Liten Vampyr pov

After I'd fed the monster to the pigs, I stumbled back to the barn before the sun would start to rise. I knew in my dead heart that this would be for the last time.

For Lucas to grow, I need to move on. He is human, his life needs light to grow, not to be hidden away in the shadows with me. He now has the potential and the opportunity to finally become the man he's destined to be.

My dreams are tortured by the deplorable thoughts of his father that pulsate in my body curtesy of his tainted and dirty blood - but unlike the past, where it drove me close to madness, I take satisfaction that I brought this beast to his knees. His rein of terror is done and Lucas now has his freedom.

So I suffer in silence knowing, I'm the last person to be effected by his wicked evil ways.

For the very first time since I've been cursed as a monster, my curse has worked as a blessing. Maybe me being made into the monster I am today was destiny; it took a monster to bring down a beast.

.................................................

Night is now upon me as I creep out of the barn for the last time. Goodbye my creaky little home with my bed of hay, that kept me safe when I was unable to protect myself. I will miss this barn more than words will ever be able to express. I bow my head in thanks.

As I walk towards the court to Lucas' house, I hear the scuttling of the nocturnal animals as they wake to look up at the stars that shine down on us.
The moon is a beacon for all that is born to the night.

Silence has fallen across this land, as if it has absorbed all the secrets of our previous night deep down into the soil.

I listen out closely to hear any movement from inside the house as I circle around, trying to find Lucas, my little Viking's room. I hear his mother's snoring echoing through the walls, finally able to rest after many sleepless nights.

As if the Gods can sense my desperation, I hear a gentle tapping on the window. I look up to see his bruised and puffy face trying to muster a broken smile.

A smile spreads across my face at the sight of him, while my heart breaks at what I have to do. I gesture for him to come.

He stumbles out of the backdoor unsteady on his feet, he's bruised and broken- but he's alive.

I perch on the bench that's beneath the kitchen window, he lowers himself down next to me, each movement tiny and causing pain to ripple through him, I hear his heart pounding in his chest like tribal drums but it's not due to his injuries; its something else.... fear.

"Liten Vampyr, I don't remember what happened last night, all I know is that he's gone and I have a feeling he will never return, truth be known I don't want to know - all I know is that you saved me and my mother and for that I'm grateful".

I cup his hand in mine. "I saved your life as you did mine, that's all you need to know".

He bows his head and I see his tears trickle down his bruised face. He winces as the salty tears run into his cuts.

I wonder for a second if he's crying for his father.
The air is thick between us with unanswered questions and sadness.

"You're going to leave now, aren't you."

Realisation dawns on me, he's not crying for his father, but for me. Fear is making his heart race- the knowledge that I now have to go.

I nod, unable to utter the words.

"You could stay, you could stay here with me. Please don't leave me, you are my only friend. I don't want to be alone again".

"I have to, Lucas".

"Then I can come with you, we can leave now," he pleads."We can run away".

My nails dig deep into my palms, desperately stopping myself to agreeing to his pleas. I shake my head. "I wish we could, but we can't. You will one day leave this place and see the world but you will do it in the sunlight, not in the shadows with me".

"Will I ever see you again?"

I gently cup his face in my hands. "Of course my little Viking".
I push his hair away from his face and kiss him on the forehead.

"I will not say goodbye my friend, for we will meet again".

"You're just saying that," he spits at me.

I pull him in close, deep into my arms so he can take in every word that slips from my lips.

"Little Viking, if you ever need me, I will come. I will travel the lengths of this earth, walk through every land, swim through every great sea to be by your side. This, I vow to you my friend"

As if the night sky could feel our hearts breaking, the rain began to pour down on us like mother nature's tears.

We stand up, our clothes now clinging to our soaked and shivering bodies, and we both look up at the the sparkling stars. Silently, both knowing whereever we both end up, we can both look up and take comfort in the knowledge that even if our surroundings may be different, the sky above us is always the same.

My legs have now became jelly and wobble beneath me in refusal of leaving, yet I force myself to step away and break the invisible tie. I say to myself, walk away, do not look back. We are from different worlds, how can the night exist with the day?

Reluctantly, I walk away.

I walk into the night, I walk until I can no longer hear his broken raspy sobs that are carried to me on the whispers of the wind.

Then, and only then, when I'm far enough away from my precious little Viking, I let my cold heart break and I howl into the night, my private agony ripping through me.