The Vampire's Soul

Nightmares

It's dinner time. It's already dark outside and the chimney has been alight.Yoora seems to feel way better in such a short period of time, you'd think someone with wounds like hers would be bed bound but she's standing up and offering to set the table. You're the one always having to remind her that she has to be mindful of her injuries when she lifts things up. This afternoon, after cleaning up her wounds you offered to give her a tour of your cottage.You made her visit the sheepfold, the place where you make cheese. When you showed her the place where you stock the milk that you also sell, she was impressed by the amount of work you have everyday and your dedication. You found the pout on her face adorable when she said she was lactose intolerant because she'd loved to taste your cheese and milk. Obviously you don't do everything on your own, you couldn't stay sane if you did. You have two employees who come and help around the cottage.You showed her your garden where you grow vegetables and fruits that you sell at the market every Saturday.Sitting in front of you, your guest has a straight back, attention focused on the radio.Serving her tonight's meal, you notice how interested she is with what's going on on the radio.After serving yourself some food on your own plate, you turn the volume up.'According to the government's hunters, a female vampyre of 4th category has been on the run since yesterday morning. She was able to escape hunters around the area of Bloomsdale. She's dangerous. Listeners are advised to please be careful and do not stay outside too late as you could be her next victim.''Bloomsdale...' You mumble looking in your guest's eyes.Her fingers are tensed around her fork, wide black eyes piercing through your skeleton.'That's so close from here.' You're pensive.She brings her attention towards her plate while you stare at her absent-mindedly, as if you were looking after her, through her.'She escaped yesterday huh?' you look through the window that gives into your garden immersed in darkness.'This is fear mongering at its finest.' you sigh, shrugging.'Rea-really? Why do you say that?' She suddenly asks softly, looking up at you.'I think...' You start.'That this 'news' of a vampire being on the run might be another political tactic to scare people?''Oh?...''Yeah... Like, we get it... Vampires are scary but they're not all uncontrollable beasts. I don't think they're those scary monsters the government is trying to make us think they are. After all... We are the ones who have been running this inhumane hunt on them.'Her spoon falls from her hand to her plate with a clink. Her eyes are wide open and her mouth is agape.You've only met very few vampires in the past. But Rosie's met a lot of humans.'That's... I have never heard someone talk like you.' She tells you and you can't decipher what she thinks. Her piercing eyes are scanning your every move and you blush at the way she stares at you so intensely.You shrug feeling stupid for being so openly 'non anti' vampire. For being so carelessly political with a stranger.'I mean...' You chuckle nervously.'What do I know? It's probably true. I'm just speculating and projecting what I've seen in the past. I'm not really saying they're lying or anything...'You'd think a smile appeared on her face for a few fractions of seconds but you were probably just wishing too hard for her facial expression to de contract.'I think... We should just close every window tonight before going to sleep.' You add.'Yeah... You're probably right.' She sighs.It's been two weeks since Rosie's found shelter in Mika's cottage. The second day, her nurse friend came to examine her wounds, and even if at the beginning it was hard for Rosie to get comfortable around the friendly faced man, she had managed. Well, that was without taking into account the fact she begged Mika to stay with them in the room. Staying alone with a male human was already too hard to imagine, so having to take her shirt off in front of him seemed like a torture.Rosie just knows how men are. Especially human men. And somehow Mika's presence was enough to calm her and put her at ease. Obviously Mika found every way on earth to put her attention away from Rosie's bare chest, feeling like she was intruding on an intimate moment even though Rosie was the one who almost begged her to stay with her. Mika's embarrassed expression amused Rosie who tried her hardest not to laugh, biting her smile away.Her friend didn't believe that she was shot in those places by arrows. The wounds were