After seeing how crazy the human named Cade is, I felt scared to try and leave again. He seemed like a ticking time bomb. Maybe if he wanted to kill me, he actually could. I still haven't known a single soul who knows how to kill an immortal vampire though.

Cade shows me to a room. He says I own it now. I cautiously let him lead me inside. He shows off the bed and dresser where I can keep my clothes. Cade seems stronger than other humans, but he's also stupid. I don't have any other clothes. Why would I use this thing called a dresser?

"Well, that's pretty much it..." Cade says, glancing around the room. "Need anything else?"

I stare blankly at him.

"No? Ok! Good night then!" Cade leaves the room and closes the door.

Wait! I can't use doorknobs!! Now I'm stuck in this room unless I break out. I worry what Cade might do to me if I break the door... I plop down on the bed. It's already surprisingly comfortable. But I don't feel safe here. I can't let myself relax and sleep. Yes, vampires can sleep. They don't necessarily need to. I can go without sleep for centuries. That's actually what I started doing once I was captured.

I just pace the room and look around it. I plop down and sit in a corner of the room after I've memorized the layout. I didn't really mean to memorize it though. I stare off into space. When I focus, I can sense things that a human couldn't. I recognize that outside the sky is changing and the sun will soon rise. I wait it out.

Eventually I hear Cade move inside the house. I hear his footsteps approach and I look at the door. He opens it.

"Good mor—!" Cade notices me sitting on the floor. "Oh... whatcha doing there?"

"'Whatcha'...?" I don't recognize that word.

"Short for 'what are you'. So? The bed not to your liking?" Cade walks in the room and I try to back into the wall but I'm already up against it.

Cade only goes to the bed and sits on it. He bounces a few times. "Hm... seems comfortable to me." He stands up. When he takes a step towards me, I growl.

Cade gets the idea. He puts his hands up then leaves the room. The door is left open. After a bit, I cautiously stand up. I peek outside the door. It looks like he might be preparing food. I go back to my corner and continue sitting there. I just want to wait this out. Once Cade dies at the end of his human life, I can then be free. I can wait a little longer.

From then on, I acted like I was still captive which was half true. Cade checked on me. He asked what I could eat besides the obvious since I'm a vampire. I ignored him. He showed concern for me since I wouldn't move or even sleep. I ignored him. Sometimes he left the house but I said I'd wait until he died to move so I stayed put. Cade looked like he wouldn't give up on me. But he checked on me less and less.

One day Cade stared at me while he leaned against the doorframe. He didn't say a word like he usually does. I ignored him. Or tried to. I felt his eyes burrowing into me. It's uncomfortable. I can't take it much longer. But if I reply, will I be submitting to him? I don't want that. I'd rather die.

"You need to bathe," Cade finally said.

I couldn't help looking at him, my eyebrows furrowed.

"You stink. When was the last time you bathed? Actually never mind, don't answer that. I'm afraid to know the answer."

So even Cade is afraid of something... but he's afraid to know the last time I've bathed? I still can't understand him.

Cade starts walking towards me. My fight or flight mode turns on. I growl at him but he keeps coming. Then I use my intimidation again, hoping it'll do something. It only stops him for a minute when he grabs his head and clenches his teeth. Then he continues towards me, still in pain. His hand gets too close for comfort.

"Stay back," I growl.

It doesn't stop him. "You need to bathe! Please! You're stinking up the place! I can't live like this forever!"

I try to bite his hand off. He dodges at the last second. Then he uses that to grab my restraints and pull on me. I don't budge.

"Come on!!" Cade calls out. "Please just follow me to the bathroom and get rid of this smell!"

"Stop it," I say back.

Cade clutches to my restraints. I use it to pull him close. I'll kill him right here once and for all. I'll bite his head off, or at least bite his neck and suck every last drop out of him. But he surprises me again.

His hands grab my face and his forehead is on mine. I can't bite at anything. I try to use my legs to kick him away, but he pushes my knees towards me and stops my movements with his body. I want to struggle but somehow he's strong.

