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Description
The cold wind whipped at the desert and a coyote could be heard howling in the distance. The only vehicle for miles around was my light blue truck. I didn't like the color, but my ex-girlfriend had chosen the color and I hadn't decided what color to repaint my truck yet.  The only sound inside was my breathing and Prince singing "1999" on the radio. It wasn't 1999, more like 2006.

I pulled over and looked at the map I had brought with me. I had been traveling for a few days now and was supposed to meet my friend-

"Somewhere behind me. Shit!" I cursed at the landscape. I was lost. "Not lost. I know where I need to go."

I shut off the car and put on my sweater. I had enough gas to get me turned around and I wanted to get a little shut eye. But the coyote was continuing to howl at the new moon and made it impossible for me to go to sleep. The thought of its teeth ripping through my throat was enough to keep me awake. The truck would keep the coyote out, I knew it would. But the night was dark and the only light for miles were the stars. Finally, I was too tired to stay awake anymore.

BANG!

I jumped awake and bruised myself on the side of the door. I heard something running away from my truck. I pulled out my gun from the other seat and held it close to me. It must only be the coyote trying to attack me. There couldn't be any other demons on this stretch of land. It was only a coyote, dear Jonathan.

"Arg!" A voice said outside the truck. I cocked the small gun and opened the door slowly. I looked around and saw that a man had crashed into my truck.  I shot over his head to make sure nothing else attacked us. I went back into my truck and got a flashlight. Turning it on I saw that the man had a large wound on his shoulder. When I had turned on the flashlight he had thrown a dagger at me. It had only been a warning shot, but it had spooked me some.

"I am Jonathan Harris." I said slowly and the man looked up at me. He was a strange man, and I had seen more than my fair share of odd people.  His short black hair made him appear evil. "Why are you out here?"

"One of the cattle got loose and hurt me." He said and I knew he was lying about that. A cow wouldn't leave a mark such as the one on his shoulder. It looked like something had bitten him. However, I knew he wouldn't give me a true answer about his wound at all. "I am Meph Darkblood and am a proud resident of The Swinging Tree."

"That some kind of bar?"

Meph looked confused for a second and slowly nodded. "Yeah, a bar. It's an out of the way place that I like to call my home."

Someone wanting to live at a bar? Meph didn't appear to be that big of a drinker. "I could drive you there." I offered and he shook his head. "At least I could get you to a hospital."

"Do you have a first aid kit?" Meph asked.

"Yeah, but-"

Meph held up his hand. "I can fix myself enough." He said. "It's only a slight wound, after all."

I sighed and then found a first aid kit in my truck. Meph then fixed himself up with the limited supplies. "You a medic or something?" I asked.

"I know how blood flows." He replied and then he stood up. "What are you doing out here so late?"

I shrugged. "I'm driving to meet a friend. I got a little lost."

"I can see that." He said. "If I help you now, will you promise to help me in the future?"

I had worked with people that I had been in their debt for and terrible things had ended up happening. But it wouldn't hurt to find out more. "What will you do for me?" I asked.

"I'll help you to find where you're going." He said. "I can, of course, find transportation for myself afterwards."

It was a good offer. I had to deliver the shipment very soon and wanted to be rid of this stranger. "I don't trust debts, but I don't have much choice now." I said and held out my right hand. Meph shook it.

He carefully got in the driver's seat and I got in the passenger seat. I slowly showed him the map and told him where I had to go. "You are stupid." Meph said and I could say nothing or risk him breaking off the bargain.

As he began to drive I noticed how harsh he was. Coldness seemed to radiate from him. "I'm not that stupid." I replied. "I have learned how to survive in this world. I can't be that stupid to survive so long."

"Just means that you were lucky." He said without a hint of emotion now. "Stupid people do survive in this world, you know."

"What about the underworld?"

This caused Meph to smirk a little. "There are still lucky people in the underworld, too. People are consumed by greed and power, that makes them stupid." He looked at me for a second and then looked back at the road. "You are not threatening to me. You're probably just a delivery boy anyway."

"I have dealt with troubles before now." I said and just stared out into the scenery. "I might have been lucky, but that doesn't mean I didn't have talent before now. I've had plenty of talent as well as luck."

"And yet you managed to get lost out here."

"I wasn't lucky tonight."

