Nightfall

The next few days Runi and Colt settled into a bit of a rhythm. Obviously, Runi slept all day and was up all night, and Colt soon joined him on that schedule. At night, Runi would go around his little home and explain many of the things there to Colt, including many of the statues of the various deities that Runi worshiped.

He couldn't help but get wrapped up in the explanations he got about how the different Gods were related to each other, and what each one was responsible for. Often times Colt would ask how Runi could believe things that had been disproven by science, and all Runi would do is smile and say, "Belief and Science are very often at odds with each other, which is why they call it faith."

Runi was a collection of contradictions that Colt felt drawn to try and unravel. Runi for his part was simply enjoying the company of someone, something he had not really had for many years.

"Hey Runi... there is something I have been wondering," Colt said shortly after Runi woke up the third night after he saved Colt's life.

"And that is?" Runi answered as he turned from his journal.

"How have you survived all these years? I mean if I had to live as long as you have, I think I'd go nuts."

Runi raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Something you should know... I am very different from other Vampires." He paused for a second as he closed his book." Tell you what. Let us go up top and look at the stars while I give you a bit of Vampire lore."

They were about to go up the ladder when Runi suddenly stopped, turned to look at Colt and said in a very serious tone. "There is something I need to ask you before we go up there." Colt just nodded, and Runi continued. "Because you know of the existence of my kind, you are a target. As you can imagine, Vampires are a very secretive bunch. Any normal human that knows about us is subject to extermination... however, there is something I can do to 'mark' you. Actually there are three things."

Colt got a bit of a scared look, so Runi rushed on. "You do not have to do any if you choose not to; you will just have to be very careful so that other Vampires are not aware that you know of our existence." Colt let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, but nodded and forced a smile.

"What are they?"

"The first one is simple. Every few days you ingest a small amount of my blood. It will not be enough to turn you into a vampire, but it will make other vampires 'smell' me on you, hence protecting you." Colt wrinkled his nose as that thought of drinking Runi's blood.

"What's the other ways?" he asked.

"The first is a bit more painful, but also almost permanent. I would have to give you a form of mark... I think you call it a tattoo. However, instead of using ink, I would use my blood, again making it so that others would 'smell' me on you. The other is a temporary mark that would fade with time. It would not be painful, but it would mark you." Seeing the look on the boy's face, Runi quickly rushed forward and explained. "You don't have to choose right now; it's just something for the future."

Without waiting, Runi turned and started up the ladder, and Colt followed.Neither boy said anything until they were both seated and looking up at the stars.

"I guess the first thing you need to know is I am very different from other vampires. As far as I know, there are none others that are even close to me in age. Most 'elders' are around five hundred years old, and none that I have heard of made it past one thousand." He looked over to Colt and caught his eyes. "Of course I do not know of all Vampires, so I may be wrong, but that is what I know."

Colt nodded and Runi kept going with his story. "When one is changed into a vampire, they develop what we call an 'extra.' An Extra is something that is extremely personal and different for every vampire. It's based on the personality and life experience of the person before they change. As far as I know, there is really no way to predict what someone's extra might be."

He trailed off as he watched the twinkling stars. "What's your extra?" Runi heard Colt ask, and it brought him back to the present for a brief second.

"To understand my Extra, you need to know about my life in the light..." Runi took a deep breath, and then started to tell someone else about his lighted life for only the third time in his long history.

"When I was a very young boy, my family was rather large, even for the standards of that time. I had six older siblings, and, by the time I had reached the age of eight summers, I had six younger siblings. We were also pretty much what you would consider slaves. We worked the fields to provide the temples with food."

"On the day of my ninth birthday, I was taken before the Pharaoh. One of the priests noticed me, and more importantly my looks, and brought me to the main temple." He looked at Colt and knew he had the boy enraptured by his tale.

With a bit of a grin, Runi said, "I am sure I do not need to tell you WHY the Pharaoh wanted me, but leave it be that he did. I went willingly, because I knew it would not only make my life much easier, but my entire family would be raised as well. So I readily agreed."

"More then two years later, I was approached by the priests of Anubis. They offered to take me into the darkness, and easily explained everything that it would entail. I knew I was getting close to the age that the Pharaoh would no longer need my services, and I could not do that to my family, or to myself. I liked what I had become, and I had absolutely no problem with what was happening."

