Chapter Four- Confirmation

Zane's PDA dinged as he left his last class. He pulled it out to see a message from Syrus, asking to see him at Zane's favorite spot after dark. While the meeting place wasn't a surprise, the time was. After dark? Why…? Then a thought occurred to him and he smiled a little. Alexis mentioned that I can fly and Sy wants to see them. Well, I do want to use them and this meeting would be an excellent time to do so. I'll fly to my favorite spot. He sent Syrus a reply that he would be there. He then sought out Crowler to ask about their wings. He found the doctor in his office, apparently grading papers which he put aside and smiled, fang tips exposed. "Zane."

"Doctor, Sy wants to see me tonight and I thought about flying over. I wonder how to do that."

"Ah, a good question. It's very simple for us. Just jump into the sky and start flapping."

"That is simple. Doctor, Chancellor Sheppard said he knew you were a vampire. He said he saw you flying and confronted you."

"He did and I assured him I wasn't evil or dangerous. Once I explained the differences between light and dark and unfurled my wings as proof, he obviously allowed me to stay and drink from the students."

"He has given me the same permission. I realized that I forgot to ask about the enhanced senses."

Crowler's face softened in sympathy. "You were hearing heartbeats last night. That one has to be controlled by relaxing. Once that is done, you can turn it on or off as you please. We can see night as if it was day and we can smell blood up to a mile away if the owner is bleeding, that is.

"I heard Alexis' heart beating a little bit harder this morning. It tells me you're an everyday drinker."

"It would seem so. Well, I have some homework to do before seeing my brother. Thank you for answering my questions."

"You're quite welcome."

Zane breezed through his homework and make up work, forced down some dinner, and then headed back to his room and taking off his jacket, revealing the shirt underneath. He knew he was going to tear the back but there was no helping it. He slowly unfurled his wings and heard some cloth tear as the wings ripped through it and settled behind his shoulder blades. They felt so light, it was almost as if they weren't there. He strolled to his window, opened it, jumped into the tree, went to the top, and then jumped skyward, flapping his wings. The motion sent him up into the mostly cloudy sky and he looked down as he angled his wings so he was hovering, the wings' edges moving to keep him airborne.

Incredible, he thought as he gazed down at Blue campus and then the island itself. Everything seemed so small from his height and the view was so amazing that a big smiled came to his face. He laughed as he began to play with his wings as he swooped, rose, dived, zigged, and zagged. Flying was simply incredible and it made being a vampire worth it. He looked down as he came to the lighthouse pier and saw Syrus there, looking in the direction Zane would came from if he had been walking. Zane angled his wings and swooped toward the pier.

Syrus shifted on his feet and kept glancing back to see if Zane was coming. He was anxious to have Zane confirm everything Alexis had said, reveal what he hadn't said, and to see his wings. He knew from Alexis that they would be different from Camula's, but how different?

A sound like feathers came from overhead and then he jumped back in surprise as Zane landed beside him. "Zane!" he exclaimed. "You scared me!"

"Sorry, Sy. I guess I should have called out before landing."

Syrus' eyes drifted behind Zane and gasped in awe at the feathery white wings. "Oh, wow. Your wings are beautiful, like angel wings."

"I imagine one would mistake me for an angel if it weren't for these." Zane exposed his fangs.

Syrus thought of everything Alexis said, but instead he asked, "What's it like being a vampire?"

"It's…not that bad if you put the need for blood aside. The faster speed, the increased strength, and the enhanced senses."

"Senses?"

"I can hear heartbeats when I choose to, I have night vision, and if someone's bleeding I can smell their blood at least a mile away."

"That's interesting and I'm happy that you don't hate it."

"I find it difficult to hate it as these abilities and powers are pretty cool."

"Uh, Zane? Could I…feel your wings?"

Zane chuckled slightly. "Of course." He turned and stretched one out to his brother. He felt Syrus' hand run up and down the edge and then his fingers feeling the inside.

"So soft and smooth, almost like silk," Syrus murmured. "Are they heavy?"

"Not at all. They're so light, it's as if they're not there. Trust me, though. I know they're there."

"Zane, about the blood. How often do you think you need to drink?"

"I've only done it once this morning and haven't felt any need to drink again. I might be a once a day drinker but I worry about having a headache every morning."

"What if you drank twice a day? One in the morning and one at night?"

Zane stared at him. Why didn't I consider that? "Sy, that's a great idea. I only need a little each time and a nighttime drink may offset the headache and let me drink a little later in the morning, preferably after breakfast."

"It could and…I volunteer to help test that."

"Sy…" Zane didn't know what to say. His brother had been so accepting of his change and now he was offering his blood to test an idea he had suggested.

Syrus tilted his head to give a clear shot at his neck. "Come on, bro. I know it'll hurt but you can heal it. Alexis said most of your powers are healing ones."

"She's right and it will hurt even though I'm gentle." Zane grew out his fangs before leaning down and piercing Syrus' neck. Again, there was a gasp and then he drank. He pulled away after a few minutes and set about healing the mark. "Now, we wait. Do you feel all right, Sy?"

"Yeah. I thought I'd feel weak or sleepy, but I don't."

"Alexis felt the same way and that may be why I can remove memory of my attacks."

"That would make sense. Well, I should head back to Slifer. I'm glad I got to see your wings."

"I'm happy you did too. In fact, take a picture or two so you can show the others who saw what Camula did to me."

Syrus pulled out his PDA, opened the camera, and snapped a couple of shots before he nodded and started for Slifer. He glanced back to see Zane jump up and flap his wings to fly back to his dorm.

Amazing, just amazing, Syrus thought in awe as he walked. His wings are very different and I can't wait to show Jaden and Chumley the pictures. Of course, I'll show Bastion, Chazz, and Alexis too. Oh and Professor Banner and Doctor Crowler, too. Syrus drifted a hand to where Zane bit him and felt the smooth skin. I hope drinking twice a day helps him avoid those headaches he worries of getting. They must be real bad if Zane's trying to avoid them.