The next day, Edwin did everything in his power to persuade the girl to talk to him. She acted much the same as she had the day before. Annoyed. Bothered that he would even attempt to talk to her. He smiled, played it cool. Inside, he was beginning to fume. Who was she that she would treat him, of all people, this way? She didn't know what she was doing, making him angry this way. She would not like him when he got angry.

The third day he was there she didn't show up at all. He did, however, take the opportunity to find out more about his mystery girl. Her name was Celeste Gonzales and she was a junior. She hung out with a small circle of friends. She could have been in the popular crowd if she wanted. In fact, she used to be their queen. But a couple of years ago she had changed, deciding she no longer wanted that life. She now spent her time with a couple other girls and a handful of guys. Many people viewed her as being somewhat of an oddball. After school he did much the same as any other day. He went home, relaxed and listened to music, then late in the night went into the city to feed.

As the days passed by, he continued to try to make conversation. He had attempted to use simply his charm to allure her. He didn't use any compulsion. He preferred to try to win her on his own, to show how he could weaken her resolve. His break came that weekend. It was late on a Friday night. He was just returning to his home from Sarah Michaels' house. She was a tall, thin blonde he had been drinking from, and if it was left up to appearances, dating. As he drove past the park on his way home he noticed Celeste's beat up blue truck broken down. Celeste was standing outside, looking under the hood. He could smell her fear at being out at the park so late by herself.

Edwin pulled in next to her. Her body stiffened in response to his approach. He could tell she didn't know who it was that had stopped, but she feared that whoever it was didn't have anything good in mind. The fear on her face transformed into relief and then to annoyance as she saw it was Edwin.

"What do you want?" Celeste asked defiantly.

"You looked like you were in trouble. I was merely trying to help." Edwin said.

"Well, I don't need your help. I've got it."

"Really? Because I'm quite positive that you've been standing out here, unable to get your truck to work. I do know a little about cars. If you'd like, I could just have a look. Probably have it running in no time." Edwin smiled, thinking that she was most likely about to tell him to leave again. Instead, she quickly said fine and sat down on a rock nearby.

Edwin continued to attempt to make small talk, but Celeste continually shut him down. He fiddled underneath the hood, finally correcting the problem. He continued awhile after he had found the problem, just to spend a little more time around her. It was difficult, however, because a horrid stench saturated the entire area. "Well, I think I've got it. But you may want to have it checked out; your engine definitely needs some work." Then he added, "I can do it, if you'd like."

"Yeah, I don't think so." She said, looking down as she quickly walked over to the driver's side. She opened the door, which was slammed closed by Edwin.

He had finally had enough. "What is your problem?" He yelled. "Someone stops to help you, and this is how you act? In fact, you've been acting like this every time I've tried to help you. Ever since I've met you, you've been annoyed with me. Why do you hate me so much? You don't even know me."

She just stared at him, wide eyed and mouth agape. She got control of her thoughts. "Because… I don't know, just there's something about you. There's something not right."

He masked his surprise at her words. "There's something wrong with me. You don't even know what you're talking about. I don't even know why I care." He said, turning back to his Ferrari. He didn't know if she looked after him. He got in his car and sped back towards his house.

Stupid, insolent human. It was no matter. He was done with her. He didn't need to have her company. There were plenty of other females that were all too happy to supply the nourishment he needed. If he wanted to stay here, he would need to not cause too many problems. And he had the feeling that to continue bothering Celeste was going to cause him too much trouble. Eventually, if she didn't come around, he may go against his plans and compel her. He would bring her to her knees.

He snapped himself out of his mood, the burning in his throat scorching unbearably. He needed blood. NOW. No time to get to the city. Well, that wasn't entirely true. He could make it. He just wasn't willing to wait that long. Although he had already fed tonight, something had drained him of his energy.

Instead of getting into his car, he walked down the street. He stopped after walking a couple of blocks. The enticing scent of freshly spilled blood wafted into his flared nostrils. The crimson syrup beckoned him to follow and he obeyed. He entered through the open window. He now stood in a large, dark living room that was expensively decorated. It was empty.

He walked down the hall, thru the dining room, into the kitchen. An elderly woman was standing hunched over the sink. She had been washing the dishes and accidentally sliced the pad of her hand open. She didn't hear his approach. He turned her face towards his. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. He willed her to be calm. Now that he was closer, he noticed the faint trace of death in her blood. She was not well. Not at all. She didn't have much longer. She would be gone within a few days.

He thought about it for a moment. He could leave her alone, not take any blood from her. He could turn her. Or he could end her pain. And she was in a great deal of pain. He struggled with himself for a few moments before deciding on the later. If he left her alone, she would die a painful death. If he changed her, she would forever be in an old, beaten body. But if he drained her while releasing his endorphins she would die a nice, peaceful, blissful death.

So he bit into the back of her neck, drawing the rubicund liquid out of the pair of small wounds he had created. The sickness in her did nothing to him; his body was far too strong for any normal illness to touch him. The woman smiled, the pain that she had been enduring for who knew how long was finally relieved.

The woman's body relaxed in his arms, her gray hair spilling onto her face. Her breaths quickened, became shallow. Her heart raced. He increased the amount of endorphins being released. She smiled as her heart came to a sudden stop. It was done. He laid her body onto the floor, and then silently jumped out of the window.

The headlights of a car swung into the driveway of the house. He shielded his eyes and ran into the trees next to the house. The driver parked and turned the truck off. She got out. Edwin stared in shock as he watched Celeste stroll up the walk, her keys jingling in her hands as she fiddled with them. She found the house key. She put it into the lock. She opened the door, walked in. Then, Edwin heard a glass shattering scream.