She had lay with Damian for almost three days, never leaving his side. The Change had been hard on him, just as she thought it would be. He had been delirious with a high fever for most of that time. She had stayed with him, though, giving him an anchor so that he had moments of peace. The fever had broken sometime during the day, assuring her that the worst was over.
The darkness of night suffused Damian's bedroom. Waking up from a fitful sleep, she looked over to where Damian had lay, but he wasn't there. Alarmed, she quickly got out of bed to look for him. She heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom, and she calmed down; he was awake. The fear passing her, she looked around the floor for the small pile of clothes she had tossed away just days ago. She pulled back on the black thong panties, and buttoned up the white blouse. She didn't bother with the bra or the tattered black skirt. Still exhausted from staying with Damian, she didn't have the energy to get completely dressed.
She took this opportunity to explore Damian's apartment. It was a moderately-sized one-bedroom setting, with a small hallway that separated the living area and kitchen away from the bedroom, with the bathroom between the two sections. Walking down the hallway, past the bathroom, she explored the front half of his apartment. A wall split the kitchen from the living area. Both were clean and neat, but what she was really interested in was the living area.
An entertainment center sat on the wall to the right of the hallway, which held a CD player, Playstation console, and a big-screen TV. On either side of the entertainment center were shelves of DVDs and CDs. But what really caught her eye was the large bookshelf. Walking over to it, she glimpsed at the titles, separated into several genres. Classic literature, fantasy, some sci-fi, and a little non-fiction history composed most of Damian's selection. Running her finger along the spines, she was amazed at the good condition that his books were in. Each one seemed to have its own special place, organized, almost revered. Pulling a couple of them out to flip through their pages, their newness astounded her. Even the books that had been read multiple times still had an element of newness to her eyes, as though great care had been used when reading them. It was rare for that to happen nowadays, she knew.
Putting the books back on the shelf, she left to find Damian still in the bathroom. Standing silently in the doorway, she watched him as he stood nude in front of the bathroom mirror, running his fingers over his body, exploring. The Change had brought subtle physical changes to him, honing his body, making it stronger. His shoulders were a little broader, his stomach a little firmer; his cock was even a little larger. She watched as he bent closer to the mirror, opening his mouth, looking.
"You have to bring them out yourself," she said, startling him. "They don't grow by themselves." She came into the bathroom and stood beside him.
"Why do I have a reflection?" Damian asked, turning toward her. "I thought vampires didn't have reflections."
She shook her head. "Only those of us that have completely lost their soul lose their reflections. If you have any soul left, any compassion for others, then you can still see yourself."
"How do I bring out my teeth?" Damian asked.
"I'll tell you later. Like I said, it doesn't just happen."
"Why am I breathing? Aren't I dead?"
"Yes, you are," she said. "The reason you're breathing is because that's what your body's used to doing. It doesn't benefit you any to continue breathing, nor does it harm you. If you don't want to breathe, don't. It's that simple. It's easier, though, to just let your body's instincts have their way, and keep breathing. The same thing goes for your heart. It's used to beating, so even though you're dead, it still beats anyway. Like your breathing, you can also force it to stop, too."
"How will I know when I have to...you know...hunt, I guess," Damian asked.
"Believe me, you'll know."
"How many others are out there?"
She sighed. "I'll tell you everything you want to know, Damian, I promise," she said. "But right now, I'm tired. Staying with you these last couple of days has really drained me. Not that I feel bad doing it for you," she said quickly, seeing a look of guilt cross his face. "I also need a shower," she said. "I'm really..."
"Beautiful," Damian whispered, interrupting her.
She smiled. "Thanks, Damian, but..."
Damian wrapped his arms around her, silencing her. "No buts," he said, pulling her close to him. "You're beautiful."
She relaxed into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. She slowly wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. The strength that he had gained enveloped her, and she closed her eyes, reveling in it. When his hands came up to stroke through her hair, she couldn't help letting out a soft, contented sigh.
"How long can you stay?" he asked softly.
"As long as I want," she said.
She gripped his arms as he lifted her up onto the bathroom counter. He brought his hands up to cup her face, his fingers brushing her cheeks. "Say that'll be forever," he said.
