A Delicate Prey

         While Samuel normally liked to hunt his prey more casually, he was very thirsty. And the gentleman stepping out of the hotel in his suit and tie would do nicely. Tall, but thin, he looked rather delicate. He probably wouldn’t be able to put up much of a fight. And after all, blood was blood.

         The man, in his day they would have called him a dandy, or a fop, seemed oblivious to what was about to happen to him. He walked without a care in the world. Samuel stalked him, waiting for just the right moment. That moment came when the tender little morsel made a wrong turn down a blind alley. Samuel ran in for the kill.

         His prey stood at the end, looking at a chain link fence, as if he was wondering if he should try to climb it. He’d probably be exhausted halfway up. Samuel began to think that if he didn’t kill the man, some petty criminal would. Better he die for a more noble purpose. He stalked up directly behind, and sank his fangs into the man’s throat.

         Then he pulled back and screamed. His face smoked and charred. Liquid light spilled from the man’s throat for a moment, then the wounds closed. The man turned, white light flaring from his eyes. “Ah, so you’re what’s been following me.” The man’s voice was a choir unto itself. His hands had extended into long claws, pure radiance pouring from them. White feathery wings formed from beneath the man’s jacket. “Greetings Samuel, the Vampire. I am also named Samuel, and I think we both know what I am. Did you think darkness was the only force on Earth? Were you truly that arrogant? I suppose you were. Well, that will end in time.”

         With that, and a single swipe of his hands, Samuel took his Vampiric namesake’s head, and let his radiance wash over the corpse. When it had turned completely to ash, he resumed his human form and walked away.