On nights like these, I wish I could sleep. Sleep is a way
humans temporarily escape all their problems, fears and pain. It is one of the
many things that make coping with life easier.

Back when I was human, I hated sleeping. Now I regret not
sleeping more.

Yes, in a way, I was tired. Mentally, I was drained. It was
so hard to try and ignore all the thoughts that popped into my head on random
occasions. I felt as if I was going insane.

I tried to shut off the annoying voices in my head by
focussing on the sounds of the night instead. Belial are blessed with
unnaturally strong senses, even for vampires. Every touch, every smell, every
sound...all are amplified. This makes it so much easier for us to fight, flee
or hunt, but at times it also makes living in this body pure hell. 

In the distance, I could hear the rustling of the leaves as
the wind forces them to brush against each other. I could feel the slight
breeze coming in from the barely open window, and I noticed an unfamiliar
smell.

The scent was sickeningly sweet. My head started spinning as
I tried to take it in, but it was also...so appealing. As I lay in bed, I let
the aroma overwhelm me, and much to my surprise, I started to feel thirsty.

I had to find the source.

Lazily I got out of bed, and slowly followed the trail.
Maybe Cara or Matt was cooking something in the kitchen? My money was on Matt,
guys tend to crave food in the early morning hours.

To my surprise, I was lead to the bathroom. Though it was
dark, I noticed that the door was slightly open. My curiosity got the best of
me. I knocked a few times, and then entered.

What I found not only shocked me, but explained  so much.

There, on the bathroom floor, clutching a bloody razorblade
was Cara, her blonde hair a total mess and open gashes on her thighs. She
stared up at me, a blank look in her eyes.

“Aralynne...you shouldn’t be here...” she whispered. Her
voice was hauntingly soft and calm, despite the situation.

It took me a few moments to contain myself. No wonder the
scent was so enticing. The familiar aroma was that of freshly spilt blood,
human blood- the delicious crimson life force which keeps these creatures
going. I ignored the sudden burning sensation in my throat, kneeling down next
to her.

“Cara, what the hell do you think you are doing?!” I
scolded, my hand automatically on her shoulder.

She simply stared at me, giving a single word as an answer.

“Surviving.” She said. Her voice sounded so shocked, as if I
should’ve been able to guess the reply before the word left her lips.

Innocently, she picked up the blade and dragged it across
her thigh once more, letting the ruby drops escape through the cut and run down
her skin.

It was as if someone set fire to my throat causing an
unpleasant burn. A burn which could only be satisfied by drinking blood- human
blood.

I fought the urge. Killing her would be so easy;  I could destroy her in a few moments and then
have my fill. Yet a part of me knew that I was no longer a murderer. I gave up
human blood over 400 years ago. I’ve managed to survive without it. I shouldn’t
give in now.

I grabbed the blade from Cara, throwing it away, taking a
towel instead, folding it into a pressure pad and pressing it to the cuts on
her thigh.

Damn this girl! As if I don’t already have enough to deal
with!

I wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to ask her what drove
her to this extreme, but I knew I wouldn’t be capable of staying much longer.
Staying in the presence of her open wounds would lead to great temptation, and
if I give in, her death.

Like a mother, I picked her up and carried her to bed where
she soon succumbed from exhaustion. Then I fled. I had to get away. The burn in
my throat has turned into a constant throb, and was driving me insane.

 I had to hunt again.
I had to drink. Yet this time, animal blood wouldn’t suffice.

It has been long. How I could have survived years without
properly feeding goes beyond my ability to comprehend.

Yes, tonight, evil is lurking in the dark.  I have done this many times before though.
Stalking my prey until finally pouncing…

I hate this burning, aching sensation.

As I leapt from rooftop to rooftop, I wondered if there will
be any casualties tonight.

But the lives of my food didn’t dwell in my thoughts for
long. Soon enough, the image of Seth crept up in my psyche.

With him here, things have been so different. I don’t know
what to think anymore.

He’s different than humans. What you see is not what you
get, with him there’s just no measurement, no way to tell what is real from
what isn’t. 

Why can’t things just go back to the way they were, to the
times he was right here by my side?

‘No Aralynne! Stop.’
My mind reminded me.

I don’t want to think about things I’ve gone through. Even
if it hurt me, now, it’s all history. There was nothing I could or can do to
change the outcome. That’s it. There’s nothing more to say. He made his choice.

After this reminiscence, I spotted a worthy human. She was
still young. I could sense the heat radiating from her body. The venom started
forming in my mouth and the ache in my throat flared up. This was it.
Unfortunately, she won’t make it. After the first taste, I won’t be able to
stop. Not tonight….it’s been too long….

 As I flitted across
the tiny space left between me and her throat, I kept my eyes locked on her
expression.

Under the moonlight she saw a sight that almost stopped her
heart and tried to scream, but terror took the sound before she could make it.
She decided to run.

Foolish girl…trying to
outrun me. Don’t even try to flee… I chased her into an alley. Perfect.
When they find her body tomorrow, they’ll blame it on a psychopath.

No ones going to save
you from the beast about to strike… there’s no use in trying to fight for
your life.

She turned her back on me and closed her eyes, hoping that
this is just imagination but I know she could hear me  creep out from behind…she was out of time….

“Aralynne! What are you doing?” a voice called out from the
darkness right after I grabbed the girl by her throat. I don’t like victims who
scream.

Male? It couldn’t be female, but I can’t make out anything.
At that moment there was just one thought running through my head: blood. Warm,
moist salty blood….and lots of it.

I couldn’t be bothered by that feeble human. As soon as I’m
done here, I’ll kill him too. Never interrupt a vampire when they are about to
feed.

Clearly he didn’t know this rule, for the next moment, I was
pushed aside.

He was strong, too strong to be a normal human. It could
only be Seth...