Ryan hadn’t even looked this dashing in his lifetime! Ties were usually out of fashion when it came to suits, but he nevertheless adjusted an imaginary tie on his dark blue blazer and the dashing, egg-white shirt collar as he looked down from Lithia’s upstairs office into her supermarket. It was around 10pm and the night had only just begun, but already all the customers and staff could be counted on one hand, but Ryan’s eyes were not on them any time soon.


    Maxine Price entered the large shop through the main entrance, swinging her sleek brunette hair and dressed no less smartly, but her neat outfit was for a job interview, not dinner.


    Job interview, Ryan thought tensely, wiping his face. Lithia was here, in this half-lit room, watching him, he knew that. Ryan had been given all the information he needed and the task of persuading Helen Price to allow Lithia to turn her - into a Juda’Aerith! If he failed, not only would there be no alliance, but he would also have to get rid of Helen to keep the vampire secret. All the ingredients for an enormous amount of pressure that was getting to Ryan. If he messed this up, the Tenebrae would probably incinerate him, as Mato had so nicely put it. A knock on the door pulled him away from these thoughts. "Ehm, come in."


    "Good evening, Mr Tavish," Helen smiled as she entered and shook his hand. "I’m Helen Price, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance."


    "Likewise, Miss Price. Please, do take a seat."


    "Very kind of you," replied Helen, who didn’t just sit down. She was given the chair in front of the desk by the man. "Thank you and I have to tell you, I’m a little nervous and that’s saying something!"


    "You may not believe it, but I share the feeling," Ryan admitted honestly and took a seat, which at least made him relax a little. "I mean, you don’t get an offer like this every day."


    "Not at all! And I’m still curious about the details!" said Helen curiously. Lithia had offered the woman a managerial position in her group of companies, which could only be filled and managed by the very fewest of people and was subject to special conditions, but in return offered a job that Helen would not find anywhere else. "We don’t need to talk about money either. Lithia’s offer was, to put it mildly, too good to be true and yet I have it in black and white. But what are the conditions? Long working hours? Willingness to work shifts? Not ... dodgy business, is it?"


    Ryan grinned when the applicant didn’t mince her words and yet he found it difficult to get involved in the conversation. "I’d call it business that would change your life."


    "Sounds dubious, too."


    "Yeah, it kind of is, I guess," Ryan struggled. His uncertainty was clearly picked up by the woman and he rocked his leg back and forth. "So it’s not a bad thing!"


    "Is there a reason for your nervousness?"


    Ryan felt good to chat a little about his stress. "Let’s just say I’m pretty new at this job myself and I’ve got one tough assignment after another."


    "Is it that hard?"


    "Less hard, more unpredictable."


    "You’re acting like it’s magic," Helen joked, visibly relaxed. Despite her counterpart’s tension, she maintained her friendliness. "Or are we already saving the world?"


    "You’re ... not doing too badly."


    "Ah, I see," Helen surmised and pointed her finger, caught off guard. "You’re testing me here. Sociability and flexibility, eh?"


    "Flexible is a good lead," Ryan nodded, but he just couldn’t do all this and stood up. "How about it? Let’s take a stroll through the city."


    "Oh, okay?" Helen blinked in surprise and stood up. "But as much as I’ve enjoyed this small talk: Can we get down to business for this, please?"


    "Absolutely or I’m fired," Ryan smiled wryly and got a suitably doubtful look, but it worked and Lithia had given him a free hand. How he was going to convince Helen was entirely up to him and since words were lacking, it was going to be actions.


    There was a lively neighbourhood nearby, full of boutiques, studios, restaurants and bars, but although everything looked so classy and refined, surrounded by warm bright red lights and sweetened by the smell of delicious food, the prices were reasonably reasonable.


    "You know," Helen said more cautiously as she walked along the pedestrianised area. "I’m actually really happy in my current job. The money’s right, the hours, the location, you couldn’t have it any better."


    Ryan nodded understandingly and had his hands buried in his trouser pockets, unimpressed by the shallow quick fall. "And yet you accepted the invitation."


