_________________

_________________

"Katlyn?"

Katlyn turned at the sound of a familiar male voice coming from the high grasses in the meadow, just a few distances outside the human establishment in the East fortress. Wrapping her shawl more tightly around her, Katlyn watched as Mallen slowly stepped out of the tall grass, which nearly towered him. His raven hair was long and loose, slightly disheveled with a stray blade of grass on it, indicating he hid crouched down in the grass to keep from view, before rising to meet with Katlyn.

The early dawn sky was blurred with clouds to keep the sun from shining too brightly over the landscape. The summer air was cool and afresh with the scents of nature. As Mallen climbed out of the grass, Katlyn couldn't deny he was attractive, rivaling her husband's attractiveness, though she supposed his vampire nature allowed more attractiveness than humanly possible.

She watched him as he slowly approached her, all the while cautious of his surroundings. He was inside a human establishment, after all. Though they were far from guards and soldiers, away from the main part of the human establishment where most of the land's people lived, there was the chance another person might want to seek privacy in the meadows as well. If a vampire were caught inside the fortress, mayhem and chaos would ensure within the establishment. Mallen wanted no such thing to occur, not wanting any trouble, simply a moment to speak with the woman standing before him.

Katlyn's elaborate long oatmeal cream white, dark olive green, and dark red dress blew gently in the slight wind, tossing her long thick dark brown hair, and her scent, towards Mallen, but he was very self-controlled and felt no such inclination to indulge in any vampire instincts, especially towards the woman he loved.

"Iérti will kill you if he sees you," Katlyn warned him, her sharp brown eyes wary of his intention.

"I know," Mallen said softly, almost sadly. "I had wished we would become good friends, maybe brothers. But such fantasies are impossible, given his strong hate towards me."

"You know very well the reason for that hate," Katlyn told him in a low voice, as if reminding him.

Mallen glanced at her wearily. "What am I supposed to say? 'I'm sorry for loving you?' Because I'm not sorry and I do love you, Katlyn. I understand Iérti's anger, but – "

"You should leave," Katlyn interrupted, taking a step back. "I don't mean to be rude, but I don't share your sentiment, nor do I feel any anger or hate towards you."

"Do you feel anything for me? Anything at all?" Mallen inquired, needing to know.

Katlyn regarded him for a moment, taking in his handsome appearance, his fine stylish clothing, the wooden stakes in the brown leather sheath at his side, his sincerity. At last, she said, "When I look at you, all I see is a man in need. You're like a stray cat who comes begging at my door, wanting to stay with me, but alas, we do not belong together. I belong with my husband, and you belong with a woman who is suited for you. The woman truly meant for you."

"Such a woman might not exist but in mere fantasy," Mallen said ruefully. "I don't believe in destiny nor in the notion of soulmates nor the idea that there is someone meant for every person. What I do believe in is reality, in what I know is real and does in fact exist. What I feel is real, and try as may be, I cannot ignore what I feel."

Mallen cautiously took a step closer, as though he were trying not to scare away a rabbit. Katlyn felt his cold vampire hand gently grasp her warm human hand. She looked up to see Mallen's beautiful olive green eyes gaze deeply into hers. Dangerous eyes. Eyes that have led many women astray, eyes that have seduced some to their deaths, she thought. I don't see seduction nor malice in his eyes, just....pure sincerity and honesty.

"Spare yourself the trouble of pouring out your heart to me," Katlyn said before Mallen could speak. "I already know what's in your heart. Though you are known as the cruelest vampire in the land, there is good inside you that longs to be set free from the evil that holds you down."

Katlyn surprised Mallen by grasping his hand firmly, strengthening his gentle hold on her. He felt her warmth spread further throughout his hand, the surprise pressing touch electrifying him.

Katlyn's strong, dark brown eyes locked with Mallen's soft, olive green eyes. "Be the good person you want to be, Mallen," she said. "Nobody decides that for you. Not me, not Iérti. It's up to you the kind of person you want to be. The kind of person you become."

