The next morning, I woke up to cluttering and jingling.

“Good morning. You should be ready to make it to the settlement. It isn’t far about a day's walk from here,” said Greg as he packed the sleeping bed he had used the night before. To my side, Donny was packed and holding the backpack Jude had given him like a lifeline. I’m glad it was worth something. I stood with Andromeda’s help and she slowly made the sleeping bag and folded the sheets before Donny came with the compressor. A tiny whistle-like object which sucked anything up and stored it within itself. I watched as the bedding disappeared within the small object with a suction sound.

Donny placed it back inside the bag and closed it, zipping it up securely and hoisting it on his shoulders. Greg did the same for his bedding and then later the tent. We ate biscuits with a honey-like substance and had green eggs that made Donny question Greg quite a few times if they were safe to eat. Andromeda came out to say they were the same eggs at the base, and Donny finally ate them.

Greg handed Andromeda a honey pot and pointed to me. Andromeda nodded taking me aside.

“How are you feeling today?” she asked smiling.

I held her face and kissed her. “I’m ok for now.”

She pointed towards the honey pot. “Let’s make you feel better. We’ve got a long road to walk.”

She grabbed my hand and led me to the alcove where I had already drunk my daily blood dose and wouldn’t need another til lunch. We sat on the small natural seating between a few trees and she scooped up some goopy stuff. She began lathering it into my burn and I groaned feeling her hands work my chest and lower. I shifted in my seat. Smiling, she closed the distance and kissed me.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

She smirked and sat on my lap. Our chests stayed apart, due to the burn, and it was a pity because I wanted to feel her up close. I wanted her body to tangle with mine and give in, losing ourselves in the moment. With my lips, I started a trail down her neck. As I came back up for air, I was rushed as she turned to the side, capturing my mouth and devouring me hungrily.

There was something powerful about seeing the afterglow on your partner’s face, in their eyes. I held her close and kissed her sweetly before taking her hand and leading her to stand. We needed to be going. We had our fun, now we had a settlement to get to. We walked back to where Greg and Donny were wearing secretive smiles.

The journey started as any. We had three flashlights between us. I was the only one without a flashlight. I could see well in the dark. Being part vampire gave me night vision or some such and I put it to the fullest use, checking for predators in the swampy landscape. We traipsed near the lake I was found in. I could smell the dank water and wet soil. The ground was littered with roots and branches so we had to maneuver around a bit. Low branches swept the ground, full of cobwebs and dark spindly leaves.

Greg and Betsey led us through the swamp at an unhurried pace I could easily keep. A close howl unnerved Donny and he walked closer to Andromeda who noogied his head. Greg paused as the howls came closer.

“Houls out hunting,” he said as Betsey began to growl. “We’re being hunted. Kid, can you run?”

He asked me taking a long laser rifle from his shoulder. It was based on regular rifles.

“Yes, if the occasion merits it,” I said wincing as a howl pierced the air and split my eardrums in half.

“It calls for it,” said Greg tying a kerchief around Betsey’s neck. He hugged the thing and directed it to us.

“Show them the way, Betsey. I’ll stay behind and leave a false trail,” he said.

Donny shuddered. “Y-You a-are g-going t-to find u-us r-right?”

“Too dangerous. I’ll stay and lead these things on a false trail. Betsey can lead you to the settlement. She has my scarf as proof of my identity,” said Greg turning on his gun and uploading the plasma channel with mercury bullets. They would melt into the solvent used in plasma wounds. Some was in me but until I was at base I couldn’t have it removed from my blood.

It made me poisonous to myself and others. I nodded and rounded Donny and Andromeda together.

“When I say go, start running, and don’t look back,” said Greg as the howling got louder. He lowered his gun and signaled us to get ready. My muscles constricted and I winced but I got us ready. Donny was shaking like a leaf and was latched onto Andromeda’s side like a leech.

“Go!” yelled Greg and we took off at Betsey’s heels. We heard gunshots behind us but we all kept going. The Houl’s howls echoed around us.