"If I wasn't out here tonight you'd be dead." Meph said. "It was a cattle run tonight."

"A cattle run?" I asked. "You still going to tell the story that you were attacked by cattle tonight?"

Meph laughed. "It's true. I was attacked by cattle."

"Not by any cattle I've heard of."

"No." Meph replied and sighed. "Not many people have heard of this kind of cattle. My people refer to them as Cattle-Bloods."

"Cattle-Bloods?" I asked.

"I've told you too much already." Meph said and stopped talking for awhile. Finally he dropped me off and got out of my truck. He shook my hand and said, "I feel that one day this night will all make sense to you. Maybe one day you will become part of my people."

"Why?" I asked bewildered.

"You interest me for some reason." Meph Darkblood said and, with that, he left.

*  * *

My alarm went off and I pushed the snooze button with a lazy hand. Five more minutes and it would go off again. Maybe I could throw it across the room. That would be a good stress reliever. I opened one of my eyes and looked at my messy bedroom. It had been twenty-two years since I had first run into Meph Darkblood and every morning since I expected him to call me back. I had lived my life in fear that he would come back and tell me to do something awful.

"Can't stay like this forever." I said to myself drowsily and yet I knew I would. I got up and just sat on the edge of my bed. I looked behind me and saw a naked lady. It had been a good night, but now I had work to do. I touched the lady and she opened her eyes. "Come on, it's morning."

"Time for you to work?" She asked and touched my face with her hands. "Come on. You can rest a few more hours."

I laughed. "Yeah, if I do that I might get fired, Melissa." I helped her out of bed gently and her figure made me want to push her back down again. Melissa Stern had been my fifth woman after my ex-girlfriend. I didn't know if she would become my girlfriend or not. But man, could she fuck. "I do need the money."

"Should I go?" She asked as she went to put on her clothes. I didn't answer until she was done because each movement of her body made me want her more and more.

"You can stay for a little while longer." I said. "For breakfast."

"Just for breakfast?" Melissa asked after I had gotten dressed. I had known Melissa for years and she had helped me deal with the aftershocks of meeting Meph. In fact, she had helped me back when I was in High School. I could never figure out why I forgot her.

"Yeah, I'm sorry." I walked over to the kitchen and admired each cupboard and dish. It was my own place and it didn't seem to mark the years that had passed between ages twenty-two and forty-four. I started to make eggs while Melissa watched.

"You are a hard worker." She said and sighed. "How long has it been since we met?"

"We agreed to keep it in the bedroom and not outside." I said and looked at her sternly.

"Come off it." Melissa said angrily. "I've been here for you in the dark times."

Dark times. Darkblood. Meph Darkblood. "Then you want an actual date?" I asked and she nodded. "Okay, we'll see a movie in theaters and we'll watch it this time." Melissa kissed me on the cheek as I finished with the eggs.

I served Melissa and myself scrambled eggs, and then we just stared into each other's eyes. She had wonderful black eyes. They were as black as the night and yet warmer than the abyss. I smiled  as she said what I assumed was a joke. I didn't know if it was a joke, I was too busy looking at her. She was lovely and I decided that maybe I should really start seeing her.

"That movie was so funny. Wouldn't you agree, Jonathan?" Melissa asked and I was finally snapped back to the present.

"I…guess so." I said and tried to find some eggs that I could eat so I could fill the silence. Unfortunately, I had already finished my food.

"You weren't listening to me, were you?" She asked angrily and ate some eggs from her plate.

"I was just thinking how lovely you are." I said. "I don't know how to ask this…but do you want to see more of me outside of the bedroom?"

Melissa shook her head and laughed. She then paused. "You're serious, aren't you? You really do want to see more of me?"

"Yeah." I said shyly. "It's just…you have been really kind to me and I'd like to have a go with you as my girlfriend."

Melissa smiled and opened her mouth as a truck could be heard pulling in. The same coldness I felt all those years ago came back to me and I knew who was coming to the door. "Meph Darkblood." I whispered under my breath as I heard the knocking on the door.

Melissa held my hand for a moment as I stood up to open the door. When I opened the door the first thing I noticed was the black hair.

"Ah, Jonathan Harris, it took me a little while to find you." Meph said. "And is that your wife?"

"No." I replied shakily. "My girlfriend. Melissa Stern, this is Meph Darkblood who I told you about before."

