"The city is yours." The lines from his dream ran through David's mind as he learned to use the stove. "It is yours now," echoed in his head as he helped Aidan attempt to repair the bookshelf. He had been able to feel the sword when the Hunter had handed it to him. He found himself glancing at the sword leaning in the corner every time he entered the room.

What use is a sword against a real vampire? The Hunter was fast and powerful, like they are. I'm just human. If I tried to hunt vampires, I'd become a meal for the first one I found.

But despite all logic, the thoughts ate at him. He remembered the feel of it from his dream. He hefted the real sword, and it wasn't the same, but... it wasn't entirely different either. He swung it a few times through the air, then shook his head and put it down. There was no point in even trying. So you're going to stay here, the traitor voice in his head whispered, and be helpless, and depend on Aidan for protection for the rest of your life? He sighed. In the dream he'd been powerful. He wanted that feeling. In the dream you were a vampire, he answered himself. Do you want that too?

He dreamed again, and yet again he hovered over the city. This time the Hunter stood in the air next to him."The city is yours. Take it."

"I don't understand."

"You do understand. Don't be afraid of yourself. The city is not a gift. You must take it. Here." The Hunter held out his sword, hilt first. "Take it."

"But why? What am I supposed to do?"

"You know what you need to do. Take it."

He reached out and grasped the hilt of the sword. It was heavy in his hand, and yet light. He looked up at the Hunter. The Hunter's eyes were glowing blue. "Good. Now, make the sacrifice, pay the price. I'll help you."

And then he grinned, and his teeth lengthened suddenly, and he leaped on David and sank his fangs deeply into his neck.

David screamed, and then he was falling, falling and bleeding, and the city rushed up below him, and the Hunter was still standing above him in the air and grinning, his teeth stained red. "You took the sword, you must pay the price!"

He fell down to the city, and then the city cracked and broke apart all around him, and he fell through it, through the streets that shattered into fragments like a mirror breaking, and down through darkness, down and down and down into nothing and then suddenly he woke up with a gasp.