Free The Guest & the Change by M. D. Bowden

away?’
    ‘But if we do that, how many people will die?   Do you want that?’
    ‘No, I don’t!   But to kill him.   Who would that make me?   What would it do to me?’
    ‘You would be a protector, you would be protecting this town.   He’s completely lost to you already.   You can’t have him back Sarah.’
    Sarah looked into his eyes.   ‘I don’t want him back.   I just don’t want this to be happening.’
    ‘Neither do I , although it has led me to you,’ he actually grinned, ‘I’m sorry Sarah, I know it’s destroying your world.   But I’ve been in this alone.’
    ‘For how long?’ Sarah asked.
    ‘Thirty years.’
    ‘It’s only thirty years since you’ve been a vampire?’
    Sarah actually laughed herself, ‘I’m sorry, it’s just I would have expected you to be a lot older.’ And she raised her eyebrows at him.
    ‘That still means I’ve been a vampire for longer than you’ve been alive though,’ he smirked, smoldering at her.   Heat rose in her cheeks again, and she let it, watching him watch her appreciatively.  
    ‘Daniel,’ she said more seriously, trying to bring him back on track.   ‘What can we do, even if we are to plan to kill them.   Both Sebastian and Jo.   How are we going to do it?   Have you ever tried to kill Sebastian before?’
    ‘Yes, I have.   A few times actually.   I’ve fought him, I’ve tried to trick him, but it’s never worked.   He laughs at me, like I’m an annoying fly he can brush aside.   He doesn’t really try that hard to kill me though.   He turned me - I think he still wants me to be like him.’
    ‘How old is Sebastian?’
    ‘He really is old, a lot older than me.   Maybe 700 years.   I don’t know exactly.’
    ‘And is he invading this town?   What has he done before?   What have you watched him do?
    ‘He has done all sorts of things.   He picks towns, always a long way away from each other.   Typically in different countries to cover this tracks.   Then he tears them apart.   He turns people.   He kills people.   He turns people against each other.   Sometimes he leaves it at that, moves on, finds something else to amuse himself with.   Every few years he will take it all the way, completely destroy everything and everyone in the town.   Literally leaving no-one alive.   He will create some cover story and influence investigators to forget, tell media some story, gas explosion, the like.   Then he will leave to torment someone else.   That’s what he enjoys.’
    Sarah fell silent.   She couldn’t bear the thought of so much destruction.  
    But thoughts played at the edge of her mind.   ‘Could I kill a vampire?   Am I strong enough?’
    ‘Yes, I’m sure you could ram a stake into a vampire’s heart, up through the ribs or from behind.   You would have to catch them by surprise though, as they are much faster than you.   You probably couldn’t manage to decapitate a vampire.   That takes greater strength, or a weapon.   But it would be hard to wield a weapon strong enough for the job, fast enough for them not to defend themselves.’
    ‘Have you killed other vampires?’
    ‘Yes, I’ve killed other vampires Sebastian has turned.’
    ‘What next?   We need a plan but my mind is drawing up blank.’ Sarah said.
    ‘They will probably be out later tonight, looking for victims.’ Daniel said.   He looked bleak, sickened himself.   ‘I could go out, watch them, see what I can do.’
    ‘ We   could go out, I can’t let you do this alone.’
    ‘You should stay here, where you’re safe.’
    ‘But I won’t feel safe.   And it will drive me mad not knowing what’s going on.’
    ‘If you come, will you stay with me?   I can’t let you unless you promise to stay by my side.   Otherwise I can’t protect you.’
    Sarah looked at Daniel, so earnest, worried for her.   She couldn’t help but agree.   She nodded, looking into his dark