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By the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, Victor Frankenstein at length beheld his creation. He could hardly believe it--he had formed life from inanimate matter, brought it into being by combining, shaping, and transforming raw materials. Years of poring over hefty tomes and learning how to manipulate incredibly complex instruments led to this one incredible moment. His heart beat inside his ribcage like thunder; his blood rushed through his veins with such velocity his head spun.
At last, the creature's left eye, still shut, twitched minutely, and an electrifying shiver ran down Victor's spine. For the first time in his life he felt truly alive, not unlike the creature who squirmed on the table below him. In a way, it was as if they were coming alive together, gaining consciousness after a thousand centuries of impenetrable pitch-dark slumber.
"Great heavens! I did not think it would work," he exclaimed, hands trembling with excitement as he gazed on the accomplishment of his toils.
The body in front of him twitched and sighed like a newborn foal, and at length, opened its yellowish eyes to the world. Immediately Victor could tell that, behind them, there was intellect and a child-like vivacity that he had not foreseen. He gasped in awe.
Gradually, the creature's gaze focused, and it regarded its master with what resembled curiosity, and a hint of fear, for he could not know his creator's intent or disposition towards his creation.
The creature slowly reached out a tentative hand, and Victor observed the sallow skin with rapt fascination until its fingertips gently brushed against Victor's cheek, which trembled with emotion.
No, this was no monster. It--he--was capable of reasoning and perhaps even complex sentiment.
"I have desired you with an ardour that far exceeds moderation," whispered Victor, placing his hand atop the creature's on his cheek. "I did not think myself capable of forming such virtuosity, my dear creature, and yet here you are before me."
The creature's head tilted to the side in uncertainty, as the idioms of man were, at this time, still unknown and strange phenomena to him.
"Fear not! You will learn our language and our ways soon enough. For now, I believe you are in dire need of replenishment."
Victor made to leave the room to fetch some bread and a glass of fresh water, but the creature grabbed his forearm to stop him. His grasp was urgent, though not so powerful as to be painful. He did not wish to be left alone.
"My creature, I forget you are but a child, brought into a frightening and confusing world for the first time. How terribly confusing it must be to wake up for the first time, not as an infant, but as fully grown. Here, come with me."
He gestured for his creature to follow and watched as he obeyed easily, swinging his long legs over to the side of the table. He thus stood on his own feet for the first time and allowed himself to be led to the kitchen, fully trusting his benevolent creator. His movements were not uncertain like a child's--quite the contrary--they were lithe and perhaps, in time, could even become graceful, given some practice.
Victor could barely contain his excitement but didn't wish to alarm the creature, so he opted to walk slowly while the creature looked around, visibly mesmerized by every ordinary object and nook of the place. Victor suddenly saw the world through his eyes--the tall window through which the moonlight peered into the room, the colourful tapestries, the high ceiling. Everything must look strange to him, poor thing, but he did not seem excessively frightened by any of these things, which was good.
At last, Victor fetched a loaf of bread, and the creature emitted a grunt, suddenly very interested in that which he was holding.
Victor smiled. "A hearty appetite, I see. Yes, I believe you're going to like this. It's called bread," he said and held out the food for him to take.
The creature's nostrils caught the smell, but instead of grabbing it with his hands, he lowered his head and ate right from his master's hand, which made Victor feel incredibly euphoric. The creature's tongue was wet and hot on his palm as it lapped at the crumbs with vigorous licks, but his otherworldly eyes were fixed on Victor.
"Good boy," Victor praised and raised his other hand to caress the creature's corvine hair. It was silky and lustrous, and utterly entrancing. "Take it all."
"Bread," the creature repeated, and Victor could have leapt with joy. The voice was low, guttural, a deep noise coming straight from his bosom.
"Wonderful!" he exclaimed with devotion.
The creature could have attacked Victor and easily broken him, for he was much stronger than his creator. But this astute being standing in front of him right now was not a fiend or a daemon. He was not a brute; he was a person, and like any respectable person, Victor decided he deserved not only food and shelter but also an education. And Victor would provide him with everything and more: history, geography, philosophy; words may never describe how joyful he felt at the prospect, for he had no doubt his creature was capable of learning all of it. Perhaps, one day, he would even learn to create his own companion, were he so inclined!
Victor thrust a glass of water in his direction, but the creature looked unsure what to do with it.
"You must drink," cried Victor, but the creature stared at him quizzically. He demonstrated the motion, which seemed to do the trick. The creature brought the glass to his dark lips and sucked. Victor's eyes travelled down to his throat and watched his Adam's apple bob once, twice. "Very good. How resourceful you are."
Victor felt immediately responsible for his creature's well-being and happiness, not unlike a mother, attentive and careful of his babe's every need. The thought made him laugh, but it was not untrue. One must always bear his duties with grace and fulfil them; this was what his beloved father had taught him, and he would one day impart this precious knowledge to his creature.
Life is only a gift if one is taken care of--if he is loved, appreciated, and praised for his strengths. Life is bountiful only when nourished and respected.
Victor did not feel like a god. He hadn't cheated nature nor perfected it. He'd simply brought into this world something which hadn't been there before, and he was glad of it.
"Now, let's get you some clothes, shall we?"
The creature stared attentively as Victor rummaged through his wardrobe, and while he found a pair of trousers that would fit, there was no shirt big enough for his large ribcage and prominent pectoral muscles. Why hadn't he prepared for that? Victor chastised himself for being so careless, for neglecting to consider this practical quotidien aspect. Alas, the creature was to remain shirtless and shoeless until he procured something more suitable, which would be quite the undertaking.
Victor attempted to manhandle the creature into the trousers, but it proved arduous without assistance and required strenuous effort on his part. As he did so, he had been so focused on the task at hand he had failed to notice the tent forming in the crotch area. When he saw it, he chuckled.
Confusion coloured the creature's countenance with something that looked surprisingly similar to embarrassment. But it couldn't be, as he had been alive for less than an hour, and surely, he couldn't already know what that was and what it meant, but the creature did seem rather alarmed by the sudden bodily reaction, which surprised and amused Victor immensely.
"A man through and through!" he said gayly, and watched the creature relax his broad shoulders, almost as if he understood that Victor was not upset, nor repulsed.
And so they began their life together.