Chapter Twenty-Five – Turning
"Mai, are you alright?" Zero asked as she raised a hand to her mouth and closed her eyes with a pinch of her nose. Her expression was one of pain as she moaned in response to the question and shook her head. Zero stepped closer and sat beside her on the edge of the bed, taking her hand and lowering it from her mouth as he leaned in for a closer look.
"It's my teeth…They really hurt…" She complained, tears welling in her eyes at the sensation. Her gums were so tender that any movement sent a wave of heat through them. Even the bone of the teeth seemed to ache, like the nerves were being stretched. She felt Zero's hand stroke her cheek, his thumbs wiping away the few tears that fell.
"Your fangs are growing…" He replied, his tone slightly troubled, though he was trying to hide his worry from her. It won't be long now…There isn't much of a gap between the fangs growing and the blood lust…It's one of the final stages of the transformation…Zero recalled, though he didn't recall his fangs being quite so painful when they broke through.
"I feel sick…" Mai complained as she doubled over, Zero wasting no time in sweeping her small form into his arms and running through to the bathroom. He set Mai down with her back against the bath, the small girl giving him a grateful look as she leaned her head back and took deep breaths. Zero gave her an almost apologetic look as he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"You probably will throw up…At first all your body wants is blood, so it'll get rid of whatever's in your stomach to make room for it…It'll be a while before you'll be able to stomach solid…human food." Zero warned, Mai moaning in response as she dragged herself to the toilet and leaned over. The silver haired boy was unsure what he should do. He listened as she choked and spluttered, kneeling beside her and rubbing her back as he reached out to hold her short bangs back, seeing her eyes tightly closed.
"Thanks…" Mai said weakly a few minutes later, accepting his help as he all but lifted her to her feet so that she could use the sink. She considered herself lucky that she'd missed her soft pink pyjamas, but she still felt filthy, and the putrid smell in the air didn't help matters. As if reading her mind Zero reached around the door and turned on the extractor fan.
"I'll bring you some fresh clothes." Zero volunteered as Mai brushed her teeth, reaching back to flush the toilet and avoiding looking into the bowl as she did so. She hummed her thanks as she continued to work the brush, wincing with each stroke on her sensitive teeth and gums. She spat blood and foam into the sink with a sigh before rinsing her mouth out, gargling mouthwash to get rid of the acidic taste in her throat.
Stepping back, Mai pulled her lips back, somewhere between a smile and a snarl, her hazel eyes falling to the two sharp fangs that almost touched her lower lip when her teeth were together. She raised a finger to touch one, sending a shock of pain through it and pricking her finger. She pulled back sharply, opening her mouth to get a better look.
"Don't worry, they'll retract once they settle." Zero said softly from the open door, Mai blushing slightly since she'd been caught checking herself out. She took the towel without responding before shutting the door and starting the shower. Aside from the fangs I can't believe how…normal everything is…I don't feel any different than I do when I'm usually sick. Clammy, dirty, hot, disgusting, a little weak, a little tired…Her thoughts trailed off as she climbed out of the shower and caught her eyes in the mirror. Her chest sank as she hurried over and wiped the condensation away, leaning in close to get a better look. Was it my imagination? She wondered as she pulled back. For a moment I could have sworn they were…red…
"Are you feeling better?" Ichijou asked from the bed, where he was sprawled out on his stomach reading a volume of manga, one of the numerous copies that had appeared in John's new room over the past few days. It kept Ichijou busy if nothing else, which allowed John some time to think. The topless boy walked in from the bathroom, a small white towel around his shoulders.
"Much better." John replied, though his stomach was still turning a little. By the amount that had come out of him in the past two hours John wasn't sure there could be anything left to throw up. His ribs ached slightly from the hurling, each breath accompanied by a dull throb. He'd tried not breathing at all, and it had worked for a while, but he was used to the sensation of breathing in and out so he'd started again.
"And do you feel any…different?" Ichijou asked, hiding his curiosity and worry behind his book, though he wasn't reading. He was waiting for John's answer as he listened to his light steps crossing the room to the vanity table. Ichijou looked over his novel to see John leaning over, his face an inch from the mirror as he ran a hand through is damp golden locks.
"Not especially..." He replied eventually, staring idly at his reflection as he ran his hand through is hair again. He knew it was no use. He'd never been able to tame his curls. He sighed as he pulled back, pausing a moment as he caught sight of his eyes. Is it my imagination or…He trailed off as he leaned closer, staring intently at his deep sea eyes, turning his head this way and that to catch the different angles.
"What is it?" Ichijou asked, John looking in the mirror to see the boy had risen from the bed, his book left shut on the white duvet. John didn't respond as Ichijou walked over, taking a final look at his eyes as the blonde boy approached to stand at his side. He was also looking in the mirror, and then at John, and back again. "Well?" He prompted.
"Nothing I guess." John replied, his expression slightly puzzled as he pulled back. He could have sworn he'd seen it, just for an instant, but he wasn't sure. Turning his head, he was surprised to find Ichijou's face barely an inch from his. "Really, it's nothing. I just thought…It's nothing." John replied quickly, though Ichijou seemed unconvinced as he watched John sigh and run his hand through his golden locks again.
"If it's nothing then you won't mind telling me." Ichijou prompted innocently, his tone telling John that he wasn't about to let the matter rest. John sighed as he returned to the bed and sat on the end looking sheepish.
"You'll laugh, but…for a moment I thought my eyes were…red." John stated, gasping and pulling back in surprise as he found Ichijou kneeling between his legs in an instant, their faces almost touching. John leaned back on his arms and looked down at Ichijou, who tilted his head apologetically as he gently pulled John back into a sitting position, moving his hands from his shoulders to his cheeks.
