
I only looked back at him and smiled warmly. “I am fine sugar, and you are going home very soon.”
Then I turned and looked back at Mikhail. “Release him this instant. He is mine fair and square.” I said back scowling at the both of them.
Mikhail smiled back and waved his hand to Sergey. “Of course, I wouldn’t dream of double-crossing you or your family.”
The boy was released quickly and he ran up to me like I was his friend. He grabbed my leg and held it tightly. “I thought you were dead and I lost my Mommy’s ring. She’s going to be so mad at me.” He said through tears.
I looked down at him and then back at Mikhail who began to turn and walk away. “Umm, I have one more request for you and then you will hopefully never see me again”.
He turned to face me again. “And what could that be?”
I grinned back at him, “This one is mine too.” I said pointing towards Sergey! “Think of it as a way to pay for the insults I had to deal with, at your hands. I paid for the boy in money but you will pay me in flesh and blood”.
Mikhail turned to face me fully again and smiled back. “Sergey is one of my best employees though, why him”?
I scowled back at him but shook my head in response. “Because he knows my true nature and cannot be allowed to keep such knowledge. I could wipe it from his mind but the abuse I suffered at his hands was so...how can you say...severe”.
Mikhail frowned and then looked over at Sergey again. “He has been a good man to me but, as you wish, he’s yours take him and go”. He said and turned away but Sergey began to protest in Russian to deaf ears.
I just looked at him and then to the boy, “Close you eyes little one and turn away. Then put your hands over your ears. This will not take long and I will tap you on the head when it is over”. He did as I told him and I looked up at Sergey. “Scream if you like. It will only make it more fun for me. Farewell you bastard and enjoy hell”.
Mikhail turned and watched as my claws extended as did my fangs. Sergey went for a pistol but it did him no good. I jumped through a shadow and then back out alongside him, then through another and again right behind him, toying with him.
He spun around again only to see me disappear. “I won’t die that easy bitch!”
I only whispered in his ear from behind, “Yes you will”, and I knocked the pistol from his hand.
When he completed his spin all he saw was fangs and nothing else! I grabbed him pulled his head to the side and drove my fangs in deeply. Blood squirted from the wound and into my mouth as I began to feed. He began to flail away at my back hitting my dead kidneys. In response I pinned he arms to his side and squeezed! My arms wrapped around him as his spine popped and then snapped from the pressure I put on them. As his arms crushed, he let out a shrill scream and I tightened my grip on him as I continued to feed. He yelled out again and in response I grabbed his jaw and pushed up hard as the bones in it crumbled from the pressure! He struggled a little more then he let out a short whimper as the ecstasy of feeding finally took him. I collapsed to the floor with his broken body still locked in a predatory embrace and began suck harder at the wounds letting my fangs rip and shred his soft flesh. Growling and snarling I took ever amount of blood his body would surrender to me. He convulsed once more, and then died in my arms. With a low hiss I licked the blood off my lips and fangs and then smiled a little. I looked down at his broken body and flung it like a toy into the corner of the room with one hand. It slammed off the hard concrete wall and landed in a heap.
Mikhail had watched the entire spectacle and was just staring at me. “I could use one like you in my employment and I seem to have an opening, care to join me?”
I smiled back at him but shook my head. “Not tonight Mikhail, but if you ever need something that you could use one of my talents for come to The Factory and ask for me. I do believe we could work out a business arrangement.”
He smirked a little but nodded in response. “What would the cost be I wonder?”
I laughed back in response but then fixed my gaze upon him. “High. But you have much that could benefit us so an arrangement may not be out of the question.” I said back and walked past the boy who had done as I asked and I touched his head gently.
His eyes opened and he looked right at me. “I can go home now right Michelle?”
I knelt next to him and smiled as I touched his cheek, “Of course. Your mother is waiting and she will be thrilled to have you back little one. You look no worse for wear but we will have to clean you up first”.
He smiled back at me. “I’m hungry too. Can we get something to eat”?
