The tears streamed down Mark's cheeks, as he heard Ryan's last gurgling cry... then the house fell into a crushing silent.  Mark dug his fingers against his chest.  He knew there was nothing he could have done... but he didn't even try!  He felt just as guilty as the man who had killed him!  Mark bowed over the floor, his body shaking from the agonizing pain in his chest.  When he heard Dark address him from somewhere on the darkened stairs.  "You sicken me. Your friend is brutally mutilated and you fall to your knees? What will staining the carpet in your own tears help? Now staining the carpet in someone else's blood... now that's pleasure"!  Sniffling, Mark took a shaky breath to calm himself, slowly sitting back up as he confidently shot back.  "I pity you. You feel nothing at all. You have no one. You walk in shadow to hide your own shame. Nothing will ever be enough for you".  There came soft sounds of pitiful clapping, just before Dark answered dryly.  "Pity me all you want, Mark. Just don't preach to me. You've never been on MY side of the fence". 

Mark felt a strong hand grab his jaw suddenly, and a loud snapping of fingers.  Instantly, all the lights in the house turned on, and Dark pulled Mark in close to his face casually adding on.  "What is pleasure without pain? What is light without the darkness? Until you suffer through one, you can't enjoy the taste of the other! So lay there and bitch about how you 'feel'... but to my side of the fence... your wounded. And like any wounded animal... it gets hunted down and put out of its misery".  Mark felt Dark release his jaw and then shoved his face away, sending Mark to the floor.  Rising to his feet, Dark started heading down the hallway where Ken and Felix had fled.  Mark couldn't let him get to them!  He'd rather die then watch anymore of his friends die!  Quickly climbing to his feet, Mark grabbed a vase off a small table in the hall and throw it at Dark!  The vase smashed between Dark's shoulder blades, and he stopped to look over his shoulder with a look of pure annoyance.  Standing firm, Mark yelled back at him with strong determination.  "You want them, than you have got to go through me"!  Dark turned around to face him, sternly snapping back.  "Mentally or physically"? 

Mark swallowed his fear, trying to stay in character as he answered.  "You'll have to kill me"!  It was hard to tell with Dark's solid black eyes... but Mark swore Dark rolled his eyes when he told him unamused.  "You underestimate me".  Mark psyched himself up to fight Dark, but Dark was fast!  One minute, he was halfway down the hall... and the next second, he was right in front of Mark!  With one rough shove, Mark was knocked onto his back!  Before Mark could get up, Dark landed a punch like iron against his cheek!  Any strength Mark thought he had was gone in that moment!  The pain was blinding and he was sure Dark had broken his cheek bone!  Mark expected more punches and raised his hands to cover his face.  However, Dark kneeled down over him, telling him strangely casual.  "You think I'll just kill you? I'll shatter you both mind and body first. Then when your so numb that you can't feel the pain anymore... I'll heal you and start again. I only kill when I'm in a rush or bored".  Mark lowered his hands and spit a mouth full of blood at Dark's face.  Smirking, Dark whipped the blood off his face with his hand... and began to lick it off.

Mark tried to crawl away, but Dark surprised him by pulling him back by his belt!  When he was close enough, Dark grabbed the scruff of his neck and pulled him into a kiss!  Mark aggressively punched Dark's chest, but Dark didn't even appear to feel it!  Dark did however bite Mark's lip until bled, muffling out as he did.  "If you didn't want me to taste it, then you shouldn't have spit it"!  Mark winced as Dark's tongue forced its way into his mouth, sliding over his till he found the spot were he had bit his tongue!  Mark planned to bite down on Dark's tongue... but Dark anticipated it, gripping Mark's jaw and pressing his fingers into Mark's cheeks!  Dark's tongue slide over the cut on his tongue, lapping up every drop of blood that he could get from it!  When Dark finally pulled away, his sharp fangs brushed over the bites on Mark's bottom lip and he cringed!  Dark licked his lips hungrily, then told Mark lustfully.  "I'm so tempted to devour the last of your soul... but then who would I feed on when the game is scarce"? 

Mark's tongue and lips throbbed in a numb pain, as he asked a bit hoarsely.  "What are you? Some bloodsucking vampire"?  Dark pushed Mark back against the floor, brushing his lips over Mark's as he answered wickedly.  "No. I'm much older. I never got a name... until you".  Dark's lips curled back over his fangs and Mark felt his heart skip a beat!  Was Dark going to bite him again?  Dark chuckled softly, lifting the collar of Mark's shirt, telling Mark in a voice as smooth as dark chocolate.  "Your heart beats any faster and I will be tempted to bite you".  Dark then dragged one of his fangs down along Mark's shirt like a razor through paper!  Exposing Mark's bare chest, and sending Mark into a panic attack as visions of Dark tearing into his stomach like a animal flooded his mind!  Dark traced a finger down the long surgery scar that went from just under his ribcage to his bellybutton with a grin.  Swallowing hard, Mark couldn't help wondering if Dark would slice it back open and pull stuff out!  Could he handle that?  Dark glared up at him with a smirk, answering a question that Mark hadn't asked aloud.  "No. You couldn't. You'd bleed to death, if the pain doesn't knock you out first". 

Mark stared back at Dark and before he could ask, Dark answered him.  "Yes, I can. I'm a part of you after all. Now let's see if I can get you to give me control of your body permanently".  Mark looked down at Dark confused, only to have Dark crawled over him on all fours as he playfully told him.  "Oh? You didn't put it together yet? I'm only in your head. like a parasite. A parasite fighting for full control of this body of yours".  Dark lifted his hand to showing Mark the front and back of it as he said seriously.  "It's not me covered in your friends blood".  Dark lifted Mark's wrist up, adding with a chuckle.  "It's you".  Mark couldn't even muster a gasp as he saw the dark red blood running down his hand!  To Be Continued...