Chapter Twenty-Five: Blood Sucker.

Being alone with the vampire again gives me this odd sensation. It is like the world has stopped. Time has paused. My mind is not swarming uncomfortably with thoughts. I can focus for once without struggle.

My eyes blink up to his for the first time in a while. They're a beautiful green shade, like spring leaves; a reminder of the moment I escaped. Green. Freedom. The man in front of me reminds me of freedom.

Maybe having a slave isn't too bad after all. I haven't felt so alone like I had been, and I hope he's enjoyed my company as well. We both would be in the hands of the Hunters if it wasn't for each other. In some way he helped save my family, and we helped save him. This is something I will never forget. I'd love to show my gratitude, but I'm unsure how.

Now, being alone with him makes me feel much calmer; although in the back of my mind the words from others replay repeatedly. Vampires drink blood. Perry could hurt me. He could kill me. But, these are not my fears, they are other people's. I do my best to shake it off knowing that they're getting into my head.

"Shall we go back?" Perry suggests.

The urge to go close to him eats away at me, making me have almost a need to do so. I need to understand the feeling of his touch because it does feel like magic. It's a rush through my body.

I eyes him up and down about to agree but something makes me stop, "Not yet!" I try to stall and suddenly come up with a fib, "We need to talk about some other things..."

The two moments we were alone today truly made me feel different; alive. There's this feeling when we touch that is inexplainable, some sort of magic. This has convinced me that Perry must be the man the Hunters were talking about. Sadly, for our safety we shouldn't risk becoming close. I have to send him away before the Hunters come back for us.

I gesture towards his hands that have sores from being burned from the sun, "Is there any way we can heal your burns faster?"

I'm not a talker but his skin is starting to concern me, so we must make a conversation out of it. The vampire needs to be taken care of as much as my wound does; and I refuse to let him deal with it on his own.

Perry looks at his burnt hands in disgust, "My body is not healing or functioning at it's normal speed."

"Why?"

"Being on Earth for so long causes me to be sick, and so this means my vampire powers will strain; including my ability to heal quickly. Additionally, I am in need of blood, which the lack of drains my powers as well..."

I let my mouth fall opwn as my eyes shoot up to his green ones. This is the first time we have had this discussion; blood. He drinks blood. I know this, but him stating it makes this way more realistic. I can't pretend anymore that he's just like me; this man is a completely different creature.

My mind rewinds to the moment we were hiking back through the woods. I was loosing too much blood but the vampire was not phased by it. He did not go into a frenzy like anyone would assume; and now I'm more suprised since he's lacking blood in his system.

In the moment I was fixated on his hand covered in my blood, and the unhumanly strength he possessed when he ripped his shirt to wrap my leg. He acted quite normal to me, nothing dangerous at all.

Now, the bottom of his old shirt reveals his lower stomach, where he tore his hem to aid me. He needs some better clothes, I note to ask my cousin or brother if they'd lend him anything.

Curious I suddenly question, "What happened to you? What happened to your life?"

The vampire beside me frowns deeply, "I was banished from my home."

Immedietly my concern for him rises. Not only is he not allowed to travel back home, he may have committed an awful crime that caused him to become banished and turned into a slave.

"What happened to your family?"

"I haven't seen them since I left. It has been so long I don't remember what they look like, even though vampires are known to have an incredible memory. It has been so long, it's possible they're dead."

Relating with this man makes me forget all about his banishment, and instead I want to comfort him. No one should have to deal with the loneliness that comes with being left behind. This is something that I know too well, a frightening aspect of life.

"When we get back to Elyria tomorrow let's find out where your family is." I suggest.

The blond vampire looks at me in udder shock, "Miss Elenor, I serve you. It is my duty." He sighs, "You must not waste your time on me."

Before I can respond he stands, "We should go back before the others come looking for us."

"I don't want to..." For the first time I want to let out my thoughts, a raw exposure of my mind. I sigh, "I dislike being around this many people, I'm not used to it."

"Do they hurt you?"

"No, they treat me very well. It's just too overwhelming with everybody at once." I take a small second to gather my thoughts, "I'm not comfortable around Leddy. She has a big attitude and when she lashes out it upsets me."

I hear footsteps close by, someone is sneaking up on us.

He agrees, "She is very rude to me, it is too much. I don't know what she has against me."

I get to my feet and turn over my shoulder to catch Leddy standing in the doorway. I feel sick knowing there's no way she didn't hear us talking about her.

"You're nose is too crooked."

My heart sinks and this time I reach out and successfully take Perry's wrist allowing the tingling sensation to shoot up my forearm. I want to charge forward and deck my petite fist into Leddy's face but I don't.

I swallow the lump in my throat and blurt out, "We don't care what your opinion is, Leddy. I think he is handsome."

My cheeks become hot and I look away from her to lock my eyes on Perry.

"Yeah, a disgusting blood sucker like him..." She huffs, "A slave."

I'm about to open my mouth but she continues, "Vampires are known for their ways of manipulation, did you know that? No because you have no memories." She taunts.

