"Now why did you go and do that?" The creature of the night sighed out.

"But I do likes it when my meals tries to runs away. Makes me finish them up quicker."

Mary shuddered as the creature of the night licked her face.

"Leave her alone!" A voice cried out from the darkness. Spinning around, the ancient vampire held Mary in front of him.

"If you leave me to my supper I’ll let you live." He called out into the darkness.

A tall figure walked in the ally, his slow steady steps echoed on the cobblestones. He was now in the dark section of the ally. His silhouette was stark against the moonless night. The ancient one could see he wore a long cape. His long dark hair flowed behind him as his long legs leisurely carried him closer to the abhorrent creature.

As the unknown man stepped into the light, Mary could see what her savior looked like.

His liquid brown eyes stared intensely at his task. The long sable hair flowed behind him as a cool night breeze blew against him. His face was a mask of determination. Even the Vampire gasped at the perfection of the unknown mans features. He slowly reached into his cape, it billowed in the wind. Throwing the cape back, he pulled out a crossbow. Placing it before him, he gave the creature of the night a cold smile.

"I will tell you only one more time, leave her alone!"

His voice was melodious, but demanded attention. One of the vampires bolted towards the foolish human. It was the last mistake he made in his long life. A bolt was released from the crossbow. The small arrow was made of oak. It pierced his heart. As he fell the vampire that once was turned to dust. Throwing the spent crossbow towards the ground. The stranger smiled so widely at the vampire that his dimples grinned at him. Stopping a few yards away from the creature of the night, he crossed his arms. His soulful brown eyes staring intently at his prey. Waiting for him to make the first move.

The vampire held tightly to the girl, keeping her frightened body before him. "I know who you are, I’ve heard of you." He let out a low chuckle. "Your big brother speaks of you often."

The mans features contorted at the mention of his brother. "I would tell you to say hello for me when you next meet him. But that is never going to happen."

The vampire shifted his grip on the woman’s neck. "Oh? And why is that?"

The lone man pulled a saber out from within his cape, brandishing it in front of him. The Vampire almost laughed at the feeble attempt.

"You think you can stop me with that little thing?"

"This is not just a ordinary blade." The unknown hero admonished, he approached closer. "It was forged from hundreds of blessed crosses!"

The handsome man grinned widely as he plunged the swords tip into the Vampires arm, he screamed out in agony as his grip on the frightened woman weakened. Her savior pulled the woman out of his hold, shoving her off to the side. He shoved the blade deeper into the vampire, pushing him up against the stone wall, hissing out in a low voice. "Look around, because this is your last day on this planet."

The ancient one gasped out as he felt a burning pain in his chest, glancing down he saw a wooden knife protruding from his body. A half grin on the handsome stranger. "Say hello to my mother!" He hissed as he drove the knife deeper, giving it a twist. With a last gasp the vampire crumbled to dust in his grip. The man stumbled back, rubbing his temples he glanced around. Something was not right, there was still another of the undead around. He could feel it. Whirling around he saw the woman grinning wickedly at him.

"Your brother says hello." She held the crossbow in her hands, it was cocked with the arrow he used to kill the other vampire. The handsome stranger stood proudly before her, leaning on his sword. "I have never been afraid to die."

She let out a low chuckle. "Well then I’ll be glad to oblige you."

She pulled the crossbow up, bracing it against her stomach. Pulling slowly on the trigger, hesitating for a split second. This man looked so close to his older brother she was amazed by it. His long brown hair flowed gently to his shoulders, his brown eyes so piercing. His face was perfection, a small goatee lay neatly on his face. But when she gazed deeply into his eyes she shuddered, he had an aura of goodness to him. Very unlike his brother, she had to perform the task that was given to her.

"Gabriel says goodbye Matthew."

Matthew grinned widely. "I think I’ll tell him myself."

The female vampires head cocked, she wondered what he meant by this. She soon found her answer as she prepared to release the trigger. She gasped out in pain, her eyes going wide as she fell to the ground. Dust dispersing into the ally as no body was left.

Matthew grinned widely as a figure approached him.

"Matthew Del La Fuente I told you it is not safe for you to be out alone!!"

Matthew tilted his head down, a dimple popping out. "I’m sorry Mark, but you can’t hide me forever."

Mark stepped up to Matthew, laying his hand protectively on his shoulder. He shook his head in disappointment. "You are not to big to lay over my lap!" He angrily said. "I didn’t train you all these years only to lose you to some carelessness! Using that sword! I’m going to take the thing away from you." Mark shook his head. "I never should have let you watch that Robin Hood movie."

Matthew placed his hand on Mark’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Mark, I’m almost thirty years old, you have been training me most of my life. I don’t think I can be any readier." His brown eyes pleading with him. "You are just going to have to trust me." Mark was pushing fifty, he was aging fast, but he felt like he was sixty. Over weight and running most of his life had taken its toll. While Matthew looked no older than his early twenties, his body was in fantastic shape.

Mark made sure he trained every day, he knew the young man would need to if he was going to survive in this dangerous world. Mark really didn’t have any idea how long Matthew would live, given that his brother or his friends didn’t get ahold of him. But this was what Mark had accepted since Matthew’s birth. He promised his mother that he would watch after her son for as long as possible. Caring for him, and training him for what would lie ahead. The young man had a big responsibility ahead for him.

And Mark made sure he knew it from the very start. Suddenly Matthew’s eyes glassed over, he stared out into the darkness.

