CHAPTER 8: The Impossible
"If people are going to dedicate their limited time and energy they can spend on working to enroll in our academy, the least we can do is offer them the best educational experience possible!"
"And who is going to pay for that? Our foundation caters to low-income families! Even if we provide them this level of education, there's no way we can provide it to every single low-income citizen in the kingdom!"
"May I make a suggestion? What if we establish tuition on a sliding scale? It can benefit us greatly, especially if we invite some of the wealthy to enroll as well."
"And how do you think they will react to paying more than those who make less? Many of the rich are angry enough as it is that the poor are getting cheap to free housing. You think they'll feel better about those same people getting the same level of education for less money?"
I jot down notes as I and the rest of Allistar's board hold our meeting on higher education. Because there's increasing demand for infrastructure to accommodate our growing population, we've decided to adopt subjects such as physics and trigonometry to teach our people how to be engineers. They're few of the most expensive subjects to learn, but demand supersedes the need to be frugal, so we may take them anyway.
Now there's the issue of money, which has sparked heated debate amongst the board members. The costs of education and the logistics of acquiring it are overwhelming enough, but the petition to acquire the education at all is expensive too. We have to ensure that our proposal is as low-risk and lucrative as it can be. Otherwise, we'll have to spend another millions of gems to submit another one.
Then there's that time constraint of our growing population. Outsourcing workers from different kingdoms to build more roads and housing is expensive. We'll save more money and even gain money by building our own infrastructure, but then it goes back to how we're going to get the qualifications of making that happen in the first place, and so the cycle repeats.
"Other kingdoms' colleges offer tuition assistance and scholarship programs," Max supplies, sitting on the left of my chair. "Everyone can apply for them, but not everyone can get them. There are certain qualifications students have to meet to get those benefits. What if we adopt the same systems here? Because even if we do have all the answers to our financing problems, there's no guarantee that every student who enrolls in our programs will take their studies seriously. And if our resources are this limited now, we can't risk losing them to the wrong people. So, let's be picky now. If things improve in the future, then we'll relax our standards."
"You've all made excellent points today," I commend, returning everyone's attention to me. "I'd like to continue our discussion about this tomorrow. Because it's imperative to submit the most reasonable proposal, I'd rather we take a little more time to explore all angles before submitting the paperwork.
"I agree that our foundation's mission goal is to help those who need it most, but to keep doing so for the days to come, we need to be wiser about how we distribute funds. So, I want everyone to prepare their ideas and have them ready for tomorrow morning. We may also discuss tutoring options and payment plans for students struggling academically and financially. In the meantime, you're all dismissed."
We all stand and gather our things to leave for the day. I pack my notes into my bag as Max comes to my end of the table.
"May, I've learned more stuff about our recent donor," he whispers into my ear. "We need to talk now."
"Excuse me, Your Highness," one of the board members approaches us.
"Yes, Ken?" I pull away from Max.
"I'd like to discuss a proposal I have for the Lincoln Hospital. You know, about the machines we can mention in the next fundraiser?"
"It's the end of the day, Ken. Let's discuss it tomorrow."
"Please, Princess, May, it's important! There are surgeries pending that are waiting for these machines' approvals."
Max and I share a look until I nod at Kendrick. "Alright, we'll go over them in my office. Max, we'll talk later."
"But—" Max tries to interject.
"Later," I emphasize before leaving the conference room with the board member.
Two hours later, I have Ramon, my limousine driver, drop me off at the mansion before he retires for the day. Max is in the dining room when I stop by the kitchen for food. Rain has started falling when the car was halfway home. Max has the right idea of eating hot noodles beside a pattering window. I request the chefs to make spicy hot noodles for me as I join him.
"That was a long day," I plop on a chair.
"Honestly, May, after everything I've learned about you-know-who, getting a higher education will be the least of our problems," Max comments with a full mouth.
I shake my head and focus on the food. It's been a productive but stressful day, and food has always comforted me on days like this. Let me focus on my meal first, and then we'll talk.
After eating, Max invites me to talk in his room this time. He waves me over to his computer and shows me several documents.
"Have you done your research on King Andrew yet?" he asks.
"Not yet. I've been busy, you know, running my foundation."
"Well, you're going to want to know this if you're going to see the Vampire King again."
Honestly, I don't want to. Why? Because I miss him terribly, and that's not a good thing. Drew has promised to guide me through being a vampire yet hasn't spoken to me since Saturday night, when he turned me. It's Monday night now, and I may or may not have been keeping an eye on my phone for calls and texts since then. I can always initiate the contact, but the fact that I'm even considering it is a bad thing. I shouldn't get involved with Drew, but my feelings say otherwise. I'm in an emotional limbo.
Maybe if I learn more bad things about Drew, I'll lose interest in him.
"Let's see what you got," I nod to Max's screen.
In less than an hour, Max and I have read articles and watched videos of Drew's feuds throughout his business dealings. A lot of praise for what he does for the poor and the environment, but also a lot of unexplained mysteries and deaths.
