He'd been lonely for so long, decades passing in the blink of an eye after he had left his mortality behind to become something more. But nobody had mentioned how lonely one became after the thirst for knowledge dried up, the desire for worldly possessions vanishing, all to be replaced by the simple desire for companionship. The need to have another who understands how it feels to still exist after everyone he knows has died and turned to dust, who would look at him with something other than fear. Someone who would see him, rather than the monster he had become.

So Miro began to search, refusing to give up, no matter how many cities, countries or continents he had to visit. And once he found someone to call his own, he swore he would keep them safe, no matter how many places he would have to destroy or people he would need to kill to do so. A few dozen civilizations was a small price to pay to have his beloved safely at his side. Although to be honest, he would ruin the world if that is what it would take.

--------

Standing atop one of the large dunes that filled the desert, Miro watched as the glint of water flashed again in the distance, a shockingly large river winding through the sand far ahead of him. He could barely make out the shape of a few dwellings a short distance from the banks of the river, a small village further away, as movement along the shore caught his attention. He tried to make out if it was from human or animal, curiosity grabbing him for the first time in ages.

Maybe he would be able to find a larger, richer village further along, someplace that might hold one worthy of being his companion. It was time to start gathering information so he knew what to expect from these desert dwellers. Not that he expected that much at the moment, glancing again towards the mud and reed-covered huts that barely provided protection from the weather.

~~~~~~~~

The smell of the reeds filled my nose as I reached out, grabbing a small cluster before cutting them free with my knife. Shifting slightly to place them gently into my basket, I reached out again, my fingers curling around yet another handful of reeds. After filling my basket with enough to suit my needs, I stood up and lifted it to rest against my hip, one hand lifting to wipe away the sweat that came from a hard days work.

Having started my work later than usual and thus going home late, I could only pray for Khonsu's light to guide me home safely as Ra guided his boat safely beyond the horizon, taking the last of the day's light with him. It was by the blessing of Khonsu, god of the moon, that his light shined fully upon the land this night instead of a sliver like it would have been mere weeks ago.

After making it safely home, hearing a jackal calling out only for a short time before the sound came to an abrupt silence, I went back out after putting away my supplies. I was determined to give my thanks to Khonsu in the only way that ever felt right to me.

I couldn't tell you how long I spent dancing upon the moonlit sands that night, my hair shifting in the soft breeze that passed along the banks of the Nile, but it didn't matter if it was mere minutes that passed or if it was hours. All that mattered was how, when I finally came to a stop, I found myself gazing upon a man whose features could only belong to a god.

It felt like time stopped as his red eyes burned into my own, his pale but still golden skin contrasting handsomely with his long black hair, streaks of red looking like blood under the moonlight. The strong allure I had been caught within broke only when he turned suddenly and walked away without a word having been said, leaving me to watch as he seemed to vanish between one step and the next.

Already exhausted from my dancing, the shock of seeing a god had me falling to my knees, wondering if I had been blessed to have seen him or if it was a sign of things to come. Several minutes later, I climbed to my feet again and began making my way home, planning on making an offering tomorrow, hoping to keep any favor from the gods I might have gained this night.

My dreams that night were filled with repeated images of the god I had run into, the name of Khonsu whispered from the shadows around me as I kept trying to catch up to him in my wild night-time imaginings.

The days that followed were quiet and uneventful, leaving me to wonder if that whole night had, in fact, been a dream filled with nothing but my own wishful thinking.

--------

Never had I expected to find the Pharaoh's guards standing before me, telling me that I was requested to come with them to the palace. Knowing it was not the place of a mere basket weaver to refuse the Pharaoh's request, I could only nod and prepare myself for the long trip to come.

Although I was as calm as could be expected on the surface, only the smallest signs of worry flashing across my face and pulling my lip between my teeth from time to time, in the back of my mind circled a dark cloud of dread as I wondered what I was being called before the Pharaoh for. Had I done something? Was there a rumor about me going around that I didn't know about, beyond the usual ones people spread when one didn't quite fit in with the rest of the villagers?

With these thoughts and more, I stepped out of my hut for the last time, a small bag containing the few things I could think to bring slung over one shoulder as I took a deep breath and steadied myself for what could be the most life-changing trip I would ever make.

Glancing at the sun just peeking over the distant sand dunes, I followed the guards as we began the long journey ahead of us, ignoring the growing whispers of the few villagers that had gathered.

--------

Days passed as we traveled further and further from the familiarity of home. The closer we got to the Pharaoh's Palace, the more I had to fight the urge to slip away into the sand dunes at night. It didn't help that they refused to tell me why I had been summoned, simply repeating how it was 'The Pharoah's command' before turning away and proceeding to ignore my presence.

I would have been insulted by their behavior if I didn't understand that I was far beneath them in social stature. The fact that they had been sent to retrieve me instead of a regular guard was strange enough. I think if they had treated me as anything other than a lowly basket weaver I might have died of shock.

As much as I disliked it, I understood my place in the world very well. It was one of the few things keeping me from running off into the darkness, although it did not stop my nightly prayers to Khonsu, begging for him to find favor with me once more and guide me to safety.

The only answer I ever seemed to receive was a strange pull that continued to grow stronger as we came ever closer to reaching the Palace.

--------

We were a mere day's journey left in our travels when we settled down for our last night outside the safety of the city that held the Palace. As the sun passed beneath the horizon, we could make out the distant flickers of the fires that marked the guard posts along the Palace walls. Within the distant city itself, torches moved about with patrols, barely visible under the bright light of the crescent moon that Khonsu sent into the sky.

Hearing the faint sound of the guards even breathing as they finally fell asleep after filling their bellies with the evening meal, I slipped quietly into the darkness, wanting to send my prayer up to Khonsu one last time before I faced an unknown future.

Finding a place where I could feel the light of the moon upon my face, the soft tugging from the not-too-distant city making itself known once more, I began my nightly ritual of dancing.

