Chapter 6 ~Casper~

THERE I AM, FLAT ON MY BACK on the ground like a beached whale. My body, usually all muscle and power, feels as heavy as a boulder. It hits me like a ton of bricks: even vampires, the eternal creatures of the night, need a regular dose of blood to keep up their youthful looks. Seems like my powers have decided to take a permanent vacation.

My arms and legs, normally the epitome of strength and grace, are now stiff as a board, leaving me totally helpless. My energy is leaking out of me like air from a punctured tire, putting me in quite the bind. If only a pint of blood would just materialize in front of me to satisfy my craving.

As I lie there, mulling over my dire situation, the sun peeks through the window and spills its warm, golden light onto my pale skin. Time seems to crawl as the sun makes its lazy journey across the sky, painting the world in hues of orange and pink as the day drags on.

Panic floods my mind like a tidal wave. I can't help but picture my shriveled-up body, all dry and wrinkled like a raisin, and a cold shiver runs down my spine, making my limp limbs quiver like Jell-O on a plate.

I screw my eyes shut, trying to erase the nightmarish images from my mind. The thirst for blood grows stronger with each passing second, and all I can think about is the sweet relief of darkness. Fear grabs me by the throat, but I cling to a tiny flicker of hope like it's the only thing keeping me afloat.

"Hang in there, old boy," I croak to myself. "Don't throw in the towel just yet."

As the world finally slips into the embrace of night, I know it's do-or-die time. With every scrap of strength left in my battered body, I start crawling across the floor, my muscles howling in protest like I'm running a marathon.

With every last bit of strength, I haul myself to my feet. My legs wobble like they're made of spaghetti, but I refuse to give in. I fling open the front door and focus all my energy on staying upright. No way am I going down without a fight.

As I look out at the city, I'm entranced by the strange vehicles whizzing past. These futuristic machines, their headlights blazing like the eyes of some wild animal, dance through the night in a hypnotic ballet of metal and shadow.

Even though I have no idea where I'm headed, the hunger growling in my stomach pushes me forward. Before I know it, I'm staggering through the city's winding streets, the weird vehicles zooming past me in a whirlwind of motion.

Just when I think things can't get any crazier, the world explodes into chaos. A blinding light hits my eyes, and BAM! Out of nowhere, a massive vehicle slams into me.

The impact hurls me into the air like a rag doll, my arms and legs flailing as I frantically grab for anything to hold onto. I crash back down to the cold, hard ground, my bones snapping like dry twigs under the force of the impact.

As I lay there on the freezing pavement, I can't help but wonder if this is how it ends for me - an ancient vampire biting the dust in a strange, unfamiliar future. Talk about ironic, right?

The driver, looking pretty shaken up himself, climbs out of the vehicle and comes over to me. Even in my hazy state, I can feel his anxiety. But through the haze, one thought keeps nagging at me - the hunger roaring in my belly.

He kneels down next to me, his voice cutting through the night. "Hey, you okay? Can you hear me?" His breath is coming out in shaky gasps, his hands trembling like he's just seen a ghost.

In his panic, he leans in close, pressing his ear against my chest, trying to hear a heartbeat. That's when it hits me - this is my chance, a gift from the gods.

"What are you-" he starts, but his words get stuck in his throat as I pounce, my fangs piercing the soft skin of his neck. A blood-curdling scream rips through the night as he struggles in my iron grip. "Please, let me go!" he begs, his voice trembling with fear.

I ignore his pleas, knowing I can't afford to let him go now. Not when I'm so close.

The night air whispers against my skin as his blood flows into me, a rush of euphoria washing over my senses. It's like I'm tasting the sweetest nectar, and I'm powerless to resist its pull.

In my unyielding hold, the man quivers like a leaf, an unwilling participant in my dark act. With every passing moment, his life force dwindles, and the light in his eyes dims.