Mallen looked intensely at Katlyn, taking her words to heart. Katlyn hugged him briefly, then pulled away. Mallen allowed her to let go of his hand, already feeling the absence of her warmth. He involuntarily glanced at his hand, which seemed cold and lonely now that it was no longer being held nor touched by warmth.

Katlyn offered a wry smile and reached to brush the grass from his hair, momentarily touching his hair. Mallen attempted to smile back, but his vampire senses alerted him to a certain familiar faraway presence. He sighed sadly, saying, "I must go. Iérti is coming." He paused as he began turning towards the tall grass. "Thank you, Katlyn. I will keep your words in consideration."

Mallen disappeared into the tall grass. Katlyn stood for a moment longer, reflecting on their encounter. She heard footsteps bend the grass behind her and turned to see her husband walking towards her, dressed in dark red general attire with a silver sword in his hand. He sheathed the sword and strode towards Katlyn, wrapping her in a protective embrace.

"Don't stay out here alone like this," Iérti murmured, worry in his voice. "Even though it's dawn, vampires might still be out. It's cloudy with no sun. Unusually so."

Katlyn looked into Iérti's eyes, knowing exactly what he implied. "Mallen is the one vampire who would never hurt me. You know that. He most likely commanded all the vampires not to harm us, seeing as there haven't been any vampire attacks in weeks."

"Why would he go through such lengths to protect me? Even though he knows I'm trying to kill him?" Iérti asked.

"He has a good heart tainted with evil. There's good in him. Don't be so rushed to kill him. Beneath the cruelty of his past, I think there's a kindness in Mallen, a kindness deserving of a chance to flourish. Legends say he's the cruelest vampire in the land, but his actions tell otherwise. Give him a chance, Iérti. Not all vampires are evil. They are capable of kindness and compassion just like humans."

Iérti touched the area on his shoulder, remembering the night an unknown vampire permanently marked him with a certain protection bite. Since then, no other vampire had ever harmed him. Whenever he fought, he sensed the vampires were aware of his bite mark and thus backed away, confusing Iérti whenever he set out to fight and the vampires attacked everyone but Iérti. He long assumed the bite mark was the reason for his safety, the reason the bite mark seemed to ward off vampires. All but one who dared to come near Iérti and his wife. Iérti couldn't deny the fact that vampires were indeed capable of kindness and compassion, as that bite mark proved a certain vampire wanted to protect him. And yet....

Iérti clutched Katlyn tightly, holding her close. "I love you, Katlyn. I can't bear the thought of losing you."

"To death, or to another man?" Katlyn asked him quietly.

"Both. Especially death." Iérti eyed Katlyn warily. "You don't....you don't have any feelings for Mallen, do you?"

"I don't share the same feelings he has for me," Katlyn answered truthfully. "I see him as a lost soul. He seeks help and has chosen us to receive help from."

"He could have any woman in the land. Why you? Why my wife?" Iérti didn't relinquish his hold but only tightened it, as if refusing to let go of Katlyn. "He's not just any man; he is a vampire. The most powerful vampire in the land. For you to be entangled with such a man – "

"Perhaps there is a reason why the most powerful vampire in the land is seeking me out," Katlyn interrupted. "Out of all the vampires and humans in the land, he comes to us with no harmful intention. Perhaps we were meant to put him on the right path. Ever since he chose to connect his life with ours, he stopped cruel tendencies. Given most of it is due to his vampire nature, but I can see in his eyes he is changing, transitioning to become a better man. Perhaps this is what's needed to bridge the conflict between vampires and humans. To finally obtain peace you wanted for so long, for not just our kind but also for their kind."

Iérti struggled to accept Katlyn's words, feeling as though there were only a handful of good vampires while most of them wanted blood. Every thought of Mallen filled him with raging anger at the nerve for such a vampire to dare love his wife. Though Katlyn didn't share Mallen's affections, Iérti was still cautious and protective of her, not wanting her life to be so connected with vampires, especially with the vampire leader himself.