~~~~~~~~

Miro stood on the walls of the Palace, his face turned towards the distant fire he had seen in the desert, feeling a strange sensation in his chest as he did so. He knew it must be the one the Pharaoh had called for, the man's interest peaked when Miro had spoken of the reed gatherer who had danced under the moonlight. Well, once he had mastered the language of these people after listening to them for a few days.

It had struck him as rather amusing that they seemed to think him to be one of their gods, but he was not about to refuse the chance to walk freely among them as he searched for his destined one. After all, what better place to search for a worthy person than in a palace?

No matter how interesting that person had been while they danced under the moon and stars, he couldn't imagine that his destiny lay with anyone other than someone from the upper classes. After all, even after centuries of existence, no low-born human had ever proven themselves to be intelligent enough to hold his attention for more than a moment or two at best.

However, there was surely no harm in seeing if they were dancing again, this person that had been the first to call him Khonsu.

--------

He watched quietly as their limbs moved gracefully under the faint light of a crescent moon, eyes closed as they danced across the sand. It was unlike the dances of the males and females within the Palace, less constrained and practiced looking but still eye-catching.

Miro was sure the Pharaoh would enjoy watching them dance before him, seeing something that was different than the usual dances he saw each day. Not that anything was wrong with those dances, but Miro knew how easy it was to become bored with seeing the same thing every day.

Maybe that was why he found himself smiling a bit as he watched this person as they glided across the sands, looking almost like they were ready to take flight when they lept up at one point, arms raised as if to catch the stars. And for one moment, before he could catch himself, he felt like he wouldn't mind helping them to do so.

