Rules of the Night and The First Lesson

Lucian stood frozen, staring at the man he had just fed on. The stranger's body lay limp on the cold alley ground, his chest rising and falling weakly. Lucian could still taste the blood on his tongue. The hunger had faded, replaced by something else—fear.

"I almost killed him," Lucian whispered, his voice shaking.

Viktor crossed his arms, his golden eyes watching him closely. "Yes. And next time, you might."

Lucian wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his fingers trembling. "I don't want to be a killer."

Viktor chuckled. "Then you will need to learn control." He crouched beside the unconscious man and pressed two fingers to his neck. After a moment, he nodded. "He will live. He will wake up tomorrow feeling weak, confused, and with no memory of what happened."

Lucian swallowed hard. "Why doesn't he remember?"

Viktor stood and looked at him. "Because a vampire's bite has a power. When we feed, our venom enters the blood and erases the victim's memory. They forget the attack. They forget us."

Lucian's mind raced. This was too much. Just a day ago, he had been normal. Human. Now, he was something else.

Viktor stepped closer. "There are rules to being a vampire, Lucian. If you do not follow them, you will not survive long."

Lucian looked up at him. "Rules?"

Viktor smirked. "Yes. And you will learn them, starting now."

The First Rule

Viktor began walking, and Lucian had no choice but to follow. The streets were empty, silent except for the occasional car in the distance. The city was asleep, but Lucian felt more awake than ever.

"The first rule of being a vampire," Viktor said, "is to stay hidden. Humans cannot know about us."

Lucian frowned. "Why?"

Viktor stopped and turned to face him. "Because they fear what they do not understand. And what they fear… they try to destroy."

Lucian didn't argue. It made sense. If people knew vampires were real, they would panic. They would hunt them down.

The Second Rule

Viktor continued walking. "The second rule—never kill unless necessary."

Lucian's jaw tightened. "I almost broke that rule tonight."

"Yes," Viktor said, glancing at him. "And if I had not stopped you, you would have taken too much. A dead body means questions. Questions lead to hunters. Hunters lead to death. Yours."

Lucian shivered. "There are people who hunt vampires?"

Viktor nodded. "Yes. They have existed for centuries. And they are very good at what they do."

Lucian felt sick. He hadn't chosen this life, but now he had to survive it.

The Third Rule

They stopped in front of an old building, its windows dark, its bricks worn with age. Viktor turned to him.

"The third rule—never drink from the same person twice in a short time."

Lucian frowned. "Why?"

"Because the venom in our bite makes humans forget. But if you drink from them too often, their minds start to break. They begin to remember… bits and pieces. And then, they become dangerous."

Lucian's stomach twisted. Everything about this new life felt wrong.

A New Home

Viktor pushed open the door of the building and stepped inside. Lucian hesitated before following. The place smelled of dust and old wood. The air was cold, and the walls were lined with bookshelves and antique furniture.

"This is where you will stay," Viktor said, walking toward a staircase. "At least until you learn how to survive on your own."

Lucian hesitated. "And if I don't want your help?"

Viktor laughed. "Then you will die. And it will not be a pleasant death."

Lucian clenched his fists. He hated this. Hated that he had no choice. But he knew Viktor was right. If he wanted to survive, he had to learn.

As he stepped further into the house, one thought echoed in his mind.

His old life was gone forever.

THE FIRST LESSON

Lucian followed Viktor up the old wooden staircase. The house smelled of dust and age, but there was something else—a strange coldness in the air. It wasn't just the night; it was the feeling of something ancient, something unnatural.

"Where are we?" Lucian asked, his voice low.

"A safe house," Viktor replied without looking back. "One of many."

Lucian frowned. "Safe from what?"

Viktor stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to face him. "From humans. From hunters. From anything that wants you dead."

Lucian swallowed hard. Every word Viktor spoke reminded him that he wasn't human anymore.

They entered a dimly lit room. A single candle flickered on a wooden table, casting shadows across the walls. A large window overlooked the city, the lights glowing like distant stars.

"Sit," Viktor ordered, pointing to a chair.

Lucian hesitated, then obeyed.

Viktor leaned against the table, studying him. "You are still weak. You don't understand your new body, your new instincts. If you want to survive, you must learn."

Lucian crossed his arms. "Learn what?"

Viktor smirked. "Everything."

Lesson One: Strength

Viktor moved so fast that Lucian barely saw him. In a blink, he was behind him, gripping his shoulder.

Lucian tensed. "How did you—?"

"Vampires are stronger and faster than humans," Viktor said. "Your body has changed. Your muscles are different. You don't need to rely on slow, human movement anymore."

Lucian shook his head. "I don't feel different."

"Because you don't know how to use it yet," Viktor said. He grabbed a heavy wooden chair and placed it in front of Lucian. "Break it."

Lucian stared at him. "What?"

"Break it," Viktor repeated.

Lucian hesitated, then grabbed the chair with both hands. He tried to snap one of the legs, but it wouldn't budge.

Viktor sighed. "You are still thinking like a human. Stop holding back. Stop using effort. Just… do it."

Lucian clenched his jaw. He tightened his grip, and suddenly—

CRACK!

The chair snapped in half like it was made of paper. Lucian stumbled back, staring at the broken pieces in his hands.

Viktor nodded. "Good. Your body is strong. But strength alone is not enough."

Lesson Two: Speed

Viktor grabbed a small knife from the table and tossed it toward Lucian's face.

Lucian reacted without thinking. His body moved on its own. His hand shot up, fingers closing around the knife's handle before it could reach him.

He stared at the blade in shock. "I… I caught it?"

Viktor smirked. "Yes. Your reflexes are faster than a human's. But speed means nothing if you cannot control it."

Lucian's grip on the knife tightened. "So how do I control it?"

"You practice," Viktor said simply.

Lesson Three: Hunger

Viktor's face grew serious. "Now, the hardest lesson—hunger."

Lucian shifted in his seat. Just the word made his throat burn again.

Viktor leaned forward. "The hunger never goes away, Lucian. You must learn to live with it. If you let it control you, you become a monster. If you control it, you survive."

Lucian nodded slowly. "How do I control it?"

"Discipline," Viktor said. "You must feed, but not too much. Take what you need, no more. And never feed when you are angry."

Lucian frowned. "Why not?"

"Because anger makes you reckless," Viktor said. "And reckless vampires don't live long."

Lucian looked down at his hands. He still remembered the feeling of drinking blood. The warmth, the power. It scared him.

Viktor placed a hand on his shoulder. "This life is not easy. But it is the only life you have now. Accept it, and you will survive."

Lucian took a deep breath, even though he didn't need to. He wasn't ready for this new life, but he had no choice.

"Tomorrow," Viktor said, "your real training begins."

Lucian looked up at him. "What kind of training?"

Viktor smirked. "The kind that will decide if you live or die."

Lucian's new life had just begun. And he had a feeling it was going to be brutal.

To be continued…