The Good Ones

Oh Humans

It had been weeks since Finn learned that the vampires were coming. Soon.

He had to prepare. He had to protect Mag and their unborn child, no matter what it cost him. Elder Chio's vision had not changed — it was still the same, and that terrified him.

"Are you thinking of turning into the most powerful vampire again?" Moon's voice broke through his thoughts.

Finn sighed.

"Well... would it be wrong if I said yes?" he admitted, his voice low. "I'm scared, Moon. I'm scared Mag will find out I was once a vampire, she will hate me for the rest of her life."

Moon looked at him softly. She already knew the answer to her next question.

"You love her so much, don't you?" she asked.

They were both seated on the cold marble floor of the cottage, watching over Elder Chio, who slept peacefully on his woven mat in the corner.

"Yes, I do, Moon. She is my life," Finn said, his voice thick with emotion.

Moon simply nodded. She forced a small smile, though her eyes were sad.

"How does it feel... being human?" she asked, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her hands upon them.

Finn chuckled a little, amused.

"You have never asked me that before. Moon, don't tell me you are thinking of..."

"Nope, just asking," she quickly said, pouting her lips.

Finn's smile faded.

"Gosh, it is tiring," he whispered. "You know, sometimes I miss my powers, you know, my speed, mind control now I have to wait for a cut to heal. Too bad."

Finn's eyes softened. He turned to look at Moon, who was now laughing freely, throwing her head back.

"And you've also aged..." Moon said through her laughter. "I remember when I first met you. I thought you were just twenty years or more..."

She snort-laughed

"Hey, I was 300 plus," Finn grinned, cheeky despite his beard.

"Yeah, whatever. You were damned handsome but now you are an old man. Geez, Finn, where did the beard come from?" Another round of laughter came along.

"And you were just seven years, you've also aged you know," Finn teased back.

"Well yeah, I can age because I'm not a vampire," Moon shrugged.

They chatted for some time in the quiet stone room, the candles burning low, before Mr. Chio woke up.

"Gunther, you are still here?" Mr. Chio asked, slowly sitting on his mat.

"Yes, Elder, don't worry about my wife, her brothers are with her right now," Finn answered.

"It's good you are still here, I wanted to show you something, something that might be the reason why the vampires are coming again," Elder Chio said. His eyes widened with concern.

"What can that be?" Moon asked, she looked more serious than earlier.

Elder Chio stood up. He walked briskly into his little library — a small room full of old scrolls and dust — and he pulled out a very heavy book. The book cover was brown, old leather cracked with age, and a sketch of the half-moon was inside a circle. Even with how Elder Chio held it with both hands, it really looked heavy.

"This is the Book of Endless," Elder Chio announced, handing the book to Finn. Finn hesitated for a moment before taking it.

"Whoa," Finn exclaimed, the mass of the book was unimaginable. It was cold, not like paper, but like it was holding a hundred souls inside.