Air.

Air is what I needed.

Right now I was trapped in this sîwáng tube for only the worst of the worst. It was made to specifically block off any air pockets and instead put in carbon dioxide.

It wouldn't kill anyone with an animality but it still hurt like hell.

Anyway, they put me in here because I had killed one of their little scientists.

He tasted delightful...better than anything they gave me.

Their test lab was filled with these pods and I looked around me as I got bored of screaming and found a little girl, she looked to be around 5 or 7.

I felt my face get hot with anger and my eyes converting to shards.

She had a basilisk animality, one of the oranges. Her teeth were too sharp to seem normal and they fit perfectly between each other like hands reaching out from her mouth. Her eyes darted around as she made horrible hissing noises that sounded like it was in my head.

I felt my teeth grow slightly and then the large tongue of mine reach my chest.

I stared directly at a scientist and her eyes grew a slight yellow.

For a second I blacked out and when I opened my eyes again there was a hole in the pod.

The scientist I stared at was now helping me out of the pod and I felt the need to get away from her but, I didn't.

We began walking down a long corridor.

I saw a boy slightly older than me on his knees pleasing one of the scientists.

My blood boiled again and I felt my tongue slip out once more but the doctor lightly tapped my hand and I put it back.

The boy was really pale and had blue hair. Behind him, I noticed a fluffy tail.

I wondered why he wasn't in a yellow or white pod but then I saw big dark wings. They were really ruffled up and they reminded me of the paintings my pod neighbour made of blackbirds.

Then, we continued on our way.

I just slowly walked with her past all the Orange and red animalitae pods but we just continued until all I saw were yellow and white pods.

This scared me considering I was just thinking of being a different animalitae but the woman paid no mind to my now sweaty hand and just continued on. Past all the screaming and banging I found myself next to only black pods.

The female who led me here was named "Doctor Kelly Richmond", an American name I guess.

Doctor Richmond leaned down and whispered, "Keep your teeth a secret and pretend to be a viper animalitae... things will be easier if you do so."

She took her ID card and let the pod scan it then gently nudged me inside the black pod.

I bow my head in thanks and she walks away with a kind smile on her chiselled face.

The pod sealed back up.

She was pretty but her flesh smelled like rotting cow, most doctors smell like this... I think.

I haven't seen a doctor not from T0X!C in about 2 years so I don't exactly remember. Plus, scents are hard to remember even when enhanced.

I shook my head and dragged myself out of my thoughts.

To busy me with something other than longing thoughts I studied what animalitae I was around.

There was a small golden retriever kid or, at least some blonde dog breed.

The kid was intersex, I couldn't detect a gender scent or any physical features leaning towards one gender.

They looked at me and snarled then looked away as if they were better than me.

That fucker-

I'll show them who's better.

Sssscrape.

My abnormally sharp nails made a cringing sound as they scraped and chipped the tinted glass of the black pod I was in. I stared him in the eye and smiled very wide then stuck my serpentine tongue out to lick the glass.

As I did I remembered what doctor Richmond told me, to hide my teeth or whatever and I did.

That irritates me so much!

Why can't I show my teeth?

They won't hurt anyone from here. My teeth only hurt by physical contact, something these glass walls won't allow.

I slid down the wall into a cross-legged sit position.

My slick tail slid around on the indestructible ground that felt oddly like marble.

I looked at my crossed arms.

They looked so pale and grey.

Probably just the tinted window where the light came in.

Hold on.

How does that one boy have a blackout pod?

I looked closer and just barely saw the outline of his thick body. He was a mole animalitae. His eyes were shut tightly and I think he might be crying.

Ugh, I can't be bothered by him considering I can't eat him.

Lately, I have been favouring normal flesh, after that one scientist, I'm hooked.

It may smell bad but it is worth it.

"You're new... who are you?"

I looked to my left and saw a tall boy about my age I think and he was really muscular.

Like not super muscular but still pretty fit, more so than me anyway.

I think he is a bat animalitae.

"Hey bud, I asked a question, you gonna answer or what?"

He's kind of an ass despite being hot.

Quickly, this time, I responded, "Azazel, sharp toot- um I mean viper animalitae..." I caught myself before I let my 'cover' blow.