"So glad you told her about me." He said, though it appeared that fact didn't make him happy at all.

"A pleasure to meet you." She said and held her hand out to Meph. Meph took her hand in his and kissed it. Melissa seemed to shiver in fear and smiled faintly when he moved away from her.

"I'm sorry to pull Jonathan away from you, but he's in my debt and there's something I need him to do." Meph said and bowed to Melissa. I kissed her and then went to Meph. I hoped that I would be back to keep her warm that night.

"So what are you going to have me do?" I asked as Meph drove us away from my house.

"You're going to help on a cattle run." Meph said. "But not cattle like you know them. Let me explain, I'm not human."

"That makes sense." I said as silent laughter went through my body as I realized I probably wouldn't be killing anyone tonight. "Though it was hard for me to believe that years ago."

"My people, Muvas,  are actually a hybrid of vampires, humans, and something else entirely. There are a few levels you need to know about." Meph said and paused. "There are normal Muvas, then Seers, and finally Cattle-Bloods. Seers are like retarded humans and are respected more than humans. Cattle-Bloods are hardly even humans and are used for their meat and blood. Tonight you are going to help us transport Cattle-Bloods."

My eyes were suddenly glued to Meph. "If you're related to vampires, how can you still walk in sunlight?"

"We are weaker in sunlight. But, remember, we are also related to humans so we are able to stand sunlight, unlike vampires." Meph said and then we were both silent. The sky grew darker and we went off road. We reached an area that was fenced and Cattle-Bloods were in there trying to eat the desert sand.

I stood by the fence and then saw some Muvas walk over to the Cattle-Bloods. One of the females walked over to a Cattle-Blood and bent forward to its neck. Suddenly two lower teeth came out and she sucked the Cattle-Blood's blood from those. She finally stepped away and the Cattle-Blood walked over to its own and tried to eat the sand again.

"It's fine. A little off, but it will be good to use for a feast." She said and went to one of the vehicles and prepared it. I continued to stare at the Cattle-Bloods that looked so much like humans it was unnerving.

"You'll get used to it." Meph told me and then went to get another Cattle-Blood.

"I'm not sure about that." I muttered under my breath and followed Meph. He took me into the fenced area.

One of the Cattle-Bloods walked to me on both hands and feet, like a monkey, and sniffed me and then sniffed Meph. She growled at Meph but seemed to like me. She then walked away to rejoin the group.

"She likes you." Meph said. "This is a very special herd to be used as a feast next New Year's. They have better stables in The Swinging Tree. The Swinging Tree is the center of the Muvas."

"So it isn't a bar?" I asked jokingly and Meph just laughed, though he looked a little confused about my comment. It had been a few years and so it was surprising that I had remembered it. Plus, he had been wounded when he had said it. "So why am I here if it's so important?"

"We need to use a human template to more safely transport the Cattle-Bloods." Meph said.

"So you need to take my blood?" I asked. "Why didn't you do that earlier?"

"Because, Jonathan, we can only change into another for thirty minutes and can only hold the blood for five minutes before changing. When we transport them we will take your blood and then, if you're feeling good enough, you can keep the Cattle-Bloods company."

I looked Meph in the eyes. "Will it hurt?"

"Just a little." He said and then winked at me.

I waited around as the Muvas set up the vans. There were five of them, including Meph, and they were all very intent on their business. I had already gone out of the fenced area and was looking at the Cattle-Bloods. The Muvas hadn't even clothed them, but maybe that was because the Cattle-Bloods couldn't really think.

Finally the Muvas were ready and gathered around me. Meph pulled up my sleeves and teeth came out of his top jaw. These top teeth seemed more deadly than the lower teeth had been.  The other Muvas also had their top teeth come out. I closed my eyes tightly as I felt their top teeth go into my body. I screamed out as I felt each part of me was getting blown apart and then squished together again. It felt as though my current pain was breathing.

I tried opening my eyes but the pain had closed them shut and it was impossible to open them. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I fell down onto the sand. Opening my eyes I saw all but Meph go away to open the fence.

"You okay?" Meph asked. I nodded slowly and he helped me up. "Most people would've died, but you survived. You feel good enough to keep the Cattle-Bloods company?"

"Why do I need to keep them company, anyways?"

