Blood Against Ivory

Masquerade

Social interactions are complicated. The words I say are judged, my actions are monitored, and my appearance will outlive me through memories and photographs. I have to be careful, keep watch of my every breath, to blast away suspicions the second it rises. It's exhausting and stressful and hopeless. I am much better alone, with my own oceans of thoughts, eroding away the last of my sanity. I have more time to perceive, more time to think before I leap. When I'm with people, most of my energy goes along with them. Paying attention to their struggles and listening to their motives. Making sure that I fall into line, rather than fall off.

When you scour through the records and files of Lawrence Clinic, you will find me.

Full name: Malakai Artem Killian

Occupation: Hematologist

Height: 5'11

Age: 36-years-old.

And then the biggest lie of them all.

Species: Human

Humans are kind and gentle. Their smiles are shiny instead of sharp. They're nails are painted instead of pointy. They are hard workers, they take care of others, and can live a normal life in this society.

They are normal. They are the epitome of perfectly normal.

To get by in life, to have a family, to be successful, you need to submit to the norm. You need to suppress your divergence. You need to play the part.

My body is a charade. I am perceived as human. When people smile and nod at me, they see me as human. When they shake my hand, when they come to me with their problems, when I work night and day, when they all watch me and watch me and watch me and never take their eyes off of me... They see me as human.

But that is a lie. A bright blazing lie that only I know. It was a lie when I filled out my resume, it was a lie when I forged the documents, it breathes and thrives as a lie.

That lie is my dream.

To one day finally fit the norm.

To be human.

But until then, my heart will forever beat with the blood of... a vampire.