It was a beautiful night as Milana ran through the woods near her family home. She had just returned home from spending a few years being schooled by her great-uncle Vlad in Europe. She hadn't even seen her parents yet as nobody had been home so she decided to enjoy the night air and run through the forest.
She could sense the animals around her, smell their blood, hear their breath but never feared them. Being a vampire they sensed she was an alpha predator and never tried to attack so she was free to do as she pleased most nights but tonight she found something different in the dark forest.
The smell of burning wood, the sound of it crackling in the distance caught her attention. There was someone camping nearby and she was curious. She had no problem being around humans as she had learned to control her hunger for blood years ago but she suddenly caught the scent of the person by the fire.
"Oh my," she said to herself as she had never smelled anyone this good before. She licked her lips almost getting aroused by the idea of feeding off of this person but she quickly snapped herself out of it. "No, you know better." She said deciding it was time to turn around and head back home before she did something she'd regret. "On second thought, Father always tells me to push my limits," she said pondering for a moment before smiling and turning towards the camper in the woods.
-----
Arthur sat by the fire enjoying the night. He liked the peacefulness of nature which was something lost on most of his friends. With technology so advanced nowadays he found himself retreating to the woods just for some peace and quiet. He grew up in the city and still lived there but he couldn't help the call to the quietness of the forest.
He continued to poke the fire with a stick before he opened up his dinner. As old fashion as he was, he knew it was illegal to hunt or even fish so he brought his own food with him on his little camping trips. As he began to eat he suddenly heard a noise behind him before he glanced out into the darkness. He didn't see anything or hear anything else so he turned back to his dinner.
"Is this seat taken?" Milana asked as Arthur suddenly jumped a mile not expecting someone to be there.
"Holy shit!" He yelled out as he suddenly saw a rather attractive dark haired woman in front of him. "You scared the hell out of me."
"My apologies, that was not my intention." She said with a grin knowing she had meant to a little.
"Woah, okay," he said catching his breath before he said: "I'm Arthur by the way," putting his hand out to greet her.
"Milana, or just Milly for short," she said gently shaking it before he invited her to sit down.
"Well Milly, what are you doing out here in the woods?"
"I could ask you the same thing Arthur, but to answer your question, I live a few miles away, I grew up near these woods, I know them like the back of my hand."
"Oh, this isn't your property, is it? I go off trail a little sometimes so..."
"No, you're fine, but I saw the fire and... Well, let's just say I felt like meeting new people and was hoping maybe you'd like some company."
"Oh, yeah okay," he said nervously stumbling over his words. "Would you like some of my dinner?"
"No, I already ate," she lied still finding it hard to resist the scent of his blood but did her best. "So, you come out here often?"
"Every now and then, I hate the city lifestyle so I find it relaxing out here, what about you?"
"I told you, I live nearby."
"No I mean, you like it out here, compared to the city?"
"It is peaceful, calm, relaxing in a way, Don't get me wrong, I love Boston, but I hate noise, I hate the sound of thousands of people around me all the time, it gets to be a bit much sometimes."
"It really does, well here's to peace and quiet." He said before taking a bite of his supper.
Milly watched him eat for a moment examining him a little more. He was not a bad looking guy even if his blood type wasn't her favorite she would still be attracted to him. She was becoming more curious as she had been around nothing but vampires for the last few years and was finding her curiosity getting the better of her.
Despite her coming out of the darkness and frightening him he still was very kind and welcoming to her. This was something she was not used to. Vampires were not easily frightened and most of the ones she knew mainly wanted to have sex with her or marry her to be a part of her royal bloodline but this guy had no idea who or what she was and she found herself enjoying his company.
"I miss real food," she said breaking the silence.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, I mean um," she said nervously. "Everything is so synthetic now, don't you miss real meat? You look like you'd be a good hunter" She said thinking about the synthetic blood she drinks at home missing the real thing sometimes.
"Honestly, I do, but when the food isn't as good, it's easier not to crave it, helps keep the weight off."
"I see, keeping yourself fit to attract the ladies?" She said jokingly.
"Well it's working, considering women are apparently coming out of the woods at me," he said with a chuckle.
Milly raised an eyebrow almost giving him a look that said "I'm not that easy," but enjoyed his wit. "You seem very trusting,"
"Well, my Mother raised me to look for the kindness in people, but you're right, you could be a serial killer for all I know," he said as he turned to place his trash in a bag only to turn back and see her sitting right next to him all of a sudden. "Woah... How did you?"
She leaned forward as her mouth watered at his scent. She wanted to taste him so badly but she knew better. She bit her lip as Arthur wasn't sure what was going in. He almost wanted to kiss her but wasn't sure why as he had just met her. Despite that, they both stopped a minute and stared into each other's eyes.
"I'm sorry, I am being weird." She said sliding away a little.
"Oh, no it's um... It's fine, I get weird around..."
"Around what?" She asked curiously.
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but I get nervous around attractive women."
"Why would I take that the wrong way?"
"I dunno, like I said I'm a bit weird and awkward."
"Aren't we all, well enjoy your night," she said getting up.
"Wait, can I, I mean will I see you again?"
"I found you once didn't I?" She said but in the blink of an eye, she had disappeared into the darkness of the forest as Arthur looked all around confused by what had just happened.
"What the hell?"
He sat there a little while longer before he decided to head home. The whole situation had freaked him out a little and he didn't feel comfortable in the forest anymore. He put out the fire and packed everything up before heading back to his truck.
-------
Emily had just gotten home as she sat in the study reading a book when a familiar scent came across her nose. She placed the book down and stood up as she heard the front door open and saw Milly standing there.
"Hi Mom," she said as Emily ran over and wrapped her arms around her daughter holding her tightly.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Emily asked still holding her tightly.
"I wanted to surprise you and Dad, where is he?"
"Oh, he's in LA, there was an issue at one of the clubs that he had to take care of."
"Oh," Milly said sounding disappointed.
"I'm sure he'll be home in a few days, I missed you so much, how was your stay with Uncle Vlad and Aunt Tiffany?"
"It was fine, I learned a lot from them," she said.
"But?" Emily asked sensing something off in her voice.
"The other's, the Vampire students, they all just..."
"Just what?"
"They were more interested in sleeping with me than anything else."
"Vampires are very sexual creatures."
"Yeah but, I couldn't even talk to anyone without someone suggesting swapping blood, among other fluids."
"You have no idea how good it is to hear that my daughter didn't want to sleep around."
"I'm serious Mom, I mean, I know how passionate you and Dad are but even he can control himself, these guys were practically humping my leg, or begging me to marry them and join families, it was so annoying!"
"Well, your father was human when we met, and was raised by a good woman."
"So he wasn't humping your leg?" Milly said chuckling a little.
"Actually, the first time was my choice, not his," she said not trying to admit that she fed off him and fucked him the night they met.
"Really?"
"I needed blood, he was such a gentleman and actually offered me his and I... Well, I rewarded his chivalry."
"Don't need the details."
"All I am saying is you are young, I was over a hundred years old when I met your father, you are only 24, you have time."
"How old was he?"
"Close to your age," she said running her fingers through her hair.
"I see," Milly said as she began to think about Arthur whom she almost had felt bad for scaring.
"What is that smell?" Emily asked.
"What... what smell?"
"I smell human on you."
"Oh, that... It's nothing."