Shaking his head to clear away such thoughts, he turned around and headed back to the Palace, ignoring the feeling of their eyes following him as the dancing came to a halt.

~~~~~~~~

He had been there again, watching me even more intently than the first time, and I could only hope Khonsu had approved of the dance I gave to him. Maybe his presence here meant he would answer my prayer and keep me safe until I made it back home. After all, what could a Pharaoh want with a lowly basket weaver?

With hopeful thoughts of a swift return to my familiar hut and the reeds nearby, I lay myself down on the thin blanket that shielded my skin from the sands and pulled the second blanket over me.

Tomorrow would be the day I found out what my future held... if I had a future at all. After all, a Pharaoh's whims were known only to the gods.

--------

"Dance?" The question hung in the afternoon air as I stood there, beyond confused at the thought I might have been brought so far for such a thing as dancing, especially since not many had seen me dance before. How would the Pharaoh have even heard of me, let alone known that I danced?

With a subtle motion of his hand, a mere twitch of his fingers, the Pharaoh had his guards step forward with a command to dance. I knew that if I failed to obey, my very life would be forfeit. With a quick thought to the god I normally sent my dance to, I began moving my bare feet across the floor in a pattern that was known only to me and my chosen god.

Khonsu, please watch over me and guide me once more.

--------

It was nightfall by the time I was finally able to leave the Pharaoh's presence, my body exhausted after spending so many hours either dancing, kneeling before the Pharaoh as he spoke to his servants about how I was to be treated as his newest dancer or standing quietly in place as I realized that as one of his dancers, I had become little better than a slave.

I might have only been a basket weaver before, but at least I had the freedom to come and go as I pleased, to decide for myself when I would and would not dance. Now it was up to another what I could or could not do and when I would be brought out to dance before a man I knew nothing of other than the fact he was my Pharaoh and I had not the ability to deny him if I wished to live through each day.

His guards had made it clear enough that they would run me through with their blades if the Pharaoh even hinted that he desired my end. Since I still wished to live in hopes of making it home, I'd had no choice but to obey his commands and pray that he would grow bored with me quickly.

I soon fell asleep to the feeling of linen softer than I had ever touched before enveloping me, the bedding of much finer material than I had expected. I hadn't expected the Pharaoh to be so generous to his slaves and servants as to offer such a luxurious room for a mere dancer.

--------

Days passed quickly as I spent them either dancing for the Pharaoh and his court or wandering the Palace. I did my best to avoid the other dancers after the first few run-ins I had with them, hearing them argue with me that dancing was supposed to be structured, filled with meaning and order.

Obviously, my style of dancing did not meet their standards, especially since my own dance was ever changing with my moods, thoughts, and reasons for dancing. I also never danced with another person, not once in my entire life, regardless of gender. Sure, I had danced in front of Khonsu, but that was different from dancing with someone.

I had never had to match my movements with another being, never had to worry if I and another would collide mid-step or not be dancing to the same beat. It seemed that the Pharaoh had no desire to force me to dance with another, either, since the one time someone had commented upon it there had been a moment of total silence before the Pharaoh had made a quick movement with his hands and the person had been escorted from the room.

Nobody had dared speak out near the Pharaoh since then, but that didn't stop them from trying to harass me at every opportunity they had. Thus my aversion to being in their company, although I could only avoid them so much when we lived in the same Palace. I could only be thankful that somehow my room seemed to be far from theirs since I never saw them within the same corridor as me when I was entering or exiting my living quarters.

--------

It had been nearly a month before I found out how the Pharaoh had heard of me. I was awaiting the command to dance when the Pharaoh's face lit up with a smile, his eyes focused on the entrance to his throne room as the soft chattering that usually filled the room died down.

Startled by the sudden silence, I looked up to find the source of the quiet attention and was unable to stop my gasp of shock. Standing there at the entrance of the room was the very god I prayed to each night, begging him to free me from this place.

Seeing his scarlet eyes fix upon me at the sound I made and widen ever so slightly in shock, I could only blush and attempt to cover what I could of myself with the outfit I wore as a court dancer. Sure it wasn't that much less than I usually wore during the hottest days at home, but that was at home where I didn't have multiple eyes looking at me like I was a piece of meat. Or equally bad, like I was less than nothing.

With pleading eyes, I looked back at him, silently begging him to take me back home where I belonged. When he blinked and turned away, refusing to look my direction again, I felt my heart sink a little. It was at that moment I realized I must not have appeased him enough and silently promised myself I would find a way to regain his favor and hopefully gain his help in attaining my freedom.

The Pharaoh was exceptionally pleased with my dancing that evening, although the eyes I had hoped to catch only rarely glanced my way before turning towards one of the nobles of the court and beginning a conversation with them.

--------

It would continue like this for several days, me trying to attract his attention long enough to attempt to appease him and him mostly ignoring me as he spent time with one person after another before any change occurred. In fact, I almost missed the change occurring.

It was in the middle of a celebration feast, congratulating the Pharaoh on the birth of his first son, that I saw the first change in Khonsu's behavior. I had been awaiting my turn to dance before the Pharaoh, his son held within the arms of his young wife as she sat next to him when I felt eyes upon me. It was not that unusual to be stared at as a dancer, some people hoping to persuade you into offering a 'private dance' in exchange for jewelry or favors of some kind or another, but this gaze was familiar for different reasons.

Looking up and across the room, I was met with brilliant red eyes, the familiar scarlet seeming brighter than usual this night. Giving him a curious look, wondering why tonight of all nights he had chosen to finally look my way, I was answered only with a soft smile before his attention finally wandered back to the Pharaoh who had begun to speak.

When my turn came to dance, I felt that burning gaze upon me the whole time and when I finished, I was unsure if I was shocked or not to see him leave with one of the young courtiers that had been flirting with him all night.

