"You will grow used to leaving after a time," Mr. Crepsley said. He was standing on the stone behind me, perched on little more than thin air. His face was gloomy. "Vampires are always saying good-bye. We never stop anywhere very long. We are forever picking up our roots and moving on to new pastures. It is our way."
"Is the first time the hardest?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, nodding. "But it never gets easy."
"How long before I get used to it?" I wanted to know.
"Maybe a few decades," he said. "Maybe longer."
Decades. He said it as though he was talking of months.
"No," he sighed. "Never."
"Does it get lonely?" I asked.
"Terribly so," he admitted.
I nodded sadly. At least he was being truthful. As I've said before, I'd always rather the truth however unpleasant it might be than a lie. You know where you stand with the truth.
"Okay," I said, hopping down. "I'm ready." I picked up my bag and dusted some graveyard dirt from it.
"No, thank you," I replied politely. "Maybe later, but I'd rather walk the stiffness out of my legs first."
"Very well," he said.
I rubbed my belly and listened to it growl. "I haven't eaten since Sunday," I told him. "I'm hungry."
"Me too," he said. Then he took my hand in his and grinned bloodthirstily. "Let us go eat."
I took a deep breath and tried not to think about what would be on the menu. I nodded nervously and squeezed his hand. We turned and faced away from the graves. Then, side by side, the vampire and his assistant, we began walking… into the night.