• Tyler had never felt like this before. Pain ripped through his body like a jolt of lightning. It tore a scream from his throat that bounced off the high walls of the alley, doubling its torturous sound. The mysterious man Tyler had met just moments before in a dive bar now stood over Tyler, his eyes shining in delight. Tyler cried out from the pain that ravaged his body.
    Gabriel watched as the venom began its deadly journey throughout Tyler's body, killing him slowly. Gabriel savored Tyler's anguish; he soaked it in like a sponge.
    "Who are you? What do you want?" Tyler choked out, teeth clenched against the storm destroying him from the inside out. Gabriel smiled, flashing his perfect white teeth. It was difficult for Gabriel to hide his fangs, since he usually stayed within the comfort of his sprawling home.
    "Who I am is not important at this time. What I want...is you." He said with a seductive smile. Tyler's entire body convulsed as the fire scorched his veins, changing him.
    "This must be very painful for you, Tyler. Your body is changing, elongating. Soon you'll be perfect. You'll be strong, powerful and infinitely beautiful. Women will fall all over you, but you are mine and mine alone. Remember that." The man whispered as he dropped to his knees and his face filled Tyler's sight. Tyler could feel the air being squeezed from his lungs, an invisible vice locked around his heart.
    Panic flared in Gabriel's gut; his breath hitched in his throat. What if Tyler didn't survive the change? What if, after centuries of tracking and waiting for the one who could ease the ache in Gabriel's soul, it all came crashing down on him? Gabriel didn't think he could wait another century. His eyes searched Tyler's, looking for any sign that the transformation was going awry. He found nothing, just pure, unbridled hatred. It was nothing Gabriel hadn't seen a thousand times before.
    "Get away from me." Tyler muttered under his breath.
    "What did you say? Come on Tyler, speak up." Gabriel said menacingly. He didn't usually use the menacing act, but Tyler needed some tough love. Tyler groaned as he struggled to breathe.
    "Get away from me! Leave me alone!" Tyler bellowed in rage. Spots flashed in Tyler's vision, blinding him briefly.
    "What did you do to me?! Answer me!" Tyler spat.
    "Don't be so upset Tyler, it's unbecoming. Soon, very soon, you will be content with what you have become." Gabriel replied gently.
    "Please, who are you? How do you know my name? Tell me!" Tyler pleaded to the man, who grinned.
    "You may call me Gabriel." "The change is almost complete. Then you will see life with new eyes." Gabriel stated as he rose from his knees and sighed audibly.
    "This is taking much longer than I anticipated. This had better be worth the wait." Gabriel thought to himself as he leaned casually against a wall. Tyler writhed on the ground, tears streaming down his face. Tyler thought that he was going to die from the pain that was eating him from the inside out.
    "Please, help me!!" Tyler hollered at Gabriel, who turned away. Gabriel loved Tyler since the first time he saw him. It was hard enough being a vampire in a world that no longer accepted them, but Gabriel also had skeletons in his closet that had haunted him his entire life. He hoped that Tyler would love him the same way, but it was a small hope. Tyler's body seized one last time, and he was left panting on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead.
    "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Gabriel asked as he strode towards the street.
    "Where are you going?" Tyler asked as he rolled onto his side, "You can't just leave me here after what you've done. Answer me, Gabriel!"
    "I'm not leaving, yet. You will be staying at my home. It’s a few blocks from here. Get up."
    "Why should I go anywhere with you?!"
    "The sun will be up soon. If you don't come with me, you burn to death. That's why." Gabriel replied sharply.
    "No I won't!"
    "Yes you will! You may not realize it yet Tyler, but you're a vampire now. You can no longer be out in the sunlight."
    "What are you talking about? You're crazy! Of course I can be out in sunlight. Vampires don't exist, they don't. You're just some crazy old..."
    "Really Tyler? Vampires don't exist? How can you be sure of that? Have you ever met one?"
    "No but..."
    "Then how do you know they aren't real? I'm a vampire, and I'm real. If they weren't, I wouldn't be here. Think about that." Gabriel stated as he helped Tyler to his feet. Tyler struggled to get away, but it was hopeless. Gabriel had a firm grip on Tyler's arm, and he wasn't letting go.
    "Let go of me!" Tyler shouted.
    "No. You need this Tyler, or you'll die."
    "Stop saying that! Stop lying!"
    "I'm not lying. Believe me, I wouldn't lie to you."
    "Why should I believe anything you've told me? I don't even know you!" Tyler ranted as Gabriel dragged him from the alley and down the street.
