I was on fire. My body was burning up, flames shot through my veins. I moan, tossing and turning. Hands were all over me, holding me down.

"Keep holding him down," I faintly hear someone whose voice I didn't recognize said. I growl, tossing my head around. The hands holding me only added fuel to the fire. I must've said something because I heard someone say something along the lines of I wasn't on fire. Bull-crap I wasn't on fire! I was burning up. It was so hot in here. If only I could get some water for my parched tongue.

I try opening my eyes but I couldn't. It was like they were glued shut, impossible to open them without tearing my eyelids. The flames intensify. I flail around even more.

"Patrick, Patrick! You're fine, you're okay." Someone repeats over and over again. I wasn't focused on the person, I was more focused on trying to breathe. It was becoming increasingly difficult. Something pricked my neck and instantly like a switch had been turned on, cool, icy water replaced the fire in my veins. The flames die down quickly as my body accepts the refreshing coolness.

"The flailing stopped. Whatever the Priest gave us, must've worked because he doesn't look in pain anymore." Another person says. I don't care who or what they are. I fade back into the dark, cool waves again.

°°°°

I jerked awake, startled by something cold being put on my face. I open my eyes slowly.

"Ah, you're finally awake?" Joe says, as my eyes come into focus upon his face. I groan, then tried to sit up. He hands me a washcloth, and I shake my head. I didn't need it. Joe smiles faintly. "You gave everybody quite the scare when you were screaming and tossing around on the table. Then after that died down, we were sure you wouldn't wake up when Alex woke before you."

"How's Alex?" I ask groggily, laying back down.

"He is fine. He recovered well and is now with Jack and them." I frown.

"How long was I out?"

"You were unconscious for a week and a couple of days." That got my attention.

"I was out for a week?" I said in disbelief, my voice scratchy from not having any water. Joe nods.

"And a couple of days," he added. I sigh, glancing at him. His eyes were red, he had dark bags under his eyes from lack of sleep.

"Joe, go get some sleep buddy," He stares at me, hesitation filling his eyes. "I will be fine, promise," I add, he nods, putting the washcloth in the sink.

"Andy went out with Kellin to restock our food and medical supplies." He pauses at the entry of the kitchen and looked back. "I'm glad you woke up Patrick, we don't know what we would've done if you had died." And walked away. I lay back down on the table.

I can not have been out for, by the sounds of it, almost two weeks. It's impossible! I think, holding up my sore hand. The old bandages were still on by the looks of it, which means that they never even bother to mess with it. Then again I also told them that I had sprained it so they don't even know of the bite. I sigh. And because they don't know about the bite yet, it is going to be a bummer to take the old bandages off, clean the wound, and then dress it back up again. I was not looking forward to it. I close my eyes once again and slowly drifted back to sleep.

°°°°

Someone shakes me. I stir and opened my eyes. Kellin stares back at me with tired, annoyed eyes.

"Patrick you need to wake up. The Priest is here to speak with you." He says. In a low voice, he adds. "You need to be careful with the words you choose, he doesn't sound very happy."

"He won't be pleased with what I have to tell him," I mutter, getting up. With unsteady legs, I follow Kellin into the living room. In the middle of the room, wearing a white cloak, the hood covering his face. The only thing that was visible were his pale lips. Andy and Joe look up at me. Andy's eyes were full of relief as he saw me standing in front of him. I don't think either Kellin nor Joe had told him that I had woke up.

"All of you may leave. Mr. Stump and I need to exchange a few words." Joe and Andy got up and followed Kellin out of the living room. No doubt they were probably going to the training room to train. "Please, be seated," The Priest says, voice rumbling as he gestures to the couch. Reluctantly I took a seat, not wishing to piss him off more than he probably already was. He took a seat on the recliner that was moved to sit across from the couch. It was quiet for a couple of minutes, and then he spoke again.

"I think we both know why I am here." He says, pausing, waiting to see if I was going to object or say something. I don't, he continues. "A week and a half ago, on the morning of April 25th, there was a vampire attack. During the attack, you used bloodstone bullets, but I don't care about that. Towards the end of the rescue, before you lost conscious, a vampire appeared out of nowhere and protect you and your friends from the other vampires, am I correct."

"Yes."

"Now, from what I gather, this was a male vampire, about an inch maybe even two, taller than you, black hair and brown eyes, wearing a red jacket, hood covered most of his hair. Am I wrong?" I think for a second before answering.

"No."

"As I thought," The Priest mutters. "It is Him."

"Huh?" I say in confusion.

"Right now, I should be lecturing you about how the use of bloodstone bullets are illegal and how I could have you exiled from this place, but in honesty, this is much more important right now." The Priest pulls out a manila folder that was about as thick as my arm. He hands it to me. I look down. It black lettering it reads Case Number 183A. And then, stamped in red, was the word confidential.

"Now you listen," The Priest says in a very serious voice. So serious, it scares me a lot. "And listen really well. You cannot tell anyone, and I mean anyone of this mission I am about to give you. Your team has already been informed of the minor details but not the major. Have you ever heard of Zaveria Calibr?"

"I faintly know about him. I know that he was the only one who survived the Project Immortality when the scientists were trying to make humans immortal, but instead, they created a monster that is known today as the vampire. He was the father of all vampires in this world. That's all I know." The Priest was silent for a moment and then he spoke.

"Yes, that is true. Not only did the scientists create a monster and the father of all vampires, they also created something not known to humans. They created a legendary creature who developed powers all by himself. Now how Zaveria did that is completely oblivious to us. Now with that said, there are actual descendants of his who got some of his true powers. There are at least ten different vampires who got partial of those extremely powerful powers, except their powers are only half as powerful as Zaveria's were. There were only two vampires who were gifted with his full-fledged powers. 183A and another one who is unknown.

The vampire that you and your team have described to me sounds a whole lot like 183A. The only problem with 183A is, I don't believe he has unlocked his true powers at all. He spends way too much time cursing the one who has turned him. Also, the other problem is we have no idea who turned him." He gestures towards the folder. "Well, open it!" I hesitate and then open it.

I gasp. The face in that was paper clipped in the top right corner was hauntingly familiar. 183A was the same vampire who saved my friends and me.

"Judging by your facial expression, I assume 183A is the same one as you described to me." I nod as I stare at the photo. It was a photo of183A wearing the same red jacket, hood covering most of his hair except for the strands that were above his dark brown eyes. His white gleaming fangs were bared at something that the camera didn't capture. His dark brown eyes weren't brown, instead, they were dark blood red with anger. He was mad at something- or maybe someone.

"Well," The Priest says at last, standing up. "You can keep the folder. Just don't let anyone else, excluding your team, see this document. All we need is to have excitement go through the whole town of what survivors are left. Your missions are listed in the folder. Everything is really clear when you read through it. The only thing you are going to have problems with is finding him. He is really good at hiding. I bid you farewell. Don't fail me, Stump." And the Priest left, leaving me with the confidential folder and missions that are probably impossible to complete. I sigh.

"Kellin, Joe, Andy, I know you three were eavesdropping this whole time so you might as well come out here." The three of them came out from behind the kitchen corner with guilt written all over their faces. "So you guys know the scenario, and what's going on." They nod at the same time while Andy and Kellin sat down on the couch beside me while Joe scoots the recliner a little bit closer towards us. I set the thick file on the table.

"Okay, guys," I said, rubbing my eyes. "Let's get the whole 'read through this file and you will understand what's going on crap' done and over with."