Part Four, The King of Night.

"How's it going?" asked David as he seated himself next to Mack in the grass in front of the cabin.

"Pretty good," said Mack. "I watched the sun set tonight. I've never really been the type, you know, to get all mushy about sunsets and sunrises and that kind of thing. But it's sort of a funny feeling, that I'll only see one more of them, ever."

David nodded. "I know the feeling. But you're ready?"

Mack nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"Do you want the others here, or would you rather be alone?"

"Man, you're going to be biting me on the neck. It'll be the gayest thing I've ever done. I think I'd just as soon be alone."

David laughed. "At least I haven't been hitting on you, which the vampire who turned me was doing at every opportunity." He sobered then. "Now?"

Mack nodded again. "Yeah."

"All right. Just stay there then, and I'll do all the work."

Mack nodded once more, and sat up straight. He closed his eyes. David could hear his heart racing and knew he was more nervous than he looked. David got up and knelt behind the larger man. He placed his hands on Mack's shoulders and, seeing no reason to delay, he bit into Mack's neck, hard and quick. Mack didn't flinch or make a sound, he just stayed still, and David heard his heart rate slowing, knew that he was dropping into the peculiar floating trance of blood giving.

David drank deeply, taking more than he had ever allowed himself before, the feeling heady, exhilarating. Still he remembered his own change, how close Aidan had come to killing him outright, and he still measured and counted out his swallows. He stopped well short of the danger point and sat back. He felt curiously alive, a tingly, energized feeling that ran from his center to the very tips of his fingers. He nearly expected to look down and see electricity crackle on his hands, but they looked the same as ever.

Mack opened his eyes as David pulled back. "Well, that part was easy, at least."

David shook himself. "Yeah. This next bit shouldn't be too hard either." He pulled out the little folding knife he'd pocketed before coming out. He flipped open the blade and in one quick motion he drew it across his wrist. Aidan had used his own fangs, but David doubted his ability to do that without looking like an idiot. The knife was an easier alternative.

The blood that welled up in the cut was slightly darker and thicker than human blood, but only slightly. David held out his wrist to Mack. The big man took it a little hesitantly, but then he bent his head and drank. Just one swallow, and he straightened up again. "That's it?"

David nodded. "That's it. Aidan told me it was possible for somebody to die in the instant after drinking and still come back. But he also said it's better to take no chances, and I agree. So... tomorrow."

Mack nodded, looking as serious as David had ever seen him look. "Tomorrow."