    "Yes, because Lithia approached me, for one thing. That piqued my interest, but not for long. Her manner, though, all that mystery and those promises of new worlds ... I have to say, it sounded a bit crazy, but still honest and intriguing, even though I don’t even know what exactly awaits me as CEO. I mean, I already know, only you understand?"


    "Our positions aren’t that different," Ryan realised and led the way. He avoided too many listeners. "Well, at least I was in yours some time ago. But I had no say whatsoever in my offer. It was binding."


    "Huh? Binding in what way? You promised to get to the point."


    "And I’m keeping that promise," Ryan announced gently and got ready. By now he had gained a little experience and practised. "What do you think of that?"


    "What do I think of what?" Helen replied, not even realising what had just happened. She was now standing at the end of the pedestrian zone, at the top of a double-sided, decorated staircase that led to a brightly lit public square where a small town fair had just been set up, with rides and all the trimmings. "I ... how?"


    This reaction wasn’t a shock, at least, and Ryan still gave the woman time to realise the lightning-fast change of location. "I still need to practise a bit, but that’s the best I can do right now."


    "What, you?" Helen stumbled and looked down into the pedestrian zone in disbelief, convinced that the man had tricked her. "Woah, you’ve distracted me so much with your talking that I didn’t realise how far we’ve come."


    "Okay, that wasn’t quite what I was hoping for," Ryan admitted and looked around in search of a new target. He would manage it once more. "This time with an announcement."


    Helen laughed heartily. "No, it won’t work a second time."


    "Hardly a third time. At least not in such quick succession," Ryan puffed out of breath and spread his left arm out to the side. "Until then, enjoy the view."


    Helen’s eyes widened and she swallowed a sound of utter astonishment, but her mouth was wide open. She could now look down on the beautiful, festive carnival from a fire escape to cheerful music and she even swayed.


    Ryan helped her so that she didn’t fall over. "Easy, easy," he said, and he had probably overdone it. Human senses were clearly not made for such speeds. "Does that apply more to mysterious?"


    "Only if you’re a real magician," Helen said curiously, clutching her own arms tightly. Along with the curiosity on her face, a new scent rose into the air and it was now a familiar one: it was stress. "How did you do that?"


    Away from the hustle and bustle, Ryan was able to speak more openly. "It’s part of my new life and I’m not even really good at it. It’s almost as new to me as it is to you and Lithia wants you to share this life."


    "So ... there’s no job?"


    "It’s actually real," Ryan assured him, and that was the case. "Lithia is more than confident in your abilities and then some. She’s followed your life path closely and thinks you absolutely deserve this new life."


    "What new life? What do I deserve?"


    "To be free from fear. At least that’s what she told me."


    Helen’s smile was a caught defence mechanism. "What should I be afraid of? To be honest, this interview is starting to scare me," she said. The fact that she hadn’t run away yet was probably due to her strict curiosity.


    "There’s no reason to be," Ryan said, but he had to get his act together. If he failed, not only would his life be over, but the woman would have every reason to be afraid. "I’m being honest, Helen. I’m a go-between here, doing a job for Lithia, and everything I know about you, I only know because of Lithia."


    "And what do you know about me?"


    "That you unfortunately lost your parents at a very young age and had a few hard years in an orphanage," Ryan mentioned sympathetically. He was impressed that this woman had nevertheless made it this far. "A little crash into drugs, trouble with the police and yet you didn’t give up and look where you are today."


    This statement, with this view, could not be a more perfect allegory. "So Lithia checked me out more than thoroughly?"


    "She has."


    "And that’s why she thinks she knows me?" Helen asked, slightly annoyed. "Or knows what I deserve?"


    "You have to look at it this way, Lithia has been looking for someone she considers worthy for a long time," Ryan replied thoughtfully. The conversation was not going well and the following was probably not a good idea, but unfortunately he hadn’t mastered too many tricks yet. "Do you think that’s all there is to it?" At this question, he bent a piece of the metal railing. "Lithia wants to give you a gift that hardly anyone in this world gets."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    As a result of the show of strength, Helen pulled back and asked the one question. "What are you?"


