An alluring vessel probably holding a deeply wretched soul with all the things he found downstairs. After he examined him further, he was certain he embodied the characteristics many humans attributed to the beauties of the night. If one watched him sleeping this peacefully, one might still expect him to raise from the bed to suck someone’s blood.

He had to admit, he was nice to the eye. If they had met under other circumstances in a club or something, he’d probably have fucked him before claiming his chance. It was a shame, he’d never get to have a taste of him in this regard. 

How little the humans knew how wrong they were about vampires. Nelio smiled to himself, as he grabbed his prey, pressing one hand against the mouth of his unknowing victim. While he muffled the surprised scream, he yanked his head to the side, exposing the sallow neck. 

He didn’t care for the struggles of the man in the bed as his fangs tore into the skin. As soon as the first warm drops touched his tongue, any thoughts of restrain had left him. Nelio had starved himself for so long, he couldn’t resist the temptation. 

The struggle of the man only brought him further enjoyment, as he felt even more like a predator subduing a prey. He missed the chances he had to hunt humans in the woods before. Sadly, the modern age had made things so much more complicated. With all the media, the photos, videos and internet, the dangers for modern vampires rose.  

It was a blessing this fellow was stupid enough to live alone close to the woods without any security measures on his house. God, he finally felt life circling through his veins again! Warm, alive and spicy…

Wait. Spicy? Nelio jerked himself free, screamed and stumbled back. His throat started burning, his body felt as if someone had set it on fire. He fell onto his back, grabbed onto his own throat and tossed around on the floor. The screams of agony didn’t subside. 

Then, suddenly, the pain stopped as abruptly as it had started. Nelio’s gaze set itself onto the man on the bed, who had set up cross-legged. Even in this position and with the blood stain on his neck, he emitted an irritating aura of authority.

What was going on? He never experienced blood before that could hurt a vampire upon drinking. The brown eyes of the man glowed in the dark, focusing on the intruder despite the darkness in the room. 

“Are you done screaming, parasite?” The voice that reached him didn’t sound scared in the slightest. Was all the pretended struggles from before only a disguise? Did he play the victim? But why? Why would anyone in sane mind play the prey for a vampire? 

“Who are you?” Nelio found his voice again, forcing himself to sit up on the floor.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you this question, parasite?” The stranger smiled at him, but there was no warmth in his eyes. He gestured with his hands, changed his sitting posture and let his legs hang from the bed. 

Nelio’s body started moving, forcing him into a bow before the stranger. What was going on? “What have you done to me?” 

“Oh, I? I didn’t do anything special, actually.” The man reached for him with his bare foot, forcing Nelio’s chin up to look him right his eyes. “You were simply stupid enough to bite the wrong neck, parasite.” 

He grinned at Nelio and leaned himself back on the bed while his foot still forced their eye contact. “The actual question is: What am I going to do with you?” He tapped his own lips as he motioned every reaction in Nelio’s features. “After all, you had planned to kill me, didn’t you? Such an impudent parasite you are.” 

At these words Nelio realized how bad his actual situation was. The stranger hadn’t only forced him on his knees with what seemed like no effort at all, he only was aware he wouldn’t have hesitated to kill the human before him. “I had no chance.” He bit his own lip, trying to play as pitiful as he could, lurking for a chance to free himself. “The times aren’t the same as the old ones. I cannot risk any humans to found out about us.” 

“Oh, you poor little thing. You were forced to kill just because of that? I am so certain you have never hurt another human before. Probably you’ve been tossing yourself around in sleep, pained by all the gruesome things you did before.” He clicked his tongue, clearly indicating he didn’t believe a word of this story. 

“It’s true! If I leave any room for discovery, humans might exterminate us. There are many of you but only a few of us. I won’t risk myself just so some strangers might live a few more years”, Nelio insisted. It wasn’t a complete lie after all. Even though he did enjoy his hunts, maybe more than he should admit in the presence of any human, he didn’t just kill off randomly. Or at least he justified his own actions by that.

“So, you’re telling me, if you had a choice, parasite, you’d never harm a human being, and you’d take no life?” The man chuckled, sliding down his feet from his chin to his chest. “Is that what you’re hinting at?”

“Exactly!” Of course, it wasn’t, but he grasped at the straw that was presented to him. “I am truly deeply sorry I disturbed your sleep, hurt and scared you. I will take my leave, and you’ll have my word, I will never appear before you again.” 

“Oh, no. I don’t think you will, parasite.” He shook his head. “A wild beast like you roaming through the world? No, that’s not an option now, is it?” 

Nelio’s heart raced in his chest. He wanted to jump up, he wanted to turn around and ran away from this house and the stranger. But his body couldn’t move. It was as gravity itself had embraced him, forcing him to remain on spot. In all the years of his immortality he never felt this powerless. “Please, have mercy. You were never in actual danger, were you?” 

Should he plead? Would it save him, if he threw himself at his feet? He hated the thought of it already, yet he feared the possibility of his eternity ending even more. He didn’t wish to die! They were so many things left, he still wanted to learn. He still wanted to experience. Was there nothing he could do to break free from the stranger’s influence?

“No. But it’s about time this wild beast is put on a leash.” The man raised himself from the bed, towering over the vampire patted his head. “Welcome to your new home, parasite. From this day on, your life will be mine to use. You will serve me until I deem your debt settled.” 

“What?” Nelios eyes widened. Dying sounded scary, but serving this bastard? Becoming the pet of a human? “There is no fucking way in hell I’ll serve you, bastard!” 

He had just finished the sentence as gravity intensified, forcing him down on the floor next to the man’s feet. “That’s a pity. But gladly, your opinion on this matter isn’t even needed, parasite. So, stay low and learn to obey. As you won’t raise this head again, until you submit yourself to me.” 

“What the fuck? Are you crazy?” It was one thing he attacked him to defend himself. It was one thing he played the high and mighty, but he trampled on pride and pushed his luck. If he only could move a single claw, he’d rip his throat open here and now. 

“What a violent little beast you are, parasite.” The man seated himself again, teetering with one of his feet in front of him as if it had become a pendulum of the grandfather’s clock below.