Nothing human loves forever

My brother hasn't been feeling well.

His teeth ache. His throat feels swollen and weird. Other than these two mild symptoms, he can't readily say what's bothering him. But he feels shitty in numerous other unnamable ways.

No fever and no loss of appetite, but his doctor sentenced he was too thin and pale and had him tested for anemia, among other things. In other words, he had no clue of what's wrong with my brother.

But I know the truth. He's actually turning into a vampire.

Unfortunately, deep inside I do know it'll turn out to be some boring old thing, like anemia. But is it all that demented that I do entertain the notion when some of the classic signs are there? He's pale but his lips look abnormally red; he claims to be hungry all the time but becomes apathic when he eats; even the other day he told me he was laying off the garlic lately because it hurts his stomach!

Just like six years ago, I worked for a family company that were direct descendents of the people of Innsmouth. In that case all the signs were there; they even had some sort of secret symbol company language. I became so convinced I was actually afraid to be left alone with a member of the top management.

Oh, well. It makes a weekend interesting, anyway.