    Ryan actually felt stupid. Even with his current knowledge and being a part of this world himself, he murmured hesitantly. "I’m a vampire."


    At first, Helen cringed, but she quickly burst into amused laughter. "Okay, okay, stop, stop," she waved her hand cheerfully. "I get what’s going on here: hidden camera, hahaha and I have to say, those were some damn convincing tricks."


    Now telekinesis would have been really handy, but Ryan didn’t know how to do that. "Well at least you’re not shouting, because I’m very serious," he said firmly, but he had learnt one thing by now - his hands had become sharp claws.


    Suddenly Helen’s joy turned to pure fear and a shrill scream rose in her throat before her mouth was covered by a claw.


    "Shhhttt!" came from Ryan before he saw the pain in the woman’s expression. He had gripped too hard and reined himself in. "Please, don’t be afraid!" Without any problems, Ryan was able to suppress her every movement and sound until she slowly calmed down.


    Helen swallowed in the man’s grip. "This prank ... has gone far enough."


    Ryan understood that reaction all too well. It was the same as his then, but he couldn’t stop now. "One last time," he announced, bringing himself and her to the flat roof of the flat, now really unable to do any more lightning journeys and letting go of her. "Sorry about the jet lag."


    That was probably the most apt word, as Helen swayed more than before and sank wearily to the floor, surrounded by fume bonnets and a couple of vent pipes. "Why are you doing this?"


    "I’ve thought long and hard about how I do this," Ryan said, walking along the edge of the rooftop, surrounded by many an illuminated taller tower block and lit by occasional moonlight. "How do I approach someone I want to tell that they’ve been offered the chance to become a vampire, and lo and behold, I couldn’t do any better."


    "Become a vampire?" Helen realised cleverly, albeit with a headache from the fast journey. "Are these the special conditions? That I should become a vampire?"


    Ryan tried to sell the offer, but he didn’t do a particularly good job of it. His own transformation was too fresh and the self-doubt about this existence was too great. "Yes, and again, the job really does exist, within Lithia’s organisation. Being a vampire is a bonus."


    "You sound very convinced of that," Helen remarked pointedly, gathering herself to stand up. "And you thought you could use your tricks to make it palatable to me? That I’d swap the sun for the moon?"


    "That’s all I can do yet, as I’m ... still a pretty fresh vampire myself," Ryan confessed. The cat was out of the bag and all the talk around it that he had considered hours before had already failed. At least the truth now made him feel easier about this conversation. "But if I’m honest, I can understand why Lithia chose you. I think you really do fit perfectly into this life."


    "Which brings us back to the you knowing me thing."


    "Well, you like travelling, right? And you really like visiting ancient buildings or abandoned ruins?" Ryan enquired persistently. It was a perfect approach for him. "Your curiosity was what brought you to this conversation in the first place."


    "Foreign countries and cultures have always fascinated me, yes. There are so many things on our planet that I would like to see."


    "And that’s just from a human perspective!"


    "Just from the point of view of ... people?" Helen was moderately surprised: Travelling, new things and the unknown were her greatest interests.


    "So what!" Ryan affirmed and was much more convinced. "Did you know that vampires fought against the Nazis in the Second World War? I mean, of course you didn’t, but who knows what aspects of history are still hidden to you, not to mention all the skills! You like to explore, don’t you? Think about it, you could look at the, er the pyramids in Egypt from above, free in the air as a bird! Vampires have their own kind of magic, called Animus Hellix. You can use it to transform yourself into animals. Or time, just think about it! As a vampire, you would have eternity and all the time in the world to really see and learn everything, because I don’t think you can do that as a human!"


    This lengthy digression certainly left an impression on Helen and a more than thoughtful but dreamy face. "Is all of that really true?"


    "That’s the little I’ve learnt so far and probably doesn’t even scratch the surface," Ryan raised his arms to the sky to emphasise his point. "You think with vampires it ends? Werewolves are just as real and as has been pointed out to me several times, a whole lot more that we humans have merely considered fantasy and shall I tell you the best part of this offer?"


    "With all this flood of revelation, is there something best?" wondered Helen, curious. "What’s that?"


