On our way back to Count Dovula, who had been sitting in his shame corner all this time, Mei Mei had informed us of some interesting history.
"Why were you so upset when Devistria went berserk on that monster?' Daena asked as we were walking, me slaughtering monsters with one stroke as they attacked so they could just walk comfortably beside me with Mei Mei, who was carrying her basket beside her nervously.
"I told you people I had retired, and when I heard that you guys were recruiting Jumi, I had to hide. That monster was protection," she said, annoyed.
"You're the only one who knew you were Jumi," said Daena.
"Well, I was the one who hid my core, of course I knew!"
"You cannot escape your destiny," Mei Mei," I said quoting Larc for a brief moment.
"Whoa, what's with you?" asked Mei Mei, shocked at my tone.
"Nothing I can't get over," I said, glaring in Daena's direction.
"Well, I had used my core help me predict the future, but after all the Jumi were attacked, I had to go into hiding. However, to hide a core you must replace it with some thing, in my case, this basket," she said, lifting it a bit.
"Don't worry, the Jumi wars are officially over," Daena reassured her, patting her shoulder.
As we exited the cave count Dovula walked back from his corner of shamey shame, mcshamerers (sorry, author loopy! ) to greet us. He held his arms open to take me up in his hold, but I hesitated, glancing at Daena, she looked away, and muttered under her breath "If you must,"
"Well, thanks for the permission," I snarled. She looked away. Dovula looked at me curiously.
"I know what I'm doing," I whispered in his ear. He pulled me close and gave me the deepest kiss yet, but in only a few seconds.
"So do I," he said and I couldn't help but smile. The next stone I pulled out was red, blue and black, and led us to Domina, so we decided to take Mei Mei home. When we got there, Mei Mei left us. The shard had also started to cool.
"Hurry, the gem is getting colder," I said, racing outcross the outskirts of Domina, stopping at the church. Rev. Nouvelle was lying on the ground, covered in blood.
"Dovula, get out of here, I'll meet you in the small weapon shop by the bar," I said immediately, because the Rev. is a siren, and their blood is to be the one of the sweetest. (If you haven't forgotten The Count is a vampire.)
He left without a moment's hesitation. Daena and I mopped him up and brought him to the inn. A doctor looked over him, and announced he was poisoned, but was recovering. Then he was attempted to be stabbed to death.
"You don't suppose this has to do with the Jumi and Alex, do you?" Daena asked. I shrugged, and we went back to the shop to meet up with Dovula. The counter worker told us he was in the back and we walked bask to see him. We had washed the blood off as to not discomfort him. We needed to scrub even harder on our necks since that was where the Rev.'s arms were. Suddenly I was grabbed from behind.
"What? Oh it's you. The rev. will be fine," I reassured him. He smiled and placed his face against my neck. He felt so smooth and cool. He kissed my neck and glanced up at Daena. She understood and left mumbling about needing to upgrade her weapons anyways. He continued to kiss and his breathing became erratic. (vampire boy) He kissed and bit lightly, not breaking skin. He bit harder, and then harder, then breaking skin, I had to cry out. I held his head to me tightly, gasping for breath.
And then he released me, no blood visible on his face or teeth, even though I knew he had fed. He looked deeply into my eyes, and told me not to worry. He held me close to him, stroking my hair.
"I love you," I said, knowing that I would not become a vampire unless he wished for me to be so, and I knew he wanted no such thing.
"I love you, too," he said and kissed the top of my head.
After a little while, Daena knocked on the door.
"Ok, that's long enough, The Rev. is the next Jumi. While investigating that shard was found and given to him!" she said.
"Wow, really?" I said opening the door, to let her in, and secretly glad that my armor covers your neck. I had taken it off, to make it easier to carry the Rev.
"Yeah, and the almost killer got away. However, he did leave a note. It said, The Jumi
Wars are not over," said Daena. Count Dovula was playing with my hair, while we spoke, and it was becoming fairly distracting.
"Hmmmm, that's weird. The only person who I knew who had a grudge against Jumi was Sandra and she's the one we're trying to save.
"Maybe we should forget about it for now, and wait to see what happens next," said Count Dovula, from behind me. I nodded and pulled the next shard.