Sebastian Vaughn slowly stepped through the terminal gate amid a rush of travelers eager to disembark the aircraft. He rubbed his temples to ease the pain of a headache that was threatening to develop into a full blown migraine as he slowly made his way to the baggage claim. Popping a couple Tylenol while waiting for his luggage to appear, he knew full well that they wouldn't do anything to abate the pain that was lancing through his forehead; after all, the other eight hadn’t done anything had they?

Twenty minutes of waiting for his bags to appear amid the jostling crowd only darkened his mood further. The customs line was no better, and by the time Sebastian was free to leave, the youth was in a particularly foul mood. As he walked to the exit, Sebastian scanned the area for any sign of his parents. Instead he found Ahmail striding purposefully towards him.

Ahmail had been with the family almost since Sebastian’s birth and was as much a friend and confidant to the boy as he was manservant, bodyguard and chauffeur. He observed the boy carefully, noting his mood and attitude as he approached. He could sense there was something different about the boy but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “Good morning Sebastian, how are you?” he asked casually.

Instead of answering, Sebastian handed the dark skinned man his heaviest bags and continued towards the exit. If this treatment offended the Arab, he did not show it. After a few steps, and without turning to look at his manservant, Sebastian said, “They aren’t waiting in the car are they.” It was more a statement then a question.

“I’m sorry sir,” was all that Ahmail said in reply as he fell into step behind his young charge. “Sir?” He said a few seconds later. “Are you…alright? What with the accident and then the plane trip back; I’ve been worried about you.”

Sebastian stopped and turned to look at Ahmail, his oldest and closest friend despite being his servant. “I’m sorry old friend, I’ve been rude,” He said softly. “I’m okay but I have a terrible headache. I just want to get home and sleep.” Sebastian gave the man a weak smile and Ahmail just nodded.

“Let’s get you home then sir.”

Sebastian woke with a start as the last vestiges of …something woke him from the rapture of sleep. It was still dark out but a restlessness had overcome him and he couldn’t stay in bed any longer. Sitting up, he glanced around the room looking for the source of his disquiet but everything seemed in order. His desk, laptop, dressers, posters, clothes on the floor, closet, everything was just as he left it when he went to bed.

Sebastian slipped out of bed and threaded his way through the junk of his perpetually messy room when it struck midway to his desk. What was bothering him. He could see in the dark. Not just the gloomy illusion of sight one has when accustomed to the dark, but the clear perception of day.

He stopped in mid stride and soaked in this new awareness. Then it worked, he thought to himself. I really did erupt! Excitedly, Sebastian stepped into his bathroom and flicked the lights on. In the mirror he saw just how much of an understatement his previous thought had been. The image before him was at once familiar and alien. Where he was once a pale skinned 98 pound weakling, he now had the body of a true athlete, one who had spent years working out and exercising. His skin, while still pale was now free of the normal blemishes, blackheads, and acne that most people his age were forced to deal with and there was a light dusting of hair across his chest and down his abs; something Sebastian had always considered sexy on a man. His eyes were now a vibrant blue rather than the pale watery color they were before and he had no need of his contact lenses any longer. His hair, once dull and ratty was now shiny and healthy looking and while still messy; it was that cool, calculated messy look that was all the rage amongst the youth of the day.

Sebastian ran his hands across his body; an act of admiration and self love. He traced the cut lines of his pectorals and abdomen, absentmindedly tweeked his nipples, and traced the muscles and veins down his arms. He noticed for the first time tiny lines, almost like scars on the side of his forearms stretching from his elbows to his wrists and his inner arms and chest felt slightly bumpy, like he had goose bumps. Strange, he thought. Sebastian spent another twenty minutes in front of the mirror admiring his new self before another thought came into his mind.

How am I going to explain this to people? he thought. Mother and Father won’t be happy with this turn of events. They didn’t even like it when I went to get Latency testing. They’ll freak when they find out I lied to them. Sebastian reentered his bedroom and went to his closet. He quickly dressed then stopped as he realized his clothes were too small for his new body. “I’m gonna need a new wardrobe,” he said out loud to no one in particular. “At least my shoes still fit.”

He walked to his bedroom door then stopped and looked to the open window. A smile crossed his face. With two steps and a leap he vaulted through the window and with an effortless flip, landed lightly on the dewy grass two stories below.

“Let’s see what this new body can do.”