He satisfied his hunger with a lowly beggar. Crouched down in one of the dark alleys in the slum part of town, he held the woman close as he drank her life essence. When he had drained her, he sets her down upon the rocky dirt gently and rose to his feet. He licked the remaining blood on the corner of his lip and cleaned off his chin with dark kerchief, stuffing it back into the inner pocket of his black trench coat.

Stepping out of the alley, he scanned the area. The streets were empty even thought it wasn’t really late at night. Not long ago, even minutes past, the sun had set, the night replacing the daylight. The only sign of life the lights shining in apartment buildings and occasional yelling of drunken men.

Alex sighed. He hated his way of life, having to kill for blood, which was essential in his life to live. He had gotten to the point where feeding once a week would cure his hunger for the time being. It wasn’t so when he was first created. He craved it each night, and more than once. The gut wrenching pain was unbearable. It would drive him into a mad rage to where he even slaughtered an entire family because his need was so great.

As he walked the barren street, he a large hand through his long dark hair. His long coat flowed behind him, wavering with each step he took. He walked as though he was walking on air, or a wild cat stalking its prey. He kept his eyes downcast, closing them for only a moment when he saw her.

He knew he would see her tonight, he had too, but there was just something about her that he could not place. He knew it the first time he laid eyes on her in the art gallery, watching her as she roamed the crowded room, laughing and speaking seriously to customers. He could watch her for an eternity. She moved with grace, her voice was soft, alluring, and her eyes entrapped his soul, bringing forth a rare gentleness he had not known for centuries.

That was impossible. He had no soul, no gentleness, no feeling. He was a monster, a creature of the night.

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his black jeans, he continued to make his way toward the upper part of town, knowing that she waited for him.

*****

Keelie watched people enter the dimly lit gallery as she leaned casually against a large pillar in the center of the room. Many gathered around the paintings, others stood in small ground, speaking quietly.

"Good evening, Keelie."

Keelie jumped at the low voice behind her. She turned and tilted her head back, looking up into the familiar handsome face.

"Don’t do that!" she scolded, her cheeks coloring with embarrassment at being frightened twice by this man when caught off guard.

A small smile crept across his lips as he bowed his head humbly.

"I am truly sorry, will you forgive me?"

Keelie shook her head with a soft chuckle, "I suppose since you did show up you are forgiven."

Alex lifted a brow in question. "Why would I not show up? I made the appointment did I not?"

She shrugged her slim shoulders carelessly, "That doesn’t stop people from standing someone up."

"You will not have to worry about that, my dear Keelie."

Keelie studied his features. He looked sincere enough and again, she caught herself staring. Adverting her gaze, she tried to find something else to catch her interest, but found it to no avail. She eyes were again drawn to his as if mesmerized. His skin was a little to pale for her taste, but that did nothing to take away his physical appearance. His jaw was square and his lips thin and sensual, but he had a delicate look to him though his face remained somewhat hard. His nose was long and thin, a small bump on the bridge showing he must have broken it sometime in his life, and almond shaped emerald eyes. She couldn’t help but frown. They held so much emotion, but yet, they looked so empty.

"Is there something wrong?"

Hearing his voice broke through her thoughts. She shook her head, clearing it as she smiled up to him. "No, nothings wrong. How about that drink?"

Alex pulled his lips back into a grin, his white teeth flashing as he offered her an arm. She accepted it with a smile as they made their way to the door, stepping out onto the paved street.

In the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but listen to the warning telling him to back off. He wouldn’t let himself get to close. He was not made to love. Monsters didn’t love and he was a cold-blooded killer.

He could hear the blood pumping through her veins as he stared at the pulse throbbing in her neck. How sweet it would be to taste her blood, to lick it from her soft flesh.

Alex gritted his teeth, holding himself back with long self-taught discipline he had built up over the years. He would not let himself harm her.

"So where are we going?"

Their eyes locked as he lifted his gaze and he was taken aback by how familiar they were. This headed pounded as he tried to remember but all he saw was a dark emptiness, something that he could not bring forth to remember.

"Alex?" Keelie asked, sounding a bit worried. He was acting a little strange.

"Anywhere you wish," he commented as if nothing had happened. "Wherever you wish."

Keelie’s smiled broadened. "There’s a place a few blocks from here that’s pretty nice. It’s a bar, but nothing fancy. I use to go there a lot with my friends in college."

"Then lead the way."

He could feel her heart racing with excitement. It aroused feelings in him that he never knew he had. A feeling of joy and warmth, even a foreboding of protectiveness.

He allowed her to lead him past the old buildings along the sidewalk, his keen senses taking on as he listened to the sounds of the night. The rats squeaking and rummaging through the garbage near a shop. A rustling of leaves from the few trees as an unseen breeze whisked by, hardly noticeable. The moaning sounds of a whore, pleasuring a well paying customer in a dark alley across the street.

He felt the woman at his side slow down until they came to a stop. Directing his attention to her lovely face, she again smiled gently as their eyes locked. He could see the softness behind her eyes, her innocent soul, but he could also see the deep loneliness she harbored.

"We’re here."

It took all he could to draw his eyes from hers, looking at a small passageway with a large wooden door at the end. The walls surrounding the door were colored with spray paint, different artistic designs of words and drawings vivid with life.

