Author's Rant: Wow, thanks so much my loves! Enjoy!

Discoveries

Mother's arms were as warm as these sheets, the kind of heat that never failed to let me know I was safe. It's how I woke up, hopelessly lost beneath the thick blankets, the sheltered embrace of my wings and wrapped in my old skin. I heard it tearing as I opened my eyes, stretching my talons and claws forward. The roar from my lips was a morning routine I couldn't help, echoing through my room.

My fleshy cocoon kept me clean, and healed whatever wounds I had. Too bad I can't say it does the same for my clothes. Brushing away the dry skin, I slipped from under the covers and glanced around the room. The curtains were drawn close. Only a sliver of sunshine shun through. Atem must've came back in here to shield me from the sun.

He needn't have bothered. Another helpful ability of my cocoon was keeping the sun away when I awakened. Now that I was freed, I knew hot to protect myself from the sunlight. I shrugged on my tunic, forcing my wings through the back opening and left my room to search for the male that'd been here for me. It still felt as though I'm stuck in an illusion and any second my mother would come for me.

All the windows in the house had their curtains closed. I wonder if that's more for Atem's benefit or my own. "Atem?" I called out as I walked down the stairs. My wing claw tapped the chandelier above my head and I quickly fastened them around my shoulders. The last thing I wanted was to break my savior's treasures.

I walked into the parlor room. The wide windows and glass doors were covered as well. The kitchen light turned on. I breathed an easy sigh when I saw Atem sitting on the stool, reading from a paper. "Hello." I moved closed and realized he wasn't in his real form. He'd changed to that human persona, hair brushed off his face and sleek as lantern oil. He wore a suit of dark black, made of a strange texture and a red ribbon around his neck. "You're human now."

"No, and I never will be. Don't ever call me that again." Atem answered, sipping from a cup of something steaming. He managed to change the subject before I could question it further. "I have breakfast ready for you. Sit, we'll discuss your lessons while you eat." He folded his paper and stood to walk deeper into the kitchen.

I sat in the stool he used, wiggling over the warmth left behind. Looking at him in this form, he appeared shorter and not as thickly muscled. Where did he put his wings, tail and ears when in this form? It's a question I was dying to ask because we didn't go through magical changes as fairies or dark elves. As far as I knew we didn't.

"It isn't well that you tire so easily, lad," Atem said. "In this day and age, humans are more versatile in their attacks. Not even I'm capable of shaking a helicopter once it's in pursuit. You'll need to be more astute and agile."

Helicopter? Oh, I wonder if he means those mechanical birds with the whirling wings. Yes, I've seen those frequently flying in the city's at night with a stream of bright light coming from its nose. That aside, I couldn't stop grinning at his words. After so long of being alone and admiring his abilities, he was going to help me learn, teach me to be the best. If by some ray of hope I could absorb the tiniest bit of his skill, I know I would've been the envy of most Full Bloods back then. There were powerful gliders, many that have attempted to do as many dangerous acts as he, but none had the beauty in the air as Atem. I wanted to get started so badly that the prospect of hunger didn't bother me. I was tempted to request we skip the meal and go on with the gliding.

"You're rather scrawny for your age," Atem spoke up, placing a glass plate down in front of me, heaping with crispy pork strips and eggs. "Most males have a solid chest at this point. We need to build up your strength. Your diet was doing your body no justice and you'll need the protein to produce stronger gliding muscles. I expect no less from you once we've started your training."

I looked up at him in awe, then down at my meal. I. . . I didn't know what to say. My heart pounded furiously in my chest, so much so that I balled my talons together and pressed it hard to my chest for fear it'd rip free. One meal like this wasn't going to cure months of eating rubbish and vermin. Atem had to know this.

He is going to keep me.

I'm going to stay.

My eyes got watery and blurry and something cloaked in my throat, so stuffy I couldn't speak. I managed a brisk nod, pulled my plate to me and began to eat. I dare not ask in case I'm wrong, but there's no way to see any other way. My hand shook as I tried to bring the eggs to my mouth and I chewed quietly, no longer in a rush to get into gliding. This meal came with an everlasting promise. How could I not sit here and savor it?