    "Quiet. You're causing a scene." Gabriel scolded him as Tyler clawed at Gabriel's hand. "Stop it Tyler! You're acting childish."
    "I'm only 18! I'm still in high school." Tyler replied with tears. He gave up on trying to get away from Gabriel. Soon, they approached a huge mansion on the end of a silent, empty street.
    "Here we are! Home sweet home!" Gabriel announced and held his arms out. Tyler's mouth dropped in awe.
    "You live here? This place is amazing." Tyler exclaimed as he walked up to the front door. Gabriel followed close behind, smiling broadly.
    "Wait until you see what's inside." Gabriel responded proudly. Gabriel thrust open the door and sighed in content. Tyler gasped aloud as he stepped into the mansion's foyer. High vaulted ceilings rose 20 feet above Tyler's head.
    "Oh my God..." Tyler stuttered and his words echoed high above him. A winding staircase lay before him, and long hallways beckoned to him with the darkness at their ends. Great murals covered the walls from floor to ceiling, depicting biblical scenes and works by famous artists that the world had never seen before.
    "Where did you get all this stuff?" Tyler pondered, eyes wide with boyish wonder.
    "People I've met over the years. 400 years, give or take a few." Gabriel replied as Tyler's jaw hit the floor.
    "You're over 400 years old! That's..."
    "Impossible? Believe me Tyler, it’s possible. 400 years ago in London, I was turned by whom I thought was my one and only. I was wrong. She turned me a year after we met. I was so furious I couldn't think straight. So, I killed her." Gabriel explained as he strode to the staircase and sat down on the steps. "You must think I'm repulsive. Go, just go!" Gabriel wailed as he buried his face in his hands. Tyler walked over and sat down next to Gabriel.
    "You're not repulsive, and I'm not leaving. I'm staying here, with you." Tyler said as he grabbed Gabriel's hand and kissed it gently. He thought it would help. Gabriel seemed like the type that needed constant attention.
    "Don't get too attached. You're going to realize that I'm a horrible monster and you're going to leave...just like everyone else." Gabriel sobbed as he pushed Tyler away.
    Tyler tried to comfort him, but Gabriel was right. Once Tyler knew that Gabriel was okay, he'd leave. Tyler scooted closer to Gabriel and took his face in his hands. Gabriel's gaze traveled longingly over Tyler's body. Tyler lifted Gabriel's face and caught his eye. As he stared into the black pools of nothingness, Tyler felt his hatred for this man deliquesce away. Gabriel felt the urge to sink his fangs into Tyler's neck once more.
    "You want to feed off me, don't you? I can see it in your eyes." Tyler muttered as his hands slid away from Gabriel's visage. Gabriel looked down at his feet in embarrassment.
    "Yes, it's true. We cannot be outside, as I've said before, and there's no one else here but us." Gabriel remarked as he rose from his seat upon the stairs and began toward the front door.
    "Gabriel?! What are you doing? Where are you going?!" Tyler pondered as Gabriel's hand clutched the doorknob.
    Instantly, Tyler knew what Gabriel was about to do. Tyler jumped to his feet and ran towards Gabriel. Gabriel threw open the door, sunlight streaming in. Tyler shoved Gabriel out of the way, sending him tumbling into the shadows behind the door. Tyler bellowed out in pain as his body burned in the light. Tyler dropped to his knees and covered his face with his hands.
    "Tyler, no!" Gabriel shouted as he slammed the door shut, burning his arm in the process. The house blanketed in silence, as if closing the door shut out a monster, ready to devour them both. Tyler lay in a crumpled heap on the floor; Gabriel sat weeping against a wall.
    "Why did you do that? Why did you intervene?" Gabriel questioned as he held his arm to his chest. Tyler didn't move, didn't respond.
    "Tyler?! Answer me! I know you have a reason." Gabriel said in anger.
    "I couldn't stand watching you die that way." Tyler replied hoarsely.
    "What does it matter to you if I live or die?"
    "It matters because..."
    "Because why? Why Tyler?!"
    Tyler struggled to get to his feet, failing time and again.
    "Don't move Tyler. Let me carry you." Gabriel stated as he gently picked up Tyler and carried him up towards the stairs.
    "Gabriel?" Tyler whispered through burnt lips.
    "What is it Tyler?"
    "I love you."
    "Shh, don't speak." Gabriel replied softly and pressed a finger to Tyler's lips. Gabriel took Tyler to a room deep into the heart of the mansion. He laid Tyler gently on the bed, and walked out.