Page 74 of The Neighborhood Vampire

“I know.”

“I’m scared I’m going to harm you. I don’t know what I’d do if I did.”

“Hugo, it’ll be okay. We can get through it together.”

“There are urges. Uncontrollable urges. It’s like my body is on fire. After you fell asleep, I thought about biting your neck. I didn’t know what to do, so I left. I thought I was fine,” he said, turning toward the house. “And then I smelled them moving around. It was like my body took over from my mind.”

Alice moved toward Hugo. “It will be okay.”

“Stay back,” Hugo said, withdrawing from her. “I’m a monster.”

Alice extended her hand, moving closer. “You’re not a monster.”

“Then what am I?”

“You’re Hugo Dodds. The best boyfriend a witch could ever ask for,” Alice said. Each step drew her closer to him. She was within arm’s length. “Please. Please take my hand. Let’s go home.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

“We’re never going to be the same, will we?”

“No,” Alice answered.

Hugo lowered his head.

“That’s okay. We’ll get through it. We can beat this. Together. You and me. Let it go and take my hand.”

Let it go.

Hugo locked onto her emerald green eyes. “Promise me.”

“I promise you.”

Hugo took her hand. It was warm to the touch.

She pulled him closer, ending in a warm embrace on the damp, cold night. “I love you, Hugo Dodds. I promise you we’ll get through this together.”

“Thank you,” he said as they unlocked their embrace.

“It’s late. Let’s go home.”

They held hands as they journeyed home.

The Third Sonata Movement

“PRESTO AGITATO”

Chapter 19

Bleed Them Dry

Sylvia held her wineglass of blood and gazed down upon her vampiric subjects cleaning The Heart and Rose from the nightly revelry. They toiled away in silence, mopping the floor and scrubbing the bar after the activities of the various patrons who visited for a night of drinks and dancing.

Those unfortunate souls sought relief from the daily stress of their lives only to be enthralled and bled for the pleasures of the vampires who inhabited the building. They didn’t die, but they lost enough blood to be bedridden for a few days. The vampire staff ensured every trace of their sanguine activities was erased.

Sylvia raised the glass to her lips. The intoxicating scent of the blackish-red liquid enticed her senses, filling her nose with a metallic aroma. With a gentle sip, the insatiable hunger which drove her to madness subsided as the sweet warmth coated her taste buds.

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