This tale begins when I was still human. I was 22, and a senior undergrad. I was currently in Macbeth, you know, the Shakespeare play. Of course, with my talent, I was Macbeth, but anyway, that's not the point. It was the evening of my final performance. The show had gone beautifully. It is a rare thing indeed for live theater as a whole to be flawless, let alone Macbeth, but that night it was better than flawless. And, as you can imagine, I was very content with myself. So, I decided to go celebrate by picking up a fine piece of ass or two in the area (women or men or even one of each, it's the best of both worlds) and becoming better acquainted with them, if you know what I mean. I had just left the theater and was starting towards my car when a woman approached me. Now this was not any woman. This was, quite literally, the woman of my dreams. Her long, silky black hair, her slender, yet firm figure, and she had an aura around her of confidence and power, and mystery. I couldn't believe my luck. I hadn't even left, and already here was a beautiful woman who would fall right into my hands.

She glided up to me and told me that that was the finest performance of Macbeth that she had ever seen, and she assured me that she had seen the play performed many times. More than I could count, I remember she said. I thanked her and put on my modest act (The women love it, and it encourages them to praise me more). She saw right through it. She claimed that I knew exactly how good I was, and that it attracted her to me. Now, I was getting excited. I introduced myself to her and invited her to come with me for a night on the town. She told me she already knew who I was, but that she would, indeed, accept my invitation. I asked her for her name, but she merely laughed at me, and told me to follow her. Well, as you can probably tell, we had an unimaginably evening. I had never been exhausted by a woman before in my life until then. Details aren't neccesary, and if I gave them I would be describing our passions for hours. In the end, I was exhauseted and fell asleep. When I woke up, she was gone.

I noticed she had left me a note. "I'll be back for you," was all she wrote. I didn't quite understand what that meant, but I assumed that the evening was a one time event, and decided to move on to other pursuits. It was a little over a week later, and I was seducing my latest companion in my apartment, when she appeared in my bedroom and insisted on joining in on the fun. Once again, the next morning she had gone, leaving a cryptic note saying she "would return". And that is how it was for three months. She would show up out of the blue, and we would have a good time, whether I was already with someone or not. As time passed, I became curious as to who she was, where she lived. You know, the usual. Her mystery intrigued me, but I was determined to find out. At our next encounter, I resolved to remain awake and follow her when she left. That didn't work. I didn't even remember falling asleep. I merely woke up the next morning remembering nothing. After futilely resorting to the same tactic, I awoke next to a new note. "If you want to know so bad, meet me at the theater we first met, tonight at 9:00." Naturally, I went to meet her there.

I got there early. I had nothing better to do. But, she showed up precisely on time. I didn't even notice her approach. She seemed to simply appear at my side. After a long embrace, she pulled away. "You are far too curious for your own good, Vincent. Or maybe just curious enough. I would like to make you an offer . . ." She was a vampire. At first I couldn't believe it. I merely played along as if it were some role-playing and tried to embrace her again. All I caught was air as she spun around behind me, and threw me to the ground. I looked up and saw her smiling at me. This was the first time, I saw her fangs. She wasn't playing around. She was serious. "Ahhh, you are so playful, my darling. But I figured you needed further proof that I am who I say I am. And now, you have a choice. Either you join me in immortality and beauty, and pleasure . . . or I will have to destroy you. Please don't make me. I would truly regret it. We have had many, many enjoyable moments together, and I want them to last for eternity."

I didn't have to think twice. Eternity with her. Power beyond imagination. Unsurpassed beauty. It was too tempting. After all, all I would have to sacrifice were daylight hours that I mostly slept through as it was. She was too enchanting. I couldn't possibly say no to that beautiful face. And that's when it happened. She took me right there. It was rapture. Everything. My excitement, and the physical sensations overwhealmed my panic as I felt my life drain away. The very next thing I remember was the warm, sweet taste of her slipping past my lips, falling on my tounge, and rolling down my throat. I couldn't think, I was focused on the taste of the . I wanted more, and more. I reached out and clutched her arm, pulling the bleeding wrist towards my mouth and gulping the nectar into my body. Then, before I could react, she ripped her hand away from my mouth. "That is enough for now. We need to get you somewhere inconspicuous." At that, my body began it's torturous transformation that has made me what I am today. But that's rather unpleasent, so we'l move onto other things.

In the nights that followed, she taught me how live live my new unlife. How to feed was rather simple. I merely had to continue doing what I was best at, seducing young strangers. The one thing she did not teach me about, however, was the existance of other vampires. For a good length of time, I assumed that we were, if not the only ones in the world, then at least the only ones for many many miles. Yes, that may sounds hard to believe, but you see, we were practcally inseparable. We hunted together, and were intimate more than often. That time seems to be a blur now. I was full of wonder at what my new body was capable of. But she held me back claiming the need to be kept secret, and if I flaunted my new abilities in public, we would soon be caught. I didn't mind. I had her, and that was all that mattered. After a while, I attempted to integrate my former life back into my new one. I became involved in a show, much to the delight of my companion. It was simpler than you may think. After all, rehearsals were in the evening. It was during these times when I was interacting with humans that I began to realize just what I had become. It was neccesary to form friendships with these humans in order to be in the production and after forming these friendships, I grew more and more unable to think of them as food. for a few nights I refused to feed. Regine noticed, and prompted me to feed, but I told her that I couldn't. She told me that she understood. And that she herself went through these same feelings. But she assured me that I didn't have to actually kill the humans I fed off of. I just had to be careful. But I had better get over it soon, or I would not be healthy. But that was just the beginning. I began to feel the limitations of my new form. It was increasingly difficult to keep the secret from my mortal friends. I noticed that my creativity was not exactly up to where it was before the transformation. But worst of all, Regine began to bore me. Well, not exactly bore, but the allure and mystery and beauty that I noticed when I first saw her was no longer there. I was like her now. The same. What I had once considered exotic beauty seemed plainer. Now, I am not saying that my feelings for her died away. It is merely that I was less enchanted with her. You know the old saying: the grass is always greener on the other side. In my case, it was undoubtedly true.

