Pure Existence

Chapter 20: The Unexpected Hospitality

The burly figure stepped outside from the darkness of the house. Dark eyes stared straight through Day's own. Thin lips, with no sign of a smile, were closed tight, creating a straight, thin and an unpleasant line. He looked so similar to Heymish. Same jawline, same straight and sharp nose, and the same glare. Only his didn't pour the same feelings and sparks as Heymish's did. His was dangerous, not loving. He was someone Day wouldn't meddle with...just yet.

"Um, hello there." Day managed a weak smile as water dripped down her long eye lashes, she tried to look normal by blinking hard, but how could she. The rain didn't affect her or her vision.

His thin lips curved into a geniune smile. His smile changed his entire face. Day could swear Heymish and him were twins, except for he had no dimple. "You should probably come inside, you are drenched," he pointed out.

"Err," she looked down at her rain coat, and looked up again. He motioned her inside the house. After all those days spent with Heymish, this was the first time she had been invited inside his house. He never revealed anything about his family or his house. How could a stranger let her in just like that? Did he know about Heymish and her? Or perhaps it was just the weather condition that made him considerate enough to let her in.

"So what are you doing here? At this hour and this weather?" he asked as he gently helped Day to take off her raincoat.

Her eyes wandered around the room. She could see in the darkness quite well. "You have such a beautiful house," she remarked, looking at the classic tables, handcrafted chairs. It looked so old and yet so posh. The furniture had been well maintained, that was no secret. Day turned and looked at him directly in the eye. His face seemed so friendly, but the feelings it gave her were discomforting. Stranger, stranger.

"I am sorry, what is your name?" he tilted his head to the right a bit. His eyes were round like a puppy's.  His eyes squinted to get a clearer look at Day.

"Umm, sorry. I am Day, your neighbour," she stammered, pointing out her thumb towards the direction of her house. "And you are?"

"Aha! So you are Day," his chuckled into a shy blush, "have heard loads about you from Heymish. Oh, I am Alban, his older brother." he extended his large, tanned hand forward. Day couldn't afford to hesitate, she took the warm paw into her own pale, cooler hand and shook it.

"Mind having tea? We could talk over it."

Day hesitated, eventhough she didn't want to, "Um, where's Heymish?"

"Ah, he will be back soon. Don't you worry. By the time we are finished having tea, he shall be here." He smiled. Day regretted stereotyping him before she even got to chat with him. But she had always done that, even with Heymish.

With that, she accepted his invitation and was obliged to sit down with him on the antique table set on the sheltered deck in the back yard. He poured out pale yellow water in the cup and slid a slice of lemon. "Would you like some cookies to go along?" He had a very thick, old English accent, and it was very attractive. And so was the smell which came from him, and his blood.

His heartbeat thudded against his chest in a juice, red wet rhythm.

"Sure." Day swallowed.

.........

Day set her cup down as her eyes wandered around, "It's the first time I have been here," she sighed as she looked at the garden, "it's beautiful!"

"Oh thank you very much, it did take a while to get it proper. Just returned from London two weeks ago, you see." His eyes shone at the compliment. "First trip here? I am surprised."

"Well, why? and so that explains your accent." She smiled.

"Thanks, and coming back to the former, yes, it does intrigue me. Heymish talks alot about you. It was your birthday?"

"Ah, well it was," her lips cornered a smile.

"Belated happy birthday then, Day," he smiled, his cheeks rose, and his bright, white teeth showed.

"Thanks." She returned him the smile.

The door knob of the door that led to the backyard turned, and entered a young man, who looked so similar to the person sitting with Day, only that he seemed younger and had dimple on his right cheek. "Alban, the shadow-" He stopped his words abruptly as he saw his lady love with his older brother.

Day felt a wave of unease rush through her host as his body stiffened and eyes grew wide for a moment. His face masked the same expression as to what she had seen earlier. That same dangerous and deadly expression. Heymish licked his lips and raked his lower lip, "Oh, Day, I didn't see you here, I.." he paused, choosing his words carefully. Turning towards Alban, he said, "They need to see you. Now."

Her host bid her adieu as Heymish replaced his seat.

"So..." Day started.

"So.." Heymish repeated.

"I got a text message from Eltha. You haven't been going to school? I just got worried."

"Err, I heard you were sick. So there was no point of me going to school. I go there for you. To be there with you. To protect you."

Day smiled as a flush of red appeared on her cheeks. Okay, her human bloodline was working alright. "I have missed you."

"So have I. Umm, how did you like the present?"

"It was unexpected but I liked..loved it."

"So what do you think?"

"About?"

"Us."

"Heymish, you know me well. Look at me, I clearly don't deserve you. I mean I like you, alot but you are too beautiful and perfect for me to have." She realized how confused she actually was as the words escaped her lips in an unexpected blunder

"Why do you think that? It's time you let go of your insecurities Day. You are amazing just the way you qre but I won't force you. It's your choice, I will wait." He inched closer to her and pinned her loose strand of hair against her ears.

She took a long breath. With the air, came Heymish's smell. It was different from his brother. Heymish's smell reminded her of lilly, and the morning dew. Alban's reminded her of the wild orchids, but somehow it was spiced, with something which smelled ike cinnamon. She closed her eyes as she struggled to clear her mind. No, she can't go all vampire on them. She needed to control it. It was what she had been learning for the past few days. Probably if she hadn't known she was a vampire hybrid, she wouldn't have known that these smells came from people. And she wanted to taste it.