The Vegan Vampire

Her human memories grow vaguer every day. For a while, she tried to hang on to them. The changes are so severe, she thought if she could recall what it is like to be human, she could maintain her sanity.

Even as they grow farther away, she holds on to one thing. She won't take a human life, no matter what. 

“Still holding on to your vamp vegetarianism, I see,” Sophia snears, “you're a vampire. Embrace it.”

She shakes her head, turning away as Sophia drains the blood of her helpless victim.

“I am good with animals.”

“Surviving but not thriving,” she lets the man fall dead to the ground, “See how much stronger I am after a good meal?”

She draws Amy up against her, kissing her lips. Amy, against her own instincts, melts into it. As a human she was fully heterosexual but since being turned, she can't resist anyone who is a vampire, male or female.

They move into the shadows and take each other. She knows it is wrong, not due to her sexuality but to the fact she is a consumer of human blood. Nevertheless, the act makes her feel less transparent. She can see herself clearer when she is with her.

Her bloodlust is triggered when she tastes her human blood on her lover's lips and her skin. Maybe that is why she gives in to her so easily. It is the only time she tastes human blood.

Her other lovers are all full vampires but Sophia is the only one who seduces right after feeding. She knows no other vegan vamp. If any others exist, she has yet to meet them.

“See,” Sophia soothes as she holds her against her breasts, “even the bit of your real food you got from me has you looking healthier.” 

“I simply can't. As I can be sustained on animals and not take a human life, that is what I will do.”

She won't even take the life of domestic animals. Her hunting trips have her hunting stage and bears. 

She thinks she will remain the odd vampire out until she meets him.

It was on her two hundredth birthday of her vampire life. As a present to herself she goes hunting Everglades. Crocodile blood is a special treat that she saves for special occasions.

Her eyes grow wide, alert, as she searches out the source of the scent the warm humid breeze carries to her. Another vampire and a hungry one. She can smell the ravishment running through the cold veins.

Carefully, she moves towards the scent. 

“Stop! I will hurt you. Not meaning to.” 

He is young, younger than herself when she was changed at twenty. Late teens she guesses. He has the lean strong look of people raised in the swamp. His eyes are blood red, his skin corpse pale. 

“It is okay. Take a deep breath.” 

He backs up against a tree tangled in kudzu before he does. When he does, his eyes grow wide.

“Oh. You're like me. Help then, please. I can't hurt anyone. But I am so hungry.”

“You don't have to hurt people…” She waits on his name.

“Lee Roy.”

“I am Amy. Nice to meet you Lee Roy. We can be sustained with animal's blood. It is my two hundredth birthday and I have never killed a human.”

“Oh thank God,” he laughs nervously, “if there is such for you and I.”

“I have been looking for another that would resist taking human lives. That may be the answer,” there will be time for theological discussions later. Right now she needs to get him fed,”how long has it been since you were turned?”

“A year and a month, five days, three hours, eleven minutes, five seconds.”

“Yeah, we need to get you fed. Follow me.”

He does and they move towards the center of the swamp. Birds call loudly before flying away at their approach. 

“They know what we are,” His voice reflects sadness, “I had a parrot before. My wife,” she looks back at him, “she would have taken care of him.”

“I’m sure. How did it happen?”

“I was out hunting. That I was being hunted I didn't know that. He came up behind me. A strong arm pulled me back. His teeth sank into my neck. I couldn't fight. What was worse is, I didn't want to. 

I blanked out. When I came to, I was this. The hunger was the first thing I was aware of. I wouldn't have believed that we exist but the craving for blood,” he shakes his head, “No it isn't strong enough.”

“No. But I understand.”

“I thought I was going insane. Knowing I could never see my Betty again, my wife. We were only married for two years. Had just started trying to have children.”

Empathy still remained in Amy, one of the last true fully human emotions. “I’m sorry.” 

“Does she think I am dead or that I ran away? I don't know which would be better. Starvation seemed a way to truly die. It is harder than it should be. I was beginning to think,” he stops in the boggy field, “being here, as far away from humans as possible, it seemed the only way not to give in. The drive to survival is stronger in us, isn't it?”

“It is. Most would have just given in. You are stronger than you realize. Let's get you fed.” 

Most animals have fled before then, their survival instincts screaming danger. The crocodiles went deeper under the water. Any still smells them though. 

He follows her into the water. They dive in, unconcerned with holding their breath. The need for that left at their deaths. He swims behind her.

The crocodile tries to out swim then but doesn't stand a chance. Amy grabs the beast. Lee Roy is right behind her. She doesn't have to direct him as his instincts take over.

His teeth bite through the creature’s armor finding the blood. A sexual groan escapes as it starts to flow into his mouth. In no time, the crocodile is dead and the vampire is partially satisfied.

Three more are sacrificed, two for the starving Lee Roy and one for Amy.

They emerge out of the water. He is a more natural color, no longer corpse pale. 

“Thank you! Thank you. Knowing it is possible to survive without killing a human, I can handle this life better.”

“Thank you. I had given up hope that I would find another of our kind with respect for human life. It will get better. Two hundred years again, I lost my own humanity. I knew my parents would grieve awfully. I also knew there was nothing I could do about it. “

“How did you get past it?”

“Time. It doesn't heal all wounds but it makes them easier to deal with. The scabs grow thicker. Gaining control and being able to be around people helps too. As long as you feed before hunger overwhelms you, you can be around them. I can introduce you to others of our kind. It helps with loneliness.”

“Thank you Amy. You saved my sanity.”

“You're welcome. You saved my faith in us.” 

They exit the swamp and into a brand new future.