Mary was cooking dinner when the visitor came. It was raining hard, striking melodious rage against the old tin roof. John, her husband, was off at work, thankfully, but she still had to make sure dinner was ready by the time he came home. She was worried that she wouldn’t be able to, without burning the soup. Mary daren’t imagine the consequences. She was fretting over which would be worse, when the knock at the door came. She knew it wasn’t John because he, of course, never knocked. With one last stir of the soup, she opened the door. She was looking up at a man she’d never met before. He was tall, with dark hair and pale skin. Quite handsome, she thought.

     “Can I help you?” She asked.

     “Yes,” he replied. “I would be most thankful if I could perhaps come in for a moment, as my car has broken down, and there is no place to shelter from the storm. All I need to do is make a phone call. I’m most certain my friends can come pick me up”

     Mary was a kind woman, so she agreed, her only concern being whether John would take kindly to this. The tall man thanked her, pulling of his rain soaked coat and putting it aside.

     She took him to the phone, where he placed his call. She talked with him as they waited. Like a young girl, she was taken with him. She found herself telling him many things she had never told even her closest friends. She told him of her life, her dreams, and even of her abusive husband. He listened, and made good conversation, consoling her when needed.

     “My name is Aaron,” he stated after awhile, holding out his hand. “I’m not really from around these parts, you must understand, and know little of this region…”

     “Out of state then?” She asked.

     “Oh no, much farther than that. I hail from out of country, Europe, actually.”

     “Europe! Why, I’ve never had a foreigner here”

     “A first time for everything, I suppose,” he laughed. “It’s a shame, really, that more of my people can’t look on your beautiful face”

     Mary blushed, and distracted herself with the soup. “My, you really are the charmer,” She said awkwardly.

     “Do forgive if I offend. I meant you no ill feelings. I was simply stating the truth”

     “Oh, there’s no truth in that now, Mister”

     “Do call me Aaron. And I must say there is. I’ve seldom seen such beauty,”

     Mary could scarcely answer reply. John never said such things to her.

     “My, your eyes alone are beautiful”

     “No, they’re very plain, brown, like anyone else’s”

     “Not at all… they sparkle, so warm and inviting; like sitting on the hearth next to a fire… sheltering from the cold…”

     He gently pulled her hand up to his mouth, gracing it with a kiss. His lips were chill, possibly from the weather outside. It ran shivers up her spine. He drew her closer then, slowly drawing her in. She didn’t resist. He smelt faintly of lilies, but also of something she couldn’t quite place. This other scent frightened her, and in the back of her head she was screaming to run. But he enveloped her, pulling her in, and her legs wouldn’t work, nor her arms even move from his gentle yet forceful grasp. Perhaps she didn’t want to.

He leaned over her, murmuring more of his sweetly expressed nothings. She tried to speak, but her lips were dry, and her tongue unresponsive. He was kissing her now, running his hands along her.

     He then ran his tongue down her neck, and his teeth enclosed on her flesh, making the blood run freely, spoiling her flowered dress.

She gasped, and sunk into his arms. Her head reeled. She tried to pull away, but in vain. They stood, poised there for a moment or two. He was then finished with her, and she collapsed to the floor. He wiped off the corner of his mouth delicately. Mary lay writhing on the floor, then slowly, she grew still.

     It was about then that John made his way through the door. Aaron glanced over, but seemed not to care. John took in the scene with shock. He grabbed for his gun, cursing heavily, when Mary’s voice stopped him. He turned, stunned.

     “John! Stop, you don’t understand!”

     “Damn woman,” John erupted, “what in hell are you thinking letting strange men into the house, and look at this,” he growled, picking her up by her bloodied dress, “I paid good money for this.”

     He slapped her across the face. She took in a breath, shaking, still weak. John turned toward him, dropping Mary to the floor. Aaron was leaned on the counter, watching. Mary murmured under her breath, rocking back and forth on the floor. John paid her no heed, and scowled at the man before him.

     “What have you done to my wife?!” He yelled, snarling.

     Aaron laughed, “Why, can’t you see? I’ve killed her.”

     “This is no laughing matter, fucker! Speak sense or I’ll ram this thing into your eyes socket and blow your brains out!”

     “Go right ahead sir,” Aaron replied coolly.

     Enraged, John shoved his double-barreled shotgun into the stranger’s stomach, firing point blank. Aaron flew backwards, catching the edge of the counter as he fell, swinging him about. Pieces of flesh and organ were sprayed across the floor. But he remained upright. John’s eyes widened, watching as the flesh around the wound writhed about, pieces coming together again, slowly closing the hole with not even a scar. John dropped the gun, the other shell forgotten, and pulled back in fear. “What the hell are you…?”

     Aaron smiled his smug smile. “Vampyr, or to you…. A vampire”

     John recoiled in horror. Aaron laughed again. He walked over to Mary, and helped her off the floor. John didn’t even move, let alone try to stop him. Aaron dusted her off, and kissed her cheek softly, running a finger through her hair. Mary shivered, and pulled away. “Stay away from my wife,” John murmured.

     “Your wife? You don’t treat her all that well, you realize. I don’t see why she stays with you.” Aaron responded idly, toying with a spoon on the counter, “Surely you have no idea how to treat a lady of such quality” Mary stood horrified at this exchange, more so at his continuing flattery. He continued, “I’ve had a few girls in my time, they all left me eventually for various reasons, but I must say, they were all very happy. I don’t see how you can mistreat your lady like this. Have you no love for her? Surely such a prize is warranted better than this,” He turned to Mary then, “I can give you better than this”

     John was outraged. “Don’t you dare, Mary, if you even so much as think of… I mean, he’s a fucking monster! We are going to have a talk about this later, Mary, I swear, and you’ll regret ever letting that thing in! What were you possibly thinking?!”

     Mary turned toward him, and said simply, “I promised my father I’d stay faithful to you till the day I died.” She then took Aaron by the hand, and walked out into the storm. John stood staring out the open door, as the rain and thunder crashed through.