They can eat and drink like the rest of us but once they taste blood their vampiric instincts . Why didn’t Father tell me? That’s right… He knew barely anything about vampires and still doesn’t know much … I wish I never got drafted. I only did it to avoid drawing more attention by refusing. But now I’m surrounded by people where in one false move they  will arrest and kill me because I’m a vampire. I want to trust Alek. He seems kind and warm… maybe his cheerfulness is how he copes. Maybe reinforced after something happened. But it wouldn’t be wise to try to pry. 

“Hey Jin, want to go out to the capitol with me? We have time before curfew.”

“Alright.”  I responded.

“Let's go!” Alek grabbed my wrist dragging me after him.

“Wait! Alek let go!”

He laughed and together we ran out the building. He didn’t let go. At least he's not going at a speed that would raise suspicion. We stopped near a canal. Boats with cargo going in or out of the capital. 

“Why did you do that?” I asked, rubbing my wrist.

 Alek sat down near the edge of the canal, his legs dangling down kicking them like he couldn’t sit still completely. “Well…you look so sad and scared all the time. I wanna help fix that.” 

“Want to.” I corrected 

“Hey, don't correct my grammar!” Alek laughed a little at how quick my response was. “I’m plenty spoken.”

“Well spoken.”

“That’s what me said.”

“Are you doing that on purpose?”

Alek smiled. “What? Nuuu…”

“You did it again!” I couldn’t help but smile at this childish exchange.

We lapsed into silence watching the boats go by. “Aleksander…”

He frowned at that. “Please with all due respect do not call me that. You don’t need to be formal with me.”

I nodded, turning back to watch. “Alek, why didn’t you escape the draft? You know what the risk is if we’re found out.”

“I live on the other side of this city. I’ll draw more attention if I evaded. I don’t want to put  my  older brother's new family and so many others in danger… I’m sure it was a similar reason for you.” 

“Yes, if I skipped I would’ve put myself and my father in danger.”

We lapsed into silence after that. Then Alek spoke up, “Want to be mates? I could use an ally.”

“You hardly know me besides most people find me too peculiar to be around..." I murmured. I had prepared myself for a time of loneliness, my magic and my personality ostracizing me on their own. It hasn't been long and I'm already othered by everyone. And yet Alek doesn't seem to care.

Alek scooted closer just to smack me on the top of the head. Then moved back

“Hey! what was that for!” I rubbed my head.

“You can’t be sad right now! I simply will not tolerate it!” He smiled at me. “My brother says mates tell each other things about themselves like secrets and get each other's back…We  should get to know each other!” He jumped up. “Soo, who would you wish to be your lover? If anyone.”

“What? Why is that the first thing you think of?!” I said, caught off guard. 

“I want to help you on the  mighty quest that is Romance!!!” He used his magic to “make" a sword out of orbs of fire and light he pretended to point into the air like a knight would.

I burst out laughing. “I don’t like erm.. have much  interest in… intimate activities…but falling in love with a woman would be nice…not that I’ll ever be able to.”  I didn’t hear the rest. I got distracted by a mother and father with their young  son no more than five. 

“Now, now.” The mother said, smiling at her child. “We must be heading home…”

My heart felt heavy seeing it. Father, why don’t I have a mother?