Of course it’s Frank’s house! Because my life can’t just be easy. Nope. Has to have some psychopath human butting in every few days. He clearly wasn’t expecting this encounter any more than I was. His jaw hangs open for a moment before he shuts it. Then he points to Alicia and I.

“You two know each other?”

“Yeah, sorta,” Alicia says it like she’s ashamed of that fact. Whatever.

“Long story. You gonna let us in or what?” this guy’s not very bright. I mean, I already knew that, but still…

“Oh! Yeah!” he looks directly at me, “You may…uh….enter. Or whatever.”

I slap my forehead and push past him, “I just meant it’s too dangerous to stand on your doorstep all night. Don’t believe all the stupid myths.”

“Yeah, seriously,” Alicia says, “He just waltzed into my house like he owned the place.”

I needed a shower and you weren’t listening to me!” I defend myself, “What was I supposed to do?”

She doesn’t respond, just huffs and rolls her eyes. My brain decides now is a good time to remind me that I never liked my brother’s girlfriend. She’s a stuck-up bitch. Maybe I should have let Mikey kill her…No, that’s a bad thought. Can’t let those thoughts in or I’ll lose myself. I don’t want to lose myself.

Frank sniffs the air, “Uh, speaking of showers, when was the last time you had one? You smell. Bad.”

Well that was very blunt of him. And a bit embarrassing…I mean, it’s not my fault I live in an alleyway…Circumstances made it that way. I already went through this thought process, I’m pretty sure. And now I’ve taken too long to answer. And Frank is looking at me weird. Well, I am a freak. I drink blood for crying out loud! Time to answer though. When was the last time I showered? I scratch my chin. There’s some pretty long stubble there…yikes.

“Uh, remember when I saved you from that group of beasts?” I ask.

He nods, “Yeah…”

“Yeah…After that I went to Alicia’s and showered. That would be the last time.”

Now he looks like I said something worse than he expected, “Seriously?! That was over a month ago! My bathroom is just down the hall. Use whatever you need and leave your clothes outside for washing. You can use my robe until they’re done.”

I can’t believe my ears. He’s offering for me to use his shower? This guy…He’s just too nice for his own good. Doesn’t he realize that I could snap at any second and he’d be dead? I mean, clearly not because I’m standing in his kitchen and he’s been bringing me cups of blood. Cups of blood! His blood, even. Psycho…

“Wait! How do you two know each other? What’s this about you saving Frank?” Alicia of course has to interrupt my thoughts.

“Frank is a magnet for vampire related trouble. You know he was stumbling around drunk in the middle of the night once? Yeah. And guess who keeps saving him? Cuz it’s not any of the other bloodsuckers out there.” I huff at her. She is so nosy!

“He’s pretty good at it. I’ve been giving him blood in return.” Frank shrugs as if it’s no big deal. Maybe he really is insane. I should probably get him to the nearest mental facility. They’d take care of him and make sure the only blood he gives is to the Red Cross.

“You wha! Frank! What if…” she leans in to his ear and whispers, “What if he kills you?!”

“Um, I can hear you, you know,” seriously, does no one understand the concept of vampire? “And that won’t happen. I’ve got control and I don’t drink from him directly. Anyhoo, shower time. Frank can fill in the rest.”

I leave them be and go in search of the bathroom. Like Frank said, it’s just down the hall. I strip down quickly and deposit my clothes outside the door. Whoever said hospitality is dead is an idiot. Wait, did someone say that? Or is my mind playing tricks on me? Oh well. Point is, this place is awesome. He has a walk in shower and a very large tub. I could so go for a soak if the idea of being surrounded by my grime wasn’t so appalling.

As it is, I get in the shower and let the hot water wash over me. It just feels so good. You never truly appreciate a shower until you’ve lived as a hobo. Huh. I have been living as a hobo. Never had to eat out of a garbage can, but after the whiskey incident I’m in no hurry to see what human food would do to me anyway. I can’t remember much, but I’m pretty sure diarrhea was hell. No thanks.