Colt broke in for the first time. "You mean you didn't mind being used like that... sexually?"

"I am sure it is hard for someone from this time period to understand, but because of my position, I was granted many things I would never had been able to have without it. I enjoyed the sex, yes, but it was everything else that came with it, that I enjoyed even more. I did not want to lose it. So I agreed to trade the daytime for a lifetime of looking the way I do, and doing what I was good at."

"For some time, I was not allowed any type of sex, and I was trained to turn my body into something that would be pleasing, not only to the men I would be with, but for myself as well. I worked out, and let my hair grow. We waited until my body started to turn into that of a man, and then it was time."

"Even back then, Vampires were a very secretive group, but they did tell my family what was happening, and I explained to them that it was my choice. Back then being twelve years old was almost a man, and they allowed me to make my own decision. When the day came, I watched my last sun rise, and then we feasted for the rest of the day."

"That entire day was spent in celebration, and many people came to wish me well in my new life. When the moon rose to its highest point, I was taken to the temple by the high priest and was given one more chance to say no. When I would not, he left me there, and by morning I was no longer one of the living."

Colt didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything. Runi seemed to be lost in his own little world, so he let him say what he needed to. "Things were very good for many years, until the Pharaoh got older and became sickly. You must understand that I loved this man, and it was not easy to watch him grow old. When he died, I felt lost."

"Then the worst happened. The new Pharaoh had no use for me, so I was treated as they treated all of my Pharaoh's favorite servants and possessions.I was sealed in the tomb with him. This was of course a death sentence because there was no way to get out. I was able to survive for a time because of the other servants in there, but soon they were all dead as well. I felt myself starting to starve to death, but that is when my extra kicked in. I went to sleep one day; when I woke it was almost two hundred years later, when a group of Tomb robbers found the tomb I was in. The scent of their blood woke me from my sleep, and I was able to gorge myself on their blood." Runi looked over at Colt and grinned a bit." I doubt you really want to know the details, but let's just say that none of the tomb robbers left."

Colt shook his head and Runi stood up. "Basically my extra helps me to survive, because that is what I have always been... a survivor. The rest of my tale is something for another night. For tonight, I think we should go into the city and get some supplies. I am sure you wish to wash, and get some different clothes, and there are things I need to do if I am going to fit into this world."

---

Both boys went back down into the well, and Runi ended up asking Colt if they had a lot of money. After handing him a box he hadn't seen before, Colt opened it, and almost dropped it. Inside were hundred dollar bills... many of them."Ahhh... yeah... thats a lot."

"Oh good. I was afraid I had not gotten what I should have from my last sale." Colt thought better than to ask, and quickly shoved the money into his pocket. When he turned around, Runi was standing there with a small bowl in his hands."What's that?"

"This is a small bit of ink that I would like to use to give you a temporary mark. This will not harm you in any way, and will only last about a week... however, during that time, most Vampires will know to leave you alone."

Colt wanted to ask about the 'most' comment but just let it slide. He nodded his approval and Runi had him take off his shirt. When he did, Runi dipped his finger into the ink and started to make a design on Colt's chest. "For the most part, the design itself matters little; it is the intent and the ingredients in the Ink that mark you. The mark I am giving you is known as that 'Eye Of Horus.' It is a mark of protection from my time." Almost as soon as he was done speaking, the mark was finished. They then made their way up top, and Runi spoke again.

"We are a distance away from the city in which I found you. There is a closer one, but I will still need to carry you, though, if we want to make it there soon. Please climb on my back, and pull your legs up, as I am a bit shorter than you are.

Colt grinned, and climbed onto Runi's back. He couldn't help but giggle at the thought of riding the smaller boy. However, as soon as he was settled, Runi took off, and Colt couldn't help but bury his head into Runi's neck. He didn't know how fast they were going, and really didn't want to.

---

Less then ten minutes later, Runi slowed down and Colt was able to look up finally. He was shocked when he saw that they were actually in the parking lot of a large twenty-four-hour Wal-mart. After letting Colt down, Runi turned and was confronted with a huge grin on Colt's face.

"That was great!" he said with exuberance.

Runi could not help but smile back at him, "I am glad you enjoyed it. Now why don't you go in there and buy us some clothing? I am sure you would know better than I what would be appropriate."

