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Vampire's Bride

     She slowly walked along the streets in her dejected manner. After living there for two years, she had nothing left. No materialistic possessions nor any self-esteem or happiness. Not much phased her anymore. She had become hard and cold. Starvation was now normal, and she was used to freezing to the point of becoming totally purple. Loneliness pervaded her spirit. How she longed for love! To be held, to hold, to have someone to talk to. Within her heart she held so much love, but she had no one to give it to.
      It was that dreadful night in 2002 that had led her to these streets. Images of her dead parents had stained her memory. And their killer� A chill swept over her every time she thought about it and the image flooded her mind. She had been fortunate enough to escape. How she had she wasn�t sure, she knew he could have gotten her too if he wanted, she didn�t understand. She had run for days, powered only by her fear.
      As she stopped underneath a shop�s awning, and pushed the thoughts away. They were too painful.
      The sun had just fallen beneath the horizon. She slumped down against the wall of the shop and curled up, trying to find warmth. The icy wind blew hard, she couldn�t seem to escape it.
      Were it not so cold, she would have gone to the pier and washed her hair and body, as she did often when it was warm, but it was too cold. Much too cold. She would die from hypothermia for sure.
      She looked up at the sign above her head which stated the shop hours. It closed at seven on Friday. She had a little more time before the owner came out and shooed her away.
      She sat watching the streets which were busy with traffic. She could walk faster than they were going! She couldn�t remember the last time she had been in a car. It seemed so long ago.
      She looked to her side upon hearing the scuffled sound of shoes. The owner was fumbling with the shop door.
      She stood and walked away before the man could get to her. Walking away from the city, she never looked back. She realized she had never been that way before. Maybe she could find good shelter tonight, dark clouds were beginning to roll in. She could hear thunder in the distance. A storm was coming.
      She hoped to find an abandoned warehouse to sleep in, but no such luck came to her.
      It started to rain, but upon finding a few trash cans grouped together, she stopped and ravaged through them, her stomach growling with hunger.
      Finally, in the bottom of the last trash can, she found a pizza box. She hurriedly picked it up and opened it. She frowned at the empty box and threw it back in the trash can, walking away.
      Upon seeing a narrow opening between two buildings, with one on top, giving it a �ceiling�, she went to take a look. Complete darkness. She listened, but heard nothing but rain and quiet thunder.
      Cautiously, she began walking through this enclosed alley. Nothing could be seen or heard, but, as she had learned, she was never safe.
      With her bare feet on the ground, she determined that it was stone. The walls were also. She ran her hand along the wall to her left.
      It seemed to go on forever until finally her hand hit another stone wall in front of her. She turned around and slumped into the corner, watching the dim light from the other end.
      She looked all around her, but, even as her eyes adjusted, she could see nothing. She closed her eyes and listened. Nothing. She supposed she had finally found an abandoned place.
      She watched the dim light as she began to fall asleep. Suddenly, a black figure blocked her view. She remained silent and stared, but could see nothing. Everything was so empty.
      Supposing it was her imagination in her sleepy stupor, she closed her eyes and fell asleep instantly.
      The dark figure stared down at her, able to see through the darkness. The figure removed its long, black leather coat and tossed it over her, tucking it tightly around her, then walked down the alley and disappeared into the dim light ahead.

      The cold winter morning found her still in the alley, the sunlight pouring inside, but it didn�t even reach half-way. Everything remained dark around her.
      Surprisingly she found she wasn�t cold. She was actually quite warm. Covering her body was a leather coat tucked tightly around her body.
      She heard a noise to her left and her eyes darted to the sound, but she could not see.
      The noise became louder, accompanied by footsteps. It sounded like a paper bag. It became louder until the object was carelessly sat onto her knees, which rested at chin level.
      �Here,� a voice simply stated.
      She was startled, but, upon smelling food, anxiously opened the bag. Reaching inside, she caught hold of a biscuit. She quickly ate, finding it stuffed with sausage. �Thank you,� she said quietly. More biscuits were in the bag, she would save them for later.
      There was a long moment of silence until she heard the voice again, that of a man, �What is your name?�
      She jumped, startled at his words, then answered, �Sahrlyn.�
      �Sahrlyn�� he repeated.
      After a moment, she asked, �What�s yours?�
      Within a sigh, he answered her, �Nikolai.�
      He looked down on her, knowing that she was unaware that he could see her. She nodded her head slowly at his name, pulling his coat tighter around herself.
      �Thanks for the coat,� she said. �Do you want it back now?�
      �No. I�m fine Arlyn. Just keep warm,� he replied. He spoke quietly. His voice was deep, but not too deep. It was very soft and smooth.
      �Why do you show me such kindness, Nikolai?� she asked quietly.
      �I am not kind to anyone.� He spoke so firmly that she dare not question on the mater any further.
      �Well, Nikolai,� she said after a long pause, �I guess I shall be going. Thank you very much.�
      �Very well then, if you wish.�
      They both stood at the same time. In one hand, she held the food, thrown over her left arm was Nikolai�s coat. She extended it towards where she though he stood, but felt a large hand on her arm, pushing it back. �Keep it.�
      She thanked him as she pulled it around her tightly, it was strongly scented. The scent of a man. Her heart became saddened at her loneliness as she walked towards the light, tucking the food into a large pocket inside the coat.
      Once she reached the end, she looked back, but could see nothing. She wondered if she would ever see Nikolai again.

      As she sat at an outside table, eating a biscuit and watching the sunset, she couldn�t quit thinking about Nikolai. Arlyn. No one had ever called her that. Her usual nickname was Lyn, but she very much liked the one he had called her by. �Arlyn�� she repeated his voice in her head over and over. She couldn�t help it, in such deep loneliness she had easily �fallen in love.�
      After watching the sun fall beneath the horizon, she stood and replaced the biscuit-filled bag inside the large inside-pocket of the coat.
      The familiar question rang through her head, �Where will I sleep tonight?� She walked along the streets, noticing the weather was changing sooner than usual, it was getting colder and colder. She was grateful for Nikolai�s coat, she thanked him silently, in her mind.
      After walking for quite a while, she noticed that the moon and stars had appeared. �I�ll stop at the next alley I see,� she whispered to herself.
      She never made it.