"Same reason any claustrophobic, which woke to find themselves buried alive, would."

"Claustrophobic?" I touched my neck. "How can a vampire be claustrophobic?"

David laughed. "We carry over many human traits when we change. We can be moody, thoughtful, arachnophobic, afraid of heights-many things. We're still mostly human in so many ways."

"And this guy was afraid of enclosed spaces?"

"Right. And even if he wasn't, imagine, for a second, being trapped in darkness, compounded by a force you cannot see-not knowing which way is up or down." He studied me thoughtfully. "I told you a vampire's emotions are stronger?"

"Yeah."

"This claustrophobic vampire woke in darkness, terrified. As he clawed at the soil for three days, his fear became anger and his anger became fury. When he finally took a breath, he vowed revenge on all who ever laid eyes on him. Then, he stumbled into town and obliterated every soul."

"What a bastard!"

David laughed again. "Well, he did leave one alive-a small boy. Does that make him more likeable?"

"Depends," I said. "Why did he leave him alive?"

"The boy, who reminded him of his own son, attacked the vampire with the jagged edge of a broken branch. Amused by the fearless bravery of the boy, the vampire took the spike and jammed it through his own heart, faking his death to satisfy the boy's hunger for revenge."

"How noble of him."

David smirked. "Anyway, from then on," he continued, "the human race decided, since the wood the child used originated from a tree on consecrated ground, that these Demons of the Night could be taken down by all things holy. Word spread and, like a disease, the rumours grew into the myths you still hear today."

"Hm." I considered his tale.

"And do you know what the name of that small boy was?"

"I'm sure you're going to tell me."

He nodded, smiling. "Van Helsing."

"And that's a true story?" I asked.

"True story."

"Well...if that's true, why wouldn't you just correct them-the humans, I mean-tell them the truth about the whole demon rumour thing?"

"Because, the lies assist with our cover." He shrugged. "Those who can walk in the day, go to church or wear a cross, can't possibly be one of these demonic creatures, and so, we can remain secret-live in peace."

"Wow."

"Yeah. You'll find most of the myths about my kind were started in much the same manner." He smiled nostalgically and looked away. "We do love our grapevines, we who walk in the night."

"Grapevines?" My brow arched.

"Ha! Yeah. Borrowed that one from your dad."

"That was so not cool that you would've been better off saying we do love a bit of intrigue."

David paused and studied me with soft eyes. "You would have fit well in my time, girl."

"I fit in fine here, thank you." I folded my arms. "So, why didn't he wake up?"

"Who?"

"The vampire. When they buried him-why didn't he wake up?"

"Oh. He was drunk."

"You can get drunk?" My words burst out in a gust.

"Of course we can-" He laughed. "We can use drugs, too."

"Really? Do you get addicted, like humans do?"

He shrugged dismissively. "Don't know. Never met a vampire who used drugs. But I'll be sure to ask if ever I do."

"Thanks. Appreciate it."

"Any time." His sarcastic smile spread the corners of his lips widely.

"Okay, so, on with the interrogation."

"Be my guest." He motioned a forward hand to me, as if ushering me through a door.

"So, vamp myth one-oh-one; a crucifix won't burn you?"

"I hope not." David reached into the collar of his shirt and pulled out a heavy gold chain with a cross on the end of it. "I wear it whenever I go to church."

I doubled back internally. "So, you are religious?"

"A little." He smiled and dropped the cross to his chest.

"But, you're also...dangerous?" I concluded.

"Very." He smiled malevolently; a shudder crept up my spine.

I didn't want to think of those who'd come to learn that as their last lesson. Slowly, I started my questions again. "How can you believe in God-and then go out and murder?"

"It's not murder."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not. It's nourishment-necessary for survival. Does a farmer murder a cow?"

"That's different."

"Why?"

"Because a cow..." I bit my lip. "Because they...well..." I threw my hands up. "I don't know. What do I look like, a priest?"

David laughed. "I love it when you know I'm right."

"You're not right!" Anger forced pulsing blood into my cheeks. "You believe in the Ten Commandments, pray at church, read the Bible-but you can kill the man sitting next to you without so much as-"

"Uh-uh, hold it right there, missy." He held up a finger; I snapped my gob closed. "I said I believe in God, not the Bible, not the ways of the church. They are not the same thing."