healing so fast and he congratulated a very humble Mika on the way she took care of Rosie.He asked Rosie a few questions on the pain level of each wound and prescribed her medication that he gave her for free since he's known Mika since they were kids and 'her friends are his friends.' He was so shocked, a human would have never survived those wounds.It definitely was too risky for Rosie to go to the hospital but she couldn't explain why.When Mika saw that Rosie felt better she gave her things to do around the cottage as bartering for her stay.That's how Rosie started watering the garden religiously everyday, packing the eggs to prepare them so they could be sold to the market, and even gathering the sheep like a real shepherd. She was getting used to this life and she wondered why you were so lenient on her staying for free at her place.Now Rosie is totally healed but her physical capacities are altered by her thirst for blood. So instead of being her usual strong and super fast vampyre self, she only looks like an average human, doing average human things.She's starving and she doesn't know how long she's left until she goes sick again because of your cooking. She thinks that if she could actually eat it, she'd love your cuisine but she absolutely can not swallow down any of your pot-au-feu, soup, pies or what not.She needs to feed. The last time she sank her teeth in a man was that hunter and she didn't even have time to actually drain him properly before arrows were flying her way.First, it's the smell of moss and humidity getting to Rosie's nose. Eyes closed, droplets of sweat trickle down her forehead. Fever provoked by thirst makes her see colors under her eyelids she never knew existed in the eternity that was her life. She straightens her back, chains grate in the silence. Her wrists are attached to crooks to each lateral wall.She finally opens her eyes, sighing out of exhaustion. She lost the notion of time, she doesn't know what the day is, and she'd almost forget where she is if the blood curdling screams couldn't be heard from afar. They're pained, suffocated, muffled by miles of concrete, but she hears them as if they were resounding right inside the cell she's in. A chill runs down her spine.She is scared. Never in a million years she'd think humans could scare her so much. But now, trapped in this cell, her senses and vampiric capacities altered, she thinks that maybe if she had been afraid of humans from the start she wouldn't be here, in this situation. Chained up like a fair animal.Lifting her hand that was hung low, she's light headed due to the rush of blood to her head. She groans of pain, thirst, sadness and fatigue. Her eyes were wet. She's tired of fighting, She cannot stand it anymore. She wants this sadistic game to stop. Her moist palms fold into fists.There was once a time, when all she'd needed was a few tugs of her wrists to break those chains and the concrete walls they were linked to. It'd take her a few seconds to stretch out the bars of the cell. And even less time to sink her fangs into the flesh of the man who's been torturing her for weeks.Physically like mentally she's at death's door.Inhaling a deep breath she doesn't need, oxygen being a useless factor to her survival, her eyes roam the room from left to right. It's still empty. Her feet are still naked against the cold concrete.'Rosie...' The voice comes from the inside of the cell, she's now really sure of it.'What.' Rosie rolls her eyes. She really wants to, but ignoring the voice turned out to be useless. If she doesn't want to listen from the outside, it'll come inside her head and talk to her there.'Are you really gonna let them ruin you like this?' The voice talks with a chirpy tone. Almost amused and she frowns, hands bowling into fists.'Do not talk to me.' She spits, closing her eyes trying to keep her composure.'C'mon sis... You're stronger than this.' It feels like the feminine voice is talking right into her ear now.She shuts her eyes. Annoyed. In pain.'I know you feel bad because you couldn't protect me but-''Shut up. You're not her. You're not her. You're not her.' Her voice is lost in a mantra like a river that streams down her cheeks.'You don't wanna talk to me, Rosie?' She inquires with that same giggle that used to be so endearing to Rosie's ears. Now it just stings her in the worst ways because she knows she'll never hear it ever again. She'll never see her sulking face or pet her hair. She'd known her for an eternity and she'll miss her for an eternity more.'Fuck off. Fuck off. Fuck OFF!' She yells the last