"S-Saya…this isn't…"

"Thorn", she interrupted him in a casual tone as if talking about the weather. She wrapped the cloth back around her neck and got up to get into her pyjamas. Haji sat motionless from shock. It had not troubled him to be separated from her as long as he had known her to be well and happy. But the thought of losing her forever was unbearable. After all she was his queen and moreover in one way or another she was still the love of his life.

"If you gonna lose your head about it then please don't do it in my presence!" Saya wondered whether it had been wrong to let him know about her condition in the first place. She had known that it would hurt him and she certainly did not need anyone to whine about it.

Haji needed a moment to compose himself, then he asked: "Is there no cure? I mean…Julia was able to cure Lulu's thorn with only a few drops of Diva's blood."

Saya shook her head. "I guess there is no such thing as immortality in nature. At some point death is inevitable for all of us. And the scientists of this world make better use of their time curing humans than developing a treatment for a hand full of nearly immortal chiropterans."

"So you have given up on it?"

"I have accepted it. And you should do the same", she replied harshly. She had finished getting into her nightwear and was staring at him impatiently. "I am tired. If you could leave my bed so that I can get some sleep that would be great."

He wanted to protest. Her sudden change in mood reviled him, that the illness burdened her. He wanted to talk about it and console her – and also himself. However her voice also made clear, that arguing was pointless. So instead he left the bed to its owner.

She crawled underneath her blanket pulling it over her head. What had she expected? She could have guessed that he would not stay objective about her condition. But even despite this their encounter had not gone as planed at all. If only she had not let her guards down. The realization had struck her when she had noticed how much pain her fate was causing him. Was it his chevalier-blood that would mourn about his queen's death? Or was he after all those years still in love with her?

The next morning she found him in front of her computer. The hologram of Doctor Leonhard flickered on the table.

"I am very sorry, but there are certain laws in nature that apply to every form of life", she her Leonards voice.

"Don't tell me you're bothering him again?" Saya jumped up from her bed – a careless move as the sudden rise made her feel dizzy.

"I am sorry, doctor Leonhard", she said a bit louder, "I didn't tell him, that you tried everything already. We will no longer disturb and worry you. Good morning!" with those words she pressed a button to finish the call and glared furiously at her Chevalier, "Do you think I would give up just like that? Did you really believe that I did not seek help? That I have not tried EVERYTHING?"

He dropped his gaze sheepishly. "I know…but it is hard to accept."

For a while they said nothing to each other. Saya began to wonder whether she had been too harsh on him.

Suddenly he began to open the top button of his shirt and revile his neck. "You haven't feed on me for a long time."

Saya understood what he was aiming at. She had thought of it before, but deep down she knew it would not help. However to avoid any discussion – and perhaps to reassure her instinct – she dug her fangs deep into his skin.

Almost had she forgotten how sweet his blood tasted. Energy flowed through her body, nourishing her cells, vitalising her muscles. Yet it could not seal the cracks in her broken shell.