Chapter three:
"You can come down now Mello." Near's voice snaps Mello back from his thoughts to reality.
Mello finds himself hesitating a moment then he finally goes down to join Near. He opens his mouth to say something only to close it as he realizes that he doesn't even know what to say.
Near lets out a breath. "I do apologize that you had to end up finding out this way. If it was up to me then you wouldn't have found out at all."
Mello blinks as he thinks of something. "Wait! So you have killed people before!?" He gasps taking a step back ready to defend himself.
"No." Near informs him causing Mello to blink in surprise. "There is actually ways to get the needed blood without killing. Though I do know that other vampires do choose to kill to get their needed blood. I cannot blame them for it as what we are has forced us to have to drink blood. Unless we want to either go insane then go on a rampage or die. I am just one who would rather not kill."
"Very weird to hear." Mello mentions not having expected that response. Though he supposes that all that he knows about vampires is about what humans say about them. He starts to wonder if humans have gotten them all wrong. He finds himself now more intrigued by Near than kind of scared, since this could give him the opportunity to be able to study what vampires are actually like. He isn't sure how he'll convince others that what he found out is true though he will cross that bridge after he is able to study them. "How do you get your blood without killing anyone?" He inquires to Near.
"We trick humans into providing for us." Near answers simply causing Mello to be a little surprised by this. "Most blood donation places are run by humans that send the blood to places that need it like hospitals. Then there is also those run by vampires who collect blood then store it in facilities for the vampires who would rather not kill. It isn't as great as fresh blood as I have been told but it eliminates the killing part. That is the way that I like to not kill. Other vampires have found their own ways to get blood without having to kill."
"Interesting." Mello turns as he hears a slight howl in the distance.
"Seems the wolf might have found something." Near mentions causing Mello to look to him.
"How many creatures are actually real?!" Mello realizes that Near means a werewolf.
"More than you may like to think." Near's response is simple though all that is needed.
Mello is about to ask more about what humans may have gotten wrong about vampires. He is stopped as they hear something in the direction of the orphanage.
"I swear that the sound of vampires came from over here." Roger's voice comes from that direction with his footsteps easily being heard.
Near turns away though he glances back as Mello moves to follow. He grabs Mello's hand then hurries him to hiding in a nearby alley.
"What the fuck is going on with Roger?" Mello questions after they are crouched behind a dumpster. "How does he know about vampires?"
"Do you remember when I said that if we don't get blood or well go insane or die?" Near gets a nod from Mello. "Well one vampire thought it was a choice. When in reality the insanity comes before death. She wanted to die and believed if she wanted it hard enough then she could pick to die. She went insane and slaughtered Roger's whole family before my parents, when they were still alive, finally found her and took her down. By then Roger had already fled and grew up without his family because of it. He has joined the very few vampire hunters in the world and tries to hunt for vampires if he finds them. Though he is more of a tame vampire hunter in that any that get close to the orphanage are killed."
Mello blinks actually feeling a little sorry for Roger. "So… Then why are you calling the orphanage home if Roger is known to hunt vampires?" He smirks a little. "Don't tell me you like the adrenaline of living right under his nose."
"It is something more complicated than that." Near lets out a breath and glances away towards the direction of the orphanage. "He seems to have left." He heads out of hiding with Mello quickly following after him. "Go back to the orphanage and head to bed. You've had a long night already." He suggests in a tone ensuring that it is not a command at the blonde.
"You didn't finish your answer to my question." Mello tries to protest and gets a red eyed look from Near.
"There are some things that you are better off not knowing." Near responds then he dashes off disappearing before Mello could try to pry more information from him.
Mello is left standing there and he slightly glances around finding himself unsure what to do with himself. He finally decides to head back to his room. He steps into the hallway with the bedrooms when he notices that Roger is walking down it. He could swear that the other has a purpose in his step. He decides to follow him and see what is going on. He tries to remain quiet and pauses as Roger stops in front of BB's room.
"He looks too much like one. But I haven't been able to get the proof I'd need before I can truly act." Roger starts to reach for the doorknob probably to check on the other.
Mello already has a good guess that BB is a vampire like Near is and he thinks that the other isn't there. So he has to do something. He approaches causing Roger to turn to him in surprise.
"Mello?! What are you doing up?" Roger questions blinking at the blonde despite the dim light of the hallway.
"I heard some strange noises earlier today and I couldn't sleep. So I was just walking. Why are you over here? Is BB in trouble?" Mello inquires and Roger clears his throat moving away from the door.
"No. I just got word that he may have snuck out tonight. Despite that the night can be dangerous. So I was just checking in on him."
"Oh." Mello plays along with the lie as he knows what he had heard. "Well I didn't notice him sneaking out and I have been up for awhile." He clarifies to Roger who nods softly. He just needs to bide enough time for BB to get back into his room unnoticed. He just has no way to know when that will be so he's not sure if this will work.
"Well that is a good start." Roger nods his head then puts a hand on Mello's shoulder. "Let's get you back to your room though. Maybe you'll be able to sleep now." He leads Mello in that direction. "May I ask what the weird noise was?"
"Hisses like some kind of argument going on." Mello suddenly regrets saying that as it makes Roger stop in his tracks.
"Where? Where was this!?" Roger demands looking to the blonde with wide eyes.
"In the city while the sun was still above the horizon. Not long after class." Mello tells Roger who glances away thoughtfully.
"I see. Well it probably was cats or another stray animal." Roger tries to brush it off though Mello lets out a snort.
"Doesn't look like that is what you think it is."
Roger turns back to the blonde. "Your sleep deprived mind wants me to say its something else? Fine. It was vampires that were having an argument in their language. Now go to bed and get some rest. You clearly need it."
Now that sounds more believable to Mello, even though if he heard that before tonight he would have thought that Roger was right that he was just sleep deprived. "Alright. I get your point." He heads to his room hoping that he got BB enough time to get back without being noticed. He closes the door to his room and goes to the window to glance outside. He notices BB's figure making his way towards the orphanage. He glances to his door worried that Roger is heading back to check on the room. He suddenly stops himself wondering why he cares. He thinks on it for a brief moment before deciding why. He wants to study the vampires and Near might leave if something were to happen to BB in worry that he'll be next. So he needs to make sure that they stay so he can study them and the truth about vampires.