Monster in the Mirror

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I was somewhat surprised that I could still see it.

I was even more surprised that my face was essentially unchanged.  I had expected some sort of dramatic transformation, something that would mirror the drastic changes that I now know had happened within me.

My skin seemed smoother, lacking all the little blemishes and imperfections I used to obsess about.  It also looked like it was a few shades paler, though, that could have simply been a trick of the light.  My face was a bit leaner giving me a more mature and experienced look – as if it belonged on someone who had lived a much fuller life then me.  But it was my eyes that showed how truly different I was now.  They were no longer the same ordinary shade of brown that I had inherited from my parents, but a light amber that almost seemed to glow in the poorly lit bathroom.  Though the individual changes were slight, and I was still recognizably me, the overall difference was huge.


I looked damn good.  Alluring even.  Who would have thought?

I opened my mouth and inspected my teeth and gums.  Everything looked normal – oh, how looks can be deceiving.  I used the newfound muscles near my jaw and my canines extended to a little over an inch in length.  The movement tickled slightly with a faint and strange pressure, but the action was swift and smooth, like a switchblade.  Another conscious act and they retracted just as easily.


“Huh…” I heard myself make a questioning noise.  ‘I wonder how I am going to keep from biting myself.’

I extended them once again for a closer inspection in the mirror, from different angles.  Touching them with a finger showed me how solid and sharp they were.

A noise from the side breaks my concentration.  Looking out through the door into the bedroom I can see him laying there on my bed, covered in only a sheet, and his muscled limbs spread in different directions.  He was so handsome – way beyond what I would have considered my league.  Oddly enough, the small mess of blood at his neck simply made him even more attractive to me now.

Although not unattractive, I was normally considered average in the looks department.

I could be pretty funny and friendly, but all through high school and college, I could never quite shake the plain-jane, girl-next-door look I was apparently born with.  I have had a few boyfriends, but they always seemed just as boring and plain as me.  Ditto with friends.  All in all, my life had been mostly boring and pitifully uneventful.

It had all changed last night.

After spending a few days cooped up at home with a fever, I had the uncharacteristic need to spend a night out.  I knew something was different, but I couldn’t really put my finger on it until I walked into that bar.  I felt good - confidant and sexy, like I had never felt before.  I had never been particularly graceful, but in that bar, I was damn near feline.  All eyes were on me and I didn’t care.  The women were enviously assessing me and the men were openly admiring me.  I somehow knew that some in both groups were having lustful thoughts about me – and I loved it, the power and influence I had over them.

Not long after having a drink in my hand, I spotted him.  Tall and broad shouldered, blond with blue eyes.  He was clearly athletic, a former jock probably, but there was intelligence in his eyes.  I wanted him.

Almost as soon as I decided I wanted him, he noticed me.  It didn’t matter that he was clearly with someone else, once he looked into my eyes he was drawn to me.  I don’t know, or care, what he said to her, but he left with me not fifteen minutes later.  We didn’t even introduce each other.  It was so easy.  Even now, the heady rush of power makes me lightheaded.

Back at my apartment, we wasted no time.  He was in shape, enthusiastic and obedient, and it was fantastic.  Nevertheless, something was missing – I could feel and emptiness in me wanting to be filled (no pun intended).  I discovered what exactly was missing as I nuzzled his neck in the aftermath.  Something inside of me clicked and I bit him… and pure bliss entered my mouth.

It was the best feeling I ever experienced, even counting the recent sex.  It was the fulfillment of a need greater than hunger, thirst or lust, and I hadn’t even realized it was there.  The nameless man disappeared, as did my room, apartment, the whole world.  There was just me and the blood.

I didn’t kill him.  Even through it all, I had held onto enough self-control to keep me from draining him.  It was tricky though – I don’t know if I could do the same thing every time I fed.  He was sleeping deeply now, his muscled chest rising and falling rhythmically.  The wound at his neck had almost immediately stopped bleeding and was visibly healing.  He should be alright in the morning; weak, anemic and with a headache probably, but alive.

Boy did I have questions.

How and when did this happen to me?  Was it permanent?  What other changes had or would happened?  Did this mean that I could never go to a sunny beach again, or eat garlic chicken?  My parents were incredibly religious, their home covered in icons and crosses – would I ever be able to enter my childhood home again?

I shook the slivers of doubt and fear from my mind.  I knew the answers would come in time.  I could only deal with the now.

I looked back at my reflection and smiled, remembering the events of last night.  I once again extended my fangs, slowly this time.

“Yes, this definitely could be fun.”  I whispered in welcome to the monster that I had become.

'New Vampire' by Anachlirium at DeviantArt

My Own Personal Horror Story

I was one of the last people of our group - one of those who volunteered as a rear guard.  Most of the others had already reached the relative safety of the vehicles ahead.  Amongst the hurried preparations to depart, a few people simply waited and beckoned for us to hurry, the sounds of starting engines and the occasional scream drowning out their calls. 

I glanced back to where we came from for a mere moment to judge the position of our pursuers... it was then that I saw her.

It was just a movement in the corner of my eye at first.  A fleeting glimpse from my peripheral vision - there was no way I could be sure what it was.  Nonetheless, something told me to stop and pay attention.  I came to a stop so quickly I almost tripped over myself, momentarily forgetting where I was and what I was doing.  There she was, clear as day, some two hundred meters away, moving slowly but surely from behind a building.

I remember the initial wave of relief, tinged with delight.  It was so strong, I became lightheaded.  A smile came to my face, as if by reflex.  I had searched for her for so long – I’m ashamed to say that I’d just about given up hope.  I tried to reach her on the other side of town, but I was so tired and in pain.  But she was here now... everything would be all right again.  I’d found my wife.

When we met our freshman in college, she was the typical good girl overachiever and I was a stereotypical slacker, trying to ignore my impending adulthood and its responsibilities.  As soon as I met her, I was smitten and she, thank the gods, somehow saw potential in me.  We started dating exclusively.  She pushed and motivated me to study and succeed, so we both eventually graduated with business degrees.  We married soon after and had been living more or less happily ever after for the last few years.

She was dressed smartly in a dark pantsuit, one I had often seen her wear to work.  It was somewhat worse for wear now though, being rumpled and torn, dirty and bloodied.

She turned her head slowly, as if searching for something and eventually locked on to my direction.  In a slow shambling walk, she started moving toward me, ignoring the gravel and broken glass under her bare feet.

My happiness was fleeting of course. 

Her usually soulful brown eyes were devoid of emotion.  A milky white color was beginning to obscure them.  Those brown eyes of hers used to be so full of empathy and life.  Now all there was, was a dead stare.  As if our love never happened.  That I didn’t exist.  For her, nothing did... not anymore.

A rush of emotions hit me then – grief, anger, hopelessness, revulsion… In all my wildest dreams and nightmares, I’ve never expected seeing my wife to elicit such feelings.  I believe that I came close to snapping, to losing my sanity, but somehow I held it together…

I focused on one simple idea: She wasn’t really there – not anymore.  My wife was dead... what was left of her, her corpse was just infected.

I shouldered the rifle I had liberated from a sporting goods store the day before and took aim.  “Goodbye sweetheart,” I whispered, then I put a bullet in her head.

Without looking back, I quickly continued on my way, catching up with the rest of the survivors, trying to make our way out of town toward someplace safe.  I would later find out that, surprisingly only seconds had passed.  No one has any idea what I went through, what I had to do.  I don’t think I ever will tell anyone – there’s no real need to.  Everybody in the world has their own personal horror story to bear now.