Lowering his eyes to Keelie, he couldn’t help but smile. "Shall we then?"

She nodded and released his arm, walking towards the door. Curling her slender fingers around the knob, she turned it and drew open the door, stepping inside with Alex a step behind. The music blew past them, an upbeat sound that seemed to drum the rhythm of the heart. Many people of all ages crowded the dance floor wearing revealing and bright clothing. Some men had their hair spiked; others long or short as it flowed freely and the woman were just the same.

The music vibrated through his ears, everything seeming to go in slow motion. He felt a warm hand slip into his own, tugging him gently. Turning his head, he saw Keelie looking at him worriedly, her lips turned down into a small frown.

"Are you sure you are all right? We could do this another time if you are not feeling well."

With a shake of his head, he assured her he was all right. "No, I am fine."

"Good. Now let’s get that drink."

Keelie led him through the large crowd towards the long bar in the center of the room. She slipped onto a stool, resting her forearms on the edge of the counter, Alex following her lead. She waited patiently then waved over the bartender as he finished with a customer.

"What’ll it be?" he asked, his dark gaze sweeping over Keelie.

Alex felt his jaw tighten, his eyes boring into the bartender as if ready to pounce at any second through the man make a single move toward her.

"I’ll have a scotch on the rocks and he’ll have," she turned to Alex waiting for him to order.

"The same."

The bartender nodded, sending a smug smile to Keelie, whom seemed to ignore his efforts as he walked off to prepare their drinks, a little disgruntled.

"So what is it you do?"

Alex turned his attention to Keelie, which was no real task. He took in her natural beauty without the modern day make-up. The delicate features with the high cheekbones, the perk little nose and her soft pink full lips. Those wide eyes fringed with dark lashes that he admired so much, not only for their familiarity, but also for their beauty and uniqueness, were dark violet, silver lining the irises.

"Do?" he asked quizzically.

"Yes, what do you do? What kind of job do you have to make a living?"

"Ah, a job. I do not work."

Keelie knitted her brows together. He didn’t work? But how is it he had so much money on him the other night at the gallery when he bought the painting? Unless he was rich.

As if reading her mind, he smiled secretly. "A family fortune was passed down to me a couple years ago. I have not had to work."

"It must be nice to have so much money, not having to work for a dime."

He detected the sarcasm in her voice but dismissed it. Just then, the bartender returned, laying out their drinks.

"Will that be all for you?"

Alex watched the man’s eyes seemed to consume Keelie’s appearance just as his did. His eyes traveled lower to her breasts, which rose and feel with her breathing. He could hear his thoughts, knowing all the man wanted was a roll in the hay.

"That will be all."

The bartender turned his gaze to Alex as if acknowledging him for the first time. Alex drew his gaze to his own, staring deep into the man’s dark eyes.

"That will be all," he repeated.

As if in a daze, the bartender walked off to serve another customer.

"That was strange."

Keelie’s soft voice drew his attention once more as he watched her lift the glass, tilting it to her lips as she sipped the liquor. Something flashed in his mind causing him to wince. Soft lips caressing his own in a lovers kiss and a whisper caressed his ears. He could not comprehend the words, but the voice was all too plain.

Upon seeing this, Keelie frowned. She knew he was not well no matter how many times he denied it. His skin looked pale and he had been going off into his own world more times than she could count.

"Alex?" she set the glass upon the counter and reached out to him, placing a gentle hand on his forearm.

Alex jumped to his feet at her touch.

Those hands, the same hands that had caressed his nape, the long slender fingers that had run through his hair.

It was all too much. He knew not what to make of it all.

Reaching into his pocket, he drew out his wallet and pulled out a twenty, tossing it on the counter to pay for the drink and with that, a hefty tip.

"I must go."

"But-"

Before she could say anything more, he was gone, running through the crowd, his coat billowing behind him until he was out of sight. The moment he exited the bar, he dissolved into a dark mist, floating through the air until a second later, he was standing in from of his apartment building. He strode up the steps and entered the building, closing the door and latching it behind him.

The room was dark, but he saw perfectly as he made his way in, heading towards the stairs, passing through the main room. Windows had been boarded up with a dark curtain covering it to give it a better appeal and many antiques covered the walls and floor be it painting, tables or other collector items.

Thoughts swirled around in his head as he advanced up the rug-covered stairs. He walked the hall until he came to a wooden carved door. Turning the knob, he entered the pitch-black room, leaning against the door causing it to shut.

He knew it was rude of him to leave in such a hurry, to leave her alone in that place not knowing what might happen, but he could not have stayed. Something was happening that confused him greatly.

He strode toward the bed; shrugging his shoulders and letting the coat fall to the floor. Moments later, his shirt and pants joined it as well as the thudding of his boots. He pulled back the curtain surrounding the bed and crawled in, pulling them shut once more. He pulled the covers back as he slide his body beneath the quilts and lay down. He needed rest and perhaps when he awoke, things would be better.

All he knew at the moment was to stay away from Keelie. She was trouble and if he did let himself harbor feelings for the mortal woman, it would bring him nothing but heartache once she found out what he was.

His last image was of Keelie before he let the darkness consume him.