Serum

-Nineteen-

The next few days had me back on my feet again, and with practice the old vampiric grace and ease began to come back. I decided during that time, especially after smelling my strong sweaty odor, that I was definitely due a return visit home to snitch the rest of my belongings from my mother. Conner continued to hunt for both of us until he deemed me healed enough to be worthy of hunting again. Finally, we went on a short hunt, and fully sated, started the long walk towards my old home. It felt good to be outside again, the stars winking at me and the chill air sucking the warmth from my lungs. Unlike a human, the cold didn’t bother me as much, I could feel the difference, but it just wasn’t uncomfortable. However, I decided it might look weird if I was caught outside without a coat in the snow. I resolved to bring back a few of my old jackets as well.

“So when does a vampire need to worry about temperature changes?” I asked Conner casually as we walked.

“Well, extremes can catch a vampire unprepared. It basically makes your body burn more energy, making you need to hunt more, and if you’re really not paying attention even drive you mad. Generally, dress warmly, even if you don’t feel cold. First of all, it keeps you from attracting a bunch of unwanted attention, and secondly it keeps your body from using up excess energy. I’m not saying you need to bundle up at thirty-two degrees, but put on a jacket and warm clothing underneath and you’ll be fine. If necessary, a vampire can easily survive really extreme weather without dressing for it, but again there’s the danger of being driven mad by your need.” Conner explained “This applies to both extremes. Extremely high temperatures can also have negative effects. Your body will be trying to protect itself from the sun, something it’s not really suited for in the first place, and trying to keep hydrated and cool. As you’ve probably learned, vampires do sweat, we just don’t drink water, so it’s a bit harder for us to keep hydrated. The fact that we don’t drink water also gives our sweat it’s peculiar aroma, and also makes it harder for us to regulate during extremes in high temperatures.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.” I replied wryly. “I must smell like a virtual outhouse to you right now. It’s one reason why I decided to go ahead and get my other things from the house. It’s time for me to have a bath.” I made a face.

“I don’t think you stink. You have a different sort of smell. You don’t really smell like any vampire I’ve ever known, but then again, you’re not quite like any vampire I’ve ever known either.” Conner took a sniff in my direction. “You kinda remind me of sunshine on fabrics, a slight coppery odor overlaying it. It’s not really bad, but it’s definitely strong right now.” Conner laughed. I smacked at him.

“You’re just making me feel worse.” I grumped, but had to agree that my sweat now smelled nothing like a human’s sweat does. Compared to a human’s “dirty body” type smell, the coppery blood odor gave a unique tang to my smell, something I wasn’t quite used to yet.

“So what do I smell like to you?” Conner asked. “Vampires sort of become immune to their own smell unless it becomes overpowering or is concentrated. It helps us sort out other smells from our own.” I gingerly sniffed in his direction.

“Oh, hold still or I won’t be able to smell you at all.” I grumbled, then leaned in towards him. His scent ran over me, cool as liquid.

“Yours is sort of a cool smell, with a sharp edge to it. It’s very nice, if you ask me.” I replied thoughtfully. “Sort of like ice on a winter’s day, mixed in with a plant smell I can’t identify, like maybe mint or lemon grass, and again that copper odor. I think that’s sort of a norm for all vampires though, like a by-product from our food-source or something. But your smell changes a lot too. With your moods or emotions. Sometimes it’s sweeter, sometimes it’s more, I don’t know, smoother, like the sharpness has gone out of it. It’s like the wind, always bringing some new smell, but always familiar.” I blushed. Conner was looking at me thoughtfully.

“I’m sorry; sometimes I just have like a word vomit outburst or something.” I said with embarrassment.

“No, don’t be embarrassed, I’m glad to see that that part didn’t change in you at least.” Conner replied. I ducked my head and turned around, beginning to walk down the sidewalk again.

By the time we reached my old home Conner had talked me out of my embarrassment, but I was still nervous about facing my mother again.

“Well why don’t you slip in through the window?” Conner asked, “Then you won’t have to face her unless she catches you.” He offered me a sly grin. I made a face at him, but did jiggle the window open from the outside. With vampiric ease, I slid inside the room then propped open the closet door and began stuffing winter clothing and little things I might want inside one of my old school shoulder bags. A noise at the window had me jumping and turning.

“Thought you might want this.” Conner told me as a box slid through.

“Thanks.” I replied and snuck towards the bathroom. I quickly grabbed my toiletries, trying to be as quiet about it as possible. But as I turned to grab my brush, I knocked a bottle off the sink. I moved to catch it, but missed when my previously injured rib muscles twinged. I hissed as the plastic bounded over the floor in typical echo-through-the-house fashion, and rolled to a stop at the tub. I replaced it swiftly and slipped out the bathroom door.  Maybe if I got lucky, I could still make it to my window in time before..

“I thought it might be you.” My mother was standing by the front door in a housecoat and slippers, staring down the hall. Her hand clutched the housecoat closed at her neck tightly, the other arm was wrapped around her middle. The pose made her look fearful, like she was protecting herself. I grimaced internally and turned to face her fully. I noticed her face looked wan and slightly relieved.

“Hi mom.” I spoke gently. “I just came by to get some stuff, I’m leaving right now, so don’t worry.” I thought better of sliding out my window again and moved towards the door, knowing how odd it would be to her if I were to disappear into my room and not return. My mother made a small sound like she was about to speak, and a mixture of emotions ran across her face.

“…How….How are you?” She mumbled quietly.

“I’m doing much better,” I answered, “I’m adjusting quite well. I’m staying with a friend for now, paying for my rent by helping fix up the place.”

“That’s good, you look like you’re doing well.” Mother murmured, then paused. “You know…” She took a deep breath. “You really don’t have to leave.” She said it in a rush, then looked at me as if pleading with me to understand.

“It’s ok mom, really.” She waved a hand at my reply, then ducked her head.

“Just come back to visit then, ok? And if you ever need anything, I’m here.” She hugged herself again, eyes downcast.  I could tell she was trying to make amends.  Our relationship had always been a little turbulent, but maybe not knowing what was going on with me was getting to her.

“I’m fine really,” I told her, then stepped towards her swiftly and gave her a hug. She looked at me doubtfully.  “Really.” I emphasized, and smiled briefly. For a brief moment she looked at my face as if she thought something was very strange about my mouth, but I slipped out of the door before she could say anything more to me.