No

"No," you shake your head. "No, that would be even worse. Hunters aren't allowed to cross with vampires. I'm a Hamilton and you're a Karnstein. Can you imagine the scandal? We'd have much bigger problems than Vladimir."

Sara looks hurt, but quickly hides it.

"I," you stop. You want to apologize. You want to tell her that everything will work out, but you know it's not going to. "I can teach you to fight. If the two of us work together we stand a much better chance. Maybe your brother can come back too?"

"I'll ask him."

"What about learning to fight?" you push.

"I don't know John. I'm not much of a fighter."

You sink into a nearby chair, unconcerned with the dust cover. You take your knife out of your pocket and push it to your finger again, "You can do things Sara, that I have never seen another vampire do, I have faith in you." You push the knife into the tip of your finger until a drop of blood bubbles to the surface.

Sara takes a step toward you. Then another, and another, until she is standing right in front of you.

"I don't know why you tempt me like this John."

She takes your hand in her bare hands. The thrill of her skin against yours is short lived, replaced by total bliss of her tongue licking across the tip of your finger. She turns your hand over, and stares up into your eyes while sucking on your finger before slowly releasing it, letting a string of saliva run from your finger to her mouth.

You surprise both of you when you pull her toward her and press your lips to hers. They are salty and and sweet, hot and cold, and so utterly sof you could lose yourself in them. You want more, so much more.

She pulls away, hunger in her eyes. "Let me turn you," she pleads again, "and stay with me forever."

You groan. You want it so badly. You want her so badly. But you can't, you can't, even if you're retired, even if you're broken, you're still a Hunter. You were born a Hunter. No matter how much you want it, you cannot let her turn you.

"I can't," your voice breaks.

"I understand," she sighs. "I'm not going to stop asking until you say yes."

"You know I can't," you whisper.

"I'm still going to keep asking."

You look away for a moment. "How long do you think we have before Vladimir comes back?"

Sara thinks for a moment, "A few days at least, a couple of weeks at most. I think he was hungry, he acted much slower than normal. I don't think he'll feed near here though, you said that would draw Hunter attention. He may try to turn or gather help. He's not the kind to take risks he doesn't have to."

Your mind begins to turn. You're starting to think like a Hunter again. You have preparations to make.