XI - Allergy
1006 Words
THIRD PERSON
“I beg your pardon?” Señora Celes chuckled.
“Bathing in the rain was my favourite activity as a young girl.” She said, which surprised the whole table.
“Did you coax him into it, Songnara?”
“Señora, your appetisers.” A server entered the room with a plate of bread and salsa.
He placed it in the middle of the table, and Señora Celes smiled in approval.
“Thank you.” She continued with her anecdote.
“You see, I wasn’t always wealthy. I was born into a low-income family, and I married a middle-class man-- Snow’s father. We both rose in status through hard work, and that’s what I hope to instil in my dear Snow.” She explained. She took some of the bread and placed it on her plate.
“Please, help yourselves.” She gestured towards the bread. Lexus took a piece for himself and Songnara.
“Tell me, Snow, why did you offer such horrendous clothes to Songnara? You could have lent her some of your fine dresses. After all, you have a lot to spare.” Señora Celes told her daughter.
“I’m sorry, mother, I didn’t know that guests deserved free clothing out of my closet.” Snow remarked condescendingly.
Lexus took a bite out of the bread. It tasted strange, and after swallowing the tiny piece, his throat felt abnormally dry.
“The food is lovely, Senora,” Songnara remarked after taking a bite of the bread.
“Why, thank you, dear. It’s personally one of my favourites…”
“Excuse me, Señora… Is there garlic in this bread?” Lexus asked, his voice hoarse from the bread.
“Yes, it contains garlic, onions, mayonnaise, and… Oh dear, you aren’t allergic, are you?” Señora Celes’ eyes widened as Lexus started coughing vigorously.
Garlic was as toxic for vampires as chocolate was for dogs. The garlic probably retained its vampire-repellent properties, and Lexus had perhaps developed an allergy as a mortal.
“Oh, dear… Have some water, please.” Señora Celes did not hesitate to grab the pitcher of water and pour a glass for Lexus.
Songnara helped him drink up and rubbed his back for support. Lexus continued to cough.
He felt weak. He hated that feeling.
He remembered a time during his Council initiation. Every vampire had to go through challenges to get elected for the Vampirical Council. Tasks that would otherwise be fatal.
They had to slide through a circular pipe made out of steel, run to another building in the scorching hot sun, and eat a clove of garlic.
The first time Lexus tasted garlic as a vampire, he swore that he’d never eaten it again—as did many others. It caused a significant strain on his throat, and he was already burnt out from the previous challenges.
Thankfully, he passed, and the garlic didn’t kill him. Hopefully, this was the same. Maybe humans didn’t die from allergies….
“Oh, I’m sorry…” Señora Celes apologised.
“You see, Snow, this is why you inform me before you have any guests. I had them cook an entire garlic-filled meal course for tonight.”
“Mother!” Snow exclaimed, annoyed that her mother was reprimanding her in front of the guests.
Lexus continued coughing and chugging what seemed like gallons of water until he finally calmed down.
“I’m sorry, Señora, I…” His voice was still hoarse, and he was now out of breath.
Without warning, he collapsed into Songnara’s arms and lost his consciousness.
“You do know that your parents would never approve of this.” Amelie sighed.
She was lying down on Lexus’ chest on a makeshift mat in the woods. It was already after midnight, and the clouds almost completely covered the moon.
“I don’t care,” Lexus replied as he stroked her dark hair. It was true—at this point, he didn’t care anymore.
He spent most of his adolescent and adult years pleasing his father and pleasing high society. It was time for him to pursue what he wanted, and not just what others wanted for him.
“I’ve given up caring about what everyone has to say. As you said, I have to follow my desire.”
“And your desire is?” She asked playfully, bringing her face up so she could look into Lexus’ eyes.
“You, of course.” Lexus smiled. He kissed her passionately under the moonlight until they both rolled over on the grass. Lexus moved his lips down to her chin and neck, making her gasp before she stopped him.
“Wait.”
Lexus stopped and pushed a strand of her hair out of the way.
“What if I leave?” Amelie asked, her expression going from passionate and fiery to sad and melancholy. Lexus furrowed his eyebrows.
“Well, you won’t, right?” He asked.
“Of course… But what if I do? Or what if I’m taken away? What would you do then?” She asked. Lexus laughed nervously.
“What kind of questions are you asking… Of course, I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you again.” He said as he caressed her cheek.
“Whatever it takes?” Amelie asked. Lexus moved closer and whispered in her ear.
“Whatever it takes.”
Lexus slowly opened his eyes to see Songnara, now in her nightgown, smiling sweetly at him.
He grunted as he slowly sat up from where he was lying down. He felt weak, and he hated it. Especially with the memory, he just revisited in a dream.
He was so used to being healthy and powerful, and the weakness he felt irritated him much.
Why couldn’t he just get up and bite someone? He promised Amelie that he would do whatever it takes, but he couldn’t.
He couldn’t do anything.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
“Look who’s awake.” Songnara chuckled, interrupting Lexus’ train of thought.
They were now back at the hut, and Lexus was on a bed while Songnara sat on a mat that lay on the floor.
The sun was shining brightly, and thankfully it didn’t cause him as much trouble as the garlic.
It made Songnara look even more gorgeous than she already was.
All of a sudden, Lexus’ blood-cravings were gone.
All he wanted to do was stay there and listen to Songnara.
She seemed to lighten up the mood.
“They know not to serve you any garlic now… That is if they ever have us back. They were probably so irritated when they sent their carriage to take us back here.” She looked down and made circling motions on the mat with her finger.
“What happened, exactly?” Lexus asked.
- Writer
