Uuugh..." I grunted, groggily waking up from the floor. Peeling my face off the stiff and chill floorboards, I look around the room in a bit of a haze. The air had a strong aroma of cheap wine and my ribs ached like hell. It gets worse as my tongue feels as dry as sandpaper and my head is throbbing like a drum!
Suddenly, a bad wave burst loudly in my head as the memory of last night entered my mind. His very name gives me more of a headache. Axel: His face, the blood...
I groaned, dragging myself up, the room spun slightly for only a moment. Somehow, I climbed up on the bed. My fingers found the wine bottle on the nightstand, thankfully some still left in the bottle- I chugged it till there was nothing left but the stubborn drops at the bottom.
"I'm hopeless!..." I muttered with a very light chuckle, wiping my mouth with the back of one hand. Though, even with all my effort, I sigh, covering my face with my hands.
"You'll ruin your palate like that," Claude giggled, as if he hadn't been responsible for everything. "You need a good vintage wine for a good breakfast, also you shouldn't drink it like that. It's barbaric."
I grunted. Staring at the ceiling. If I could side eye him- I would.
"Still not in the mood to talk, I see. You should realize by now that what happened happened and it was a necessary step. If you don't understand that now, you should sooner rather than later."
I didn't feel like listening to all that, but I didn't want to say anything either. So, I fell back, slumping further into the mattress, the bottle still dangling limply from my fingers.
"Though, I would've chosen a better time and place." Claude chuckled. "I suppose I'll have to teach my host how to do things!"
"Shut... up..." I mumbled, barely louder than a breath.
"You'll have to speak clearly, dear Tristan. I can't understand you when you're mumbling" he giggles.
"Ugh!" I yell, slamming the bottle down. I watched it shatter before I closed my eyes. Taking a second, I take a deep breath.
"Just… I need to think of a plan…" I place my hands on the sides of my forehead. "What the fuck do I do!..."
"... I mean…"
"Shut up!" I take in another deep breath. So, I can't eat food, I have Count chocula in my head, I murdered someone, I can't see my reflection, what else is there?
I slowly brush the sides of my face till I reach the hair by my ears as I usually tug on my hair when stressed. Though as I reached my ears, I noticed something, my ears are more pointy then normal…
"Wha?-"
"Darling, would you like some help?" Claude giggled.
My heart jumped. Or, it tried to. My chest felt so empty, though my head still throbbed with a headache.
I tried to ignore Count Cocoa puffs and tug at my heart. What is fucking wrong with me? My heartbeat wasn't gone, just slow- even though I'm panicking right now. "I'm a goddamn… monster," I whispered.
"Incorrect. A Dampir, technically. A transitional stage. You're still half human." He giggled.
"Transitional?"
"Mmmhm. You've yet to mature. You're at the bottom of the lineage chain, darling. In your terms we could say that you are an 'F-rank.'" I can imagine him doing air quotes.
I rubbed my temples. "You mean… this gets worse?"
"Oh, no! It gets so much better. Once you 'Rank up'—say, to E—you'll start tasting the benefits. Real control over your cravings, mana control, and sharper senses. Right now? You're fragile. Clumsy. And… extremely unstable."
"Great. I'm not just mentally unstable, I'm physically unstable. How can this get any worse?" I groan, rolling my eyes. I kicked a broken piece of glass along the floor, watching it crunch into more shards.
"How do I even rank up, anyway? I hit my mana capacity! I'll forever be an F rank. Does that mean I will never get rid of this and keep being a freak?" Nervously, I start to tug on bits of my hair.
Claude chuckled again, enjoying my suffering. "Now that would be inconvenient, wouldn't it? But no, you should be able to rank up by consuming… let's call them souls for short. However, I believe going from Dampir to Vampire youngling does require unique circumstances. Like the blessing of a vampire noble, though you already have that through me!" he giggled, the maniac…
I sigh. "Jackass…" I rolled my face into my pillow. "Souls," I mumbled into the fluffy thing before rotating my head sideways, watching the air conditioning blow the maroon curtains of the window slightly. "You want me to eat souls."
"Technically, devour," Claude clarified, "Though that's too barbaric for my taste. I prefer 'consume' or 'absorb'."
I take a deep breath. Though, just as I was about to speak, Claude butted in, "Also, it can't be just any random soul off the side street. The soul has to be infused with mana."
"Fantastic..." I muttered sarcastically, "Why did I need to kill Axel then?!" I tug the hair on both sides of my hair tightly, about ripping some off.
