Elliot walked silently through the forest, a bag filled with empty jars hanging from his belt. The air was fresh, almost icy, typical of those autumn nights. He knew that the vampire who lived in the old mansion on the outskirts needed her nourishment. He had volunteered, not out of devotion, but from a strange mix of fear and fascination. His task was simple: gather blood from animals. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if she had to feed on something... or someone else.

  Every night, Elliot returned with jars full of fresh blood, enough to keep her sated without the need to hunt humans. It had been nearly a year since he met the vampire, who never spoke to him—only taking what he brought and retreating into the shadows. He had never seen her face completely, always hidden in a shroud of darkness. But he knew, at some point in her life, she had been human.

  The process of gathering blood had become mechanical for him. He spent hours in the forest, trapping small creatures, draining them skillfully and without emotion, then returning to the mansion. It was a routine that, though macabre, no longer disturbed him.

  That night, Elliot was back on his usual path, the full moon illuminating the sky. The branches cracked under his boots, and the jars of blood clinked in the bag. Everything seemed peaceful until, suddenly, three figures emerged from the trees.

  “Well, well! What do we have here?” said the leader of the group, a man with a cruel face and scars crossing his cheek. “You seem to be carrying something interesting.”

  The other two quickly surrounded him, while Elliot tried to remain calm. One of them grabbed the bag, examining the jars with mockery.

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  “Blood? What kind of crazy person carries this around?” said one of the lackeys, dumping a jar onto the ground with disdain.

  “You’d better hand over everything you have,” the leader added, pulling out a knife.

  Elliot wasn’t a fighter. He tried to step back, but soon realized there was no escape. He prepared for the worst, helpless to defend himself. The feeling of powerlessness washed over him, his body trembling with fear. The men began to advance, but before they could harm him, a shadow rushed past them.

  Out of nowhere, she appeared.

  The vampire, his silent protector, had arrived. She moved with an unnatural grace, her eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. Before the men could react, she had already dealt with the first one, his neck snapped in an instant. The second tried to flee, but she was faster. In the blink of an eye, his body hit the ground, lifeless. The third, the leader, tried to defend himself with the knife, but it was futile. With a precise strike, she immobilized him and let him fall, dead.

  It all happened in seconds, a lethal dance under the moonlight.

  Elliot stood frozen, shocked by the surprise and horror. He had never seen the vampire fight, let alone like this. It was like witnessing a force of nature unleashed. When the last of the thugs fell, she turned to him. For the first time, their eyes met.

  “Thank you…” she said, her voice soft, cracked with effort. “My name is… Dana.”

  Before Elliot could say anything, Dana collapsed into his arms, her body fragile, yet still powerful. Her skin was as cold as ice, and she seemed to have exhausted all her strength protecting him.

  Carefully, Elliot lifted her, surprised by how light she was. Despite her fierce appearance, there was something profoundly human about her in that moment. Without hesitation, he began walking back to the mansion, carrying the vampire who had saved him.

  The night had changed forever. As the wind blew through the trees and the shadows stretched long, Elliot realized that his relationship with Dana had evolved. He was no longer just a blood collector. Something more had been born between them, a bond that went beyond need. A connection forged in the darkness, where he didn’t just care for her, but now she would protect him as well.