Privilege

"So, what's the Enchanted Forest like?" Noah asks.

"Is it calm," Nadia thinks, before she takes a bite of salad. "It is home." She faces him, "When you are there, you are a part of it. You belong."

He hesitates, "A lot of humans think it's dangerous… They don't belong there."

Nadia nods, "Yes. Humans don't have the same sense of energy as us. Humans see themselves as better than nature, so they do not feel nature." She takes a sip of her iced tea, "When a human like that enters the Forest, the Forest defends itself from them."

"And a human not like that?" he inquires.

She partly smiles, "They are safe there." before she takes his hand. "I feel you are good, Noah. The Forest would know it too."

"I'm glad to hear that," he smiles in return, before she returns to her meal and he takes a drink of milk. "What else about the Forest? Do the trees really move?"

"Only some trees," she laughs. "Not all people breathe water, do they?"

"No," he chuckles. "That's just the, uh, water hybrids." He eyes over her, "Is that what you are, a hybrid?"

She hesitates, "I am not sure."

"What do you mean, you're not sure?" his brows furrow. "It would be stated in your hospital documents."

"Noah," Nadia unsurely explains, "I have not been to hospital. The government does not even know I exist."

"Wait." He faces her, "You're not even a citizen here?"

"No, Noah. I am not."

He shakes his head, "I don't get it. How can you…"

She watches him take a deep breath and frowns, "I could not trust that they would believe I am who I say. There are stories, Noah. Horrible stories about kin who are held, held without their needs met." She whispers, "Until they die. I had no choice."

He hesitates, "But still. How is it even possible? You have an apartment. That requires paperwork and bank records and—"

"And sometimes," Nadia interrupts, "all you need is cash and barter." She eyes down and mutters, "My landlord is a real vampire." before she faces him. "I do what I have to."

"Your landlord is taking advantage of you," he realizes.

"How do you mean?"

"You are here illegally," Noah explains. "Your landlord knows, and he's taking advantage of that."

She takes a moment, "Yes. You are right. He is."

He halfheartedly laughs, "How can you be so calm about that?"

"People use situations to their advantage, Noah," she meets his brown eyes. "Tell me you would not do the same."

"I would never tell anyone that they have to pay with their body," he insists. "No one deserves to be threatened like that."

Nadia thinks, "Well, you do not know his situation, and you are not as desperate as we." as she frowns. "I understand why someone so privileged would see things as you do."

"This isn't about privilege," Noah denies. "Tell me, does it make you uncomfortable?"

"I don't see how that is relevant," she stares at him. "It is an agreement. That is all."

He shakes his head, "I don't like this."

"Noah," she reaches for his hand. "It is okay. He is not ruff with me. We are safe."

"Safe," Noah eyes down and notices the yellow circle. "Did he do that?"

Nadia sighs, "There are worse things than bruises, Noah. I am incredibly grateful for the needle. I am so lucky he is as kind as he is."

He meets her clear, blue eyes, "The needle?"

"We use the kit," she mentions. "It makes it so no scars are seen."

Noah pulls away from her, "Did you know that what he's doing is illegal? Donors need to legally consent in writing. You have every right to turn him in."

"But then what would happen to me?" she reminds him.

"Marry me," he immediately answers.

"But Noah," she laughs, "it is too soon."

"You could skip the entire process," he informs. "If you marry me, you would be legally recognized as a citizen and would have every right to the documents. You wouldn't need to do this kind of thing anymore."

"Noah," she sighs. "This is too much."

"If you do it," he asserts, "you would be a citizen. You would have nothing to lose when you turn him in."

"When I turn him in?" she disbelieves.

"Nadia. You have to think about the other girls he's probably done this to."

"But I do." She hastily explains, "Me leaving would not make it any better."

"If you turn him in—"

"He is a desperate man," Nadia interrupts. "A vampire cannot survive prison. He would run before ever dying, and then no one would be safe."

He lets out a breath, "Nadia. I just want to help."

"But you are." She smiles, "Just by being here, you help." before she turns her head down and starts to cough.

"Nadia?" He hesitates, "Are you okay?"

She puts up a hand as she sips the tea, "Yes, Noah. I am fine. Just dry throat, been happening all day."

"Are you getting sick?" he inquires.

"I do not get sick, Noah," Nadia grins at him. "Trust me. It is only the weather, and it will pass when it does."