"I have to go Mark." Plunging his sword in its scabbard, he pulled his cape over to hide the weapon, walking quickly down the alley.

"You be careful Matthew. I’ll be waiting for you at the car."

Matthew nodded as he pulled the black cape around him, he strode down the dark streets. They were originally out on the streets to find someone. Matthew had been distracted when he felt vampires around. Now he had to return to his task, coming to a disserted building he climbed up the dusty stairs two by two, they led up to the roof of the dilapidated building. Pushing the door open he walked onto the cluttered roof. Finding an old box, he sat upon it. Taking out a large knife he flipped it up, spinning it in his palm. Waiting for the man he knew was nearby.

It did not take long, Matthew felt that now familiar feeling when a vampire was close to him. His head ached as if being squeezed, the older or stronger a vampire, the more painful the pain. His pain was almost unbearable, he knew it was a very old vampire coming. For he had felt it many times before, standing up he shoved his blade within his cape. Waiting for his expected guest.

"I like how you quickly eliminated those three." A deep voice called out into the night.

"Mark trained me well." Matthew answered back.

A tall figure walked out from the shadows. As his face moved into the dim light that emanated from street lamps Matthew could see a large grin on a familiar face. He moved towards Matthew, his arms opening up to embrace the young man.

"I miss you father." Matthew softly said.

"And I you son." The elder vampire gently replied.

He hugged his son close to him, it had been a long time since the last time he had seen him. His heart ached each time he would look at him, he was so much like his mother. Pushing his son back he gazed at him, nodding his head he grinned widely at his handsome son.

"Mark has done well, you seem to be in excellent shape."

Pulling the cape open he patted the swords hilt, unable to touch the blessed blade.

"I like this. Whose idea is it?"

Matthews lips parted to a proud grin, he pulled the weapon from the scabbard set on his back. Brandishing it before him, his eyebrows arched up giving his father a wink. "I got the idea from a old movie I saw, with an old actor named Basil Rathbone." Matthew made a few quick reposte’s. His father’s face looked surprised as he saw his son fighting with a prowess that has been unseen for hundreds of years.

"Where did you learn how to fight like that son?"

Matthew quickly sheathed his sword, shrugging his shoulders he replied. "I don’t know, it just came to me."
The ancient vampire slowly nodded his head, he seemed to possess the knowledge of his ancestors. This was needed for the things to come. Matthew frowned at his father. "How do things fair for you father? I know you are on the run because of me." Matthew hung his head low, saddened that his father gave up so much so that he could be born. He heard a chuckle, raising his head his father practically glowed.

"I will never regret that decision my son, every time I see the product of your mothers and my love."

Matthews smile grew wider, his eyes sparkling in the love for his father. Even though he had killed many in his lifetime, he was trying to make up for it.

"I see you haven’t changed much Lucas."

The ancient vampire whirled around snarling as someone approached them. His eyes turned a light gray, to better see in the darkness. Ready to defend his son if need be, but it was unnecessary, for an old friend came up to him.

"Hello Lucas." Mark greeted Matthews Father.

"Mark, you have not aged well." Lucas immediately said.

"I think I look pretty damn good for a man that’s been on the run for almost thirty years."

He moved his head in Matthews’s direction. "How about the kid? I think I did a hell of a job!"

Lucas gazed lovingly at his son. "You sure did Mark."

Matthew crossed his arms in anger. "Can I take a little credit for this?"

Both men shook their heads. "Nope!" The said in unison, they laughed out loud, Lucas pointing to Matthew. "I like the sword, reminds me of his grandfather."

Mark shook his head. "I tried to talk him out of the darn thing. But once he had it made, I just can’t get it away from him."

A serious look washed over Lucas’ face. "Don’t my old friend, Matthew knows what he is doing. Just let him be, let him grow Mark."

Mark sadly looked up at Lucas, this young man was as close to him as a son. He worried about him, knowing the circumstance of his birth. But Lucas was right, he had to release the reins on him. Allow him to grow to become what he was born for. Mutely he nodded his head.

"Good, then I must go."

"NOW?" Matthew whined, he had only just met his father. It was so long since he last saw him.

"Yes Matthew, the longer I linger the more trouble for you." He opened his arms. "Now then, give us a hug. I need it to last me until next we meet."

Matthew gladly threw himself into his father’s embrace. It was not the warm embrace that most children felt. It was cold, and he felt a blackness trying to enter his soul as his father hugged him. But he blocked it out, trying to hold onto to his father for as long as he could. It was his father who had to break the embrace.

"I have to go son."

Matthews’s eyes glassed over. "I know father, I’ll miss you."

Lucas began to step back towards the roofs edge. "Take care of him Mark. He is a very special man."

"Don’t worry I will." Mark replied.

"Goodbye my son, watch for your brother. He has grown very strong in the past few years. Watch your back, he is sending out his minions to try to destroy you. Fight back my son, for you are the only savior that will help keep this world safe from my kind."

Matthew stared blankly at his father, his words etched in his mind.

"Goodbye my son." Lucas said as he turned and jumped off of the four-story building. A dark shape was seen flying into the night.

"He turned out to be a alright guy." Mark sighed out.

Matthew stared out at where his father flew away.

"Common Matthew we have to go."

Matthew nodded, he walked slowly back to the car. His father said he was a savior, he never felt like one, but in the days to follow he would know just why his birth was so special. And just how much his father gave up so that he could be born.

End of Chapter One