Chapter XV

Blood..

Ariel rested in the middle of a field. Evra and Darren were close by, and the three of them had just finished their chores not too long ago. The grass was poking the side of her face. She turned over, and watched as clouds past by.

Her stomach hurt like hell. She felt so hungry, and normal food wouldn't fix her appetite. She knew what she needed..

Blood. Human blood.

But she couldn't. She wouldn't.

To take her mind of the hunger eating away at her, Ariel closed her eyes, and started thinking about the few pleasant childhood memories she had. Oh, how she had rushed it. She remembered how, when she was little, all she wanted was to grow up and get out.

She had no idea how harsh adulthood would be. Adults told her it would be rough, but they had no idea just how rough it would be for her.

I'll die. Ariel told herself. The vampirism in her veins was fighting the human blood.

Far too human to let go..

Childish dreams and memories drifted in her mind, until everything slowly turned numb.

I saw her lying in the middle of grass. Was she sleeping? Just to make sure, me and Evra walked over to her.

"Ariel?"

She could hear her name being called. It seemed so far away.

"Arieeell?" Evra called.

"ARIEL!" He shouted this time.

She jumped up, snapping awake. "What?"

He laughed softly. "We're gonna take a walk. You wanna come?"

Ariel sighed then stood. "Fine, I'll come."

We had circled the woods around the campsite and were almost back when we realized something.

I stopped and looked behind me. Ariel was gone.

"Evra..?"

"What?" He stopped walking as well.

"Wasn't Ariel walking behind us?"

"Yeah, she-" He stopped and frowned.

She wasn't here.

"Ariel?" I called. We traced our steps, shouting her name. It would be pretty hard to find her if she was hurt..

There was a fire burning in her stomach. Ariel raised her head from the grass, and slowly stood.

"What happened..?" She asked herself, looking around.

She had no idea where she was.

"Wh-" Ariel winced and fell back down, a sudden dizzy feeling in her head. It felt like she was on one of those twister rides at the boardwalk, only five times faster. She tried screaming, but nothing came out. All she could do was shut her eyes tightly, as she dug her nails into the soil.

Slowly, the hellish feeling came to an end. Still, there was a horrible pain, but her vertigo had ended. Her white knuckles slowly loosened, slowly opening, letting the dirt spill from her palms.

"Are you okay..?" She heard a soft voice ask. This caught her off guard, and she snapped her head up, looking around.

She hated strangers, and most adults. Hate, hate, hate, hate. Whoever was watching better get the hell away.

Ariel got to her feet, and stood still, waiting for the vertigo to come back. But, it never did. Yay.

"Who's there?" She called. Turning her head, she saw someone standing behind a tree. They were frightened.

Why.. it was only a little girl.

All of Ariel's anger and fear disappeared.

"Oh, it's okay," She whispered, as if talking to a frightened animal. "I'm sorry if I scared you,"

The little girl stepped back, inching her way slowly behind a tree.

"My name is Ariel." She said. "What's yours?"

No answer.

"V.. Valinty.." The girl replied, her voice so soft, you could barely hear.

Valinty, as the stranger called herself, had below shoulder length blonde hair, only way more lighter then Ariel's. Her eyes were brown, and it looked like she had been crying.

"I won't hurt you, I promise."

Slowly, Ariel coaxed the small girl to come out from behind the tree.

"So, Valinty huh, nickname for Valiant?" She smirked. "I like it. It means brave, strong, heroic, all that good stuff, y'know."

Slowly, a small smile appeared on Valinty's face.

Ariel became lost in the thought as she studied the sad, brown, glossy eyes. This girl reminded her of her self, or they way she could at time; Scared. Shy. Timid.

At least she was getting better.

"I was sitting there by the lake when I saw two boys walk by.." She said, her voice less frightened. "One looked kinda scary.."

"Like a snake?"

"Yeah,"

"He's really nice though, they both are." Ariel said, smiling. "I know them."

"Well I saw you walk over here a little later.." Valinty continued. "You looked kinda sick.. And your face was whiteish."

"Pale.." Ariel nodded. "Does it still look that way?" She asked, running a hand down the side of her face.

The child shook her head.

"So, how old are you?" Ariel asked.

"Six," Valinty replied, then looked at Ariel questioningly.

"I'm eleven." Ariel said.

"Wowwie, you're old!" Valinty exclaimed.

"Hey!" Ariel shouted with a frown, but then began to laugh.