George
"They'll kill me once I'm alone," I whisper and open the door.
"I'm home," I say while still thinking deeply.
"Hey," Jared replies with another pair of stolen clothes.
"I cleaned the other clothes I've stolen and returned them. Do not give me that judging stare," he says.
"Hungry? I fried some chickens," he says and gets off the bed.
I want your sweet and fresh blood.
I brush off my thoughts and put down my weapon.
Is she still mad at me?
I look at him when he calmly sets the table. I'm pretty sure I'm hearing his thoughts. There's no hint of emotions shown on his face. His gaze met mine.
Shit.
He looks away and wipes his hands. He sits down and starts eating.
"Don't you want to eat?" he asks. "It's lunchtime."
"I'm... hungry actually," I say and sit down.
Should I ask her?
I look up and see him watching me eat.
Fuck it. How, Dmitri?
"It's fine," I say to him.
"Hmm?" his stone facade changes to a confused one.
Fine, what?
He stares at me with his eyebrows raised. He stops chewing. I can see his full irises because of how wide his eyes are open.
"It's fine," I repeat. "You can stop overthinking now," I continue and take a bite of fried chicken.
"I'm not" he chuckles.
I felt chills.
"Quit lying, Dmitri," I say.
"Ha," he stares. "I never thought someone calling me by my real name sounds this sexy," he continues.
My face felt heat creeping up. I roll my eyes and drink a glass of water.
"Or maybe your body is really malfunctioning that everything looks so sexy to you now," I say and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
"Well, maybe you're just sexy," he mutters. I hear a low growl underneath his breath.
"Your body is weak," I whisper.
"It is," he admits and drinks a glass of water.
"I'll ask Cayden how to get meat supplies," I say. "Is there anything you need?"
"Just blood," he says.
And you.
"Why am I hearing your thoughts? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?" I ask while pointing at the two of us repeatedly.
"You heard everything?" his eyebrows raise.
"A little," I lie. He's not a werewolf anyway.
"Well," he pauses and chews the food in his mouth, "When a vampire weakens our powers won't function properly most of the time it'll weaken and will be gone. But there are some rare cases, like mine, where my powers can be used against mine. It'll function the opposite way. Instead of I'm the one who can hear other people's minds, other people will hear what's in my mind."
"That's horrible," I say. "Why does that happen to you? This rare case," I ask.
"It happens when our body is weak. I haven't figured out the underlying cause and how our abilities reversed their functions." he stops talking and look at the window.
I frown and look around, "Why?" I whisper to him.
"Hush," he puts his index finger on my lips.
My ears twitch and hear a group of werewolves walking past our place. I peak outside the window and see a large group of young werewolves with their parents walking back to the village.
"Mom, our instructor says I'm doing great on the first day of transformation class!"
"Dad look, I have werewolf stamps on my arms!"
"Cubs," Jared whispers.
"Right! The new class!" I hit my forehead with my hand. "I have to attend the night shift."
I go back to my seat and continue eating.
"What were you saying again?" I ask him.
"Right," he continues eating. "It mostly happens to us Dhampirs," he continues. His voice is softer.
"I'll try to get a supply of blood. If it is possible," I say.
"Thanks," he says. "And sorry," he adds.
"Let's just act as if nothing happened," I say while dialing Cayden's phone number.
"Hey, Cade," I greet.
"Hey, George!" he greets back. "How's everything there?"
"It's fine," I stare at Jared who is writing something on a piece of paper he tore from my journal.
"Can I ask if it's possible to have for a chicken or two? But you know," I pause and watch Jared quietly writing. "Um, alive perhaps?"
Jared raises his head and looks at me.
"Um, yeah but why-" Cayden pauses.
I panic when I heard his question.
"Is that George!?" I hear Shane's voice in the background. "Hi, George!"
"Hi!" I reply and smile.
"Shut up," Cayden says perhaps to Shane.
"Shut up," Shane says, mocking Cayden. "How are you, George!?"
"Fine!" I reply.
"About your question," Cayden says. "I could request two live chickens. It'll be delivered to your house tonight. Would that be okay?" he asks.
"Yeah!" I say and release a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Cayden!"
Thanks for interrupting, Shane.
"I'll also tell them that you're on your own now so you'll be the one to get your supplies next week," he adds.
"Alright, thanks again," I say. "Bye!"
