- Later that night, Valek tossed and turned beneath his black silk sheets, his mind tormented by images and feelings, a past only his subconcious remembered. His conscience mind tried to analyze the various images his subconscience was showing him. A bed of black, a room with candles, a boy-no, a man, of cornsilk blond hair. Leopold! He looked so different. He was much older in this dream, but he still had that wild, devil may care look in those beautiful green eyes. Valek then saw himself, as though he really wasn't himself, but rather merely a spectator to this beautifully tragic scene unfolding before him. Valek was just a boy, a few years younger than he is now, but he looked the same. It was impossible to tell what time frame this scene was set in, neither boy wore clothes, and the candlesticks were antique, but the kind of which you passed on to your children for decades, treasured reliques of the past. Valek watched as the other Valek, the boy, was invited beneath the black sheets by the beautiful god Leopold. The boy Valek hesitated. His arms hugged his body shamefully, his face troubled. A whisper through silk, Leopold promised "Don't be afraid. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to love you." With that, the boy Valek slid into the sheets, beside
Leopold. Valek wanted to join these two who looked so perfect together, but as with many dreams, he couldn't move, only watch the scene unfold before his eyes. Leopold gently slid his arms around the boy, whispering promises of pleasure, of love, of companionship. Then Valek noticed something else: the candles were growing brighter. The boy nodded and said he understood, he'd been waiting his life for someone like Leopold. The blond god smiled and kissed the boy, a kiss so sweet even the spectator Valek could taste it. Still the candles grew brighter. "My darling, don't be afraid. You'll feel a small pinch, and then, everlasting sweetness," Leopold was saying now. He parted his lips, and there Valek saw fangs. The boy trembled at the sight, but he knew what was coming, and he welcomed it, tilting his head to expose his neck. Leopold kissed the boys neck once, then sank his fangs in. The spectator could even feel the sharp pinch in his own neck, and then a slight tingling there after. Still the once innocent light of the candles grew until they hurt Valeks eyes, but the two lovers seemed not to notice. No, please, go away, I want to see them, I want to touch them, hold them. Valek tried to wipe away the light that threatened to blind him, but still he could not move. Through the light he saw Leopold smile at the boy, and the boy smiled back. They looked so peaceful together, so perfect. Then the boys mouth formed a perfect "O" and his eyes widened in terror. He screamed, and the light of the candles caught the black sheets on fire and turned them red. Leopold, cursing, clinging to his love, tried to comfort him through his own terror. No! Leave them alone! Let them be! Let them live! But such a thing was not to happened. Their voices joined in perfect chorus in a blood curdling scream of pain and terror, and the spectator watched on as that beautiful cornsilk hair turned ashen black, and those untameable green eyes were closed forever."No! Noooo!"
Valek sat straight up in bed, tossing his own black sheets aside as though they were still on fire. So devistated by the dream, it took Valek several moments to slow his racing heart, to remember where he was. He was home, in the 21st centure, safe in his own bed. No fire, no pain, no lovers. Valeks brow was drenched with sweat, his hair soaked in it, tears streamed down his face. He caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror. His face was so white, his expression so pained and fearful, broken only by the red streams that poured from his eyes. "Oh my god, my poor Leopold." Valek hugged his knees and buried his face in his arms, and he wept.
The next day Valek stood leaning against a tree, his dark hair and black trench coat tossed by the wind. He had cried so hard last night his eyes were still red and puffy the next morning, so he wore a pair of black sunglasses. He was in the park again, he loved this park so much. His mother had brought him here when he was a child, and he had only fond memories of it, unlike so many other places. He was waiting for someone, but not Leopold. As desparately as he wanted to see the boy, to assure himself that he was alright, that he hadn't died in the fire, Valek could not see him just now. No, instead he waited for a woman, a beautiful woman with long red hair, and crystal blue eyes. His best friend, his only true friend. The one who had given him the gift of immortality just 14 months ago. Valek saw her approach, and was thoroughly surprised to see her wearing an equally black trench coat, black sunglasses. She seemed surprised too. But this was nothing new. Even since before she had given Valek her greatest gift, they had always shared a sort of telepathy. She could always tell when he needed her, and could always find him when he called via this link. That's how he knew she would come.
"My dear Valek, what's wrong?" Moira said. She greeted him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, as usual. "Moira, we have to talk." They sat on a grassy knoll that overwatched the children playing in the short distance, beyond ear shot of anyone who would overhear them. "Moira, do you believe in reincarnation?" Moira was taken abake by the question. "Be more specific, darling, there are many myths about reincarnation." "Past lives, being born into a new body, you know, reincarnation." Moira thought a moment. "I'm not sure, dearest. Why?" "I had a dream, about a boy, and about me. It was so real, I could feel the softness of his kiss, the sting of his fangs, the heat of the fire..." Valek shuddered, and could not continue. Moira was staring at him intently, but didn't seem surprised. "You dreamt about vampires?" "I dreamt about becoming a vampire." Moira continued, "Hm. There is a theory about vampires and reincarnation, but it's never been proven or disproven. Some vampires have been known to have dreams of 'past lives,' but they could never find out whether there was any truth behind the dreams. The dreams tend to be illusive, never giving specific details which might lead to uncovering whether there is any fact behind the dreams. Many have tried to uncover the truth behind these dreams, and many have gone mad trying." Valek absorbed all this. "Your going to search into this, aren't you, Valek." Moira only called him "Valek" when she was worried about him. Valek nodded. "There was a man in the dream, the one who made me a vampire. I met him last week, the same man, Moira, only years younger, and human. And I love him. I've loved him since the first barest of a glimpse. I've never fallen for someone so hard or so quickly. If there is something behind our relationship, I must discover it." Moira looked a little sad. It was no secret she cared deeply for Valek, perhaps a little more deeply than a mere friend should, but both of them new it would never work out between them. They had tried, months earlier, and had almost destroyed their friendship in the process. "If you want to do this, Valek, I can't stop you. I won't even try. But if you need any help, you know I'm always here for you." She placed a hand on Valeks and smiled at him. Valek smiled back. Good old reliable Moira. She'd always be there for him. He really should be nicer to her, she's pulled him back so many times. When he stood at the ledge of a four story building, ready to cast life aside for all eternity, she pulled him back and offered eternity to him on a silver platter. How many times had she comforted his loneliness in the past two years he'd known her? Countless times. With a parting kiss on the cheek, she stood and headed back into the city. Valek watched her go until she was swallowed by the passing crowd of people on the street by the park. He turned his attention back to the children, ever playful, ever beautiful, ever innocnet, and pondered on his current quest.