The weird vehicles keep zooming along the dark, shiny streets, their drivers either oblivious or indifferent to the drama playing out. Amidst the chaos, a sense of urgency hits me – I gotta move fast before we're spotted.

I scoop up the man's limp body and dart towards the shadowy alleyway, desperate to get out of sight.

With a deep breath, I sink my fangs into my own wrist, grimacing at the sharp pain as blood spurts from the wound. I gently pry open the man's lips and let my healing blood drip into his mouth.

As my blood trickles in, his wounds begin to mend, his torn flesh magically stitching itself back together. My blood, now flowing through his veins, pulls him back from the brink of death.

As his eyes flutter open, our gazes lock, and I unleash the full force of my hypnotic allure. In a steady voice, I speak directly to his mind, “Hark, my friend. This evening has indeed been an eventful one, but the hour has come for you to relinquish your grasp upon these occurrences. Your path now leads you homeward, where a soothing bath of warm water awaits to cleanse away the day's turmoil, followed by the sweet embrace of slumber. When dawn's light graces your eyes once more, naught shall remain within your mind's eye but a fleeting fancy, akin to a dream that dances just beyond your recollection.”

The man nods slowly, his eyes all foggy with confusion as my words sink in. I help him to his vehicle, watching as he stumbles along like a drunken sailor trying to find his sea legs.

He collapses into the driver's seat and zooms off into the night. I watch him go, confident that he'll be okay after our crazy escapade.

I stroll along an empty path, the steady tap-tap of my shoes against the ground the only sound in the quiet night. My mind's racing, replaying the wild events of the evening. The smooth path under my feet feels nothing like the rough cobblestones I'm used to - it's more like walking on polished marble.

As I remember my withered appearance from earlier, it suddenly hits me: when Winter set me free from the mansion, the spell keeping me looking young and hot must've worn off. All those years of going without human blood had caught up with me. The mansion's magic had been like a vampire Botox, keeping me young and handsome, but without it, time had done a real number on me. Good thing the driver's blood had given me a much-needed pick-me-up.

I can't help but think about Winter. The mansion had kept me and its secrets hidden for centuries, until Winter stumbled upon it by accident. How had she been able to see me? The possibilities make my head spin.

Out of nowhere, the hair on the back of my neck stands up, like someone's watching me.

A shiver snakes down my spine, putting me on high alert. I scan the darkness, my eyes searching the shadows for any sign of movement.

From the shadows, a figure steps out, its body cloaked in darkness except for a pair of glowing red eyes. I try to make out its features, but it's like trying to grab smoke - impossible.

Our eyes lock, and for a moment, time freezes. The figure looks small, maybe a kid or a teenager. But just as quickly as it appeared, it disappears, leaving me totally confused.

The mysterious figure gives me the creeps. Was it another vampire, or some unknown creature lurking in the night? The thought makes me shiver.

As I'm lost in my thoughts, it suddenly hits me - I've shown my vampiric abilities in public. I've got to be careful in this strange new world, to keep both my existence and my secrets safe.

I head towards my centuries-old home, but it's barely recognizable now. Even the outside has been updated to match the other houses on the street, making me feel curious and uneasy, like I'm walking into a stranger's house. I take a deep breath and push open the door.

The place is pitch black, except for a glowing box showing images of smiling faces, which gives me the heebie-jeebies. I struggle with the lights, but can't figure them out, so I give up and lean against the wall in frustration.

Suddenly, the wall makes a soft clicking sound under my touch, and the room lights up. I let out a victorious laugh - finally, I've found the light switch!

But before I can fully enjoy my moment of triumph, I turn to see a stranger lounging in one of my chairs, a devilish grin on his face. My heart skips a beat - who the heck is this guy, and how did he get in here?

As I look at his face, I realize it's the same mysterious kid from before. "You?" I croak out, barely able to find my voice.

He nods slowly, a mischievous spark in his otherwise angelic face. "Yep, it's me," he says, his eyes shining with a sly intelligence that seems way beyond his young appearance.