“Frank?” she said, getting up from where she was lying and approaching closer, “It is you!”

She was looking a lot better, even when compared to how she was when I last saw her unconscious in the bed. Her colour was more pink, and her beautiful brown hair was neatly brushed and groomed. Her ruby eyes seemed to shine more brightly than ever, and her small, cute lips were perked into a fierce smile. And instead of her dirty t-shirt and jeans, Sable was wearing a silk nightgown that was just opaque enough to not show what was under the cloth, but transparent enough to allow a bit of pink to show through. Seeing her out of those raggedy clothes made me realize that her figure was pretty impressive. She didn't have the perfect body proportions of some supermodel, but she looked more toned and lean, almost like a skilled gymnast. She wasn't obviously curvy, but it seemed to fit her overall appeal instead of detract from it.

After I stared at her (for a bit too long), I rushed over and gave the girl a hug, completely ignoring my aching head. I felt my spirits soar just seeing her alive and well.

“I'm glad you're well!” she continued, pulling me closer, “I mean, they said you were fine when I woke up, but even so...”

“And I'm glad to see you're doing better too,” I said, showing a sly smile, “I thought you've cheated your way out of a losing bet for a second there.”

Sable gave me a friendly knock on the side before breaking the hug, “Well, I am good for my word, after all.”

“Oh, and before I forget,” I said, feeling my grin getting bigger, “I told you so!”

She only laughed and said, “My goodness, you weren't joking when you mentioned about those bragging rights! Well I dearly hope your male ego is appeased now.”

“It is, don't worry.”

“But seriously, Frank,” she continued, “I'm glad to see you well. I'm still amazed that anyone's alive, but then again we were saved by the Robert B. Innsworth! The legend himself!”

“Legend?”

“Yeah! The read deal!” Sable exclaimed, sounding as if she were talking about a famous idol.

“Is he really that great?” I asked, “I know he's important and all but he doesn't look that amazing...”

“You really don't know about him?”

“Not too much,” I admitted, “other than him being the owner of this place.”

“Wow, you don't get out much, eh?”

I shrugged.

“Anyway, he's only one of the biggest figures in our race! One of the four Elders, second only to High Elder Vladimir – and also to the Lord of the Night I guess, if he actually exists – oh, and Master Innsworth is said to be the nicest of them all, following every council regulation to the tee. He's said to treat everyone equally, even the humans that serve him! After meeting him myself I can say that that parts true, but apparently he has quite the temper if you cross him. Dunno if that's true though. And as for his achievements... well the stuff he's done is practically legend at this point – like how he lead a small team of specialists into hostile territories to rescue prisoners back in World War II, or how he single-

handedly stopped the waring tribes back in the 1800's! My god, Frank, the man is amazing!”

“Oh,” I said, a little taken back, “I guess we're pretty honoured to be here with him.”

“You've no idea!” Sable said, “The Robert Innsworth...”

“You really seem to like the guy,” I said, feeling a bit jealous. “But what about the Lord of the Night, what do you think about him?”

“I think he's a load of rubbish.” she answered, rolling her eyes, “I mean, the Lord of the Night is said to be the ruler of us all, the supreme being of the night who's said to herald a new era for the suppressed races and end the rule of the Humans. He's this perfect being; he's nice and brave and kind and noble, and courageous and blah blah blah. The stuff they say about him is just ridiculous, and there's no one, not even the Lord of the Night, who can be that perfect. I sure wouldn't look up to someone like that! And plus, most people don't think he really exists anyway, but apparently the higher ups say he's real – they're always so sentimental about traditions like there.”

“Well, maybe they're just exaggerating his personality a bit...?”

“Exaggerating is an understatement! The rumours about him are absolutely ridiculous! They range from things like him being over 10 000 years old, to absolutely insane crap like how he can make any woman tremble with lust with just a glance, or how he can pass through walls, and read minds, and turn invisible, and shoot fire from his hands. The rumours are so out there that I'm surprised that anyone would believe them. It's all bullshit if you ask me, but every source seems to agree on one thing: he's said to he possess the power to manipulate energy or some crap. Sort of like the humans.”

