Free From Slate to Crimson by Brandon Hill

beginning, you’re addicted to the point where the next feeding is all you can think about. It consumes your thoughts day in, day out. But unlike my kind, you can overcome it, since that part of it is psychological. Still, that takes effort. The effects of the drink are very powerful.”
    “As if that’s not the understatement of the year,” Amelia said, laughing to cover the tremor that the memory of my drink had produced. Her perfume grew stronger as a flash of desire shook her. “So you’re saying that there’s no easy way out, is there?”
    “The lives of anyone involved with my kind are never easy,” I said, once again feeling that pang of regret over what I had done to her. “But as hard as it is for you, I can assure you that it’s far more difficult for me. From the beginning, the thirst overpowers us all, and you want to drain your host to death for the sheer delight of the drink. The discipline needed to tame it is grueling, and victory is to deny a primal drive, which causes constant frustration. Even now, as I speak to you, you enflame me. I have to restrain myself from taking you.”
    “Then why deny it?” Amelia said, more fascinated than frightened.
    I suppressed the surge of anger that her question had generated. She was neither Lothos, nor one of his clan. She could not possibly know that her question was my nemesis’ way of thinking. Still, I noticed that she cringed slightly. Perhaps she had seen the emotion flashing in my inhuman eyes.
    “Because it’s wrong,” I said. “If there is one thing that my travels in this world have taught me, it’s that right and wrong do indeed exist. We all strive for either darkness or light. And those who deny the existence of either, serve the darkness in ignorance.
    “Lothos gives in to the passions that drive us to kill, and thinks little of it. But under normal circumstances, my clan has been able to tame the beast. And this means that there is a better way than the path that Lothos has chosen.
    “This is one of the things that define my existence. I will not kill my hosts, unless the circumstances drive me to it. And this is what I have trained all my clan to do. We strive to be more than what we have become.”
    “Talante…” Amelia whispered, and I knew my words had touched her heart. I felt her admiration for me swell as her hand clasped mine. Reflexively, my fingers curled around hers. I read her thoughts before she could even act.
    “I…shouldn’t…” I stammered.
    “You look like you’ll burst without me,” Amelia whispered with a grin. The same as when her fingers touched my cheek, the gesture was soft, motherly…and at the same time almost seductive. “And there’s no one else here but us.” She craned her neck, inviting me to what she wanted–-what we both wanted. And I could no longer deny her.
    I pulled her to me and embraced her, bringing her artery in range. I heard her lilting sigh as my lips touched her neck. My tongue settled upon her skin. It was delicate and sweet to the taste, like a ripe plum. My fangs made the wound, and the upwelling of blood was devastating.
    I shuddered in the beginning swoon. Her large, soft breasts pressed against my chest, and her arms slid onto my back. I heard her utter a sharp cry of pleasure, but little else, as the euphoria consumed us.
    I sated my ravenous anticipation and thirst, while Amelia rocked against me, her mouth hung open in wordless cries.
    The sun had set when I at last released her, but I wanted her no less.

Chapter Five
    The owners of the downtown Italian restaurant where I had brought Amelia to that night were a couple whom I had rescued from Lothos’ clutches years ago. Though they never accepted my money, I always tipped their waiters handsomely, and they were always eager to serve. When they saw my company, they were especially excited, and treated Amelia like royalty, much to my amusement and her delight.
    “I’m surprised this place was even open this late,”