The everyday monsters in our lives

He could hear the faint tune being hummed, standing in the door, staring down at the floor as he listened. He leaned his head a little onto the frame, just quietly listening. Whatever fury that had fuelled him before had died down to an extinguished ember. The guilt usually followed but he didnt quite regret swinging at the vampyre, as he had warned him beforehand. He knew this might be the point of no return; either leave or stay. Though he didnt want to stay. It felt too much like a fairytale. He had to get back home to live his normal life. And maybe then he’d find out whether the vampyre had changed something. But then again, would he be able say that the vampyre had done nothing now that he stood here instead of driving away? He entered and walked towards the bathroom. “This is bullshit. It makes no sense. You’ve been doing so much to keep me here with you and now you’re sending me away?” He said. He needed the closure. He needed to know what had suddenly changed.

He wasnt accepting the dismissal now. He wasnt even trying to mock Cesare but it might have come off as such. He had a point though. Joe wouldnt have been happy if he had been forced to stay, but this didnt feel quite right either. He however listened. Could he even deny what the vampyre was saying? But then again, that hadnt been their agreement.
Joe grit his teeth a little remaining silent as Cesare made it obvious. He had wanted the human to be there by his own will. He looked at him with his frown, looking at the hint of blood in the vampyre’s eyes. He knew they cried blood. The ultimatum made him clench his hands. He thought about it, looking away as he felt rather conflicted considering how bad he seemed to have wanted to get away. Hesitation? “I’m going.” He finally decided, even if it didnt sit right with him. He had to get back to his normal life right away. He lingered for a moment like he was considering his choice. “Goodbye Cesare.” He bid him farewell, leaving him there in the bathroom.

Boring life? Joe wasnt sure the vampyre understood how nice it could be to have a peaceful and quiet life. Even if Joe deep down liked adventures and wanted to see the world. He just wasnt ready to confront that part of himself just yet. He stopped as he heard the vampyre’s faint singing. He did listen but as soon as the vampyre finished, the human left.

And life did go back to normal. Joe’s work as a bouncer had him working late in hhe weekends. But something felt off. He was sure that he was being watched. His instincts told him as much. He didnt have the perks of special senses but he did eventually figure out that a vampyre was watching him. His intuition told him as much. Was it Cesare? He doubted it. It was late night early morning by the time he clocked out to head home. That was when he noticed a figure looking in his direction to then move away. He clenched his hands and followed it. Not that it was his smartest idea. It wasnt like Cesare or Sadie was the only vampyres that had seen him at the secret vampyre club.

He didnt quite knew what to expect as he followed the figure. Surely it wouldnt be Cesare. The vampyre had promised. Joe at least thought it would be a week or a month before that would happen. But being met by a female vampyre who seemingly demanded answers Joe didnt have. “Who?” He asked even if he had an idea who she wanted to find. It was probably just better to play dumb. Pretend like the vampyre hadnt made an impression. That Joe didnt think of him once in a while. Okay, he did think of him often, only to mutter something angry at himself or curse at the vampyre even if he wasnt there.

He could sense the danger but it wasnt like it told him okay now you’re going to get pinned to a wall so he expected something but not that. Gritting his teeth it wasnt exactly pleasant for him. As she said the name of the vampyre she was looking far, Joe frowned. Yes, he knew him but no he didnt know where he was. She would be able to tell from the confusion in his eyes. Unless she believed him to be a really good liar.
Another vampyre intervened and he looked in the direction, frowning lightly at their exchange. As much as he might have wanted to know what was going on, he also didnt want to get too tangled up in everything. “Nothing happened.” He then just told the female even if the male said it was alright for him to go. “He let me go home and I didnt see him again.” He spoke rather truthfully. But was the truth satisfying? If Cesare was gone right after, it must have meant that Joe had hurt his feelings, broken his heart? Joe didnt think about that as he had spoken.

Joe didnt really know what to believe as the female, Mariah seemingly changed from threatening to desperate. Was this how their bond worked? He frowned a little, looking at the male as he seemed to urge him to just go. But it didnt seem right to not say anything. “Look, I dont know. I’ve barely spent time with him.” He just told her, before he shook his head, thanking the male for his help before he adjusted his cap. He turned halfway before he stopped. “I’m not special. He’s probably out there finding someone else. That is who you should worry about more, I guess. Alright? Leave me out of whatever worry you’ve got. He made me choose.” He just had to point it out before he turned to go.

