Chapter Twenty One: Blood

**Though Sebastian made no attempt to kidnap me, I still worried. So, when the time to rise came, I was completely and utterly exhausted. The Vampire still slumbered when I rose and dressed myself; I sat before a mirror and stared at my blurry reflection, moving my head from side to side and watching the correlation in the mirror. My reflection seemed different, slower, somehow; perhaps it was only because it was now blurry, or I was so exhausted my brain began to play tricks upon me. I gave a quiet sigh and glanced back at the Vampire to see him toss over, groaning softly before his light snores continued. I rolled my eyes, deciding that coffee would be the best medicine for a weary morning!

Upon that note, I stood slowly, attempting not to make any noise as I tip toed to the door; cringing when the lock clicked and the wood creaked on the golden hinges when I swung it open. Though, the Vampire never moved, nor batted an eye! His chest rose and fell steadily and he seemed deep in his slumber, though, my suspicions spoke to me of the exact opposite. Shrugging those off, I closed the door behind me, letting out a breath of relief when I stood in the hallway; I turned to the banister and took steps forward to that, smiling to see no one below. I must've been an early riser!

Taking the first step down the stairs, I shivered, the floor was absolutely freezing! And, here I thought the inside of caves were supposed to be warm! Perhaps it was warm when there were so many vampires speaking and acquiring space, and it was genuinely cold when no one was up and about. Well, almost no one. Down the stairs I hurried, pulling my nightgown tighter about me when goosebumps rose on my skin; I was still half human, and, sadly, felt cold and hot, but, I also didn't need the pestering task of drinking blood or killing people.

One could say I got the better end of the stick.

I, of course, got lost more than once, and had to be pointed in the right direction by a guard; one even decided to walk with me, so I wouldn't get lost again! "Yeah, this place can be a little disorienting, 'specially if you don't know it well." Said he, he wore plain clothes, but in his left hand was a scythe, sharpened and glowing in the candle light, this weapon he held at rest, swinging it with the motion of his arm at his side. On the opposite end of the stick, it was sharpened into a point, in case someone or something needed to be dealt with immediately. I made a point to stay away from that weapon, even though I wouldn't turn to dust when it pierced my heart, it would hurt like hell and I would still die, if he so decided I need to be...dispatched.

He was, unlike the other guards, short, though with him he carried no Napoleon complex; if anything, it was quite to the contrary! He was very calm and collected, never once becoming defensive of his shortcoming. He looked to me for a moment, however, and his eyes narrowed. "I've seen you 'round here before...but where?" He asked, more to himself than to me; he paused and tapped the scythe against his hairy chin; his lips pursed as he observed me, trying to place me to a location.

"Well...I came by here yesterday with my...master." I said, barely working the word 'master' between my lips. It felt, demeaning to call someone 'master', I was ultimately objectifying myself as an item rather than a person. Shoving these feelings to the back burner, I continued. "We got drinks and we sat here until Sebastian came and I left my latte." I finished, showing him to the exact table. He only nodded and turned to the little shop, turning me with him, and we both found that it was closed; he only grinned.

"It's alright, you look tired, and besides, you came all this way in your nightgown. Go on in, I'll be right here." Said he, giving a nod. Quickly, I thanked him and slipped inside easily, the door was unlocked! Once inside, I found an extra large cup and, in a few moments of tinkering, got the coffee maker started.

As that bubbled and steamed, I took a little tour about the pop-up shop, finding more whip cream than all the world could handle! Though, when I opened a second, stainless steal refrigerator, I found that it was jam packed with bags upon bags of blood! Every blood type had its own shelf, and they weren't just thrown in there, oh no, they were organized, and hung on racks! Lifting my hand slowly up, I gripped the cold rack and pulled it out, revealing that the refrigerator was, indeed, bigger on the inside!

