Into Darkness, A Vampire's Tale

 As we walked through the door Helios smiled. 

"Why are you smiling like that?" I asked.

"I have something for you. Come with me." I followed him down the hallway to a room.

"She's here." He said opening the door. 

"Who?" I looked and saw a young woman laying on the bed.

"What have you done to her?" I asked looking at him. 

"Don't worry Erin. She's not dead only sleeping. Don't worry. She won't feel a thing." I knew I couldn't help myself. I went over to the bed and lifted her up gently. I looked at Helios with a sad expression. He nodded slightly. 

"It's alright Erin. Go ahead." I looked down at the young woman a moment then drew my fangs. I bit down gently upon her neck. Afterwards, my guilt hit me hard and I began to cry. Helios came to comfort me. 

"Do not feel guilty. It is our nature and we must do it." 

"I hate you," I whispered. 

"I know." He replied.

I was in so much guilt I hated myself. I hated Helios more for what he had done to me. But one night I saw him standing at the window. He looked so sad. I watched his expressions and they seemed to twist with grief. 

"What's wrong with you?" I asked plainly.

"My wife died to ya know." He replied, keeping his gaze out the window. I cocked my head in curiosity. He then turned to me.

"You're not the only one who has known loss, Erin." I was intrigued but didn't dare ask what had happened. I thought he would tell me when he was ready. 

It wasn't but a few days later he told me his story. I walked into the living room and saw him looking out the window as he always had when something was bothering him. I stared at him with curiosity. 

"My wife was the most beautiful woman in the land..." He began.

"What happened to her?"

"She was killed when Mount Vesuvius erupted." I stood there in complete shock. If that were true, he was thousands of years old. My curiosity grew as he kept on with his story. 

"The only reason I survived was that I was not there."

"Where were you?"

"I'm Rome. I had some unfinished business to attend to." As he told me this story I became starstruck with interest and sadness. He had been dealing with his loss for thousands of years. And here I was complaining about mine. I began to feel very guilty. He seemed to have taken it rather well, yet I had not.

"Forgive me Helios. Forgive my selfishness." I said putting my head down in shame.