I ported past Sable and broke the 2nd story window with my fists. I ignored the pain as the glass bit into my skin, and beckoned Sable to get in. We were far enough away from the soldiers that they probably didn't see us enter the house, but given the broken glass on the road they'll figure things out soon. I closed the curtains as soon as Sable got in, and surveyed the room. Given the pink wallpaper and stuffed animals laying around I could see that it was a girl's bedroom.

It took me a while to notice that Sable and I weren't alone in the room. There was a girl, a little over 16 perhaps, cowering in the corner. She was holding on to a lamp, using it as a weapon to distance herself from us, and it was clear that she was scared out of her mind. The girl was scared, her brown eyes dilating crazily and searching for an escape route. The scent of sweat mixed with a trace bit of urine told me that she was easy game. She was just what we needed after having sustained so many injuries, and I indicated to Sable that the girl was prey. Sable understood without having to say anything.

Sable's ruby eyes flared up and she pounced, knocking the useless lamp aside and biting into the other girl's neck. I saw Sable's wounds heal almost instantly, and she ate with such savagery that it almost made me forget about our earlier encounter. It was bestial, brutal, but so natural. The colour drained from the other girl, and at the same time the energies surrounding Sable seemed to have intensified. It grew in Sable and wrapped her in its protective aura, healing her wounds and fatigue with the life force of another.

After a minute or two Sable let the other girl go, her mouth stained red. The girl was still alive, she was drained but she would not die from it. I saw the wound and felt a familiar urge rise up. I moved automatically towards the girl, and bit into her already wounded neck. I drank, squeezing ever last drop of blood out of her, and only stopped when I felt her heart beat for the very last time. As I let go of the cold corpse I felt that the bullet wound on my shoulder closed up, no longer aching, and the cuts on my hands were all gone.

“You ready to move again?” Sable asked, whipping her mouth with a piece of bed sheet.

“Yeah, I think I'm good, but let me scout out the area around here first. I can take out any soldiers patrolling quickly.”

I saw that she wanted to argue, to come with me, but instead she only agreed. She knew that it was safer for both of us that way. She gave me a short kiss before I left.

I ported between rooftops, trying to stay low and out of sight for the most part. I noticed that there were several soldiers out checking the surrounding area, all in little groups of three. I doubled around the block, checking the locations of all the scouting groups, and made a mental note of their positions. There was four groups of three in total.

I waited until one of the groups were outside the vision range of the others before I struck. The work was fast and simple. I would wait until they seemed distracted with something, port behind one guard, quickly snap his neck, and do the same for the other two. All four groups met their fates in similar fashions, caught off guard by my ability. The work was dirty and quick, but necessary. I only wished that I had the time to give them the slow, painful death that they deserved for raising a hand to Sable and I. They were scum, and they didn't deserve such merciful deaths.

When that was done I made my way back to Sable, entering from the same window. I noticed that there were two other bodies in the bedroom now, an old man and woman. I could still hear breathing from the two, and judging by their heartbeats they were only unconscious, not injured.

“Area's clear,” I said, “And who're those two?”

“Probably the girl's parents,” she answered, “must have heard the noise and came upstairs. Don't worry though, I've put them to sleep.”

“Let's just kill them and get out.” I said, porting between the two unconscious bodies.

I grabbed the man by the neck and ripped his throat out, and with a heavy stomp I crushed the sternum of the woman on the ground. I threw the man's body away, near his daughter and it landed in a way that looked like he was hugging her. Good, let the prey rest together.

Sable looked at me strangely then, backing off a little, as if I something I did didn't quite click with her. Was it a look of concern? A look of... fear? No, that wasn't possible, there's no way she would be afraid of me. I'd do anything for her, anything. And she loves me.

She had to.

“Why did you kill them...” she said, her voice strained, “Frank?”

“What do you mean why I killed them? I did it because... because...”

Why would I do that? Kill innocent people? I'm not like that...

“Because...”

Because they are weak! They represent all that is wrong with the world, they have oppressed our people for centuries.

“Frank...?” Sable said, leaning against me, her face filled with concern, “What's wrong?”

I'm just not thinking straight... this situation is too stressful. Have to get out. Have to relax, think things through, then everything'll make sense again. Yeah, gotta deal with what's going on right now first.

“N-nothing, I'm fine.” I said, rubbing my head, “Let's get out before someone finds us.”

She gave me another look but didn't press the issue, and I was thankful for it; I just needed some time to think, some time to cool off my head, to work out the details. I didn't give the three bodies on the ground another look when I left.

