I remember the feeling after cutting my nails. That one that makes your fingertips super sensitive to everything you touch. I used to cringe at the feeling. Now I just miss things like that. I miss breaking my nails, I miss crying. Most of all, I miss being sick. I feel like such a freak to know that my body just is simply too strong to allow me to do these things. It was nice at first, but now, it's growing old.

There are things about being a vampire that I've grown dependant on though. Like my strength and my senses. I was beside myself when I woke up as a newborn for the first time. Everything was so loud. I thought I could see air. You really notice the detail in things when you change. The only change in senses that I hated was my sense of taste; it had deteriorated. I only wanted one thing and only needed one thing. Any other type of food was forfeit to me. It sucks that way…I really miss food. Ham, bacon, eggs…Toast. Bread in general, really. Ice cream…Chocolate…Damn vampires…

Juliet scratched her face, hissing as she dug open one of the burns on her cheek. She rubbed it soothingly, looking over the door as it opened. She was surprised to see Tom there. Without a window, she was unable to tell the time of day anymore, but no matter the time, she had not been expecting him.

He frowned, stopping a few feet from the bed as he looked at her face.

"Do you need medicine?" he asked.

"No."

"I have something for you."

He pulled an envelope out of his pocket, unwrinkling the paper as best as he could before handing it over. She took it, ripping it open and peeking inside. She pulled the note out.

"What is this?" she asked before unfolding it.

"An invitation."

She knit her eyebrows as she looked back down at the letter, opening it carefully.

You are cordially invited to celebrate with King Loki Laufeyson in the royal palace. You are required to dress elegantly. Bring this invitation to the doors or you will be denied admission.

Juliet looked up at Tom, searching for an explanation.

"The party is tomorrow night."

"Why?"

"Loki's in the mood for one."

"Why am I invited? Can't you see he's not too fond of me?" Juliet asked, pointing to her face.

"I can see you two don't always see eye-to-eye." Tom said, smiling.

Juliet ripped the paper in two and let it fall to the floor. She turned away from Tom, sitting on her bed once again.

"Tell Loki I want food." she said, picking up her pen.

Tom left without saying anything else. Juliet stared down at the paper on the floor, picking it up after a moment of thinking. She smiled, nodding her head as she solved the riddle that was given to her. She wondered if Loki would be upset at her findings, or if he would allow her to keep the information. Either way, she knew, and she was happy that she had something on him again.

Juliet waited, writing in her journal until Tony came into the room that night. She looked up at him, smiling slightly. He took in her appearance, seeming to draw discomfort from her injuries.

"I'm fine." she told him.

"Of course you are. You're the undead."

Juliet sighed, remembering him being there for Loki's show of burning her alive. She bit her lip, nervous for what he'd say about her. He said nothing, though, sitting down at the desk and laying out the blueprints.

"Well?" she said.

"Well what?"

"Nothing?" she asked. "No comments, questions, concerns… Complaints? Judgmental remarks?"

He looked up at her.

"What's it like?" he asked, his voice neutral.

"It's… Stressful."

"My job is stressful." he said, picking up his pencil to begin his work. "You, my dear, are no where near able to say you are stressed."

"Really." she said, smiling at his ignorance. "I only want to eat every living being I see in front of me. That's amazing fun."

"So eat."

"Eating is killing, unless you want to change everybody. A world of vampires wouldn't be very ideal. We can't reproduce. Humanity would cease to exist."

"Maybe that wouldn't be so bad, seeming humanity has taken over the world."

"He's not human."

"If we had a world of undead, maybe the other realms wouldn't mess with us."

Juliet agreed with this point, but knew that it was an unwise thing to do. Many would end up taking their own lives due to not wanting to face immortality. Animals would face extinction, forcing vampires to hunt each other. They would kill themselves in the end, bringing on their own extinction.

"So… You aren't scared?" she asked.

Tony laughed, looking up at her.

"No." he replied. "I have no reason to be. He's feeding you. Plus, I'm Iron Man. So."

"You're not invincible." she laughed.

"I'm pretty much invincible." She smiled, rolling her eyes slightly. She watched him work, unable to avert her eyes. "Why are your eyes red?"

Juliet looked away from him now.

"I'm a newborn. Plus, he feeds me humans."

Tony looked up from the blueprints.

"Oh."

"I didn't have a choice… You grow weak after a few days without food."

"Likewise."

"You don't turn into a crazy monster."

"I know men who do." Juliet didn't catch the reference. "So you're concern is if I am scared, then?"

"Yes." Juliet said, nodding.

"Why?"

She shrugged now, wondering why he was asking such an odd question.

"I don't know." she replied. "I just… Don't want to have that on my conscience. I try to control myself but… Loki isn't feeding me as much as I need… I worry about you."

"Don't."

Juliet felt uncomfortable, becoming silent to avoid him finding out anything else that made her worry. He went back to work, and Juliet returned to sitting back on her bed to pick up her journal.

I remember when my foster parents would worry about me, for whatever small reasons they had. Whether I was hurt after playing outside or if I was upset, they worried. I never really took it to heart. I hated it sometimes, and felt that they were too over bearing. Now I feel like they did, worrying about Tony's safety while he was around me. Just like me, he doesn't care about my worry.

I wonder if I am getting attached to the only person in this castle that is on my side. I shouldn't, but I can't help it…Vampires almost have a pack mentality, I think. They are always with another vampire, we aren't meant to live alone. Tony is my new family. The funny thing is, I don't even want to tell him I feel that way. He'll push me out, away from his own inner-need to have a companion in life.

I will just stay silent for now, and enjoy his company for whatever amount of time it will last.