"Sorry, I just wanted a closer look." Ichijou apologised as he cradled John's head in his hands and leaned in closer, feeling John's skin heat up at their closeness. He smiled gently as he leaned in, ignoring the red in John's cheeks as he focused on his eyes. John blinked, uncomfortable under Ichijou's intense gaze, his cheeks burning as the vampire stared at him transfixed. He could almost see his pupils dilating as they focused, likening it to the lens of a camera as it zooms in.
"Do you see anything?" John asked after a few moments, startled as Ichijou's eyes shifted from blue to purple, then to red. The exorcist stopped breathing as Ichijou seemed to lean closer, their foreheads almost touching. As the vampire drew back it was like being released from a spell, the intensity disappearing in an instant as Ichijou got to his feet.
"You were right." The blonde replied as his own eyes returned to their usual crystal blue. At first John was puzzled by what he meant, but then he remembered what he'd said. "Your eyes were red…The blood lust will start soon." Ichijou warned, unsure how the Christian would handle it. Blood lust was bad at any time, but being so close to so many humans would be difficult. Despite that they couldn't leave the grounds. There was nowhere else nearby that they could go to. At least here we can keep damage to a minimum.
What is it? This…feeling? Mai wondered, shivering somewhere between lust and horror as she sat up on the bed. Zero was still sitting dutifully beside her, his gun lying on the bedside table. Mai took in a deep breath, her whole body quivering with a deep, undeniable need, her fangs lengthening as something reached her nose. Her mouth watered at the scent, so close and yet so far away. It seemed to be coming from everywhere, and as she focused she realised there were many different types. Some were sweet, some were rich, some were fruity, and some were more savoury.
"Mai?" Zero said questioningly as he slowly got to his feet, leaning over the bed to look at her face. Her expression was horribly contorted, her eyes glowing a deep red as a trickle of drool ran down her chin from the corner of her mouth. It seemed she'd forgotten how to speak as her eyes shifted to him as the closest food source, the silver haired vampire drawing back slightly as the girl got to her knees and faced him.
"Zero?" She sighed, her voice shaking and cracking. The older vampire took her pale hand as her arm stretched out to him, her yellow silk pyjama sleeve slipping up her arm as she gripped his hand and pulled him closer. "I feel…I feel so…so…" She trailed off, tears falling down her cheeks as she shuffled closer to him. Zero gritted his teeth as he realised what she wanted. Her first feed would have been best coming from a human, but once she started it was unlikely she would stop, and a human would never be able to push her away.
"It's okay, just lean in closer." He soothed as he leaned forward, Mai pulling back slightly as the tall boy climbed onto the bed, pulling his legs up so that he could sit beside her. As he settled back, leaning on one arm with his legs stretched out in front, Mai hesitated. Part of her realised what her body craved, what she was about to do. "Mai…It's okay, just come here. Everything will be fine." Zero calmed, reaching one long arm around her waist to caress her back through the silk of her pyjamas, easing her a little closer. His violet eyes brightened to crimson as he stared at her lustfully, letting his own vampiric nature come out to lure hers to the fore.
As his scent strengthened Mai felt her body heat up. Her mouth opened wider as the fangs brushed her soft lips. A sharp prick sent a small trickle of her own blood running down her chin. Zero hissed, tugging her closer as he caught the scent of her blood, his tongue darting out to slide up her chin and across her bottom lip. Mai moaned, her eyes closing as his tongue darted across her sensitive, growling and pulling him closer as he made to pull back. Their lips crashed together in a lust filled kiss. Zero moaned into her mouth as she pulled herself onto his lap and straddled his hips. His arms reached round to hold her as she loomed on her knees above him, Zero's head tilting back as she dominated him.
Leaning forward Zero broke the heated kiss. Mai glared at him as he turned his head to the side, his tongue darting out to trace a trail down her neck, toying with the sensitive skin before running his fangs along the unbroken surface. Mai quivered against him, sending a shock of pleasure through him as she pressed her heated core against his tight trousers. He tangled a hand in her hair, pulling her closer to his own neck, feeling her heated breath panting on his covered shoulder. As she breathed in she could smell the hot blood rushing through his veins. His blood smelled more savoury than sweet.
"Bite me." He growled seductively, his hot breath ghosting across her ear as he pulled her hips against his, the girl writhing against him as the pleasure shot through her small body. At his words she opened her mouth, her fangs resting on the unbroken surface of his throat, quivering in anticipation. She felt Zero shiver beneath her, a sigh sounding in her ear as she began to close her jaws. The surface broke as her fangs effortlessly slipped into his neck. She moaned against him as the hot liquid filled her mouth, her body demanding more as she gulped it down like water. She was vaguely aware of Zero moaning in her ear as he allowed himself to fall back, pulling Mai with him as his head hit the pillow.
He writhed beneath her, his head falling to the side as his eyes closed in ecstasy. His body rose up against hers as he pulled her closer, one hand cradling the back of her head while the other rested on one of her hips. Mai was unaware of his helpless state as she drank, her blood lust taking over completely as she sucked his throat, so parched she could almost imagine she'd just escaped a desert.
"Mai…That's enough." Zero sighed helplessly as he pulled his arms back to push her away, his red eyes widening as one of his wrists was seized in a deadly grip and pinned to the pillow beside his head. "Mai! Stop!" Zero objected weakly as he tried to throw her off, his body feeling heavy as he pushed himself up and used his free arm to push. Mai's head pulled back with a snarl, the blood dripping from her contorted mouth as she glared at him with flaming orbs. "Mai!" Zero cried as she snatched his other wrist and pinned it to the other side of the pillow, the silver haired boy struggling helplessly. His crimson orbs faded to violet as she returned to the wound on his throat, sapping his strength. I can't…
