C6 6

“Can you bring me a book tomorrow?”

“You want me here tomorrow?”

She recoiled.

“I’m sorry.” She said wearing a sad face.

He immediately realized that he had hurt her feelings and quickly replied with a “No! No! No! No! I’d loved to actually.” He then smiled.

As he walked back to his room, he was all smiles they had talked some more about many things. Things that didn’t matter at all, and he had felt refreshed.

And for the first time in a while, he felt pretty good about himself and everything. He then instead of going to his room, decided to go to his class. He was willing to endure the history class because of how good he felt. As he got there he’s history master Mr. Lionel, a very old wrinkled wolf was already leaving.

He felt bad for having kept him waiting but he wasn’t going to let the man go without him at least teaching him the history of werewolves again. He didn’t want to have to explain to his father why he didn’t get to class when Mr. Lionel reported to him.

So he begged the poor man to at least give him 30 minutes of his time. The class was originally meant for two hours.

The man agreed and he was grateful. As the lecture went on and progressed, all he could think of was this mystery girl who by the way he realized he hadn’t asked what her name was. He thought of all the things he would bring as he visited her tomorrow and he felt so excited he couldn't wait for the day to end.

That night before Naomi Cobalt went home, she made sure she went to see Arayah with an evening snack.

Poor girl Naomi thought.

She probably hadn't had anything to eat yet. She had gotten used to taking care of the girl that sometimes when work took her time, she worried endlessly for the young vampire.

She prepared a morsel of freshly baked bread and slit her wrist, allowing her blood to flow into a cup. When it was about half a cup, she took care of her injury with a first-aid kit. She felt light-headed, but she had gotten so used to the feeling that it was not so bad anymore. She made a mental note to bring the girl the chicken wings and two blood bags, just as she had promised. She would have to steal those from the werewolf infirmary, but she didn’t care. Even if she would get caught. It would be time for the guard to switch turns on their shift and it was the best time to visit her.

Some of them already knew her and had grown accustomed to her coming by, but she still needed to be careful. The last thing she needed was to be suspended again. She was not worried for herself, but because she never wanted the girl to go through the agony of spending one year without care and nutrition again.

Arayah was feeling thirsty.

She needed blood.

She felt as though her intestines were at war and were tugging at themselves.

The hunger she felt as a vampire was always so ravaging and blinding.

During her first year, when she arrived here, her body grew so accustomed to the lack of blood and she got used to the feeling of being weak and she had begun to decay. But she wouldn’t die because of her ability.

The huger was normal life then. But now as her body had to adjust to her blood diet again and she had gotten much older, that blood had to become more intense.

She wondered why Naomi was yet to arrive. But she knew that the lady won’t leave her hanging for no reason.

When she felt hunger this strong, focusing intensely on other thoughts helped her. It left no room for her body to feel, and it affected her less, by thinking about other things. It had been a new room for escape for her. She had had to learn this after the blood thirst had abode with her and refused to leave her. As a young vampire, she was not supposed to go through that much. This time around, she thought of her new friend and she couldn’t help but smile at the talk they had. She remembered when the boy mentioned his father with a sad look in his eyes. He had looked sad but looking deep in his eyes, she noticed a hint of anger in them. She didn't want to seem rude when he first walked in, but she had seen how red and watery his eyes had been, when he widened them at the sight of her.

She knew he couldn’t just be possibly crying at the sight of her. Something might have hurt him and he had been crying. He obviously had been having a bad day and she, not wanting to impose, asked the question, “Tea or coffee?”

She wanted to be friendly instead of being intrusive. She thought about all these things for a while, and still in her thinking she notice the familiar feel of Naomi’s presence.

She’s finally here. Arayah screamed in her head.

And just like that, the hunger came back with full force. She perceived the blood before it even arrived. Her eyes became bloodshot and her blood thirst became even more intense.

Naomi got there and gave them to her.

“Here you go. Make sure not to spi…” Arayah had downed the blood already before she got a chance to finish her sentence.

“You know I get really dizzy when I draw blood out. I wouldn’t like for all that suffering to go to waste.”

Naomi smiled as she said this. The young girl was finally feeling satisfied and was now more relaxed.

“Thank you.” Arayah said.

“You are welcome my dear.”

“How was your day today?”

“I should be asking you. You are the one locked up in a dungeon.”

“Yeah, but you came quite late today. I’m just concerned that’s all.”

Naomi was deeply touched. She could have shed a tear, but she just managed a simple,

“Thank you.” She continued, “Well, what actually happened was that, the warriors in the park had a meeting and I was stuck with serving.”

“Wow, it must be nice!” Arayah exclaimed.

“What’s that the serving?”

“Having so much to do. I don’t have anything to do and it’s exhausting.”

She did a fake swoon.

Naomi laughed. “You’re the only child I have seen that wants to work.”

“I’m the only child you’ve seen that’s locked up.” Arayah replied, smiling and looking down.

Naomi immediately regretted saying that. She didn’t want to give the little vampire reasons to feel bad about her predicament. Sometimes she wished she wouldn’t have to say anything about life outside, but the stubborn vampire would always want to know. She didn’t blame her after all she was stuck in a box not knowing when she will be released.

“You haven’t had your bread yet. It’s freshly baked.”

“Oh yeah!” she said feeling excited.

Naomi loved those little moments with Arayah the most, when she enjoyed food and ate well.

“Guess what?” Arayah said between bites.

“I will, but finish your food first.”

“I promise you, you won’t be able to guess this one.”

“Alright… what is that?”

“I found out a new ability of mine today.”