Chapter 6 ~A Stranger in Me Chair~

I'M FLAT ON ME BACK ON THE ground. me body, usually all muscle and power, feels as heavy as a boulder. It hits me that even vampires, the eternal creatures of the night, need a regular dose of blood to keep up their youthful looks.

Seems like me powers have decided to take a permanent vacation. Me arms and legs, normally the epitome of strength and grace, are now stiff as a board, leaving me totally helpless. Me energy is leaking out of me, putting me in quite the bind.

If only a pint of blood would just materialize in front of me to satisfy me craving. As I lie there, mulling over me dire situation, the sun peeks through the window and spills its warm light onto me pale skin.

Time seems to crawl as the sun makes its lazy journey across the sky. Panic floods me mind. I picture me shriveled-up body, all dry and wrinkled, and a cold shiver runs down me spine.

I screw me eyes shut, trying to erase the nightmarish images from me mind. The thirst for blood grows stronger with each passing second, and all I can think about is the sweet relief of darkness. Fear grabs me by the throat, but I cling to a tiny flicker of hope.

"Hang in there, old boy," I croak to meself. "Don't throw in the towel just yet." As the world finally slips into the night, I know it's do-or-die time.

With every scrap of strength left in me battered body, I start crawling across the floor. With every last bit of strength, I haul meself to me feet. Me legs wobble, but I refuse to give in.

I fling open the front door and focus all me energy on staying upright. No way am I going down without a fight. As I look out at the city, I'm entranced by the strange vehicles whizzing past.

These futuristic machines dance through the night in a hypnotic ballet of metal and shadow. Even though I have no idea where I'm headed, the hunger growling in me stomach pushes me forward.

Before I know it, I'm staggering through the city's winding streets, the weird vehicles zooming past me. Just when I think things can't get any crazier, the world explodes into chaos.

A blinding light hits me eyes, and BAM! Out of nowhere, a massive vehicle slams into me. The impact hurls me into the air, me arms and legs flailing as I frantically grab for anything to hold onto.

I crash back down to the cold, hard ground, me bones snapping under the force of the impact.

As I lay there on the freezing pavement, I couldn't help but wonder if this was how it ended for me - an ancient vampire biting the dust in a strange, unfamiliar future. Talk about ironic, right?

The driver, looking pretty shaken up himself, climbed out of the vehicle and came over to me. Even in me hazy state, I could feel his anxiety. But through the haze, one thought kept nagging at me - the hunger roaring in me belly.

He knelt down next to me, his voice cutting through the night. "Hey, you okay? Can you hear me?" His breath was coming out in shaky gasps, his hands trembling like he'd just seen a ghost.

In his panic, he leaned in close, pressing his ear against me chest, trying to hear a heartbeat. That's when it hit me - this was me chance, a gift from the gods.

"What are you-" he started, but his words got stuck in his throat as I pounced, me fangs piercing the soft skin of his neck.

A blood-curdling scream ripped through the night as he struggled in me iron grip. "Please, let me go!" he begged, his voice trembling with fear.

I ignored his pleas, knowing I couldn't afford to let him go now. Not when I was so close.

The night air whispered against me skin as his blood flowed into me, a rush of euphoria washing over me senses.

In me unyielding hold, the man quivered, an unwilling participant in me dark act. With every passing moment, his life force dwindled, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

The weird vehicles kept zooming along the dark, shiny streets, their drivers either oblivious or indifferent to the drama playing out.

Amidst the chaos, a sense of urgency hit me – I had to move fast before we were spotted.

I scooped up the man's limp body and darted towards the shadowy alleyway, desperate to get out of sight.

With a deep breath, I sank me fangs into me own wrist, grimacing at the sharp pain as blood spurted from the wound.

I gently pried open the man's lips and let me healing blood drip into his mouth.

As me blood trickled in, his wounds began to mend, his torn flesh magically stitching itself back together.

Me blood, now flowing through his veins, pulled him back from the brink of death.

As his eyes fluttered open, our gazes locked, and I unleashed the full force of me hypnotic allure.

In a steady voice, I spoke directly to his mind, “Hark, friend. This evening has indeed been an eventful one, but the hour has come for you to relinquish your grasp upon these occurrences. Your path now leads you homeward, where a soothing bath of warm water awaits to cleanse away the day's turmoil, followed by the sweet embrace of slumber. When dawn's light graces your eyes once more, naught shall remain within your mind's eye but a fleeting fancy, akin to a dream that dances just beyond your recollection.”

The man nods slowly, his eyes all foggy with confusion as me words sink in. I help him to his vehicle, watching as he stumbles along like a drunken sailor trying to find his sea legs.

He collapses into the driver's seat and zooms off into the night. I watch him go, confident that he'll be okay after our crazy escapade.

I stroll along an empty path, the steady tap-tap of me shoes against the ground the only sound in the quiet night. Me mind's racing, replaying the wild events of the evening.

The smooth path under me feet feels nothing like the rough cobblestones I'm used to - it's more like walking on polished marble.

As I remember me withered appearance from earlier, it suddenly hits me: when Winter set me free from the mansion, the spell keeping me looking young and hot must've worn off. All those years of going without human blood had caught up with me.

The mansion's magic had been like a vampire Botox, keeping me young and handsome, but without it, time had done a real number on me. Good thing the driver's blood had given me a much-needed pick-me-up.

I think about Winter. The mansion had kept me and its secrets hidden for centuries, until Winter stumbled upon it by accident. How had she been able to see me? The possibilities make me head spin.

Out of nowhere, the hair on the back of me neck stands up, like someone's watching me. A shiver snakes down me spine, putting me on high alert.

I scan the darkness, me eyes searching the shadows for any sign of movement. From the shadows, a figure steps out, its body cloaked in darkness except for a pair of glowing red eyes.

I try to make out its features, but it's like trying to grab smoke - impossible. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, time freezes.

The figure looks small, maybe a kid or a teenager. But just as quickly as it appeared, it disappears, leaving me totally confused.

The mysterious figure gives me the creeps. Was it another vampire, or some unknown creature lurking in the night? The thought makes me shiver.

As I'm lost in me thoughts, it suddenly hits me - I've shown me vampiric abilities in public. I've got to be careful in this strange new world, to keep both me existence and me secrets safe.

I head towards me centuries-old home, but it's barely recognizable now. Even the outside has been updated to match the other houses on the street, making me feel curious and uneasy, like I'm walking into a stranger's house.

I take a deep breath and push open the door. The place is pitch black, except for a glowing box showing images of smiling faces, which gives me the heebie-jeebies.

I struggle with the lights, but can't figure them out, so I give up and lean against the wall in frustration.

Suddenly, the wall makes a soft clicking sound under me touch, and the room lights up. I let out a victorious laugh - finally, I've found the light switch!

But before I can fully enjoy me moment of triumph, I turn to see a stranger lounging in one of me chairs, a devilish grin on his face. Me heart skips a beat - who the heck is this guy, and how did he get in here?

As I look at his face, I realize it's the same mysterious kid from before. "You?" I croak out, barely able to find me voice.

He nods slowly, a mischievous spark in his otherwise angelic face. "Yep, it's me," he says, his eyes shining with a sly intelligence that seems way beyond his young appearance.