"I'll rip your throat out," I threaten.

Cade holds my face and keeps his forehead on mine. "Maybe I deserve that..."

What does that mean? He deserves to get his throat ripped out? Then he should just let me do it. It'll be quick. Can't promise it'll be painless.

"Just relax... I don't want to hurt you..." Cade says.

He doesn't want to hurt me? That doesn't change that I want to kill him. Why does he think this will change anything? If he wasn't somehow holding his own against my strength, then he'd already be dead.

I feel Cade start to caress my cheek. I'm frozen.

"Please, you can relax... I don't want to hurt you... I want to help you... Didn't I already say I'd do my best? I've already tried researching the spell put on you," Cade says.

"...what?" He was being serious about that? The spell was cast on me forever ago. How would he find information on it in this day and age?

"The people at the library looked at me like I was crazy when I asked about the spell from the supposed fairy tale. They could at least point me to books related to magic and spells. I've been trying to find anything similar to the spell that has you restrained," Cade tells me.

Why? Why is he actually trying to free me? Is that where he goes sometimes? To this library to try and help me? Cade is the most terrifying human I've met, next to those who cast this spell on me. So why is he actually trying to help me instead of killing me?

I unknowingly relax a little. Cade caresses my cheeks with his hands. Gentle touch. When was the last time I felt that? I don't even remember. I become aware of his closeness and body heat. He has to be stupid to want to be this close to an all powerful vampire. I guess I've already realized he is stupid.

"You won't find anything," I finally say.

Cade shakes his head, our foreheads still touching. "I won't give up trying."

"You're foolish."

"Yep. I am."

I feel a little complicated. Cade moves his face away from mine. He meets my eyes and smiles.

"Now can I bathe you?" He asks.

I don't say anything and only glare at him. Cade takes his hands off my face. He grabs my restrained arms again and tries to pull me up. I let him do so. He leads me to the bathroom.

Cade takes off my clothes, having to cut my shirt off because of my restrained arms, and it's somehow a little awkward. I just remember I could rip his throat out whenever I feel like it. He takes his clothes off too. I eye his body for a moment. He doesn't look like he has too much muscle. How has he been overpowering me? It looks like anything related to Cade will never make sense.

The water is warm on my body. I haven't felt this for a while too. I almost melt into the nice feeling. Cade scrubs my skin and I watch dirt and grime come off of me. I look at the mirror in front of me. I've heard stories about vampires not being able to see their reflections. That may be true for lesser vampires, but I'm the king. I can see mine just fine. I look tired and weak. My black hair is really long too. My red eyes are practically covered by it. I watch through the mirror as Cade intently washes my hair.

Once Cade is done washing me, I almost look like I've returned to my former glory. All the dirt and grime muted my looks. Now I'm back to my handsome self. Being able to see myself like this after so long, it's a relief.

Cade finishes washing himself too. He wraps a towel around himself. Then he dries me off. He's been focused and hasn't said a word this whole time. I take this time to watch him. I doubt he notices my unwavering gaze.

Then Cade leads me to his bedroom. He lends me clean underwear and pants. He has a few pairs of clothes to see what fits. My body is larger than his. These clothes look new. Did he do this for me too? He helps me put the clothes on. Then he pulls out a strange looking shirt.

"I couldn't take your measurements so I really hope this fits," Cade finally speaks again. He pulls the shirt apart that was bound by buttons that snap. I've never seen anything like it before. And what does he mean about measurements?

"Measurements...?" I ask.

"Yeah. I made this shirt," Cade casually says. He eyes the shirt. Then he starts snapping it onto me. It easily goes on because it doesn't need to go over my head or up my arms to get on.

I'm surprised to feel the shirt on my body. It's comfortable and seems incredibly easy to get on. I watch Cade, confused. He puts his own clothes on and continues drying his hair with his towel.

"You made this? When?" I have to ask.

"Well, I was looking at you one day and I wondered how you'd ever change your shirt. Then I brainstormed ideas for how it could work. I came up with this. It went on easily and looks like it fits. Does it feel comfortable?" Cade eyes his handiwork.

