Sam climbed the rain-slicked stairs and pushed open the front door.

It let out a bone-shivering shriek and he walked through, a ball of light dancing in his hand.

He’d come here on a mission, and he was deeply regretting that decision. Vampires were the worst kind to deal with.

The mansion was large and at least a few centuries older than Sam, though by how well it was taken care of, you almost couldn’t tell.

A large staircase stood in front of him, and hallways on either side led into oblivion. He chose the stairs. It gave him the high ground.

In the light, it was a magnolia-white and bloodred stairway, with gold lining.

Sam was sure he heard a creak somewhere, which caused his pulse to jump.

He fought off the urge to turn back and kept climbing. He finally reached the landing, which branched out into a balcony above the first floor.

From behind a door with a music note, he heard the sound of something closing, a soft thud.

He swallowed hard and pooled his magic at his wrist.

It wasn’t even half a second and he was pinned to the wall by his throat, the toes of his boots barely scuffing the carpeted floor.

His ball of light had drifted to the side, and both of his hands were gripping the wrist in front of him. He tried to gasp.

His vision blurred and swam.

“Stop!” Sam managed to scream.

Next thing he knew, he was on his knees, coughing until his throat was raw.

“You’re a human.”

Sam looked up slowly. The man’s hair was coppery and tied behind him in a braid. His eyes were a fresh shade of spring and seemed to tear through Sam’s flesh and into his very soul. His mouth was quirked in disgust.

His voice was smooth as silk and carried an accent Sam was having trouble identifying.

Sam’s magic was still coiled around his wrist, but he wasn’t sure his throat would work long enough.

The man crouched and leaned in. “I can smell it.”

Sam pressed himself against the wall. “Wait. Hold on.”

The man’s frigid gaze swept over his clothes and his pupils narrowed. “You’re from the Guild of Scalinia.”

“No, no—”

The man let out a bitter laugh. “You think that you, a fragile mortal, can kill me?”

Sam’s panic was climbing higher. “No, listen, I’m here—”

“Shut up,” the man said, his voice sharp. “I’ve seen your kind before. They think they own the world, but they’re like the petals of a flower. You squeeze a little too hard, and they die.”

Sam’s mind whirled with solutions.

The man’s hand found his throat again. “So, let’s see if you’re like them, ay?”

“I’m in love with you!” Sam blurted.

Oh, Scalinia, what was he thinking?

“That’s why I came. I needed to. . .tell you?”

The man’s face twisted with surprise. “You, in love with me?”

Sam nodded vehemently. “Yes. I wish to proclaim my undying love to you.”

“You say you love me,” the man said. “Prove it.”

Sam was irritated and scared. “How do I do that?”

The man’s lips curved in a cruel smile. “You must know something about me, since you claim to love me.”

Sam thought back to the file for this case.

The vampire’s name was Haruko Adverchi. He was twenty-seven in physical age and at least one hundred and thirty-nine in regard to how long he’d been alive. His fangs released some kind of pheromones, which was unusual for vampires. Yes, that was it!

“Your fangs release pheromones, which is unusual for vampires,” Sam said.

Haruko’s smile turned sharp. “Not enough. But, you amuse me, mortal. So, if you give me something in return for your life, I shall let you live.”

Sam swallowed. “What should I give you?”

Haruko leaned in closer, his eyes cutting into Sam. “Your blood.”

Scalinia, what had he gotten himself into?

“Of course,” Sam said. His voice shook. “Anything you ask.”

Haruko gave him a warning, and his fangs pierced Sam's skin. It hurt, and then Sam was fisting his hands, fighting to keep from groaning.

Haruko took and took and just when Sam thought he might die tonight, he pulled away.

Sam let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His vision was blurred and swimming, and his body was weak.

His thoughts started to bleed into each other, and before he knew it, he’d passed out.

Sam woke the next day in a strange room. Panic surged through him and he bolted up.

He was shoeless. That he knew for sure. And he wasn’t back at the Guild.

He heard some clinking in the distance and his magic coiled around his wrist.

His boots were lined neatly by the door, which was to the side of the bed. A window was on the other side, covered by curtains.

Sam stood and grabbed his boots. His legs were shaky, like he’d run too far the day before.

His cape and hat were missing as well. He strapped his shoes on and opened the door, prepared to strike.

Being in unfamiliar places made Sam highly uncomfortable, so he was on edge as he walked a hallway with red wallpaper. It reminded him, disturbingly, of blood.

He crashed into something and thrust his hand out, magic pooled in his palm.

A young man stood in front of him, holding a tray.

The night came back to Sam like being dunked in ice water.

Haruko tilted his head. “I didn’t realize you were awake. I was bringing you a sample of breakfast and some tea.”

Sam forced himself to lower his hand and smile sheepishly. “Sorry about that. It was drilled into me to always be on guard.”

“It’s not a problem. Come to the dining hall?”

Sam nodded, though he felt nausea. “Of course.”

