The Vampire's seal lll : Love over immortality

A Protector's Quiet Burden

"While you guys were out, as an academy we received quite a number of photos showing the events that took place to you while in the human world. These photos were spread all throughout the campus, basically showing the students you guys in your do or die mode. Ugh...students here found the photos so fascinating, that it's actually making all of you celebrities here." Lizbeth held a flat envelope in her hand and shook her head. "...so ridiculous."

"We're celebrities?" Freya squeeled excitedly. Marceline look at her like she was going to shoot lasers into her head. Lizbeth turned her attention towards Freya but didn't respond. In a split second, her eyes were on me as she flicked her wrist to the throw something at me.

"If you want the photos, here." Lizbeth threw the envelope at my face, and I self consciously caught it in my right hand. I looked at it confused, then back at her. "All you really even need to know is that you all have fans now. Some who are good natured people, and others that are part of some stupid gang. I think Mike may have fought some of them earlier in the school year when his hormones were raging and stuff. Don't know. Just keep an eye out for those losers."

She got up to leave and my eyes followed her bouncy figure. And I don't quite know why, but for some reason, before I could think, I blurted out, "Where are you going?" Everyone knew that I said that because I had seen her body before she left, and they looked and me like I was an idiot for asking. Freya bit back an amused laugh while Marceline rolled her eyes.

Lizbeth stopped dead in her tracks and kept her back to me. She moved her head slightly in my direction, and I began to feel the cold air nibble at my skin. The remainder of my shirt pressed against the rising goosebumps, and I shivered. Her eyes looked at me and flashed a distinct blue before returning to their natural brown state.

"Don't talk to me until you're ready to apologize."

With those words she left, and we were left to fend for ourselves. The outside human world had changed us. And now? We were going to be forced to live with the choices we were forced to make, both good and bad.

Marceline looked at the floor uncomfortably and shifted her weight from one leg to another. "We should request a medic." She muttered under her breath. "We all have injuries that should be checked out." I looked up at Marceline when she said those words and felt my stomach wrench itself into a knot. I knew what she meant. She was worried about me. She was worried about herself. She was worried for the babies; for Freya. We all went through excruciating pain. And now she's just... worried. And sad. And nothing I could do could help lift her worries.

Who can save us now?

Hailey stepped forward, making me blink in surprise. I had known she was there, but her stepping foward and actually speaking took me by surprise. She walked up to Marceline, give or take a couple centimeters shorter than her, and took her hands into her own. For some reason, Marceline's cheeks immediately went red the moment their hands touched.

"Marceline, I can help heal any wound you may have. Freya may be the school nurse, but as a purebred my healing abilities far surpasses hers." She paused. "Sorry Freya!" Freya glared at her cousin's sudden boldness but shrugged it off as if it no longer mattered. Her children were in her arms, and that was much more interesting then whatever comments Hailey made about her. Marceline gently took her hands away from Hailey's and scratched her cheek while looking away.

"Thank you Miss Hailey. But maybe somewhere more private..." Hailey looked up like she understood, but I could still hear Marceline's heart beat go crazy. What was going on?

"You can go to my office if you want," Freya offered. "But I'm not embarrassed to strip down in front of my cousin for my checkup." It took everything Vale and Miss Secaw had to keep Freya from stripping all her clothes off while keeping the kids safe. I looked away uninterested, and towards the exit.