Iérti sighed heavily, peering into the tall grasses as if expecting to see a vampire hiding there out of sight. He turned on his heel, pulling Katlyn along as they headed back to the human establishment, the clouds parting to allow the sun to shine through. Iérti momentarily paused, looking up at the sky in bewilderment, as though somebody had suddenly let go, allowing sunlight to flood the meadows with early morning light. Dismissing it as an unusual act of nature, Iérti continued on his way, his arm around Katlyn as they walked together.

When they returned to their tent, Iérti froze at the sight of a letter outside the entrance. The letter was tied with an olive green ribbon. Instantly realizing who the sender was, Iérti took the letter and untied it. Holding both the ribbon and the letter, with Katlyn going inside the tent, Iérti read Mallen's message:

Iérti Keresi, general of the East lands and the kindest man in the land

If we may, I wish to speak with you. If you would permit a moment to put aside our differences and allow for us to speak, I would be eternally grateful.

Meet me in the forest, at the teepee you built when you were a boy. I will be there tonight, two hours before first light.

Mallen Zaliċ, leader of the vampires and the most powerful vampire in the land

Astonishment flashed through Iérti's face. He stared hard at the letter, then carefully folded it and tucked it in his sash, along with Mallen's ribbon. He went inside the tent, the scent of olive oil bread and garlic water meeting his nose. He went over to Katlyn, who was cooking eggs to place atop the olive oil bread.

"Mallen wants to meet with me right before dawn." Iérti took a deep breath and let it out. "I will go and meet with him."

Katlyn rose her eyebrows, realizing it must be something of importance for Iérti to agree to meet with Mallen. She resumed her cooking, Iérti helping her, though his mind was far away. Their young daughter Olivia sprinkled some parsley over the cooked egg sandwich.

As Iérti sat at the breakfast table with his family, drinking garlic water and eating homemade egg sandwiches, he thought about how Mallen knew about the teepee. He wasn't there that night, so how could he have known? Maybe the mystery vampire was working for him? Or maybe....

The mystery vampire was Mallen.

Iérti's hand froze around his glass of garlic water at the thought. He heard Katlyn say something, but he didn't acknowledge her, too deep in his thoughts. He felt a nudge on his arm and looked to see Katlyn eyeing him curiously, saying, "Iérti?"

Iérti was instantly jerked out of his musing and into reality. He offered a weak smile at Katlyn, saying, "Katlyn, uh, more garlic water, please?"

As Katlyn reached for the water jug, a sudden thought came to him and he changed his mind, saying, "Never mind, dear, just plain water will do. Can't have too much garlic if I'm to meet with...." He trailed off, not wanting to mention anything vampire-related around Olivia. He rose from the table, excusing himself, and left the tent for some fresh air.

Iérti couldn't focus that day, wanting it to be nighttime sooner. He went to bed early and woke up at nightfall. He paced around his room, the hours feeling long, the night seeming to drag on. He frequently glanced at the moon, keenly waiting for the hour to head out.

Katlyn helped him get dressed and ready, Iérti donning a less formal military outfit, yet still an outfit befitting the general of the East lands. He brought his silver sword along, never going anywhere without his sword. He kissed his wife and left the tent, heading for the entrance/exit of the East fortress. The guards let him through, warning him to be careful. Iérti took a deep breath as the entrance/exit closed shut behind him, the forest ahead.

Iérti walked briskly towards the meeting place. As he approached the little hideout area made of sticks and tree wood, Iérti was awash with memories of the past, memories of sneaking out of the fortress when he was a boy. Pleasant memories intermixed with memories of horror as he remembered the tragedy of the night his sister insisted on coming with him, only to be killed by a vampire later that night.

Iérti stood over the place where his sister died, where he lay bleeding to death until a mystery vampire saved his life, killing the vampire that killed his sister, then placing a protection bite mark on his shoulder, not quite near the neck, just out of sight underneath clothing.

