"Jeez! This place is so dark! Where's the light?"
"I hate the light. Relax, we can catch mice in the dark."
"M-maybe just a small candle will do?"
I hear Trixie get exasperated. "Fine!" She hands me a candle and some matches. I quickly light it and set it on the stand.
"Ah! That's better!"
Trixie crosses her arms. Getting a feel for my surroundings, I explore the attic. There's lots of junk in here, as well as a chest in the corner.
"What's inside that thing?"
"Piles of gold."
"S-seriously?!" I run over and open it. Gleaming piles of coins reflect the candlelight. "Y-you weren't joking!"
"Of course not! It's my parents estate. They were really rich."
"Rich?! They're loaded!"
Trixie sighs. "It's all worthless." She comes over towards me and grabs a handful of the coins. Without warning she flings them aside.
I watch the pieces scatter across the floor in disbelief.
"Hey! Be careful!"
"Why?"
"Don't you know how much stuff you can buy with that? People would kill for this kind of fortune."
Trixie shakes her head. "You're clearly clueless."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means exactly what it means. Now, let's get started. These rats won't hunt themselves." Trixie tenses up.
Just as I'm about to ask her what's wrong, a pair of beauty eyes gleam in the darkness. She suddenly leaps and traps one with her foot.
"Haha!" Trixie picks the vermin up by its tail. "Look at this little thing!" She waves it in front of me.
"Gross! K-keep it away!"
Trixie snickers. "What's the matter? You scared of rats?"
"No. I'm just disgusted by them, that's all."
"Why? They're just misunderstood creatures. All alone with no one to care for them."
The rat shrieks and tries to bite her arm.
"I-I think I understand their intentions just fine!"
Trixie takes a seat and sighs. Inexplicably, she lets the rat go. It scampers off back into the shadows.
"What's wrong now?"
"Hey, Rexer."
"Don't tell me you suddenly became an animal rights activist."
"No. I still hate rats."
"Good."
"But I hate myself more. At least the rats still have souls." Trixie's eyes start to tear up.
"H-hold on. What brought this about all of the sudden?"
She quickly jumps up. "Turn around!"
"H-huh? Why?"
"Because I don't want you to see me crying!"
I stare hard at Trixie, and sure enough, I can see the tears falling down her face.
She really is crying!
"Wow. I knew it! You're a softie at heart."
"S-shut up!" Trixie continues sobbing.
She used to be the most abrasive of the three... but now, I'm not so sure.
I spot a nearby coat in the corner of the attic. Grabbing the coat, I sit beside Trixie.
She sniffles loudly. "Go away."
"I don't think I will. I'm staying right here."
Trixie gives me a half-hearted shove as I drape the coat around her and comfort her.
"Vampire's don't get cold, dummy."
"it's not your body I'm concerned with. It's your heart."
She hugs her arms close to her stomach and drops her head.
"Hey, you shouldn't have said that earlier...."
"What?"
"When you said about not having a soul..."
Trixie stomps her feet in anger. "But it's true!"
"But no one really knows what a soul is...."
Her eyes turn red, but this time, I'm not as scared as before. Instead of recoiling in fear, I put my thumbs against her cheeks and wipe her tears.
"If you didn't have a soul... then you wouldn't be able to cry like this."
All of the sudden, Trixie's face crumbles up. She bawls on my shoulder, her snot dripping down my arm.
"S-sorry!"
"Don't worry about it. Here..." I give her my handkerchief.
She takes a moment and blows her nose on it. "I-I still don't believe you."
"About what? Not having a soul?"
She nods. "Just because I can cry, doesn't mean I have one."
"Well, let's see... How about a laugh?"
Without warning, I take my hands and wrap them around Trixie's waist, tickling her sides.
"H-hey! Q-quit it!"
"Anyone with a soul will laugh, so if you do, then it proves my point."
Trixie sucks in a deep breath and keeps her mouth firmly clamped down. I continue tickling her.
"You can't hold it in forever."
"W-watch me!" Trixie's cheeks puff up as I wiggle my fingers over her tight midsection. Eventually her face starts to turn red!
"Are you ready to admit defeat?"
"NEVER!"
"You're a tough one, huh? Guess I just have to bring out the big guns."
Before she can react, I swiftly lean in and brush my lips over the back of her neck.
"WAHHH!" Trixie loses control and starts laughing hysterically! "Y-you animal!"
"You seem to be enjoying it."
Trixie continues giggling like a maniac until I finally let go of her. She hugs her abdomen tight like before, but now she has a smile on her face instead of a frown.
"There, see? You do have a soul!"
Trixie raises her fist as if to pummel me, but she pulls back. Her face is still red and the joy is still present on her face.
"You still haven't recovered."
Trixie quickly stands up and walks back towards the ladder leading out of the attic.
"C'mon I'm hungry. Make me some lunch."
"But I thought I wasn't your slave anymore."
She glares at me. "That's an order, Rexer!"
I smile.
To be honest, she is kind of cute when she's like this.
"Okay, fine."
Trixie pretends not to care, but I swear that I see the hint of a smile as she climbs down the ladder. I leave the attic and follow Trixie.
She's clearly headed for the kitchen.
