Pranic energy is a rather interesting thing. References to it are found in many cultures, and it goes by many names: chi, spirit, light, air, breath, ether, ki, prana, and vril. One thing is common - pranic energy is the power of life, and everything has it. Even vampires.

Vampires. The real ones. I'm not talking about fanged pseudo-resurrected clouds of mist that have no reflection. I'm talking about the real, living, breathing human beings who prey on other people's life because they just can't get enough of it... because they find themselves in a frenzy of desire and helplessness without it. I'm talking about those who don't have enough to sustain themselves, so they must steal it from others through psychic trickery or full-blown blood drinking.

I'm talking about those different from me.

When you think of someone who is full of life you probably think of a bouncing baby, with energy to spare and an eye for trouble. It is, in fact, exactly the opposite. When a vampire hungers for chi he becomes childlike: troubled, upfront, highly irregular, moody, and draining. When he feeds he becomes calm, introverted, and silent.

It's the quite ones that are full of life.

The rest are starving.

Two years ago I was walking along the Hudson River in New York City. Yes, it was late and cold, and many people had told me it was dangerous to walk the river alone at night, but it is easy for me to go unnoticed. I'm hidden from the world. Besides, at night when the temperature is just right, a strong mist creeps up from the bank of the river, overshadowing the globe lamps that attempt to shine through the darkness. Being in this type of eerie atmosphere is a euphoric rejuvenation, a place of cleansing as the icy mists of the water chill my flesh.

I could feel eyes on me, eyes that were hidden in the swirling mists, but I was not concerned. In these dark nights my aura glows, and only someone who is capable of seeing it would take notice of my slow moving presence. Those who could see would notice no weakness, for my aura was clean, and I knew it. Many had tried to prey on my energy but all had failed, causing damage to their own precious balance. It bothered me, but only slightly, that there were those who knew how to manipulate the energy of life. Part of me argued that if I had the ability to do so, why couldn't others? Even though there were people who would manipulate another's energy for their own gain, I didn't understand what would possess them to do it. To do so seemed an intrusion not worthy of a living thing. At that time I didn't know that all that could take advantage of another in this way did... I was alone in the world... I was alone in my "life-force morality."

It was this night, two years ago, that I met Ahnku, and it was quite by accident.

The night before the river had been calm, but tonight, it swam with fear. The average human would see only the calm river, almost identical to the one the before, but I'm not the average human. I could tell it was fleeing - the river itself was fleeing - down to the organisms that lived therein; fleeing from an unknown darkness.

This intrigued me, so I walked toward the bank of the river.

I knew what I would find before I got there, I even knew his name. He called to me for help, but not with words. I found the whole scene a little cliche when I arrived: a man, with long black hair drenched with river water, wearing a white shirt halfway unbuttoned, black pants, and dark leather boots. He was dressed like a pirate. Or perhaps, a vampire.

He wasn't dead, but he was close. His aura was a very faint blue, like when you turn a gas stove down just enough to cause the flame to struggle for life before it is blown out by a draft from a nearby window. I suddenly I realized exactly why the river was fleeing. The banks retreated from around him, and everything in close proximity to him had no life force at all. He was killing them to sustain himself, forcibly draining them of energy until death. Never before had I seen such a blatant and disturbing manipulation of life, yet strangely enough, I had compassion for this unique individual, who had such a psyche as to powerfully steal life from others, even when he was so close to death himself.

Blood is the number one source of pranic energy, and I wasn't ignorant to the vampire world. I was knowledgeable enough to know that there were two types of vampires: the psy-vamps, and the blood drinking sanguivores. This was an experienced psy-vamp, possibly the most powerful one I had ever seen. Nevertheless, he needed life, and needed it quickly. I don't know why I was so full of compassion for this being that obviously had no respect for the life force of others, but his experience interested me. I opened his mouth, placed my wrist between his two jaws, and with the other hand forcefully pushed up his chin. His teeth left scars in my wrist that I still carry to this day.