And with that I let go of Perry's arm, entirely enraged. Within seconds I storm in front of Leddy with my hands in fists. The rush of adrenaline is strong that I can't take the pressure off my leg, which is in an immense amount of pain.

"You need to leave!"

Finally, behind her, Abe and Luke have approached. Both men look concerned and now I feel safe knowing they'll support me.

"Leddy..." Abe starts, grabbing her arm, "Let them be."

His calm temperament doesn't slow down her fury, "Let go of me!"

"You are being too much." His voice lowers.

With that he pushes her out of the doorway and she storms off. Luke's head follows her as she goes out of view. He looks back at us with hysterically wide eyes and an open mouth.

Abe looks me in the eye, "She doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut for her own good..." The tenseness in my shoulders begins to relax. "...Her controversial beliefs come from where we are from. They are stupid, but I can not change her."

His opposite personality from Leddy's is entirely comforting, but shocking.

Perry looks down, ashamed, "No, she's right."

I'm alarmed by his words but can't let out a voice.

"Any vampire can manipulate another creature easily," He confesses. "I can drink blood from a body and make them enjoy it." His frown deepens and he still doesn't look at me.

"It doesn't matter to me."

"I am a monster."

I feel his pain deep into my soul, my heart feels for him, "Just because you are a vampire doesn't mean your a monster. There is nothing wrong with being who you are." For the first time I know what to say, I'm not a complete jumbled mess. I don't studder, "You are safe now, you are free. You don't have to abide by my rules, I don't see you as my slave. You are a person."

I finally make him smile.

****

We walk back in on a conversation about Elyrian creatures. Only some of us still remain, such as Abe, Koda, Luke, Jane, Estelle and Lynn.

Estelle states, "I didn't see any wierd animals or creatures when we were there."

The thought suddenly reminds me of the talking rabbit that had been following me. I definitely have come across a strange creature, and he was on Earth.

"You did, you just didn't know it. They're hidden everywhere." Koda declares, "Some are extremely dangerous, some stay in their own kingdoms and others can't travel through the portal."

"So this means we might not see them?" Estelle thinks out loud.

"Exactly." Jane agrees.

"How large is Province anyway? You've said it's safe, so it must be big enough to keep the scary creatures out right?"

"Our continent that Provenice is on is the largest land mass on Elyria." Koda informs us, "And we have smaller ones around us."

Jane adds, "Well, the land that is considered Province is very large, but we also have a few kingdoms close by. Our continent is the safest, other than the land at the top of us."

"That's where I am from." Abe gives a dark stare.

"Other islands and small continents have foreign languages, but still are required to know a for of English."

Estelle adds, "How do you travel to the other continents? There's no way of flight?"

Koda shakes his head, "The only transportation that exists for across the sea is a boat. Thankfully we have a prototype of a steamboat that we've used since the 1800's. But on land the best transportation is a carriage or foot."

Luke groans in annoyance, "But horses are difficult to come by, so it is more likely you'll be walking."

"Horses don't last long." Jane says.

"What do you mean they don't last?" Estelle's face falls, she appears to be horrified.

"They dissapear and get killed, we've always assumed it's been the banchees that were brought from Ithorne across the sea."

The discussion gets deeper and although I want to be alone I know I can't miss out on any information. It is important that I learn as much as I can about Elyria and magic before we go back tomorrow. My biggest fear is that I will unknowingly run into danger or a stranger will think I'm human.

I learn that most families have the same types of powers, but instead mine is unique with a rare variety of powers. The magic running through our veins makes us different from the rest of the creatures on the planet, and that we are not considered mixed breeds of hybrid. It's unknown what's the base of our blood.

Eventually Lynn restreats, asking for someone to show her the way to a bedroom. She's told a bedroom on the far wing of the house is where her and Estelle can stay. I decide it's my turn to find a bed as well but before I can say a single word someone interrupts.

Where are you going?" Koda asks our cousin as he begins to follow Lynn.

"We are going to the library before bed." Luke informs us.

"Oh really!" Koda says, raising his eyebrows, "And what would you two be doing in the library?"

Luke is about to say some smart remark, but Lynn cuts him off, "Reading of course."

"Let me come."

Luke stops in his tracks, "Um, No..." He sounds almost panicked. "I want to be alone."

"Oh really?" Koda stands.

"Yes!" My cousin's ears become red and his baby blues widen.

From what I have gathered about him is that he can be a rebel, so in this situation he might be making a move on Lynn. Luke is risky, likes action, and danger; unlike Koda who likes to reason or listen to others instead. My brother must assume something.

"And if I came?"

Suddenly my thoughts spiral, are these two fighting over Lynn?

Lynn signs, "Koda," Her eyes stare at him, "I will be fine."

He nods and then backs off, while Luke flips him off. I've never seen these two act so childish when they're trying to get their way.

Once they've gone, Koda groans, "If he gets his way, he will have his first ever human girlfriend from Earth."

Jane speaks up, "She's Elyrian in some way, after all she's got some sort of power." She shakes her head, "If I were her I'd smack him."