"Oh my. Simple really, a long with souls, you need to consume blood to stay alive. Also, consuming blood from a human with mana is another way to consume their soul. Unfortunate that Axel didn't have mana, but you kinda needed that blood after you almost drank yourself to death!"
"..." I sit up and lay my hand crossed on my knees and stare at the ceiling, trying to process everything.
"But," Claude continued, tone softening ever so slightly, "you have options. Kill random humans and gamble whether they have mana or not- and possibly be caught. Or... find a way to ingest the dying. Assisting in a Tower raid, perhaps? Maybe as support so you can get close to the injured, no one will think anything of it if you just can't save them."
I sigh, "So I just hang around people, wait till they're about to die, not help them, and then sip their souls out like a leech?"
"You're beginning to understand," he purred. "Leech, parasite—it's all semantics."
I looked up—at nothing, really, since Claude was in my fucking head. I stared. Staring at the ceiling. I took and deep breath and massaged my forehead. "I need... A plan… Also probably a therapist."
"Get a nice coat," Claude said. "You'll look dramatic in one. Something with a high collar, very whoosh-y."
I dragged myself to the closet, heart still dragging like a stone in my chest. "One step at a time, Claude..."
Claude hummed lazily. "You know, I think you're handling this rather well, all things considered. I really didn't expect any of this from a human."
"Jeesh, thanks." I muttered sarcastically, grabbing a change of clothes. I didn't have much since I hadn't done the laundry yet, but there was some clothes. I picked out a purple turtleneck and black sweats.
"However, why do you drink so much? That can't be good for you." Claude stupidly asked.
"Coping probably. Nothing new, I assure you." I respond, dragging my feet toward the desk by the window.
"Coping by fermenting your insides and swearing at the sky?"
"Exactly!"
Just then, my phone buzzed violently on the desk. I winced at the vibration, startled. Still, after putting the clothes down on the bed, I grabbed it and squinted through the hangover blur.
[DEFENSE GUILD: Your Defender Award of 800.00 credits has been deposited to your registered Defender Card.]
I blinked. Then again. Then smiled. "Thank God."
"Ooh," Claude cooed, "What are 'credits'?"
"Currency," I answered enthusiastically, "to put it in perspective, my rent is about 150 credits without stuff like water bills."
"Ooo!" Claude cooed again, "What will we buy then, darling? A silk-lined coffin? Some wine? Ooh, no! A golden laced, red velvet throne and it's matching goblet set!" He giggled like a little kid in a toy store.
I ignored him and patted down my pants, checking the desk, the floor. No card.
That's fine. I just need my Defender ID—easy. They'll give me a replacement if I have that.
I checked the nightstand. The floor under the bed. The ruined laundry pile. No ID.
I stopped smiling.
"No," I muttered, standing up too fast. My headache pulsed like a war drum. "No no no—where is it—?"
Drawers flew open. Rushing myself, I hurried every place I could. Suddenly, I tripped on my own boots and slammed my shin into the bed frame. Then, I slammed back into my nightstand.
Crash! I looked to the side and my lamp fell onto the ground, the lightbulb was safe from the shelter of the hood. However the hood's plastic cracked as well as the ceramic body.
I struggled to put myself up onto the bed and took a deep breath. From almost silent giggling, I could tell Claude was, of course, delighted in my suffering.
"Temper, temper," he chuckled. "Breaking things won't make help anything, you know."
I turned to the corner of the room like I could glare at him. "Doesn't matter. They can just make a new one. We can get a new card. Easy."
I sighed, stretching a bit. Thankfully there was only slight bruising and tiny cuts. Plus that headache is going away. I take a deep breath before heading to the bathroom and got dressed.
A little while later I walked downstairs to the exit of the apartments. From the tinted window on the door, I could already tell it was a bright day outside. I sucked it up and I stepped out of the building. By the time I'd walked to the next block, I felt like I'd run a marathon. My skin prickled like it was being pierced by a million little sewing needles. My legs dragged like they were filled with cement.
I stumbled to the nearest building's shade, panting like I'd just sprinted uphill.
"What the hell," I wheezed. "Was it always this hot in autumn?"
Claude chuckled. "Oh no, but it will be. Midday is murder. You're lucky you're still half-human, or you'd be a pile of ashes right now."
"You couldn't have warned me before I went outside?"
"I did, darling. When I said 'get a nice coat'? That was code. Also fashion advice."
"Next time," I snapped, "be literal."
"As you wish, my singed little marshmallow."
