"Would you tell me a bedtime story?"
"Aren't you too old for that?"
"You're never too old for a bedtime story."
The man reluctantly sit at the edge of the girl's bed, knowing she will win this argument. A soft rains sings outside, and a chilly wind comes inside from the window.
"What story you want me to tell this time? About the Wolf and the Bear?"
"Not this time." she answered. "Tell me about Alejandro and the King. I love that story"
The man smiled tenderly. "Alright. I'll tell you how it went." Suddenly, the room darkened, and the only light came from a struggling candle on the nightstand. And so the man began to tell his story.
It was in the 1899 of our lord. The moon and the stars were hidden to the sight, making this particularly quiet night a specially dark one. An electric fault had turn off all the chapel's lights, and candles were often the only way to get some clarity. Nonetheless, Alejandro Holland could see in the dark as clearly as in the light. An excellent talent, considering that his interests were purely nocturnal.
One of my acolytes brought him to me and then left us alone. At first, I thought he came looking for my medical knowledge, seeing he didn't have the healthiest look. His skin was pale like milk, coupling with a face that gave the impression of being very attractive before some tragic accident. The black spots around his eyes meant exhaustion, but the look he bore was intense, almost insane. When I told him that I'd examine his body, he told me he wasn't sick, however, he came to talk about a sickness.
"Vampirism" He said, and then made a pause when he noticed that I, automatically, had raised an eyebrow. "They told me you were the one I should seek to talk about this." His voice was rough and he spoke in a sharp tone.
"Who told you that?" I asked with a smile. "Daniela Chasín." He replied. I remembered the woman immediately. Beautiful, brave and kind. Such precious woman had sought my assistance in dividing reality and fiction when it came to vampires. That was three years ago, and I haven't seen her lovely face ever since; I never knew if my advice helped her. Thinking about her brought some nostalgia.
"Dead." He said, coldly, and then he added, noticing my surprise, to soothe the impact. "She said your advice was invaluable, at least to that particular vampire. Later on she found out not all shapechangers are the same."
I cleared my throat to ask "Bear, wolf or rat?"
"Rat. A big and furry one."
My grin decayed, and I felt sorry for such a hateable end. "Well, yes. It was an useless advice for such that situation." I released a soft sigh. "Do you believe that I can help you?"
"No." He said dryly, and finally I could spot a glimpse of insecurity in those feverish eyes. "I'd like to continue this tomorrow night, if you can. I need rest and time to absorb all this." The sun peep out timidly on the horizon, casting away the shadows of my chapel. "You sleep during the day." I said with my habitual grin. To my surprise, he returned the smile in a twisted way of his, and said something I found quite curious. "When you hunt a prey, you get used to its habits." And how splendidly Alejandro adapted! This man could be a Lord among vampires.
True to his word, the man came back to my lonely chapel six days later, at midnight, with a fresh scar on his left cheek. He wore that same twisted grin on his face. "Your advice has helped me much." Said while sitting conformable. "But you must know that the Volkar have an additional quality you did not mention. They can blend with wood; they reach you out through the trees and attack you from your back. It was a rather scary surprise being caught without warning."
"How outstanding!" I said while laughing, since I found this man's unwavering determination fascinating. "And terrifying. You're lucky to have survived." Holland frowned. "I don't believe in luck." He said. "I believe in knowledge and training. Your information plus my combat skills sealed that bloodsucker's fate. I never use any kind of weapon. Bullets can miss, swords can be broken. You understand what I'm saying?" I slowly nodded. He continued "But you know what your body is capable of. I know I can land a hundred hits without losing my balance and as long as I strike first, I'll always win.
"As long as you strike first, huh?" I murmured to myself. "Then you must never be surprise." Said, speaking louder then.
"That's why I come here. You most know more about these monsters, in all their races, than any man alive. Now, you must tell me about the vampires at Bolivar City." And just how he asked, I did. There many tribes to cover: the Bonsamur, which were indistinguishable from the Bambor except under daylight, the Keerilth; that could turn into fog, the Yehkef; who not only drank blood but also ate men flesh, the dreadful Telboth; who hunted children and eventually took their place in a family, waiting patiently for years before feasting on them all in an unnatural appetite. I told him about almost all I knew.
Once again, he said his goodbyes and promised to be back soon. And then again, he came back, days later, in the middle of the night. This time, Alejandro brought no new scars but fresh news. "You were wrong about the Keerilth and their incapability to vaporize in the water." He said as he gently gave me a tap on the shoulder. It seems there were no conventional salutes for this man. "But apparently they can't travel too far in their misty form, and I was capable of tracking his way in the plains."
"That must've been frightening. Your field of knowledge is getting bigger and bigger. I'm impressed. " I told him, feeling a bit intrigued. "I should've had an acolyte like you since decades ago." Holland snorted and said. "There are no man like me: only me. Now, tell me about Caracas' vampires."
I told him as much as I could. There were many powerful tribes in the Capital, but only one stood out. A clan so mighty that they had left all their adversaries behind. Their true name were unknown to most, hidden in history, for they were expert in hidding. When well fed, no one could tell them apart from a normal alive human being. They were, also, highly enlightened, thus being the most civilized vampires of all the country. They only feed on unaware and slept victims.
"It's gonna be hard to catch one of those." Alejandro reasoned for a few seconds, fixing his gaze into nothing. Suddenly, he stood up and started leaving when he said "I'm gonna go out looking for one, and then I'll tell you what I learn and then you'll tell me about the tribes from Maracay, Valencia, Trujillo y Nueva Esparta, agree?" I nodded, knowing that this man was set on an eternal quest. He's never going to be satisfied with the little pieces of things: he had to know everything of it. Poor soul. I almost felt sorry for him.
A month passed by and he never showed up. I started to believe he had fallen in the hands of Malamores, but, unexpectedly, he came back one night. I could notice frustration and despair in his eyes, even though there were no lights on in chapel.
"I have failed." He announced as I lifted my lamp. "You were right. I couldn't find any trace of them."
I lifted the light higher to my face and smiled. He was shocked, perhaps even stunned to see the paleness of my skin, the dark hunger in my eyes and the thirst on my teeth. Oh, yes. I believe the teeth, in particular, left him astonished when he could not afford the luxury.
Oh, dear Alejandro. But I've found you. "I haven't ate in a long time." I explained to him as I leaped onto him. He didn't strike first.... or last.
-Dladesyx