The fire outside the great hall flickered as the lone figure stood next to it, warming himself on the chilly night. The man stared into the flames as he rubbed his hands over it, trying to forget the day’s events and the newfound feelings that were now beginning to cloud his judgment, making him now second guess everything he did.
    He sensed the ancient feline behind him. He did not turn around, or change his routine. He simply continued to warm himself as he spoke:
   “What is it, Nightstalker” he said quietly as he continued to stare at the yellow-orange flickers of light that danced along the wood and coals in the pit before him. It seemed a strange name for the vampire, considering the rather tall creature was a healer of all things. He only knew it was the closest translation from the original language of the “cat people” to the standard of the realm.
  “I came by to check on you Darius. Bianca had mentioned you were wounded in a fight earlier today and that you had not been acting quite like yourself since the incident” was the vampire’s reply as he approached from the shadows of the village square. “She is a bit worried about you” was his finishing statement as his pale blue eyes held a strange look of concern. He stood next to the other, dwarfing him by a good two hands as he too began warming himself in the glow of the flames.
   Darius glanced over and up at him, trying not to frown. “So, a little scratch from a couple of petty thieves and everyone thinks I am at deaths door? As you can see, doctor, I am quite well” he said with a touch of sarcasm.
    Nightstalker quirked an eyebrow as he digested the other’s reply. He shook his head as he muttered “Always the martyr. Never room for others to help you with your burden.”
    Darius looked up at him, this time the look of anger in his eyes as he spoke.
    “Now look, it is not that I do not appreciate yours, Liang’s, or Bianca’s concern for my well being. In fact it is touching…”
    “But” was the single word Nightstalker had interjected, cutting him off as he stared at Darius unblinking, trying to burn the truth to the surface with those cat-like eyes of his.
   Darius sighed as he turned back to the fire. He spoke after a few moments “You do not understand. My only purpose has been to stop the madness that was started seven years ago. I cannot afford the risk of…” was all he said, not finding the courage to finish the sentence as he stared off into the night, looking away so that he could hide his weakness for just a moment.
   Nightstalker looked upon the man with pity. He could sense the conflict inside him, but do nothing but offer him advice, if he would take it. He took a breath, and spoke the question to him:
    “You love her, don’t you?”
   Darius didn’t flinch, but simply continued to look out into the night. “I do care about her. But even if I did love her, there is no future for her with me. Not with my kind. So the point is moot, isn’t it” he said cautiously, hoping this was not going to turn into one of these ‘stay away from my sister-in-law of I will disembowel you’ talks that always ended poorly.
    The vampire smiled, and chuckled as he looked about, nodding to some villagers as they passed by.” Boy, you do have it bad. I think it is rather obvious she cares for you. And, stranger things have happened. Did you ever stop to think that maybe you deserve some happiness in your life?”
   Darius shook his head. “It is not in the cards for me my friend. I have learned to accept it” was his reply. It was what he had been telling himself since this afternoon when she had been nearly accosted by two bandits that had been lurking just outside the village. His concern for her allowed him to drop his guard for but a moment, and get a knife wound in the shoulder for his trouble, not that he would have let her be harmed, but that he ran to her first before making sure the thieves were subdued.
   He began to shake as he felt the thirst begin to take hold. He quickly grabbed a nearby cup of his medicine and drank it quickly, stiffening for a moment as it again quieted the beast within.
   “I see it is becoming more frequent now for you to take the medicine” Nightstalker said, the concern showing in the tone of his voice and the look of worry on his brow.
“Is it more than twice a day now?”
    Darius nodded. “At least three times per day now, healer. That is the other reason she could have no future with me” he replied as he looked at the cup, and grimaced from the aftertaste of the potion.” My body is becoming immune to the medicine. Soon it will no longer have the desired effect, and I will grow mad with bloodlust. Could you sincerely trust one such as me, when I already know I cannot trust myself? I would rather die than bring harm to her or anyone else, and you and Liang both agree with me on this point” he said with anger, staring into the vampire’s eyes as his own eyes flashed red for a brief moment. He turned back to the fire, not caring if the other stayed or left as he threw the cup into the flames, angry that he had let someone get close to him.
   The vampire lowered his eyes, and looked away. The hybrid’s words rang true. Liang would never allow Bianca to be harmed, and neither would he. The poor girl had been through too much in her life already. As angst as Darius was acting, he was trying to do the noble thing in thinking he could spare her any further hurt, even at the expense of  his own chance of  a more normal life.
   “You will need to tell her then” Nightstalker said somberly. “If it comes from Liang, or me, she will just pursue you more.”
    Darius nodded in agreement. She would be hurt for a time, but she will get over it and move on. It was for the best, but it still hurt to think about her face wet with tears and the pain in her eyes…
    The two men stood by the fire for just a few more minutes before the two headed off in opposite directions. Both were in search of quarry, but only one would return unharmed.