Blood is the lifeline of the human body. It performs vital functions to keep the body healthy and alive. Without blood the body cannot survive.

It is a dichotomy that humans need blood to keep their bodies alive while another being needs to feed upon it to survive. A cruel yet inevitable cycle between two co-existing species of vastly different origins. But not often the prey becomes the hunter and, in this case, the three clans; Van Helsing, Harker, and Quincey banded together in centuries past to rid their world of their predator and sworn enemy, the vampire.

But even after 200 years of war and blood, there is something neither side ever considered. A being that shouldn’t exist, Sasha Nicolae, a dhampir. Sasha Nicolae has spent the better part of three years living with her girlfriend Ericka Antonov, faking an existence that isn’t her own. Dredging through a human existence she knows cannot last forever, drenched in the fear that the day may come when her beloved Ericka will notice the subtle inconsistencies about Sasha. Inconsistencies such as the fact no matter how much time passes, she will never age, she will never experience illness, or injury.

Since meeting and falling in love with Ericka the fragility of the human body concerns Sasha for the first time in 800 years. In the past three years Sasha has pondered the human blood coursing through her own veins but realizes that no matter what she does, no matter how much of a human existence she can fake it will never change the fact that she will never be human. Even as a dhampir, a half human, half vampire, she will always be a vampire in entirety.

Having been raised by a human father, Sasha was taught the importance of co-existence and taught it difficulties. Sasha has considered herself lucky that she can spend her days with the one she loves as her father couldn’t do the same with her mother.

“Hey, some of our friends are having a get together tonight. I was wondering if you want to go, pop by for a bit and have a couple of drinks?”

Sasha smiles casually disguising the fact that she doesn’t feel comfortable with Ericka referring to those people as “their” friends. Sasha doesn’t consider anyone a friend, there was never a need to do so as human life is, but a fleeting glance compared to the eternal existence of a vampire.

“Sure.” She responds with a smile.

“Great, I’ll let them know.” Ericka says gleefully.

Sasha agreed per social convention, a way for her to fit in and remain hidden in the background of human existence. She dreads the tediousness of small talk and the subtle white lies that slip through people’s lips as they attempt to the impress one another. Sasha curtails at the fact Ericka refers to some of those people as friends. At the fact that at one point in time one of Ericka’s closest male friends has attempted to make a pass at Sasha while in a drunken stupor. The man became aggressive and proceeded to attempt to rape Sasha.

Sasha easily circumvented his aggressive intentions and put him down. She has kept the incident from Ericka as to avoid turbulence in their relationship. Sasha does what she can to protect Ericka but sometimes it seems that by protecting her from the true nature of others she is setting her up for a world of pain.

Later in the evening Sasha and Ericka make their way to the friends gathering. Sasha wants to match her lover’s bright mood but can’t find it in herself to do so. She convinces herself that it’s nothing but it’s something and it is gnawing at her.

“Hey, are you okay? You’ve been quiet since we got here.” Ericka asks gently.

Sasha forces a smile again, “Yeah, I’m good.”

Ericka sighs and smiles again, “How about this, we go in, we say hi to everyone. Chat a bit and catch up then we’ll leave. Maybe go on a little dinner date. What do you think?”

Sasha smiles, this time a genuine smile. “Okay.”

They share a kiss and enter the building. Entering the building there are others waiting in the lobby. They greet Sasha and Ericka. Ericka laughs and immerses herself in idle chit chat. Sasha goes ignored by everyone there and stands to the side. Unwillingly Sasha hears whispers around her. Whispers of people there saying things under their breathe.

A couple of those whispers are coming from a couple of the supposed friends of Ericka, both male and female.

“Why is Ericka with this girl again? She’s so weird. She’s going to ruin the mood of this party.”

“It’s a shame she’s a lesbian though, I’d totally hit that.”

“Ew, you’d fuck the weirdo?”

“Weirdo or not, pussy is pussy.”

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

The vulgar comments don’t bother Sasha. If there is one absolute, she has learned about humanity is that no matter how much time goes by, whether a decade or eight centuries, humans will always fear and reject what they don’t understand. But while the comments don’t bother her, she catches a scent, scent of blood that shouldn’t be here.

She searches the room. Her eyes widened when she recognizes a certain figure in the crowd. A man dressed in a black suit and overcoat, his long grey hair drapes over his shoulders and he holds his hat in his hand as he greets his acquaintances. The man is Vander Van Helsing, the head of the Helsing family. Sasha has never crossed paths with him, but she knows enough about him to know she must be vigilant.

Ericka notices Sasha staring at the man and the bead of sweat rolling down the side of her face.

“Sasha? Is everything okay? You look tense.”

Sasha snaps out of it, “Yeah, it’s nothing. I thought I recognized someone I used to know.”

Sasha doesn’t understand why she felt such fear she didn’t do anything to provoke his attention but quickly realizes it wasn’t Vander she was afraid of rather it was Ericka. If Vander or any of the heads of the other families caught on to Sasha, they would expose her, and Ericka would know everything.

“I don’t feel comfortable here.” Sasha says suddenly.

“What? why?” Ericka says softly. “Do you feel sick?”

“Yes.” She lies. “I need some air.” Sasha darts towards the entrance. Ericka follows her neglecting to warn the others.

“Sasha, baby, wait up.” Ericka catches up with Sasha outside the building. “Sasha what’s wrong?”

“Sorry, I was feeling overwhelmed, and I felt dizzy.” She lies again. She can’t possibly tell Ericka about Vander Van Helsing.

