The skin on Aaron's hands cracked first.
He watched it happen. Small lines spread across his knuckles like dry mud. The gray color deepened. Then a piece flaked off and fell to the floor.
It did not hurt. That worried him more than pain would have.
A second piece detached. Then a third. His hands were shedding like a snake.
He went to the bathroom. Turned on the cold water. Splashed it on his face. The water hit his skin and felt wrong. Too cold. Too sharp. His nerves were overreacting to everything.
He looked in the mirror.
His face was peeling. Small flakes near his hairline. His lips were cracked. His eyes looked the same but the skin around them was darker. Sunken.
"I need to understand this."
He closed his eyes. The panel appeared.
Status: AWAKENING (Stage 1)
Active Side Effects:
· Skin shredding (in progress)
· Dermal desiccation (60% moisture loss)
· Hemophagic thirst (moderate to high)
· Photosensitivity (severe)
Below it, a new line blinked.
Next Stage Requirement: First Blood Consumption
He stared at the words.
First blood consumption. He had to drink blood to move forward. The thirst was not just a side effect. It was a signal. A demand.
He opened his eyes. Sat on the bathroom floor. Thought.
In his past life, he had eaten strange things during survival training. Raw meat. Bitter roots. Insects. But blood? Human blood? The thought made his stomach turn.
And yet.
The thirst pulsed in his veins. His mouth was so dry. His throat burned. The longer he sat there, the stronger the need became.
He could feel Mr. Aldridge downstairs. The old butler's heartbeat thumped faintly through the walls. Aaron could hear it. Could almost taste it.
He shook his head hard.
"No. Not him."
---
He spent the next hour researching.
The computer screen glowed in the dark study. He typed with fingers that left flakes of dead skin on the keyboard.
how long can vampire survive without blood
animal blood vs human blood vampire
vampire blood substitutes
Most results were fiction. Useless. But he found one forum. A dark web page buried under layers of dead links. It was written by someone who clearly believed vampires were real.
"Newly turned vampires experience severe thirst within 24 to 48 hours. The body begins consuming itself. Skin sheds. Organs slow. If thirst is not met within 72 hours, the body enters torpor. Longer than that, permanent damage or death."
Aaron sat back.
72 hours. He had less than that.
The page continued.
"Animal blood can sustain function but will not complete the awakening. The first feeding must be human. No substitute exists."
He closed the computer, his symptoms were similar but somewhat different from online forum.
The thirst clawed at his throat. His skin continued to flake. His veins were dry lines under gray skin.
He needed blood.
---
He went to the kitchen.
Mr. Aldridge was there. The butler stood at the counter, preparing a tray of tea. He looked up when Aaron entered. His face shifted. His eyes widened.
"Young Master? You look..."
"Tired," Aaron said. "I did not sleep well."
"Shall I call Dr. Winc?"
"No."
Mr. Aldridge stared at him. His eyes moved from Aaron's gray skin to his cracked lips to the small flakes of skin on his collar. He said nothing more.
Aaron opened the refrigerator. Scanned the contents. Milk. Juice. Leftover chicken. A raw steak wrapped in plastic, meant for tomorrow's dinner.
He took the steak.
"I will eat in my room."
Mr. Aldridge nodded slowly. His hands trembled as he poured the tea.
Aaron walked back upstairs. The steak was cold in his hand. He closed his door. Locked it.
He unwrapped the plastic. The meat was red. Wet. Blood pooled in the bottom of the styrofoam tray.
His mouth opened without his command. His tongue moved. His throat made a sound he had never made before. Low. Hungry.
He bent his head. Drank from the tray.
The blood was cold. Metallic. Nothing like water. Nothing like food. But his body screamed yes. His dry veins flooded with sensation. The thirst eased. Just slightly. Just enough to think clearly again.
He finished the tray. Wiped his mouth. Looked at himself in the mirror.
His skin was still gray. Still shedding. But the cracks were less deep. The hollow feeling had pulled back.
The panel updated.
Temporary Relief Achieved.
Duration: 4-6 hours.
Warning: Animal blood will not complete awakening. Human blood required.
Four to six hours. Then the thirst would return stronger.
He sat on his bed. The steak tray was empty. Blood smeared its plastic edges.
He needed a solution. A source. Someone who would not be missed. Someone who deserved it.
His mind went to Marcus and Kyle. The bullies. The hospital.
No. Not yet. Too visible.
He needed to think bigger. He had abilities. Blood Servant. Mind Control. Blood Contract. He needed to use them.
The night was still dark. Mr. Aldridge was downstairs. The mansion was quiet.
Aaron stood. Walked to the window. Looked out at the city lights.
Somewhere out there, someone would do.