    Now Ryan became extremely quiet and concerned, remembering the fact. "You have a choice," he said knowing that the wrong choice would mean Helen’s death and he patted his chest, "I didn’t have it and if I’m honest, if I was offered this as a choice, even without what I already know, I don’t know how I’d react."


    This candour really seemed to make an impression on Helen and she picked up on the man’s remorse as she approached him. "Sounds like a tough time for you," she realised sympathetically, grasping his hand on her chest, "but believe me, even though this firework of revelations is exploding in my head right now, I’m not so fascinated by novelty that I’m blindly saying yes."


    "Well, we’ve got all night," Ryan replied, hoping to narrow down her choices, because if she said no, there was no night after that. "Maybe somewhere warmer? Where I can tell you more?" More was a risky gamble for Ryan, because what did he know about vampires and other things?


    "That’s a forever decision," Helen remarked smartly, dropping her hand to interlace their fingers and blow warm air into it. "I don’t think I’m going to say yes or no tonight, but a warm place is a good start."


    "A start is always good," Ryan agreed. Not exactly the answer he was looking for, but one that gave him a wide berth and caused a sudden feeling of unease...! Something was wrong! Ryan couldn’t put his finger on it, but a sort of metallic clang alerted him. "Watch out!" With a saving move, he took Helen’s guard and pulled her with him before whispering bullets struck the spot where they had been standing.


    More shots hit the metal of an extractor bonnet, behind which Helen screamed in panic. "What’s going on here?"


    "I don’t know!" Ryan tried to reassure her as the hail of gunfire was briefly interrupted by the clicking of empty magazines, causing him to glance over the edge. "Keep your head down!"


    Already in the act of jumping, from another roof, two hooded figures armed with light machine guns came up and took up position behind one of the manhole tubes. "Time to die, mischief maker!"


    Ryan’s senses were sharp enough and he realised that the movements of the female attackers were superhuman, but he had long known their scent from Gordon. "Blood knights!" he bared his teeth unconsciously and dived in front of the next hail of bullets.


    "Blood knights?!" Helen murmured, hunched over with both arms wrapped around her knees.


    "People who have drunk vampire blood! It makes them very strong and fast!" Ryan explained and a kind of puck landed right next to him. He grabbed the round and threw it back before it exploded halfway as a stun grenade.


    A female attacker provided cover for her mate as she charged forward and jumped over the bonnet. With her foot first, she kicked the vampire and shot him mercilessly.


    While Helen rolled to the side, Ryan was able to shield his head from the bullets, but he was kicked downwards and his arm and upper body took a good load of bullets. The pain was manageable, however, and the anger sparked made Ryan step back!


    The attacker was knocked off her feet and dropped her weapon, resulting in a scuffle on the ground in which she was quickly at a disadvantage and took a nasty beating. Only the arrival of her sidekick prevented her death.


    Ryan was pulled out of the scuffle and thrown to the side, but he quickly got back on all fours and looked into the silenced barrels of both MPs. Keeping his distance, he ran in a semi-circle in front of the firing line until he dived behind a fume bonnet and buried his fingers in the metal panelling. A jolt later, he used the ripped-out metal as a shield against the gunfire, only to hurl it at the women with a sharp edge!


    The one who hadn’t taken a beating before was bloodily slashed by the thrown object and her accomplice was suddenly confronted with her target again. The MP was knocked out of her hand and two deep clawing blows later, she also flew to the ground in mortal astonishment - it was over.


    "Apostle," Ryan gulped exhaustedly, yet sank to his knees victoriously. "I’m afraid it’s not all pure romance Helen ... Helen, you`re all right?"


    Nothing was clear with Helen! She was lying on her back behind her hiding place and was barely moving. There was a strong odour of blood emanating from her and a spreading pool could be seen beneath her. Helen’s neck had apparently been hit by a bullet and bubbling bubble sounds accompanied her every attempted breath.


    "Shit!" cursed Ryan. He rushed to her side and lifted her head, completely unsure of what to do. "Take it easy, take it easy! I’ll call a doctor!" It was a sentence that immediately brought him face to face with a gruesome reality: he couldn’t just call a doctor, could he? The convulsing body under his hand, the agonised sounds of the woman, all this made it difficult for him and he swallowed quietly. "I-I can’t... I’m so sorry!"


