The Darkest Night

Chapter 13

Getting dressed quickly, I sat on my bed and started brushing my hair absentmindedly. My thoughts were consumed with everything that had happened in the last two days. I missed my sister fiercely and was worried that she would be caught up in all of this danger. Figuring out a way to keep her out of things is my number one priority right now. Leaving my hair loose to air dry, I glanced at the watch. 4:30 P.M. Damn, I took a pretty long shower. Smiling ruefully, I let out a dry laugh at the thought that I wouldn't have to pay for the water bill for once. Hmmmm maybe I should take another even longer one in the morning? Securing the watch to my wrist, I tried to think of what to do. Sighing, I glanced over at the books and decided to kill time by reading.

Picking up one of the vampire history books, I opened the old leather cover. A musty smell rose up from the books making me inhale deeply. I just loved the smell of old books. A gentle smile graced my lips as I started to read. I was hooked from the very first page. The history book started during Sumerian times, 65000 BCE! It talked about how vampires had always been in the background of human history. They have influenced almost every major event that has happened so far. From assassinations, pope elections, wars, to simple things like crop rotation. Fascinated, I quickly got engrossed in the book and didn't even realize the door had opened till I heard someone clearing their throat behind me.

Turning my head to see who it was, I saw Darius standing in the doorway holding a tray and a pillow stuffed under his arm. He looked at me sheepishly as he strode into the room, nudging the door closed with his foot. "Hey Liz," He placed the tray down in front of me, and threw the pillow onto the couch. Glancing down at the watch, I saw that it was now after six. Huh. I had read for over an hour without even realizing it. Darius' arm gently brushed against me and I flinched. Taking a step back, he looked at me nervously. Why was he nervous? He almost killed me!

"Here to finish the job from earlier?" I tilted my face up to look dead on. His eyes were back to the cinnamon brown that was his usual. Trying not to think about the blackness that consumed his eyes when he was hungry, I waited for him to respond.

He put his hands up, trying to show he ment no harm, no doubt, as he walked around the desk putting it between himself and me. "I came to apologize for earlier, actually. I should not have done that to you, and I am deeply sorry." Was it me or did he actually look sincerely sorry? "Can you forgive me please?" he batted his eyelashes at me like a little boy trying to look cute to get out of trouble.

I couldn't help it and busted out laughing at the look on his face. "OK, OK you are forgiven." A huge grin broke out over his face. "Just don't try and kill me again, you hear?"

"Of course I wont. Scouts honor." He held up three fingers in an imitation of a boy scouts pledge. "Now that we are friends again here," he wiped the lid of the tray in a flourish, revealing my dinner for the evening. Tonight there was a steak cooked rare, poached salmon, baked broccoli, and a baby spinach salad on the side. Another tea pot and mug sat neatly next to yet another vial that had fallen over when Darius placed the tray on the desk. My eyes widened slightly at all the food that was now in front of me.

"What is all this?" Bewilderment was evident in my tone as I just stared at all the food. There was enough here for three people at least.

"Well, since you, um, donated blood earlier you need to eat lots of iron-rich foods to regain your strength." I squinted my eyes at him when he said donated blood. Like I had a choice or something.

"Donated, huh?" he just grinned at my comment and encouraged me to start eating. Deciding to get the worst over with first, I plucked the vial from the tray. "Cheers," I said before shooting the blood back, wincing at the taste. Weird, it tasted slightly different this time. I couldn't quite place my finger on it, but it was definitely different. Darius watched me intently but looked away when I tried to catch his gaze. Yeah, like that wasn't suspicious. Deciding to ask about his reaction later, or maybe I'll just ask Victor about it next time I saw him, I started eating with a new-found hunger.

I hadn't realized I was so hungry till I took that first bite. Eating with gusto, I focused on nothing but my food for a while. "So, not to beat around the bush or anything, but can I ask you a few questions?" I glanced up at him startled that he would even ask if he could in the first place.

"Yeah, you can ask anything you want to know. Although there isn't much to tell that you guys don't already seem to know." I responded after swallowing what was in my mouth. Why did people always ask questions when your mouth was full?

"What are you?" I sat up straight stunned by this question. What am I? He knew what I was.

"I'm an ER nurse." My voice was void of all emotions. What was he playing at? His dad and he seemed to know everything about me so why was he asking what I was?

"No, I know what you do for a living. I'm asking you what you are?" He was leaning forward now. Resting his arms on the desk, skewering me with his gaze.

"I don't know what you mean?" I was confused about this line of questioning.

Sighing, he wiped his face with his hand before asking me again what I was. What I was now was annoyed. Why did he insist on repeating his question over and over without explaining what he ment? His eyes flashed black, making me lean as far away from him as I could get while still remaining seated.

"I'm asking you, Elizabeth Shepard, what you are. Because judging by the taste of your blood, you are no human. So I will ask you once more. What are you?"

I was dumbfounded. The use of my full name threw me off balance like a physical blow. What did he mean I wasn't human? My mind swirled with the possibilities. Was I adopted? No, I saw my birth photos and my sister told me a million times how annoyed she was when I was brought home from the hospital. Apparently, she wanted our mother's attention but was too tired after just having me a couple of days ago, or something like that. So I wasn't adopted for sure. Were my parents human? They had to have been human. If they weren't, wouldn't they have survived the car accident that took their lives twelve years ago? Darius had to be wrong. That's what it was, he was mixed up. I looked at him contemplatively. He didn't seem confused or mixed up. In fact, I haven't seen him act so seriously since the first time I saw him.

"I don't know what you are talking about Darius," I said, sounding surer by the second that he must be the one confused. "I'm human through and through." It was his turn now to watch me quietly.

"Then how do you explain that your blood doesn't taste human?" His eyes darkened around the edges. The black crept in over the amber.

"I don't know, but I am human." I tried to sound confident and sure of myself. The blackness creeping in his eyes unnerved me though.

"Hmmm, If you are telling the truth, that means you don't know what you are." He stood up. I guess this was to be a short visit then. "My father will be here in an hour or so to talk to you." He gathered the tray and left the room, locking it before his footsteps retreated down the hall.

I leaned back in my seat trying to get my thoughts in order. Darius seemed so sure that I was not human that I almost believed him. It just didn't make sense though. Supernatural beings didn't exist in my world till the night before. My sister and I were one hundred percent human through and through.