I was back on the streets, this time looking for Lucious instead of running from him. However, I had absolutely no clue where he could be or if I'd be lucky enough to find him. Would he have remained in Central? Or could he have left the area altogether?

Northern city connected to Central via freeway. But with Central being the large, overpopulated city it was, Northern was considered a suburb even though it was further away than any other suburbs from the main city.

I grew up in Northern, never setting a foot in Central until that fateful day when Serena captured us. I was happy there, mostly, and never cared to leave its boundaries.

But now I needed to find him even if it meant venturing back into Central. Even if it meant going up to her door and asking for him. I didn't care.

I found my way through old downtown, the buildings dark with bricks blocking the windows. 'No Trespassing' signs were seen hanging at the doorways. The night was especially dark here, no moon, no stars... or maybe I just couldn't see them in this part of the city. As well, the city streets were empty.

The feeling of loneliness hovered just above my head as I walked by the empty businesses. I desperately tried to brush it away. I was a vampire after all, albeit one with denial, but why should I feel this way?

And just when I thought there wasn't a soul to be seen anywhere, I heard a voice come from the alleyway.

“Hey man, got any dope.”

I turned my head towards a man standing up against the side of the wall.

“No.”

“Ah, that's cool. Don't need any, anyway,” he claimed.

I stood, taking in his features wearily. He was very skinny, black almost raccoon like under his eyes, and a small grin helped to reveal his fangs.

Who is this man?

 But I couldn't just stand here pondering the likes of this strange creature, I needed to go and continue my search.

I turned around and started off when the voice came calling out again.

“So where ya goin'?”

He was really going to get on my nerves. “I'm searching for someone, leave me be.”

“I can help you find this person.”

“No thank you.” I continued my path, hoping the man would grow tired of following.

“That's a shame, I'm pretty good at finding people.”

I stopped in my tracks. This character had done it. I turned around to firmly tell him to leave but just as I looked, he was gone.

Who the hell was that? Well, it's no matter...

 I turned back towards the direction I was going and started down the sidewalk once more. The area grew quiet again as the buildings I passed were empty with large metal bars sealing them from being entered. The same sense of loneliness hovered again but mentally I tried to swipe it away.

It was too quiet now. I began to think about Lucious again... and so came the train wreak of thoughts through my mind.

I need to find him. I need to ask him to change me... But that wasn't all this was about, I knew it all too well that I wanted him more than just to change me into a true vampire. Although the memories of him passed through my thoughts, I tried to shake those away as well.

No, I cannot tell him what I'm feeling. I'll just ask him to cure me of this denial.

 And just as those memories of him were starting to fill me to the bone with this undeniable feeling, I heard the same voice from back at the alleyway.

“You look like someone important,” the man said.

I looked over and there he stood once more carrying the same grin that graced his lips before. I stopped again and shuddered at just how quickly he caught up to me. He had to be a real vampire with the ability to move at lightning speed, unlike myself, who lacked the abilities they flaunt. Though I couldn't sense if he was an elder vampyre, or a younger vampire.

“Denial, right?” he asked with a chuckle.

“How did you know?”

“You reek of it, kid.”

Kid? This vampire was starting to really frustrate me. So what if he could see right through this thin wall I tried to build around myself? I cut past him, trying to avoid his glances, and walked into a small park.

“Wait a minute.” The creature hollered. “I'm not going to bite, I have something that might help your little problem.”

I paused again.

Help for my problem?

 I turned curiously to face him.

“Here, try this.” He held out a small, dirty bottle.

“What is it?”

He chuckled. “Hmph, what do you think it is. It's 100% pure blood... with a kick.”

I swiped it from his hand and looked at the ripped, dirty label. The writing was old and worn as well as the bottle itself. Not knowing what to do, I looked back up at him.

“Don't worry, I wouldn't do you wrong.”

“No, I don't think so.” I handed him back the bottle.

He accepted the bottle back. However, instead of putting it away he opened the lid and took a large swig of the potion inside.

“Ah...” He breathed. “Good stuff. Seriously, it will make your denial ease... at least for one night.”After drinking the liquid, he held out the open bottle to me. Curiosity filled me now as I stared at the bottle in his hand.