This is a very beautiful house, the landscape just as fascinating. Tall brick walls encircled the property and I could easily see myself living here forever. Atem had food, an icebox full of it. He said he'd teach me how to better my gliding skills and he knew practically all there is about it. He's willing to treat me like an equal of his status. I sucked in a heavy breath and let it out as I watched him move to lean his elbow on the counter and continue reading from his paper.

"I'll leave you here until nightfall," Atem began to speak, and I stopped eating to listen, but he flicked his wrist for me to continued my meal while he spoke. "My work requires me to be gone for hours, but the next few days I'll take off to spend it on your lessons. The distance to and from here will be a decent enough warm up for you."

"Thank you." I whispered after I swallowed my food.

"It's nothing. My body's getting slower, flaccid even. I could use the work out as well. Teaching you will provide the necessary exercise. I'll make sure of it." Atem smirked at me and I felt my stomach flutter. That settled my fears and insecurities there. He was definitely keeping me here.

My stomach filled up quickly, and I struggled to eat every morsel given. I hoped me being so swelled with food wouldn't give me problems in the air. I can't afford to slow him down.

"How was your mother able to use magic? Not many humans learned Latin back then." Atem flipped to another page.

"I'm not sure," I answered honestly. "It's mystery to me too." Mother taught it to me when I was younger, when most children were outside playing.

I yawned again and stretched my arms. My body still felt odd, being full, but now I was sleepy too.

"Don't you have other clothes?"

I blushed, looking down at my tattered tunic and glanced away. Stains of all sorts blemished it from collar to rim. I think it was blue when I first wore it. Now, it had this dingy brown tint to it that made it seem I'd rolled in the mud with pigs. "I'm comfortable in it."

Atem shrugged, drinking from his cup again.

"Will you eat breakfast too?"

"I don't need to. My body sustains energy in this form."

"How?"

"Solar. Human skin can absorb the sun flare much easier than we can."

I nodded because it felt as though I should. I didn't understand what he explained to me; solar, human skin absorbing the sun's flare? Nothing but riddles.

Atem suddenly stood up, folding his paper and putting it aside. "Go back upstairs, get some rest. You'll need your strength for tonight." I nodded and slipped from my stool, going for the stairs. I paused at the base and looked over my shoulder, watching him gather his things. My fangs nibbled over my bottom lip as I contemplated asking him something. I decided it couldn't hurt anything and I so desperately wanted to understand.

"Why?"

Atem stopped at the front door and slowly looked up at me. For the longest, he said nothing, only staring hard into my eyes. The intensity was so strong I looked away. "I don't owe you an explanation for my actions," he calmly answered, a flash of red in his eyes. "Accept destiny as it's presented to you. Don't question fate. God knows I've done my best not to all these years."

"But how long? When did it all happen?"

"You'll learn soon enough, boy. Go rest," he ordered with a lingering glare.

His answer didn't make me happy, but I accepted his it all the same. Atem went out the door without another word. That small conversation left me feeling as if I'd glided around the world. I headed to my bedroom and collapsed on the bed, feeling twice as tired as I thought I was. Sleep was the only thing I wanted now. Answers, I could get later.

Several times excitement aroused me from sleep. I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting, rocking my talons above the carpet. Not once did I leave my room, not from fear, but respect of his home. I'm not sure where I am or am not allowed to venture in this house just yet. Sunset took longer than usual to get here, longer than those starving days hidden behind dumpsters and the shade of roof corners.

I heard a slam outside and ran to the window. It left a wide opening to the forestry, but a small glimpse to the front entrance as well. I spotted Atem getting out of a black thing that went away in a cloud of dust. His eyes immediately went straight to my window. He smiled and before my eyes, he suddenly doubled over, clutching at his sides, howling in pain. What's happening to him? He's being tortured! I forced the windows open and stepped onto the balcony, prepared to rush down and see what's wrong.

In my haste, I see my help isn't needed. His pained groans and deep growls came with the foul sound of skin tearing from his body and crackling bones stretching into wings. Feet rose and gained talons, his hair fanned forth and in his final stretch, a completed roar terrified the birds roosting in their nests. So he was transforming. I sighed relieved. I was so worried that something else was going on.

