The Vampire's Soul

Blood

'Don't you have any other type of seasoning?' Rosie doesn't even realize how whiny her voice sounds.The kitchen is filled with smells that would probably be delicious if she could enjoy food. The only smell seeming attractive in that moment was Mika's blood, pulsing and coursing its way through her veins.Rosie's planned to leave tonight to feed in the forest. She thinks she'll be able to control herself like she's always been. But in the meantime thirst puts her in a really bad mood. And of course Mika doesn't tell her anything, her annoyance being the least of her problems. She thinks it's just Rosie's usual behavior.'No... Not in here..' Mika checks the cupboard quickly even though she knows the content of her kitchen by heart.'Unless you want to go downtown and get some at the grocery shop for me?''D-downtown...?' Rosie stammers. Are a bunch of onions and garlic cloves good enough reasons to jeopardize her peaceful retreat? What if she meets hunters downtown? What if for some reason a human's blood smells particularly good and, not controlling her thirst any longer, she attacks them in broad daylight? She's seen that happening in the past to other vampires. And when that happens in broad daylight, it's never a good thing for anyone involved. Screams from terrified humans. Iron arrows, tears and blood. A lot of blood.Rosie winces, hiding her cringing facial features from Mika.'Those look fine.' She concludes defeated, her hand grabbing the knife Mika gives her.'Good.' She says shuffling from the cupboard where she stores knives to the kitchen island. The upbeat funk music she loves listening to while cooking blaring in the room.Garlic. It's such a big part of the folklore surrounding Rosie and her kind. Allegedly, it used to be a famous vampire repellent, before hunters found other, more efficient ways to get rid of the gangrene like they said.Rosie has no difficulty touching the garlic clove with naked fingers. It's just the horrible smell inviting itself into her nostrils and then onto her finger prints all the way under her epidermis that won't leave no matter how much soap she'll use. This time, if she eats this food containing garlic she might put herself in great danger. Just the smell makes her nose flare. How can humans enjoy dishes smothered in this horrid poison?Mika's voice puts her out of her thoughts with a small squeal, a knife falling into the sink in a strident bang.Rosie smells it before seeing it. Her vampiric heartbeat rises. It's the first time she smells it out of Mika's veins. It's so intoxicating she can't help but inhale deeply.'Shit.' Mika swears, putting her bloody finger under water. In a swift motion she grabs a cloth to wrap it around her finger.'Aren't you going to disinfect it?' Rosie's voice is but a hoarse sound. She doesn't ask because she's worried, however. The wound is thin and small, working like she is everyday, Rosie knows Mika's seen worse cuts. No, she asks because she needs her to get out of the room for even just a little while, so she can get her mind off the intoxicating aroma.Rosie can hear the smile in Mika's voice who's still back to her, facing the sink.'I'm a tough girl... I'll be fine.' She smiles, taking out a new knife, busying herself with some carrots.Not hearing any answer from her guest, Mika turns around to see Rosie leaning against the kitchen island, pale skin tinted of a strange burgundy under her eyes, and her equally as pale fingers not busied around the garlic that she needed cut ten minutes ago.'Geez, Yoora...' She groans, but the lightness in her voice hints that she's not annoyed. Not in the least. She's rather amused at Rosie's helplessness when it comes to cooking.'Do you plan on cutting them today or tomorrow?...' Her voice rebounds on the window where she can see the sun set on her cottage. She smiles faintly.'You're the one who wanted to help around the kitchen...' She hums, light hearted.She has absolutely no idea of the chaos going on inside the vampire's mind.A multitude of lewd thoughts flood Rosie who tries as best she can to regulate her own heart.Each inspiration, each exhalation. The movement of her tendons moving around the knife. The sound her lashes make brushing her warm cheeks. The sound of her heart beat. And the scent of her. Of her body, her skin, her blood.In one fluid, fast movement that Mika doesn't even have the time to register, Rosie has her hands on each of her hips. Her soft back of cashmere to the vampire's chest. She