I took a deep breath before turning back home to get a coat. "Great," I muttered. "This is going to suck."
After a treacherous walk back, I got that damned coat. Hopefully, it would offer some relief from the blistering heat, contrary to what a coat is usually used for… The thought that Claude was just tricking me did slip my mind. I know he would love seeing me suffer.
Surprisingly, it did work. I hadn't picked out the heaviest coat; it more resembled a bathrobe than any of my other overcoats. Its semi-dark, grayish-purple fabric draped loosely, and a large hood dropped low enough to keep the worst of the sun off my face. Still, even with it on, the heat was overwhelming, my clothes quickly drenched with sweat. Yet, this was a vast improvement. Without the coat, I likely wouldn't be walking at all right now.
Now, at least there is just one block ahead of me. I'm almost there, the Defenders' community hall loomed ahead, waiting for me. Finally, just a street away from getting out of this damn heat. I swayed on my feet, stumbling a bit before catching myself on a nearby lamppost. A few people passed without giving me a second glance. Wouldn't expect anything different but it kinda hurts… But then, a guy stopped right by me. A guy who looked about my age with black hair and soft blue eyes stopped in front of me. He wore a lightweight windbreaker, his expression calm but concerned.
"Hey," he said softly, tilting his head. "You okay?"
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My throat felt like sandpaper, my lips cracked. So I simply nodded, even though I wasn't alright, I didn't need help from a stranger.
He studied me for a beat longer, then reached into his bag and pulled out a cold plastic bottle of water. "Here."
I blinked at it like it might explode. But I took it, my glance lingered while my fingers trembled slightly as the cold bottle stung against my skin, though it felt nice.
"Be safe, yeah?" the stranger added. Then, without waiting for thanks, he walked off—already pulling his phone out like it had never happened.
I unscrewed the cap and took a long sip. Cool. Soothing. Like a dry sponge dropped into a lake of crisp, fresh water, it felt amazingly chill on my tongue, spreading relief through my parched throat and down into my core. "...Thanks," I whispered to the empty sidewalk. Then I turned, clenching the bottle tightly, and dragged myself the rest of the way forward. Still, even with the cool touch of the water, the sun relentlessly tormented me like it wanted to fry my bones.
As soon as I passed the huge double doors of the Defender's Community Hall, it seemed as though a burden had been taken off my shoulders., like hot coals had been ripped away from my body. The fluorescent lights weren't exactly pleasant, but they didn't burn like the sun. The air conditioning hit my damp coat, and I immediately felt so great. The oppressive weight on my shoulders, like molten chains dragging me down, lifted. I took a deep breath and just stood there for a moment. All I could do was take in the cool air and the artificial lighting, staring at the ceiling with my eyes closed.
I took in another deep breath before leaning against the wall near the check-in kiosk, my hood still low. A few other Defenders passed by, barely sparing me a glance. Good. I didn't really want to be seen anyway…
Claude whispered in the back of my mind, "Ooo! Why, aren't these lights fortunate for you?"
I didn't say anything. I just stood there for a moment longer, letting the cool air hug my overheated body. I didn't feel like moving, but if I want those credits, I have to get my motivation up. I stretched, taking in the air through a deep breath, and pushed myself upright, and approached the reception desk.
"New ID card, please," I said, my voice still a little raspy. I figured this part would be easy enough. I already had an account, and I am still me, so this should go by quickly. I sat down a the seat right in front of the desk.
The woman behind the desk was a plump lady with a kind smile. She has medium-short hair in a wavy lob, it was a sweet chocolate brown color with hints of strawberry red that accents her face beautifully. Her name tag reads 'Lyndi. ' She nods and responds, "Of course, dear. Just your Defender account login, please."
I recited the information, feeling a sense of mild relief. This was going just as expected. But as Lyndi typed, her brow furrowed. She glanced at the screen, then at me, and then back at the screen again, her kind smile replaced by a thoughtful frown.
"Hmm, that's… interesting," she murmured, more to herself than to me. She looked up. "Excuse me, sir, but could you please stand up for a moment? And if you wouldn't mind taking off your hood for a picture?"
I didn't think twice as I slowly pushed myself away from the counter, my hand going to the edge of my hood. The hood fell across my back as I took a deep breath and looked into Lyndi's eyes. Lyndi's eyes widened slightly, she stared at me with a confused and shocked look. The camera flashed. She quickly pulled up my old ID photo on the screen next to the photo she just took, her eyes darting between the two images, then to me, and back to the screen.
Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but it cut through the hum of the hall. "Your eyes… and your ears. They're different." She pointed at the screen. "Here, in your old picture, your eyes are brown, and your ears are short and rounded. But now…" She trailed off, her gaze fixed on my face. "Your eyes… they're a bright, almost glowing red. And your ears… they're longer, pointed." She looked from the screen to me, i could tell she is looking for a good explanation.
I felt a sudden, icy dread. Oh no. I completely forgot about my appearance change, though I didn't know my eye color changed… My mind raced, trying to grasp at how to explain this without sounding like some freak- even if I am one now- not like I- nevermind.
"Oh, uh, well," I started, trying to sound nonchalant, but my voice came out as a strangled croak. I cleared my throat, forcing an awkward laugh. "It's, uh, a new style, you know? Contact lenses and… and, uh, prosthetics! For a… for a play! Yeah, a play I'm in. Yeah… play…." My hands fluttered aimlessly as I spoke, twitching if I had them still for even a moment. I wanted to disappear into the floor. Claude, in the back of my mind, was having a field day. I could hear his faint chuckles mocking my pathetic attempt.
Lyndi blinked, her brow still furrowed. "A play?" she repeated, her voice slow. Her eyes narrowed slightly, then she seemed to dismiss my explanation with a polite but unconvinced smile.
"Right. Of course. Well, it's… quite a transformation for a play, isn't it?" She turned back to the screen, a thoughtful hum escaping her lips. "Do you think you could take them off? We kinda need you to have no visible head accessories on or anything."
"Fine! Look, it's… it's a new trend! Yeah-!" I blurted, my voice cracking slightly. "Everyone's doing it. It's for… uh… aesthetic purposes. Very popular, you know." I tried to sound casual, as if discussing the weather, but my hands were clenched into fists, hidden in the folds of my oversized coat.
Lyndi's polite smile vanished completely. "Trend? Sir… even if it is, we have very strict regulations regarding Defender IDs." Her voice had lost its gentle edge, replaced by a firm, almost clinical tone. She stood up and took a deep breath in.
"I'm afraid, given the… change of appearance… we'll need to perform a full biometric scan to verify your identity. If you'd please follow me." She gestured towards a door behind her desk.
My stomach churned. A biometric scan? What would that even show? Would it show I wasn't really fully human anymore? Would that mean they would have to take me in for questioning? But what choice did I have? I need those credits. I went through hell to earn them!
"Right, yes, a scan. Of course," I mumbled, forcing myself to move.
Lyndi led me through a narrow corridor to a small, brightly lit room. In the center stood a sleek, grey machine with various glowing panels. "Just step onto the platform, please, and place your hands on the marked pads."
I did as instructed, my heart thumping against my ribs. The machine whirred to life, a gentle blue light scanning over me. I could feel a faint tingling sensation, like static electricity, as the light passed over my eyes and ears. Lyndi watched the display screen, her expression unreadable.
"Alright," she said, after a few tense moments. "Processing… Hmm." She leaned closer to the screen, her brow furrowed. "The system is registering… a partial match to your DNA. Half is consistent with your previous records. The other half is… unknown."
She frowned, tapping a finger against her chin. "That's peculiar. Must be a bug in the system. We've been having some glitches since the last software update." She dismissed it with a shrug.
My breath hitched. Half unknown? So it is detecting the damp-ire or whatever it's called…. So it's all true… I mean I knew that with the sun and all but… I don't know… I just hoped maybe it wasn't true and it was just placebo or something. I sighed and took my hands back from the pads.
Lyndi brightened slightly. "However," she continued, a small smile returning to her face, "while the system *does* confirm your identity, It also indicates an evolution in your Spark. Very interesting…" She looked up at me, a hint of genuine curiosity in her eyes. "Your elemental alignment has shifted. It's now registering as… lightning."
My eyes widened. Lightning? My Spark had *evolved*? I didn't even know sparks could do that! So my Spark went from wind element to electricity- that's crazy. Probably because of my change in DNA huh…
"Well, that's all we need," she said, interrupting my thoughts. She gestured to me to come over to her. I did so. "We'll just update your file with the new biometric data and elemental alignment. Your new ID card should be ready for pickup in about fifteen minutes. Please take a seat in the waiting area." She handed me a small slip of paper with a number on it.
I stumbled out of the room, still reeling. Lyndi thought the half DNA was just a bug…. Thank goodness! I glanced at the slip of paper in my hand, then at my reflection in a nearby polished panel- well, lack thereof.