On summer break during her first year of college, her mother took her to a tomb she was studying, so that Nebari could practice some of the skills she needed to become an archeologist like her mother. Nebari discovered a beautiful dagger in a hidden area, and decided to add it to her personal collection.
She had strange dreams that night, and awoke feeling odd in the morning. After her shower, as she looked in the mirror while styling her hair, she noticed the fangs she now had. Surprised, she touched them, finding them very sharp, giving herself a slight cut on her finger. When she sucked on the wound, she discovered the taste to be exquisite, almost addicting.
She had no hunger for breakfast, and went outside instead, finding there were many bats resting in a tree just outside her window. She found the sun painfully bright and quickly retreated inside again. She lay down on the sofa for the time being, dozing off quickly. She slept past lunch and supper, waking again at nightfall. Her feet felt odd, and she found her shoes destroyed, her feet transformed into something like a bird, but with a large killing claw that raised above the others on each foot. Another look in the mirror showed a strange violet aura around her.
Nebari armed herself with her new dagger and a whip. She glanced out the window before heading outside, making certain no neighbors were out to see her. As she left, the bats took flight, seeming to want to follow her. They constantly swooped and dove around her, some gliding high, others staying closer to her. She could not understand this strange behavior of the flying mammals, but it didn’t bother her. She actually rather liked the company.
As she walked beneath the light of the full moon, she felt a strange thirst forming, unlike a normal desire for water. She felt a craving for the taste she had that morning, a taste for the lovely crimson elixir known as blood. The first person she crossed paths with screamed at the sight of her. Before Nebari knew what she was doing, she lunged, attacking the poor soul that had happened in her sight. It was mere moments before the young woman was dead in Nebari’s arms. She stared at the corpse, surprised that she felt no remorse for this sudden action. She dropped the woman, glad that her craving had ceased for the moment.
She continued down the street, noticing a store that had what many would call ‘gothic’ clothing. Without thinking twice she broke in, going through the various things that she always had admired, but could not usually afford. She found a circlet with bat wings on it, and tried it on. Looking in the mirror, she decided she liked the look of it with her ever changing form. Nebari grabbed a couple of other items she was fond of, changing her clothing before departing to continue walking the streets.
Her thoughts wandered, and she realized quickly that nobody could accept this strange new person she was becoming. However, she also found she did not care. She was enjoying the freedom she felt now, and the only company she wanted now was the bats that followed her around. It took no time at all for her to decide to visit the tomb again, to see if there was anything else she could find.
Her mother returned home to find her daughter missing, and soon reported her as such. That was a great many years ago, and Nebari was never found. Few know what happened that night, perhaps I am the only one. But, I shall not be telling anyone of what I saw. Not because I don’t want to speak of it, but because I cannot.
After all, I am just a cat.