puts her cold lips on Mika's warm neck.Mika inhales suddenly in a shiver, eyes widening.'Yoo-Yoora?... What's gotten into you?' She chuckles nervously.Again, she touches her neck with her soft lips. This time just below her ear. Rosie hears the rush of blood running to her cheeks and neck. It sounds just like waves crashing against the shore.'Oh my God Yoora!' Mika yelps when she sees the thin dark veins under Rosie's pale eyelids. Her face is so white she almost looks grey.'What's going on with you? You look sick!' She raises her hand to grab her cheek and inspect her face closely but the vampire holds her by the wrist stopping her in her tracks.'I'm not sick...''Well, you do look queasy.' She notes, eyebrows joining.Rosie's chest swells at the flagrant worry in the human's eyes. It's been a while since she's had anyone so genuinely worried about her.'I'm not sick... I'm starving.' She hushes in a revelation, eyes so dark they mirror the sky that is welcoming the setting sun into its bed.Mika frowned, confused by the way Rosie's face contorts in a weird grimace mixing pain with something else.'We were cooking just now...' Mika whines mind going back to the way Rosie took her sweet time to cut up two onions and a few garlic cloves. 'It takes time to make a-''Mika.' Voice stern, fingers tight around her wrist and hip bone.'...Yeah?' Mika's eyelashes flutter against her cheeks when Rosie looks down on her.'I really need to do this...' Her quiet and hoarse voice worries her to no avail until she sees them. The two teeth sticking out of her mouth, too long to be simple canines.Mika's about to say something when she hangs her head down lower.'Do what?...''...Just...a little taste...' She murmurs, her self restraint finally breaking.'Yoo-'Rosie drives her fangs into Mika's jugular in a precise movement. She tastes heavenly. She groans of relief, of pleasure, cradling Mika's shivering body closer to hers.It's not messy like the last time she had a hunter under her claws. This time it's rather respectful... As respectful as feeding on someone can get. Travelling to the small of her back Rosie uncharacteristically attempts to calm Mika's shivering.Blood flow to her brain is temporarily jeopardized, the human is caught in a euphoric state.Mika sighs suddenly, her surprised gasp lost in her throat. Seeing how Rosie's feeding from her in such a ravenous manner, she should feel like screaming. Yet, she doesn't fear.From afar it does look like a tender kiss shared between two lovers.Mind finally able to focus on something other than the crimson liquor leaving the human's artery. The vampire stops the suction of her lips on your skin, sharp protruding fangs leaving your jugular. Your eyes open as soon as you feel her warm embrace leave your hands.She's staring at you in awe while you blush like a teenager. The black veins under her eyes have disappeared, as well as the grayish tone of her cold skin.What on earth just happened?Knees weak, you support yourself on the kitchen island behind you. You clear your throat embarrassed. Rosie's eyes are reading your face trying to guess what you could be thinking. She studies the look on your face and learns it as fear, confusion, regret. Taking a step back she looks at her hands shaking her head.'I'm sorry... I'm sorry...Shit, I'm-'She barges out of the kitchen, not leaving you the time to say anything.One shaky hand on your neck you leave the kitchen running after her.'Wait Yoora!'Rosie winces when you say this name for the umpteenth time. It reminds her of every lie she's fed you since she arrived here. Lying to a human seemed easy and she was pretty gifted in the matter, knowing the craft inside out. So why was lying to you getting so difficult?'Please wait.' You finally grab her forearm.Back towards you, she sighs.'You're a vampire... All this time you were a vampire...'Not hearing any anger or regret in your voice, Rosie turns around, frowning.'I won't bother you anymore, I'm leav-' She says in a hurry.'I'm not gonna tell anyone... You can stay.''I just attacked you, what is wrong with you?''Nothing. Or maybe everything. I don't know! I know that you're mad...' You cradle the woman's hand close to your chest.'Which is weird cause you're the one who chomped off a part of my neck...' You joke quietly.Rosie grumbles, gritting her teeth. You hide your smile behind your joined hands.'It was...An other worldly experience.''Other- other worldly! What... What on earth... what the goddamn hell is wrong with you? Aren't