Colt grinned, nodded, then jogged off into the store. He came back out about thirty minutes later, pushing a cart with several bags in it. The two of them walked off into the trees that were behind the store. When they got there, Colt dropped the bags and started to pull stuff out of them. "I'm not really sure of your sizes, so I just guessed."

Runi dropped his cloak, and then took the first thing Colt handed him. They looked like a very small pair of shorts. "They're called briefs..." Colt said with a bit of a grin. "They go on under your shorts."

Runi turned them around and looked at them closely. Finally he just shrugged and dropped his loin cloth, making Colt blush deeply. 'He may look like he's a little kid in most places...' he thought to himself, but then quickly grabbed the shorts he'd gotten Runi and handed them to him.

Runi, of course, knew he was making Colt blush, but for some reason, a feeling stirred inside of him that he had not felt for a very long time. Shaking his thoughts clear, Runi took the shorts and put them on, then the shirt.

Then it was Colt's turn, but when he changed, he shyly turned his back to Runi then slipped his tattered shorts and torn underwear down and off. He quickly pulled up the new briefs, and actually sighed when he felt the comfort of them. He then pulled on the new shorts, and relished how soft and clean they felt.

Turning around as he pulled his shirt on, Colt said, "Now all I need is a shower... and I'll feel human again." He looked Runi up and down, and then realized something he'd forgotten. Quickly reaching back into the cart, he pulled out a pair of athletic sandals and handed them to Runi.

After putting them on, Runi stood up with a look of wonder in his eyes. "These are VERY comfortable. I like them... thank you!" Colt just grinned and nodded as he was loading everything else up into the two backpacks he had also bought. He wasn't sure if they were going to be able to get showers soon, but he made sure they had everything they would need.

Once they were all loaded up and ready to go, Runi started to lead them farther into the town. "There is someone I wish to meet this evening; however, it might take some time to find him." Colt just shrugged and off they went.

Colt got thoroughly lost with all the twists and turns that they took, but within fifteen minutes, they were walking down a very dark back alleyway. About half way down, an old man stepped out from behind a dumpster, scaring the shit out of both of the boys. Runi tensed for a fight, but quickly was just stuttering, trying to say anything, when the man handed him an envelope. As soon as Runi took it, the old man turned and walked away. Colt glanced at Runi, then back at the man, but he was gone. "What the hell was that?"

"I...I never thought I would see HIM again!" Runi whispered almost to himself.

"Who?" Colt asked, but by this point, Runi was already opening the envelope.

"Don't worry about it..." Runi said while looking at the note. He handed it over to Colt to look at, and all that was on the piece of paper was an address. Looking back at Runi, he saw the smaller boy had a key in his hand.

"What's this all about?" Colt asked, and Runi finally looked at him with a small smile.

"I don't know, but we're gonna find out," Runi said as he started to walk out of the alleyway.

"Could this be a trap or something?" Colt asked, sounding almost panicked.

"No..." Runi said, almost laughing. "This is no trap... but I am sure that life is about to get a bit more interesting. You know... many many years ago, someone told me of an ancient Chinese curse... 'May you live in interesting times'... I think we have just been cursed."

---

It only took them about ten minutes to find the address. It looked to be a basement apartment of an old brownstone house. There was no light in the stairs, but that didn't stop Runi from being able to see what was down there. At the bottom of the steps was an unconscious man bound and gagged, with a little note around his neck with one word on it... 'Dinner'.

Runi wasn't sure what was going on until he 'felt' around with his other sense. Inside the apartment was a vampire... and from the fact that Runi could hear the hunger pained groans from up here, he knew who the dinner was for. The other thing he could tell was that the vampire was very fresh... probably hadn't fed yet at all. Runi could still smell the 'life' in him.

He sighed loudly. "Well, this will be interesting indeed..." Runi half muttered to himself.

"Huh? What's going on?" Colt asked, clearly not liking anything that was going on.

Runi looked at Colt almost as if he'd forgotten the bigger boy was with him. Sighing, he turned back towards the door. "There is a Vampire in there, that needs to feed...."

Before Runi could go on, Colt took a few steps back, terror written on his face. "You're... you're not going to... to feed me to it.... are you?"