As we walked out and into the upper levels of the coffee house, I smiled back at him then nodded to him too. “Sure we can. Just you though. I already ate and am quite full”. He smiled back having no idea what I meant with my snide remark.

I took him to an all night diner and bought him some new clothes before I sent him home. He was a remarkable child, so thoughtful and yet so kind. He never asked for much from me and even when I told him he could have anything he wanted on the menu he just ordered what he could eat. I never got his name nor would I allow him to give it to me. It would only make things harder when I had to take his memories for the night. I called him Angel or Little One when I addressed him and he seemed to like it. As we walked back to his home the night was wearing thin and he was beginning to tire. I carried his little body as he slept in my arms for the last few blocks and then set him down on a dark corner.
I looked at him just as his eyes opened and smiled, “Almost home. Now little one, I must ask something of you.”
He looked up at me with a trusting smile, “What’s that Michelle?”
It hurt me so much to do this to him but he would grow up so much better if he never remembered this night, the horrors that dwell in it, or me.
I smiled back to him, “Look into my eyes and tell me what color they are?”
He did and I trapped his small mind so quickly.
“Listen to me Little One and remember”. He just nodded to me and I choked back tears. “You will forget everything that happened tonight and you will forget me. You never saw or met me and you just wandered home. Tell your mother when you see her that you fell asleep around back and just woke up. Forget me and this night forever. Now sleep.”
He fell asleep again quickly and I picked him up and walked around back to his apartment building. Twin crimson tears rolled out of my eyes and I wiped them away before the blood could stain either of our clothes. I took the other blue diamond earring out of my ear and put it in his pocket, which would help them start over. I placed him gently on a wooden pallet and then smiled as I stroked his hair and breathed in his scent on last time.
“Oh my little angel how I wish I could have one like you in my world. It would make it such a brighter place for me to dwell, but you are far too young”. I looked up into the night sky and nearly cried. “Grow up and live a good life. Be as you are now, and never lose your way. You are a blessing and testament to your kind’s potential and may they notice that. Goodbye my little angel”. I kissed him once on the head then roused him.
He woke with a start and got scared all of a sudden. “I lost my mommy!” He said with fear in his eyes once more.
I looked at him trying not to cry again and undo what I had just done. “There is a woman around the front of the building looking for a little boy. Could that be her?”
He looked at me and then ran off without another word and I smiled. I put my hands to my face and assumed the form of an older woman with blond hair and worn clothes. I followed him to the front of the building to see his mother still sitting on the stoop. She jumped up and ran towards him to meet him halfway. As I walked past in my new assumed form to watch mother and son reunite, I kept telling myself I did the right thing. As much as it pained me to take the memories from the boy’s mind it had to be done. Even though he was strong willed and very vivacious he could not be entrusted to grow up with knowledge of the immortals and the truth of what dwells in the shadows. The knowledge of my kind would be too much for his small mind to bear and he would better off growing up without it.

We live in the shadows away from prying eyes and kept our true natures unknown to all around us but our own kind. If mortals knew of us, they would hunt us down and exterminate us for being different. No, the way this night played itself was the way it had to be and as I watched Barbara pick up her son and hold him tightly to her; it all made sense, finally. We must be the way we were for this very reason because we are not like them and mortals couldn’t possibly hope to understand any of us. We are just two very different species. One was predator and the other prey; it was that simple. Still, as I walked past I kept thinking to myself; if one such as that boy existed the chances are that others may exist as well. Maybe human beings as a separate species had a chance if more of them were like that boy. If they had any chance at survival and to one day live up to the potential that very few of their race possess, then they could all learn a lot form that little boy. His heart was pure, his intentions innocent, and his mind true. I will miss him forever and when it comes to one like me, forever was a very long time. As I walked into the shadows and let my assumed form melt away I kept thinking of only two words as I did. The coolness of the shadows invited me in only a way one of my own kind would understand. As the shadows swallowed me up and reclaimed me for their world I just couldn’t stop the bloody tears from flowing down my perfect alabaster cheeks. Still in my mind those two little words rang true in my head. Over and over in my mind I kept thinking, chances are?
~Fin~