The Vampire Gene

"Shh," I told him. "We can talk later. Do you have any garden chairs?"

He nodded, looking puzzled, and indicated over his shoulder towards a sliding door that led to a small back garden. I nodded at him, and adjusted my grip to compress both carotids, those big arteries that carry blood to the brain, and his eyes rolled back in his head as the blood flow to his brain was suddenly cut off. I let him slump to the floor, and stepped over his unconscious body. The sliding door opened easily, and I retrieved a fold up camping chair from below the awning just outside the door. I tucked it under my arm and quietly shut the door behind me, and settled on an overstuffed leather couch to await Eric's return to consciousness.

His snores became less regular eventually and his eyes fluttered open, growing wide as he realised what had happened. I loomed over him and smiled coldly.

"We are going for a drive. You will come quietly, or I will hurt you. I will give you a small demonstration, just in case you don't understand what I can and will do to you."

I leaned over him and squeezed his right forearm, just above the thick bandage that encased his wrist, snapping both bones easily. My other hand covered his mouth, muffling the scream. I waited for a while, letting the warning sink in. Eventually his breathing settled and reason returned to his eyes. I reached out into his mind and felt only resignation. Good.

"You ready?"

He nodded slowly. I removed my hand from his mouth. He opened his mouth as if to speak, and I frowned a warning. He closed it again. I stood back as he struggled to his feet, and followed him to the front door. As he turned the doorknob with his left hand, I gently clasped his right forearm, not hard enough to really hurt, but just as a subtle reminder of the potential ramifications of trying to alert any neighbours or bystanders. He flinched, but said nothing. We crossed the tiny lawn outside his house and walked in silence to the rented van. I opened the passenger door and indicated for him to get inside. He complied without a sound. I shut the door after him and walked around to the drivers door, and climbed into the seat. Eric was struggling to buckle his seatbelt, so I took it from his hand and snapped it into place.

"Is this about the girl?" he asked as I put the van into first and pulled away from the kerb.

"Yes," I said without looking at him.