We sat on top of the basilica, legs dangling, and gazed out over the city. It glowed warmly in the gold and orange colors of sunset.
“When was the last time you were here?” Suni asked.
“I don’t remember. Maybe the mid-1800s?”
“Me, too.” She glanced at me. “I’m surprised we didn’t run into each other.”
I wasn’t. Vampires hunt alone. We pretty much do everything alone, but we hadn’t seen each other in a while, and it was pleasant, enjoying the last of the day’s light with someone who knew what I was. I got so tired of pretending when I moved through the mortal world.
Sometimes even vampires got lonely.
“See that church on the right?” she asked.
“The one with the domed top?”
“Good hunting there. Lots of services and many devoted.”
“I’ll make note of it, but I prefer the back alleys near the stalls and kiosks in the square. I still enjoy the smell of human food.”
“Understandable. You’ve only been a vamp for, what, three hundred years?”
“Give or take.”
“Wait until you’ve been around as long as me. Woo-hoo! I’ve seen it all, Marcus, and it hasn’t been pretty. And humans think we’re uncivilized.” She sniffed. “The species has barely improved over the last thousand years, and most of that is only a thin veneer. Dig a little, and they’re just as violent, cruel, and brutal as they’ve ever been.”
Darkness was setting in. “Do you ever wish you could, you know, end it all?”
She smiled, her fangs flashing white. “Nope. I still enjoy sinking my teeth into their fragile flesh and drinking my fill. Better than orgasms used to be, no lie.” She gave me a searching look. “Do you?”
“What, want to die?” Sometimes I did, and sometimes I yearned for my human life so intensely, it hurt. Though they were long dead, I missed my wife and child and the comforting embrace of a community. But thinking about it only made me sad, and I resolutely pushed those thoughts aside. “If they knew what they were missing, they’d beg us to turn them.” I carelessly got to my feet, unconcerned that I was standing on a ledge only five inches wide. “You take the left side of town, and I’ll take the right?”
She grinned. “Deal. Good luck, Marcus. Maybe we’ll run into each other again sometime.” She slipped off the side of the building and fell into darkness.
Stars were coming out, twinkling in a clear sky. Later, a waning moon would rise.
It would be a good night for hunting.
_____________
Word count: 433
Nice! I like the vampire’s thoughts because I always imagine living forever can’t be ‘just’ easy.
I figure they have to miss human life, right? At least some of it.
Oh, that’s good! Loved it!
🙂 Thanks!
Finally getting around to reading this on my lunch (days late). Always enjoy your ‘takes’ on a photo – they are NEVER, EVER, where my mind would go.