He stared at me for a second before shaking his head and grinning at me, "My name is Kevin, I'm a vampire animalitae."

"Wait... what?"

Didn't he mean vampire bat or some shit?

Kevin responded as if nothing happened, "What?"

"Don't you mean vampire bat?"

"No," he said softly making it harder to hear him through the glass, "I'm an actual vampire..."

Oh god, I hope he doesn't sparkle.

"Before you ask no I do not count for a living, no I am not blind, and no I don't use echolocation."

That's, for some reason, funny.

"So how did that happen? Becoming a vampire that is." Swiftly I added the last part just in case it got misunderstood.

"Oh... I'll tell you if you tell me your story," Kevin paused a second, "you don't have to tell me first."

Damn it, he just fuckin' guilt-tripped me.

"Nah, I'll go first..." the anxiety just set in...damn it...

"So I was visiting Germany when this shit happened, I'm from the UK, but that's not the point... when the bombs hit I-..."

Fucking breathe stupid self.

"I died."

. . .

"So you're a viper daemon."

He didn't ask he was more talking to himself like I do. Like I am.

"No, not technically..." Should I tell him...? "I'm-...ugh can you just keep a secret..."

He chuckled like a pretentious ass then he nodded but I guess he isn't as much of an ass as he seems.

"I'm a sharp tooth serpent daemon." I rushed it out hoping it might get lost in translation and he would forget it but again stupid guilt comes in ruining my chance of being comfortable, "I-I mean...I'm a... sharp-tooth serpent daemon."

"Well that's a mouthful but cool."

Yeah, it's a mouthful but it's my animality assho- wait, what?

"Hold on... so you don't care I'm a serpent daemon?"

A nod.

"Aaand you don't mind me being in a black pod?"

Another nod.

"Even though I'm a rare mythical creature and super deadly plus a lust daemon??"

Two thumbs up.

I swear to fucking god I actually can't with this guy.

"Anyways... It's my turn to explain so listen up and pay attention kid I'm only explaining once."

That mother fucker really just- "I'm not a kid-"

"Shut up and listen Azazel."

He looked slightly annoyed but still had that annoying grin, it was slightly intimidating.

"Look....okay, I'm from America but not fuckin whatever year it was, I'm from 1716," he looked down, "They were killing any person who had been seen or even accused of being gay... I was one of them. All I wanted was to kiss this lovely merchant who kissed me too but turns out his sister saw and boom. I was killed on the next day."

...

"When I first woke up after that I just saw the dark ceiling of an abandoned building.... necromancers dug up my coffin and performed whatever spell it was to bring me back... they didn't get my dearest, however. After that waking up, everything was gone from my memory except for him."

He's so sad looking even with that grin I swear this man...

"I woke up in 1963," he paused awkwardly trying to remember I think, "it wasn't too bad until I saw the protests and riots but I just wanted to help and yet again everyone turned on me, I ran to the mountains and just hid for a few years and then died a second time, not fun, and now I'm here."

That's so much to unpack dear god, "I'm sorry you never found your partner, I lost mine a while back from a small break-in." I guess confessing is easier than I suspected.

He was a lovely young fella, not much older than me I'd say but certainly a more childish person that I still loved dearly.

Wait.

I'm going to feel bad for asking this "Aren't you technically a daemon then?"

Well, now it's said.

"No, the way they brought me back the second time made sure to keep me a strict vampire like the first guys had made."

Hm, I guess maybe a specific ritual would work but no clue what it is.

I obviously don't study witchcraft or necromancy otherwise I'd find a way to be normal again, but alas I never fuckin studied it.

He seemed really sad though, maybe he just got so pissed off and then remembered some weird shit and got real sad like me when I used to read some old LGBT romance novels.

"That's sad but if you're okay with it then so am I," I said confidently prepared to get my ass handed to me at break but he seemed so calm now I almost trusted him, luckily I remembered the last time I got in trouble with the calm dude. ICU for 4 days is what happened. Big fucker wanted too much coin so I punched him and he fought back.

All I remember was 24 staples and even more stitches.

Oh shit, he was talking, what did he say before though?

"Hey, hey Azazel. I was saying at break we could hang out at the 4th bench?"

