Lonely Vampire

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

While Armand’s life wasn’t dull…“Okay, it’s dull,” he grumbled as he dressed to face yet another in an interminably long line of nights he’d been through in his long afterlife. He was wearing black, his usual dress when he, as he thought of it, went out for dinner. It was still early, just before eight, but he was in no mood to visit the club or his restaurant. Instead, he decided to walk from his house to an area in the opposite direction from downtown, where he sometimes searched for a blood donor.

The evening was warm, presaging the arrival of summer in the not too distant future. He strolled down to Sixth, then over to Steele. Continuing south, he passed Cherry Creek Mall and for a moment considered going inside. Just to be with people for a while. But, why bother? It’s not as if I can or would do more than watch them living their busy lives in the company of those they care for on some level.

He continued his walk, until he got to the far side of the mall. Seeing that the paved trail down by the creek which ran through the city was still relatively busy—walkers and bike riders going…wherever—he remained on the sidewalk until he was past the mall and the golf club, before taking the ramp down to the bike path.

Armand found a spot on some large rocks along the creek and then passed the time watching people and the wildlife. He decided the ducks and birds, and even the large rats on the other side of the creek, were more interesting. Finally, the normal people who used the path dwindled down, and the homeless teens and adults began to appear. Singly, or in pairs, they looked for safe places to crash for the night behind or under the bushes that lined the creek and bike path.

Some of them eyed Armand warily, staying well away from him. Others ignored him as they went to places he knew had to be their usual spots at night. He could smell unwashed bodies, the occasional aroma of m*******a, and beer. He understood and didn’t fault them. When you had nothing, you used what you could get your hands on to dull the pain.

Despite the differences in our situations, they’re as lonely as I am. A thought he’d had more than once in the last few years, as the homeless population in the city grew exponentially with the downturn in the economy. And as more kids were either kicked out of their homes, or had realized leaving was preferable to remaining in an untenable situation.

In spite of his pity for them, it didn’t stop Armand from searching for and finding three humans from whom he could safely feed. Sated, he started up the trail to the ramp. Then something tickled his senses. There was another vampire in the vicinity. A shock, since there were very few in the city, and those who were around knew better than to come into his territory without permission.

He tried to locate where they were, realizing as he did that the vampire must have sensed him as well and thrown up shields to keep from being found. That fact alone told him the vampire must be close to his own age. If he had been younger, he wouldn’t have been able to hide his presence.

So, who are you? And why are you here where you’re not welcome?

He went invisible, then waited.