10. Scary Shadows (2/2)

shou swallowed. no one but him should be here in the first place, so if he heard a voice, then it had to be the vampire. "are you a vampire?"

"that doesn't answer my question. why are you here?"

"it does answer it. because if you're a vampire, then that's why i'm here." shou tried to move forward, wanting to

ing a little light to the area, but not a single muscle of his body wanted to move. he could've been a statue for all that he could do anything.

"and what are you doing here if i'm not one?" it sounded almost as if whoever it was wanted to laugh at him. it wasn't a pleasant laugh if they did.

"you still shouldn't be here." shou wrenched the words out of himself. "but who are you and why are you here?"

there wasn't a reply for a few moments. shou thought the other had vanished when they spoke again. "i live here. this has been my home and my family's home for generations. i have as much right here as you do."

shou would've shaken his head if he could. "no, you don't. there haven't been any vampires here ever."

"you would be wrong about that." something flickered in the depths of the shadows. shou tried to get a better look at it but to no avail. he didn't know if that was because he couldn't move at all or because there wasn't anything there to see properly. "what is it that you want with me?"

even knowing that he couldn't move didn't stop shou from trying to raise his head up in pride and determination. "i want you to stop attacking people!"

"i can't do that." the voice even sounded a little regretful. "it isn't -" the words choked off without warning, then picked up again. "it isn't possible."

"why not?" shou wondered if his ears were deceiving him. did the monster sound upset about it? that – that couldn't be right? could it?

again silence reigned for a few worrisome seconds. "it is what i am. a vampire kills people. i have no more control over that than you do of killing for your food." a pause far too

ief for shou to fill. "and don't try to tell me that you don't. whatever you eat, you kill, be it meat or plants."

but these are people! shou wanted to say. that makes a difference! the words froze in his throat even as another movement registered. something from the shadows, something in a shape that was written in the deepest parts of his mind as safe, as would never hurt me, as always there to help me, moved forward to where he could see it better.

shou could see the face. he did not want to. even if his head couldn't move, his entire body was a single screaming word of no. this couldn't be allowed. this wasn't right at all. it had to be a trick.

and the thing that wore his

other's face came closer, every movement as silent as ryou's had become since his return, and cold fingers, the chill of death,

ushed the side of shou's face, and shou knew nothing else.

to be continued