Ashley sighed again.

"Just... nightmares of my memories." he told her.

"Mistress... Miss Encrae... my brother... the pain..." he went on.

"How he's still trapped..." he muttered guiltily.

"And I'll eat anything." he then said, quickly changing the subject.

"I like all food a lot."

"........okay." Ashley replied.

'I can't stay here.' he thought.

'Mother might come looking for me. If she finds us, there will be trouble. Miss Riverkia doesn't deserve that. Same as if Mistress or her followers find us.' he thought further.

'And my flames might be super dangerous to her... if I cause a more intense burn, and there's no more of those plants around, who knows what could happen?' he then wondered.

That's when he decided he would leave. He would leave during the night. He would leave a small note, as he was at least taught to read and write, and leave. It was what was best. He was of a cursed bloodline... he needed to leave. For her safety, more than his.

-Years and years later, somewhere in Europe-

'Need to feed... need to feed...' the man thought, as he skulked the foggy streets of London, keeping his head deep inside the collar of his large black flowing coat, with a matching black top hat to cover the top of it. He then shook his head, and slapped his cheeks lightly.

'No! Keep it together!' he told himself.

'It's been a while, but keep it together! It's late enough, you're sure to find a-' he started to reason, before something came to his attention.

A smell. A scent. An odour. One that was absolutely tantalising and irresistible to him.

He looked around quickly and frantically, before identifying the location of the scent. A second story flat with an open window, and a soft light glowing from within.

At that point, something took hold of him. All inhibitions left him, and he scaled the building by hand, latching onto the sill of the open window, and leapt onto it, so he could look inside, the light now illuminating his pale complexion.

However, just as she had that thought, she heard something. A thumping sound at her window. Normally, it was just an animal or something, but this seemed... heavier...

When she looked to investigate, she saw a person crouching there on her windowsill.

He looked at her, an almost crazed look in his eyes.

"........good evening." he greeted her.

"Who I am is nothing you need to concern yourself with." he responded.

"And what I want is the same." he said.

"Just don't resist." he then said further. "It'll make it easier for the both of us." he reasoned.

With that, he launched himself off the sill, right towards her.

The man was silent, seeming to be processing what just happened, before shaking his head.

"Nngh!" he grunted.

"Nnnnnnrrrah!" he yelled, as he launched himself at her again.

Again, she dodged, and the man ended up jumping all over the room, with her dodging his every move... however, his reflexes seemed to be improving, as he slowly adapted to her own speed.

That being said, she was still in good form here, while HE seemed to be breathing a little harder.

"....." he was silent, before narrowing his eyes, seeming to study her, as though he were formulating a plan.

The man just growled when she said what she did.

"Nnnnngh.... Rgh!" he grunted angrily.

He then turned to the wall next to him, and created a hole of black mana in it, before reaching through it with his arms.

Instantly, Reveka felt her shoulders grabbed, as she was pulled through a hole that had appeared behind her.

The man whirled her around, before forcing her head to the side, exposing her neck. He then opened his mouth, revealing a set of fearsome fangs, before plunging them down into her.

She felt him start to suck, but it only last for a few seconds. He suddenly paused, before withdrawing his fangs, pushing her away, and then rushing to the windowsill, hanging his head out of it, making retching noises.

At one point, she heard him actually vomit.

The man was silent, before looking at the bottle.

He grabbed it, took a swig of what was inside, gargled it for a few seconds, and then spit out the liquid onto the street below.

After that, he looked at the bottle again, before downing a larger amount of the liquid inside, swallowing it this time.

Once he did that, he slumped to the floor, sighing loudly.

"Urgh." he grunted.

"....thanks." he then said quietly, almost under his breath.

The man looked confused for a moment, before something took over him.

"Feed!" he exclaimed.

"Blood! Yes!" he said.

"Give me blood! Now!" he ordered, before slapping himself.

".....please..." he then said, almost begging her.

"Please... I... I... need it..."

He didn't say anything.

Instead, he just drank greedily from the canteen, slurping down everything. Every last drop he could get, he drank.

When it seemed like there was nothing left, he handed the empty container back to her.

"........thank you." he said quietly.

"I... needed that..." he muttered.

"I am." he replied.

"And it didn't." he said.

"And you did." he went on.

"Regardless, I should go." he told her.

"Get out of your life." he said further.

"Besides, I highly doubt I should have attacked you."