On top of these complications, I noticed a suspicious figure lurking around the theater one night. Thinking it might've been Regine, I attempted to follow. But, much to my surprise, I lost them. I dismissed the incident, until I saw the same figure the following evening. I asked Regine about it. She instantly seemed worried and told me that she would take care of whatever it was. I twas disturbed by her abruptness and secrecy. For ever since she sired me, we had no secrets between us. The thought that the other figure was a kindred hadn't entered my mind. Finally, one evening, the figure approached me.

I was on my way home from rehearsal, when I noticed the figure was now following me. Before, it had just been around the theater. But now I knew that it was interested in me. I let it follow me for a few blocks, and then I tunred down a narrow alley, in an attempt to jump the follower and find out what the wanted. I entered the alley and when I turned around, the figure was directly in front of me. I didn't have time to react before I felt myself being knocked into the air. I hit a brick wall and fell to the ground. Being a vampire, this did little more than phase me and me off. This person was messing with the wrong kindred. I got up and laughed and told the man that he had no idea who he ws dealing with. To my horror, the man looked at me and said that, yes, he knew exactly who he was dealing with. Before I could move, I was struck again, and my face was smashed against the wall. The power of his blows were unbelievable. Mere humans don't have that kind of strength. I was picked up and thrown aross the alley. I knew I was in danger, so I used the kindred speed that Regine had taught me to do and I got up and rushed my attacker. I managed to land a few blows, but nothing seemed to phase him, and he threw me again. Then he bellowed that he was done playing and he was going to end my cursed existance and "she" would be his again. It was then that I finally allowed myself to realize that I was dealing with another kindred. There was someone besides Regine and I. And at the same time, I was terrified because I had no idea how I was going to escape.

I looked up and the kindred reached behind him and pulled out a large staff and began to advance towards me. Suddenly, a blur streaked past my vision and collided with my attacker, knocking him off his feet. It was Regine. "Run!" She screamed at me. I asked her what was going on, who this vampire was, and she just told me to leave and get somewhere safe. The attacker had gotten up, and shouted to Regine. "You're protecting HIM!? AFter all this time, you've replaced me with that weak, pathetic kindred who can't stand being what he is!!" And he hit her. I couldn't stand by and I threw myself at him, launching another flurry of blows with my speed. The staff spun around and knocked me down again. Then the kindred proceeded to beat me as I lay on the ground. I could feel my bones snapping and crunching under the force of the staff. I was growing weak. Suddenly, the blows stopped. "Now you die," he growled. I didn't have the strength to move. I heard a small click, and then there were the sounds of a struggle. "You will not HARM HIM! I WON'T LET YOU!" Regine screamed. Then there was a huge explosion and I felt a wave of heat followed by the warm, wet sensation of freshly spilt rain over me. I cautiously lifted my weak head and saw the attacker frozen with a look of horror on his face. His left arm and part of his torso were gone, and his face and the rest of his body was badly burned. It must've been a gernade. "Good, the got what he deserved," was the first thought that came to mind. Then, I realized that Regine had to have been near him, or I would be a charred, smoldering hunk of flesh too. I began to panic. Using my shattered arms I was able to lift myself off the ground. I followed the kindred's horrified gaze and looked beside me. Even though it was shredded and torched, I could tell that this horrible mess was Regine. It didn't hit me at first. I mean, she told me we were immortal, we would be together forever. Yet here she was, lying in pieces in this dark alley. I merely stared, dumbly, at those charred chunks of flesh that used to be my sire. My lover. The hideous beast that had done this began to howl, and then began to run away as fast as his injured legs could carry him. I was left alone. She had shielded me from the blast with her body. She had protected, and died doing it. She had died . . . for me.

My strength gone, all I could do was lay there. I began to hear a commotion. People were coming, but I was too weak to move. Two young men rushed to the scene. They were horrified by the sight before them, but managed to drag me out of the alley. One began to call for an ambulence. With my weak voice I begged him to stop, but he left to call anyway. I motioned for the other to come close so I could speak to him. When he was near enough, I used my remaining strength to embrace him and fill myself with his so that I might regenerate myself enough to the point where I could escape before the ambulence came. In my injured and exhausted state, the beast overwhealmed me. Instead of taking merely enough to render him unconsious, I killed him. But when I finished with him, my still raged within me, and I took his companion too. It was only after the deed was done that I regained my senses and realized what I had done. These two men had tried to save my life and I repayed them by ending thier own lives. In one night, three lives had to be taken so that I might live. The guilt consumed me. I returned to the home Regine and I used to share and I grieved for those lives. I refused to feed for weeks. I preyed upon animals, and broke into the hospital several times. And one night, it dawned on me. This was that kindred's fault. He brought this on Regine and I. He brought this on the poor men who tried to help me. And I decided that he needed to pay. He may have been injured, but I would not rest until he was destoryed.