David was walking through the desert, parallel to the road. Just visible to his sensitive eyes in the starlight, a human trudged along it. Another exile, no doubt. David had spent the last night tailing a caravan, but a group of vampires, very strong, probably eight or nine of them, had been following it too, and eventually he was forced to break off, before they figured out who he was. He couldn't possibly take that many. It had been frustrating, but he had better hopes for tonight. The exile was almost certain to draw in vampires, and he could already sense a group, not that large, approaching.

His keen hearing picked up a faint, distant sound of voices. He stopped, trying to listen. He couldn't quite make out the words, but the tones were that of argument. And the group he had sensed was no longer moving.

I wonder what they're arguing over? Well, perhaps I should go and see! He turned and trotted out into the desert towards the sound of voices. But before he'd gone far the argument reached a crescendo and he could just hear a female voice screeching "Fine! Go join the other pack out there then. We're not going anywhere near it! And if it turns out to be the thing that's hunting vampires, I hope it kills you slowly!" The source split, most of the vampires in the little group moving away, further into the desert, but one coming closer.

David grinned. He hadn't faced just one in a long time. He stopped, letting the vampire approach him. It came walking up slowly, warily. When it was within sight, it stopped. "Who are you?" The voice was male, and sounded young, though David knew that meant little. He said nothing, merely standing there, sword still sheathed, cape flapping ever so slightly in the gentle night breeze.

"Where is the rest of your pack?" said the vampire, sidling closer.

David still kept silent.

"Speak to me!" snapped the vampire, and then it pushed at him with a mental attack, trying to force him to say something. The shove was of no more than average strength, and after just a moment of passive resistance, to be sure the other was fully committed, David lashed out, instantly overwhelming the weaker vampire's mind. The vampire staggered, then froze, held helpless.

A few moments later David was walking back towards the road, the vampire's corpse lying still behind him. He heard the human's footsteps ahead, faster now, though the man was stumbling with weariness. He sighed. The man must have heard something of the vampire's shouting, and now was trying to run away.

Well, I guess I should go tell him he doesn't have anything to worry about. And... I do need to feed. His expression turned sour. His life would be so much easier if he didn't need to take human blood.

He broke into a run and effortlessly overtook the fleeing human. Grabbing the man's arm, he was about to say something, when he suddenly caught a glimpse of his face. His very familiar face.

He stood for a moment in the road, staring at Alek, his old nemesis from Georgetown. Alek stared back, wide-eyed. "D-David?"

David recovered himself, and was unable to resist the urge to grin widely as he answered. "Indeed."

Alek let out an little yelp of fearful shock. "You're a vampire! Oh god, you're going to kill me!" He started trembling, and then whimpering in fear.

David looked at him. It was very tempting to toy with his old enemy. Alek had gotten him exiled. Alek had ruined his old life thoroughly. But... no. He was not going to be like the other vampires, using humans for his own amusement.

"Oh hush," he said sharply, a bit irritated with himself for even considering playing such games. "I'm not going to kill you. I'm not even going to hurt you." But he couldn't resist adding, "At least not much. Now come on. You're nearly half way to Wind City, we should be able to reach it tonight."

Alek blinked at him, completely confused. Then realization dawned. "You're the one they tell stories about, the vampire who saves people."

David smiled sardonically. "Bravo. Yes, that's me."

"I, um..." Alek looked if anything even more confused than before, and still rather fearful as well. Davis shook his head and sighed, finding he was unable to be angry at the man.

"Come on. We need to get going." He turned and headed down the road, and Alek followed after.

They hadn't gone far before Alek started stumbling again. He stopped for a moment and stood, panting, in the road. David turned back to him.

"Sorry," he said between gasps for air, "I ran, earlier... too tired..."

David looked at the exhausted man for a moment, then he simply picked Alek up and set off at a brisk pace. Alek made an abortive sound, as though he were going to protest, but then fell silent.

When they were within sight of Wind City's glowing barrier, David set him down. "Here we are. There are no other vampires nearby, so you should be fine."

"Thanks. I... uhm... I'm sorry about before, about your exile."

David chuckled. "It worked out all right in the end. Though... if you want to pay me back for it, there is something you can do for me."

"What?"

"I need..." he hesitated. He hated, really, to talk about it. "I need blood," he finally said simply. "I could just take it from you, but... I'd rather not have to."

Alek blanched, and David could hear his heart rate go up. The thought obviously scared him. But then he took a deep breath and held out his arm, wrist turned up. "Okay."

"Thank you," said David softly, putting all his genuine appreciation for his old enemy's willingness to help him into his voice. Alek looked away as David took his arm and raised it to his lips, and flinched when David bit down, but he didn't make a sound.

After David had taken what he needed, he said, "You can call us even now."

Alek rubbed at his wrist, and nodded. "Yeah, I guess so." He paused, then added, "Though you saved my life tonight too, so I think I owe you extra."

David shrugged. Then he had a sudden thought. "Maybe... can you tell me about... my family? Are they okay?"

"Man..." A guilty look went across Alek's face. "I don't see them much, I don't think they'd like having me around. But I'm pretty sure they're okay. I think your mom is pretty sad, but... nobody blames them, at least, for you or that vampire. Nobody's seen him since either, I guess he's gone somewhere else, or he's dead... But yeah, they're okay."

David sighed. "I'm glad. I wish I could see them again, but..." he trailed off. "Ah never mind. I need to go."

Alek nodded. "Goodbye. And... thanks again."

David smiled. "Thank you too."