The results of my foolish endeavor were as immediate as I expected. I felt my blood drip off my wrist, and Ahnku began to suck. I watched his aura burst into an inferno, and for a moment his eyes opened, and he looked at me in a way I have never been looked at before, like I was the hunted all along.

But that look didn't last long. If Ahnku had planned this attack, planning on preying on my innocence and humanity, he didn't expect what happened next. Neither did I. The look of the hunter changed quickly to a look of intense contemplation. I saw his aura get hot, and go from a brilliant orange to a piercing white. The energy consumed him as the darkness in his eyes gave way to light that defeated him. I watched in horror and awe as the color of his iris faded, and his eyes glazed over. In a fury of life, Ahnku died.

That is how I learned that an incorrect balance could be deadly.

That is how I learned I had a stronger life force than most.

Later I would learn that I had a stronger life force than anyone else.

I don't really remember what happened the rest of that night. I was shocked that I had taken a life by giving my own; and as such, a steaming feeling of anger blinds my remembrance. He tricked me! He tried to turn me into his prey! How long had he been following me? Was it his eyes that I felt on me when I walked alone at night? Was it he who was looking for vulnerabilities in my chakra, and when he didn't find any devised a plan to fool me into giving it up willingly?

Yet I felt a sort of sympathy toward the creature. He was vulnerable, and unquestionably close to death. Perhaps it wasn't a planned attack. After all, who would get so close to death only to be given again a chance at life?

All I know for sure is that those night's events caused a seething to begin in the vampire world. One of their own had tasted of me, and their world would never be the same again.

How I reasoned with myself from the time of the vampire's death to the moment I arrived back to my small apartment is unclear. When I walked through the door of my makeshift home, I was met with the dreary darkness that swirls, thick as fog, when the sun has been sunken for so long. The bright lights of the city were blocked by dingy curtains that hung like a tattered dress off the frail frame of an old woman. I dropped my keys noisily on the counter, and looked at my face in a small, oval mirror I had hanging on the wall. Even in the dark I could tell my aura was damaged. The oranges and bright blues that normally danced around my flesh like a living fire were now interrupted by growing dark spots, weakness that I had rid myself of over the years. It was while concentrating on those dark spots, surveying the damage I had done to myself, that I saw the darkness behind me move.

This wasn't the normal swirling of the darkness aforementioned, neither am I a paranoid person, this was real movement, a shift of energy. It was almost as if long, black tentacles were stretching toward me from an unknown source. The hair stood up on the back of my neck as they approached, like static electricity. I had seen them before, but I always had a perfect aura, and as such had nothing to fear. For the first time, I realized that I may be vulnerable to a psychic vampire attack.

Luckily, I was then, and am now, a master of my aura. I was very conscious of it that night two years ago, and knew how to take care of my own. I jumped on the counter, knocking off my keys, and a few crystal chalices. The sound of the crash was nightmarish, and startled the creature that was trying to steal my energy.

As quickly as I could, I crossed my legs at the ankles, and in this sitting position, pressed my forefingers and thumbs together. This trick is used to center the aura, and I watched as, in this position, my aura around me melted, and reassembled safely as a chi ball between my hands and chest. The tentacles still came at me, much more fiercely now. The vampire was in my apartment! On my turf! Even so, I was not going to allow my aura to be damaged further. The pranic energy was too great in this concentrated form, and every time the tentacle grew close, it was dissipated like a shadow stepping into a sunny afternoon.

I heard a grunt from the corner, and the voice was more elevated than I had expected. It was a woman that was speaking to me in a faint, snake-like whisper. "Late in the night I was in the park, when the wind carried forth a strange and warming energy from the river. It filled me with strength and power, so much so that I feel not the need to feed."

I chuckled mockingly, "Then why are you attempting to now?"

"It filled me with such strength and power, so much so that I feel not the need to feed."

I knew the psychological tricks this vampire was using on me. I had used them on others. "So is it power that you seek? And what if I'm not obliged?"

