Parasites as Partners

PARASITES AS PARTNERS

By

T.O.T.W.

            My partner left me behind when he made a run from the cops. So now I’m stuck laying in the gutter with no one to look out for me, or vice versa. This never would have happened to one of my ancestors. They were held in the highest honor, partners to great heroes and mighty kings. Ah, but how the mighty have fallen. My old partner gave me much to drink. If I forgot to tell you I’ll inform you now that I’m a drinker of blood.

            Yes, my thirst is great now, but I will not have to lie here long; I never have before. Ah, here comes a perfect candidate right now. His jeans are torn at the knees and his sneakers look even more ancient than me. The hood of his sweater is pulled over his face keeping any from viewing it; all I need now is his attention. The grubby white sneakers are already heading my way. I am such a magnet for luck. I simple look at him, enticing him with no words from my razor blade mouth. He stands for a second in thought wondering if he should. They all have that momentary pause. Finally, he reaches down and helps me up. He puts me behind him hoping to keep me out of sight. They all want my power, but not my presence. I don’t mind.

            Together we walk about the town. He’s searching for a victim, though the sun is far too bright for us to work by. The dark is where we will work best. Out of the sight of people and in the dirtiest corners of human habitation.

            He leads me to a building; obviously he has come to the right conclusion. Giving me a bed to lie on he undresses to rest for the remainder of the daylight hours. I see now that he’s no more than a boy, scared of the life he lives, needing reassurance. I give it to him, anything to sate my thirst. I sparkle in confidence, he’ll need fear no one while I am around. We both get some rest.

            Night has dawned beautifully. My partner is getting ready as I myself awaken energetic and parched. He’s a go-getter, my new partner, I like that. He disturbs me and brings me with him from the building. The darkness is refreshing. The air crisp and corrupt as my partner’s fingers tighten on me. I murmur silent words of courage into him; through him.  He is not yet relaxed, even with me on his side, but I will show him.

            We move down an alley towards a little known park. My old partner brought me on this trail often. He fed me better than most, but I trust my new partner will do even better. He strolls into the park with faulty confidence, a mistake here. The old sharks of this area smell his fear, moving in quickly with no second thoughts. Like lambs to the slaughter.

            They are threatening my partner. The fools demand payment to pass. I pay no man for what I want to do or where I want to go. I take without consideration or care, and I will teach my partner to do no less. I feed upon the lowest of the low and the highest of the high. Do these fools think they are above my power? Do they truly believe that I cannot take from them as I take from others? I’d never let my partner make such a foolish mistake. I feel his fingers grip me tightly and together we move. One body, one entity.

My partner’s attack is as frantic and desperate as mine is calm and collected. He lashes out as I do. Assisted I tear into the first of them with no mercy. I feel his blood drip down my teeth. Oh! Elation! Wonder! I drink deeply of his blood. I cannot enjoy my meal however, turning we strike again as one. Deep, swift we plunge. Once, twice, I lose count of the number. My partner is more confident now that I have shown him my power. He draws out the next kill, to my pleasure. I bite deep and greedily ripe his insides apart as my partner knocks him off balance. With the final body falling I drink of the blood with relish. The taste is divine, one could never appreciate it’s thickness as I do. My partner wipes his hands on his jeans and I realize how dirty I am.

            He trembles unable to stomach what he did. He will learn or I will find a new partner. He runs with me in tow. Am I not a great friend to stay with him? Together we find our way back to the building. Washing up is an easy task.  I did most of the work so by rights my partner has the duty of washing me. I am not asking much for my services. He shows me to my bed once again. He has forgotten to collect his spoils of battle. He’ll figure it out in time. I will teach him all that I know. Slowly he will become a better partner. He is okay right now, but he is not yet good or great. I must fix that.

The deaths are reported on the news. I heard the information on the radio earlier. The people next door were listening to it. Not that it matters how low they listen to it. The paper-thin walls hold back no noise. My partner has gone out to do something. He didn’t even look at me as he left, but I don’t mind. I listen calmly to the wind that breaks through the walls as well as the sounds of the cars going by on the street. The sun shines brightly in the room sparkling on a million metal objects. The warm air caresses me, relaxing every inch of me. My smile is one sided and shines like the sun itself as I lay here. How lovely a day it is. My thirst does not bother me yet, though it will; my thirst is never fulfilled. The more I drink the more I want. My partner will soon become as eager as I, if I’m lucky that is. Then I will grow stronger…Oh how I wish for the night to come. The day is nice, but the night is better.