Once I’m clean enough I get out and grab one of his super fluffy towels to dry off with. It’s really soft. I almost get lost in the sensation, because it’s magnified on my new skin. Why didn’t I notice that before? Everything I touch feels so much…more? Is that the right word? Soft is softer, rough is rougher, that sort of thing. And this towel is the best thing ever.

I eventually realize that I’m cuddling a fucking towel and put it down. Frank’s robe is hanging on the wall, so I grab it and wrap it around myself. I’m sure it goes to the floor when Frank has it on, but on me it goes to my ankles. Short fucker. I then go to the sink and locate his razor and shaving cream. I hate my facial hair. It never grows in right.

I try to be careful, but end up nicking my cheek. When this happens, I get the first glimpse of what’s really sitting in my veins. A thick black liquid seeps between the severed skin. And it smells horrible. Like an animal that died and was left in the woods…And then got sprayed by a skunk. Yeah. That bad. I get a piece of toilet paper and try to stop the bleeding. If Frank saw this he’d probably never talk to me again.

Not a bad idea then. But I don’t want to go around scarring humans. Plus, I have no way of knowing if this is some secret that has to be kept. So I stop the bleeding and finish shaving. When I’m satisfied with the result, I comb (because he doesn’t have a brush) my hair. Now it’s time to go out and face whatever questions and/or lecture that Alicia’s cooked up. Not really looking forward to that.

One step out of the bathroom has me quickening my pace. I smell blood. Frankie’s blood. What if he’s hurt? It’s very possible. Did I just call him Frankie? Why, yes, I did. No time to think about that! Frankie…Is sitting at the table with a travel mug. I know what’s in it. God, he’s stupid.

“What are you doing?” I hiss, “I thought you were hurt!

He holds up his wrist, “Well, technically…”

“Give me that!” I snap and grab his wrist, licking the gash closed, “Don’t do that without warning. I do have instincts, and they’re really hard to fight when you’re waving your blood all over the place.”

He shrugs, “It’s been a few days since you drank. I would have brought this soon anyway. Just drink it and be grateful, okay?”

I let out a huff of air and grab the mug, chugging the contents down quickly. Why should I be grateful? He practically forces this stuff on me! I don’t ask for it.

“I had to guard this stuff, you know. Alicia was trying to put silver powder and garlic in it.”

I laugh humorlessly, “She would. Shoulda let her add the garlic. Her face when I drank it and lived would have been priceless.”

“So that’s a myth too?”

“Mmhmm. That silver powder, though? Really would have smarted. Bad idea. An injured vamp is something you do not want to be around.”

He raises an eyebrow, “Oh?”

I nod, “I’ve seen some pretty fucked up stuff since coming out of my alley. Do yourself a favor and stay inside at night. So where did the witch go anyway?”

He somehow catches the fact that I mean Alicia, “Asleep in the guest room. I was barely able to convince her to. She doesn’t trust you at all.”

I shrug, “I don’t blame her. But she doesn’t have to worry. I’ll be out as soon as I have my clothes.”

His heart picks up, signaling his alarm at that, “What? No! You have to stay.”

“And why’s that?” his heart is stuttering now. That’s not fear, but I don’t know what it is.

“Because…I can’t let you go back to that filthy alley. You can stay here and we can get you some new clothes and…”

I hold up my hand to stop him, “Bad idea. Did I not just explain my instincts? Too much time around you could make me snap. Especially with drinking your blood all the time.”

“I trust you,” he says, and there’s not an ounce of fear in his eyes. It leaves me speechless. I even open my mouth, but nothing comes out, “So that’s settled. You’re staying. But I wouldn’t sleep with Alicia in the house…”

“Wasn’t planning on it…” How did he turn that around so easily?

Notes

yeah. alicia is a bit...yeah i don't like her in this story.