Paradigm Shift

Learning curve

Being given a new life, too many, would seem like a gift, but being a Vampire was hard and everyday Dean had to learn something new. The first lesson was about adapting. He'd mastered the senses and speed during the newborn phase, but strength was proving to be a lot more difficult. Dean worked with a Vampire called Gy Christopher (pronounced Guy), who was listed in the black book Frederick had given him under the description of 'personal trainer'. Dean had called the number provided and Gy had assured him he could help and had even arranged to begin what he had described as 'adjustment weight training' the next day. When Gy arrived, Dean stood in the doorway and watched as red Audi Quattro pulled into the driveway. Gy killed the engine and leant forward to remove a tape from the cassette player inside the car before getting out. He pulled the sleeve of his neon blue and green shell suit up to look at his vintage digital wrist watch and as he came close Dean could see that he had curly brown hair that had been styled into a mullet haircut. He had a thick dark horseshoe mustache and as he removed his oversized sunglasses, Dean noticed he looked like a mix between Freddie Mercury and Glenn Hughes from the village people. His pale skin was almost as white as snow, yet his eyes were as dark as his hair.

"Yo" Gy greeted. "You're Dean, right?"

"That me" Dean replied "Come in"

As Gy made his way inside, Dean could smell the earthy, musky sent of leather

"I called Frederick, and he filled me in on your history" Gy voiced. "I've never trained a wrestler before. It's gonna be brill"

"Right" Dean replied. "Well, I'm gonna change. There is a drinks fridge full of blood in the kitchen if you need it"

Gy looked and sounded like he had just stepped out of an 80's movie but Dean had sensed that he was eager and excited to work with him, so he was trying not to judge him too much. After getting changed, Dean made his way into the kitchen.

"Awesome fridge man" Gy commented. "very radical"

"Sure. You wanna make a start?" Dean replied "I've got a makeshift gym set up in my basement"

Gy nodded and Dean led him down to his basement that he had used as a gym ever since he'd moved in. It wasn't as impressive as an actual gym, but it contained everything he needed.

"Bitchin' gym you got here" Gy commented as he looked around

"It serves it's purpose for what I need" Dean replied

Gy removed his jacket, and he was muscular yet slender. "You got a boombox or something we can play some music on?"

Boombox!. Gy was definitely cemented in his ways. Dean quickly turned on his iPod deck and chose a playlist that would get him through an hour's PT session, while Gy stared at him in wonder, no doubt amazed by the technology Dean was using. Gy explained that in order to get back into the ring again, Dean would have to learn to move and lift objects without breaking them. To do this, he had to put everything that has happened out of his mind and approach lifting objects like he would when he was human. Gy demonstrated each move and was patient with Dean, but he was finding it incredibly difficult. It was an exercise in mind over matter, using the power of the mind in order to control and influence the body. By closing off the vampire thought process, he could tap into his human thought process whenever he needed too and that would prove essential when getting back to wrestling. Dean practiced for hours after Gy left each day to get the hang of it and after two weeks, he finally mastered it.

"Righteous!!" Gy had exclaimed when Dean displayed lifting and moving objects correctly. "That's awesome. I can't believe you learnt to do that so fast"

Dean smiled, pleased with himself. "It's a head fuck but I've been practicing''

''It's certainly difficult'' Gy agreed ''but once you've aced the thought process, the rest is easy. When you get back into the ring, all you have to do is apply what I taught you to wrestling'' Gy explained. "don't overthink it man and it will come naturally. Adapting is a mega skill to have for blending in with humans"

"Thanks for your help" Dean replied

Gy extended his arm to shake Dean's hand. "Well, I gotta bounce"

Dean followed him and saw him out

"Keep practicing and if you need me, you've got my number. Later homeboy" Gy voiced.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The second lesson was control. Dean longed to reconnect with his friends and family, which meant that he had to control his emotions around humans. His emotions were directly connected to his thirst for blood and this was made a lot harder because of Dean's choice of a 'vegetarian' lifestyle. Dean had to find the right balance between quenching his thirst and controlling his emotions without the use of blood. It was difficult and Dean was irritable, but Frederick helped him and was patient as he guided him through every step. Dean and Frederick would travel three times a week to a public place in order for Dean to get used to being around humans again. He had never struggled with this when he consumed human blood, but now it was difficult. He didn't want a repeat of what had happened before when he almost killed a woman. Breathing wasn't something vampires had to do, but they could do it in order to appear human, and Frederick had suggested using it to help Dean cope with his cravings for blood.

"Place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach" Frederick instructed. "close your eyes and concentrate on your breath and not on your surroundings. Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four. Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of four. Continue breathing for a count of four until you feel calm"

Dean carried out each step as Frederick said it and it helped to distract him from the smell of human blood

"How do you feel?" Frederick asked

"Better" Dean replied "The breathing took my mind off everyone's scent"

"With practice it will become second nature" Frederick promised

"I suppose you never had this problem, did you?" Dean asked. "Seeing as you've always drank human blood"

"I have actually" Frederick corrected. "Like I told you, I only feed from those who won't be missed, however that doesn't mean I do not have the urge to feed from other humans too. That's why I advised the breathing exercises because it worked for me." Frederick reached into his back pocket and handed Dean a folded up piece of paper. "Here is a list of alternative techniques you can try in case the breathing does not work"

Dean's eyes scanned over the words on the piece of paper

- Change your environment. Move into a room or space with less temptation.

- Distract yourself. Concentrate on noises or sights, something other than the scent.

- Mask the scent of blood with another scent. Try using essential oils on handkerchief or smelling salts.

- Carry blood substitute items with you to satisfy your thirst.

"This last one?" Dean asked. "What type of items?"

"Dr. Zen can provide you with blood capsules and chewable blood gummies" Frederick revealed. "The blood is human, but having them on hand is helpful if your cravings get extreme"

"I can see how they can be helpful" Dean agreed. "I think I'd rather pop a couple of gummies than bite someone"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The third lesson (and the hardest in Dean's opinion) was learning to appear human. At first he thought it would come naturally because he'd been human until a few months ago, but he had to learn how to be around humans and interact with humans without causing alarm or lunging for their throats. The breathing exercises helped somewhat. However, what he was struggling with the most was having to relearn what were once barely noticeable movements. He had to remind himself to move around, to rest his weight on one foot and then switch to the other. He had to learn to move at a slower pace and slow down his reflexes to a 'normal speed'. He also had to come to terms with the reality of living for a very long time. Which meant that he was going to outlive his friends and family by several decades. He was eventually going to see everyone he cared about age and die around him, one by one, and it was an altogether frightening thought. He'd have no one to connect with, and any new friends he'd make would inevitably meet the same fate. He would have to find another source of happiness that would help him cope with the amount of loss he was going to experience. It was a all part of a huge learning period and even though it was a lot to process it was a step in the right direction and with every day that passed, Dean got one step closer to being able to live a 'normal' life again.