Cade seems craftier than I thought... he even made it for me without my measurements. He may not only have incredible strength, but incredible intelligence as well. He just got a bit more frightening.

"...it's a shirt," I say in response to his question. I don't want to admit my real thoughts.

Cade smiles anyway. "Well, getting bathed wasn't so bad, right?"

I don't answer. It was nice. I feel better and more relaxed. I don't want to get used to being under his care though... It's like I've lost somehow if I do.

Cade has gotten used to my silence. He continues on, unbothered. "Will you finally tell me what you can eat? And will you stop sitting in your room like that? You can have another chance at a normal life. I want to help you get comfortable here. Then once your restraints are off, you can truly be free." Cade walks out of the room, expecting me to follow.

I do follow him. He still believes he can get the restraints off. Hope is a tiny seed in my heart. It'll still need more to grow and bloom.

Cade motions for me to sit in a chair. Then he continues into what he calls the kitchen. I stare at the chair. Then cautiously slide into it. Cade opens a device I've never seen. I can feel cold air being wafted in my direction. I wonder what that's about?

"Hm... what could a vampire eat..." Cade ponders. Then he grabs something from inside the device and pulls it out. He holds it up. "A tomato! It's red like blood!"

I don't react. He looks slightly disappointed and puts the tomato back. Then he looks serious again and really tries to figure out what I can eat. It bothers me that he won't give this up. Maybe I'll be merciful and tell him.

"I'm not like the lesser vampires who went extinct. They're what you humans know best with them not being able to see their reflections and other cliches. None of that applies to me. So I don't only need blood. I can eat anything. I'm not weak to garlic either. I wouldn't be the king of vampires if I had weaknesses like those," I say.

Cade pauses. "...the king of vampires??" He closes the cold device and rushes over to me. His eyes almost seem to sparkle when he stares at me.

I don't like his excited reaction. If he came any closer like that, I might have accidentally killed him too. But I guess I like that he's finally realized I am an amazing vampire.

"Yes. I am the king of vampires. I can't believe I've been reduced to nothing by the spell and you..." I say, irritated.

"Wow!! You're really amazing! A vampire existing nowadays is amazing in itself! But you being the king of vampires is even more crazy!!" Cade is too excited. I feel like he's making fun of me.

"If you're that amazed, then treat me like the king I am."

"How do I do that? You want me to bow to you? Call you master or my lord?" Cade asks.

None of that sounds good. I'd rather he just leave me alone. "Never mind," I say.

"Huh?? I'll do it! My lord, please allow me to make you a delicious meal!" Cade then gets on the floor to bow to me.

This doesn't make me happy at all. I don't want to only rule over one stupid human. I want to rule over everyone. This only looks like he's trying to make fun of me again. It's irritating.

"Stop," I growl.

"I'm sorry, my lord!!" Cade stands up.

"Just say Silas, you idiotic human."

"Hm... but you haven't said my name either..." Cade almost looks like he's... pouting? Is he still making fun of me?

I choose to ignore him now. The more I show him attention, the more annoying he gets. What happened to me waiting until he grows old and dies? Why am I talking with him?

Cade is finally quiet again. He goes around the kitchen. He's preparing a meal. I watch from the corner of my eye. I don't want to show I'm paying attention and am interested.

There's all kinds of new devices in this kitchen. Cade handles them with ease. I'm curious. But if I ask, he might be annoying again. I try to make sense of them myself. Soon he finishes making the meal. He serves some for both of us.

I stare at the food. Cade sits next to me. He digs into his food.

"Spaghetti!" He says. "The red sauce is made from tomatoes!"

He's still on about the tomato from earlier... After he fills his mouth with food, he leans over to help me. He puts the fork to my mouth with a smile. I don't want him to feed me like a child... but there's nothing else I can do. I open my mouth. I chew on the food. It's... good... He continues feeding me. This feels too casual. Is it really alright to be so relaxed?