syllables in an angry growl that rebounds against the walls of the cell all the way to the hallway.Silence. It's gone.Rosie never was a being who cried easily. Until now, life never gave her reasons to do so. Yet, the act comes naturally to her. As natural as her fangs coming out when it's time to feed off somebody else's life. Rosie is not a being who cries, however, on her own in this hole, sadness, hugging her in a tight, warm embrace becomes the first and only witness of tears burgeoning in her eyes.'I'm sorry... Yooki? Come back. I didn't mean it...' Her voice wavers, she searches for her little sister, eyes looking frantically around the cell she knows is empty.'I'm sorry, Yooki...' She sniffles.'Come back... Talk to me.' She begs.The cell is silent. Empty. Cold. Mirroring what's been going on inside her for a while. She knows that if she had one, sadness would hollow her soul out.'I'm... Fuck! I'm sorry! I'm miserable without you guys... I don't think I can do it...'Nothing.'Say something! Don't leave me here alone. Yooki!' Her wrists tug on the grating chains. She coughs, lungs feeling like glass.'I... I'm sorry.' Her eyes close, lips shaking.A few months ago she would have laughed at herself for crying and displaying such evidence of weakness. But today, both the obnoxiously proud and the sensitive part of herself feel the exact same way.Broken, with the insides wide open for anyone to see and play with however they want.'Yooki's dead, Min. Seriously. You need to accept that fact. Face the truth.' A sigh is heard from the other side of the bars.That's anyone. And there is nothing he loves more than playing with Rosie.Rosie lifts her head up, eyes filling with rage. She bites the inside of her cheek, waiting patiently for him to enter her vicinity.'Maybe you're right.' She states quietly as if she didn't just have the biggest mental breakdown of her life.The person on the other side of the bars, takes out a bunch of keys jingling against each other making Rosie grit her teeth at the noise, her ears ringing.'Yes, I am... She died. Your brother died too. Your parents...' He lists off of his fingers with a nonchalant tone.'Your grandparents, and your friends... What about... Ugh what was her name again...?' He feigns ignorance.Rosie takes action, deciding her heart has taken enough blows today.'You came here to hurt me or talk to me?''Both? Why can't I do both? At the same time.' He grins, walking straight to her.He's wearing a long coat of black leather. A long iron cross against his chest. He's build is impressive. He's smoking a cigarette and breathes out the smoke in Rosie who, despite all her efforts flinches away once she inhales the smoke.'So... How are you doing darling?' He smiles brightly as if he didn't come in here to hurt her. Make her scream and regret she was ever born.'Why do you enjoy doing this so much?' Rosie ignores his question, face downward, inspecting his boots.'Doing what?' The man gets even closer, taking the stick out of his mouth and cradling Rosie's chin in one hand, forcing her to look at him.'Making you suffer? Look, it's nothing personal. It could be any other vampyre out there.''Just kidding...' He snorts, huffing smoke out his nose.'Of course it's personal. You see... You're of royal blood and vampires of your kind are those I hate the most. I know, I know, you're the least problematic of the bunch, right, so why such persecution on you when you supposedly know how to act around humans?'Rosie's gaze falls on the cross on his torso. The object is small, but oh so painful. She shudders.'Yeah, why?''I once had a beautiful... Beautiful wife.' His expression is a terrifying contrast to his sweet choice of words.'And let's just say that she decided that a despicable vampire was a good enough reason to ruin what we had.' He shrugs. The pain in his eyes is obvious even if he wants to hide it.'So when I learned that the vampyre in cell 44 was the sister of the royal asshole who took my property I-''Property...' Rosie interrupts, grinning a bit until she feels his nails digging into her cheeks.'Yeah, she was fucking mine and your brother took her away from me.' He spits.She winces when he continues digging further into her skin.'Something funny?'Rosie only grunts, smiling through the pain.'So let me get this straight... You're so miserable that hearing the Governor has a personal vendetta against the most powerful family of this country, you run to him so he can use your ' 'services''.'You're a total whore.' Rosie spits and observes his face turn into abject anger.He slaps her across