The vampires had stopped eating at meal times. Werewolves had started to receive double portions. I had stopped feeling queasy and dizzy all the time. Those were some of the minor changes. Those changes were not the one I minded. There was one that I definitely did mind, though. Something had drastically affected the vampires’ behavior. They seemed to notice howie and my’s every movement. They were hostile to everyone now--especially each other-- expect Howie and I. Mabel, Yosef, and Daren kept coming over to me and trying to talk to me. Keith stayed in his room as much as he was allowed, and when he was forced to be in the common room, he stayed away from everyone. Even Vince.

Mabel explained to me that they had been eating food that had been modified to be edible to vampires. Every night, they were given two blood bags to feed from. She informed me, though, that their blood intake had been reduced to one per night. I asked Rafael why he did this and he said that usually, vampires only need two to three bags a week. He was lowering it increments to give them a chance to get used to what it felt like to have stronger urges.

I was trying to distract myself from that knowledge by reading a book. I happened to glance up for a moment and noticed Howie sitting next to keith at one of the cafeteria tables.

“Hey there. You okay? I heard you guys aren’t getting as much blood.”

Silence, of course. Howie pushed his notepad and marker toward him.

“What’s it like? Just like, your stomach hurts like a normal person? Is it all you can think about? What?”

“Y-Yes… all I can think about is how it feels to be alive, and to feel my heart pumps blood through me, a-and how much my fangs ache for flesh. How dry my throat theels, how cold I am. And how good it theels to hold a thying, whimpering body in my arms…”

I almost choked. Keith was talking. He had a european accent, and his voice was surprisingly deep for such a small guy.

And his fangs were out.

I dropped my book and scrambled over to them,

“Howie stop, stop, stop.”

I tried to drag him back, but suddenly Keith was clutching Howie by his wrist. The strength in his grip was unmatchable.

“No you stop Mac, its okay. He’s hungry. Aren’t you, Keith?”

Keith wasn’t paying attention to him though. His eyes were on me. He started pulling howie forward, drawing me closer to him. I was scared. He wanted to feel alive; he wanted the adrenaline. I panicked and let go of Howie.

“Keith, please, I’m not for eating. J-Just calm down.”

He got up slowly, letting go of howie as well. He took a step closer, mouth open, fangs glinting from behind his upper lip. He was trying to scare me. If he wanted, he could be drinking me right now. Howie got up and stood in front of me,

“Its me you want. Not him.” Howie insisted.

“Howie stop it god dammit!” I cried, “Somebody help!”

I sensed another vampire very close. I turned around to see Mabel, looking just was hungry as Keith. There were some noises and hissing and I was on the ground, and Howie was in Keith’s grasp. I turned around to see Dayo on top of Mabel, Dayo’s eyes glowing blue and with her teeth bared. I looked back at Howie and Keith to see Ashely fighting Keith. In a split second, Keith was pinned to the ground. I looked at the other two vampires to see Rafael dragging them back by their necks, glowering.

“Take them to their rooms,” He growled.

I just stayed on the ground, petrified. Howie came over to me, unhurt. He knelt,

“...I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

I didn’t say anything, I just slapped him across the face.

“Ow! I said I won’t, okay? I didn’t know that would happen.”

“Vampires like fear. If you’re not scared, they don’t want you.”

Howie just stayed quiet, probably lamenting my words.

“I get that you’re miserable, but what don’t you get about the fact that I have nothing if you die? I will be alone, trapped amongst my nightmares. I can’t Howie. I can’t live without you.”