“So I guess he's not all that great, eh?”

“More like he's not all that existent!” she answered with a little laugh, “I'd go for Master Innsworth any day.”

I couldn't hide the look of disappointment from my face. I knew that I wasn't the real Lord of the Night, but being treated like him for the past few days made me genuinely believe it. Maybe I even wanted to believe it. But even so being told that he's made up was almost like Sable was unknowingly mocking me.

“Oh, don't be like that!” she said, apparently noticing my frown, “I might admire the old man, but he's not my type. I mean, he's probably 200 years older than me! And you, Frank, you personally saved me.”

With that she closed the gap around us and pulled me on to the bed. I felt bits of soft anatomy brush into me in a way that couldn't have been accidental, and a look in her eyes that suggests that more was to come. She straddled me and leaned forward, her face just a few tender inches away from mine. I could feel her warm breath caress my lips, and the same metallic scent of her breath filled my thoughts. Just a little closer and...

“Excuse me, Miss Sable,” interrupted a voice, “I've brought you your...”

Sable and I stopped what we did and she immediately got off me. I felt a jolt of embarrassment pass through me, and from Sable's blush I could see that she felt the same.

“Oh!” exclaimed the intruder. It was a maid, “The door was open and I thought...”

Shit! I didn't close the damn door! Why didn't I close the god damn door?

Sable cleared her throat and said, “It's ok. Um, what were you saying?”

“I brought you a new set of clothes... I'll just leave it on the table. I'm sorry to have disturbed you!”

She set the clothes on the nightstand and left quickly, closing the blasted door behind her.

“Well...” I said awkwardly.

“Right...” said a rather red looking Sable, “Seeing as how I have something to wear, how about we go for that dinner I owe you?”

“Oh, good idea!” I said, forcing my voice to sound confidant, but ultimately failing, “I'll, uh, wait outside for you to get changed.”

I quickly left the room and cursed my stupidity for leaving the door opened. If only that maid came a few minutes after! I probably wouldn't have had to wait outside for her to change if that were the case...

I sighed. Seeing nothing better to do, I called a servant and told him to get a car and driver for me and Sable, ready as quickly as possible. The servant nodded, told me that a car would be waiting at the front, and with that I slouched down adjacent Sable's door and waited... and waited and waited. How can someone take so long just getting changed? I never understood that aspect of women, do they have some kind of obscure ritual that needs to be done every time they have to change or go to the washroom? I almost dozed off from waiting.

Eventually I heard the door open a and turned to that direction. I was greeted by a beautiful girl in a flowing white dress. Her autumn brown hair was neatly braided to one said, accenting her delicate, slender face. She didn't wear any make up, not that she needed it. To be honest I preferred her in that silk nightgown...

“Not really my style,” the girl said, pointing to the dress, “I'm more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. This thing's too hard to move in.”

“You look great though, Sable.”

“Thank you,” she said with a smile, “but don't get used to it. I hate dresses.”

“Wouldn't dream of it!” I said, holding out my hand, “Shall we get going?”

I lead her to the front door where the car should be, and was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't a car that greeted me, but a limo.

“Oh wow, Frank,” Sable said, gawking at the vehicle, “How did you...?”

“I asked for a car, but I guess they gave me a limo instead.”

“Are you sure we can use it?” she said, tentatively stepping into the back seat, “I mean, we're Master Innsworth's guests and all...”

“Oh, don't worry about it.” I said, smiling to myself, “He is known to be generous, isn't he?”

“I guess you're right...”

I told the driver to take us to the edge of town, and in that short 15 minute drive Sable and I made small talk and just enjoyed each others presence. I didn't even notice the beautiful scenery that was beyond those tinted windows. It was just me and her. And it was nice, the way we could just chat about nothing in particular without a bit of awkwardness between us. I couldn't remember the last time I simply enjoyed myself like that.