Iérti heard rustling and turned, his hand on his sword's hilt. He saw Mallen walk out of the woods, his hands raised in a peaceful gesture as he stepped out of the forest and into the small clearing. His longish raven hair was tied back in a ribbon, his boots silent as a whisper as he strode forth.

"No worries, Iérti. It's just me, and I come in peace," Mallen said good-naturedly, keeping a distance from Iérti as he stepped forward. "Good morning to you too. Or is it good night? It's so close to morning, yet it's still nighttime."

Iérti moved his hand away from his sword, though he remained cautious. It dawned on him that Mallen was armed as well, not just with his physical strength and prowess, but also with the wooden stakes he carried with him. He doesn't trust his own kind, he realized. He trusts me and Katlyn. But why? What does he want, besides my wife?

"How do you know about this place?" Iérti asked, his voice like steel. "How did you know I built this when I was a boy?"

Mallen's cheerfulness instantly dissipated, becoming solemn. He spoke deliberately, making sure Iérti understood every word. "I was there the night your sister died. I was the vampire who saved your life and set a claim on you to protect you from other vampires."

The confirmation rang clear in Iérti's head. He took a moment to collect himself, placing a hand on a tree to steady himself from the truth: Mallen was the mystery vampire all along.

Mallen's face became concerned. He tentatively took a step closer, asking, "Iérti? Are you all right?"

Iérti turned back to face him, shock and disbelief all over his face. "You were the one who showed kindness to me that night? The one who....you were with me that night."

"Yes," Mallen verified, his voice laced with concern. He patiently waited for Iérti to get his bearings, to process what he just learned.

At last, Iérti regained himself and looked back at Mallen. The blurred memories of the mystery vampire and the figure in front of him began to connect and make sense. He took a sudden step forward, causing Mallen to recoil in caution.

"What do you mean, set a claim on me? Explain that to me," Iérti said, on the verge of demanding. He came closer, backing Mallen against a tree, though Mallen could easily escape if he wanted.

Mallen took a deep breath and released it, looking evenly into Iérti's eyes. "I set a claim on you to prevent other vampires from feeding on you. I set the claim through a carefully placed vampire bite, which leaves a personal mark on the human's body. The vampire bite has my scent permanently mixed in with it. Once a claim is set, no other vampire will be able to feed or compel the human, only the vampire that set the claim to the human. It's rare for a vampire set such a claim, even rarer for a vampire to know of this specific ability." He raised his head above Iérti's piercing gaze. "But of course, as the most powerful vampire in the land, I'm the only one who knows of this particular vampire ability and how to do it properly."

Iérti took a moment to process this piece of information before he asked, "Compel? Vampires can mind control people?"

"Only powerful ones, like me," Mallen elaborated. "However, I have never done so with you nor Katlyn."

Iérti stepped back, making Mallen inwardly sigh in relief. Part of him was glad to hear it was Mallen who saved his life, yet part of him still felt anger towards him, though the anger was somewhat abated. This explains why our lives are connected, he thought. Why I felt like someone was protecting me all my life. Why Mallen has such an interest in me. In Katlyn.

He turned towards Mallen, his voice becoming stern. "Don't try anything like that with my Katlyn. I don't want her marked."

Mallen folded his arms across his chest. "I only set a claim on you to save your life. From the moment I saw you, Iérti, I wanted you to live. If you wish to live forever, you only need to tell me and I will gladly honor your request. If you wish for the maximum protection for your Katlyn, I am that maximum protection. Say the word, and I'll – "

"Over my dead body!" Iérti suddenly roared, drawing his sword and lunging at Mallen. Mallen quickly sidestepped him and flicked the sword out of his grip, the sword flying out and falling a distance away. Enraged, Iérti charged at him, making Mallen's eyebrows raise in astonishment at the boldness of Iérti rushing at him without a weapon. Mallen easily took Iérti down, pinning him to the ground as Iérti struggled to get free.

"Let me go, you – !"