A little specific but everything here was specific, "Sure just don't kill me or whatever you do."

Break was this grand old time like recess but worse because at least school wasn't completely sexual, mental, or physical abuse at all times which it is here unless you're lucky or just really smart. Almost everyone in just a few weeks had decided who was the big boss or whatever and they rolled with it but me, being the ignorant shit I am, don't agree and try to fight them every chance I get.

Hiding my animality will be difficult next time I fight though.

"Nah, I won't... Yet." Kevin slowly said making me regret even saying kill... he would have probably said it anyway.

"What's that supposed to mean asshat??"

"Nothing shorty"

"I'm just a teen!"

"Okay, I'm technically nearly or over 300 so I'm an elder, right?"

Where is he going with this...

"Sure I guess, you don't look like it."

"Then be respectful to your elders little bitch," he fucken grinned.

He fucken grinned.

"FUC-"

He quickly changed expression and slammed his hands against the glass to shut me up, it was just then I realized that everyone was asleep.

They all had got their drugs for the night.

The company gave everyone sleeping sedatives at night but you had to administer it yourself.

Everyone took theirs and I could see my needle on the ground next to me.

A needle was right next to my tail.

I pushed my back as close to the glass, away from it, as possible and started hyperventilating.

I can't fucking breathe.

The needle looks so disgustingly close I might pass out but Kevin was saying something.

"Azazel? Azazel! Look at me, don't look at that just look at me. Okay?" He was whispering softly, almost too soft.

I stared blankly at him but couldn't get my mind off of the sharp piece of metal next to me.

Before this I always had it injected for me, I can't physically do it.

It makes me sick just staring at it but I had to focus on Kevin now.

"...Okay..."

"Just focus on my wings and listen to my voice."

His wings?

Why his wings?

Nevermind just do it... god.

"Alright..."

They were slowly coiling in and pushing out to the side in a calm fluid motion. 

As I looked at his eyes they were pink, purple, blue and everything. 

The colours were pulsating and started to go outside his iris, they now surrounded me in their bright ambiguity.

Why are my eyes falling closed?

...

^*^*^*^*^

Everything hurts.

Shit, that stupid vampire made me pass out!

Why does my body hurt so much then? Oh... right, I fucken collapsed at full force to the indestructible floor.

Why did I trust him anyway, he did seem off with that creepy grin.

Crap, I forgot he's my neighbour.

Now I stared at him through his odd slitted pupils.

He was so tired looking but everyone here was like that. Just then, scientists came in through me and his pod and took both of us by our arms, they held him tightly and restricted his neck.

Kevin was probably one of the most dangerous low-level animalitaes. 

Other than me, of courses, but I'm not technically a black pod level, let's just keep that between us.

They took us to a courtyard, the break area.

It was doused in flowers which had set off my horrid allergies almost instantaneously. As the feeling hit I sneezed full force and almost bit off my long tongue with the razorblades called teeth I possess.

Everyone was there, at least everyone in the first 2 levels. Breaks were split up by levels and only reds and oranges had separate 1 level breaks.

It felt different with the less dangerous animalitaes, they weren't trying to kill me and I felt no need to hurt them, it's kind of nice. However, that one intersex dog kid needs to get a good punch right about now.

And there the mother fucker was, at the third bench from the front with 2 other dogs and 3 rats, mother of god I hate this person.

Seriously, rats? The thieving little fucks. You have to be joking.

OF FUCKING COURSE. As I got up Kevin did too and pulled me to the fourth bench just a few feet away from the little group.

"You can do your thing now, just wanted you to have an advantage."

Hold a sec.

He's helping me now?

What happened to knocking me out and yelling at me?

At least I can get the kid now. Just as I got up and took a few steps the dog got up as well and laughed at me.

They were taller by just about my hand length so I could still slap the shit out of them if I wanted to. They then snarled at me showing their 'oh-so sharp' canine teeth. Just to piss them off I grinned sinisterly and showed of my 2 rows of knife-sharp teeth.

No flat teeth for me baby.

I felt a large prick in my neck and tapped the area I felt it. 

A tranquillizer dart.

Oh shit.

(Word Count - 2652)