I reached out and took a bag off of the rack closest to me; it was O positive. As I held the bag, I squished the blood beneath my fingertips, watching as it clumped and flowed around, and in these moments, I felt a change, like the flip of a switch, happen in my head. Tacking a tighter hold of the bag, I closed the refrigerator, walking back over to my cup, I unscrewed the lid to the bag and poured its contents into my cup! The blood only reached half-way up, and I turned to get another bag, but the coffee machine whistled, stealing my attention. Hurrying over to the machine, I took the pot and poured it into my drink until the burgundy liquid touched the lip of the cup.

I bent down and sipped a little of the odd concoction I created; it burnt down my throat, alighting my esophagus and causing me to pull away, crying out in pain. But, what of the liquid I tasted, it savored in the same light the 'wine' that the Vampire gave me, did! However, the tangy, bitterness I once tasted with the 'wine' had all but disappeared! Now, the drink was sweet and not only one I would stand drinking, but one I would enjoy. When that last thought passed through my head, I gasped and fell back, against the counter; I drank blood.

I drank blood and liked it.

I shoved myself off of the counter and ran, busting through the door and giving the vampire guard an awful fright! Even when he called for me, I couldn't stop running; I didn't want to have a thirst for blood, I didn't want to kill people, or bite people and grow attached to them! I ran, and ran until I found a little niche between two darkened doorways, and there I threw myself, barely breathing, trying to hide from him. I wanted to be alone to think things over, it was the easiest way to think, for me, at least.

The guard passed a few moments later, yelling for me. It wasn't too long after, however, when I closed my eyes and relaxed, nearly nodding off to sleep before a voice shattered my peace. "Now, what in the hell are you doin' in here, girl?" A deep, gruff man said; I jumped, my head shooting up, and eyes alert, only to see Dustin standing in the threshold of the tiny gap, a drink, like always, in his hand.

"Hiding" I answered softly, after a moment's pause.

"Hidin'? From what?" Asked he, struggling, but successfully stepping into the gap and sliding against the wall, sitting beside me.

"Myself" I replied, pushing closer into the corner, to give him more room. He only glanced over me again.

"You're doing a terrible job'a that, I see...Why 'ya hidin' from yourself?"

"I drank blood...and liked it; there's that and...and it was like I was in a trance. I saw the blood and I couldn't think freely anymore." I explained, pulling my knees to my chest; Dustin only smiled and patted my head.

"Your half a vamp, girl, there isn't any going back to human; might as well accept that you'll be drinkin' blood for the rest of your undead life and not live so miserably." Said he, sticking a cigarette between his lips and lighting up; he took in a large breath of it before puffing out, smiling weakly. "You know you're master's pissed off his ass, right?" He questioned, turning his head slowly to me; his expression and stare both languid. I nodded; oh, the Vampire, I wondered what he did when he woke to find I wasn't at his side; what terror did I put him through?!

"You better go find him, he's raising hell!" Dustin laughed, and I nodded once more, standing and slowly making my way out of the small gap; all eyes instantly glued to me, since, well, being in your nightgown isn't the best way to be, especially if you're a royal like moi! Swallowing hard, I focused on the ground before me, my cheeks burning red and the humiliation which seared into me by their eyes. Soon, I felt such embarrassment that I couldn't hold my eyes open! I clenched them shut and ran, not caring if I ran into a wall or into a person!

Though, I felt two hands grasp my wrists and swing me around, breaking my path and pressing me against their chest. I looked up, expecting to see the Vampire, but, instead, it was Monsieur Levevre! "Come, now, my dear, we have a very angry vampire King to appease." Said he softly, holding me tight and sidestepping with me down the hall, to a less populated room. "Oh, dear, mademoiselle...don't you run off like that; you nearly gave him a conniption."

He added with a wry chuckle; causing me to smile. Monsieur Levevere was warmer than normal, and he shook when he laughed; it reminded me of a part in an old Santa story 'and his belly shook, like a bowl full of jelly'. I sighed and opened my mouth to apologize, but he held up a plump finger, to silence me. "It is not I that you need be apologizing to, it is him." He said, pointing to a door, which lead to the room where the nobles usually sat in, at least, for meetings.

"Oh, god."

(A/N)

Hi, everyone! I know I haven't updated in a while, so, here ya go! :D I hope you like it! And, please, tell me how I'm doing!