I grabbed onto the stony rail and jumped over the edge, landing in the yard. I hurried up to him. This is him. This tall male is the one I remember, fangs, pointy ears and deeply tanned skin. I prefer him this way.

"Ready, lad?" At my nod, he started walking towards the house. He hoped onto the wall, dug his claws into the brick and started climbing. "I usually take off from the second floor. This is going to be a bit challenging for you, so brace yourself." He spoke as I followed behind. He leapt over the edge and grabbed my wrist, slinging me over with ease. "Stretch your wings out to catch the air fast; otherwise you'll fall before you have the chance to take off. Clear?" I nodded to show I was listening to everything, but he shouldn't worry. I'm used to taking off from perches close to the ground because that Harlem neighborhood didn't have many tall skyscrapers. It's one skill I can say I'm pretty confident with.

He went on talking and I paid attention. "You were exhausted last night, but sleep should have rejuvenated you." I nodded again, nothing's wrong. "Good, we'll push you hard each night until you've built enough endurance to carry yourself further distances."

I slowed my steps following him toward the edge of the balcony. I caught his wrist, realized what I'd done and quickly let go. Atem looked at me strangely. I looked off. "I don't know how I can thank you enough for this." Sure, he hadn't outright said it, but with all this, it's solid as stone that I'd be staying here for good.

Atem snorted, looked thoughtful and as he turned to me, I couldn't look away from his searching eyes. "We'll how appreciative you are after I have you dragging the ground tonight," he said it gruffly, but I was far from caring. I'd expect that from a serious teacher and I'm eager to prove myself by working hard to show I can get better. More so, I'm excited to see him in the sky again. I'm going to be there with him, up close.

We leapt from the balcony ledge together and the slightly surprised expression on his face made me feel glad as he noticed I had no problem with a low level take off.

"Not bad lad," he praised and I was proud all over. "We'll glide as far as my business and back," he said as he rose up to match me in the air. Gazing around at my surroundings, I remembered this was the direction I'd come from last night. He hadn't corrected me, so I must be going the right way. "Once we arrive there's something I want to check out." His words bothered me a little.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Your parentage."

My lips thinned. "Why does it matter?" I asked and rose higher. He matched me easily and was graceful enough not to brush against me despite gliding so close.

"I'm curious. Your wing pattern isn't familiar to me." Atem smirked. "I have a hunch as to what clan your father is from, but I can't be entirely sure until I test your blood. You may be surprised, me as well."

I felt uncomfortable at that moment, very extremely uncomfortable. I didn't really know the name of my clan's mere existence was testimony to my parents forbidden relationship. He's the predator and she's the prey. My voice was almost too soft to hear over the rushing winds. "Probably not as surprising."

"We'll see." Atem's words were as low as mine and then he went quiet. I studied the landmarks passing beneath us and angled our travel in another direction. This was far as I remember. From here, I'll need him to lead. "You say you're barely a century, by your fiftieth year you should've found a mate. Why hadn't you or had you?"

I hated this question more than the others he's asked of me. I sighed and thought a while. "The Full Blood Females in my father's clan forbid me from rutting," I paused and waited for the predictable response.

"You were forbidden?" Atem asked and there was innocent confusion so I considered how to put it properly. I remember during the full moon when the spell of feminine heat and masculine musk filled the fields and skies like roaming spider webs carried by the breeze. The aroma of sex intoxicated me. "Why would they?"

"They didn't want added competition for their daughters. I was a threat." I gulped, nervous and afraid. Please don't abandon me for who I am, I prayed, scared. I needed him.

"Added competition?" I sighed long and hard. Atem wasn't going to let this go. My nervousness nearly got the better of me when a sharp wind pushed into my wing and I stumbled far more than I should have. I was embarrassed of myself on messing up a straight glide when it was the easiest skill to know. I look at him out of the corner of my eye and he's still watching me close with a frown. That soul-searching glare was intimidating and I was so scared of what he was thinking. Maybe—maybe the truth wouldn't hurt.

