Alone in the darkness. How often could one watch and wait, and not hunger for more?

The merest whisper of breath, and his head turned.

Steady strides that drew her closer. Long blonde hair a brilliant beacon in the chill night. Her scent grew stronger with each step, and, stronger still, the scent of her blood.

As she passed the mouth of the alley, he fell into step behind her. How easily her thoughts came to him. How trivial they seemed, thoughts of hearth and home...a life he'd lost millenia ago.

She paused, glanced over her shoulder, but found nothing. With a shaky laugh, she pushed on.

Of course she couldn't see him, and wouldn't, not until it was too late.

One more block...two...and he struck.

Swift and sure, he captured her shoulders. The scream died on her lips as his eyes bore into hers. "So beautiful," he purred, his fingers trailing over her neck.

She sighed, tilted her head to the side.

With one nail, he stroked her tender flesh. Blood slowly trickled. He bent his head, licked it away, then shivered. Her soft moan filled his ears. He groaned, his fangs lengthening, then he sank them into her neck; into the vein that had pulsed and throbbed beneath his lips.

Not only her blood flowed through him. He captured her memories, all her thoughts and hopes and dreams. He drank it all in. Her blood sustained the form he took, but the rest...ahh, that fed his soul.

Her heart slowed, and he drew back. One brief cut on his finger produced the blood that sealed the marks he'd made. He held her while she died, waited for her last sigh, then gently propped her against one brick wall. He ran a hand almost lovingly over her blonde hair, turned, and disappeared into the night.

The End