Unapologetic Apathy

In a few months, the next blood moon came and we were prepared. Ray and Kelsie and Sam weren't helping out this time, but we got the stuff we needed by ourselves. I helped Gerard set up the symbol again, setting out the glasses of blood, and the half empty mason of grey, sluggish sire blood. And I couldn't help but notice how tired he looked, and how relieved and anxious he was.

His is hair was messy because when he woke up that night, he didn't bother brushing it. He woke up early and I came over, and we did last minute preparations for the moon. He was paler than usual, and I could see blue veins snaking under his skin where it was thinner. He looked hungry and tired, but he had a faint smile to his face that told me everything would be okay.

The moon was rising , and I closed the windows and took away all clocks and watches. Then, I observed Gerard as he shouted the incantations. Then, I watched as he stepped inside the symbol and started sshaking and twitching. He grunted and fell to his knees shaking, and at first I thought the ritual had failed again. Maybe we got a variable wrong? I darted towards him, but he few up a hand to tell me to stop. I froze and stared at him.

He heaved and spewed a short smochackfull of blood, and it stained the carpet. I bit my lip and frowned, but Gerard just made a desperate, sore laugh.

"Gerard!" I gasped at the sight of him, gasping and struggling in the starlike shape on the ground. Blood stained his suit jacket.

"I can't wait......to see...the sun," he gasped, staring intently at the window with the blinds shut firmly. "I want to.....taste real food....again.....and feel a heartbeat." He choked on some words in Hungarian again and twitched so I count see his face. His hair covered his eyes, and fell I front of his face. I reached a comforting hand out to touch his back, but he jerked away.

"I didn't think.....it would hurt," he mumbled, "so much."

"shhhhh, it's okay." But it didn't seem like it was okay now. It seemed like it was taking longer than Sam did. And it looked like it hurt more. Suddenly, he let out a harsh, rattled gasp, and his hands clawed at his eyes and teeth. Through his hands, I could see his teeth bloody and black, and his fangs slowly pushing back in. His eyes went from a glassy hazel, to suddenly bright and Amber-like. his complexion, though still pale, flushed a fevered shade of red.

I stood in shock as I watched the man I love transform into....a living creature. I felt a pang of excitement in my stomach. He can go outside! We can go on dates! He can live life as normal! No more blood. He then fell and passed out. I stepped closer to look at him.

Tired---exhausted, more like, and flushed pink. He looked sick. I hesitantly reached my hand over the stark bold line on the floor, and I pulled back his lips gently. No fangs, but there was a lot of blood. A few moments after I dropped my hand, his eyes fluttered open, and they were the most human I've ever seen. He blinked a few times, then he focused on me. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse.

"It's dark," he murmured. I laughed. He managed a weak smile.

"Coarse it is, you fucking bat," I joked. A look of pure relief and joy showed on his tired, sick face.

"I'm not a bat anymore," he mumbled and closed his eyes. I thought he was asleep, but he was still saying things, barely audible. I let my hand drift to his neck and rub at the pulse point, happy to find a hard, steady beat. He smiled at my touch. "I feel so alive. But fuck, I'm tired, holy shit. And hungry, too. That's weird. I'd forgotten what real hunger is. Do you have any food?"

"I brought a sandwich. Not much or anything fancy. But it's ham and cheddar. You'd like it," I said as I lunged for my bag. He took the sand which from me and took off the sedan wrap. He bit into it and moaned.

"This is the best fucking thing I've ever tasted in two centuries," he moaned. I smirked.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," I told him as I helped him up and halfway carried him to the bedroom.


When he woke up, after two full days of sleeping, it was nine in the morning. He widened his eyes and opened a window, and he squinted into the light. From where I sat, reading one of his favourite books in a patch of sunlight, I smiled fondly at him. Sunlight illuminated his healthy features. There were no longer red bags around his eyes or shadows under his cheekbones. The gold light reflected off his hair and kissed his skin. He looked like a kid on Christmas, staring into his yard with such excitement and glee that he couldn't contain it.

"Frankie, let's go outside! Come on! Let's go!" He exclaimed, dragging me by my hand and pulling me with force to the door. He gave me a quick peck on the lips and we went outside in the morning light. He fell on his back in the grass and just stared at the sun with a never fading smile on his face.

And we went on dates.

And he moved in with me.

And he he helped me start my own vampire-doctor agency, where we found vampires who wanted to turn back and helped them do that. Or we found vampires and made them promise to not hurt anybody. We weren't the most popular, but I think Gerard and I made a difference.

Oh, and I call myself Frank Way, now, even if it's not official. We can't get licensed because Gerard if officially dead still, even if he's breathing and pumping blood.

The gang accepts us now, and even sees our point of view.

Sam and his parents are okay, and Harley has even stopped by for Thanksgiving. Sam was okay with it, even if he was still kind of angry with her. They are a family now.

And everything was okay.

Notes