Arrival

"Hey, we're here. What are you dozing off for? It's only a short ride, wake up, man!"

A loud voice buzzes inside his ear drums, making him groan in frustration. His eyes were still closed as he tapped the leathered sling bag he stole in one of the houses at his previous valley.

"Yes, I'm awake. Just give me a second here, sir." He politely said to the blonde old man sitting on the front seat, he was the driver of this so-called 'Bus'.

"Whatever, man. Make sure to not leave any of your stuff in here. I don't want to be responsible for any of it." He advised and patiently waited for him to get out of his vehicle.

Admittedly, he is already up and awake. Somehow, he wanted to experience the sense of being a human. Practically sleeping inside rides, after lingering around the old-fashioned valley he has been in for a centuries, the evolution between human and technology has happened now. After years, a lot has changed, especially in the outside world.

"Thank you, sir." He expressed his gratitude after paying the man.

The vehicle drove off and he stared at it before he turned to face the station he arrived at. On top of the building was engraved, 'Welcome to NEW YORK!'.

He heaved a sigh before he started walking. It was a whole new encounter for him, having people surround his personal place, he got anxious as he tried so hard to hide his skin. Even went so far as to put a mask on his face, he was afraid of the brutal treatment, as if he was no longer a human. No longer a kind where he can freely breathe the air that everyone else inhales. He knew he was no human but still, he wanted to remain on this land as long as he could.

After roaming around, he was astonished by numerous reasons. One was the bright place even though it was dark as the color black, the endless lights brought glow to the city. Whereas, the number of people walking can never be counted, he could hear their heartbeats, their breaths, and the emotions of frustration, stress, excitements, and rage. But, despite that he never felt the weird eyes coming along his way. No one cares.

Slowly, a smile with a bit of nervousness - was carved in his lips. He scoffed.

"I feel… I feel free again." He muttered, struck within his own reverie.

"Hey, man. Get out of the way!" One lad shouted behind him. A lad inside the black car.

He flinched before moving out of his way. He almost forgot that he was in the middle of the road. "So… So sorry, sir." As he continued to walk away.

Holding his chest and calming himself down when he reached the streets, he entered a narrow road right in between two large infrastructures. It was dimmed and dark, only a dash of the light from the outside had shone through the alley. Too many people at once made his head ache in stress. He placed his palm on his chest and tapped it. Made sure that he can go back to face the world he had decided to live in.

This time, he was more aware of his surroundings. "I need a place to stay. I can't be out here loitering, that won't ever happen again." He told himself and went out to eagerly pursue his search for a comfy place.

As the vampire that he is, he used this as an advantage to zoom around the vast city. He found a hotel and he decided to give it a go, the driver he had asked before told him that if he wanted a temporary stay, he must go and find hotels or apartments. Which is what he is currently doing now. The man even gave him an address, he was very thankful for that.

"Very generous people live in this place, which makes me regret why I loitered inside an old valley for too long. I must be insane." He said, looking at the piece of paper, trying to analyze who he could ask for directions.

Then, a teenage looking boy stared at him. As far as he wanted to avoid it, this boy went to approach him and closed the distance between them. "Uh, sir? You look like a foreigner, do you need any help?" He calmly asked.

Luther hesitated, he tried to avoid looking at him for he might notice the tone of his skin. "Err- well, I-i was looking for this address, perhaps you could help me with it?" He showed him the piece of paper he was holding.

The boy took it slowly and narrowed his eyes. "Oh! It's a closeby place. See that road over there? Turn to the left and you'll see it immediately after a few steps. It's a huge building, there would be a sign that states exactly this word. So, just go on ahead." He directed him.

"Thank you." Almost stuttering, he formed these words.

The boy grinned. "No problem!"

He was about to leave when the boy held his arm. He felt his body warm even with this much clothes. Wanting to act aggressively with the sudden skinship, he decided to let it pass. This might be the wrong place to act this way, besides, it's only a boy.

"Sorry, but after I looked at you clearly, your dark skin looked cool! It was as if you were a dark lord vampire, with your red eyes, I could truly see it clearly. Tell me, are you a remnant of the undead? Fulfilling its journey to conquer the humans and take over earth?"

With the continuous questions of accusations, he started to panic inside. His hands trembled and not a word came out of his mouth. He was flabbergasted.

How come this boy knows such a thing? Has his kind been revealed to the world already? That can't be it. It must be because of his complexion, this boy must know a lot of things. Did he encounter a vampire like him before? What must he do? He needs to escape.

He was about to use his speed when the boy suddenly chortled, and laughed. "Just kidding! There's no way, I was just joking with you. You must be weirded out looking at your face. I know! You're a cosplayer, a lot of foreigners come to cosplay in the grand arena nowadays, I'm a fan of such. Anyway, you must be busy. Then, I gotta go! See ya', vampire lord!"

The boy faded out of his vision. He gasped when he caught up with his own breath. "What's with that? My heart almost jumped out of my chest."