"You know what I've heard? There's no articles or videos thoroughly explaining it, but there's a lot of people, dumb and smart, theorizing it," Max crosses his arms.
"What?"
"That King Andrew is part of the Red Regime, a society that secretly controls the world. He isn't just powerful and dangerous; he's also controlling everyone like a puppet master."
Okay, things have taken a turn.
"There's no such thing as a Red Regime, Max," I roll my eyes. "Drew is just the leader of the vampires, like Queen Solidad is to the fairies. He isn't some puppet master controlling everyone."
"But he can turn anyone into a vampire, right? There's a rumor going around that some kings are vampires. King Andrew can control nations through them! What if he turns you into a vampire too?"
"I'll deal with it, if it happens, you, paranoid fuck," I snap. I know I've never asked to be a vampire, but that doesn't change the fact that I am one. Hearing my own brother talk shit about me hurts like hell, even if it's my choice to keep him from knowing.
"Woah, May! I'm just looking out for you. What if things go wrong?"
"Shut up, Max. The world isn't controlled by some secret society, and Drew is nothing more than a leader of a species. Be worried all you want, but there really is nothing to be worried about."
Max sighs. "You know, I was able to get over you dating Brendan because—"
"He was human?"
"He was good. Brendan may have come from a poor family, but he was a good man. He was good to you. The thing I've said about the Red Regime is a theory, fine. You got me there. But the things King Vampire has done to stay in power are real, May. Real people have gotten hurt because of him. He's more dangerous than the people who killed Brendan. Are you sure you want to get involved with him?"
I take a deep breath, so I don't lash out at him again. "King Andrew is the reason we can educate our people, remember? You have all these paranoid conspiracy theories about him, but Drew has only done good things for us. Can't you give him the benefit of the doubt? Sure, he may or may not have done some shady shit, but all-powerful people are corrupt in some way. You and I know that more than anyone."
"Were our parents corrupt? They were the king and queen of this kingdom. They were powerful too."
"They were different."
"How? Because they were our parents? If what you're saying is true, May, then Mom and Dad had been corrupt too. Who knows why they died that night? They could have been assassinated, for all we know."
"Don't talk about our parents' deaths like that!" I smack his arm. "That was the most traumatizing night of my life!"
"It traumatized me too, May! I was there, remember?"
My head shakes as I turn away. I was the one who found them that night when I was seven years old. They were dead in their beds when I wanted them to comfort me from a nightmare. "Our parents were good. I know it."
"We were children when they died. How do we know they weren't doing shady things without telling us?"
"They could've done them for good reasons."
"Oh, so now we need a good reason for people to do shady things? That gives them a pass? Is that what you're hoping to learn if you go on a date with this guy? The good reason why so many people are dead because of him?"
I fist my hands. "We haven't spoken to each other in weeks, and you choose to pick a fight with me?"
"That's not what I'm doing."
"Then what are you doing, Max?"
"Protecting you, May! That's what I'm doing," Max barks. "I know you have issues with people doing that, but I'm not just another person, May! I'm your brother. And you're not just a princess; you're my sister. It's my job to look out for you like it's your job to look out for me. We're family–the only ones we have left."
Max and I just stand there for a moment, defensive. Then I sigh and pull him into a hug. "I know, Max. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too. I know I'm being obnoxious; I know that. I just really don't want you to see this guy. I have a bad feeling he might hurt you."
"He won't hurt me, Max. I won't let anyone hurt me," I tell him. "Drew isn't perfect–I know that—but can't his soft spot for me win him some of your approval?"
Max runs a hand through his face. "And how long do you think he'll have a soft spot for you, May?"
"Forever, if he wants to keep me."
I know Max has given up when he groans loudly. "Well, it doesn't seem like I can stop you, and it will be impossible to stop him. I'd tell you to be careful, but you already know that."
"I do."
"If things work out with this guy, then no one will ever mess with you. But if things don't work out, then...we know people. They can help us. Drew may control the world, but we can fight back if we band together."
"It won't come to that."
"It better not. If it does, well...I can send him a strongly-worded letter. Hope I can annoy him enough to set him straight, so we don't have to start a war."
I laugh, and we both smile. "I love you, Max."
"I love you too, sis."
~.~
I take a long, hot shower before throwing on my favorite satin nightgown. It's still raining outside, so I have an ambiance while reading one of the textbooks I've kept from law school. Law school hasn't really taught me how to be a lawyer, but it has changed the way I see the world. Not everything is black and white. More often than not, there are exceptions. Gray areas.
Gray people.
I glance at my phone for the tenth time and sigh. The only thing I know to do as a vampire is drink synth. I've postponed opening the boxes for as long as I can, but when I wake up this morning with red eyes and four sharp teeth aching to bite something, I practically tear the wrapping off the closest present and drain an entire bottle dry. Now the leftover five out of six bottles of synth are in their box in wrapping foil—sealed with the strongest tape I can find—deep inside my closet. The unopened boxes are piled together in a corner of my bedroom, covered with a sheet that matches the color of the red walls.