"I prefer males. I had no sort of interest in their daughters. It's one of the reasons the higher mothers called me Yugi; a trickster playing hurtful games." I never went against my name. I didn't learn of it's true meaning until I'd become attached to it. By then it didn't matter. Yugi is my name and I lived with it and it's cruel placement upon me, but I will never forget how the demonic glows and haunting glints of their fangs glistened in the moonlight whenever they saw me.

Not normal, out of touch with their ways, is what the elders claimed and they so easily blamed my human half for it.

Atem had a small, pleased smile on his face. "So competition was what they feared for their daughters. It's good they realize they're not perfect." His smile was conniving and fueled with a foreign bitterness, but I was glad my story made him happy for whatever reason. He didn't say anything else about it, he merely turned off a little and started guiding me toward the main city.

It was quiet as we journeyed on and I assume he needed time to think, so I didn't speak. I used my time to concentrate on learning the way. If I was going to be living with him as well as training, I'd likely take this route often on my own. At least, when he's comfortable allowing me out on my own. I focused on the landmarks I think he used and every time he turned, I looked around for what he was using to mark the path.

I memorized the latest landmark as he turned and the rough shove in the middle of my back and me tensing in shock and falling. When I managed to catch the air currents again, I looked up to see him laughing, and waved before he shot off. I grinned, turned sharply as I could and gave chase. He has no idea how much I like this game.

Incredible. Look at him, he's amazing and I was in such awe trying to follow and gain height as fast as him. I couldn't keep up. I felt languid and slow, but I did manage to match his speed. I watched as he sped between the metal cables of a bridge, sweeping through the gapes again and again, almost like he were a threaded needle through fabric. Diving in and out he went, in all the time it took for me to glide after him at normal speed.

Atem laughed at my shocked expression when he noticed it and that's when I realized I'd been staring at him foolishly. "Not going to give it a go, lad?" he taunted, but observing him do it, I didn't really think I could so soon. I had difficult doing sharp turns and sudden banks.

"Maybe, someday." I told him as he lowered to glide by me again. Looking at the thickly braided bridge cables, I looked at him, hopeful. "You think I can?"

"We'll work on it until you can." Atem turned to face the city lights lining the horizon. We were nearly there. "In the meanwhile, I want you to push yourself a bit more. Therefore. . ." His words faded to a whisper and when I glanced to my left my eyes widened. He wasn't there. Where'd he go? I couldn't have lost him that quickly. I looked around frantic, but the hard push on my back answered my question. "Catch me, boy!" Atem shouted and glided off.

The chase was on again, a fierce determination alive inside me, but it was short lived. I was getting closer to him and reached out in anticipation of grabbing him by his tail at least. I was smiling, nearly in reach, but a sudden blinding pain squeezed in my shoulders and ran down my back. Something's wrong. "Gah!" I lost attitude fast as my right wing began to quiver in pain. "Help me!" I called out, trying so hard to straighten my wing and carry myself to a rooftop safely.

"Arggghhh," I growled, gritting my fangs against the fiery agony. I crashed into the rooftop, catching on my hands and knees. The sting of impact didn't matter, not as much as the protesting pain in my wing. My back pains weren't anything I'd ever felt, so full of random spasms and I turned a little to reach it, but that made it worse. "Atem!"

"There, there, boy. I have you." Atem landed beside me quickly and I felt his warm hands grip my wing, rubbing over my hurting muscle. "Easy lad. Cramping like that, I had no idea you were this bad off."

"Is that why it hurts, ah," I grounded angrily. "Make it stop, make it stop!"

"Shh, here, here now," Atem soothingly said, voice like silk, and I grimaced with each tender squeeze and caress, knowing it had to be done. It hurt so much. He kept rubbing and pressing his claws in certain parts where they ached the most until the flare was no longer prevalent. I sighed when it reached that point, but Atem didn't let up on helping my wing muscle. Now he was using his other hand to move my wing up and down a little, forward and backward.

"Damn it," I hissed. "I thought I was doing well for my first lesson." I rolled my shoulder and leaned into his touch. It felt amazing, the way he moved along my wing frame. I pushed into it, probably enough to notice, but Atem didn't stop helping. I could never reach all of those muscles myself.

He continued rubbing, now caressing the surrounding muscles where my hurt wing was thinnest "It's dangerous to overdo it. Did you ever glide at all on your own?"