"You what? Heartless, cruel vampire?" Mallen asked, scoffing. "Is that what you think of me?"

Iérti glared at Mallen, knowing he was right that he was being unfair in calling his savior a bunch of callous names, but his pride and anger wouldn't let him have it.

Mallen held him still, barely moving while Iérti kept resisting until he eventually stopped and leaned his head back on the ground.

"You know, you have a lot of patience with me," Iérti remarked. "Another vampire would've bit me up or worse."

"I'm not other vampire," Mallen said softly, getting off of Iérti and standing up. "I mean no harm to you, Iérti, as evidenced since the night I saved your life. I did think about turning you, and I still plan on doing so eventually, but after seeing Katlyn...."

"When did you see Katlyn?" Iérti asked, almost growling.

Knowing he demanded an answer, Mallen launched into his explanation. "It was on a night I decided to check up on you. You were about to be sent to the North fortress to discuss military affairs, as well as take the place of the previous general of the East lands. I was going to let things go as they were, and I had already checked up on you the night before, but for some reason, I felt the urge to check on you again. After seeing you with Katlyn, I decided to compel the military officials not to send you to the North fortress, but to allow you to stay with your family."

"By check up on me, you mean – "

"Three days after that night I set claim on you, I disguised myself as a guard and compelled the guards to let me through. Once I saw you were in good health, I left the fortress with a happy heart. Since then, I like to periodically check on you. I usually sit on a tree faraway and survey your location, just to see how you're doing. Sometimes I watch your trainings, but always at a distance. Sometimes I came out in broad daylight, turning the sky cloudy so I can see you within the encampment. But for the first time since that time I disguised myself as a guard, I wanted to go in the fortress and see you even though you had no idea who I am, and though you never saw me until you became the general of the East lands.

"I didn't disguise myself as a guard that time, but as a civilian. I did my hair a different way, put on fragrance to mask my scent, put on different clothes, and cast aside my boots for simple leather shoes. I slipped into the fortress and began looking around for you when I saw your wife picking wildflowers with your daughter. I've seen your wife before, but that time truly captivated me. She looked so carefree and happy and beautiful. Then you came and joined your family, and I saw how loving she was towards you, and I felt you were lucky to have such a wonderful wife.

"I thought about that night many times. You have something I've never had: a wife. I wanted to learn more about what it was like to have a wife, so I watched you and your wife several times when you were outside. I think that after watching you and Katlyn several times, that was when I began to admire Katlyn for her love and devotion, for her sincerity and affection, for her understanding and care. I suppose that admiration turned to love, and here we are, rivals, when I had hoped to become friends, possibly brothers."

"You are a vampire. You can never be my brother," Iérti said in response, his voice stern.

"Not unless you become a vampire yourself," Mallen said quietly, leveling his eyes at Iérti.

Iérti advanced dangerously on Mallen, who remained still and unshaken. "I will never become a vampire," he said harshly.

"That's a discussion we'll save for another time," Mallen said as if bored. "We've chatted long enough without you damn near killing me. The sun is almost up, and I'm getting tired. I wish you a good night, Iérti."

Iérti seized Mallen by the arm as he was leaving, but Mallen pulled him forward, his eyes burning into his with sudden intensity. It was then that Iérti saw a glimpse of his vampire side, the dangerous red around his eyes, the show of strength in just a simple grasp. He realized it was one of the few rare times he saw that dangerous side of him.

Mallen's eyes softened, all traces of his vampire nature hidden away. "I am planning something of great benefit. Something that will please you," he told Iérti. "You and Katlyn inspired me, and so I will follow through with this plan of mine. You'll see it come to fruition soon. I'll be back in a week to check on you, perhaps talk with you some more after you see what I've planned to accomplish. For right now, I must go."

Mallen let go of Iérti and stepped back, disappearing into the forest. Iérti went after him, but Mallen was already gone. Iérti listened to the silence for a moment before heading back to the East fortress.