"Then I will take it from you!" came the forceful response, followed by a blood-curdling scream, and a dark figure lunging at me. She didn't hit me as hard as I expected, and I realized that she was young, light, and when I saw her eyes, beautiful.

I barely slit to the end of the counter when she landed on top of me, another drinking glass shattering on the hard floor. I was staring deeply into her fiery eyes, but I was still in a safe position. She had me pinned, but she couldn't get to my energy.

"If you wont' give it to me psychically, I will take it physically," she growled, attempting to move toward my neck.

I had to chuckle to myself, because she was so light I could have easily lifted her off me. "I wouldn't try that if I were you. This night there was a man, a man who you must have known well, or you wouldn't have felt his death..."

"We all felt is death," she interrupted, snapping. "And it felt amazing."

"Are you willing to trade your life for a moment of power? A moment of satisfaction from your thirst?"

She didn't mean to soften her glare, but her eyes were now pleading with me. I was actually enjoying the experience. Imagine the feeling of euphoria I received, realizing that this creature knew that if she did what she came to do, she would die. If she didn't, all her effort was for nothing. Either way, she lost.

She must have noticed the smile that curved my lips, because she slapped me, hard. "Uncross your legs."

The number of derisive responses eluded me, but I finally settled on, "I can't. You're sitting on them."

She looked hurt, and after considering for a moment, stood. I signed as I went back to my sitting position, ankles still crossed, thumb and forefinger still pressed together. "If I give you anything, it will be on my terms."

She was confused, unsure of what to do next. Finally she said, "You have more than enough to feed us all. You regenerate your aura with a moment of concentration and cleansing. You will be out nothing. You have the ability to feed the world, yet you shelter your feast, and dine alone."

For a moment I felt pity for her.

Which is when our friendship started. Instead of a rebuttal, or a rebuke, which I assure you I had many, I asked her name.

"Sandya," she stated. "It means..."

"Sunset," I responded.

She tried to hide the sheepish grin that crossed her face.

"Well, Sunset, let me be clear about something. Your kind does not steal energy from me. Ever. Period."

Her smile turned to anger, but before she could respond, I continued.

"I'll give it to those I choose."

I stepped down off the counter, my chi ball dissolving back into a vulnerable aura. I walked toward her, slowly. Her shadow took form in the darkness, her slender body cold from depleted energy, yet there was a fire within her, a fire which, she had said, was kindled by my encounter with Ahnku. When I was close enough to touch her, I pushed the strands of her long black hair out of her eyes, and took her forcefully at the nape of her neck. I pulled her toward me, and for a moment, my hand went cold as she gasped in warmth. With just mere moments with my energy flowing to her, her eyes were alert and compelling, shinning with the new energy that swam through her charka.

What she did next shocked me. "Such a small amount of energy you give me," she said, "and yet I am so filled." She then fell to her knees, and kissed my feet. "Surely you are my superior, my life, and my friend." It was comforting to hear her say the word that I had just been thinking. "And I," she continued, "shall serve thee forever."

Never before had I felt what I felt at that moment. A feeling of ability rushed through me as powerfully as my energy rushed through her. I knew that this little amount of energy meant nothing to me, like a penny in comparison to a millionaire, yet, to this pitiful creature of darkness, to this creature who was weak without the energy of others, to this creature that wanted nothing more than to be filled and come to the light, to this creature I was a savior.

Others came. Many others. The results were the same. Now, two years later, I understand that strength comes in opposites. Thousands fear and misunderstand the vampire culture, because they see them as a race that is powerful and deadly. Only I, their opposite, the one who should be most afraid, see them for what they are: creatures who cannot survive without the help of others. They should not be feared, but we should feel compassion toward them, as I do.

I have become something to them, a watcher, and a caregiver, someone who loves them. They are my children, and I their father. A father whom they lovingly call "The Life Giver."

Want to comment on this Short Stories? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Short Stories and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...