We glided silently through the streets, avoid any of the main streets and going as fast as possible. I didn't see or hear any other soldiers, which probably meant that they weren't searching this area yet. They're probably scouring every house and hiding place imaginable, so I can't imagine that they could travel as fast as us. It only took Sable and I took just a little under an hour to get out of the town, but all along the way she remained quiet. Whether it was to avoid making noise or because she knew I needed some space, I didn't know. She looked worried, remorseful even. Why?

“Sable,” I said, breaking the silence, “What is it? Did I do something wrong?”

“Why did you kill those two?”

“They were a treat.”

“They were unconscious, Frank!” she said, grabbing my shoulders, “They weren't a treat to anyone!”

“They... they're humans. They'll become a threat later anyway.” Why was there uncertainty in my voice? “And who cares what happens to them! You've killed them before! They're nothing but food.”

“Nothing but food? Are you hearing yourself, Frank?” Sable said, her face twisting, “Sure I feed on them, but I've certainly never killed one out of cold blood like that! Frank... They're alive as well, and the thing you did back there was... it was cruel!”

“Me, cruel?” I spat, “I'm not the cruel one! They're the ones who abused their powers and enslaved the entity of our race! They do not deserve to live, every single one of those fucking pieces of trash should be killed off. The world would be better without them!”

Sable backed off, as if she was in... fear? As if she was disgusted by what I said, as if she was frightened of what I've done. I've only done what should have been done thousands of years ago, done what my ancestor couldn't do. He gave them a second chance, and what did he get in return? Imprisonment for all eternity! I will not make the same mistake again. I'll succeed where he failed, and I'll become...

I'll become what?

“Frank!” Sable again, why can't she just leave me alone? “I know that we've only just met, but even I can see that you're not like this. I know that you've suffered because of the humans, we all have, but that doesn't mean that they should all die. They're not all evil, Frank. Surely, surely you've met at least one who've treated you nicely at the very least.”

There was one person, wasn't there? What was his – no, it was a her... what was her name again?

She is worthless!

She did something... no, she saved me. Saved me from what though?

There's nothing that can harm me!

I remember... crying? Not my tears, hers. Why was she crying, and why was I feeling... guilty? The tears of the slaughtered!

It felt important, yet why couldn't I remember?

“I'm... I'm sorry Sable,” I managed to say, “I'm not feeling like myself lately. Just... just give me some time, and stop me if I'm doing something crazy like that.”

“I will, Frank, but I'm worried about you, I really am.” she said, “If you have something you need to say just say it to me. You do mean a lot to me.”

“Thanks, Sable...”

She looked at me, and without asking she ran up to me and gave me a hug, I could tell that she was concerned. When was the last time someone was this worried about me? Robert was only kind because I was his Lord, and the rest of his servants were more afraid of me than kind. But Sable... she's different. She reminded me of... of... Kelley. Yes, that's who she reminded me of.

I wondered how she was doing.

“Sorry...” I muttered, “I've been feeling a little strange lately. Maybe the whole thing's finally getting to me.”

Sable gave me a caring look, and nodded, “I know what you mean, Frank. It's been hard on everyone, but don't let it get you like that. Don't... don't become like those humans, Frank, please.”

“I know,” I smiled, “I know. The streets should be cleared right now, let's head back to Innsworth's place.”

“But-”

“Don't worry, the big boss Vladimir is there; they've already told your sire about the situation, and it's safer than trying to move with all the humans around.”

“Ok...”

I looked back on the three people that I... murdered, and tried to feel the guilt that I knew that I should have felt. But I found nothing. I knew, logically, that what I had done was inexcusable, vile and evil even. That it should have made me feel terrible, awful, but no matter how much I tried to make myself feel those emotions, I felt nothing. And it disturbed me.

Was I incapable of feeling anything anymore? But that's not true, because I knew that if anything happened to Sable, I'd go balistic. Just imagining it made me feel uneasy. Then what was it? Why can't I seem to care about these humans? No... these people? Am I still like them? I am, right...?

“Frank, are you ok?”

I looked at Sable, and gave her a weak nod, “Yeah, I'm fine... just thinking about something. Don't worry, let's get going.”

I just hope that I can figure things out soon. But right now is not the time, I still had to get Sable back in time, and I had to make sure that nothing like what Sable went through ever happened again. I finally had the ability to make a difference, and I was sure as hell going to make those people pay for what they've done.