Patches of sunlight broke through the darkness. Its warm touch cut into his skin like a thousand knives, making Iérti scream in agony. He moved out of the sunlight, retreating to a shade that felt like an oasis. He struggled to make sense of what happened, having suddenly woken up by dawn's approach.

The crisp morning air felt like a cool breeze, the land and grass just waking up. Iérti dared to venture out, only to be burned once again. He stared in shock at his burnt hand, realizing he was a creature of the night now.

I'm a vampire.

The realization struck him cold. Iérti looked out at the early morning, heartbroken that he would never see it again, nor would he feel the warmth of sunlight ever again. What was once gentle and welcoming was now deadly and violent.

A million different noises hit him all at once, astonishing Iérti in that he could hear and differentiate each sound. He heard birds singing and small forest animals walking as if hearing them for the first time.

His sharp eyes were keener than an eagle's eyes, able to see more than a vast amount of distance. He could see thermo body heat from the living and sense their emotions. He could see perfectly in pitch black darkness, his vision at its clearest.

He breathed in the cool air, feeling reborn even though his life just ended. A horrible sensation started to burn in the back of his throat. Iérti knew exactly what it was and used every ounce of his will to ignore it, to instead focus on what he saw with his new eyes.

Everything was clearer than ever. Tiny particles of dust, the slightest leaf movement, the footsteps of every creature, every bird call, and every animal noise, all of it was a new hearing experience. His sharp vision caught everything, perceiving it in ways he never even imagined was possible.

The beauty of it was indescribable. He saw things in a different light. Even decaying tree stumps and dirt had a beauty of its own. Water running down streams and rivers abounded full of life, freely giving to all who yearned for it.

Iérti came forward, crouching at the water's edge in the forest. He could feel it teeming with life, life he wanted so badly. He cupped his hands and dipped them in the water, feeling the cold on his skin even though he was already cold to the touch. He drank some of the water and let it run down his face. His heart fell when the water didn't cool the deep burning in his throat. Iérti felt nothing from the water, which was as bland as air to his new vampire senses.

Despair gripped Iérti, frightening him. I can't even enjoy the simplicity of water anymore, he thought, absolutely crushed.

He tried a few berries from nearby bushes, but Iérti immediately spat them out, repulsed and shocked by how they tasted like crushed insects. A wild thirst taunted him from within, making him groan in misery. The need for blood was the most agonizing thing he had ever felt. It burned him like fire, turning his eyes red the more his body ached and thirsted for it.

had become the very thing he hated. He spent his entire life killing vampires only to become one in the end. All his raw emotions, his thirst, the realization of what he had become and what it meant for his future, resonated into a despairing scream, a cry that shook the land around him. Birds scattered, trees shook, flowers hid inside themselves, and animals scurried away.

Several distances away, Mallen smiled smugly, reveling in his work. He waited until nightfall to check up on and see how he was doing.

The former general of the East lands was seated atop a hill overlooking the mountains in the distance. His eyes were dark, his body tense and hard as stone. Tears flowed down his face like silvery moonlight, pearls of it dripping onto his clothes. He was mortified at what he had become.

Mallen tossed some silky red articles of clothing at him. They landed beside Iérti within reach.

"Brought you some new clothes," Mallen said, albeit redundantly. "I don't suppose you'll be wearing those tattered garments any longer. They've got human blood on them. No doubt it's been driving you crazy."

"You did this to me," Iérti said, his voice full of anger. "You turned me into my people's enemy. A monster. An unholy abomination."

"I consider immortality the greatest gift to be bestowed upon a man like yourself," said Mallen, not at all slighted. "I couldn't let you live the rest of your life as a lowly human. You were meant to be something greater than a general. I simply gave you the power to be that something greater."

"Power?" Iérti repeated, scoffing. "Vampirism isn't power. It's slavery."

Something resonated with Mallen. He fell silent, a reflective look coming over him. "You are right," Mallen told Iérti in a quiet voice, almost a whisper, admitting it. "It is slavery. We are bound to our thirst, cursed never to see the sun nor the light of day. Yet despite these weaknesses, we are more powerful than humans could ever be."

"I don't want power," Iérti said tersely. "I want my people, the humans, to live without fear. I want humanity to thrive on this planet, but instead you vampires have driven humans to near extinction."

"We keep humans thriving so we won't run out of – "

Iérti grabbed Mallen, slamming him into a nearby tree. "You sick son of a nightmare," Iérti growled, his face a breath apart from Mallen's. "I will use this new vampire power to hunt down and kill every last one of you bloodsuckers."

Mallen shrugged indifferently. "Good luck accomplishing that in your weak state. You'll have to feed to use your new vampire power."

"I will never give in. I'll keep resisting and hopefully revert back to my human state that way."

Mallen gave a short laugh, annoying Iérti. "There is no return from this; once you turn, you're a vampire forever. If you don't feed, you would just be torturing yourself."

"Fine, I'll stake myself. But only after I make sure my wife and daughter are safe and live in a world free from vampires."

"You will do no such thing," said Mallen, wrenching free of Iérti's grasp. He shoved Iérti to the ground. "I didn't turn you so you could kill yourself. I want you to be alive, and you will remain alive. Forever." Mallen kicked at Iérti, making him groan. "Now get up and put on those clothes I gave you."

Iérti glared at him. "Go to hell."

Mallen seized Iérti, lifting him up and forcing him to his feet. Mallen looked deeply into Iérti's eyes, saying in a deceptively smooth voice, "Do as I say, or I will get to your family before you do."

Stunned by the threat, Iérti thought about making a run. As if hearing his thoughts, Mallen added, "Don't try to run; I'll easily outrun you. I'm strong, you're weak. You need blood."

"No," Iérti murmured, stepping away. "I refuse."

"Then continue to suffer and waste away for eternity. You'll feed sooner or later, and when you do, you'll become the most powerful vampire that ever lived."

"I just want the best for my people. I want my wife and daughter to live happy and safe."

"They are no longer your people. You will never be human again. The sooner you accept it, the better."

"This is all your fault," Iérti snarled in irritation. He lunged at Mallen, attempting to choke him, but Mallen brought Iérti down in one easy move, knocking him to the ground.

"I won't repeat myself again," Mallen said darkly. "Put those clothes on and follow me, or you'll have your family's blood on your hands."

Iérti reluctantly got up and reached for the clothes. After disrobing his human military clothes and putting on the nice, luxurious vampire clothes Mallen had given him, Iérti faced the vampire, hating him.

Mallen studied Iérti, liking the way the clothes looked on him. Dark red is definitely his color, Mallen thought, a slow smile coming over his face. He nodded and said, "It suits you perfectly. Follow me."

Mallen led to the mountain range he had been staring at earlier. Iérti was silent the entire way, seething as he walked.

"You wanted to know our history," Mallen said, showing Iérti the entrance to a certain cave he pointed out. "Our history started here.

"As you know, vampires were formed out of the mystical water that brought us to this planet. Even your humankind came out of those waters. We were fiction from books that became reality. But the oldest vampire story begins with me. Or rather, it began with Crato Icertis: the first vampire."