"Because then they'll be calmer and are less likely to try and escape." I nodded as he said this. I felt his hands change slightly and when I looked back I saw myself.

"Shit." I said and Meph just laughed with my voice.

The vehicle they were transporting the Cattle-Bloods in looked like a regular vehicle to transport cattle in, but there were no windows. I was lead into the middle of it and Meph then left me on my own. Cattle-Bloods seemed to pour in and to take much interest in me.

A male Cattle-Blood lay down by me and put his head in my lap. He looked up happily at me and I pat his head. As the vehicle started up they looked at me and then him. All the time the vehicle was driving I pat each of them at least twice. Finally, after what seemed like days, the Muvas opened the vehicle and I had a glimpse of a large underground tunnel.

The Muvas, now all in their original forms, were able to force the Cattle-Bloods to get out. Afterwards, Meph came to me and helped me up.

"You were good tonight." He told me with a smile.

"There wasn't much to it." I replied.

"But you didn't panic and you were able to stand five of us drinking from you at once from our top teeth." He said and patted me on the back. "Sadly, you'll have to stay with us for a year before you can go out. I trust you not to tell, but the others won't."

"What about Melissa?" I asked. "I have to get back to her!"

"I'll make sure you're able to keep in touch." He said and then walked away from me. "You can make excuses."

*  *  *

"Jonathan Harris, do you wish to become a Muva?" The judge asked me as the courtroom of Muvas, in The Swinging Tree, listened intently.

"Yes." I replied. I had felt so connected with the Muvas after two months. Maybe Melissa could become one or at least we could live together.

"Then why did you insult the Seer Jaxon Halfblood?" The judge asked me. He stared at me. "Seers are highly respected."

"I hardly said anything to him." I replied. "He is just a little sensitive and I forgot that."

"Jaxon is hardly the sensitive type!" Meph yelled out from the front row.

"Silence, Darkblood." The judge said and Meph was silent, but his anger radiated throughout the entire room. "Harris, you have been our guest and we have treated you well. It is hard on all of us that you have disobeyed such an important law to us."

"Judge, I am sorry to disappoint, but I feel that I hardly did anything." I said slowly as I felt everyone's eyes on me. "I know what I have done is foolish, but I have hardly directly attacked you."

"Insulting a Seer is directly attacking us!" Meph shouted loudly.

"Darkblood, be silent or you will be kicked out of this courtroom." The judge said and Meph was silent yet again.

I felt the anger in the room growing and invading the safe places of my mind. I realized what a wrong step here could mean: I'd be dead before the sun was up.

I looked directly at the judge and said, "What is my sentence?"

The Judge turned to Meph and then to me. "Meph Darkblood brought you here and showed you our ways. There are two charges here: Betraying one's friend and insulting a Seer. We can't let you leave here alive, Harris. If you were a Muva, we'd exile you from The Swinging Tree." He paused. "The sentence is death."

Meph shouted out in joy and two Muvas came to grab my arms. They roughly pulled my squirming body as Meph lead them. I looked around hoping that there would be a way out. Some way to save myself. But all I saw was a crowd of Muvas rejoicing that there would be blood spilt.

I wasn't too aware of how Muvas performed executions. I didn't know if they beheaded or had an electric chair. Sweat was dripping off my skin and a Muva laughed at this. We started going upwards and, after a few minutes, reached the surface. We were greeted by a full moon, a howling coyote, and a large tree.

I could tell that the Muvas had taken much care with this, since we were in the desert. A turn of my head and a platform came into view. They were going to hang me! A noose was all ready for me, like they had planned this all along.

"Meph, help me!" I cried out. "You know I did nothing wrong!"

"You're no friend of mine now." Meph said as he stood on the platform. "You insulted Jaxon Halfblood!"

"Just promise me you'll look after Melissa." I said.

"I'll look after your girlfriend." Meph said. "I'll see that she goes straight to Hell."

I was shocked that Meph was going to go after Melissa. I couldn't think about it too much because I was dragged to the top of the platform. I tried to get away, realizing that both me and Melissa would be dead if I didn't act soon.

I punched a Muva in the stomach and managed to stumble down. As I stood up, I was pulled up by a Muva and dragged upwards. I bit and scratched him. He just laughed as he allowed Meph to put the noose around me.

"Please, you don't have to do this." I whimpered. Meph just laughed and allowed me to drop.

