I am an all powerful vampire. I can make anyone fall to their knees before me. I can make anyone submit to me and do my bidding. I can rule the world with my incredible power.

And I wanted it. I wanted to rule the world. I wanted the world to be under my thumb. Everyone would learn to fear me. Everyone would obey my orders. I'd be an unstoppable force that could rule the world for centuries.

That is until the humans found a spell. They tweaked the spell to be strong enough to stop me. Once I heard of their plans, I went to kill every last one of them. But they had already finished the spell and yelled it at me before I could stop them.

Magical restraints from my hands to my elbows bound my arms together. I used my amazing strength to get out of it. It didn't work. The humans were overjoyed that they finally found something to stop me.

When I tried to retaliate, I felt the restraints sapping away my energy. I could do nothing but fall to my knees. I looked up at the excited expressions of the weak humans as they looked down on me for once. I wondered if this was how they felt living in fear of vampires all this time.

That was the beginning of my pathetic life. Despite being immortal, I felt fear for the first time. I wasn't as powerful as I thought I was if some dumb spell could render me powerless.

I lived hundreds of years in captivity, sometimes being forgotten in old catacombs. But humans found me. When they did, I attempted to kill them with the energy I was saving. They knew I was dangerous after that and took me to a better, more fortified jail where I'd continue to live my days.

Soon it was the present day. I was held captive in some type of slave trade. It was underground and their business was hush hush. No one knew I existed. I don't know why these humans even kept me around. Not like they know how to kill me though.

They don't feed me but it's not like I can die from starvation. They rarely visit me in my concrete cell and I never see a glimpse of the sun. If they do visit me, I try to run at them and tear their throats out. But then electricity stuns me and they bind my legs. I can always break out of those binds after I recover. My attempts to escape are useless. I wonder what I can even do with my arms bound.

I have one trick up my sleeve: intimidation. I can intimidate my enemies and make them writhe on the floor in fear. I've attempted that one too many times and the humans are cautious of me. My intimidation has incredible range but I can only use it once a day. Especially in my poor condition, I'm not like what I used to be. I can't use my powers as much as I could in my prime. Otherwise, I would have killed all of these humans already.

Today seemed the same as any other. A few humans decided to come visit me. I wondered if it was worth using energy to try another useless attempt at escaping. I decided not to. I'm tired. For once in my life, I wished I wasn't immortal.

I was startled to see the humans approaching me. They had their devices with electricity buzzing, out and ready. Fear was a deep knife in my chest. I can't even save myself because of these binds and my lack of power. If they torture me or try to kill me like I've experienced in the past, there may be nothing I can do.

They lift me up by my upper arms. They put their devices close to my neck. I can feel a slight prickle of electricity. Then they lead me out of my cell. Where are they taking me? What's happening? I'm on edge. I let out a low growl. That just makes the electricity start to burn my neck. I can still feel pain of course. I've never felt anything like this though. Humans have advanced so far to make devices like this. It truly scares me to wonder about what else they may have in store for me.

I'm taken down a dim hallway. The hallway leads to a bigger, more open room. I see what looks like a chair in front of me, although it has strange wheels attached at the bottom. There's a door to my right. I'm shoved into the chair. Then they start binding me to it with rope and chains. I already know I can break out of it. That'd be using too much energy and I'd like to see what they have in store for me first.

I hear voices approaching. Languages have changed over time but I've been able to pick every one up. I'm immortal so it's essential that I learn the new languages in order to live comfortably. These people are speaking the English of today.

As the voices get closer, the door opens. In walks two people; one looking elegantly dressed, the other casual. The elegantly dressed gentleman is talking up a storm. The casual dressed man is listening and nodding politely with a smile.

"Ah, here he is!" The gentleman says and looks at me.

The other man looks at me and we make eye contact. His eyes are blue, his hair brown. His smile doesn't fade, it becomes deeper. I'm a bit scared to know his intentions in that smile. Why am I here? What's going to happen to me?

"This is the old vampire we've kept captive!" The gentleman says. "Please take a look! We've already bound him so he's ready for you."

