"What's your name?" I asked the girl, who was panting slightly, looking at me with fear and curiosity. Truly, girls are quite a paradox. I had just been drinking her life blood moments ago, and now she seemed eager to know everything about me.
"Lily," she replied, her voice shaky yet strong, holding my gaze as she clutched her bleeding neck. She was beautiful—a brunette with curves in all the right places and permanent laugh lines that told stories of joy. Her blue eyes sparkled with a strange mix of intrigue and trepidation, and I found myself captivated by the sight of her. Was I turning into an edgy vampire? God, I hoped not!
"Lily," I echoed, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "Um, this is really… weird, right? I mean, you just appeared here, and I, uh…" My voice trailed off as I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck, searching for the right words. I was never good at this, now more than ever. It did give me courage that I could just teleport away if this seemed too unbearable.
"Yeah, it's a little unusual," she admitted, her brow furrowing as she assessed the situation. Her gears were turning, I could almost hear them.
"Right, okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "So, listen, I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that… I'm still figuring this whole thing out." I gestured vaguely, not entirely sure what I was trying to convey. "I didn't expect to… um, take someone like this."
Lily's expression shifted from fear to something resembling curiosity, and I seized the moment. "I know this sounds strange, but I think we could, uh, work together. You seem like someone who could be… helpful."
"Helpful? How?" she asked, her skepticism still apparent, but her eyes softened as she continued to look at me. Yes, new found courage for the win, I was liking this side of me. I would be absolutely stuttering if it was the old me.
"Like, we could, um, navigate this place together," I stammered, feeling the weight of my own awkwardness. "It's not easy, and there's a lot happening in the city at night. I… I don't want to do this alone."
She seemed to contemplate my words, and I sensed a flicker of interest beneath her uncertainty. "So, you want me to be your sidekick?"
"Sidekick?" I repeated, surprised by her choice of words. She was not wrong but even I knew that was not the right thing to say. "I mean, not exactly. It's more like… um, a partnership. You wouldn't just be following me around. You'd have a say in what we do, and we'd be helping each other out."
I could see the wheels turning in her mind as she considered my proposition. "And what makes you think I'd want that?"
"Well," I stumbled, trying to find a compelling angle. I hate negotiations. "I mean, life can be… boring, right? Just going about your day like everyone else. But this, being out here, it's different. There's excitement. You could experience something… unique."
"Unique, huh?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, you know, like… like adventures or whatever," I replied, forcing a chuckle that felt more awkward than light-hearted. "I get that it sounds crazy. I'm not trying to be all, like, 'Join me, and we'll rule the night!'" I waved my arms comically, trying to lighten the mood. "I just think we could figure things out together. You'd have someone to watch your back, and I wouldn't feel so… out of place."
Lily's expression softened slightly as she processed my words. "So you're saying you need help?" She caught on quick, as would be expected of an extrovert.
"Yeah," I said, feeling the weight of my honesty. "In a way. I mean, I've never really had a lot of friends, you know? It's hard for me to connect with people. But you seem… interesting."
"Interesting?" she repeated, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Well, not in a weird way," I said quickly, my cheeks heating up. "Just, um, you're not scared of me, even though you probably should be, and that's kind of cool." I was really regretting not having a girl who is a friend. The closest I ever got to socializing with them was with my mother and she is a cat in a bag I never want to get close to.
"I guess that's something," she replied, her expression shifting to one of cautious curiosity.
"Exactly! So, um, I was thinking… if you want to, we could, like, hang out or something? You could see what I mean about the night." My heart raced as I put the idea out there, uncertain of how she would respond.
She looked down, biting her lip as she considered my offer. "And what would that involve?"
"Nothing crazy, I promise!" I quickly reassured her. "Just exploring the city, maybe finding some fun spots, and figuring out what this all means. Together."
Lily's gaze met mine again, a flicker of excitement mingling with her uncertainty. "I'll think about it," she finally said, her tone more reflective than dismissive.
"Yeah, take your time," I replied, my heart pounding with hope. "I mean, it's a big decision, and I totally get it. Just… know that I'm here if you want to talk more."
As we stood there, I felt an unexpected sense of relief wash over me. Maybe this wasn't just about being a monster in the dark. Maybe, with Lily by my side, I could find a way to navigate this new life without losing myself completely.
..........
"Why exactly did you have to sleep in my house?" Lily asked me, annoyed. I had slept over in her house the night, a sleep I could never forget due to how relaxing it was. She found me making breakfast for her in the morning and I guess her fear of me from the previous night had disappeared when she woke up not dead.
"A vampire cannot own property, it's a supernatural thing. Thus, the place I was renting naturally went back to being the landlord's when I turned meaning I couldn't enter without him inviting me in and he is currently out on a trip," I answered as I flipped a pancake.
