I was to retrieve a simple artifact made by the ancient druids that would be the key to immortality.

It was held by the most powerful vampire in her district and from what she received he grew tired of holding it into his possession and wanted to get rid of it.

With the agreement, the elders chose me to retrieve it so that they can absorb the power of eternal life and become powerful enough to protect humankind.

I was their top deliverer and in these times of war and plague, being one was suicide but I thrive in the uncertainty.

It doesn't hurt that with each item retrieved I‘m given a healthy percent of the profits which helps me to provide for my family.

This latest retrieval will set me and my family up for life.

I walked inside of the ancient castle, observing my surroundings as vamps watched me with undisguised hunger in their eyes.

Ignoring them, I stood in a lazy position as the head vampire looked down at me from his throne with a look of boredom.

“I see that you came alone,” he said in a tone that had my skin shiver deliciously.

“I’m here to receive the artifact,”

No need to drag this as needed, I thought while watching his head tilt.

“Of course,”

He slowly rose from his throne bringing whispers across the throne room.

“Follow me,” He said without seeing if I followed him or not.

I pursued him as he went out of the room and down the hall.

He stopped in front of a red door that felt ominous but I stilled my body from shivering even if my heart was beating as going through the treadmill.

“It’s in here,” He started while giving his thumb a nick from a fang before pressing it to the door.

Opening the door, he allowed me to enter first when I saw a beautiful bracelet on top of a unique box that glistened in gold under the moon lite sky.

“Gorgeous,”

“Yes, it is. You may take it to your elders,” He said from behind me. As I walked closer it felt like a siren call, wanting me to take it and use it for myself.

“Well, take it,” he said with impatience.

“You first,”

Suspicion flared as the call became louder but with discipline ignored it for a moment.

“I won’t”

“Why?”

“Only a human can touch its metal but if it finds its future host unworthy, it will burn him/her from the inside out.”

“What!? This wasn’t what I was told,”

“It seems your elders refused to relay this tidbit but there’s a problem, if you don’t take it, you’ll die by my hands,”

I brought my weapon close to me, “You think I came into the lion’s den without a whip,”

He gave me a grin that made him younger than he was. “Of course but do you think I wouldn't make assurance of my own?”

The vampire snapped his fingers and a picture of my family appeared in his hands leaving my blood cold.

“Take the bracelet and die or your family will take your place,”

“Bastard!”

“Your choice even if you were to get past me by a miracle, your family isn’t so lucky are they?”

With the frustration of getting placed in a hard place, I glared at him before turning my attention back to the artifact.

“If I don't make let my family know that,”

“I will.”

As I touched it, I felt my body being absorbed into a flaming heat that never stopped until I screamed out in pain before it stopped, leaving me gasping for air.

“Gosh!” I yelled hear the door slam shut.

I looked up to see the vampire staring at me with a hunger that didn't leave anything to the imagination.

“For so long, I’ve waited for you,” He said with a growl.

I slowly rose as he gave a slight step towards me.

“What?”

“My mate.”

Before I could react, he wrapped his arms around me.

“Wait a minute, I'm human,”

“Not anymore,”

He led my attention to my wrist which wore the bracelet.

“But the elders...”

“Wanted to sacrifice you to attain this bracelet,”

“A suicide mission,”

“Yes,”

“Great,”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you and your family,”

“How can I trust you?”

“Because mate,”

He touched the metal bringing emotions that we're not my own.

Longing, desire, and hunger

“All I have is yours and vice versa,”