Forbidden Fangs

Chapter 20

“Do you know how to use that weapon, Kylie?” Luchaver asked calmly. He took a step towards her, skirting Logan's unconscious form.

“Yes,” she said, “the slayer showed me. And he told me all about you. What you are. What you represent. What you do. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand.”

“I can think of several good reasons,” Luchaver said with a smile, his black eyes seeming to peer into her soul. “If you kill me, you'll never learn why I am truly here. You'll never understand the true purpose of Wythirians on Earth. And besides… I don't think you want to kill me, Kylie. As much as I don't want to kill you.”

“W-what do you mean?” Kylie stammered, her hands shaking, the gunblade's bayonet wavering dramatically. “What do you mean you don't want to kill me? You hunted me down, didn't you? Not another step!” She added as Luchaver again attempted to approach.

“It is true, my mission was to leave no one who witnessed me alive… I should have killed you already. But that is not my desire. I want to taste you Kylie. I want to drink some of your warmth, and exalt in the tenderness of your arms. I want to feel your hair brush against my bare neck, and-”

Bang! Kylie aimed off to the left and squeezed the trigger. The gunblade roared and kicked, spitting a gout of flame and a bullet at high velocity. The sound shattered the stillness of the night, and Luchaver backed away slightly, holding up his hands.

“You cannot tell me you don't feel the same way,” he said with brimming confidence. “You cannot tell me you are not intrigued by me. I see it in your eyes. I smell it in your scent. You wish to know me as I wish to know you… you do, don't you?” He rubbed his hands, which still showed signs of redness and burns, together slowly. As Kylie watched the blisters on his hands seemed to heal, vanishing back into smooth, pale skin. “You are fascinated by me, Kylie.” Luchaver said at last. “Why don't you let me finish this slayer off, and we can go inside and talk. You will never understand if you don't listen…”

“Logan is staying alive,” Kylie snarled, her knuckles white on the gunblade's grip. “You're not killing anyone else, vampire. You… you killed Erik. I should shoot your for that.”

“Erik… the man you were with in the woods? Yes, he was an unfortunate casualty. I was starving after the long voyage from Wythiria, you see… and in any case, your friend was not of strong stock. He caved to my mental manipulations as soon as I could cast them. He is not the type of stock we would seek to cross-breed with. You, on the other hand…”

“Cross-breed?” Kylie said in confusion. “What? I thought you only used humans like animals, factory farming us for our blood.”

“No doubt that is what the slayers believe,” Luchaver waved a hand dismissively. “And in truth, in the past that has been our focus. But we Wythirians are a practical race. We see our dependence on blood as a weakness, second only to our vulnerability to sunlight. If we could find a way to mix our race with yours… perhaps we could breed these unfortunate genes out. It is our hope that one day Wythirians will walk in the sunlight, hand in hand with the humans we no longer need to feed upon.”

“Even if that's true,” Kylie said slowly, “even if that's true, you're still a murderer. You need to be punished. And why should we want to… to mix with your race? As far as I can see you vampires have never given the humans of Earth anything but trouble. Why should we be interested in helping you?”

“Because,” Luchaver said, casting a contemptuous glance down at Logan, “your only alternative may be far less pleasant. If we are forced to, Wythirians will continue surviving off your race's blood as we have for many years. We will build a new colony in the skies above this planet, and swoop down every so often to reap what is rightfully hours. Earth will become nothing more than our hunting ground… we understand the mistakes we made with factory farming. Humans are meant to roam free… until such a time as their death is needed to sustain Wythirian life.”

“Is that really all you think of us?” Kylie demanded, re-tightening her grip on the gunblade and aiming down the iron sights. “Is that all you think of me? That I'm useless except as a meal or a breeder? Is that what you see when you look at me, Luchaver?”

The vampire smiled and cupped a hand behind his ear as if listening to a distant noise.

“I love the way you say my name,” he smiled, “say it again.”

“No,” Kylie shook her head forcefully. “I will not. I will never say it again, now that I know it brings you pleasure. I should kill you now.”

Logan stirred, and Kylie's aim wavered.

“Let me finish him now, Kylie.” Luchaver said softly, coming closer. “Or better yet, shoot him yourself. You could become commander of all earth, the representative of your people among Wythirians. You could title yourself queen if you like. All you have to do is take my hand and listen… all you have to do is trust me.”

“Never,” Kylie said, but there was trepidation in her voice. “I'll never… give in. I know what you're doing. You're trying to control me with your neural implant.”

“No,” Luchaver said, shaking his head with a smile. “I know you are too clever and strong for that. Talk with me awhile, Kylie. Get to know me, and we can arrange terms for Earth's surrender to Wythiria. Many fewer will die, and the human race will be much better for it in the long run… it all starts now, with you taking my hand.” He came closer and closer, pale hand extended. “All you have to do is listen…”

“No!” Kylie screamed. She aimed over Luchaver's left shoulder and squeezed the trigger again. A bullet tore past him with a horrendous scream, almost grazing the vampire's face. Logan stirred again, muttering something and moving slightly.

“I can see you are not ready,” Luchaver said, backing away slowly. “And yet, you will not kill me. You cannot… for you are curious about me Kylie, as I am about you. I will not stop searching for you. I will not stop seeking you out. Soon this slayer will be gone, and there will be nothing else to come between us… we can be together forever, by your standards. Wythirians know the secrets to long-lasting life. But I can see you are not ready,” he repeated with a short bow. “And so, I will take my leave. Until we meet again, Kylie.” He kissed his palm softly and blew across it, and then turned and vanished into the woods.

Kylie slumped to her knees next to Logan and cupped his head gently, letting the gunblade fall to the ground.

“What's… what's going on?” Logan muttered as he sat upright. “Kylie,” he said, seeing the gunblade next to her. “Did you shoot him?”

“No,” the blonde woman said distantly, rubbing the lump on Logan's temple. “I…. I missed.”