The man approaches me. I start to growl. I don't want anyone near me. I don't know what they're going to do. The people who brought me here flinch at my growl. So does the gentleman. But the man continues his approach, unfazed.

The man stops to eye me closely. "Hm..." He reaches a hand over to my face and I growl louder. If he comes any closer, I'll bite his hand off. Maybe I can have a meal for once. He stops his hand, understanding what I plan to do.

The man steps back a little to continue eyeing me. He walks around me. Then he squats to eye my restraints. They've bound my legs again and he's looking at that too. I don't like this. I have no idea what he's thinking. The fear on the other's faces is apparent. They're concerned this man will get killed by me if he gets so close. And I definitely plan on trying something.

When the man is by my feet, I break the restraints with ease and go to kick his head off his body. Somehow my leg is stopped by the man's hand. He looks at the broken restraints with wide eyes. He doesn't seem too fazed that I tried to kill him. Have I grown weaker than I thought? How'd he stop my kick?

The man stands up and brushes himself off, finally showing he's satisfied. I eye him suspiciously. His smile is still there. He turns to the gentleman.

"I'll take him," the man says.

"Really?? Thank you very much! You'll be doing us an incredible favor! Don't forget your payment of course!" The gentleman seems relieved. He motions to the men who brought me here.

Suddenly the chair starts moving. It's gliding with ease. It must be the strange wheels attached to the bottom that's allowing the chair to move like this. Just how advanced have the humans become...? There was never anything like this in the past. It only strikes more fear inside of me.

I'm taken outside where it's nighttime. After being underground for so long, even the moon is too bright. It's still a familiar sight that eases some of the tension in my body. The air is fresh and smells so much better than the buildings I've been in. I'm mesmerized by the sky for a moment.

Then I'm hoisted into some large device, chair and all. I don't know what's happening. The men leave and it's just me and the man who said he'd "take" me. He smiles at me before I'm closed inside of the device. I'm about ready to break out of my weak restraints until the man enters the device too. There's a strange noise and the outside starts to move. I'm startled and can only watch the trees and buildings go by.

"I hope you'll like your new home!" The man eventually says. "You can understand me, right...?"

Of course I can understand him. But I don't want to casually talk to an enemy. What does he mean my new home...? Does this mean I'm free? But he never let me out of my restraints. I continue to keep my guard up as I see where this goes.

The outside world stops moving. The man takes the chair out of the weird device. Then I'm pushed towards a building. My surroundings are completely different from when I got out of the underground building. How'd we move to a different place so fast? I don't understand the devices of this time.

I'm taken into a house. At least the inside looks similar to a house. It's a bit different. I guess this is now the modern house. There's windows, furniture, and hallways and doors. This is my new home?

The man stops the chair. He walks in front of me. He's still smiling. Somehow it's getting annoying.

"This is your new home! I hope you can learn to feel comfortable here. It has to be better than wherever you've been staying all this time, right?" The man says, smiling and waiting for a response.

I don't say anything. I only glare at him. I test my restraints. If I break out now, how would I get out of the house? Perhaps I can easily break through wooden doors... my hands are bound and useless to try doorknobs.

"Oh right! I haven't introduced myself!" The man keeps talking. "My name is Cade! What's yours?"

I only stare at him, glaring. I refuse to cooperate. I might break out of here and run away anyway. No need to exchange names. Especially when hundreds of years go by quickly for me. This human will be dead before I'm ready to talk to him.

Cade shows a glimpse of impatience in his smile. I quickly pick up what he's feeling. When he's wearing his smile, it's like I can't read him at all. It's freaky for me, a being with thousands of years of experience with humans. I know well about all of their stupid and pointless feelings. But Cade is different. It puts me more on edge than I have been. But the slight change in expression gives me a strange sense of hope. He won't be that hard to understand after all?

No, no, why am I thinking so deeply about this. It's like I'm already getting attached to this human. But I'm sure nothing will happen between us. This is my chance at breaking free. I'm not sure where I'll go or how I'll continue to survive, but I'll at least be free. Or as free as I can be with these awful restraints on my arms.

"Want me to tell you how I found out about you?" Cade asks. He pulls up a chair of his own.

