"Fireballll....Shoot."
I commanded as I extended my hand outward however, just like everything prior to now. No fire came shooting out of my hand.
And when I failed, I stared at my hand like it owed me an explanation.
It showed no spark, not even a glow. And I did not feel even the slightest tingle. Just my usual five fingers wiggling.
"Yet another failure."
I said as I clenched my fist in clear disappointment. But even then I refuse to give up like this.
"Alright, attempt 36."
I muttered to myself, pacing in my living room.
"Let's try something more different here... Instead of shooting projectiles, let try to manipulate something external instead."
With those I extended my arm toward once again, this time to a half-empty water bottle on the table.
"Gravity activate?"
I whispered as I cringed at my own failure and behavior.
And even after this embarrassing display, the results were the same, which was nothing. Making me feel like even more of a total idiot.
Okay, maybe I had to be more dramatic. I inhaled deeply, then shouted at the bottle like I was trying to frighten it into submission.
"By the power of Cain, I command you to float!"
And yet again I was rewarded with nothing more than a still bottle.
"...Sigh... Maybe I have yet to fully mutate."
I dropped my arm, rubbing my forehead. Traumerei said I'd start changing. That I was a Founding Vampire now. That the ring was rewriting me. But so far, I felt exactly the same as I always did: tired, confused, and worse of all I feel moody for some reason.
Definitely the stress piling up.
I eyed the bottle again, more annoyed than hopeful now. With a sigh, I picked it up and threw it at the wall. It bounced off with a sad little thud and rolled under the couch.
Not even a dramatic shatter.
I plopped back down on my mattress, head in my hands.
How the hell do you test out a power when you don't even know what they are going to become, are glowing gold eyes the only thing I got from all this?
I wondered to myself.
For all I knew, my power was something stupid like… perfect handwriting. Or the ability to always land heads in coin tosses.
Maybe I already used it and just didn't know.
"Think."
I told myself, fingers tightening.
"Come on... Something... Anything."
I stared at my fingers again.
I tried to summon claws, but none came.
I started to undress, to see if anything changes externally but nothing, hell I didn't even have vampire fangs. Shit I don't even feel the urge to bite anyone.
Defeated and loss I groan out a loud as I dropped back onto the mattress with an even louder groan, covering my face with a pillow.
This was pathetic.
Traumerei made it all sound so mystical. So inevitable. But here I was, less than three hours into my supposed dark ascension, and I couldn't even manifest a single thing.
"I need air."
I muttered the words more to the ceiling than anything else. The only response was the steady tick of the busted wall clock I still hadn't replaced.
I shoved on some clothes and grabbed my coat. The moment the cold metal of the doorknob touched my hand.
I glanced at myself in the mirror by the door.
Just a regular guy. Tired but beautiful and alluring eyes. Messy hair, but soon to be billionaire.
"Hmmm... Yeah let's stay positive."
I said to myself as I began to twist the knob, went down the stairs and walk towards the sidewalk.
The city air slapped me in the face. It was cold, and gritty. The streets were quiet this early in the morning.
Either way I began to walk.
Not anywhere in particular, at this moment I was just moving forward. I pass by several people, some walking their dog, the garbage man picking up the trash left on the street, and couple doing their usual early morning jog, and the occasional car hissed by as drive pass me in the opposite direction.
I kept my hands buried in my coat pockets, half-expecting something...anything to happen really.
The closer I got to downtown, the more alive the city seemed. The scent of cheap tacos and overused fryer oil drifted from a 24-hour food truck.
I passed a group of teenagers loitering near a bodega, arguing over snacks. They didn't even glance my way.
And why would they?
I looked normal and unassuming for the most part.
Either way I continue to move forward and eventually I ended up near the edge of the park, the same one I used to cut through on my way to the bus stop when I wanted to visit Thalia. The trees were bare, skeletal things rattling in the breeze, and I eventually found a bench and sat down, breathing deep.
I sat down as I looked at other people past me.
For minute I embrace the moment of peace.
Just... waiting.
And that was the worst part.
At least if something hurt, or I blacked out, or sprouted wings, at least that would be something. But this silence? This not-knowing? It was maddening.
I leaned back, looking up at the sky as watch the sun. For a vampire, not fearing the sun was a massive plus to say the least.
But as I sat there, I was soon knocked out of my stupor as I heard my phone ringing.
"Ha?"
I said as I reach for my pocket.
And pulled out my cheap android, and looked at the message.
It was from Thalia.
Thalia:
"Hey dude not feeling well? The boss said you call in sick at the last minute, I can't even begin to explain how frustrated he was that you didn't show up today. That aside is everything alright, it so unlike you to miss a day at work"
Seeing this I smile, as I replied back.
Me:
"Yeah I am all right just feel under the weather today."