She tasted it and abruptly sat up. It spilled from her mouth, down her chin, to drip onto the white linen sheets.

A shy smile, white teeth and clear eyes glinting in the half light. She was flushed and her breath was coming faster, the perfect globes of her naked breasts heaving slightly. It was impossibly salty and she was vaguely repulsed at herself, but she could not deny the irresistable allure of being this close to another human being. There was something exciting and unpredictable about this man she'd just met. And something very attractive.

He shrugged, so much used to this very personal initiation. He prided himself on it, he had done it many times during the years and now this, beautiful, vibrant, nameless woman to be taught the art. He smiled to himself for what he had in store for her. She would be surprised, very much so, before he left her tonight. But she was beautiful there, in the candlelight, her eyes almost luminous and her body like sculpted bronze. She pushed her hair from her eyes and looked at him. They were luminous and trusting. 

It was nearly too much for him, he nearly finished it then and there. He had been playing with her for over half a night, watching as her confidence grew, her ability to please and be pleased also grew. He had plied her with alcohol, at the beginning, and compliments, but as her animal needs mounted, he'd not had to tempt her much at all. In fact, should it not have to end so soon, he would have enjoyed another liaison with her. She had been impossibly pure, and a quick learner.

When he'd initially penetrated, she'd cried out loud, and struggled against him, then settled down, experiencing the strange, yet oddly pleasurable sensations, and the feeling of him upon her, inside her. She mourned when he finally withdrew. It had left her feeling weak, trembly, as if her heart was beating fainter, but stronger than ever before. She had then reciprocated the favour, after a while, when her breath was caught, and she had excelled.

She sighed, and lay down next to him, her head on her hands, her luxurious body stretched out beside him. The dawn was not far off, and he had to be off soon. One had obligations. And his were ones not to be shirked, for they would herald his end. And he was having too much fun right now. Way too much fun. He moved slightly, stroked the smooth dip of her back, the sharp shoulder blades. She sighed, rolled over, lay on her back, arms at her sides, legs straight enjoying his gentle ministrations, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The clock struck four. He had to go. He caressed her cheek, her smooth jawline. This one, he was tempted to leave, so perfect was she. So trusting and good, and all that he was not. Yet, she was ignorant. She did not know how the world worked, and had not believed him when he had told her he was dangerous, that a woman such as her had no business having congress with one like him. 

He had enjoyed the burning of the small crucifix that she wore at her throat, careful to remove it well before the festivities had began. There was no point letting her know too soon what she had been, would be no more, and there was only death at the end of this night awaiting her. 

A brief period of immortality, then the endless sleep. 

He rose from her bed carefully, dressed himself, blew out all but one candle. He admired himself in the large gilt mirror on her dressing table. The centuries had not claimed his youth, but his eyes told different. The centuries had claimed his humanity, his empathy. He walked the world sowing reckless violence and cruelty, and his eyes told the story to all but the innocent.

He bent, and picked up the leather briefcase he had bought with him. It was a large one, one that could contain a laptop computer, but what this one held was primitive and much more dangerous. The smooth wooden stake was worn from years of use. The irony of the situation never failed to amuse him, here was the killer using the only thing that could cause his ultimate death.

He withdrew it, ran his fingers along it's length, then kissing each of her eyelids, set the stake against her heart, pushing down with his entire weight. She screamed not, nor struggled, just accepted it, like so many before her. The stolen blood welled from the wound, onto the white sheet. She sighed once, and that was it. Her life expired quietly, with no final word, thought, other than the candles flickering in her emptying gaze.

He packed up his belongings and left the room, the taste of her on his lips, and the warmth of her blood singing in his veins.