Paradigm Shift [On-going]

Distraction

To say Dean was annoyed would be an understatement. Frederick had informed him that before he could start the process of 're-entering society' he'd have to be sure that his newborn era was completely over and receiving a power usually symbolised that. However, it had been three weeks and Dean still hadn't received a power. Of course there was a possibility he wouldn't receive a power because not every vampire did, but Dean wasn't very patient and to find out for sure, he had to wait. To make matters worse, Dean was thirsty all the time because his choice of drinking animal blood instead of human meant he could never truly satisfy his thirst. He'd tried every type of animal blood available but they all tasted disappointing and Dean really didn't want to go back to drinking human blood, but he was struggling. He tried to distract himself by cleaning the house, emptying the fridge, even organising his blood supply, but the constant aching thirst wasn't going away and he was afraid he was going to die of thirst. He'd read books, exercised and watched tv but all he could think about was his burning throat. He hadn't dared to go outside for a walk in case he attacked someone, and he wondered why his power was taking so long to come. Of course Frederick had his own theory, but Dean didn't take too kindly to him suggesting that it could be down to Dean's suppressing. The last thing Dean needed to hear was Frederick's version of 'I told you so'.

Dean made his way towards the window as he heard a car making it's way up the driveway in front of his house. He could identify the make and model of the car, but he didn't recognize it; or the driver. She was female, blonde and looked to be around 20 years old. Pale, with a pretty face. As she got out of the car, Dean could see she was slim and pretty defenseless looking. He contemplated whether he should answer the door. The doorbell rang and Dean remained where he was. If he answered the door, there was a very real possibility that he'd kill this woman.

"Hi. Sorry to disturb you, but could you give me directions to the nearest gas station?"

* * *
Dean

I really shouldn't have opened the door, but I was bored, desperate and weak. Her question had fallen on death ears as everything around me quickly faded. All I could concentrate on was the veins underneath her skin, the sound of her heart as it pumped blood around her body. My throat burned as her scent surrounded me. Her eyes widened and her heart beat a little faster as she grew nervous. I could see her hot, wet, pulsing blood beneath her skin...

"My GPS sent me in the wrong direction and my phone ran out of juice..."

My irritation returned with the intensity of something closer to hatred. Why was she still talking? This woman was going to turn me into a killer. Something I never wanted to be, and I knew that once I bit into her flesh, I wouldn't be able to stop at just a taste. I would continue to drink until her body was drained of all it's blood. If i was stuck being a vampire then i wanted to be a vampire that never hurt anyone, a vampire that never killed, but her scent was making my mouth water in the same way a meal would to a starving human. I would warn her first, give her a chance at survival.

"Leave...now!"

I felt her confusion.

"Did I - did I say something to offend you?"

"DAMNIT LEAVE!" I was hysterical, barely holding myself back as I took a step towards her. "PLEASE. I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU"

This time she took notice and ran back towards her car. I followed her at a much slower pace than I was capable of. I could've caught up to her if I wanted to, but I was hoping she'd get away. She was so afraid that she dropped her keys in her haste to get into her car and she looked at me with fear in her eyes as she started the engine, the tyres of her car squeaking as they skidded across the concrete surface of my driveway. I watched until her car disappeared from sight and then made my way back inside. The only thing I was ever any good at was being able to survive. To keep fighting through all the pain and suffering life threw at me. So I had to do it now. I needed to grit my teeth and get through this.

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

Dean was in shock. He had come so close to murdering an innocent woman and as the doorbell rang once again Dean wanted to scream, shout, tell whoever it was to go away, barricade his damn driveway up so that no one else could get in.

"Could you open the door, Dean? It's Frederick"

Dean cussed as he made his way towards the door

"Good afternoon" Frederick greeted as Dean opened the door

"Is it?" Dean replied as Frederick walked past him.

Frederick made his way towards the lounge, sitting down on the couch as he waited for Dean to join him

"Is something distressing you, Dean?"

Dean scoffed as he stood near the chair opposite Frederick, too anxious to sit down. "Like you don't already know"

Frederick smiled. "I try not to read anyone's mind unless I absolutely have too"

"I nearly killed someone today" Dean answered

"Ah" Frederick voiced like he was hearing the answer to a silent question

"Is that all you have to say?" Dean asked "I tell you I nearly killed someone and all you can say is 'ah'?"

"I knew I had to be here this afternoon and now I know why" Frederick explained. "My power is intuition. I get a gut feeling about a person, place or situation and act accordingly"

"Right" Dean replied

"I got a feeling around thirty minutes ago that you needed help so I came here as quick as I could" Frederick added

"Well, I'm fine" Dean lied

"No, you are not" Frederick replied knowingly. "and that is completely understandable considering what has just happened"

"I nearly killed her" Dean continued. "I nearly killed an innocent woman because my stupid throat won't stop burning...she was terrified"

"How do you know she was terrified?" Frederick asked.

"Because I could feel it!" Dean explained. "I could feel every emotion as she experienced it"

Frederick nodded. "I think you have received your power, Dean. Empathy if I'm not mistaken"

"That was my power?" Dean asked, amazed. "I thought that was just a vampire thing"

"No vampires can not sense or feel human emotions, unless they have a power to do so, like yourself. Although with that kind of power, the vampire who receives it does not always realise it. That's why I needed to be here" Frederick explained.

"Well, shit" Dean voiced in amazement. "it's about time though"

"It is indeed" Frederick agreed