It was odd. He really wanted not to care but the female vampyre was stirring thoughts in his head. Maybe he could try and think of her as just another monster. Not believe a word she said. A vampyre hurt? A vampire having feelings? He was surprised to see the male snap her head off just like that. He frowned a little, watching the male take the body with him. The male stopped and Joe frowned. He shook his head. “It’s fine. I dont deserve it.” He just said, not wanting help like that. It wasnt his business what their orders were but he wouldnt have this vampyre look out for him like that.
When he was left alone and his phone rang, he frowned. Unknown number. He picked up. “Hey, Joe speaking?” He greeted the other end but there was no answer. He ended up hanging up before he moved out of the alley to go back home.

Some time passed and he just worked. When he wasnt working, he was working on an old car. It was slowly coming to. His mother came by once in while with some food. It was nice talking to her but he disliked the marks around her arms. She chuckled it off and blamed it on the current heatwave making his father more irritable. He however didnt believe it. The bastard was just getting sloppy, or maybe he just didnt care anymore. Joe sat one evening by his kitchen table in his little apartment, just staring into nothing as he was in deep thoughts. Next to him was a gun. Would he really do this? He turned his eyes to it. With a expression full of dismay, he picked it up and stuffed it in the back of his pants before he got his jacket and moved out to the car he had been fixing. It would manage the tour. Even if it was a little far. He got in and sat for a while before he put in the key to slowly turn it. But he didnt turn it yet. He got out. Called himself crazy in a few mutters. He couldnt do it. He was a coward. Gritting his teeth he got back in. Decided to just not give a shit. He lit a cigarette but managed to burn his thumb as well, gritting his teeth in pain, hitting the wheel in frustration. Fuck.

He frowned a little once the handle was pulled on the sidedoor, but seeing Sadie of all right now was like a godsent gift from heaven. He couldnt say how relieved he really felt to see her. Even if she wasnt her or whatever bullshit he told himself, she was herself enough to understand the struggle he sat in right now. He looked at her with teary eyes, listening to her. “She looks worse every time.0 he muttered as Sadie mentioned their mother coming around more. Was he just supposed to ignore it? He couldnt.
“I dont feel forced. But I habe to protect her. I have to.” He muttered, feeling the tears press on. He felt horrible. She touched his hand and she was so cold, it stung. But he was also so warm with frustration and anger. “I’m more like him every day Sadie.” He protested, even if she didnt see him that way. He closed his eyes and drew in a trembling breath. “You should have killed the whole family instead of letting that vampyre talk you out of it.” He then whispered, closing his eyes as the tears built up, though they found a way out regardless. “You didnt see what he did when you left. When someone else was blamed for what happened to you. Fuck, Sadie, it was just a child.” He said, but it turned into a whisper and then he cried. It was the memory that had woken up when Cesare had spoken about his sister and now it was there again.
“You should have just…. I wouldnt even have been angry at you.” He whimpered, drying his eyes a little.

“I knew dad. I should have known.” He argued, rubbing his eyes to get the tears out. He disliked crying so much and how it made his eyes swell up and his face get puffy. She spoke about her soul and he shook his head. “Dont say that.” He whispered barely. He knew he had been cruel to her but right now he needed his sister more than anything.
He went quiet for a while, a few tears running down his cheeks. “No. I’ll do it Sadie. I should have done it before you ran away. I made him so angry that day. I did this to you.” He said, his voice almost emotionless, but the guilt he felt was too much. “Put on your seatbelt.” He muttered, turning the key to start the engine. He wouldnt let her stop him. So she could stay or go. He let her make the choice.

“With who?” He just asked, focusing on the road, though he definitely had an idea who she was referring to. The way she continued like something was supposed to have happened made him clench the wheel lightly. “He hasnt made me do anything. It’s over. We’ve moved on.” He just said, turning out of the cuty, checking each mirror to make sure it was safe.
He was quiet, just thinking about what he was going to do. If he would be the same. If he even really had the courage to do it. But he had to. He would have to deal with whatever consequences. “I’m doing this for her too.” He muttered. He couldnt forget the marks, the black eye. “She protected you too. You just didnt know. But I saw it. The things she would do to make him forget you for a while.” He grit his teeth, feeling so disgusted and angry. “You’ve made a good life for yourself now Sadie. Dont let me drag you down, just because I’m still stuck in the past.”