Bite Shift

52

I stepped in before he could step out. His hair was messier than usual. It was clear that he had gotten out of bed and not bothered to run a brush through it, or wash it for that matter. He looked tired. It could have just been the mask he had up. It was hard to tell. He ran up to me and hugged me.

I am getting a lot of hugs tonight. I hope this isn't going to be a thing.

I pulled back. "Can you drop the mask?"

He looked confused. "Why?"

"Because, I want to see you, the real you, not the human one."

He didn't ask any more questions. It was like a veil was being pulled, slowly, off his face and the image underneath was being revealed. He was beautiful again. The emeralds that were his eyes shone. The ruby red of his hair and the ebony of his skin was flawless. His face was a collection of precious stones, carefully placed together, to create a masterpiece.

He was Rhys. My Rhys. Again.

For some reason, that I couldn't explain, I felt like crying. I had felt so out of place since I left him in the parking garage. Olivia, Ellie, Tom, Sarah, Alex, Monica.... I knew them and loved them. But I was not with them anymore. They were human. I was not. In that moment, I became aware of how lonely I felt around those who were not like me.

Rhys was like me. I forgot about Will's warning, and my concerns. I just wanted to be with someone like me. I wanted it to go back to the way it was before Will came over... before I left the little blue cottage in the woods.

I hugged him again. This time, without the barrier of masking between us.

"Are you okay," he asked. "You didn't text me when you got home last night. I was worried but wanted to get you some space. What's going on? You look sad."

I broke away, walking to the old, ratty couch he kept in the back corner. The music had changed and Freddie was, now, singing about the show going on. I laid on the couch, on my back and threw my arms over my head. I stared at the ceiling. "It's just a lot. I thought I would just come back and everything would be like it was. But, it hasn't. The dog growled at me. Ellie made cookies. There is wood on my windows. I forgot to bring blood. Alex thinks I'm different. Monica thinks I found the fountain of youth. Stewart wants me to eat pasta and the Tiffanys want me to eat cake."

Rhys sunk to his butt on the floor, next to the couch, and folded his legs. "I am not sure where to begin."

I laughed at my own ramblings. Maybe I, for real, am going insane. "I don't know where to start either. I don't know if I can do this."

He rose to his knees and looked down at me. "You can do this. I wouldn't have turned you if I thought you were weak."

I thought he turned me to save me and didn't have time to think.

He continued. "It has only been a few days. It is a lot to figure out. Maybe, you should stay with me for longer. Just, until you have time to deal with everything. I can't protect you when you are away."

I wanted to change the subject. I didn't want to go back to his house until I was sure about him. But I also wanted so badly to be sure about him.

"My dream was real."

The sudden change in topic made him blink. "I am not following."

I sat up, keeping eye contact. "My dream. Monica. She is wearing the same outfit, with the same pencil in the same bun and the same cigarette and lighter in the same pocket. Exactly like my dream."