NEW NEIGHBOUR

The evening is quiet as always, people relaxing in their homes after a tiring day at work. The street lights illuminated the streets, capturing everything that passed under it.

A sharp and determined footstep keeps breaking the silence as the person walks towards a particular building in the neighbourhood. As if announcing the presence, and at the same time, not wanting to reveal the identity, the lights kept flickering until the man disappeared into one of the apartments.

The man turned on the lights in his apartment, looking around the living room as if searching for something until his eyes fell on the black and white pigeon sitting comfortably on his couch.

"Look who decided to grace me with his presence." said the pigeon

"Now get your dirty ass off my couch before I snap your little neck." The man threatened the pigeon with an eerie smile, causing the pigeon to immediately morph into a good-looking young man in his night clothes.

"I know you didn't mean that–"

"Why did you morph then? You should have waited a little longer."

"You are a mean man, and you can't keep threatening me like that."

"Now that's the most sensible thing you have ever said.....I should start

being a man of my word."

"I didn't mean it that way."

"So? That's by the way, did you get anything interesting? Did he write to me?"

"Oh, yes, he did, but before I hand it over, I am famished.....Did you buy anything for me? Chocolates, ice cream, pizza-" The younger man looked at him with hopeful eyes.

"Why would I buy anything for you when you went out today? Didn't you hunt for something while you were out there?"

"No, but-"

"Shush, I brought this back." Ocean tossed a black cellophane bag at the younger man, who caught it with a big smile as he already knew what was inside the bag.

"Stone, my package" Ocean had his palm set out in front of him, waiting for the letter

"Oh, I placed it on your reading table" Ocean glared at the young man for playing him.

"Did Mrs. Alice ask after me?" asked Stone, oblivious to the glare Ocean was sending his way.

"yeah, she said I should bring you next time."

"Sure." Stone obliged with a smile

"The blood should still be warm. I got it when I was about to leave to keep it fresh for you."

"it is still warm. Thanks for your overwhelming love and kindness."

"Remind me not to bring you food again" Ocean stood up and started heading toward his room.

"That I will...never do, thanks." Stone walked towards the kitchen to have his blood meal.

Ocean didn't bother to switch on the light. Instead, he fished for the matchbox he usually carries in his jacket to light the candle stand fixed on his reading table.

When the light from the candle illuminated his room, he sat on his reading chair to read the letter.

Opening the parchment that looked plain at first before the inks started to appear, he began to read,

'My dearest son, Ocean,

I am glad to know you are faring well. My spirit is happy to know that. He also mentioned how you have been having your share of women there while waiting on your beloved.'

Ocean paused for a while and gritted his teeth as he thought of what good punishment to give Stone for giving such information to his father. After a few seconds, he continued to read,

'I know you are angry at him, but don't be. I was the one who persuaded him to speak to me about it. I know how lonely it must have gotten waiting for your lover that has taken longer than expected to reappear. Well, I have good news for you. Shake the letter a little bit before you continue reading...'

Ocean stopped reading and did as instructed, only to have a tiny plain paper fall from nowhere. He eyed the piece of paper before slowly unwrapping it. To his surprise, the paper kept expanding until thread-like lines started to appear and spread across it, making it look like a map.

What sort of witchery is this? he questioned himself. When he noticed his reading table would not contain the paper that got larger every second, he moved to his bedside to light the candles before going back to take the letter and the now large paper he had never seen before.

After he got the paper fully stretched to the last, he went ahead to continue reading the letter,

'you must protect that map and ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. The map contains every soul born into our world, both the living and the dead, connected to the owner, that is now you. I don't know much about the map, but I know that the red dot on the map represents you. The green dots represent people from our world who are around you. The black dots represent the dead people you know, and the brown dots represent people you don't know.

The map might help you locate your beloved so you can have my grandchildren before I disappear. To activate the map, make a little cut on your index finger and press it to the circle at the top right corner. You can deactivate it by placing the same finger on your tongue and wetting it with your saliva before putting it back on the circle.

The map has been in existence since our creator knows when. It has been possessed by millions of vampires who used it for either good or evil purposes...'

Ocean's eyes left the letter to check for the circle his father was talking about. His mouth set into a thin line when he noticed the red stains there.

Let's not think about the dry dirty blood in that circle, he told himself before continuing the long letter he hadn't expected his father to write.

'That aside, I said I would give you time to think about what I have been writing to you, but there has been another war in the land. The neighbouring kingdom has taken over another of our lands and turned most of them into slaves without mercy. We are slowly losing our identity of being the strongest creatures. We are now becoming strangers in our lands. I know you are still angry, but let us not forget those were the lands our fathers fought for so that we could have something to call our own. Even with our eyes open, we are slowly losing it. No matter the years you stay there, you know it doesn't belong to you. It is another man's land. You still have the chance to protect yours before it is too late. I hope to get a positive answer this time around. Thank you." The letter disappeared into the air, and as if on cue, Stone opened his door without even knocking.

This boy lacks manners, he said in his mind as he glared at the younger man who had a broad smile on his face.

"What is that gigantic thing? What did the letter say? I hope everything is fine." Stone questioned all at once

"Everything is fine, just the usual thing about war and grandchildren, then this gigantic map. It has an ungodly way of activating and deactivating it. I also know you told my father things, hoping to escape the punishment. I am glad to let you know you have failed."

"I didn't want to say anything to him, but he forced me to! I only told him how the ladies are very fond of you and your charms."

"is that so?"

"Brother Ocean, you don't believe me?" Stone turned frantically, not knowing what punishment he was going to receive.

"When have I ever believed you?"

"Forgive me! I promise to have my mouth sealed the next visit."

"Go back to your room while I rest and think about a punishment that will help tighten your loose mouth."

"Please, I want you to remember that To sin is human and.....do you know the remaining part?"

"With all the time you have spent with me, I still can't fathom why you

have chosen to be a dumb fellow." Ocean watched as he searched his brain for the remaining part of the quote.

"Aha! To sin is human, and to forgive is divine!"

"But you are not human" Ocean rolled his eyes at him.

"True. To sin is a vampire, and to forgive is divine." he corrected.

"I think you have been spending too much time with the humans."

"Probably you are not teaching me right," Stone muttered.

"Sorry?" Ocean raised an eyebrow, daring him to repeat what he said, but the younger man didn't dare to breathe back those words.

"I said I am a slow learner."

"I thought as much. Go to your room."

"Okay, but I wanted to see the map" Stone jumped off the bed, looking at the paper that turned very small compared to when it was spread out on the bed when he came in.

"I will show you tomorrow. Move your behind out of my room." Ocean stood and walked to the table to put the map in one of the drawers before sitting again.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, we have a new neighbour. She just packed in today." Stone chimed in as he was about to leave.

"So? Have you become so jobless that you now monitor the neighbours?"

"No! I just happened to see her when I flew in earlier. I am telling you because she is a pretty human, and she is nice too." the candlelight illuminated Ocean's face, showing how his jaw ticked as he glared at Stone.

When the pest finally left, he thanked his stars. He tried to think about the newly acquired information as his sensitive ears immediately picked on a loud noise from the apartment across from theirs. He tried to focus again, but the girl's voice got louder as she sang off tune, without holding any note of the song playing.

What a perfect new neighbour I have here, he thought to himself. His jaw ticked as he squinted his red eyes. He waited a little while, hoping the girl would stop singing, but as time passed, she showed no sign of stopping.

"I think it is time to pay someone a visit." Who knows, she might be a great meal this night. With that thought in mind, he picked his shades on the table to cover his eyes before disappearing from the room.