It was quiet there in that small shed in which I fled to with Mikael in my arms. Awaking from a day sleep, I peeked out of tired eyelids to spot him laying motionless on the floor in front of me. I could remember the day, the sun shining straight down on him burning his flesh straight off his exposed skin. It had seemed an eternity since I've seen such sunrise, however, I was lucky to have found him before he became a pile of ash, like a gray statue sitting next to that mobile home.

My skin had all but healed from the exposure to the sun's light. Mikael's on the other hand, still showed some scorch marks along his forearm up to his biceps. I could tell his body was weak, possibly from the lack of feeding or...

Finally, a stirring. He groaned and slowly picked himself up off the stained concrete floor. On hands and knees, he twisted his head to look at me.

“Where am I?”

I looked down at him in concern. “A little shack.”

He bent his head back to the floor and rested his forehead there.

“Damn it, too weak.” I heard him murmur before picking himself up and sitting opposite of me.

“What do you mean?”

“Why am I so weak...” he whispered to himself, his brows dropped in outrage. “I let him force that... that shit down my throat.”

“Mikael,” I spoke up.

I could tell he was angry at only himself. Whatever had happened while I wasn't beside him... I should have been there.

“No,” he hollered, “I'm too weak. It should be different now, shouldn't it?” He lowered his head.

I scooted up closer to him, resting my hand upon his knee. I wanted to caress him, whisper in his ear that everything was alright, yet, he moved his arm in front of his face and I stopped.

“I should have been there. I shouldn't have left you back there at the market,” I announced.

He shook his head. “No, I shouldn't be like this. I should be able to fight my own battles.” He looked up at me for a second, the glistening red in his eyes so very pale.

I tried to wrap my arm around his neck. Instead, he struggled up on his knees and stood straight up, and I staggered back to look at him.

“And what do you expect, Mikael? That you are turned and everything becomes easier? It's all cake and candy from here on out? You've lived with denial for decades, and yet have been cured for... for...” I stopped. I couldn't think, my mind was oblivious to dates, to times.

“Three weeks...” He pouted in front of me. “It's been three weeks, Lucious. How long should I wait?”

I hesitated. I really didn't know.

“Lucious?”

I still could not give him an honest answer, therefore I remained silent. Moments later, he stepped out towards the old shelf and suddenly punched the old wood with the bottom of his fist. “How long?”

“Don't make such a racket,” I spoke up as I approached him. “Look, it's different. I'm afraid I cannot give you a clear answer. Maybe in another time, without so much shit going on, you could gain your vampiric strength sooner. But it is what it is, my friend.”

“And if it never comes?” he whispered.

I touched his brittle flesh gently around his arm. Carefully I twisted him around to face me and snaked my fingers slowly up to his face.

“It will. Do not worry. But I do know you haven't been feeding and that is one cause of weakness.” I assured him. “How long has it been since you've had a drop of blood?”

He stood still, his head pointed down at the floor and his eyes refusing to meet mine.

“A few days,” Mikael admitted.

“You have had your chances, why haven't you taken them? Are you still conflicted—“

“I am not!” He looked at me now, a look of desperation glazed over his eyes. “You mean... CiCi? I just couldn't. Knowing that I caused her so much pain from the day I entered her life... I just couldn't bring myself to finish what I had started.”

“Then, will you feed if I deliver... here, right now? We must make you stronger, Mikael. If that is your true wish, we must heal these wounds before you go awry.”

So it was, I left him there waiting for my return as I scouted out the mobile home park in search for a victim.

It was considerably dark out. The moon was hiding just behind some low clouds. Also it was chilly, yet the frost on the ground had melted from the previous day.

I cared for him enough to disregard my own hunger. Yet I was afraid I just couldn't bare to watch his actions when I did finally delivered to him.

I picked the first home I noted having all the lights off in hopes to find someone sleeping just on the other side of the walls. And as it was, the home next to the shed housed a beautiful single woman just inside. She flinched a little in her sleep.

Now, I just had to creep my way into the home unnoticed.

After sliding the window open at the front of the trailer, I sneaked into her bedroom and slowly knelt down beside her. She flinched again just as I rested my knee down upon her bed.

“Shh.” I quieted her as I caressed her ebony skin.

For a moment she rested her face in the palm of my hand, a smile on her lips as if she had expected someone else to be there comforting her. Yet, immediately, she must have realized I wasn't that person she had thought I was.

