The First Attack

The evening was quiet as Mikel leaned over his canvas, the familiar scent of paint filling his small art studio. His brush danced across the canvas, each stroke bringing to life the vivid memory of a sunset he'd watched with Viktor just days ago.

He smiled to himself as he thought of Viktor, of their late-night conversations, the way they'd connected so deeply, and the strange but undeniable love that had blossomed between them.

Yet, beneath that love, there was a tension, an unspoken fear that Mikel sensed but couldn't quite name. Viktor had tried to shield him from the darkness of his world, but Mikel knew better. He wasn't naive. He had chosen to love Viktor despite the risks, despite the unknown.

Suddenly, the air in the studio felt different, heavier, colder.

Mikel's hand froze mid-stroke, and he instinctively looked toward the windows, where the faint glow of streetlamps barely pierced the gathering shadows outside. A chill ran down his spine.

Then came the sound of glass shattering.

Mikel jumped, his heart leaping into his throat as he spun around.

His eyes widened as three figures stepped through the broken window, their movements quick and predatory. There was no mistaking what they were. Their eyes gleamed with a dangerous hunger, and their fangs glinted in the faint light.

"Viktor's little human pet," one of them hissed, his voice dripping with malice. He stepped forward, his long coat sweeping behind him like the shadow of death itself. "He thought he could keep you hidden from us."

Mikel took a step back, his breath shallow, his heart pounding in his chest. His gaze darted around the studio, searching for something, anything, that he could use as a weapon. But deep down, he knew it was futile. He was no match for them.

"What do you want?" Mikel's voice trembled, betraying the fear that gripped him.

The vampire who spoke took a slow, deliberate step toward him, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Viktor has grown soft," he said, his fangs flashing as he grinned. "All because of you. Killing you will remind him of who he truly is. And once you're dead, he'll be ours again."

Before Mikel could react, the vampire lunged, faster than Mikel could have anticipated. But just as he braced himself for the attack, the door to the studio burst open, and Viktor appeared like a blur of shadows and fury.

In an instant, Viktor's hand was at the vampire's throat, lifting him off the ground with effortless strength.

"You shouldn't have come here," Viktor growled, his voice colder than Mikel had ever heard it.

The vampire struggled in Viktor's grasp, clawing at his hand, but Viktor's strength was absolute. With a vicious twist of his wrist, Viktor snapped the vampire's neck, the sound of cracking bones filled the studio. The lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

The other two vampires hesitated, their confidence wavering in the face of Viktor's fury. One of them turned to flee, but Viktor was faster. He intercepted the vampire with a brutal punch to the chest, the impact sending the attacker crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. Without hesitation, Viktor grabbed the vampire by the throat and drove his fangs into his neck, draining him in seconds.

When he was done, Viktor let the body fall to the floor, blood dripping from his lips.

"I warned you all," Viktor spat, his voice dark with rage. "He's mine."

The last vampire, paralyzed by fear, stood frozen for a moment too long. Viktor's eyes locked onto him, and in the blink of an eye, he was upon him. Viktor's hand plunged through the vampire's chest, ripping out his heart with a savage, final blow.

The studio fell into a deathly silence.

The only sound was the heavy breathing of Mikel, who stood frozen in place, his heart still racing. The smell of blood filled the air, mingling with the familiar scent of paint. The scene before him, the bodies, the violence, was too much.

Viktor stood over the bodies, his chest heaving with restrained anger. Slowly, he turned to Mikel, his expression softening as he saw the terror etched on his face.

"Mikel," Viktor whispered, stepping toward him. "Are you hurt?"

Mikel stumbled back, his wide eyes fixed on the carnage before him.

"Is this… Is this what your world is like?" Mikel's voice was barely more than a whisper. He shook his head, his hands trembling. "I didn't... I didn't know…"

Viktor reached out, his hands gentle, but Mikel flinched at the contact. "I'm sorry," Viktor said softly, guilt clear in his eyes. "I never wanted you to see this. I tried to protect you from it, but… This is the reality of being with me."

Mikel's knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor, his back against the wall. His hands trembled as he wrapped them around himself, trying to contain the panic rising inside him.

"I… I didn't realize," he muttered, shaking his head. "I didn't realize it would be like this. I thought I understood the risks, but I didn't. I don't think I ever will."

Viktor knelt in front of him, his expression filled with a deep, aching pain. "This is why I wanted to keep you away from all of it. But they found you, Mikel. And they won't stop. They'll keep coming for you, because they see you as my weakness. And I can't lose you."

Mikel swallowed hard, his mind racing. He had heard Viktor's warnings before, but this was different. This was real. He could feel the weight of Viktor's world crushing down on him, suffocating him. And the worst part was that he knew Viktor was right.

"They came for me because of you," Mikel said, his voice trembling. "They want to hurt you through me."

Viktor nodded, his eyes filled with desperation. "Yes. And as long as you remain human, you'll always be in danger. Mikel, please. Let me turn you. It's the only way I can keep you safe."

Mikel's heart skipped a beat, and his breath caught in his throat. "Turn me? You mean… make me like you?"

"Yes," Viktor said softly, his voice laced with urgency. "If you become a vampire, they won't be able to use you against me. You'll be able to protect yourself, and we can be together without this constant threat hanging over us."

Mikel stared at him, his mind reeling. The thought of becoming a vampire had never truly crossed his mind until now. He had always assumed that he could love Viktor as he was, that they could find a way to be together despite the differences between them. But now, after seeing the violence, the danger… He wasn't sure anymore.

"I don't want to be a vampire," Mikel said finally, his voice barely more than a whisper.