Chapter 14: A companion
Year-165AD
Years in world-4,165
I was currently on my way north on a small vacation. Leaving some of my most trusted men in charge.
I planned to go north to the mountains and do some hunting and camping to clear my mind. It may not sound like fun but when you have lived in a crowded city for hundreds of years you get tired of the constant bustle and noise.
I was halfway to my planned camping grounds when I was passing by a village.
It was a little after dark so I decided to camp outside the village.
Finding a flat area not far from the village, I dropped my pack, and started collecting wood, from the close by trees, making sure to grab dry wood, I quickly made a good sized pile for the fire.
Pulling some flint from my bag, I had a good sized fire, cracking and popping in no time.
Now with a burning fire, I grabbed some of my rations from my bag.
Dried meat, and the few remaining vegetables I had packed for the journey.
The dried meat was the average affair, of bland and tasteless, while the somewhat fresh vegetables, was a boost of my morale.
Finishing my food, I pulled out a woven blanket made out of a ruff material, and laid it on the ground, so I wouldn't be sleeping in the grass.
By this time the sun had started to set, so I layed down on my back and looked up to the night sky, and the breath talking beauty it showed.
while I was watching the stars I heard a footstep behind me.
Without thinking twice I Jumped up and flipped over the fire, Drawing my sword while flipping.
Now that I was facing whoever was behind me I got a clear look at them.
It was a young teen maybe around 16 or 17 And instantly I was able to see his crimson eyes.
The teen was frozen with eyes wide in shock of fear.
As we stared at each other I looked him over.
He was around 5 feet 9 with short brown hair and sharp facial features. He wore fine clothes showing he came from wealth.
"h-how did you do that." the boy said hesitantly.
"practice," I say jokingly
Before he could speak I spoke.
"what's your name?"
"Julius, Julius agustace menisus," he replied
I slowly sheathed my sword.
"How long has it been since you turned."
He looked at me confused.
"Turned?" he asked.
"Yes, how long has it been since you were turned into a vampire?
"va-nspir," Julius said the word unfamiliar to him.
"wait have you had blood yet?"
Julius only stared at me. But I could see his eyes slowly move to my neck.
"I'm gonna guess no."
"It's actually very impressive that you, a newborn, didn't try to kill me or attack the village."
I wanted to ask more questions but I could tell he was fighting himself to not attack me so I said.
"you need blood"
"NO!" Julius said in a loud voice. "I will not become what killed my family. I will fight it"
I put my hands up in a calming gesture.
I guess some vampires attacked him and his family.
So thinking fast I said.
"You can't fight it. But you don't need to kill people for blood. You can kill animals for their blood instead. If you don't the pain in your throat will get worse"
"it won't quench the thirst completely but it will help with the pain I'm sure you are feeling right now."
Julius absent-mindedly lifted his hand and touched his throat.
"how do you know all of this?"
I chuckled and said, "Because I've been around some vampires before."
I didn't want to drop the hole I am over four thousand years old on him just yet.
He was already confused and scared enough.
"Follow me," I said pulling my cloak off. Then blurring into the woods.
Julius didn't even register that I blurred away. His mind was too fogged up with the need for blood to care.
Julius followed at a slower pace still getting used to his newfound speed.
It only took five minutes to find a large male deer lying on some grass in a small field deep within the woods.
I stopped just inside the treeline and waited for Julius to catch up.
Within a few seconds, Julius appeared a few feet from me clearly not wanting to get close to me and lose his internal battle and attack me.
I pointed at the deer and said.
"let your instincts take over an- ." before I could continue Julius blurred towards the deer.
In three seconds Julius traveled the seventy yards and tackled the deer.
And instantly bit into it's jugular.
So for a few minutes, I waited as he slowly drank the deer dry.
Once done Julius let go of the deer's neck. Letting the head thud onto the earth.
He had blood running down his face and covering his hands.
Julius slowly lifted his hands to look at them blood-soaked.
And from where I stood I heard him whisper.
"what monster have I become?"
I blurred to Julius's side kneeling beside him and slowly putting a hand on his shoulder.
"you are not a monster Julius. Monsters are the ones that kill the innocent for no reason or for fun."
"you are still the same person except now you are a little different is all."
"a little. I am a monster that craves blood." juliu
"If you were a monster then why didn't you attack the village and let yourself fall into the blinding thirst for blood?"
He didn't say anything.
"Instead you fought it."
"or when you came to my camp you never attacked me. Even when the thirst was stabbing at you."
Julius dropped his head down and began to cry.
With chest-rattling sobs, he let his emotions out.
I enveloped him in a hug letting him grieve for his family who is more than likely dead and the fact that he has become the same thing that killed them.
And now he was the young man filled with emotions. Scared and alone.
After a few moments, Julius began to regain his composure so I released him.
"come on I will answer any questions you have"
Standing I walked to the dead deer. Picking up the back two legs in one hand I began to pull it behind me with ease.
While Julius followed.