She sat straight up in her bed and looked out at me with fear striking her young face. “Wh-what do you want?”

I held both sides of her cheeks now and bent down to look at her. “I want you to do me a favor. I want you to stand up and come with me.”

“Wh-who are you? Wh-what are you doing here?” she continued, still sitting motionless in fear.

“Aww, you're much too lovely to bare so much pain, my dear. But I will force you up if you do not come with me this instant.”

Finally, she crossed her legs over the edge of the bed and stood shakily before me.

“Good,” I assured her as she did so. Yet, I wasn't going to let her run. I briskly grabbed hold of her from behind and began walking her towards the door.

“No!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Shh,” I whispered in her ear, tempted to cover her mouth.

“My husband will be home soon... anytime... he'll stop this!”

I smiled at the thought, 'another victim, perfect.' Yet I did not speak. Instead I walked her quickly out to the living room and straight to the front door of the home.

I carried her the entire way until back at the small shed, I found Mikael waiting patiently atop of the wood shelf.

“That fast?” he said as I entered the shack.

“I did say I would be back, did I not? Besides, I hope you do not neglect on this opportunity. It's not everyday one would be delivered such a perfect chance.” I spoke as I let the woman go.

She stumbled forward towards Mikael who stood now just next to the small shelves.

“What do you people want? Money? Oh please god... don't say you're going to rape me!” she whimpered as she turned back to face me.

I looked at her and smiled. “Please. We have no use for meaningless sex, ma'am.”

“Lucious!” Mikael raised a brow.

I grabbed hold of her face and pushed her backwards towards Mikael. “Take her, damn it. I have brought her for you, you will feed!”

He caught her in his arms before she could fall to the floor. She sniffled and bawled, unknowing what was to happen next. He took a moment to look at me with disgust; the same look that he shared with me during our first days together.

It wasn't much longer that he turned the woman around and latched onto her neck with his sharp fangs.

I stood quietly, my eyes focused on the wall just ahead as I tried to tune out the sound of her heart beat fading rapidly as he drained her of her life. Yet, the sound was like pure ecstasy. The gushing parade of blood running through her veins into his awaiting mouth, her heart skipping through the very pain and pleasure of her life being taken away. I almost could not bare to be here experiencing this evil deed.

I wanted to escape out of these walls, find myself such beautiful young woman or stunning man, and force myself onto them for that little bit of paradise.

And just as the beating of her mortal heart gave out, Mikael unwrapped his arms from around her.

I stepped forward, catching the woman in my arms. “Are you better now?” I found myself asking. I truly wondered if this expedition would work to heal him.

He began wiping the excess blood from his lips. “I feel no different.”

“Of course you do not. Let the blood course through your veins for a moment or two.”

I looked back down at the corpse sprawled out in my arms. There was no heart beat, nor did I sense life in her body. This was the first time I had experienced Mikael accomplish his task.

I looked back at Mikael who now stood with a troublesome pout upon his face.

“Am I to sacrifice my humanity,” he moaned. “For the power of strength?”

“A small price to pay. We all lose our goodwill in stages, only some of us lose it faster than others,” I mentioned.

“And you?” He looked up at me as he wiped the drops of blood from the side of his chin.

“I have told you before, Mikael. It's only a matter of time for me.” I noted to our past conversations. “Finding you has saved my humanity but for how long, I am not sure. With each passing night I can feel my own heart beat less and less in my immortal body. And I wonder, is it still even there?” I knelt down to place the woman upon the floor. Then I stood back up and looked at Mikael who still wore an unsettling pout.

“However,” I continued.” There's nothing in this world, not even the destruction of myself, that will ever take me away from you.” I approached him and grasped hold of his arm which he still held up to his lips.

“You mustn't feel such misery, Mikael. You have so much time ahead of you. Your powers will grow and you will feel stronger. And I will continue to walk beside you, to help you overcome any afflictions you should have.”

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled him in closer to me. He felt warm now from his feeding, that warmth radiating out into my own arms and I almost wanted to melt in his embrace. And as we stood holding each other, I reminded myself that it was not just I who was there to help Mikael but it is he who is there to save me as well.

I desired to maintain my humanity just as much as he. I desired to keep my heart from fading away, to feel this compassion, this affection for his company for all eternity. We would both be lost without each other.

I stepped away from him after a moment of silence. “We must leave before they find us.”