A week passed without a single vampire attack, not only at the East fortress, but also the other fortresses. Messenger birds flew bearing puzzling messages of sudden vampire withdrawal, of empty vampire nests and the construction of several establishments near all four fortresses, yet distant enough. Iérti wondered whether Mallen were responsible for any of it.

He found out when Mallen came to visit a week later, coming at night. Iérti heard a knock outside his tent door and looked in surprise to see Mallen. He waved in hello and asked Iérti to come with him. Still astonished to see Mallen right outside his tent door, yet glad the vampire seemed to respect not coming in his home, not knowing vampires had to be invited in, Iérti asked Katlyn to stay inside with Olivia while he went out to speak with Mallen in the meadows.

Mallen took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of wildflowers and the night air. Iérti stood to the side, wondering how Mallen got so confident to sneak directly inside a fortress. Mallen turned towards Iérti, his face shining with joy as he said, "Your people will no longer have to worry about my kind. I killed off all the malicious vampires, leaving only the kind-hearted ones to live. I built vampire establishments near the fortresses so we could live near your kind, yet a reasonable distance away.

"I have a secret library in the North part of the land, a library no one knows about except me. In it, I searched for a way to absolve the tense situation between your kind and my kind, and I discovered a science where we can keep a continual blood supply without having to feed on people. It's called cloning: a science that replicates a certain material or genetic form.

"I found a human with pure, untainted blood, free from garlic, living out in the land outside of the fortresses, and cut his arm to collect some of his blood. I then used science I learned from the secret library to clone his blood, thus producing an unlimited supply for all vampires. There are barrels of cloned blood available for every vampire's household. There are karnefesi lifeforms that provide a special type of freezer to keep the blood cold and to keep it from spoiling. Therefore, we can still have what we need, and humans will no longer need to fear us, for I have ordered every vampire to keep from attacking humans. I already distributed the cloned blood to every vampire so they may have their nourishment supply. What's left now is to inform your people and let them know peace is possible now."

Iérti stared at Mallen, utterly stunned. He actually came up with a way to prevent bloodshed, he thought, amazed and impressed. This will definitely bring about peace, now that vampires no longer have to hunt and feed on people.

He surprised Mallen by suddenly hugging him. Mallen remained still, fearful of an alternative motive, but when Iérti showed no signs of aggression, he reciprocated the embrace, feeling as though it were finally one of a friend.

"Thank you, Mallen," Iérti said, further surprising Mallen when he spoke his name. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this."

Mallen pulled away, looking directly into Iérti's eyes with all seriousness. "Iérti, I want peace between us as well. Can't promise I won't stop pursuing Katlyn, but I know you and Katlyn love each other, and I can only hope I can one day experience that same love from a woman I would be honored to call my wife."

Iérti grasped Mallen by the shoulder. "As long as you don't try to get with my wife, I'm willing to have peace between us."

"I'll back away from your wife," Mallen assured. "But I will continue to admire her."

"She's mine to adore."

"And yours to cherish."

Iérti looked approvingly on Mallen, a smile appearing on his face. "Come on then, brother. Let us proclaim the wonderful peace we have to offer the people."

Overjoyed by Iérti finally calling him brother, Mallen smiled and wiped a tear from his eye. He walked with Iérti as the sun began rising, shadowed by clouds. Mallen felt more encouraged and happier than ever before while Iérti felt proud of Mallen for doing what he had always wanted for his people. The two walked side by side, ready to face the military officials and send out messenger birds.

As Mallen strode through the encampment with Iérti, he saw a young woman holding a basket of jasmine flowers, a human woman with long black hair and ivory skin, wearing a dress of periwinkle blue. The sight of her reminded him of Katlyn for some reason, making him pause to look at her. He felt endeared to her for some reason.

The young woman shyly looked down at the flowers, about to scurry away, when Mallen came closer and gently asked, "Hey there, what's your name?"

The young woman looked up into his gorgeous olive green eyes. Her eyes were the same light brown as Katlyn's.

"Írásom  Cvetkov," she answered.