Description
The cold wind whipped at the desert and a coyote could be heard howling in the distance. The only vehicle for miles around was my light blue truck. I didn't like the color, but my ex-girlfriend had chosen the color and I hadn't decided what color to repaint my truck yet.  The only sound inside was my breathing and Prince singing "1999" on the radio. It wasn't 1999, more like 2006.

I pulled over and looked at the map I had brought with me. I had been traveling for a few days now and was supposed to meet my friend-

"Somewhere behind me. Shit!" I cursed at the landscape. I was lost. "Not lost. I know where I need to go."

I shut off the car and put on my sweater. I had enough gas to get me turned around and I wanted to get a little shut eye. But the coyote was continuing to howl at the new moon and made it impossible for me to go to sleep. The thought of its teeth ripping through my throat was enough to keep me awake. The truck would keep the coyote out, I knew it would. But the night was dark and the only light for miles were the stars. Finally, I was too tired to stay awake anymore.

BANG!

I jumped awake and bruised myself on the side of the door. I heard something running away from my truck. I pulled out my gun from the other seat and held it close to me. It must only be the coyote trying to attack me. There couldn't be any other demons on this stretch of land. It was only a coyote, dear Jonathan.

"Arg!" A voice said outside the truck. I cocked the small gun and opened the door slowly. I looked around and saw that a man had crashed into my truck.  I shot over his head to make sure nothing else attacked us. I went back into my truck and got a flashlight. Turning it on I saw that the man had a large wound on his shoulder. When I had turned on the flashlight he had thrown a dagger at me. It had only been a warning shot, but it had spooked me some.

"I am Jonathan Harris." I said slowly and the man looked up at me. He was a strange man, and I had seen more than my fair share of odd people.  His short black hair made him appear evil. "Why are you out here?"

"One of the cattle got loose and hurt me." He said and I knew he was lying about that. A cow wouldn't leave a mark such as the one on his shoulder. It looked like something had bitten him. However, I knew he wouldn't give me a true answer about his wound at all. "I am Meph Darkblood and am a proud resident of The Swinging Tree."

"That some kind of bar?"

Meph looked confused for a second and slowly nodded. "Yeah, a bar. It's an out of the way place that I like to call my home."

Someone wanting to live at a bar? Meph didn't appear to be that big of a drinker. "I could drive you there." I offered and he shook his head. "At least I could get you to a hospital."

"Do you have a first aid kit?" Meph asked.

"Yeah, but-"

Meph held up his hand. "I can fix myself enough." He said. "It's only a slight wound, after all."

I sighed and then found a first aid kit in my truck. Meph then fixed himself up with the limited supplies. "You a medic or something?" I asked.

"I know how blood flows." He replied and then he stood up. "What are you doing out here so late?"

I shrugged. "I'm driving to meet a friend. I got a little lost."

"I can see that." He said. "If I help you now, will you promise to help me in the future?"

I had worked with people that I had been in their debt for and terrible things had ended up happening. But it wouldn't hurt to find out more. "What will you do for me?" I asked.

"I'll help you to find where you're going." He said. "I can, of course, find transportation for myself afterwards."

It was a good offer. I had to deliver the shipment very soon and wanted to be rid of this stranger. "I don't trust debts, but I don't have much choice now." I said and held out my right hand. Meph shook it.

He carefully got in the driver's seat and I got in the passenger seat. I slowly showed him the map and told him where I had to go. "You are stupid." Meph said and I could say nothing or risk him breaking off the bargain.

As he began to drive I noticed how harsh he was. Coldness seemed to radiate from him. "I'm not that stupid." I replied. "I have learned how to survive in this world. I can't be that stupid to survive so long."

"Just means that you were lucky." He said without a hint of emotion now. "Stupid people do survive in this world, you know."

"What about the underworld?"

This caused Meph to smirk a little. "There are still lucky people in the underworld, too. People are consumed by greed and power, that makes them stupid." He looked at me for a second and then looked back at the road. "You are not threatening to me. You're probably just a delivery boy anyway."

"I have dealt with troubles before now." I said and just stared out into the scenery. "I might have been lucky, but that doesn't mean I didn't have talent before now. I've had plenty of talent as well as luck."

"And yet you managed to get lost out here."

"I wasn't lucky tonight."

