fangs (a trans vampire story)

Chapter four

Even though it was the middle of the day, the house was pitch black to protect his family's sensitive skin from the cruel sun. He crept down the hallway, peering briefly over the banister to make sure no one was lurking on the first level. Looking down there brought back unsavory memories from the failed ceremony. Luckily the crowd had long since vanished.

He crept down the hallway from his bedroom to the stairs to the third floor, trying to be quiet since his parents room was right across the hall.

The house was incredibly tranquil at night, the dark wooden floors gleamed in the small bit of light that had snuck its way through the drapes. He crept upstairs to where his brother's rooms were. He had five brothers in total. There was Adam, the oldest, who was very quiet and rarely interacted with Jasper. Then there were the twins, Thomas and Edward, who were nice enough but really only close with one another within the family. The next eldest was Walter, and he was a very imposing sort of person. Finally, the closest to Jasper's age of 16, was Nicholas. Nicholas kept to himself, but he was always happy to have a chat with his younger brother, and he trusted he could help him with his situation.

He wasn't the least bit surprised to find candlelight flooding out from under Nicholas's door, he was up late reading no doubt. He gently turned the handle, slowly making his way in as not to startle his unsuspecting brother. "Nicholas?" He whispered softly. His brother sat up from his desk, still fully dressed in his nicest suit. "Jess?" He asked. "Everything alright?" "Yes yes." He told him, stepping into his brothers room and shutting the door.

Every available space was piled high with papers and books, even his bed frame had been consumed by the mess. It was a wonder it hadn't caught fire yet. His brother gestured for him to sit on his bed, which was pressed against the left side of the wall. He took a seat, fidgeting with the red bedding that was the same as what he had on his own bed.

His brother did not push him to speak, he simply waited patiently for him to be ready. He took a deep breath to calm himself, praying it would go over better this time. "I um... I think I know why the ceremony didn't work." His brother leaned in, listening intently. "It's because well, I'm not.... I'm a..." He paused, looking to his brother for comfort. His warm eyes urged him to go on. He let the words that had tormented him for years, the words that had condemned him to a life of exile, fall from his quivering lips.

"I'm trans."