"Just short jumps between buildings and on the days you glided in the city." I answered him honestly. I avoided going out often to save up the energy to fly those two days, but apparently it wasn't enough exercise. I wish I would have had more practice.

"Stand up," Atem ordered sternly, helping me with a sharp yank. Then he clutched my wing joints more firmly, and I decided right then that my near death experience was well worth the price to pay for this moment. This is nice. Only my mother ever touched me this gently before and I found myself staying quiet so he could focus more on me. "Listen, my company's not far off from here. We'll stop there, let you rest up a bit. I'll have a look at your genetics, and we'll go back."

"Alright," I murmured, a little angry with myself for ruining our fun.

"How do you feel?"

I reached over my shoulder and touch my wing, "Better, I think."

"Push your wings back and lift them up as high as you can," Atem said after he finished massaging my wing and stepped around in front of me. I did as he said. It hurt a bit, but nothing like it had. "How's that? Better?"

"I'm fine, I think." I moved my wings out further from my body and stretched him out and wide apart.

Atem tilted his head to the side, rubbing a claw under his chin. A devilish smirk spread across his lips. "Nice wingspan," his voice rumbled like a quake beneath the ground. I blushed, unsure of the joke was hopped onto the ledge. "Can you make it on your own?"

I nodded. The surrounding neighborhood was one I'm familiar with. His company building isn't that far. Subtle breezes curled in the air. Atem caught the first current flowing through and soared on, me jumping after him. We had an easier flight there without incident. Atem made sure to fly next to me the whole time.

"Pars Lunae, Moon Wing." Atem spoke from in front of a large black glass of some kind that flashed with pictures and words, but I hadn't been paying much mind to his words until now. I'd been resting in a cushioned love seat—that's what he called it and I felt odd sitting on something meant for lovers. Pictures of humans littered over the walls. It was nice to know he had friends, maybe. Windows circled around this office. He couldn't miss anything. I'm surprised he never caught me looking at him.

"What did you say?"

"I said, Pars Lunae. Loosely translated, you're of the Moon Wing Clan. That explains why your wing color's that shade and your wing claws look dull. Your clan's never been involved in battle. Too peaceful."

I stroked the top of arm where he'd drew blood through a needle. We've been here for hours since then, with him moving about using strange devices and looking through them with one eye. To hear him being able to learn of my clan's name was astounding. And through my blood, no less. This time makes all sorts of mysteries possible.

I looked over at Atem and noticed he looked a little perplexed as well. "Odd that you don't know much about your own heritage. Didn't your father ever tell you stories?" Atem turned around in his chair and leaned back, folding his arms, wings resting over the back. I fully relaxed, relieved that him learning about my family line hadn't ruined anything for me.

"No. Whenever I asked, he'd always say I need not know of a family that couldn't accept a gift as precious as me. You get tired of hearing the same song, same verse," I said bitterly, closing my wings over my shoulders. Even if they were cruel at times, that never stopped me from wanting to know as much as I could of them.

Atem's attention was on me and he stared for a long moment with a hint of smile. "He spoke the truth. Needn't waste your time with a clan that'd only cast you off like a scar. You're sure to do a lot better with me."

I looked around the office again, the enormous space seeming too large for anyone. A chill was in the air I didn't care for and I stood to enclose my wings tighter. "There's nothing wrong with me being a Moon Wing is there?" I asked, partly nervous from the studying glare he gave that shining glass with words and partly scared for what he may say.

"From what I can see, no." Atem looked up from the screen and at me. "I'll study your blood more. Perhaps I'll figure out a little more about your people. See if there are heritable diseases, you may have gained. We don't want any surprises." I definitely didn't, I thought, but felt better knowing that he had the technique to do all of these things. "How is your reading?" Atem asked and beckoned me toward him to look at the shining glass.

With my eyes that glowed white sometimes, not even my gaze could shine as brightly as this screen. I blinked and turned away, but the glow in my eyes remained hot and the rest of the world looked as blinding as a beam of moonlight. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and relaxed until I didn't feel the heat of light leave my eyes. I looked at the wording closely, but my eyes flashed again and I turned away.