Runi couldn't help but laugh... even though he tried. "No, Colt.. you're not going to be fed to the vampire in there... you're way too cute to be eaten. Anyways.. someone already took care of his meal for us." Runi started to go down the steps, then turned and locked eyes with Colt. "I gave you my word... no harm will come to you while I am around. However, if you stay out here, you have a better chance of getting hurt than in here with me. Just please try to stay behind me, and not react to what you see. When a vampire gets as hungry as this one is... they really do lose all control over themselves. But don't worry... nothing bad will happen to you."

Runi kept his eyes locked on Colt until the boy found his courage and nodded. Runi wasn't being cocky... in the last thousand years there had been very few things that he came across that he couldn't deal with.

---

Duncan heard the door open and immediately he smelled the blood. He couldn't help himself, he was so hungry. Struggling against the chains that held him to the bed, he tried to get to the blood. He fought against his own instincts and did all he could think to do.

Runi stopped and Colt almost ran into him. "Hmmm... well, that's interesting."

Duncan looked at the two boys, then squeezed his eyes shut again, and really started to chant.

Runi looked at Colt with his eyes raised and smiled. "I think we may have a very interesting situation here. This child has not yet fed for the first time. While I have known many Vampires who are Catholic... they usually have a very big issue with what they are at first." He looked back to the boy, who appeared no older than fourteen or fifteen, and sighed. The boy had was once again reciting the Lord's Prayer in Latin. "This is going to be difficult, I think." Runi said to himself more then to Colt.

Runi walked over to the bed and looked down at the boy, who was still chanting to himself. He couldn't help but be somewhat impressed with the boy's determination. He knew what the boy was feeling right now, and with the fact that a living breathing blood supply was in the room with him, and Runi KNEW the boy could not only smell the blood, but also hear the heart that was pumping it, he knew just how hard the boy was fighting. "Colt... see if you can't drag that guy in here. Don't worry, you're not going to hurt him." Colt just nodded and dashed back out of the room. Within a moment, Colt was dragging the man back into the room.

Finally, the smell of two living blood supplies was too much for the boy. He started to violently fight against his bonds, until Runi placed a hand on the boy's head. "Be calm, young one. This pain will pass quickly."

The boy did calm down, and Colt could only imagine what Runi had to do to manage that. It sounded like the boy had to struggle, but Colt and Runi clearly heard the boy say, "Please... I do not wish to sin."

Runi looked a bot perplexed, but Colt's years as an alter boy came up with the answer."Thou shalt not kill?"He spoke softly and the boy just nodded.

Runi sighed deeply, but decided not to comment. Instead he grabbed the guy by the shoulder and hauled him effortlessly over to the bed. "I'll tell you what, young one... I will make sure that you do not kill him... however, you need to feed and feed soon."

"I... I don't have to kill him?" The boy asked, still struggling against whatever it was that Runi had done to calm him down.

"If you do not wish to be his end, then I will make sure you are not. Understand it doesn't really matter though. This man is not really alive." Colt gave him a questioning look, so Runi explained. "This man's mind has been destroyed... and I know why. This was NOT a very nice person."

The boy was still shaking his head and saying no, so Runi made it very clear to him. "Do not worry, Duncan... I will not let you be the reason this man dies. You must trust me."

The boy didn't answer as instinct took over fully. His eyes flashed red, and his fangs dropped painfully fast. Runi barely put the man close enough to the boy's lips before his fangs were sunk into the man's neck, and he was drinking deeply.

It didn't take long for Duncan to drain the guy as much as Runi would allow, but Runi also knew it wasn't enough. Unceremoniously, Runi's fangs dropped, and he ripped open his own wrist. Pulling the guy away from Duncan one-handed, he quickly shoved his bleeding wrist into Duncan's mouth, while taking the guy and finishing off what Duncan had started.

Once they were both done, Runi casually tossed the man's body away and pulled his wrist back; he sucked on it long enough for the wound to close, then looked down at the boy, who was staring back at him with wide eyes. The question was plain in his eyes, so Runi answered it without being asked. "This world is better off without the man around. As I said, he was dead already, his body just didn't know it." Runi's voice softened as he stroked the boy's forehead. "I know how hard it is to kill the first few times. When I gave you my blood, I bonded us together just as closely as if I had sired you. That means you are now my responsibility. That also means I must help you and make you ready for a life in darkness. It is not an easy life, but you have little choice in it now."

Duncan slowly closed his eyes with bloody tears falling from behind them.