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"Is that all you can do?" - the monster mocked playfully, its laughter dancing amidst the forest trees as its aggressor gaped down at the now broken knife sitting in their trembling hands.

"H-How?" - the human whispered in shock, looking back up and watching the dark creature in terror as it began to leisurely advance towards them. "Y-You- Silver is s-supposed to-!"

"Oh, hunter." - the monster purred, drinking in the sight of its prey backing up against a tree, unintentionally cornering themself. The mortal's eyes flew wide open as they realized what they had done, but they never got a chance to correct their mistake as the other lunged and pinned them against the rough bark, holding down their arms at their sides.

It whispered in their ear, sharp fangs much too close to their neck for comfort. "Your adorable little blades cannot pierce my hide~."

The hunter shook in fear, an involuntary sob slipping from their lips. "B-But- But you're-"

"A vampire?" - the creature cut in, mouth curling into a smirk. It pressed a kiss below the human's ear, making their entire body jump and gasp.

"Oh, poor little hunter...~," it said in feign concern. "Have your mentors never taught you about Ancients~?"

The hunter's blood ran colder than ice at the question, face paling, nearly rivaling the predator's own. They went deathly still in the monster's grasp, dread taking hold of their heart and threatening to stop its frantic beating forever. It was only now, in this short moment of clear thought, that their senses registered the other's coarse, scale-like skin brushing against their own.

"Y... Y...ou..." - they couldn't utter a single word as rivers of tears streamed down their cheeks. They had never stood a chance. The vampire had been toying with them, letting itself be chased around the woods of its territory, lulling the hunter into believing they were in control of the situation.

But now, here they stood, barely stood, their legs having given out beneath them, their body only supported by the monster pressing them against the tree. Its lips glided across their soft, delicate skin, going down the side of their neck, but they failed to so much as struggle in their terror, only whimpering as its fangs faintly grazed their flesh.

"Such a young life..." - the creature murmured, one of its hands coming up to their shoulder, claws cutting clean through the fabric of their uniform, revealing their shoulder. "...Barely twenty-one years of an existence..."

"H-How does it know? H-HOW DOES IT K-KNOW?!"

The human's breath hitched as its teeth clamped around the newly exposed skin. It didn't bite, however. Only dragging its mouth closed in a false nip.

"And your teachers... much older... much wiser..." - the vampire left a trail of gentle kisses back up to their ear, moving slowly and with purpose, making them shudder. "And yet... they sent you here..., between the jaws of death."

"P-Ple-as-e..." - it was the first word the hunter had managed to say in minutes, broken and ready to fall apart completely, filled with their obvious fear.

The monster seemingly ignored their begging, continuing to spill forth its own thoughts. "I think it... shameful of them... to so carelessly kill something so young and precious..., something that looked to them for guidance in this cruel world..."

The human sobbed again as The Ancient's fangs returned to their throat. "...P...Ple..."

"But." - it said sharply, smiling as the human stilled in anticipation. "Your story... doesn't have to end here, little hunter."

The vampire adored the shimmer of hope that appeared inside their prey's soul, so tiny and easy to snuff out...

"I have been looking for someone... to make my thrall." - it admitted, bringing a new fear to the hunter's mind. "Someone to pass my knowledge onto... And you, I believe, would be perfect."

It left another soft kiss on their neck, lips remaining pressed against their skin. "The choice, however, I leave to you."

...

...

...

They remained silent at first, letting the creature's words fully sink in. The answer seemed both obvious and hidden at the same time. They didn't want to die. Of course, they didn't. But...

But could they bear to spend the rest of their potentially-soon-to-be immortal existence as- as a...

...

...

...

The human closed their eyes, taking in a deep breath to futilely ease their nerves. Their voice was a choked whisper, terrified of their unknown future. "P...Please..."

"P-Plea-se sire m-me."

They uttered those words praying they would wake up to see another day, and cried as the fangs sunk into their neck, consciousness soon leaving them.

And it would be surrounded by crimson eyes that they would return to the waking world, gasping for air they no longer needed as a horrible foreign hunger clawed at their chest.