"It's difficult to see." Atem could look at the words without his eyes glowing. I guess it's another skill for me to learn. "My mother taught me how to read some. I mean, I have an understanding of words." With the countless days and nights she spent crouched over me reading from worn books that father brought back, I'm fairly confident I can read well.

"Here." Atem held out a sheet of paper in front of me. "You should read this."

I took it from his hand and focused on the tiny words. As I stood, I stared at the letters filled information about me. My name I recognized with ease. I stopped moving and a rush of light and a wave of knowledge hit me. I could read it. My eyes glowed to read over it in silence."Most of it . . . makes sense to me." I spoke after I could focus again and I noticed Atem looking at me with some concern. He'd moved from where he'd been, so time had passed. "I see now. The horror bequeath to our people . . . my clan died off first. A disease did it, wiped them out, our entire kinship. That's why there are no more of us." I muttered and sighed. "It started with the Moon Wings."

Atem grimly nodded. He already knew. "I'm going to copy all of these files. During the day you'll study these, double check for anything I may have missed."

"I doubt I have any better understanding then you." I glanced the screen again and the paper. "I'm the last of the Moon Wing Clan. My ancestors were the first to die from a disease that would flush out to the rest of our kin. I'd be surprised if I knew anything more."

Atem made a snorting, half-amused, half-annoyed sound and I blinked at him. He had a small grin. "You may surprise yourself, lad. As it is, you're the only one alive who may hold the answers I seek. I've searched since the chaos of our end." He narrowed his eyes at the shiny glass. "I suspect you'll remember more than you realize once you read up on it. You're not as useless as you put on."

I inwardly flinched at that accusation. I didn't really do—yes, yes I do. Not intentionally, but so he wouldn't chance getting his hopes up over a study he's obviously been working on for years. He'd just accepted me into his life. I didn't want to possibly risk messing that up.

Atem seemed to sense my mood because his grin faded and he stared at me for a moment before looking at the spread of papers in my hand. "It's not your fault, lad. None of us could have predicted this outcome, let alone your kin," he assured with a hinted anger, but a low tone. "Be grateful you weren't there. No one so young should play witness to life's cruel joke."

"I understand," I whispered softly. There wasn't anything either him or me could've done. Me being stuck in my own time would've obviously resulted in my own death. I vaguely wonder if that's what mother wanted to save me from, is that why she was so quick to cast me into that sleep? To prevent me from ending up like father and his people?

Carefully looking between the paper in my hand and those in his, I politely took his away and looked at it closely. "I need more time to study it. It's all so, complex. I may find something." I looked to him.

"I'll have all of these files emailed to my home computer. There's a printer that works just as fine as the ones here. Books, journals, files, whatever you think you'll need, don't hesitate to let me know."

I nodded, doing my best to keep up with all these new words. Memorizing new terms, especially how they were defined and used, would be a daunting task. I didn't mind. I'm willing to learn anything to find my proper place in his clan. It sounds like a complicated job he had to do, sending this email to his printer and it having to produce years upon years of my ancestral history. I like how dedicated he is to the cause. I'm able to help, that made things much better.

My assumptions weren't entirely right about Atem spending forever sending the email. Another hour went by and he'd managed to have the set of files and information sent to his home. He grabbed a bag from beneath his desk, a flat shiny round thing the shiny black glass spit out and stuffed it in his bag. Atem nodded for me to follow him toward the large windows, opened them and stepped on the edge. He took off toward the house. I wouldn't be comfortable calling it my home just yet, not until I had the security to believe it always will be.

Atem slung the bag on his back. "No games on the way back, lad. If you tire, tell me and we'll stop to rest." We rose higher than the last flight, wings grazing the wet dew of the night clouds.

Even this late, humans roamed their black streets, noisy, obnoxious, wanting attention draw to them. There's so many of them, like a never ending spill of ants from a mound. My thirst became evident as I spied a healthy few walking with skimpy clothing, flesh out, reflecting tauntingly from their unnatural lighting. My fangs nibbled my bottom lip and a low growl bubbled in my throat. I want to hunt, needed my thirst quenched. I've gone far too long without blood, but without my strength or experience, it'd be foolhardy to try. Since my child years, I nursed from Father. He hunted and brought the blood to me in his mouth or allow me to bite his hand and drink.