the face, backhanding her with a swiftness he only knows with her.'Want to repeat that?' He rids himself of his long coat, throwing it to the ground, folding his sleeves to his elbows.'I said... you're-' Rosie grits. When he lunges forward both hands grabbing her by the neck.Rosie's fast. She feels something taking possession of her.She wraps her legs around his waist, gripping herself to his body.The man who gained zeal since the start of the vampire hunt, also won a lot of money for each royal vampire he brought to the governor. The man who always was so sure of himself. Made a huge mistake, crossing the security line on the floor. He doesn't understand when an atrocious pain seizes his neck.She starts just below his ear, two fangs dug deeply in his jugular. His mouth opens but no noise gets out.Rosie drinks his blood and has no intention of stopping there in such a good track. At each drop she steals, she recovers her strength and energy.The body of the man twists in agony, his members shaking in reflexive spasms. His eyes slowly lose their life, just as their color. And Rosie smiles.He spits words muffled in his throat, his hands pushing her away as best as he can, but Rosie smiles through the bite. No trust having been established between the hunter and the vampire during their long torture sessions, Rosie knows he's agonizing and that knowledge fills her with the sweetest content.When she's drained him of his blood she lets his body fall to the floor in a dull thud. With a precise and fast movement she pulls the chains out of the concrete, grabbing the bunch of keys to free her wrists out of the heavy shackles.He had his fun with her. But she's the one who had the last laugh.'Pathetic. Shouldn't be so easy...' She mumbles, putting his leather coat on her almost naked form.She wakes up in cold sweat, trashing in the bed and throwing her arms away when she feels someone shaking her.'Ouch!' A feminine voice is heard in the room but it's not hers.Then she sensed the smell of the blood. It's sweet, the aroma inviting.She sees Mika wincing, cradling her hand to her chest. Her eyebrows are scrunched together. Not seeing any cross nor leathered coat, and recognizing instead the human who welcomed her into her home the tension in Rosie's body dissipates.Rosie accidentally cut your palm open with her sharp nails. You almost ask Rosie how on earth she did that with just her nails when you see the clear liquid running on Rosie's face.'I came as soon as I heard you scream...' You frown.For someone who says they don't have a heart, Rosie cries a lot these days.'Shit... I'm sorry... Didn't mean to wake you up.' Rosie stutters, voices a whisper when looking around she realizes she fell off the bed when she smelled a human was in her vicinity.Rosie wonders what time of the night or the morning it is. You're still dressed in your pajamas and the moon she sees through the window still high in the clear night sky.You sigh, slowly getting closer.Rosie falls back, grasping the sheets around her.'Don't.' She sobs.You see fear, confusion, pain in the eyes of the woman.You don't know what's bothering Yoora so much and it pains you so to see her in that state. You've grown quite fond of the woman and you don't enjoy seeing her in pain. Not at all. Why would you when Yoora's been the only source of happiness in your life since he... Died.'Another nightmare?' You inquired softly.The woman is obviously trying to regain her composure, hands going to grip her hair in two tight fists. You see the goose bumps on her pale skin.'A memory.' The dark haired woman answers finally.'Do you want to talk about it?' You attempt.The silence of the night accomplice of your exchange. Rosie squeezes pillows against her heart.That move is a clue she needs physical comfort, but she's got too much pride and distrust towards humans to even think about asking you something so intimate.'I don't think you'd understand.''I can try?' You coax her gently but Rosie shakes her head no and feels tears escape her lids.A human trying to understand me?A shaky breath leaves her and you can't take it anymore to see her so broken so you crouch down where Rosie is sitting on the floor and take her in your arms.It's as if Rosie had never been at the receiving hand of your extreme kindness, when she freezes when you hug her in a tight embrace. She's shocked that a human would show such warmth and compassion towards a vampyre. Then she remembers that you have no idea who she really is. Rosie cries in your arms for a long time, and you stay hugging each other until early morning.