Victor's mysterious Fangs

2

Victor

After what seemed like an eternity, a whirl of noises finally came into the distance. Aria was sound asleep in the palm of my hands. Her round rosy cheeks and her silky eyelashes couldn't compare to her little snores and the way a piece of her dirty blonde hair swayed every time she took a breath.

"Keep sleeping," I cooed. The little creature never let go of my finger. She had such a strong grip. The crunch footsteps of the paramedics caught my attention. They're almost at the door.

Aria's hazel eyes opened with a lazy blink and a yawn. He's here.

I could tell Jack was out there; I smelled him.
"You're going to be fine," I wiggled Aria's finger as we walked to the door.

It revealed an unkempt Jack and a team of paramedics behind him. "Here's your champ," I handed off Aria to him.

"No," a tear slipped as he admired his newborn child. While Jack was occupied, I nodded to the paramedics, hoping Jack would recover from tonight's events.

"Remember I'm right next door," I comforted him with a pat to the shoulder before jogging home. I stood there, watching from my window, in shock as the ambulances rushed off with Jack, baby Aria and a lifeless Royal. Jack must have been a total mess— welcoming a baby but also becoming a widower in the span of a few hours.

The smell of iron alerted me. I looked around, scouring with my eyes and I finally realized the smell was coming from the bottom of my shoes. "These must go," I decided. No reason to keep them. I bagged them in a sack and tied it before tossing it in my garbage bin. "I deserve a nice shower," I invaded my fridge and spied a bag of AB positive. I could still recall the taste of Aria, almost as if it were still on my fangs. Just the thought almost provoked me. He already has a dead wife, he doesn't need a dead baby. I groaned. Why am I craving that little creature? I snatched the blood bag, devouring it in one gulp.

"Not enough," I balled my fists. That baby's lingering smell was upsetting me. I flew to the shower in a flash, scrubbing everything, almost as if I tried to scrub my existence away. I needed to hunt or do anything to calm these cravings. I wiped the fog from the mirror, not caring that droplets of water flowed onto the floor. I shaved and found my hunting ensemble before fleeing into the forest. Hopefully I'd catch something big and fierce.

**

The sun was rising and I had only caught two deer and a few rabbits. "I wish there was like a bison or a giant moose around," my stomach growled. "Shut up," I reprimanded my stomach. "You've eaten enough. How are you still hungry?"

You know why. I sure do. That intoxicating taste of her. "Off limits," I scolded myself. This should keep me occupied. At least until there aren't anymore animals to hunt. I finally went home at the sight of the shining sun bursting from the horizon.

A few days had passed and just as my cravings had finally begun to die down, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to find Jack standing there with Aria in his arms. He was looking better than before, and he had a smile on his face. "I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for us. I don't know what would have happened without you. If you weren't there for Royal," he dragged "I don't know how I could ever repay you."

"It's nothing," I said. "And how's the little one?"
"Great. She probably wouldn't have made it if not for you," Jack shared.

Yea right. Any longer and I would've been the reason the little one didn't make it either. I cleared my throat and gave him a small smile.

"Congratulations and condolences. Life's strange. Gives you one thing and takes another, but you live to enjoy and adapt," I tried to encourage Jack.

"Come over for pizza. Not taking no for an answer. I'm not much of a cook. That was Royal's thing," he smiled at the mention of her but the smile quickly faded. "Come on." He invited.

I took him up on his offer and I half regretted it. Jack passed out on his couch after eating three slices. He was mid sentence and then next thing I know, he was knocked out. He must've been exhausted.

Baby Aria was sleeping soundly in her bassinet. I stared at her. She seemed like such a calm baby. I didn't know it but inch by inch my face moved closer to Aria's as I watched her little cute features into my mind. She batted her eyes and began to weep.

"Sh.." I scooped her in my arms and rocked her gently, trying to soothe her. "Careful not to wake your dad." I searched for her bottle. "He's very tired." She ceased her weeps, almost as if she could understand me. "That's right," I smiled. "Little cutie, you're smart."

Jack stirred on the couch. I quickly put sleeping Aria in her bassinet and grabbed a blanket to cover him up. Jack opened his eyes slowly. He had a look of confusion in them. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I took you up on your offer remember." I said softly. "You passed out after eating three slices. I thought I'd take care of Aria until you woke up."

Jack smiled and thanked me. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you babysit. I know how busy you are."

I smiled and shook my head. "It's ok. I'm happy to help. Every one needs a little rest now and then."

We both looked at Aria, now again sleeping peacefully in her bassinet. "I'll head home."

"I wish you'd stay," Jack laughed. "She's so calm with you around. She's so fussy any other time. Gave me hell at the hospital."

"The key is to rock her. You got this," I confided. Any more and I bite sleeping beauty. I've had enough for tonight,

**

The next few months were a blur. I helped Jack with Aria as much as I could, but it was hard to see him in such a state. He was trying to be strong for his daughter, but it was obvious he was struggling. I was happy to see Aria growing and utilizing her limbs, finally able to form sounds.