Chapter One

He sat in the coffee shop and eyed the young male across the room from himself, the low buzz of conversation flooded his ears, but so far nothing seemed amiss.  He turned his eyes away from the male and over to the counter where several baristas were working quickly to fill the orders of the patrons who’d just come in.  His ears picked up bits of the conversation.

“Yeah, that’s the kid… he’s different you know.”

“How so?”

“Claims to be a guy, but some say he isn’t.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Nah man, that’s what I heard.”

He turned his head quizzically back to the young male, only to see his seat empty, his eyes scanned the crowd quickly, but he’d gone as silently as he’d come in.  He grabbed his drink and swept quickly to the door, exiting into the chill of the evening.  People walked past, but the male was gone.  He took a deep breath and started to head to his own home, a loft in an old warehouse not too far away.  

He paused at the corner, waiting for the light to change; taking the last bit of his coffee down quickly, he tossed the cup into the garbage before setting off in his long stride.  He’d only managed a few strides before he heard a deep chuckle.  He spun to stare at a figure in the alley.

“Whatcha lookin for mate?” came the voice.

“None of your fuckin business.”  He growled back.

“Oi, don’t have ta be like that with me.” the voice slurred back. He huffed a bit. “Not like we are lookin for the same things.”

“How would you even know what or if I’m looking.”

“I know you.” He moved forward some, looking up at the other. His twisted and scarred face now visible in the streetlight. “I know your kind.”  He spat. “I also know I’m not whatcha lookin for.”

“You disgust me.” He turned away and started to move down the street, keeping his calm rather than rip off an arm.

“Don’t bugger that one straight off… it’s still a virgin.” He cackled.

He froze and spun quickly, his face contorted in a rage. “Run… now, far and fast, because if I ever catch you… it will be your last time of insulting me.”

The twisted male laughed some more and headed back into the alley. “Sure mate… remember, I ain’t afraid of your kind either… fought with the best of em.”

He ran towards the alley and stopped when he saw the male was gone, kicking a trash can in his rage. “Fucking asshole!” He moved off to home again, much quicker this time than before.  Now is not the time to let his anger get a hold of him.

Rather than take the old rickety elevator up to his loft, he ran up the old stairs, taking them two at a time.  Bursting into his loft, he pulled the leather jacket from himself and tossed it over the back of the couch, heading into the bathroom to splash cold water on his face.  He gripped the edge of the sink and stared at his face. The monster stared back… the same one he’d looked at his whole life.  He sighed and turned the faucet on, sticking his hands under the cold water.  Several times he splashed the water, then scrubbed his hands on his face, as if the next time he looked he wouldn’t see the same thing.  It was the towel that got to see his face though, blotting it dry and hanging it back on the shiny chrome rail.  He looked back at his reflection, pale green eyes, pale skin… a monster.  Yes, the humans would often call him that, though thankfully not all.  Slowly he turned away from the mirror, flipping the light off on his way out.  

It was the skyline he loved… New York City… he’d lived here for a long time and loved the sunset over the buildings.  The awakening occurred not long after Caitlyn Jenner came out as transgender, humans had to learn not only to adapt to gays and lesbians getting married alongside transgender folks walking the streets, but now they had to face reality.  They weren’t the only intelligent things on the planet.  He stood and stared out the window, watching the sun slip behind the buildings, his mind wandering back to that moment in the coffee shop.  Shaking his head, he knew that finding that young male again wouldn’t likely happen and to think about him was pointless.  Normally a creature of the darkness, he’d found his sleep cycle now started at night and woke him in the mornings like humans.  Perhaps he’d try and rest and let his mind quiet for now.  Turning, he went into his bedroom, really it was little more than a bookshelf between his couch and the bed, but it offered privacy from the window.  It was enough for him.  He pulled off his shirt and jeans, tossing them in a heap on the floor and flopped into bed.  The scent of the coffee shop still lingered around him and he closed his eyes.  Perhaps sleep would claim him.