"If I wasn't out here tonight you'd be dead." Meph said. "It was a cattle run tonight."

"A cattle run?" I asked. "You still going to tell the story that you were attacked by cattle tonight?"

Meph laughed. "It's true. I was attacked by cattle."

"Not by any cattle I've heard of."

"No." Meph replied and sighed. "Not many people have heard of this kind of cattle. My people refer to them as Cattle-Bloods."

"Cattle-Bloods?" I asked.

"I've told you too much already." Meph said and stopped talking for awhile. Finally he dropped me off and got out of my truck. He shook my hand and said, "I feel that one day this night will all make sense to you. Maybe one day you will become part of my people."

"Why?" I asked bewildered.

"You interest me for some reason." Meph Darkblood said and, with that, he left.

*  * *

My alarm went off and I pushed the snooze button with a lazy hand. Five more minutes and it would go off again. Maybe I could throw it across the room. That would be a good stress reliever. I opened one of my eyes and looked at my messy bedroom. It had been twenty-two years since I had first run into Meph Darkblood and every morning since I expected him to call me back. I had lived my life in fear that he would come back and tell me to do something awful.

"Can't stay like this forever." I said to myself drowsily and yet I knew I would. I got up and just sat on the edge of my bed. I looked behind me and saw a naked lady. It had been a good night, but now I had work to do. I touched the lady and she opened her eyes. "Come on, it's morning."

"Time for you to work?" She asked and touched my face with her hands. "Come on. You can rest a few more hours."

I laughed. "Yeah, if I do that I might get fired, Melissa." I helped her out of bed gently and her figure made me want to push her back down again. Melissa Stern had been my fifth woman after my ex-girlfriend. I didn't know if she would become my girlfriend or not. But man, could she fuck. "I do need the money."

"Should I go?" She asked as she went to put on her clothes. I didn't answer until she was done because each movement of her body made me want her more and more.

"You can stay for a little while longer." I said. "For breakfast."

"Just for breakfast?" Melissa asked after I had gotten dressed. I had known Melissa for years and she had helped me deal with the aftershocks of meeting Meph. In fact, she had helped me back when I was in High School. I could never figure out why I forgot her.

"Yeah, I'm sorry." I walked over to the kitchen and admired each cupboard and dish. It was my own place and it didn't seem to mark the years that had passed between ages twenty-two and forty-four. I started to make eggs while Melissa watched.

"You are a hard worker." She said and sighed. "How long has it been since we met?"

"We agreed to keep it in the bedroom and not outside." I said and looked at her sternly.

"Come off it." Melissa said angrily. "I've been here for you in the dark times."

Dark times. Darkblood. Meph Darkblood. "Then you want an actual date?" I asked and she nodded. "Okay, we'll see a movie in theaters and we'll watch it this time." Melissa kissed me on the cheek as I finished with the eggs.

I served Melissa and myself scrambled eggs, and then we just stared into each other's eyes. She had wonderful black eyes. They were as black as the night and yet warmer than the abyss. I smiled  as she said what I assumed was a joke. I didn't know if it was a joke, I was too busy looking at her. She was lovely and I decided that maybe I should really start seeing her.

"That movie was so funny. Wouldn't you agree, Jonathan?" Melissa asked and I was finally snapped back to the present.

"I…guess so." I said and tried to find some eggs that I could eat so I could fill the silence. Unfortunately, I had already finished my food.

"You weren't listening to me, were you?" She asked angrily and ate some eggs from her plate.

"I was just thinking how lovely you are." I said. "I don't know how to ask this…but do you want to see more of me outside of the bedroom?"

Melissa shook her head and laughed. She then paused. "You're serious, aren't you? You really do want to see more of me?"

"Yeah." I said shyly. "It's just…you have been really kind to me and I'd like to have a go with you as my girlfriend."

Melissa smiled and opened her mouth as a truck could be heard pulling in. The same coldness I felt all those years ago came back to me and I knew who was coming to the door. "Meph Darkblood." I whispered under my breath as I heard the knocking on the door.

Melissa held my hand for a moment as I stood up to open the door. When I opened the door the first thing I noticed was the black hair.

"Ah, Jonathan Harris, it took me a little while to find you." Meph said. "And is that your wife?"

"No." I replied shakily. "My girlfriend. Melissa Stern, this is Meph Darkblood who I told you about before."

