Chapter 15 - Dirty Needle

"I am not going to give you my blood," Eloise firmly refused him.

"W—what, but we had a promise miss. I need it for research. It's just a little. It won't affect your health at all," Fred tried convincing her, but she silently peered at him. "Is something bothering you....."

"yes, it bothering me too much," she said coldly.

"Please explain miss,"

Eloise pointed to his equipments. "I am not letting any of those near me,"

Fred laughed a little. "I know this. Miss you might have a fear for needles. I have dealt with patients with similar symptoms. They tremble when they see the needle," he held the syringe high with a wide smile. 'So even she has a weakness huh,'

"I don't fear needles,"

"It might seem less of you to agree about your fears, but if you talk about it, I might be able to help you overcome...." she stopped him mid-sentence.

"I am no letting such a dirty thing near me," Eloise firmly said, glaring at the needle. 'Fucking tip still had residual blood. He wants to poke me with that. Nah-ha, not happening dude,'

Fred was perplexed for a moment. "miss.... I don't think I understand."

"You needle sire, its contaminated. Don't you know that a contaminated needle like that can spread disease? I knew something was wrong when you asked for my blood. So this is you ulterior motive, huh? You wanted me to fall sick and die,"

"M—miss.... I think you misunderstood something. I have no intention of harming you miss, and I cleaned my needle with clean soap and a towel. It is squeaky clean," Fred assured.

"Oh is it," she took it from his hand and glanced at it from all sides. "Odette, bring me my sewing needle," she shouted for the maid outside to hear. "Sire till then please hide your things,"

Fred did so without a word. Inside him, slightly angry that she accused him of bringing a dirty needle. 'I even brought her my favourite needle just for today,' he pouted.

Odette came in and gave the needle to her and left

"Sire Fred, please take a good look," her sewing needle was smaller compared to the 2mm needle. She easily inserted it. As soon as she took it out, her sewing needle was covered in dark brown flakes. "See, dirty,"

"How!!" Fred ran to her and took the sewing needle from her hand. The brown flakes smelled like blood. "It really is blood,"

"If that had gotten in my blood stream I might have been infected with blood transferable disease. As a doctor I thought you might be aware," she said coldly. 'Yeah, here I thought you were a modern doctor. How come you don't even know about common hygiene? Is he really a doctor then?' she thought sceptically glancing at him.

"Miss..... its....I have a new needle...."

"Sorry, but I don't think I wish to give my blood anymore," she said with a dazzling smile.

Fred sank onto the couch with a sigh. "But at least tell me what this infection you were talking about. What is a blood transferable disease?"

Eloise narrowed her eyes a little. 'Shit, this guy doesn't even know about this...is this place more backward than I had anticipated?' she cleared her throat. "Once I met a travelling healer in Sicily. He was a nomad with no place to stay. One rainy day he took shelter near my house. I invited him in and gave him hot water...."

"Miss, I asked about something else," he said scratching his head.

"Silence, don't interrupt my story," she said, but inside she was panicking. If she did not give a proper reason to this guy would he definitely think weird of her. 'I heard that in ancient times they even burned girls suspecting that they are witches,' she gulped and continued with her outrageous story. "We had a few cows in our pasture and they all got sick that day. That kind old man took care of them. He saw them at one look at them and told us to separate the sick form the healthy."

"Yes, that's a normal procedure we do that all the time,"

"Listen please, we did not listen to him and all the cows became sick the next day. That's when I thought, if sickness could spread through air can't it spread via blood as well?" she said with a thoughtful expression. She subtly glanced his way. 'Ah, he is deep in thought. I think I might have convinced him,'

The doctor nodded. "I think your conviction is right, but there is no proof."

"That..... I know of a test that can help prove this. Why don't you get two rats? One sick and another healthy. Try poking the sick one with your needle and use the same needle on the healthy one." Eloise said confidently. Inside, she was trembling in fear. 'Done for...I really have no knowledge if common cold can be transmitted by blood or not, but I only know of Hiv and aids are....'

"Then I shall do that," Fred got up immediately he packed up all his stuff and left mumbling to himself.

Madam Miller waved him off at the door. "See you soon sire," closing the door she smirked at Eloise. "Eloise, my darling, tell mum what did you both talk about so secretly. You even sent out Odette,"

"Business mum. I am trying to make us rich again," Eloise said with a doting smirk.

"We already have enough gold to marry you off to a rich man, darling. Don't over work yourself. no, I stand corrected, you can definitely work with that fine man." She said winking.

Eloise just laughed. 'I bet he won't come here again,'

Contrary to her belief, he came back again the crack of dawn. Odette tiredly opened the door.

"I need to see Miss Eloise please," he said excitedly.

"Sire, it's too early. Miss is asleep," Odette said and closed the door. Besides, if she let this man in the in so late at night it would only make people's tongue wag.

Disappointed, Fred ran back to his trusted friend. He knocked loudly.

"What, what!! What do you want now?" Raymond shouted with a frown. He was just about to go to sleep after doing mountains of paperwork. This annoying guy came knocking again. Suddenly he saw a big bag in his hand. He plucked it from his hand and excitedly ran to the table. He set up a goblet. Even lit a scented candle. "I bet it will taste delicious, just like that little kitten,"

"Rats don't taste like cats," Fred mumbled and sat opposite him.

"Eh?" Raymond gave him a weird look. "You really have lost your mind," he opened the bag to find two rat corpses inside. "What is this!!! Where is my blood?"

Fred blinked. "Oh, I forgot. I was up all night researching this new topic. You know, I never knew that disease could spread through blood. Even a small tainted needle is enough to..."

"Enough! Where! Is! My! Blood!" Raymond growled loudly. He had stayed up so late just waiting to taste it, but.... this guy. 'Should I just kill him... no his grandfather will roll in his grave of he knew,' he gritted his teeth and tossed his bag to his feet. "Get lost. I have no energy to deal with it,"

Fred pouted. "It's not like I forgot intentionally. I went to her this evening, but she firmly refused to give her blood,"

"I thought you said she was willing,"

"She was until yesterday,"

Raymond gritted his teeth. "That kitten, how could she refuse to....I ought to give her a private audience," he smirked wildly.

Seeing his terrifying smirk, Fred gulped. 'one monster is going to head butt against another monster. Who will win?'