the blood of a demon

"I am sorry, Alex. I really am." said mother elf umpteenth time.

Even others had started feeling sorry for her, yet Alex had a complicated gaze on his face.

"Alright, this matter finished right here. Since it's already the 24th, we have to plan Christmas night.

So let's take a rest for a while. We all are looking tired.' said Mike coming in between, as the matter was just getting dragged.

"Oh, I am afraid, we could not do that," said Saint Nicholas in between. "We had to go back, I am here to take Evelyn back," he replied with a kind smile.

"Huh" Mike looked at the man and then at Evelyn who was biting her lips again.

"So when would you come back?" he asked again, but this time the question was directed to Evelyn.

"I am afraid, but I will not come back," she replied, still biting her lips.

"Why?" he asked, disheartened.

"Because I have to go back to my native place," she replied, averting her gaze from him.

"But you said that you belong from here." he continued.

As Anna and Alex looked at both of them alternatively.

"You said that dear?" asked Saint Nicholas surprised.

"Well my father is from here, but my mother is from the north, and there was an emergency so I am going there." she clarified both men as they nodded.

"But you will come back someday right." he pleaded again.

Evelyn looked at Saint Nicholas who smiled, as she nodded.

"I will come back every year, Mike," she replied smiling. As finally, a smile crept up to his lips too.

"As he would wait for that much," Alex mumbled under his breath and Anna giggled.

So as a smile crept out of Evelyn and Saint Nicholas' faces. Their smile made Alex bewildered; he was sure he had spoken very low. Mike who was closer to him was not able to hear it. Then how did they hear it? Or was there any other reason?

"Alex dear, Evelyn told me that Bella is your tenant?" asked Saint Nicholas and Alex nodded.

'Do you know anything about her family?" he asked Alex again.

While Alex just shook his head, Bella who was busy making a burger like the whole conversation had nothing to do with her stopping. Her grip on the bun tightened. She looked at Saint Nicholas in an accusing gaze who ignored her completely.

"No sir, we did not know. She is... She has some problem with remembering them." he tried his best to explain simply without saying anything bad for Bella.

Even Anna who was giggling got serious and listened attentively.

"Then child, how would you be able to take care of her whole life, we run an orphanage, if you do not mind we can take Bella there." he offered with a smile.

Alex fist tight end, he wanted to deny but at the same time, he did not want to take the decisions of Bella's life. So he looked at the girl, hoping she would deny it herself.

But the girl was silent, she didn't speak a word. Did she want to be with them? This thought bought a bitter taste in his mouth. He didn't even realise when his face turned sour.

"Why would Bella go to an orphanage? She is not an orphan. We are her family." spoke Anna holding Bella's hand.

Well, she did not want to cut them as they were all elders then her. But she did not have a choice when no one spoke. Mike nodded following Anna.

"Yeah, take it as we had already adopted her."

Bella tilted her head towards both of them as a smile crept on her lips. Her smile was mesmerising enough to blind everyone. Even Evelyn and Saint Nicholas were surprised looking at the affection between them.

"But she could not live here forever," stated Saint Nicholas.

Alex, who was smiling looking at the affection, turned his head back at Saint Nicholas. This time he had confidence that Bella wanted to stay with them, "why not?" he asked tilting his head, "she is happy here."

Saint Nicholas was taken aback by the tone Alex had used. He was a polite man yet this time his tone was cold.

"Well, you will have your family soon."

"And Bella will be part of it'' added Alex cutting Saint Nicholas in midway, "I am thankful for thinking about Bella, but she already had a family here" his voice was hard enough to tell there was no room for discussion.

Though he could see the family loved Bella and had a good attachment with her, Saint Nicholas was still not satisfied at leaving a demon there. So he continued, "but Alex.."

"I will not go with you." Finally, Bella spoke clenching her fists, she had dug nails on her skin so hard that her finger started dripping blood.

Evelyn held Saint Nicholas's arm to stop him from arguing further.

Alex finally took a breath of relief as the matter died down, but Anna's voice made him tense again.

"Oh my good Bella, how did you hurt your hand?" screamed Anna as she ran in the room to bring a band-aid.

Alex looked at Bella's hand and took her fingers and put it in his mouth to stop the flowing of blood. He sucked her blood without thinking about the people who were looking at him stunned.

Mike was happily surprised by Alex's care towards Bella but the same could not be said for the other two. As they were shocked senseless.

No matter how much her emotions changed, Bella was still a demon and her blood was poisonous for human beings. It may corrode them if it touches their skin. What more Alex was directly sucking it from her hands. 

There was no way it would not hurt his internal organs. He would die anytime soon. Anna came back with the band-aid and laughed.

"You should have told me you wanted to stop blood like that, I would not have tried to find a band-aid." her voice was teasing as she winked at Alex.