Vlad was a terrifying man; guilty of slaying more people than he could ever be willing to count. The number was terrifying, and it haunted him despite his protested refusal.

He knew very well what his own hands were capable of, the gore that occurred by his hands, and his teeth, alone were horrific. A heavy burden that weighed down his soul like a crushing weight that he was sure would one day be his downfall. That the overbearing cross that was his, would become his undoing. It was all his fault, and he knew it. Everyone that walked his path knew it.

He was a monster.

He knew very well what he had done to both himself, and millions of others. The souls of those men that he deemed as monsters worse than him. Though, he truly was no better than the very man that had hurt him the most as a child. He knew very well what the Sultan had done to him. That was no 'will of God,' it was not a testament to his faith in the Lord. Yes, the man of the day known as Vlad Tepes had never bore his hands or his body in such a monstrous way; he was a murderer. Not a monster.

He was a man strictly of his own accord. Malice, spite, hatred - the works. That is what he was and that is how he should hope to find himself to stay.

That was until one day, fate should have it that he meets a human that would be the very reason his still heart beats. You were as delicate as soft lambs ear on a child's finger. A gentle voice and a kind expression - not a scared gaze sent his way. Just worry. You were always so worried. Hell, you had helped him shave his facial hair while he simply allowed it.

It was absurd. A human as young as you, nearly hundreds of years his junior yet you held such softness that terrified even the likes of him. He found himself caring for you, worrying too. It even terrified him, yet...

You stayed despite any amount of reckless abandon a fool like him could have. He was a vampire - a terrifying one that had killed nearly millions, if not more. But you were always there, like a stone in his way.

You made his heavy soul feel lighter of his guilt and grief.