Being Human Read Online Free

doorway. I supposed if it was me, I'd want someone to push me back inside.
    Crackling energy filled the doorway, reminding me I wasn’t welcomed in, as I pushed the her inside. Once she was inside, I came across another problem. The door swung into the house. I pushed on the energy, trying to reach inside and grab the doorknob, but jolts shot up my arm, slicing my skin open.
    “Whatever. I don't know why I'm bothering,” I grumbled and darted down the steps.
     
    ****
     
     
    New York City. The last light from the sun had dissipated into blackness and humans filled the city streets. They scurried down the sidewalks, looking unconcerned, yet in a hurry. Cars packed the streets, honking at one another. Businesses glowed with lights, signs flashing in the windows.
    “Best not to linger.”
    I whirled around at the voice behind me, stumbling out of the shadows I was hidden in and into the light. An uncontrolled growl escaped me and I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle it. The humans around me halted, their eyes locking on me.
    “Easy.” The vampire stepped into the light and the human’s eyes shifted to him.
    Another growl rumbled, instincts fighting to decide who the bigger threat was: the many humans surrounding me or the single, older vampire before me?
    “Easy,” the vampire repeated. “If you ignore them, they'll leave you alone. They figure if there's a lot of them, then they're safe. True, a lone human is an easier meal than a single human in a crowd.”
    “They're not afraid?”
    “They are, but you’d be wise to hunt elsewhere.” He shrugged. “Humans here carry these little torches. It doesn't produce a lot, a foot long flame, but we’re sensitive to fire and it spreads quickly.”
    I looked back at the thinning crowd, now noticing little black devices clutched in the remaining humans’ hands. Even with those little devices, they had cleared out quickly. “That's weird.”
    His head tilted slightly. “How old?”
    “Three days,” I said, continuing to watch the humans.
    “That means your instincts aren't fully developed and it's dangerous for you to be here,” he replied. “Not until you have everything figured out. There are too many humans. A new one like yourself should stick with small towns or the roads.”
    He was right. My instincts warned of the dangers pressing on me from all sides. The sheer number of humans had me on edge, a desire urging me to escape to safety.
    “I can't. I have to find my brother.”
    The look the vampire gave me was uncertain. Like he thought I was crazy or going crazy. “What brother?”
    “He's my twin. An old human told me our aunt and uncle took him here. I have to find him and take him home.”
    “Are you saying your brother is human?”
    “Yeah.” My eyes narrowed at the vampire. “I'll kill anyone who tries to harm him!”
    “Your human brother?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Your brother... is human?”
    “Yes,” I snapped. “I don't remember being human or his brother, but I know it. I feel it. After I woke up, I returned home and murdered our parents and he was there. Now he's not and I'm told he's here somewhere and I need to find him.”
    “So, he's your brother, but you don't remember anything else about your human life?”
    “Yes,” I sighed. “I don't care about my human life. I care about my brother.”
    “Now that is weird.”
    I glowered at him, annoyed the vampire wasn't getting it. He was my brother. That didn't mean he had to be a vampire too.
    “Well, good luck on your search. Remember, as long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you.” The vampire sank back into the shadows and flitted up a wall. I watched his silhouette glide across the rooftops.
    The vampire’s words in mind, I started searching. When possible, I stayed in the shadows, trying to be invisible to human eyes. When I couldn't, I moved as fast as possible. The vampire had been right though. As long as I ignored the humans, they mostly ignored me.
    As the