She hates lying, but there is no other way. There is nothing she can do about it. This is the way it must be.

“You want to leave?”

“No, I don’t want to do that to you. We just got here.”

“Sasha, I don’t care. If you don’t want to be here, then I don’t want to be here.”

Ericka grabs Sasha by the hand and begins leading her towards the car.

“Hey, you guys leaving?” Says a female voice from behind. A friend of Ericka.

Ericka turns around, “Sorry, something came up and we got to go. We’ll see you guys’ next time.”

“I love you.” Sasha says softly.

Ericka smiles, “I love you too.”

In the back of her mind, Sasha is thinking about Vander Van Helsing. He was there with his fiancé, Enissa Redtree, a descendent of the druids. Alongside them were Ambrosia Morris Quincy and Alma and Broderick Harker. All leaders of their respective families. She doesn’t know anything about them.

She’s only gathered information on Vander because he’s the most prominent one out of all of them. He’s also the one many vampires fear. The three families don’t necessarily pursue vampires, rather they keep an eye on them and if one or many begin to cause trouble the families go on the hunt.

Sasha recalls when leaving the building she felt there someone watching them, someone who wasn’t Vander. Through appearances alone, there is no way to distinguish a vampire from a human. But Sasha felt someone watching her and Ericka leave, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Ericka asks concerned.

“I’m fine.” Sasha sighs, “I’m sorry for acting weird. Just that I’ve never been good with people and crowded places.”

“You do it for me and I appreciate that, but I don’t want it to be at the expense of your comfortability. I want you to do things because you want to do them and not just because I ask you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Besides, I’m well attuned to your introvert lifestyle. It’s one of the things I love about you.”

“It is?”

“Yes. I remember when we first began dating, you would try so hard to hide it and it was so obvious. It made me laugh. I would think, this girl is so freaking cute.”

“Well, I didn’t want you to think I was some weirdo and leave me.”

“You are a weirdo but you’re my weirdo.” Ericka says and chuckles.

The next morning Sasha wakes up to a half empty bed. Ericka has already left to work. Sasha herself isn’t employed and relies on money that she has been saving over the course of several centuries. A lot of it isn’t money rather jewels and gold and the rest money. When she began dating Ericka, she fabricated a story of how she is from a wealthy family, and she receives money every month.

Sasha gets ready and goes to nearby park where she takes her daily stroll. She attempts to clear her mind and forget about seeing Vander Van Helsing. It’s a beautiful day, something she is grateful in being able to enjoy. As a dhampir she has the blood of a true vampire coursing through her veins. True vampires aren’t affected by sunlight and don’t need to feed on blood as often. But like vampires to humans, true vampires are nothing but legend to the current vampires, mortal vampires. Mortal vampires while stronger and faster than humans, they are not immortal. They cannot be out during the day unless they want to be burnt to a crisp.

True vampires were virtually immortal, and as a true vampire, Sasha is stronger and faster than a mortal vampire.

Sasha finds a cozy bench to sit and enjoy the warm breeze and sunlight. After a few minutes a woman with a familiar scent sits down next to Sasha. She doesn’t pay any mind and continues to enjoy her own company.

“Nice day out, isn’t it?” Says the woman.

Sasha isn’t sure if she wants to respond but also doesn’t want to be rude to the woman.

“Yeah, I guess so.” She says softly.

“Tell me, how does a dhampir go this long without ever being discovered?”

Sasha’s eyes widened; she becomes stiff with fear. “I don’t know what you’re talking about lady.”

“My name is Enissa Redtree, I’m sure someone like you would know of the Van Helsing family and the man who runs it. I’m his fiancé.”

“Lady, please, I don’t want trouble. Leave me alone.”

“I’m afraid trouble is going to keep finding you from this point on. Vander or any of the others don’t know about you or this little meeting I’m having with you yet but I’m willing to keep said trouble at bay if you promise to do something for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have something every vampire wants, immortality. That’s not your fault. But when the time comes, I want you to tell me how you managed to evade detection and about where you came from.”

“I don’t understand, what makes you think I’m afraid of humans?”

“I don’t think you’re afraid of us or humans or other vampires, you’re afraid of what we can take away from you. Am I right? That nice little number you were with last night is extremely important to you, and it would be a sad shame if something bad would befall her.”

Sasha grits her teeth and growls, “You touch Ericka, and without an ounce of remorse or hesitation I will tear you and your little clan of parasites to pieces.”

Enissa laughs in amusement, “I see you’re not just some dumb, weak, naïve little girl. I like that, gives me an idea of what kind of person I’m dealing with. Your threat had conviction. But I’m only part of your problem, have you heard of the name Lucille Westenra?”

“No, I don’t much care. I have enough things to worry about.”

“Well, you should care. Lucille is obsessed with immortality and if she were to get wind of your existence, well, let’s just say she’ll use every resource she can muster to get her hands on you.”

“What makes you or her think I’m a gateway for immortality? Besides her issues with mortality isn’t my problem to fix. Even if she were to take my blood, it would do nothing for her. She’d still be weak and flawed.”

“Quite coldhearted for someone who is half human.”

“I’m only human in name, a vampire in entirety.”

“A long time ago there existed vampires who were able to walk in sunlight and lived forever. I wonder, if a mortal vampire and human made a child, would the child inherit the weaknesses of the vampire parent or would it be granted privilege through the genes of the human parent.”

“I don’t know, figure it out yourself.” Sasha stands and walks away.

“Maybe I will. In time you’ll get to know me half-breed. Who knows, maybe I’ll be the one to make you afraid of us weak little humans.”