~~~~~~~~

Although he still found himself wishing for someone of better breeding, Miro finally found himself admitting that none of the people he had found among the higher classes seemed capable of holding his attention. Not like the dancer did, even when he tried his best to ignore their presence.

It was impossible to keep his eyes from wandering to them as they danced, watching the way their hips would move with each step, the graceful way their body would twist and turn throughout each dance. Ever since his return from a trip to search the other cities under the Pharaoh's control, Miro had found it almost impossible to keep his mind on his task of finding a suitable mate who could even come close to matching him in knowledge or skills, even lowering the standards to mere human levels.

It was before the Pharaoh's party for his new son that he was made to realize his mistake, an offhand remark from the Pharaoh himself making things clear to him as he mentioned his difficulty in finding one worthy of being at his side forever, even if the Pharaoh failed to realize that he never specified a gender in any of their talks.

"If you cannot find such a woman, why not find one who matches your desires enough that you can live with her while you work on teaching her the rest?"

The mortal was right, to a point, Miro would never find a human who was perfect in all ways. No human could match his intellect gained from centuries of learning, just as no human could have the skills he had perfected over that same period of time.

If he wanted someone who could match him in mental strength, he would have to teach them himself, a task he suddenly found himself looking forward to. He could be the one to show them the truths of the world, avoiding having to deal with someone already set in their beliefs. All he had to find was someone he could see himself spending enough time around to teach them everything he knew.

With a smile, Miro began thinking of the only human he'd met so far that had managed to keep his attention for more than a few hours at best. A human who was less than he had been looking for in the past, but with this new way of looking at things, might turn out to be exactly what he needed. Someone who he could mold into the perfect companion to spend eternity with.

The entire celebration, Miro couldn't stop his eyes from following the dancer's every movement, and when he finally watched their dance in its entirety, he couldn't help but feel like he was seeing them for the first time without judging them for their status. This human was truly breathtaking.

