Suck It Up

The Ugly Truth

I stared at the stranger, looking for any signs of familiarity. The face looked a little as it always had been, but new through different eyes. Eyes that could detect the smallest movement, even in the dark. Eyes that could see every tiny detail of anything within about fifty feet of them. Eyes that had changed from a warm brown to an icy blue.

I continued to search my reflection in vain, only to be disappointed. Yes, immortality had changed my face almost to the point to where I could barely recognize myself. My bushy hair was now sleek and curly, with a glossy honeyed down brown coloring it. My skin was now white as bone and poreless, giving it a slight porcelain look to it. My lips were plumper and near bloodred, so enhancing in themselves that I often found my eyes going to them when I looked in the mirror. Of course, they covered the biggest change of all; my fangs.

-Flashback-

"Hermione, while we're walking through the city, I want you to hold your breath. The human scent will drive you insane with hunger. Normally, I would catch a human for a fledgeling to feed on after the Awakening, but I didn't have the time for you. Not to worry, though, I have plenty of blood bags in my hotel rooms," Raphael murmured as we reached the edge of the small forest we'd been in. He slipped his arm around my waist and I felt an odd tingle go through my body, wanting more than that.

"Raphael," I whispered hoarsely, "What does it mean to be a head vampire?"

I'd heard Andrew say something about Raphael being a head vampire when I had quietly pulled myseld from my grave. He paused before answering.

"A head vampire is the vampire that leads all of the orphaned or abandoned fledgelings in a city or region," he said stiffly, looking out of the trees. Andrew had slipped away to change back to human, something I was grateful for. I had already seen enough vampire nudity for a lifetime.

"So, you're my leader," I stated, fighting not to part my hand in the accepted "alien greeting" and ask if he came in peace. I giggled suddenly at the thought of doing that.

"This amuses you?" he inquired, confusion coloring his beautiful face. I swallowed down my laughter and shook my head quickly, knowing my head probably would look like a blur to mortal eyes.

He looked at me then before stepping forward, closer, and wrapping his arms more fully around me. "Tell me, Hermione Granger, what are you feeling right now?"

What was I feeling? I became very still as he lightly traced his hand up my back, just barely enough to set the nerves on fire. I looked at his darks eyes, into the eyes that resembled the black holes in the sky so much, endless tunnels that made me feel so incredibly small.

"Electric," I heard myself whisper, as if someone else spoke through my mouth. He smiled ruefully as he put his lips on mine. Although the "electric" part of me rejoiced madly, another part of me noticed how that part felt nothing.

I broke the kiss off and looked into his face. He smiled that bitter smile again and sighed, stepping back from me.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out, not sure what else to say. "It's just, the last time I kissed a vampire, it didn't work out so well."

At this he threw his head out and laughed openly and loudly before looking at me and shaking his head. Still chuckling, he said quite plainly, "Hermione, I have been searching for centuries for a suitable mate. But I haven't had much luck in that area and I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, you might be her."

"Um," I began, thinking about the kiss and, surprisingly, Ron. "I don't think you and I would be suitable mates."

He nodded understandedly and smiled broadly before taking my hand, pancake style. "Well, then we'll just settle for friendship."