    Meanwhile, unscathed by this sudden horror, the cheerful music of the carnival continued to play between the glassy concrete canyons of the city and not a voice of astonishment could be heard. What had just happened here had not happened for the people down there.


    Ryan felt the heat drain from Helen’s body, as well as his own burning muscles. Every fibre in his body was quite irritated by the massive smell of blood and there was quite a bit of the red on his fingers, which he just had to look at and unconsciously lick over his lips with his tongue.


    "Don’t!" he mouthed cautiously. The warm light shining over the edges of the roof finally had company when a shadowy silhouette appeared and walked wordlessly towards the scene.


    "Lithia!" said Ryan. He thought back and realised. Yes, she had been here the whole time! Why didn’t she intervene! No, it doesn’t matter now! "We have to do something!"


    "It’s out of our hands," Lithia replied as she dropped to her knees on Helen’s free side and stroked the wounded woman’s face with her claws.


    Helen was still conscious and stared in disbelief into the figure’s glowing burgundy-purple eyes. Even now, there was a certain fascination in her gaze, and though no words sounded from her dying lungs, she lifted a hand and slid it across the Juda’Aerith’s dark surface.


    "I’m so sorry about that my love," Lithia apologised in a near whisper, letting Helen have her way freely no matter where she touched her. She, in turn, moved her hand from her face to the woman’s chest and proclaimed certainty. "A few more moments and you will have your peace ... or, you will choose another path."


    Without any use in the situation, Ryan folded his arms behind his head and could have torn his arms out with his own guilt, but it wasn’t just Helen’s powerless sinking arm that distracted his thoughts.


    Like a dandelion, shadowy threads began to detach themselves from Lithia’s body and be carried away by the cool night wind. The Juda’Aerith revealed her true colours and she wore not a shred of clothing, but was she a monster? No, you couldn’t say that. In a macabre and disreputable way, Lithia could be compared to a Picasso painting. The countless thorns on her back and the open-looking scars would certainly put many people off, but the play of colours on her fish-like scaly skin alone was the exact opposite: royal blue, into which blobs and waves of ivory swirled and snaked in white. This gave her face, which was reasonably beautiful, the contours of a harlequin. "If you wish, I can save you from death ... by giving you the gift of eternal night and turning you into a vampire. All you have to do is nod."


    Apart from the importance of this decision, nodding in Helen’s condition was certainly not a mere nod, but rather a Herculean task. Shock and fear dominated the woman’s expression, even on the brink of death, and tears made her eyes extremely glassy as she weakly but clearly moved her head up and down.


    Lithia smiled blissfully and placed her fingers on the fatal wound, on which a shadow lay like a patch on a hole. "I will take away all your fears ... something like this will never happen to you again."


    This turn of events was anything but easy for Ryan to digest, but he was only a spectator here and no longer an actor. He hesitated and wanted to see exactly how this transformation into a vampire took place. However, he saw it more as a punishment without any real choice, because who wanted to surrender to death just like that? And that had been his fault! For that reason alone, he did not want to and could not witness this act and turned away. "... You got what you wanted," he realised bitterly, clinging to the only thing he had left. "I’ll let Mato know that the deal is done."


    No matter how Lithia looked at it now, she had indeed got what she wanted and, as she had said before, she didn’t care how. In fact, this turn of events even brought a slight anger to her voice. "The Apostles dared to hurt someone I care about deeply. I no longer need a deal to side with the Tenebrae in this war ... for now."


    "And ... the bodies here?"


    "I’ll take care of them," Lithia said, and it was hard to tell if this turn of events had changed her opinion of Ryan for the worse. In that moment, there was at least a disappointment, or at least regret, present. "And you ... go, now."


    Without another response or nod, Ryan complied with the request and sprinted to the roof from which the attackers had come. No, he would not return to Mato immediately. Perhaps there was a trail here that he could follow, for his stomach was filling with rage, and he was now directing that rage at the apostles.