“I've been drinking this for ages, my friend.”

I grabbed it from him. Could he be truthful?

 As I held the bottle up to my lips, the fluid sank down to the back of my already hungry throat. The potion tasted like blood but with a bitterly sweet taste and it was surprisingly warm as it dripped onto my tongue.

Immediately I fell to my knees, weak and nauseated. The bottle slipped from my hands and dropped to the ground, causing the concoction to pour out over the grass.

The creature hovered above me, and with a wicked chuckle, “Oh, it will kick you in the balls at first though.”

Stop screaming!

 My sense of hearing suddenly became more distinct as that comment he made almost sounded like he was yelling into my ear. I looked up at him, his face blurred as the world started to spin before my eyes.

“No!” I heard another scream, this time louder than this creature's comment.

Where had that come from? Why is my head pounding like I was hit by a baseball bat?

 “Stop!”

I looked up again towards the creature hoping he would help me up to my feet, but he was gone from my sight.

I slowly tried to pick myself up off the ground when the loud crunch of boots on grass beat against my eardrums.

“Mikael, what are you doing?” Lucious's voice came next.

“Lucious...” His name rolled from my tongue.

The blurred vision of him standing above me focused in as I stumbled to my feet, holding my head to stop the pounding. The world still spun around me.

“What, what... are you doing here?”

“I'm...” He paused, standing in shock. “What is that?”

He looked down at the ground where the bottle still lay. Was that a slight look of concern on his face? The blood from the vial drained into the ground but it's heavy scent continued to permeate the air.

“Who was that you were with?”

“I don't know...” I screamed back at him.

His voice, the chirping of the crickets, the noises of the world pounded in my tired ears. I wanted it all to stop.

“He said it would help my denial,” I admitted.

“Help your denial? How, by fucking you up beyond repair?” Lucious wondered.

“He took a drink as well,” I explained trying to shake away the headache that was beginning to cease. I finally looked up at Lucious, his silvery hair bright in my eyes like the sun had began to rise just over his shoulders, but I knew it was still night time. I saw the concern in his silver eyes, I wanted to comfort him... to let him know I was okay... but started to laugh uncontrollably.

“What are laughing at?”

My head pounded as I laughed hysterically but I couldn't stop. Grabbing at my forehead, I wished for the headache to cease at last.

“Wow!” I exclaimed through a chuckle.

He stood there beside me and I thought I saw a change in his eyes go from concern to some other emotion. As the 'kick' inside that strange potion started to take effect, I didn't care to read his emotions any longer.

“You're funny.” The words came from my lips.

What am I saying?

 Slowly, the world before me stopped it's spinning however I began to feel extreme hunger swell up inside me as I looked over at the red brick wall next to me. It's ruddy color swirled together, running down into the cracks like fresh blood. I stood laughing at the sight, however Lucious stood still with concern in his eyes.

“You're fucked up on something. What was in that bottle?” Lucious asked.

“One hundred percent blood... with a kick!” I copied the words the creature had said to me. I then began to laugh aloud once more.

“Come on, let's get you out of here.” He grabbed my arm and threw it over his shoulder. Holding on tightly, we began walking slowly out of the park.

“You shouldn't even be talking to anyone like that, Mikael.”

I didn't care. As I started to grow used to the loud, pounding sounds of the world around me, so did I get used to the strange drug that had been hidden within the concoction. Finally the world had stopped spinning. Now the world was even brighter, more distinct colors than I had ever viewed it before.

As if all the neutral colors of the world had been overshadowed by beautiful hues. The green grass below my feet... green. The tree bark on the willow in front of me... brown. The bricks that made the building walls... red. No grays, no blacks... I felt, ultimately, powerful.

I looked up at Lucious with my new found senses. I didn't see lies or mistrust in his face. What I saw was that same beautiful creature whom intrigued me on that night we met in the motel room. Still wealthy in his elegance, he was. And despite the fact that he took my mortal life from me, I felt at ease in his arms.

This feeling is back once more...

 “Hold on,” he said to me.

I grabbed onto his shoulder tightly... the colors of the park had disappeared.