Goldblood

Goldblood

The vampire knocked on the vampire hunter's door. The vampire hunter jumped back and readied his crossbow. "That's not going to work," the vampire said, "I've tried."

The vampire hunter looked perplexed. "What do you mean 'you've tried'?"

"Believe me I've been trying to end it; but I have really potent blood, from one of the Firsts."

"You mean you're a goldblood?" the vampire hunter asked.

The vampire sighed. "Yes."

The vampire hunter reached for holy water.

The vampire shook his head. "Look I didn't choose this life. They turned me because of my physical attractiveness; Then they left me abandoned after having their way with me."

The vampire hunter let go of the holy water. "But you're a bloodsucker, a killer."

"You don't understand. Imagine the thirstiest you've ever been. That's every night."

The vampire hunter looked the vampire in the eyes; something he had never done.

"Can I come inside?" the vampire asked.

"I suppose…" The vampire hunter showed his stake. "But if you try anything this is going through your heart."

"Agreed."

They sat at a shabby table. The vampire hunter poured himself some wine. "You're teasing me right; the wine looks like blood," the vampire said.

"Oh, yes it does. Does it bother you," the vampire hunter mocked.

The vampire licked his lips.

"You're thirsty, I can see it," the vampire hunter said. He took a big sip of his wine. "Just to be clear, I'm killing you tonight, one way or another."

The vampire smiled. "That's the point. That's why I'm here."

The vampire hunter smiled back, "What happens if you don't feed?"

"The thirst it gets worse every night, until the point that it's unbearable."

"Why don't you just stop feeding and end it that way?" the vampire hunter scolded.

"It's too much to bear," the vampire said, "you become crazed and will need to kill. I haven't fed in days, and I feel it coming on.

"That's admirable, you would restrain yourself like that."

The vampire appeared to cry but no tears came from his eyes. "I don't want to kill again."

The vampire hunter shrugged. "Well there's some things we can try."

They started with a stake to the heart. It went through but nothing happened.

Then they poured holy water. It burned but didn't do any serious damage.

Then garlic, a crucifix, silver; no injury.

They resorted to drastic measures and tried decapitation. But the vampire's neck bone was impenetrable. The head remained attached, regenerating in seconds.

The vampire adjusted his head back on. "That really hurt."

The vampire hunter shook his head. "You goldbloods are hard to kill. Didn't know you had indestructible bones."

"I need to sit down," the vampire said.

"Yeah, me too," the vampire hunter said.

"Why did you become a vampire hunter?" the vampire asked.

"It's a moral calling really. And I'm good at it."

"Yes, I've heard that you were the best. How many have you slain?"

The vampire hunter grinned, "Hundreds. But I've never killed a goldblood."

"Do you ever feel bad about it?" the vampire asked.

"Of course not, your kind are evil."

The vampire caressed the table. "I don't really see myself as evil. I see my lot like lion killing deer." He stopped caressing the table. "But if lions were terrorizing a town, I could see why you would have reason to kill them."

"Yes, I suppose you could look at it that way, but you are unnatural," the vampire hunter said.

"I don't know what I am," the vampire said. "My makers never told me anything."

The vampire hunter got up and looked around. "None of the conventional methods have worked." He spilled his wine. "I could lock you in a safe and seal you in."

The vampire gasped. "I can't do it! How would you like to be locked away, bored, with an insatiable thirst-forever."

"I could see how that might be boring," the vampire hunter said.

"Is there anything else we can try?" the vampire asked.

"Not that I can think of right now," the vampire hunter said.

"Then we are only left with one option: the Sun."

"Of course. Why haven't you tried that before."

"I have tried," the vampire said. "But it felt like I was being burned alive. The pain was excruciating. I could only stay out for a few minutes."

"And my role in this?" the vampire hunter asked.

"I need you to tie me up, with the strongest chains you have, and leave me outside," the vampire said.

"How long will it take?"

"I don't know."

The vampire hunter sat down. "We have a few hours before daylight. What do you want to do before then?"

"I am fond of chess," the vampire said.

"Excellent!" The vampire hunter got up and grabbed his chess set. "I will warn you I'm very good."

The vampire and vampire hunter played chess, and talked, until it was morning.

"The Sun should be out soon. Are you ready?"

"I suppose so," the vampire said. He took a deep breath. "I had fun last night. Under different conditions we could be friends."

"I don't think so," the vampire hunter said. "Let's not forget you're a monster."

They readied the chains and tested its strength. The lock was of the best quality.

The bound vampire lay in the field, waiting; to die. The vampire hunter decided to give him one last taste of blood. He cut his hand and dripped blood into the vampire's mouth.

The Sun rose. At first the vampire was silent; but after several minutes he screamed. His skin turned bright red; blisters formed; hair disintegrated; eyes turned black.

The vampire hunter watched in horror.

"Oh God!" the vampire yelled.

The vampire hunter ran over and unlocked the lock, removing the chains. They ran inside.

Once inside the vampire killed the vampire hunter. He would have to find someone else.

Nicholas Schroeder is a philosopher, living in New Orleans, who enjoys writing fiction with a philosophical bent.

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