Blood
an excerpt

It is a long trek to the city for those who travel by foot and at night.
We passed through the farmlands in a pack, for miles only passing cattle, and we were thirsty.

The blood of cattle is not nearly as friendly to the thirsty tongue of the vampire as the blood of the human.

Even so, we could smell it.

The smell of the inferior blood only reminded us of how sweet the real thing was.

A farm house in the distance.
Hearts beating.
Pumping.

Blood.

Hearts of the weak and of the strong, the smell reaching the noses of the aged vampires before mine.

Silence.

Howling.

Running.

Anticipation.

Stalking through the evening, surrounding the home.

Crashing through the windows, destroying the peace of the night.

Leaping.

Struggle.

And blood. Sweet, sweet blood.

Vampires are kind. We share the blood amongst ourselves.

Blood of the old. And blood of the young.

She was the last standing, the poor child. And to this day I feel sorrow for her, and yet to this very day I remember the sweetness of her blood on my lips and the warmth of it as it slid down my throat and into my stomach.

I remember her horrified face as she took in what was happening to her family members. And I remember her terror as the leaders of our pack that night descended upon her, eyes anxious, nostrils flaring with glee, anticipating the sweetness of her life force, the sweetness of the very blood that ran through the young girl’s veins.

I remember wondering why, of all the people in the world, they felt they had to take the life of this small girl who hadn’t experienced romance, or much heartache, or great moments of deep, deep joy.

I remember her vulnerability as they took her in their arms, sung in her ear, and leaned down to her and bit her neck.

I remember watching the light leave her eyes, and I remember knowing that she would never laugh again.

I remember wondering whether it was inevitable for the vampire to take this course, the course of the heartless. I remember wondering whether your soul began to fade out and be replaced by an entirely animalistic appetite the longer you were a member of the undead.