Pendant of Blood

My instincts were screaming for escape. 

Everywhere, kids were scurrying from door to door, Halloween buckets in hand, as chatter filled the icy air. Too much noise, too many people.

Taking in a slow breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. In the past ten minutes, three Frankensteins, four zombies, and two witches passed me. For once, I didn’t have to hide. 

Fear morphed into giddiness as I joined the crowd, my pockets quickly filled to the seams with candy. I confidently flashed a smile to passersby, reveling in my temporary freedom. No one cared about my red eyes, sharp teeth, and pale skin. 

Suddenly, a faint glow appeared on my neck. I glance down, panic arising, as my pendant turned a bloody crimson. “Never mingle with humans,” Pa’s tearful warning echoed in my mind. I waited centuries for this moment, I chided myself. It was time to live my life. 

“Hello, Drusilla.” Whirling around, I came face to face with a strikingly familiar figure, a mop of auburn hair curling right above a pair of hooded eyes. The man was too close, the veins on his neck an agonizing temptation. 

“Sorry… who are you?” I stammered.

“I’m John. We spoke once before, exactly two hundred years ago.”

I nodded excitedly. It was the previous trick or treat I went to, and I had an in-depth conversation with a man who looked just like him about mythical creatures. He was particularly interested in my background, though…

Too late, I registered my mistake: it was impossible for humans to live that long. As I tried to flee, he swiftly sprayed a vial right in my face. Screaming in agony, my vision blurred with tears as the pungent smell of garlic crept into my lungs. How did he know?

“I’m the great-great-grandson of John,” the man spat, his lips curling into a snarl. “My family’s been searching for generations to kill vampires like you.” Helpless, I fell to my feet as he pulled out a silver dagger, its harsh glint reflecting the streetlights. 

“Time to end you, monster.”