Vladimir

You make your way down the stairs toward the kitchen, hoping to find some coffee. You're still thinking about Sara after your dreams, and the awkwardness of her walking in on you. Distracted, you walk half way down the stairs before you realize that Sara is standing still as a statue, staring. Uncertainty and fear shows through her cold gaze.

You follow her eyes to the doorway.

The man standing there gives you pause. He looks wild, and dangerous. His long black hair manages to be wild and tamed all at once, and his black clothing is nondescript, but clearly expensive. Your eyes register that in an instance. Your instincts linger on the predatory grace he exudes. His red eyes confirm what you suspect, a vampire. A lowborn vampire.

"Hello, Sara," he says. His voice is deep and buttery, and it annoys the shit out of you.

"Why are you here, Vladimir?" You've never heard Sara's voice so hard or cold.

So this is Vladimir, you think to yourself.

"Why wouldn't I come home for you, my lover?"

"This isn't your home and you're not my lover, Vladimir. You burned that bridge two years ago."

"You know that you need me, Sara," he says without missing a beat, "I'll always belong here."

She raises an eyebrow, "You don't belong here. I don't want you here. You should go."

"Then come with me. I've seen so much more since I left, learned so much. You showed me your world. Trying to co-exist with those humans who hate and fear us, or would if they knew we existed.

"Let me show you my world, of blood and pleasure. A world for vampires, where we don't have to hide in the shadows pretending that we're mortals, cowering in fear of Hunters and retribution. This world should belong to superior creatures like us, not to them. A world were food is just that, food."

"I know what you mean Vladimir, I know how you live. Slinking through the nigh, attacking humans, turning them, and leaving ferals in your wake, running from Hunters. Dragging our names through the mud. No thanks."

"But you could be free--"

Sara cuts him off, "I am free, Vladimir. It's you who are a ****. A **** to your primal nature."

He sighs, clearly this is an argument they've had before.

You're not sure how to react to his presence. He is a vampire, and a very dangerous one based on your own assessment and their conversation. You'd very much like to just kill him and be done with it, but you're pretty sure that Sara wouldn't be too pleased with you if you got his guts all over the carpets. Assuming he doesn't kill you first.

He notices you for the first time, "I don't think we've met."

"We have not, but I've heard about you Vladimir. I'm John."

He smiles at you, "You don't seem like Sara's type."

You smile back, "What is her type?"

"Dangerous."

You grin, "Let me assure you, I'm plenty dangerous." You continue to walk down the stairs.

"Is he your lover now? I don't know how you'd find someone who could please you after me," he stares at you.

"It's not like that," she answers softly.

"No?" Vladimir takes a step toward you. "Do you think you can--A human?" he seems surprised, "And not at all surprised by talk of vampires? Such a pity for you that she hasn't turned you because I'm rather hungry. Well, a pity for you, but not for me."

Instinct, honed over a lifetime as a hunter, fires before he even starts moving. Unlike with Sara, you embrace your killer instinct. You're not just ready for ****, you're excited by it. Putting a sword through Vladimir wouldn't just be a good idea, it would be immensely satisfying.

You lunge forward to meet him, sword already in hand. He dances to the side to avoid your sword, coming back from the left. Just like you expected, your knife racing toward him. He twirls away again, but keeps his distance this time, now wary of you.

"You move like a Hunter," he snarls. "Sara, why did you bring a damn Hunter here?"

You watch him, adrenaline and hatred burning in your veins. I can use this.

"Don't look at her," you can feel the lethal power and grace of the sword in your hand, its weight and the ease at which you can move it. You take a confident step, and for once your leg does what you want. "You don't belong here, Vladimir."

He regards you again for a moment, "This isn't over, Sara. I'll be back. And John, I will drink you dry."

You watch him storm out of the house and disappear into the thick fog outside. He isn't gone more than a few seconds before you feel the weakness return, and you fall to your knees.

"John", Sara rushes to you, "are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine," you assure her. "Why did he come back so suddenly?"

She bites her lip and looks away.

"It's because of me."

"Probably," she admits. "If you want to leave, now would be a good time. Last time it took Henry and Darcia to get rid of him. I'd kinda hoped that just hearing there was a Hunter here might be enough to keep him away," she sighs.

"He wants to kill me as much as he wants to hurt you now, so running won't help. He'll just hurt you to draw me out if I leave. Will he feed in town?"

Her eyes go wide, "Why?"

"Because if he does he'll draw Hunters here, and I wont be able to protect you. I doubt I can protect you from him, but I certainly can't protect your from Hunters. It was dumb luck that I didn't give away my bad leg today. You need to leave here, get away from him. It will be much harder for him to find you if you're not here. And if you leave, I can go back to the Hunters, which will protect both of us from that angle."

Sara shakes her head, "No, I'm not leaving. I'm supposed to take care of this house."

You scrunch up your face, "Do you know how to fight?"

She shakes her head.

"I can teach you."

"Or," she hesitates, "I can turn you."