His worries then disappeared, with that he continued to walk and as he followed that young man's direction, he halted.

"That looks… compromising, I suppose?" Said Luther after seeing people enter inside the building which had a huge "Pod" sign on it.

He then went his way to infiltrate the hostelry. A guard; wearing a white shirt, a jacket, with his black boots, and what caught his eyes was his badge - bright golden batch. Widely smiling at him as he signalled his hand towards the receptionist, even opened the door for him, made him a bit stunned by it but still did not mind.

'Maybe it's because I look like a foreigner, but people really are nice around here.'

"Good evening, sir. Welcome to Pod Time Square hotel. How may I help you today?" A woman with a tight bun, wearing formal clothes, asked him as he went towards her.

"I… I would like to stay in temporarily…" He said, almost whispering as his voice lowered by each word.

The receptionist glanced at him before glancing back at the monitor. Awkwardly, he roamed his eyes around.

"Alright, we have a vacant room, 4th floor number 102, would you like to check in, sir?"

"Yes."

"Then, how would you like to pay? We accept cash and credit cards."

He was struck. He had no money with him! "Uh, wait, miss. Can you give me a second here?" Pretended as if he had money in his pockets when all there was was a bunch of used papers.

Remembering how he got here, all there are trade offs, he traded some golds that he got from the wealthy households in his valley, jewelries that he stole from the women, and other treasures he found while he invaded each and every household after he lost his. To be particularly honest, he could have just sneak in with his ability, but somehow that behaviour is very disrespectful and a foul manner of actions. He does not want to cause such a huge scene or his kind might just get discovered. Also, he can no longer run as fast as he could like he did in the past, he is getting weaker day by day.

However, with the current situation, what will he do?

"Young lady, would you mind if I would pay the next day?" He inquired, looking down and hiding his face. Not for the embarrassment but for the fact that his face must be hidden no matter what.

"Hmm, I'm afraid not sir." Bluntly disagreed by the woman.

He's screwed! But then, an arm wrapped around his shoulders, making him raged with confusion and as well as acting up, before he could defend himself from the casual touch, he heard someone talk inside his head.

"Act natural, as if I'm your friend. I know what you are."

Puzzled, he stood still. One man who had silver-coloured hair was now leaning on his shoulders, facing the receptionist with a big smile, his white canine teeth was what had caught his attention as he looked at him. His ever so pale skin with his golden glowing eyes. In a second of looking at him, he immediately recognize what this guy is.

He's a vampire, more or less.

"Hey, can I get a room for two? Just for a night," Smoothly asked the receptionist with a bright smile, having that sense of seductiveness in his voice.

The receptionist blushed and nodded. "Y-yes, of course. 4th floor room 104, please. How would you like to pay?" The pitch in her vocals was obvious. She was astonished by this man's charms.

"Credit card, if you may." He handed a rectangular card to the woman, the woman swiped and handed him a paper.

"Please sign here and you're good to go."

After all that, they went inside the elevator. Acting all calm and as the doors closed, quickly he pushed the guy out of his grasp.

"Who are you and why are you paying for my stay?" He asked, furrowing his brows as he took a step back from the guy.

The bloke offered his hand to him for a shake, "The name's Conrad Brooks, I'm a doctor specializing in hematology. Also a head surgeon. But, most of the time I just transform a mere human into an immortal being. Frankly, a vampire. You might have guessed it by now, knowing that you acted cool upon hearing my voice in your head. Yes, I am a pure blood vampire, only few of my kind are now living on Earth. And you're one of those few pure bloods."

He was even more speechless. This man, how did he know that he was a vampire?

"How did I know that you were a vampire? Easy, I can sense when a similar kind is near. Truthfully, you look very vulnerable now for a vampire but since you were pure blood and I was running errands close by, locating you was a piece of cake." He leaned on the elevator's walls and crossed his arms as he shrugged his shoulders.

"You! Stop reading my mind and let me talk!" Pointed at the guy. "Even if I'm a vampire, so what now? Can't you just let me live my life and mind your own endeavors? I don't want to be acquainted with any of you. Might as well just stick with myself until the end of this world."

"Well, if that's your way of saying thanks to someone who offered you a stay, I'll take it."

His tongue twisted before he could speak up. "Whatever, just leave me alone."

"That's not gonna be easy."

"Huh?"

"Well, as you can see. Our father hates it when we are slowly going extinct, so as much as I would love to get out of your way, I need to turn your complexion back to a good state. You're not looking very fine to me, mate. That black skin tone looks like you've achieved all sorts of disease in your body. And on top of that, you reek of animals!" The elevator opened and he went out first before Luther could.

"I know now why you're like this, so I won't ever force you to suck out blood from people."

"What?"

Now Luther was even more concerned. His head was all over the place, so much had happened that he just rushed inside the room he was offered to and slumped his rugged body on the bed sheets.

He was tired yet a gut feeling rushed inside his system that the moment he would open his eyes, a new experience unlocks.