Beautiful Moon

The vampire approached the Tana house cautiously, the Valerie slayer was very good and a seasoned hunter, her aura read to him clearly as he walked silently along the front lawn. The Tana had long ago blended into the human world, a much easier task for them than for the vampires. But he wasn't there for a fight, rather far from it; he wanted to present them with a gift. A small girl of five slept soundly in his arms, her long auburn waves falling against her flushed cheeks. Her heart had long ago righted itself against its loss of blood but she needed help yet. He stretched his senses to feel inside the house, he wanted to be sure of his numbers before he approached further, there was little to stop Valerie from setting him ablaze with her wretched hunting tools. He felt hers strong against the back of the house, her aura was always strong, she refused to be caught at a weakened state. Another, far weaker aura was on the second story and dreadfully still; he knew this to be the mother of Valerie and Renee.

She would die soon; she only needed to let her aura go. He closed his eyes to better feel with his mind, stretching himself even further. Renee was in the basement, her aura healthy but not forced like Valerie's, a much younger essence was with her, Sarah, her daughter of six. He smiled, there were no unexpected guests of distant relatives to prevent him from moving further. He moved soundlessly and smoothly as only a vampire can until he was at the front door. It was then he made himself known, removing his shields so Valerie and the others could sense his dark presence. He whispered a light but stern warning into all their minds as they moved in response to his aura. I bring an offering.

He watched with his mind as Renee quickly cut off Valerie while she sent her daughter to her grandmother up the stairs. He smiled to himself, knowing Valerie's anger would be great with him, they had met several times before and her wrath was always as hot as the sun to his skin. Back away. Renee's thoughts lashed out uncontrolled in the true art of a mortal. But he obeyed and moved away from the door until he was down the steps of their porch again. If he really wished, he could be at his original spot before Valerie had time to strike at him but he wouldn't fight, not tonight. He listened as Renee carefully unlocked their door to him, the light of their cozy human home shining down upon his darkness. Her eyes stared at him a moment as he remained still, not wanting to startle her as her gaze fell to the bundle in his arms. Renee was strikingly beautiful, thin and delicate with wide innocent green eyes and short red hair. Valerie stood behind her with total loathing in her brown stare. She was the opposite of Renee, a bland and plain girl with far too many years for her age. She had dyed her hair black to blend in with the crowd she hunted, the acidic smell of the chemicals filtering to his sensitive nose. She held a short knife in her hand he was sure was bewitched in some way that would harm him more than just plain steel. He allowed Renee to move closer to him, if he had his choice he would have stepped away, but he knew he needed to show his throat to these witches before they would listen.

"What do you have for us?"

He didn't answer her, only stared down at the sleeping child in his arms; she was almost angelic, marred only by the blood that was crusted on her coat and neck. He glanced up at Valerie with fresh vehemence as he unwrapped the girl from his coat. Renee gasped as she realized he held a human child covered in blood and all caution left her. The vampire bared his fangs as she snatched the girl from his arms, loathing of the proximity of the witch but she seemed oblivious to the growl in his throat. Valerie on the other hand had tensed from her sister's actions and the reaction of the vampire, the blade glinting in her hand now rather than being hidden. She disliked the situation almost as much as he did.

"What have you done to her!"

His attention was back on Renee who had placed several feet between him and her again, her fingers prying at the girls collar for a glimpse of her wound.

"I did nothing."

He heard Valerie's jaw clench with anger but he ignored her, instead preoccupied with his plan now rolling into action.

"You lie vampire, I can smell her blood on your lips."

His black gaze froze Valerie for a split second, the hatred in his stare showing with full strength. He heard her pulse quicken under his look and he almost favored himself with a smile.

"I stopped her bleeding, I didn't savor her taste, she's far too young for my stomach."

The witch wasn't going to give up.

"Younger have died by your bite, I witnessed an infant die in your hands when you were overcome by hunger, don't tell me you didn't harm this child!"

Renee had been growing increasingly frustrated by Valerie's accusations until her aura struck out with enough force to direct her attention back to the small girl.

"He brought her to us alive, there is a reason."

The vampire smiled at her graciously but she stared at him coldly despite his attempt to thank her. Valerie held her tongue, her temper growing hotter by the second but she refused to leave her sister alone with the creature.

"She is a witch, her aura is rather strong, I saved her from a fledgling to bring her to you so that you may raise her."

Renee stared down at her for a moment, struggling to sense her aura he could read so easily; he forgot sometimes that they were only gifted humans.

"What do you want in return?"

The vampire looked at Valerie who had gotten a better hold of her temper now, slipping into that predator state he knew so well.

"Knowledge."

He stated it simply but Valerie shook her head while Renee looked at him in confusion.

"You'll not learn anything of the Tana family, I forbid it. Because you save the life of one unknown witch does not permit you to know centuries of carefully protected secrets."

The vampire sighed, losing grip on his patience. The snow had stopped minutes ago but the air was growing colder.

"Renee, she'll freeze if you don't take her inside."

She nodded and gathered the girl up as she glanced at Valerie. She let her sister pass without so much as a nod, Renee couldn't protect herself against a vampire, Valerie, however, could. He waited until the sister was gone before he spoke again, this time harsher, sharper than before.

"If you refuse to teach me the girl will, she will pay for your stubbornness when I find her and take her in the night."

Valerie smiled wickedly at him as she cocked her head to the side, studying him.

"You can't learn anything from a girl of six."

She was confident, but she misunderstood.

"No, not from a girl of six, but from a woman of twenty, now that's knowledge."

She opened her mouth to protest heatedly but he had moved in that vampire fashion that was beyond human vision. To the hunter he had vanished when he had simply walked down the street from her, beyond her ability to track. She would see that he was true to his word, a vampire lived each day like a minute, each week like an hour, each month like a day, he would not forget his plan for the girl.


Thanks for reading, the next chapter is underway. If people like, then I'll, keep them coming, please R&R!