Blood is a source of life. If I feed on life, does that make me a taker of life? Does that make me a killer?
I wrap myself in blankets and whimper. No, the blood I drink is synthesized blood. It isn't real blood. Still, seeing some of the synth trickle out of my lips after downing that bottle this morning does something to me. This is worse than lipstick smeared across my mouth. Synth is the real deal.
Confirming my fears, painting what I've become.
A knock suddenly hits the glass door leading to my balcony. When I sit up, I see Drew standing on the other side of the glass, shivering and soaked.
"Drew!" I scream, quickly opening the door. "Get inside! What are you doing? It's cold and raining! You know what happened last time."
"I know, love," Drew peels off his blazer. His emerald locks are dark green from the rain. "I just had to see you."
"Why?"
"I've missed you."
I tense after handing him a bottle of synth. Drew also has no problem drinking from a bottle but does so much more neatly than I do. Not a drop out of place. "What do you mean you've missed me?"
"Exactly that. I'm sorry I haven't contacted you sooner. Things had occurred that I had to address immediately, but I made sure Rosenfield has taken care of you."
I hand him a towel and look away when he strips off his clothes. Seeing him only in my large red towel does something to me too. I'm warm in the cheeks, and my fingers are twitching. But at least he isn't cold anymore. I've cranked up the heater just in case.
"Have you missed me too, love?" Drew wraps his arms around my waist and tugs me to him.
"No."
Drew chuckles, and I feel the rumble through my chest. "Your throat flutters right here," he thumbs the front of my neck, "when you lie."
I keep my eyes on the towel around his waist. "You could have called or texted."
"I prefer to see you in person."
"Without saying you were coming over first?"
"I've considered it, but I've also considered you running away again if I did."
I pout.
"But I drove here this time before flying to your balcony," Drew assures. "So, there's no need to worry about me."
"What makes you think I'm worried about you?"
"You pull me into your room and dry me instead of keeping me at a distance. You also turn up the heater and allow me to hold you so that I will be warm. Anyone else would have called for help or sent me away, but you haven't. Not only are you not afraid of me, but you also care about me. Don't you, love?"
"I don't want you to freeze out there. That's just what any sensible person would do."
"Why do you deny your feelings for me? Have you learned things about me during my absence?" Drew tilts my chin so I look into his green eyes. "Are you afraid to care about a bad man?"
I swallow, maintaining eye contact. "I'm not afraid of anything."
"Of course not. You're the bravest woman I know. You'll confidently face anything without fear, including what's in your heart."
My eyes water.
"So, tell me again, love," Drew thumbs a drop of crystal at the corner of my eye, "have you missed me?"
"Yes," I hide my face under his chin. "Yes, I have."
Drew sighs, relieved, and tucks me closer to him. "I know I'm not the man you want to get involved with, but if you give me a chance, I'll prove myself worthy of you. I'm more than just a monster in the shadows, May. I'm a lot of bad things, but I can be good to you."
"As long as I'm a vampire."
"What?"
I pull away, but only as far as Drew's embrace allows me. "You only like me because I'm not human right now. But once you find a way to take away my vampirism, you'll no longer want me. You'll move on to another woman, and I'll be left with nothing but my heart in pieces all over the floor."
Drew grunts and sweeps me off the ground. He lays me on my back on the bed and braces himself on top of me. I can still feel how warm he is, even when we're not touching. Is it his aura? I don't know.
"I'm sorry for what I said about humans the night we met. I was wrong; I realize that now. Many humans have damaged this planet, but many humans have also tried to save it. It's those in the latter that today's humans owe their existence to. Without them, I wouldn't have met you."
"You're just saying that."
"Keep in mind, love, that when I went after you that night on the beach, you were human, and I risked my life to find you anyway. And I'll do it again if it saves your life at least once."
My hand goes up to stroke his jawline. "Why?"
"Because I've fallen for you, May. I don't know why, but there's something between us, and I'd like to explore it. Wouldn't you?"
"I…I don't know."
"One date. Go on one date with me, and you can begin your judgments from then," Drew proposes. "If things don't work out between us, then at least we'll know for sure. But if it does work out, then we'll be glad that we took a chance. Don't you agree?"
I smile. "Yeah, I guess so."
Drew leans in to kiss me, and I pull him down until our bodies press together. He likes this move. I feel it on my thighs.
"Can I stay the night?" Drew growls to my lips.
"Sure."
"Good. Now, spread your legs."
I gasp, and he smirks in that predatory way that shoots lust through my senses. I do as he commands but under the blankets, opening my legs beneath them. Drew removes the towel, showing me the proof of his excitement, before diving under the sheets. I feel his breath before I feel his tongue. Then I groan when I feel his teeth.
"You like that?" Drew chuckles under the covers. "Let's see if you like this too."
Within minutes, I'm screaming myself hoarse—kicking Drew's back as I come, and come, and come.