My partner comes in sometime during the afternoon; time holds so little interest for me, and lies down. He is disheartened over something. I say nothing letting him come to me. He finally reveals it without my asking. No money to his name, living in a run down apartment, no rent money, and no food. I listen to his problems as silently as any true friend. He asks how the world expects him to survive if it will give him no chance or paths to follow. I say nothing as I work my magic. He catches on quite fast. I tell him of the plans I have. How I can gain him what he needs in return for such a small price. I little thing of no importance really, all he must do is feed me and I will give him all he wishes for and desires. He is slow to agree at first, but no one can stand up to my persuasive abilities for long.

Together we rest for the night ahead of us. We have to start small so as not to draw attention to ourselves. The work is truly beneath me, not that I’ll complain so long as I am fed.

We venture out in the darkness; my lunar mother does not smile upon us tonight. Her great eye is closed for a time. It is appropriate that in the darkest of night we should begin our true journey together. The air is warm, filled with the mingled smells of food, sweat, and spring. Tonight is a night of fun. We’ll have to run someone else’s fun to reach our goal.

We wander into an alley to wait. Waiting is a thing I do best. We watch many people pass by. I remain in the shadows saying nothing. What we want is now approaching us, how perfect. His business suit is crisp, neatly pressed. His hair is combed exact, his fingernails manicured to perfection, his shoes brand new and of the highest quality. He does not think anything in this world can touch him. I am the reality that will soon break in upon his little bubble. My partner reaches out as he strolls by pulling him into the alley. I am still hidden in the dark not yet revealing my presence. They are arguing, the man is refusing to give up the very thing my partner wants. He tries to fight back forcing me to move out of the shadows. I plant myself firmly against him. Fear is his master now. Offering everything he has he begs for his pathetic life. I warned my partner of this offer, he knows better than to accept such a foolish terms to work. The man will run to the police the moment he’s out of sight. Together we open him wide.

His eyes bulge in disbelief. He wants to know how this could have happened to him. So close to being partner in his company, such a good person, never hurt anyone, something like that is playing through his head. Utter lies to comfort his last moments of life. Now he’s lying in an alley with his throat slit. We do not stop our assault on him until he is no longer moving.

My partner checks him thoroughly. For all his trouble he has earned almost four hundred dollars, a gold watch, and a diamond ring that was in the man’s pocket in a box. My partner was smart enough to wear gloves. I didn’t suggest it, which, to me, is an oversight on my part.  It’s fine though, even the most experienced member of the military can make a mistake or two, so why not I as well? I quickly remind my partner of our time constraint. We flee into the night. The eagerness of my partner calls to me as we head for another ambush sight. I know I shall feed well this night.

My partner no longer leaves his home during the day. He has bought better clothes, growing more confident with each move we make. We have claimed territory, grown hungry and expanded. So much we have done for the sake of living. But we must live and we will not forget that. Each night we seek out choice victims, isolate them, feed off of them, and collect our reward. We have grown more in sync taking as we please from the world. He is as cold as I, feeding now on the fear he inspires.

The city is in a panic. The murder count has risen yet neither of us cares. He simply wants more as I feed deeper and deeper. I am no sated, but content. I will never deny myself the taste of blood. My partner obliges to do as I council him. He is growing very confident. Soon he may demand my obedience to him. That is a time that I will not let come to pass. When he becomes too demanding, believing that it is he, and not I, that they fear, it is then that I must rid myself of him.

We move into the night. Our patience is not equal. He is now in need while I wait calmly. He is a dog, while I am a panther. A vacuum has overtaken him forcing him to become greedier. I do not think I can stay with him much longer. It is often said that you should not bite the hand that feeds you, but I can find partners anywhere. I am in demand where my partner is not.

            He no longer waits for the best to come. He will take anyone who happens to wander by. This time it is a woman who turns out to have not a penny to her name. I drink her blood the same with no care. We flee now into the night. He is too eager and we make no progress on this venture. He wanders from one alley to another until the sun is rising. I protest as the light breaks the darkness. We are creatures of the night but he will not listen. He moves as a man possessed, I go reluctantly. There is little I need and nothing I fear.

The light is great and so are the crowds. He attacks in broad daylight and is fought off. He runs and I know the mistake already. They will be coming for him. I do not have to wait long. The pounding starts and my partner grabs me franticly looking about. He pushes me to the window and I jump into the alley. The fool thinks he’s free, but it is I who has just escaped. I hear the door burst open as I strike the ground. I lie still and smile. All I must do is wait for a new partner now that I have abandoned my old one.

A new partner comes quickly. He sees my smiling lips and comes to me. He hesitates; they all do, before quickly helping me up and hiding me. He may or may not appreciate my power more than my last partner. It does not matter though. If he turns out like the last one I will abandon him as well. After all, there are so many in need of my services. My blade shines in the light as he examines me.

‘Yes,’ he thinks to himself, ‘what a fine knife I have found.’

Author's Note

See if you can guess what it is before the end. I've had plenty of guesses from a dog, to a vampire, to a werewolf. Give it a guess I hope you like