Leon’s POV:

   Cloud was more then a dream. . .it seemed I could watch him from above and never cease to be distracted. His delicate face always had a readable expression…but that night when he had that dream…it shocked me…How could he have dreamed that? I would never bite him…I’m his protector and I’ll keep him safe.

   It was a quick haze when he woke up. I had to run away before I could save him from his nightmare…I would have saved him but if I did…then I would have smelled his blood…He called my name in his dreams with fear and sorrow. I wasn’t there to stop the nightmares. I lost my powers.

   The day seemed blank without his emotions to keep me warm, and without his imaginative day dreams to keep me calm. Suspense itched inside my veins. I wasn’t his protector anymore…I lost my powers. Now I was just like the rest of them…a vampire.

   “Leon…” Cloud croaked and he sat up slowly from his bed. His sleepy eyes squinted from the piercing morning light from the window. “Good morning, sunshine. Sleep well?” I asked as I grinned and took another sip of tea. He watched me carefully from across the room. I sat in a chair with my legs crossed like a prince. I had a cup of tea in my hands and he questioned when I drank it.

   “The smell of the tea is keeping me…distracted.” I said and that was the only way I could put it. I could have said: ‘The smell of the tea is keeping me from ripping your sweet throat out and drinking you up.’ But that would be a little too morbid for my squeamish darling.

   “Have you been here all night?” Cloud asked and my eyes looked away. “I am still your protector…I’m always with you even when I am…fighting them off.” I said and images of the snarling vampires after Cloud burned my mind. “They are after you to…end you Cloud. They know I’m with you and they will stop at nothing to…end you…” I said and my gaze met his panicked face.

   I put down my cup of tea and was sitting next to him in a flash. My arms cautiously wrapped around him and I held him close. “Leon…what ever happens…promise me you will protect me.” Cloud said and I smelled the salt water tears from him. “My arms will always be here to comfort you, my treasure…” I said and it hurt me to feel him crying. If I dare touched his face…I could have lost control.

   A few minutes past and my urge to inhale his scent grew tough to resist. “Cloud…are you okay?” I said and suddenly my body tensed up. I jolted up and launched myself to the window. “Cloud…don’t breath for a moment.” I said so blindly fast but he followed my orders.

   They were getting close…but they followed my plan. I had dove in the hidden lake and retrieved Cloud’s blood stained sheets. They were heading east now towards where I had planted the sheets. “You can breathe now.” I said and he sucked in a silent breath. My eyes scanned the room as pain sang through my veins. “We don’t have long today…Do what you can to hide your scent.” I said and my veins singed with lust for blood.

   “Leon…will you please stay with me today?” Cloud asked and his eyes were locked on me the whole time with utter amazement. At times it seemed like he was the real magical one instead of me…I was the demon and he was the angel... “Certainly.” I assured him and I managed a smile. It felt so good to smile…it’s been so long since I’ve ever had this feeling…

   His eyes blinked a couple of times to wake up. . .maybe I should have told him it was 6am. . .I took a breath and his scent was like spinning malignant soirées. My throat drank up the scent of jasmine and wild iris petals. He was down to his boxers and blood wasn’t the only lust I had. After hundreds of years without intercourse. . .I’ve never been in love but I have made love blinding mistakes. . .that is how I became a foreboding blood sucker. . .

   Cloud is dressed and standing in front of me before I realize it. “Are you ready to save your soul?” I asked with a little sparkle of my grinning teeth. Cloud nodded and he seemed oddly shy in front of me. I stood up and his eyes looked away. We were so close and the temptation was mind-splitting. My fingers drummed against my thigh. ‘If only I could control myself…I can’t hurt you…’ I thought and his menacingly pure eyes looked back at me.

   I could only imagine how soft his lips feel and how good he would taste. . . a wet taste of his risky rose petal lips would send me soaring for his throat. “Leon?” He asked and my eyes flicked like a lighter at him. “Get anything you have. Vinegar, bleach, alcohol. Anything.” I spoke and he paused before he fled down stairs.

