This is a Kirya/Yuki chapter. I hope you will enjoy it. Happy new year, and stay tuned. I'm continuing to write another chapter today, I think. Hopefully you will have it tonight, or tomorrow at the latest.

While writing today, I've listened to Jeff Buckley's album "Grace". Usually I don't dig Jeff Buckley, but today it was just perfect :-)

Kirya barged past Yuki and into the bathroom just in time. She reached the toilet, and vomited. When her stomach finally was completely empty, she just slumped against the toilet seat. She felt like shit.

Never again, she promised herself. I'll never ever drink scotch again.

She heard someone by the door, and looked up. Yuki was standing there, trying to hide a smirk, and failing completely.
"Rough night?" Kirya just groaned in response.

The following days was pretty much like always, with only few changes. Kirya cooked, cleaned and hung out with Yuki and Bjorn. Even though she wasn't under curfew any longer she didn't go out. She figured it would be best to lie low a couple of weeks, instead of risking to be recognized so shortly after her face had been on the news.
She started to surf the net, looking into everything, from new recipes to folklore about vampires. She would talk to Bjorn about her new knowledge, since he was the one who was easiest to get answers from.
The late night meetings were increasing, and most of the time the apartment was flooded with vampires.

With the vampires came the humans. They were dinner of course, and always under heavy compulsion. Kirya talked with some of them, but they always seemed a bit dazed and confused, and as they always left the next day with no memory of what had happened, she soon just ignored them, unless they addressed her directly. In the beginning she felt like a bad person, for not helping them. But she could do nothing, and she knew they wouldn't get seriously hurt.

There was one thing, however, that bugged her more than she would admit to anyone. Damon hadn't fed on her.

Not once since that time in the car. She knew that she should be glad, but somehow she just wasn't.

Am I turning into some kind of vampire junkie? Addicted to be bitten?

She discarded the thought, but still she felt weirdly unwanted. After a week, the headaches started. She felt like a stuffed animal, like she had too much blood coursing through her veins. Sometimes she caught herself stroking the spot where he used to bite her.

At times like that, she would escape to her spot on the roof to clear her thoughts.

She was studying the clouds above her when she heard a child's voice from inside the apartment. Her head snapped up.

They did not...

Quickly she climbed back in through the window. The boy was standing next to Yuki, not more than nine years old or so. His hair was almost silver white and fell into his green eyes. He didn't seem scared, just curious, as he looked around.
Yuki smiled when he saw Kirya.

"There you are! Would you mind fixing something for Benjamin to eat?" To the boy, Benjamin, he added: "You're hungry, right?"

Kirya had to strain herself, to keep from just attacking Yuki right there, but she didn't want to scare the kid unnecessarily. Instead she just shot Yuki an angry glare.

"Yeah, of course, come here Benjamin, I'll find you something to eat."

She guided the boy into the kitchen and pointed him to a chair.

"So your name is Benjamin, right?" The boy just nodded, eying the sandwich she was making.
"I'm Kirya. How old are you?"

He tore his eyes away from the food, and looked at her.
"I'm eleven. I'm just short for my age."

Kirya finished the sandwich and placed it on a plate in front of him, before turning away to get him something to drink as well. When she turned to him again he was already half way through.
"When did you eat last, Benjamin?" she asked softly as she gave him the coke.

He answered, his mouth still half full. "Dunno. Yesterday, or the day before that I think."
Streetkid, Kirya concluded.

"Well, then there is more where it came from. But you need to eat slowly, or you'll get sick."

Benjamin nodded solemnly. "I know, but it just tastes so good," he said, taking another bite, this time he did chew it a bit more slowly.

Kirya couldn't help but smile. "Thank you Benjamin. You know what? I'll just go talk with Yuki for a moment, then I will come back and make a proper dinner. Is that okay?"

He nodded, and again had his full attention on the food.

Kirya walked in, finding Yuki still in the living room, talking with Alex, Katherine's boyfriend, or whatever. Normally she wouldn't interrupt, but she was furious, and she stalked right up, gripping Yuki by the arm.

"Sorry Alex, but I have something important to discuss with Yuki." With those words she almost dragged Yuki out into the hallway.

"Whoa. What's up Love?"

"What's up? What's up!?" she hissed, trying to keep her voice down. "You just brought home an eleven year old kid, and you ask me what's up?"

"Hey, relax..." She cut him off.

"No, Yuki, I will not relax! It's a kid, for Gods sake! I may be only human and all, but I swear if you do not let him go, I will fucking kill you!"

"I'd like to see you try, Kirya, I really would." Yuki said in a low voice."But you are being a fucking hypocrite. He was living on the streets, same as you. Do you think he's better of there? Huh? Do you think he will survive? He looks like a friggin' bag of bones. I got the impression you prefered being here, even though that meant a vampire using you as a snack, at his every fucking whim! And how old are you? 16? 17? not more than a god damn kid yourself."

"I'm 18!" Kirya snarled.

"So officially an adult," Yuki mocked.

Kirya didn't know how to respond. She knew there was some truth in his words. A boy like Benjamin would almost certainly die on the streets. Winter was coming, and he already looked half-starved to death. But she just couldn't bear to just let the vampires have him.

"So then what? Are you gonna keep him like a pet? Or just drain him so he will have an end to his obviously miserable life? What a hero you are, Yuki. And even if you keep him alive, what do you think something like this would do to a kids mind?"

Yuki was about to answer, when the boy in question emerged from the living room.

"If you don't want me here, I can leave. That is what you are arguing about, right?"

Kirya didn't know what to say. He looked so small and helpless as he stood there, trying to be brave. In the end it was Yuki who answered.

"Well, Ben, Kirya here was just worried that you would not like to be here."

Benjamin looked at her. "It's a lot better than the streets. And you make very nice sandwiches."
Kirya couldn't help smile.

"Still hungry?"

Benjamin looked embarrassed at his feet.
"A little bit."

Kirya eyed Yuki a last time. "This discussion is not over." Then she turned to the boy.

"Lets go cook dinner."