They could become perfect, even if they were not there yet.

~~~~~~~~

At first, all the staring had been reassuring, leaving me feeling like I was finally doing things right even if I hadn't changed anything about what I was doing. I still spent my free time wandering about the Palace grounds, although it was more enjoyable than it used to be as I grew to know the places I went a little more with each visit, and I spent the rest of the time dancing for the Pharaoh or practicing for special events.

After the feast for the Pharaoh's son, things became quieter for me. After a late night run-in with the other dancers, it was impossible not to notice them suddenly begin avoiding me shortly after the occurrence. It was the disappearance of the lead dancer that had me feel the first hint of fear, the quiet acceptance of her vanishing not helping the chills I felt at all.

Over the following weeks, I found myself the focus of Khonsu's attention more and more often, beginning to feel vaguely unsettled by his ever-watchful gaze. The day he actually came up to me and started a conversation, his voice soft but deep, I almost dropped to my knees in shock if not for his hand coming to rest on my shoulder as he voiced his concern for my health. I had gained the attention of a god, my own chosen god since childhood, and it was far more intense than I had ever thought possible.

The rest of the night had been a blur as he began talking to me, asking questions that I rarely had the answer for and him attempting to teach me what he could. I must have been able to hold on to enough of what he said because I remember at the end of the night's festivities, he walked me to my room with a smile.

I had finally done something to really please him. Now if I could just find the chance to ask him to help me escape, without the Pharaoh or one of his guards overhearing me.

--------

So many months had passed since I'd first seen my chosen god appear before me that night. So many times where I was unsure if I was blessed or cursed by the event since everything I was going through had seemed to begin after that one event.

I had gotten to spend the past weeks walking the same halls as my god walked, talking to him and learning various things from him. He even seemed to delight in how quickly I was learning what he taught me, the smile that appeared on his face when I answered correctly causing my very breath to escape me for a moment. Truly this made me feel blessed, perhaps as the Pharaoh himself must feel.

At other times, I felt cursed beyond measure. The dancers had stopped harassing me, sure, but the other servants had begun to avoid me as well. I no longer was welcome within the kitchens, asked to take my meals elsewhere lest I bring misfortune upon one of the servants working inside. Sure I had the attention of a god, but it was also becoming known that those who had wronged me in the past were now suffering for it.

It seems that along with his attention, I had gained his protection as well. If only he would give me my freedom so easily, but every time I tried to ask for his help, he would look at me for a time before he told me that I needed to have patience. He'd promised to take me away from the Palace when the time was right, but it seemed like it would be a long time coming.

Maybe... Maybe I should actually ask the Pharaoh how and why he had chosen me to be one of his dancers? Surely he would be willing to grant me an audience after this long of me serving him. If I was lucky, perhaps I could beg him to set me free and find out what it would take before he would grant such a request.

--------

"Khonsu?" My voice trembled as the name slipped past my lips, my mind going blank as the Pharaoh's words seemed to echo within my mind.

"Yes. He is the one who told me of the talented dancer he saw upon the sands one night. And I must say, he was correct about his statement. You truly are talented, beyond expectations," the Pharaoh's voice seemed to fill the room, even though he barely spoke above a whisper as the guards in the corners of the room shifted.

I fell to the floor as my knees buckled out from under me, the feeling of betrayal draining the energy from within me. The god I had worshipped for so long, with such faith and fervor, had been the one to cause my loss of freedom. The same god who had promised to help regain that freedom, the one who watched me every day, taught me things I hadn't even realized could be possible.

He was the only reason I was not at home right now, enjoying the feeling of the reeds between my fingers as I wove basket after basket with love and dedication. My own chosen god had betrayed me, stolen my freedom, ignored me when he finally saw me again, and when he finally stopped ignoring me, had pretended to be someone I could trust.

Allowing the Pharaoh's servants, who I hadn't even realized he'd called into the room, to help me back to my quarters, I ignored the concerned gaze of Khonsu as I wondered what path to take from here. I could no longer rely on the god I had trusted for so long. And if I couldn't trust him, who could I trust?

--------

I no longer went to the lessons that Khonsu had planned out for me, ignoring him when he called out to me as I passed him in the hallways, even avoiding meeting his gaze during the dances. Not able to see him in the same way I had in the past, I could no longer dance as freely as I used to.

Even the other dancers had noticed me faltering during the evening dances, but they knew better than to make any remarks about it. Not that they had to when I could see the confusion and not quite hidden laughter in their eyes. They might not be able to figure out why I was no longer dancing like I used to, but they enjoyed the frequent mistakes that came from it.

It was on the night of the full moon that the god of light confronted me, refusing to let me leave his presence until I explained to him the reasoning behind my avoidance of him. Breaking down in tears, my feelings of betrayal clearly written on my face, I spilled what I had found as I once more fell to my knees before another.

After listening to everything I said, Khonsu stood in silence before turning and walking away, leaving me behind with just a few words. Before even an hour could pass, he had vanished into the night without a trace that he had ever existed other than our memories.

Only the Pharaoh had seemed to know that he left, giving me a knowing look when he saw my tear-streaked face the next day. The soft words he spoke to me about 'Khonsu' were little more than gibberish to me in the mental state I was in that day.

Although I knew he was not human due to the amazing things I had seen him do when he thought nobody was looking, I knew little more than that and the words he had spoken to me the previous night before leaving.

"I am not your god Khonsu, although if I was I would still have fallen in love with you. I apologize for the sadness I have caused you and promise it was never my intention to hurt the one I would end up loving. My name is Miro and I swear I will return to you someday in the future when I have done something to earn your love in return. Until then, I wish you happiness." The regret in his voice was the only thing that kept me from completely hating him for the lies he had spoken.