you disgusted? Aren't you scared?'She's so shocked. She really wasn't expecting this. Why won't you shake, cry, yell at her?'No... I'm not scared at all.' You shake your head, big eyes staring back at her.'I know you could never hurt me.'It stings. Someone told her that once and a few months later they betrayed her and let hunters into her parent's castle, into her home.She scoffs untangling their hands.'How can you be so sure?' Fiery eyes stare you down.'Because of the way you held me just now, I could feel it.' You start, putting your hand on the vampyre's cheek.Rosie tries to decipher what exactly is going through your mind.You're a human so why aren't you afraid of her? Why are you not reacting so violently?'Feel what?' Rosie's voice is only a whisper.'You know... The way you look at me, touch me.' You look down.'There is something in me that wants to trust you.''What are you saying?' Rosie scoffs.You're silent, fidgeting with your fingers in your lap. It should be pretty fucking obvious by now.Rosie steps back, sour, she could look offended if the look on her face wasn't just pure confusion.'Are you falling in love with me?'You don't say anything, blushing even harder.Rosie needs to get out of here quickly. The last time she let a human fall in love with her... Was a mistake she's not willing to remake. She needs to put a distance between you. Wake you up from your fairy tale.'God... You're pathetic.'Your heart skips a beat. But that's not the type of skipping you were apprehending.'You're so lonely, you fell in love with... Me? An undead? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds.''You're lonely too Rosie... that's why you didn't leave my cottage as soon as you were healed.' It's your turn to get angry. How dare she talk to you like this? Why is she rejecting you so harshly?'No, I didn't leave your cottage because I didn't have any other choice.' Rosie grits in your direction, baring her teeth.'What are you doing? Why are you doing this?''Doing what?''Being cruel to me? Being an asshole when all I'm trying to do is help you. That's all I've actually done since we met. I just want to be your friend.'Rosie's face softens despite her attempts at staying impassable.'I'm doing this because you have no idea what you're getting into. You're getting yourself into the pile of shit that is my life. It's too dangerous, Mika. You have no idea who I am.''But I want to know you. Let me in, please.' You beg.Rosie closes her eyes because as hard as she tries to act distant she truly misses physical contact.You brush your lips against hers softly, and Rosie holds you by the waist kissing you back.'Are you an idiot? I thought vampires repulsed you humans.' Rosie whispers a few inches from your lips, shaking her head incredulous.'You could never repulse me.' Whispering back, you touch her nose with yours.Rosie wants to push you away but her actions do not match her desires, as you're now flush on her chest.'I knew not all vampires were terrible monsters and you came into the picture and proved it to me, I'm sure others think like me. You're a good person.'Rosie gasps, jutting her head back in a manic laughter.'Me? A good person?''I'm not a 'person' nor am I good. You don't know me.''Alright. I don't know you. Alright Rosie...' You exasperate. 'How about kissing me now?'Rosie chuckles, a single tear falling from her eye because she's going to miss you so much.The following morning, you wake up with a dumb smile on your face. Rosie and you slept together. The taste of her real name was different on your tongue, all night. We talked about anything and everything.You shiver thinking of her dark gaze fixed on you. You shift in the bed, warmth gathering in the pit of your stomach.You rose up before the sun, as every morning. Sitting up straight pulling on the sheets you see she's not in the bed. You smile at the mug of coffee that's set on your night stand. It's fuming, she made it not so long ago.You're really falling in love with the woman. With a vampire.Your smile falters however when your eyes find the white paper next to the mug.Mika,Thank you for your hospitality. You really are the sweetest, most tender and lovable human I've ever met. If I didn't come across your cottage that day, I would have died. I could never thank you enough.You're the first human I've trusted in a while... But I can't love you Mika. I'm a vampire we don't love. How can I love you with no soul?Thank you for everything, my angel. Take care of yourself.Rosie.

~The End~