   In your room; there is a spider and there is a fly. The spider looks quite perilous; it’s shiny black hard shell and it’s stripe of red makes the small creature like a serial killer. The fly is fat and black. Buzzing and buzzing around your head. You shoo it away but it only comes back for more of your hand play. You pick up a newspaper and roll it up like a bat.

   What do you kill? The spider or the fly? If you try to kill the fly it could take you many times before you finally smack it to its grave. Then the spider might have trickled away into a nifty little hiding nook. If you try to kill the spider in its silver stringed web; it could release itself down to the safety of the ground and at you bare feet. Or it could be smacked and when you check to see if it’s dead; it is no where to be found.

   You could wait for the spider to kill the infuriating fly and watch the crouching demon drink up the sweet mummy-casted fly. The spider eyes the fly with all its eyes. The fly curiously tests the spider’s volition as he dives in and out of the web. Should you just wait for it or should you do something?

   But what good will waiting do if you don’t know how nature will take its course? You decide to open the window and the fly escapes. Then you let the spider crawl on the newspaper and you place it outside. Let them be free and let the decisions be made by them.

   I walked down the stairs and I could guess everything what Cloud was doing by just listening to the noise. A metal pot lid makes a sound like a drum symbol as it hits the ground. He is in the kitchen. A clank of plastic bottles which are half empty. Cleaning products. The short sputter of water and a tough faucet. He is at the sink. I poked my head around the counter and there he was. Disheveled and hassled.

   He opens the lid to the factory large vinegar jug and dampens a dusty cloth. I curiously dap some amount in my hand and licked it. “Ewwwww Leon!” He exclaimed and I growled. My eyes grew sharp and a tingle of alarm crawled up his spine. “Sorry…The vinegar will work. It has similar metallic taste since it’s been under your sink so long.” I explained and he relaxed a little.

   “They are getting closer…” I warned him but instead of hoping to make him okay; he panicked and launched the jug of vinegar all over the kitchen. The bitter smell wrapped its hidden claws around the room and I stood there with a plain expression. “That wasn’t necessary but aw well.” I said and he blushed. I smiled at him and then stopped myself from touching his hand.

   His pulse was too strong and I would have been able to sense it in his hand. Cloud looked at me with bewildered eyes. I realized he saw me trembling and my hand clenched on the counter in a tight ball. I could hear them closing in. “They know where we are…Cloud what ever I tell you, you do okay?” I asked him and he nodded. “Hold on tight…” I said and before he could blink I was carrying him out the door into my dangerous speed of a vampire’s run.

   I crashed through the window of the auto shoppe and a costumer was standing there with his mouth gaping open. “I hope you don’t mind.” I said with my gentleman voice. I jacked the fastest car I could find and placed Cloud in the passenger seat. The tires squealed as I sped out of the shoppe and Cloud looked beyond mortified. His blood was pumping wildly and I raced down with rising illegal speed. The road extended out in front and the fog was thick but I could see.

   “Leon…Leon!!!” Cloud demanded for me to speak to him. “Cloud…calm down. I have you safe. They won’t kill you.” I told him but Cloud was on edge. “WHAT?! Someone wants to kill me?” He asks and I feel my senses sting. “Well…that is one of the options…” I told him “What?” He asked with a singe of questioning. “Or they will…make you one of our kind…. and kill me…” I told him and his eyes were crazy with overwhelmed thoughts. Didn't I already tell him that they want to end him?

   “Leon…am I safe?” Cloud asked and I nodded firmly. I pushed the pedal further and I was testing my calculations. “Cloud. Strip.” I demanded and he shot me a: what-the-hell-Leon?! type of look. “What?” He asked and I locked my eyes on him. “Now.” I said and he took off his clothes. By the time he looked back I was down to my boxers. “Can I keep my boxers on?” He asked and I said nothing. That question was a little too awkward for my taste.

   Cloud’s body stiffened as I launched the car off the bridge. His eyes closed and we fell. I grabbed his hand and held it tightly. The water came closer and everything was slow motion. “LEON!” He shrieked a half a second after my extreme vampire senses. I felt the vampires closing in on us. We were falling together. The car hit the water with a cascading splash.