I am curious about how... but why am I entertaining a one sided conversation with this human? Maybe I'm so bored because no one has talked like this with me for so long. Everyone keeps their distance and is afraid. They keep me locked up and alone for years. I didn't think I needed others... especially not humans. I wanted to rule over them, not have casual conversation. I don't understand this new world or myself anymore.

"I was looking into illegal slave trades," Cade starts his story. "Then I caught this weird rumor about a vampire. I didn't think vampires were real. I heard a story about how they all went extinct, except maybe for one. That one was captured with high level magic and never seen again. But I thought that's all it was; a story. When I looked into the rumor, the master of the slave trade said he really did have a vampire. I said I'd be interested in buying the vampire on impulse. That's how we ended up like we are now. So, are you really a vampire? I guess I saw your strength and your sharp fangs for myself... but it's still a little hard believing it."

Cade stares into my eyes, his smile gone for once. "So? Will you talk to me? If you do, maybe I can help you."

His blank expression sends shivers down my spine. I thought his smile was bad, but when he's lacking one, it's somehow worse. Why am I so scared of this human? What am I missing? Is there something wrong with him? I want to understand this feeling. I feel pathetic being so afraid.

".....help me?" I speak for the first time in years. My voice is gravel and barely comes out.

Cade changes his expression to surprise and the fear dissipates. "Yes! I want to help you. If you'll let me."

"Then let me be free," I say.

Cade seems to consider it for a moment. He looks at the old restraints on my arms. "Of course I'd like to let you be free... but I'm not sure how to get those restraints off. You're still here after all these years so it seems like you don't know how to either."

I hate these restraints. If I knew how to get them off, I definitely wouldn't be here right now. I growl at Cade for being so stupid. I wasn't asking him to take these restraints off, I'm asking him to let me go when I stand up to leave.

"Alright, sorry..." Cade smiles apologetically. "I can try and look into how to take them off. I promise I'll try my best!"

He still isn't getting it. "Enough," I say. I easily break the chains and rope holding me to the chair. I stand up. I turn to leave.

"Whoa, wait!!" Cade stands up to reach for me.

I turn around and use my once a day intimidation. I give him everything I've got, so he can just stay put. It might even kill him, but I don't care. I will walk away here and now and be free. No weak human can stop me.

Cade stumbles. He puts his hands to his head and cries out in pain. I turn back around to try and break through the wood door. Before I can get there, I feel a hand on my shoulder.

Huh?? I whip around. Cade has one hand on his head and doesn't look well. But he's still standing and it's his hand on my shoulder. He raises his head to give me a pained smile.

"Wow, I've never experienced anything like this before... you have to be a vampire if you can hurt me with just your mind..." Cade says. How can he even speak?

This doesn't make sense. No human or animal can stay standing after my intimidation. I know I'm weaker now, but I'm still strong enough to bring a man to his knees. Usually they can't talk either. Just what is Cade?

"What are you?" I ask, angry.

"Huh...? Just a regular human..." Cade smirks.

"No. You can't be. How are you resisting my intimidation?"

"Is that what it's called...? Shouldn't it have a cooler name...?"

I can't believe he's talking back to me. He can't be a normal human. But I have no idea what he is. I've never met anyone in all my life until now that has resisted my intimidation. I was even more powerful than any vampire... I'm the king of vampires. There's nothing that should be able to resist me.

Then again... humans made that spell and bound me for all eternity. Did they somehow make a superhuman as well? But why would he be here in this day and age? I was a threat far before this.

Cade seems to recover even more from my intimidation. The effects are wearing off and he doesn't look so pained anymore. He rubs his head and then shakes it off. He takes his hand off my shoulder and can stand just fine.

"That was an experience," Cade says. He beams at me. "You still haven't told me your name."

This... human... is insufferable...

"Silas," I say. "That's my name. Happy now, you frightening human?"

"Yes, very happy!! Nice to meet you, Silas!"

That was the start of something new in my life. I never imagined how I would become after this. I never knew that life had more to it than just power and dominance. Cade showed me differently. He's just a stupid human. But I have to say I'm a little bit grateful to him...