"You think this will really work?" Ki asked, as Mr. Crepsley told her of his way to track down Merlot.
"It should. It's worked for me before, so I don't see how it would fail now." Mr. Crepsley set the piece of glass down, and leaned back.
"Well, you aren't exactly a genius," Darren replied, grinning.
"My superior knowledge could trump yours, any day." Mr. Crepsley threw a pillow at Darren.
"You two are worse than two year olds." Ki said.
"True," Mr. Crepsley paused. "But even two year olds, aren't as anal as Darren."
"I hope you got yourself a hotel room." Darren said.
"Yes, in fact, I did. I should probably get going, anyhow." Mr. Crepsley got up, gave Ki a hug, and left.
Ki looked at Darren, and hit him in the shoulder.
"Owww! What the hell was that for?!" Darren asked, rubbing his shoulder.
"You could've offered him dinner, or something." Ki grinned at Darren's discomfort.
"He'll find something." Darren paused for a moment. "When we were talking earlier…What did you mean by 'so many hospitals'?"
Ki shook her head. "It's nothing big. In the past. You know?"
"Ki, c'mon. Tell me."
"Darren, please," Ki said softly. "I really don't want to right now. Please?"
"We all have to do things that we don't want to, Ki."
"Gruesome truth or what I tell everybody?"
"Let's try both," Darren replied. "There are two sides to every story."
Ki took off the leather wristbands, she was wearing. She looked at the intricate designs on them. She set them down on her lap.
"Well?" Darren asked.
"The wristbands are for wrist support. Can't go getting carpel tunnel while tracking down a murderer, can I?" Ki smiled nervously.
"What you tell everybody."
Ki reluctantly handed her hands to Darren. He looked at the row of neat scars that lined her wrists. All looking like they were deep.
"Three separate hospitals. After my parents died," Ki retracted her arms from Darren. "None of them helped. So I resorted to this. Stupid, isn't it? Vampires are strong, powerful, beings. And dumb old me, I did this."
Ki looked at Darren, then quickly looked down at her hands.
"And you call yourself weak?" Darren asked softly.
"Obviously." Ki held up one of her wrists. "Do you see this Darren? See these scars? This is what I've become!"
"No." Darren sighed. "Do you want to know what I see? I see a beautiful person, who holds a lot of pain. I see a person that is trying so hard to do what she out to do."
Ki gave a small laugh. "Nice try, Darren. Tell me a lie that I will actually believe."
"I'm not lying."
"Just shut up," Ki walked to the balcony. "I don't want to talk to you right now."
"Ki –"
Ki held up her hand, and Darren knew she was serious.
'Why are you so hesitant? You like her, and you know it!' Darren thought to himself.