The sound of soft humming is what woke Grian up from his unconscious state, his entire body feeling numb and exhausted, the Brit could barely recall what had happened. He couldn't move, the short male felt almost paralyzed as he struggled to open his eyes. A figure stood above him, a small rag that had been stained with blood sat in his mouth, his fangs digging into the cloth. His crimson eyes sparkled in the candlelight, as he seemed to be cleaning the bloody wound on Grian's chest.

"W-what?! Y-you're-" Grian was about to speak as he sat up, trying to pull away from the monster, who's red eyes went wide as they realized that the human was awake. The bloody rag dropped out of his mouth, the vampire placing his hands on Grian's shoulder, staring into the human's eyes. The red color in his eyes faded, the color changing to a dark purple, staring into his eyes sending a feeling of calm and peace through Grian's mind and body,

"S-sorry.." he suddenly apologized, the man pulling away as his eyes returned to normal, Grian's eyes returning to a cool shade of blue as he shook his head. Fear caused his stomach to twist into knots, he could easily tell that the man standing in front of him was a vampire. Pale skin, red eyes, sharp fangs, it all matched up with this tall man standing in front of him.

"I didn't mean to hypnotize you, I-I swear! I barely even understand my powers, they just activate when I'm nervous!" The vampire tried to explain, but Grian shook his head, backing away to the edge of the bed that he had been resting on, keeping as far from the creature as he could.

Grian tried to stand, but he clutched his gut in pain, his legs wobbling a bit. The vampire moved to catch him, but the human wouldn't let the creature near him. He leaned on the wall for support, the bloodthirsty monster backing away into the corner of the room. He wasn't that far away from Grian, as the room that they were in was incredibly tiny.

"I thought vampires lived in big fancy manors," Grian said with a mumble, a hint of terror in his voice. He didn't know what else to say, he couldn't hate the vampire that had saved his life. The raven-haired man shook his head before he spoke.

"I couldn't live in a manor, even if I wanted too," he spoke quietly, his crimson eyes looking towards the ground as he fidgeted with his thumbs. "It..it would draw too much attention to me. I'm just trying to blend in the crowds and try not to get noticed, or else I'll be hunted down before I hurt someone.."

"You're hiding from people? So why would you bring me here?" Grian asked nervously, he was almost expecting the vampire to attack him and take his blood.

"I-I couldn't just leave you in the forest to die! That's inhuman!" He said while looking up from the ground, locking eyes with Grian. He sounded so genuine and serious, the human could tell that he wasn't like the rumors described.

The vampire looked away after speaking, his eyes moving back to his shoes. "I-I'm Mumbo, by the way..." he said with a quiet voice, Grian slightly smiling at the vampire.

"Grian," he said while extending his hand towards Mumbo, who slightly flinched, almost as if he was expecting the human to attack him. The vampire noticed that he wasn't trying to attack, Mumbo slowly reaching towards him and taking his hand, lightly shaking it. Grian smiled. "It's nice to meet you, I can't thank you enough for saving my life."

"W-well, it wasn't much.. I just cleaned up your wounds...I hope you don't mind that I took a bit of blood from off your chest, I used a rag to clean off the blood, a-and my hunger got the best of me-"

"Mumbo, it's fine! You weren't the one to make this wound, and you can't resist your instincts, I understand.." Grian said in a comforting tone, the mustached Brit slightly smiling at him.

"Thanks.." Mumbo smiled, his fangs flashing as he did so. Grian winced at the sight of the pointed teeth, they weren't something that he was used to seeing. Though the human was nervous, Grian knew that Mumbo could have taken his blood while he was unconscious, but he seemed to only want to help.

"I'm sorry, my house isn't very big, and I don't have much, but you can stay here as long as you'd like." Mumbo offered with a twinkle in his red eyes, the vampire leaving the cramped bedroom to allow Grian to get some rest.

But sleeping was the last thing on Grian's anxious mind.

He followed Mumbo out of the room and into the kitchen, which wasn't much bigger than the bedroom, but Grian didn't mind. The vampire opened one of the three cupboards on the wall, jars full of crimson liquid catching the human's eye, his stomach beginning to knot at the sight of so much blood.

"O-oh, sorry, t-that must be kinda unsettling for you." Mumbo said as he noticed Grian's sick expression, the vampire quickly closing the cupboard.

"It's all from small animals, and it doesn't hurt them when I take it. I only eat when I really need to, so I don't drink blood constantly..it's every couple of weeks at the very least.." Mumbo explained as he tried to sooth Grian's nerves, he didn't want another human thinking that he was some kind of monster. After all, he wasn't always a vampire.

There was a moment of awkward silence between the two for a few moments that seemed to feel painfully long. Mumbo cleared his throat as he turned towards the front door, grabbing his black cloak as he prepared to leave.

"I don't any food here, other than a few jars of blood. I'll run to the village and get what I can for you."

"Could I tag along with you? I'd prefer to stick by you rather than sit around, and if the king's guard somehow finds me-"

"They won't," Mumbo promised as he put up his hood. "We're to deep in the forest, they know about the things that lurk here, even the bravest knight wouldn't dare to come here."

"But still, my friends think I've been killed in the forest, I need to at least let them know that I'm alive!"

"Alright, you can come. Just try not to draw any attention to yourself." Mumbo said as he grabbed a tiny leather pouch, a few silver coins jingling on the inside. Grian smiled, following the vampire out the door and through the forest, heading towards the large village on the other side of the trees.

-

"I'll just stop by the bakery, grab a bit of bread, then we'll head right back home..If anyone sees me-"

"You'll be fine, Mumbo." Grian assured the vampire with a smile. "My friend Stress owns the bakery, and my other friend Iskall is normally hanging out there with her! This works out perfectly!"

"Great...the sooner we leave this village, the better. Most humans aren't as accepting as you, they don't exactly see me as a living creature, more like a bloodthirsty monster." Mumbo said, his voice in a cold growl at the mention of humans. Grian frowned, but he didn't say much, the two walking down the street and towards the bakery.

Mumbo entered first, noticing a familiar short brunette and taller male with a fluffy beard and eyepatch. He instantly regretted stepping foot in the shop, the vampire keeping his head low as he tried not to be recognized by the two.

"Just...just a few loaves of bread please." Mumbo said while dropping a few coins on the counter, Stress smiling sweetly as she took the payment. The raven-haired Brit glanced towards the door, noticing that Grian was outside looking at something on the wall of the bakery.

"Here you are!" She said while handing the vampire three loaves of bread. He quietly thanked her, turning to leave, but an accented voice called out after Mumbo.

"Do I know you?" The man with the eyepatch questioned, Mumbo keeping his back facing the two as he spoke.

"I..erm...come in every now and again." He said while pushing open the door, quickly leaving the bakery without letting the man say another word.

"We should hurry and go, Gri.. I'm not sure how much longer I can stay here." Mumbo said while glancing around the streets, people were starting to whisper to one another while staring at the hooded vampire.

"You might wanna see this first.." Grian said with a shaky voice that was barely a whisper, the human pointing at the wanted posted on the bakery wall.

Wanted:

A creature of sorts has been spotted lurking in the village. Disguised as a human, though they have been seen to wear a long black cloak and hood. They have been described to have a mustache, red eyes, pale skin, and fangs.

If the creature is spotted, report to the royal guard immediately.

Wanted Dead or Alive. Bring to the king's palace if found, a reward is set in place for those who retrieve this creature.

Mumbo was dumbfounded. He grabbed Grian's wrist, glancing around nervously at the humans that had their eyes locked onto the vampire, he was beginning to panic.

"M-Mumbo?"

"We need to go, now."