It's too much to ask the same of Atem. But soon, I need to forage out on my own. My wings quivered in anticipation. I hope it's real soon.

"You're lagging lad! Keep up!"

"Oh." I have lagged a good distance behind.

Atem was far ahead, but began to slow and hover above once he matched me. "Tired again?"

"No," I shook my head. "I'm just. . ." I glanced down at the fewer humans in view as we neared the city's boundaries.

Atem chuckled. "Not just yet, boy. You'll have your chance, but not for a while. There are many things you must learn first." He winked. "Until then, I'll do the hunting for the both of us."

I blinked and nodded my head, amazed he'd almost seemed to read my mind's desire and the way he winked made goosebumps pebble on my arms and tail. The rest of the trip home stayed quiet. I wish it hadn't. It left too much room to think about the things I shouldn't.

Several more nights pasted in Atem's home, some nights spent training my wings until they felt crippled and when if I could bare no more, he sends me off to another spare room and study all the papers his printer unfortunately conjured from its bowels. To some degree, I've learned the basics of how a computer works. It goes by another name too, laptop, and Atem said I was to practice typing words on its keyboard until I got the basis of the craft.

At some points, I felt as though I were making progress with my learnings, but the new files he gave made comprehension complicated. I couldn't quite make out everything he wanted to know of. The start of the disease and how it came to be. Who was the first to contract it and what is its overall origin? I glanced around the room that was now my personal office and glanced by the desk at the stacks of old books, novels and journals written by humans or humans that weren't truly human. I wanted to make sure I missed nothing, or over read something that could possibly include symptoms of the sickness.

The information is the same, repeating over and over just in different fashions. I had little to go on. At this rate, I'd only be going in circles without a new lead.

I've been at this for all hours of the day and most of the night. Atem checked in on me once since returning home, but I hadn't seen him again. I needed rest from this. The words blurred together and made my eyes squint.

Frustrated and a little hungry I stretched in my chair and turned from the computer. "Atem?" I called out and listened to the quiet home. No reply. I sighed and turned back in my leather chair and moved up on the computer to shut off the file I'd been studying and switched to the internet.

A fascinating wonder this device is. I type in a word and an oasis of information is bestowed upon me from many sources. Typing is challenging though. The stiff buttons were too small for my claws to press, but the round metal mouse thing was easy. I could use it to click on the symbols on my and make things appear or disappear.

Still, I would use the typing when I needed to. Like now, I typed in exactly what I needed and pages suddenly popped out of thin air. I wanted some new stories to read from this time and those I've missed during my slumber. I've seen Atem reading a book the other night, but looking at the plethora of books he possessed they weren't, well, all that interesting to me. I had the impression that he didn't read for the pleasure or fun very often since the large shelves of thick books I've found here are science and technology oriented. I've had enough of reading that stuff and wanted to escape to a place of imagination and adventure.

I found a site that had exactly what I was looking for. It was for buying books and they had so many to choose from. I browsed their collection, clicked around and found some with intriguing titles. My elbow accidentally brushed against one of the thick books Atem sat here for me to study. I sighed frustrated. They're so boring. I had no idea whether he'd buy me these books, but I wouldn't know by just sitting here.

He's my clan leader now, not that he's staked claim to that role, but with it came the responsibility of assuring their clan members were happy. Books weren't really much right? It's what I recited as I left the room and went in search of Atem.

I also had no idea how the books would get here. Magic seemed a thing of past now, as if no one believed it existed, ever. I thought I heard a noise coming from upstairs, so I went up there and slowly walked toward the door I thought someone was behind. "Atem, are you in here?" I opened the door and froze in the doorway.

Indeed, I've found my leader. Atem is laying in a giant tub of water with hills of bubbles, his hair soaked to his head, eyes blissfully shut. I blinked rapidly, unable to look away.

"What is that you're doing?" I asked. The bountiful bubbles and water were thick and so deep, all I saw of him were his wide shoulders and folded wings. They showed that he was naked in the tub.