"Mm... Bye," he replies and ends the call.
"Would that be enough?" I ask the vampire in the room.
"For two to three days," he pauses. "That's enough."
"I'll be suspicious if I ask for ten chickens when I only live on my own. Or, a live pig. Like, why? What would I do with that? I cannot lie here," I say.
He nods at me and purses his lips.
"A temporary solution," I say and look at him. "It's the best I could do for us not to get caught," I say in a soft voice.
Talking softly has become part of my daily life now.
"I received a warning from someone," I begin.
I watch him slowly stop his writing. I sit on the bed and watch him in the dining area.
"A warning?" he looks at me and frowns.
"They're going to kill me as soon as I'm helpless," I say in a calm voice but a deep exhale escapes my mouth.
"Who are they?" he asks emphasizing the last word.
"The high-ranking officials," I mutter.
"Should I tell Dranula?" I ask.
"No," he quickly responds. "Do not trust anyone here yet.".
The two of us remain silent.
"Can you," he pauses. I shift my gaze from the blanket and meet his eyes. He closes his eyes. He clenches his jaw and touches the bridge of his nose. He sighs and clicks his tongue.
"I have a little favor," he shifts his gaze from the table and stares deep into my eyes.
"Can you," he tries to speak but is unable to finish his request. He exhales and continues "Can you ask your mother to allow me in their forest?"
My mouth gapes open.
"Um," I bit my lip and think hard. "That's a heavy request," I say.
"I know," he sighs and runs his fingers through his long black hair. "Tell her I'll help her," he says.
I felt a strange feeling of an imaginary wall locking him away from me.
"You're hiding something," I say.
"I am," he admits. "But it's for the best. I'll tell you once I enter the forest."
"Let me do what I can," I reply.
To be honest, I don't know if I will. He is still a vampire. But glad I have a lie detector now. So far, he's sincere and genuine. Except today, he is hiding something. Plus, I don't know if my mother will let him in the forest.
Like what he said, do not trust anyone here.
Cold night winds hit my skin as I stare outside the window. I stare at the cloudy night sky. A firefly flies across the window.
"Firefly," I whisper and smile.
I waited for more fireflies to gather in front of me. Another firefly joins. I gasp while my heart skips a beat. I waited for a few more minutes but no group of fireflies gathered in front of me. I grab the wooden lipstick case-like gift that my Mom gave me. I try to signal her but I get no response.
Jared sits beside me. I look at him.
"Hi," he replies while staring outside the window. His chin rests on his right hand.
A few knocks on the door cut my daydreaming.
"George!" I hear Clarkson's voice outside the house. "Are you asleep?"
"Clarkson," I whisper. My eyes widen and look at Jared. Panic shows through his eyes. He transforms into Mr. Tuna. I hurriedly hide the clothes he stole underneath the bed covers. I almost trip when I get out of bed.
"George!" Clarkson says. A series of knocks occurs on my door.
"Yeah?" I ask and calmly open the door.
"Hey, Clarkson," I greet.
Mr. Tuna jumps off the bed. He walks towards me and rubs his head on my leg, like what a normal cat would do.
"The chickens are here," he says and hands a basket with holes. "They're... alive? Like what you want?" Clarkson asks tilting his head to the side.
"Yeah," I nod. "Thank you," I say and get the basket from his hand.
"But why?" he asks.
"I need them alive for a friend. I'll give them to a friend," I say.
"Oh, that's nice," he says and pauses with his gaze on the basket. "I'm also here to inform you for the last time that the registration for the new class is until tonight," he adds.
"Oh, really?" I look at Mr. Tuna. I put the basket on the dining table.
"Do you have time to go there with me?" I ask Clarkson and grab my fur cape.
"Yeah," he replies.
Mr. Tuna runs to the bathroom. I hear the noise of falling plastic bottles in the bathroom.
"Mr. Tuna!" I yell. "Just a second," I look at Clarkson.
"Go on," he says and stands outside the house.
"What happenedâOh my!" my eyes widen. I cup my mouth in shock. I'm unable to move after seeing a naked man standing in the bathroom.
Ah, shit.
"Go," he mouths. He closes the bathroom which drags me back to reality.
"Is everything alright?" Clarkson asks.
No. Dammit.
I hear Jared's thoughts.
"Well... Um... Yeah," I say and walk out of the house. "Bye, Mr. Tuna!"
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