"So glad you told her about me." He said, though it appeared that fact didn't make him happy at all.

"A pleasure to meet you." She said and held her hand out to Meph. Meph took her hand in his and kissed it. Melissa seemed to shiver in fear and smiled faintly when he moved away from her.

"I'm sorry to pull Jonathan away from you, but he's in my debt and there's something I need him to do." Meph said and bowed to Melissa. I kissed her and then went to Meph. I hoped that I would be back to keep her warm that night.

"So what are you going to have me do?" I asked as Meph drove us away from my house.

"You're going to help on a cattle run." Meph said. "But not cattle like you know them. Let me explain, I'm not human."

"That makes sense." I said as silent laughter went through my body as I realized I probably wouldn't be killing anyone tonight. "Though it was hard for me to believe that years ago."

"My people, Muvas,  are actually a hybrid of vampires, humans, and something else entirely. There are a few levels you need to know about." Meph said and paused. "There are normal Muvas, then Seers, and finally Cattle-Bloods. Seers are like retarded humans and are respected more than humans. Cattle-Bloods are hardly even humans and are used for their meat and blood. Tonight you are going to help us transport Cattle-Bloods."

My eyes were suddenly glued to Meph. "If you're related to vampires, how can you still walk in sunlight?"

"We are weaker in sunlight. But, remember, we are also related to humans so we are able to stand sunlight, unlike vampires." Meph said and then we were both silent. The sky grew darker and we went off road. We reached an area that was fenced and Cattle-Bloods were in there trying to eat the desert sand.

I stood by the fence and then saw some Muvas walk over to the Cattle-Bloods. One of the females walked over to a Cattle-Blood and bent forward to its neck. Suddenly two lower teeth came out and she sucked the Cattle-Blood's blood from those. She finally stepped away and the Cattle-Blood walked over to its own and tried to eat the sand again.

"It's fine. A little off, but it will be good to use for a feast." She said and went to one of the vehicles and prepared it. I continued to stare at the Cattle-Bloods that looked so much like humans it was unnerving.

"You'll get used to it." Meph told me and then went to get another Cattle-Blood.

"I'm not sure about that." I muttered under my breath and followed Meph. He took me into the fenced area.

One of the Cattle-Bloods walked to me on both hands and feet, like a monkey, and sniffed me and then sniffed Meph. She growled at Meph but seemed to like me. She then walked away to rejoin the group.

"She likes you." Meph said. "This is a very special herd to be used as a feast next New Year's. They have better stables in The Swinging Tree. The Swinging Tree is the center of the Muvas."

"So it isn't a bar?" I asked jokingly and Meph just laughed, though he looked a little confused about my comment. It had been a few years and so it was surprising that I had remembered it. Plus, he had been wounded when he had said it. "So why am I here if it's so important?"

"We need to use a human template to more safely transport the Cattle-Bloods." Meph said.

"So you need to take my blood?" I asked. "Why didn't you do that earlier?"

"Because, Jonathan, we can only change into another for thirty minutes and can only hold the blood for five minutes before changing. When we transport them we will take your blood and then, if you're feeling good enough, you can keep the Cattle-Bloods company."

I looked Meph in the eyes. "Will it hurt?"

"Just a little." He said and then winked at me.

I waited around as the Muvas set up the vans. There were five of them, including Meph, and they were all very intent on their business. I had already gone out of the fenced area and was looking at the Cattle-Bloods. The Muvas hadn't even clothed them, but maybe that was because the Cattle-Bloods couldn't really think.

Finally the Muvas were ready and gathered around me. Meph pulled up my sleeves and teeth came out of his top jaw. These top teeth seemed more deadly than the lower teeth had been.  The other Muvas also had their top teeth come out. I closed my eyes tightly as I felt their top teeth go into my body. I screamed out as I felt each part of me was getting blown apart and then squished together again. It felt as though my current pain was breathing.

I tried opening my eyes but the pain had closed them shut and it was impossible to open them. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I fell down onto the sand. Opening my eyes I saw all but Meph go away to open the fence.

"You okay?" Meph asked. I nodded slowly and he helped me up. "Most people would've died, but you survived. You feel good enough to keep the Cattle-Bloods company?"

"Why do I need to keep them company, anyways?"