When he looked at me out of one eye, I got the feeling I wasn't welcome, and that I'd invaded on a private moment. I stood still, unsure of what to do. Should I leave him to this?

"I'm bathing, lad," Atem grunted at last and I heard the water shift as he did. He stared at me and I knew I was blushing as he wrapped her arms over the edge of the tub. "Shedding skin cleans you during the day, protects you from the sun, but I don't have that luxury anymore. A bargain trade in exchange for that falsified human form you've seen me in."

"Oh, I never thought," I muttered as I considered that. "Was it worth losing?" I said it, but he was shifting and the bubbles were shifting in waves and I was finding it hard to think straight. "I think it's a great ability, being able to resemble them."

"Yes, well, be careful what you consider a blessing or a curse." Atem's eyes flashed bright red a moment and faded back to normal. "Remember that boy, your virtue gifts are only given once. Rarely will you be happy with the decision and by then, it's too late to change it."

I nodded, and managed a quiet, "Oh," but my eyes were mesmerized on how the water made his skin glisten in a hypnotic way. Brown skin looked wonderful wet, and his hair was so shimmered such a rich red and deep black. His banes looked like ribbons framing his face. His lips curved just a little into a smirk and I found I was staring too hard and looked away. "Sorry I interrupted your, um," my mind searched for the correct word, "bath."

"It's fine." Atem reassured me with a light wave of his claws and I nodded, confused as to what else I should do now. I remained motionless in the door way and when his wings flexed upward and out behind him, I shifted to my other foot and found myself trying once more to get a glimpse of how the water moved with his wings and how bubbles clung to it. I could see distorted images of his body beneath the water. All brown and not a stitch of clothing in there. "You know, staring like that is quite rude," he said and my eyes guiltily snapped up to his face where he wore a cocky smirk. "I'd say this is a new sensation and I've been around for a long time."

"I'm sorry?" I made sure to keep my eyes on his face, no matter how hard it was. I managed well enough.

"None of my clan brothers ever looked at me the way you do," Atem mused and my face was the reddest it'd ever been and I glanced away entirely to concentrate on the bottle arrangements surrounding his sink. "A gay vampire, will wonders ever cease? They're so rare. I dare say I've never see one before." I grimaced and forbid myself from sighing over it. If there were any female vampires in this world, our kind would be in doomed. Of the two vampires alive in this world, I'm the one who'll ruin that chance. Not a fate I wanted to think over.

When he shifted and stood, my eyes grew bigger than my face and I failed to look away from his figure. Water tumbled down his body in cascading beads and transparent balls, leaving glistening flesh behind. His nipples are darker than I thought, almost a burnt chestnut or chocolate and for an instant I compared his to my pink nipples and flesh tone, but only a brief moment.

A deep, rumbling laugh lured my eyes to his face where he was shaking his head slowly. "Odd indeed." Atem gave a lopsided smirk and turned to grab a towel off a gold bar. "What's so urgent you needed to seek me out?" He began to towel off his torso and arms.

I stared with wide eyes, until I managed to pull my gaze away and looked at the interesting assortment of colorful scented bottles again. "Um, I was wondering if you buy me a couple of books, and maybe other things."

"Make a list of what you want and I'll pick it up tomorrow," he spoke and I felt a bit of envious that he could walk around in the sun without being harmed. I listened as Atem stepped out of the tub, and could hear his talon's click on the bathroom floor.

"Is it possible for someone to bring the books here?" I asked.

"I'm not here during the day to protect you," Atem spoke quietly. "I don't feel comfortable with a human in the yard where you're here alone. I'm able to get what you need." I looked at him at that moment. My eyes trailed over his face and he looked serious. Atem wanted to protect me. I felt shaky inside and warm.

"Thank you." It felt nice being cared about like that. When he suddenly removed the towel and lifted it up to dry his hair, leaving the rest of his body bare, I gulped. "Mercy." I blushed again and looked away. "I'll go make that list then." I rushed the words out and moved backwards toward the door.

As I made my way down the hall, I heard his gentle chuckling. I see now. Atem had been teasing me the entire time. I looked back toward the bathroom door as I tried to figure out how I could make such a fool of myself. The memory of his perfect body answered my question.