“Since it's my treat,” Sable said as we stepped out of the limo, “You can wait here while I get us something nice.”

Get me something to eat...? Oh god damn it! I tried to stop her, but she left in a blur of motion before I could say so much as a word. I was left waiting beside the curb, only the cool night air for company as our ride rolled away to the distance. I sighed, how am I supposed to talk Sable out of this one? I'm no vampire, and I wouldn't want anyone to die 'cause of me.

I looked up at the old buildings around me, shivering a little from the cool wind. There were practically no one around this time of night; the only motion were from the eerie shadows cast from the street lights, and the only voice were from the crickets. But before too long Sable – her dress ruffled up a little bit – returned with an unconscious man on her back. He maybe 20 something with black hair and wore a simple jacket and blue jeans. I wasn't sure what Sable did but he was out cold when she dumped the poor guy off her shoulders and on to the floor.

“God I hate this dress! Absolutely impossible to move in it” she mumbled, “And sorry about the quality, this was the best I could find in short notice.”

“Oh... uh, no problem...” I said nervously.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, no!” I lied, not daring to blow my cover, “It's just that, uh, I'm not very hungry is all.”

She gave me a strange look, and I expected her to question me more about my unwillingness to drink, but instead she simply picked the poor sap off the ground, bent his head to a side and took a bite. I could only stare in awe as crimson liquid spilled down Sable's pale, subtle jaws, collecting near the bottom and dripping onto her white dress. The scene was eerily beautiful.

She dropped the body and approached me, her ruby eyes glistening in the dim light. She smiled a devilish smile, blood still dripping down her mouth, and caressed my hair, bringing her face closer. Her lips closer.

She kissed me.

I felt her tongue explore my mouth, and that intoxicating taste of blood seeped through the kiss. It was dark and sweet, like the most delicately made chocolate. But it was more than just a taste, it was as if every sense and feeling in my body responded. I could feel the liquid slide into my throat, smell it's taint on the body of Sable, and I could even hear it dancing in my mouth. It was an experience that was impossible to forget. As the last few drops of the life substance entered my throat I broke off our kiss and stared at the unconscious body. I saw the wound left open by Sable, and I felt my mouth drool with need.

I walked over to the unconscious man. I grabbed him by the hair, pulling him up and studied the figure. I could feel the subtle energies surround his body, and in my heightened vision I saw veins pump with beautiful fluid. I pulled myself closer to the wound, I felt my lips tremble. I could have that delicious blood if I wanted. I could taste pure bliss once more, and all I had to do was succumb to that primal urge, to give in. Deep down, buried in my subconscious, I knew that I should be disgusted with such thoughts, that to drink the blood of another man was a sin that was unforgivable, not to mention that I was pretty sure that it was impossible for me to do what she did. But the need I felt then was impossible to ignore, and soon I found myself giving in to the temptation.

I saw the open wound on his neck, and I gave in. I didn't grow fangs like Sable did, but I was able to squeeze the blood out of the man's body.ashed over me. I felt every nerve of my body dance with pleasure. I've never felt so alive before! I never felt so energized before. I felt bits of fatigue and injury that I never even knew existed fade away, and every muscle and neuron in my body was honed and revitalized. I dropped the man and turned to Sable. She was smiling at me with those lovely lips. I moved to her side with inhuman speed, faster than I've ever travelled before, and kissed her.

When I kissed the girl, my confusion and fear at what just happened melted away, and all I was left with was a feeling of happiness. Joy that I hadn't felt in years.

“I guess you were more hungry then you thought, huh?” she said with a smile, breaking off our embrace.

I laughed. “I guess I was.”

“Well I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself,” she said, grabbing my arm, “but I hope you still remember the second part of our little bet.”

“I wouldn't dare of it!” I chuckled, “Although I'm not sure what there is around here.”

“Well, we have a good 6 hours until dawn, we can think of something. You can show me around town, and maybe we can get that dessert you wanted as well. But let's not take too long, there's more things that we can do at home.”

“Shall we get going, then?”

She held out a hand and said, “After you.”