In weeks that followed, I came to realize that not once had he ever called himself Khonsu. Not once had he claimed to be the god we had named him to be, realizing the smile on his face at hearing the name hadn't been one of a god happy to be recognized as who he was, but rather of one who was going along with children playing pretend.

It was not he who lied to us, but rather we had been lying to ourselves, so desperate to see that which was not in front of us. In our desire to see one of the gods before us in the flesh once more, had we ignored the arrival of a new god? It was too bad that I seemed to be the only one who knew the truth.

This knowledge put many shadows upon the happiness I should have felt upon the Pharaoh finally granting me my freedom, claiming that Khonsu had requested it as a favor before he had to return to his home. The gift of freedom was accompanied by enough wealth to make the return trip home and still have coins left to not worry about affording food for years to come.

I refused to accept most of it, taking only what I would need to get home and survive until I could weave new baskets to sell at the market, sending the usual gift of the best to the priests for use in their ceremonies.

--------

The seasons had come and gone, a few years passing quietly before I heard from the Pharaoh again, him asking me to come to his Palace as a guest this time. He wished for me to dance once more upon the polished stone of his throne room, this time in celebration of the birth of his newest children, a set of twins which was a rarity among the royal line.

Letting the messenger know I would prepare for the journey and be on my way there before nightfall, I began packing up what I needed and let my nearest neighbors know I was leaving for an unknown period of time. At least this time I could count on them to watch over my home, having moved my home to a better area over the years.

Once it had become known that I had been the favored dancer of the Pharaoh, my baskets had begun selling faster than I could keep up with the demand. Although I had wished it had been for the quality of my goods that they sold, at least I knew that regardless of why they bought them, they were getting good baskets for their money and I didn't have to worry about how to afford what I needed.

Another bonus was that I lived in a city closer to the Palace, although it was still a journey to get there. Days instead of weeks, but still a journey.

--------

"Kho-... No, not Khonsu. M- Miro? It was Miro, wasn't it?" I questioned the being before me, his black hair like ink under the moonlight as the streaks of red seemed to shine once more like fresh blood.

The smile that lit his face would have made me smile in return under other circumstances. Sadly, I couldn't feel anything but an overwhelming despair at the events surrounding us. The smell of reeds filled the air, barely masking the scent of burned flesh as the night air finally began clearing of the smoke that had filled it just hours ago.

"You remembered, my love. I told you I would be back for you, that I would return after earning your love through a deed. I have spent the past years since leaving you traveling, searching for a land worthy of presenting to you and upon finding it, I turned it into a kingdom where you would be honored as the goddess you will become! Surely such a deed is worthy of your love?" his voice seemed to waver for a moment before he raised his head to me, a twisted form of passion burning within his gaze as he continued his mad words of devotion. " If not, then I shall conquer as many lands as you desire! I would crush empires in your name, build new ones from the ashes that will reflect your perfection through the ages as we rule over them!"

Within his eyes, I could see a vision of the world awash in flames, unsure if his madness was caused by my long-ago rejection of him or if it was something that had been buried within him the whole time. Had his 'love' for me driven him mad or had it merely unleashed the nightmare that lurked within his mind already? Unsure of which it was but knowing that either way, I had been at fault due to my own part in his spiral into madness, I lifted my face towards the monstrous being before me and gave him a broken smile of my own.

"You need not conquer any more lands, for you have already conquered me with your deeds. Let us go to the land you speak of and let the rest of the world live in peace while we do the same. I would leave my homeland with no more blood spilled in my name," I whispered softly, knowing he would hear every word as his eyes watched my lips move like he used to watch my body dance.

"Of course, my love. Anything you desire. Anything at all," he responded to my words, his bloodstained hands reaching for me before he paused, looking down at his hands as if disgusted before he walked quickly to the Nile and thrust his hands below the rushing waters.

I could only watch on in sadness as I saw the red liquid slowly vanish into the sacred waters of the gods, knowing that even if I could escape, all it would bring is more blood and sadness. There would be enough sadness in Egypt from tonight's events, the death of the Pharaoh already set to wash the sands of Egypt clean with the tears that would result.

If my freedom was all it would cost to ensure no more deaths would result, then so be it. I would rather be a prisoner of my own free will while the world remained free of Miro's grasp than wander free and watch as the world burned while he searched for me.

--------

In the passing centuries, I watched quietly as the world around us changed while we remained the same. I had learned what Miro was when he turned me, changing me into a bloodthirsty creature like himself. It had taken time, but I had come to accept my fate at his side. After all, what other would accept my cursed self?

The coppery streaks in my hair after the change marked me easily as something other than human, not to mention the red that had tainted my own eyes just like his. The fact that I no longer aged meant even if I did find a human to love me, they would either leave me once they realized I did not grow old with them or they would stay and I would watch them die. That or I make them into another creature like myself, something I couldn't stand the thought of doing.

No, there would be no escape from this fate, no matter how many centuries passed. Miro and myself, we were bound together for eternity, whether I wanted it or not. And the more time that passed, the less I fought the feeling of warmth that grew within my chest. The less I argued about the servants he killed when he felt they got "too close" to me or looked at me "with those lust filled eyes of theirs". The less I hated the sight of blood upon his hands and the flavor of it upon my tongue when the hunger grew too great to resist.

The longer I existed, the less I remembered how it felt to be human. And the more I came to dwell within the same madness as he did.

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, falling madly in love with a monster like him?