"Because then they'll be calmer and are less likely to try and escape." I nodded as he said this. I felt his hands change slightly and when I looked back I saw myself.

"Shit." I said and Meph just laughed with my voice.

The vehicle they were transporting the Cattle-Bloods in looked like a regular vehicle to transport cattle in, but there were no windows. I was lead into the middle of it and Meph then left me on my own. Cattle-Bloods seemed to pour in and to take much interest in me.

A male Cattle-Blood lay down by me and put his head in my lap. He looked up happily at me and I pat his head. As the vehicle started up they looked at me and then him. All the time the vehicle was driving I pat each of them at least twice. Finally, after what seemed like days, the Muvas opened the vehicle and I had a glimpse of a large underground tunnel.

The Muvas, now all in their original forms, were able to force the Cattle-Bloods to get out. Afterwards, Meph came to me and helped me up.

"You were good tonight." He told me with a smile.

"There wasn't much to it." I replied.

"But you didn't panic and you were able to stand five of us drinking from you at once from our top teeth." He said and patted me on the back. "Sadly, you'll have to stay with us for a year before you can go out. I trust you not to tell, but the others won't."

"What about Melissa?" I asked. "I have to get back to her!"

"I'll make sure you're able to keep in touch." He said and then walked away from me. "You can make excuses."

*  *  *

"Jonathan Harris, do you wish to become a Muva?" The judge asked me as the courtroom of Muvas, in The Swinging Tree, listened intently.

"Yes." I replied. I had felt so connected with the Muvas after two months. Maybe Melissa could become one or at least we could live together.

"Then why did you insult the Seer Jaxon Halfblood?" The judge asked me. He stared at me. "Seers are highly respected."

"I hardly said anything to him." I replied. "He is just a little sensitive and I forgot that."

"Jaxon is hardly the sensitive type!" Meph yelled out from the front row.

"Silence, Darkblood." The judge said and Meph was silent, but his anger radiated throughout the entire room. "Harris, you have been our guest and we have treated you well. It is hard on all of us that you have disobeyed such an important law to us."

"Judge, I am sorry to disappoint, but I feel that I hardly did anything." I said slowly as I felt everyone's eyes on me. "I know what I have done is foolish, but I have hardly directly attacked you."

"Insulting a Seer is directly attacking us!" Meph shouted loudly.

"Darkblood, be silent or you will be kicked out of this courtroom." The judge said and Meph was silent yet again.

I felt the anger in the room growing and invading the safe places of my mind. I realized what a wrong step here could mean: I'd be dead before the sun was up.

I looked directly at the judge and said, "What is my sentence?"

The Judge turned to Meph and then to me. "Meph Darkblood brought you here and showed you our ways. There are two charges here: Betraying one's friend and insulting a Seer. We can't let you leave here alive, Harris. If you were a Muva, we'd exile you from The Swinging Tree." He paused. "The sentence is death."

Meph shouted out in joy and two Muvas came to grab my arms. They roughly pulled my squirming body as Meph lead them. I looked around hoping that there would be a way out. Some way to save myself. But all I saw was a crowd of Muvas rejoicing that there would be blood spilt.

I wasn't too aware of how Muvas performed executions. I didn't know if they beheaded or had an electric chair. Sweat was dripping off my skin and a Muva laughed at this. We started going upwards and, after a few minutes, reached the surface. We were greeted by a full moon, a howling coyote, and a large tree.

I could tell that the Muvas had taken much care with this, since we were in the desert. A turn of my head and a platform came into view. They were going to hang me! A noose was all ready for me, like they had planned this all along.

"Meph, help me!" I cried out. "You know I did nothing wrong!"

"You're no friend of mine now." Meph said as he stood on the platform. "You insulted Jaxon Halfblood!"

"Just promise me you'll look after Melissa." I said.

"I'll look after your girlfriend." Meph said. "I'll see that she goes straight to Hell."

I was shocked that Meph was going to go after Melissa. I couldn't think about it too much because I was dragged to the top of the platform. I tried to get away, realizing that both me and Melissa would be dead if I didn't act soon.

I punched a Muva in the stomach and managed to stumble down. As I stood up, I was pulled up by a Muva and dragged upwards. I bit and scratched him. He just laughed as he allowed Meph to put the noose around me.

"Please, you don't have to do this." I whimpered. Meph just laughed and allowed me to drop.