Liten Vampyr POV

I laid in that barn amongst the hay and animal shit for weeks slowly healing, my broken body rebuilding itself; ordinarily this would not have taken as long, but with a diet of only rabbits blood, the process was slower.

Every evening Lucas would come, he'd sit for hours telling me about himself, whilst inquiring and prying about me.I won't lie, in the early days of being there, the urge to drink this innocent boy dry overwhelmed me to the point of insanity, the same as a alcoholic would be tortured by being sat in a bar which is full to the roof with alcohol - the temptation choked me.

But I fought against it until it eventually passed, self control does not come naturally to my kind.

As I grew stronger, with that my senses became sharper, I'd lay there alone listening to the family home that Lucas belonged to and the pain that flooded from it. I'd hear screaming, shouting and howls that would carry in the air night and day.

I noticed that with every visit of Lucas he would wear a new bruise on his body, and he would try to hide it by wearing oversized clothes. He never mentioned what happened in that house, but I knew.
He hid his pain behind his lopsided smile, but the eyes never lie.

I would hear the older male's slurred and enraged voice screaming as venom poured from his vile mouth, his anger pulsated from that house like waves of rage crashing out, as a female(I can only assume as Lucas' mother) screamed and begged for him to stop, but to no avail. I would hear Lucas' voice remain calm as he tried to reason with his Father, whilst trying to protect his whimpering mother, but I knew his attempts would be pointless - his Father was like a tornado destroying all that crossed his path.

I never mentioned what I heard until one night after Lucas had already visited and brought me my daily rabbit, he unexpectedly returned, but unlike his usual sweet demeanour, he stormed into the barn, kicking the bails of hay and buckets that were in his way and snarling like a caged animal.
His sweet smiley face was replaced by a tear stained  tired expression, a mask I'd not seen him wear before.

I sat silently and watched and waited until his rage burnt him out, he slumped down beside me, the weight of the world bearing down on him.

We sat in silence for a few moments until he broke the tension by simply muttering "I'm sorry".

I smiled my first genuine smile in years at him, "you have nothing to be sorry for".

He shook his head, the tears once again pricking at his eyes "I'm sorry for behaving like an arsehole, it's just that...".

I raise my hand to stop him in his tracks "I've heard, I know, as I said you have nothing to be sorry about".

The shame washes over him and he's no longer able to hold back his tears as his pain washes over him, his body shakes with every sob.

"He's right, I'm pathetic and weak, crying like a little baby".

Anger boils in my belly, I sit on my hands trying to keep myself still as the taste of blood floods my mouth as I bite down on my tongue, stopping myself from flying out the barn and ripping these humans apart that have destroyed this poor boy.

I compose myself, then place my hand on top of his, the warmth of his skin radiating into my icy touch. "You are not weak, you are brave and strong, you are a Little Viking fighting to survive when the odds are against you. Do not let the words of a drunk bully break your spirit, I promise you this won't be your life forever - this is just a moment in the story that is your life".

He wiped his running nose on the cuff of his sleeve."How do you know?".

I squeeze his hand. "I just do".

His lopsided grin slowly creeped back on his face " If I'm Little Viking, you will be Liten Vampyr, maybe one day I will escape here and you will show me the world".

I nodded, this thought brought me great comfort, I'd spent so many years alone wandering aimlessly, having one friend after years of isolation suddenly made eternity on this earth not so frightening.

"Little Viking, one day you will see the world and all that it has to offer, you will escape the shackles of this life. You're too big and bright to be trapped in such a small, dark place".

He looks me in the eyes, not uttering a word. I can tell he's trying to read me - if what I'm saying to him is true, this is the slither of hope that will keeping him going and fighting to survive against the cruel hand he has been dealt.

The moment is broken by a hoarse voice that  bellows Lucas' name from the family home.It is his father. Little Viking stands up, wipes his face, then trudges to the barn doors like an obedient dog with his tail between his legs, making its way back to its wicked master for another beating.

Before he leaves, he turns to me. "I told you the day I met you that you wasn't a monster, I knew that Liten Vampyr because I know real monsters".

lite viking din tid kommer att hämnas på dig själv. (little viking your time will come to avenge your self)