They made it to the dining hall and Sam was amazed. The wallpaper matched that of the hallway, and a long table was set out, lined by cherrywood chairs. On top of the table sat a feast.

“Because you gave so much blood, I figured you would be hungry.”

Sam didn’t really want to be grateful to this man, but he put his last two fingers up and together and bowed a little. “Thank you.”

Haruko waved a hand. “Don’t bow to me, mortal. Eat instead.”

Sam felt uneasy. Vampires were blood-thirsty creatures with no remorse or kindness. Why was this one treating him so well?

He sat and filled his plate with a variety of foods from different regions. He began to eat when Haruko sat in the chair beside and in front of him.

He ignored him and ate his fill.

When he was done, he stood and bowed to Haruko again.

Haruko just sighed. “Now, I’m going to assume that if I don’t get you back to your Guild, Scalinia is going to bake my biscuits?”

Sam found his use of language odd. “In a manner of speaking, I suppose. Lady Scalinia has little patience for fools.”

“I have an inkling that you must be her favorite,” Haruko said. He put on a cape much like Sam’s still missing one, but black as charcoal and lined in a dark red.

Sam frowned. “Lady Scalinia doesn’t have a ‘favorite’ follower. But, if I may, why do you think that?”

Haruko looked back over his shoulder, a smile on his lips. “Because you are the perfect pea in the pod. You wouldn’t do anything to make someone scatter their coins.”

Sam wasn’t sure what he was trying to say, so he just nodded. “Thank you. I think.”

Haruko offered him his cape and hat. “Would you like these back?”

Sam took them with an inclination of his head and put them on, preparing himself for the cold.

Then, out of necessity, he tucked his hands into the crook of the arm Haruko offered him.

It didn’t take very long to get to the Guild, considering that Sam was a wizard and had a direct portal to the Guild building.

When they arrived, Kujako waved, then frowned.

“Who’s the guy?”

Sam cringed internally as everyone stopped to look.

Haruko’s fists were clenched and he had the realization that Haruko was probably very hungry.

He grabbed his arm and pulled him inside the Guild building and to a spot vacant of humans. Kujako followed them in, looking confused.

“Did the mission go well?”

“Yes!” Sam said, but it was too forced. “It went wonderfully. Everything is fine.”

“Are you sure? You seem. . .stressed,” Kujako said. He took a seat on one of the benches lining the brick walls.

Sam sat with him. “Okay. You absolutely cannot tell anyone.”

Kujako rolled his eyes. “You know I won’t.”

“Well, ‘the guy’ is the vampire from my mission.”

Haruko decided to sit at this moment, and Sam met his eyes.

“What’s this about a mission?” he said.

Oh, curse Kujako and his stupid curiosity.

“My mission to find you. I was searching for you for years, trying to tell you about my feelings.”

Kujako frowned. “. . .Yes, that’s right. That’s the mission we’re talking about.”

Sam kneeled and took Haruko’s hand. “I need a moment with Kujako. I’ll be back very soon.”

Haruko stared at him, then nodded. “Go, then. But, you must return. We have much to discuss.”

Sam smiled back, trying to look sweet and not terrified, and led Kujako out.

As soon as they had gotten far enough away, his smile dropped. “Kujo, I told him I loved him.”

Kujako grabbed Sam’s shoulder and inspected his neck. “Yeah. I see that.”

Sam swatted his hand away. “It’s not what you think. He. . .bit me.”

Kujako cracked a grin. “It’s sounds like what I think.”

“It’s not. I am terrified of that man, because it’s so hard to read him,” Sam said with a flat look at his still-grinning friend.

“That’s alright,” Kujako said. “We’ll find a way to spin this.”

And that was when it came to Sam.

“Oh, my god, Kujo. You’re a genius,” Sam said. “We hunt vampires for a living, but we know virtually nothing about them. If I can keep this up long enough, I can learn everything there is to know.”

Kujako nodded, hand to his chin. “You’d have to be very, very careful. But, that being said, you could do it.”

“Let’s go, then.”

When they returned to Haruko, he was staring so intensely at the wall that Sam thought he might punch a hole in it.

“Haruko?”

Haruko looked up and a warm smile spread across his face, which was odd to see. “Mortal. Is everything alright?”

Sam sat next to him. “Of course. I was just giving Kujako a greeting.”

Haruko’s gaze landed on Kujako and turned sharp. “I trust that he treated you properly?”

There was a tense moment and then Sam chuckled. “Yes, silly. We’re old friends.”

Haruko stood with a sweep of his cape. “We ought to be going, now that everyone knows you’re alive and well.”

Sam stared at him. “What?”

“You are coming back with me, aren’t you?”

“Oh. . .Of course.”

Sam stood and hooked his hands around Haruko’s arm.

“See you soon?” Kujako asked.

Sam nodded. “I hope.”

They shared a look as Haruko and Sam passed him.

And then the two were leaving and Kujako was long from Sam’s thoughts.