Honesty Prevails

Steve entered the living room and saw Maria sitting on the couch, smoking a cigarette. It was a rare sight, as she wasn't a regular smoker and never smoked at home before.

"What's going on?" Steve asked, noticing that something was off.

"Nothing, just smoking," Maria replied, trying to brush it off.

Steve sat next to her and took her hand. "Come on, Maria. I know something is bothering you. Please tell me."

Maria hesitated for a moment before responding. "It's just been a long day. Work has been stressful, and I needed a break."

Steve didn't buy it. He had seen her stressed before, and this wasn't the same. "Listen, Maria. I've always been here and I'm here for you now. I know you well and I see something is wrong, so you can tell me everything. You know I won't judge you," Steve said, trying to reassure her.

Maria took a deep breath and started to cry. She knew that she had to tell him everything, no matter how crazy it might sound. She told him about her encounter with Nikolai, how he seduced her, and even how they fucked while he was feeding on her.

Steve stared at her for what felt like hours. He was thinking she was either high or out of her mind. But her eyes were telling a different story - they were filled with pain and desperation. She was pleading with him to believe her.

"Umm... I think you need help, Maria. Is this a joke or are you seriously expecting me to believe you met and... fucked with a real vampire?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but..."Maria trailed off.

"Not just that, it sounds insane."

"You said you wouldn't judge me..."

"Sorry about that, should we call Gandalf or fairy fucking godmother for help now?"

"Fuck you and your sarcasm, Steve. Explain this, then." Maria said, frustrated.

She stood up in front of Steve and unceremoniously undressed, showing him bite marks across her body.

"You think I did this to myself?"

"I...what the fuck is this, Maria?"

"I told you but you don't believe me. He bit me and drank blood from me."

"Ok, it's weird, I'll grant you that, but that doesn't mean he's a real vampire, Maria. Just a lunatic with fake fangs and a blood fetish, I don't know..." Steve said, trying to rationalize it.

"No, he's real, I know it."

"Yeah? How do you know it?"

"Because I... liked it. His biting and feeding turned me on like nothing ever did."

"Ok...and so what, he drank your blood and then he **** you?"

"Not exactly. He didn't **** me, I wanted it to happen."

"So you let him?" Steve asked, his voice rising in disbelief.

"Yes. And I'd let him fuck me right now if he were here," Maria said, with a mixture of shame and desire.

"Jesus, Maria..." Steve said, running his hands through his hair.

"I hope you understand now. You know I love you and I never, ever cheated on you, but somehow I can't resist him."

Maria didn't want to go into all the detail about her enjoying every minute of it and wanting it to happen again. She didn't had to, Steve was seeing it himself now when he finally started paying attention to her words.

"Ok, look, I really want to believe you, all right? You know the professor at Uni that I'm working with occasionally? The one nicknamed prof. Fruitcake? He's a historian with expertise in medieval European history. Well, I remember we talked about myths and legends one day and he said we shouldn't disregard myths about vampires that easily and that there might be something true about them. I don't know, maybe he knows something. I'll give him a call."

At first, Professor Francis Kake, aka Fruitcake, was skeptical as he was accustomed to hearing jokes like this. However, he understood the urgency in Steve's voice and proposed an immediate meeting at his place since it was already nightfall. After the call ended, Steve looked at Maria with a blend of concern and remorse in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Maria. I guess you're maybe right about all of this."

"Finally. Let's go then."