"So, you're homeless!" Lily ruthlessly destroyed my argument with a smirk on her face which made me regret giving her my blood before. Vampire blood could heal any and all injuries, I just didn't know whether missing limbs or organs could be healed too.
"Don't you have work?" was all I could reply.
"Why exactly did you have to sleep in my house?" Lily asked me, annoyed. I had slept over in her house the night, a sleep I could never forget due to how relaxing it was. She found me making breakfast for her in the morning and I guess her fear of me from the previous night had disappeared when she woke up not dead.
"A vampire cannot own property, it's a supernatural thing. Thus, the place I was renting naturally went back to being the landlord's when I turned meaning I couldn't enter without him inviting me in and he is currently out on a trip," I answered as I flipped a pancake.
"So, you're homeless!" Lily ruthlessly destroyed my argument with a smirk on her face which made me regret giving her my blood before. Vampire blood could heal any and all injuries, I just didn't know whether missing limbs or organs could be healed too.
"Don't you have work?" was all I could reply.
"Why exactly did you have to sleep in my house?" Lily asked me, annoyed. I had slept over in her house the night, a sleep I could never forget due to how relaxing it was. She found me making breakfast for her in the morning and I guess her fear of me from the previous night had disappeared when she woke up not dead.
"A vampire cannot own property, it's a supernatural thing. Thus, the place I was renting naturally went back to being the landlord's when I turned meaning I couldn't enter without him inviting me in and he is currently out on a trip," I answered as I flipped a pancake.
"So, you're homeless!" Lily ruthlessly destroyed my argument with a smirk on her face which made me regret giving her my blood before. Vampire blood could heal any and all injuries, I just didn't know whether missing limbs or organs could be healed too.
"Don't you have work?" was all I could reply.
"Touché," she replied with a victorious grin, slowly and purposefully eating her pancakes. I watched as she savored each bite, and I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. I had perfected the pancakes to taste just right, thanks to my heightened senses, and seeing her devour them made me feel like I'd achieved something meaningful.
"Okay, but seriously," I continued, leaning against the counter as I let the last pancake sizzle in the pan. "If I'm going to be crashing here, we need to figure this out. I can't just keep mooching off you."
"Good, because I'm not running a shelter for lost vampires," she teased, but her tone shifted to something more serious. "So, what's the plan?"
I paused, considering my words carefully. "I was thinking we could help each other. I mean, you're curious about this world, right? You want to know more about the supernatural stuff. I could show you the ropes, and in return, you could, um, help me navigate… life."
"Life?" she echoed, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "What does that even mean for you?"
"Being a vampire isn't all it's cracked up to be," I admitted, the weight of my honesty surprising even me. "I've got instincts now, urges that are… complicated. I need to stay grounded, and I think having someone who knows me could help." Even now, I couldn't believe just how vibrant the world was! I was seeing it through a new pair of lenses and it was breathtaking!
Lily looked thoughtful for a moment, a small frown creasing her brow. "So, you're saying you want me to keep you in check?"
"Not exactly keep me in check," I corrected, though the notion had its merits. "Just, um, be a friend? A sounding board? It can get lonely out there, especially for someone like me."
Her expression softened, and I could see the gears turning in her mind. "And what do I get out of this?"
"Knowledge!" I said, trying to inject enthusiasm into my voice. "You'd be part of something bigger. There's a whole world out there that you don't even know about—vampires, werewolves, witches, a vampire who is a were wolf and maybe even more. It's fascinating! Plus, you'd be with someone who's, well, not a total creep."
Lily chuckled, and it felt like a small victory. "Okay, you're not a total creep," she conceded. "But what if things get dangerous? What if you lose control again?"
"I… I don't think I will," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt as my eyes were drawed to my ring. "But if it ever gets to that point, you could help me think rationally. You know, we could set boundaries."
"Boundaries," she echoed, raising an eyebrow playfully. "I can see it now: 'No biting without consent.'"
I chuckled, the lightness in the room easing the tension. "Exactly! We can make a list. And I'll promise to be on my best behavior."
"Okay, then," she said, her smile widening. "Deal. You teach me about the supernatural, and I'll keep you from going all bloodthirsty monster on me."
"Right!" I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect. "And in exchange, I'll help you with… whatever you need. If there are people bothering you, or if you need help with anything else, I'll be your backup."
"Wow, my very own vampire bodyguard," she teased, but there was a warmth in her tone that reassured me.
"Just think of me as your… nocturnal ally," I replied, grinning.
We shared a laugh, the morning sun streaming through the window, making the kitchen feel warm and inviting. As we stood there, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I had found an unexpected partner in this crazy new life. And for the first time since my transformation, I didn't feel so alone. Perhaps this was going to help me with my dyssomnia, perhaps.