"How are they not the same thing?"

"Live as long as I, and you will see. Now-" he folded his arms, "-we're not having a religious debate. There are more important things to discuss at this moment."

"Fine." But I didn't want to talk. I was too mad.

"Can you remember anything I've told you so far?"

"No."

"Yes, you can." He smiled, rolling his head a little to one side. "Recite it for me or I'll read your mind just to check you were listening."

I looked up at him, fury turning to rage in my eyes. "Fine." I took a deep breath. "You're...a...a God-fearing variation of normal human makeup, caused by a hidden polarity in the genes that's activated when vampire venom mixes with your blood after being bitten?"

"You're a very fast learner, Ara-Rose." His face lit with surprise.

No, I'm not-I just hang off your every word.

David grinned. I looked away.

"There aren't many of us, you know. If that makes you feel better."

Good! "Why?"

"As it stands, fewer and fewer humans over the years have been known to have this gene. It seems to be breeding out. We've not had a successful turning in decades. Consequently, my kind has been forbidden to create vampires without approval."

"Forbidden? By who?"

"We have a society. Just like you," he said. "We live in peace, mostly, but there are laws we must follow, and consequences. We can't just walk around doing whatever we please-or killing whomever we please."

"Really? So, the killing's controlled?"

"To a degree."

"Oh..." I unfolded my arms. Civility among murderers? "What other laws do you have?"

"Well-" He looked over at the window for a second, then took a short breath. "We're not allowed to occupy positions of power or fame, in order to maintain cover. And, if we're in a situation or accident which would be fatal to a human, we absolutely must be reborn."

"Reborn?"

"Yes. Start a new human life."

"Oh, is that why you can't be famous or anything, 'cause it would be hard to hide after you 'die'?"

"Exactly. Especially these days with things like television and photographs. It makes disappearing really problematic."

"So, what else? I mean...can you fly, do you still grow hair, do you sleep upside down in a cave?"

David scoffed lightly, pressing the back of his wrist to his upper lip. "You really love your myths, don't you?"

I shrugged.

"Ur, well, we do still grow hair, so...sorry, if you become a vampire, you still have to shave your legs. As for sleeping in a cave...upside down-" He merely raised a brow to answer.

"What about fly?"

He hesitated. "Like I said...we can manipulate the elements. Some of us have mastered the ability to become completely weightless and move through the atmosphere-suspended above the earth. But not all can, and it's only for short distances. It takes decades of practice."

"But, can you?" I prompted.

Uncertainty controlled his smile. "Yes."

"That is so cool." It was the only cool thing-everything else was disgusting and infuriating, but flying was cool. "So? What else can you do?"

"Well, at this point, I can officially inform you that we are a secret society-so, much of the information about our laws and abilities, I cannot divulge." He smiled, his eyes becoming small. "Even though I already have."

"But you can reveal yourself? People can know what you are?"

"Only on one condition." He paused and took my hand. "That is why I told you I must leave, Ara-in the hope that it might come to this-to you finding out once and for all about me, about what I am. Otherwise, I would've just left you."

"Like you did to all the others?"

"I never said that."

"You move on every two years; you must've made friends. Am I the only one you-?"

"You're the first human I've ever told, yes."

And for some stupid reason, that made me feel special, close to him. But I didn't want to feel like that anymore; I hated what he was, and I wasn't sure if I actually might've hated him, too. But I knew that some part of me didn't want him to go away. Not for forever. My lip quivered. "So, you can tell me that you're a vampire, but you have to leave if you do?"

"No-" He pulled my face against his chest. "Silly girl. No. I can tell you only if I'm sure that you're-"

My head whipped up to see his face when he went quiet. "I'm what?"

"I guess the right words are...my significant other." David almost read over his own words in the air, then, seeming happy with the terminology, looked at me. He smiled, pressing his finger under my chin until my teeth fit back together.

Significant other? "But...you're a vampire. I can't be your significant other, David. We can't even be together."

He swallowed hard. "We can, if you loved me enough."