My Own Personal Beethoven

Chapter Seven

Hannah rolled out of bed and groaned the moment her feet hit the floor. Her throat burned and her head hurt. She beat the alarm clock until it stopped buzzing. Tristan wasn’t in bed and then, before wondering where the hell he was, she heard the piano. Fur Elise. She smiled sleepily before going to shower. He might have been up late, if not all night. She tugged her jeans on before looking at herself in the mirror. She wouldn’t bother with the straightener, leaving her hair to naturally curl after applying a gel her mother got her weeks ago.

She stood behind the piano, not wanting to break his train of thought or whatever was going on in that head of his. But they needed to talk. Her throat still burned along with a headache. Suddenly, the music stopped and an arm wrapped around her waist, a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

“Would you stop worrying?” Hannah asked as she pushed him away.

“Go drink your blood.”

Oh yeah. She was one of them now. Amazing how she used to not believe in any of this. She sighed and left him to play Ode To Joy. She snorted and went into the kitchen.

“Here dear, the bloods are different. Just start on O positive for now…it’s Tristan’s favorite.”

Because she wanted to be like Tristan…she sighed and took the glass with a wry smile before sitting at the table, slowly sipping the blood. She made a face.

“Too sweet?”

“It’s um…bitter, actually.”

“You get used to it.” Helen smiled before leaving the room.

A young woman with copper eyes and chocolate hair entered the room, smiling as Caleb had said something to her, following her. She stopped and looked at Hannah who was sipping at the blood, trying not to cough. It made her throat hurt less.

“No time for that.” Tristan said.

She nodded and sighed before downing the glass, wincing at the taste. She grabbed her bag and was about to leave when a feminine voice spoke.

“Hello.”

“Hi.”

“Hannah, this is Claudia. She’s my fiance. Claudia, this is my sister-in-law, Hannah.”

“Really wish I could stay and chat but my grumpy jackass of a husband hates to be late for physics. Something about the Doppler effect just keeps him going…without it, he would probably fail to exist. So, I have to go but it was nice meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you too.” Claudia grinned.

She could tell she was already going to like Hannah. The feeling was mutual.

“Arranged marriage?” Claudia asked

“Hell yes.” Caleb replied.

Meanwhile, at school…

“Hola.” Alison said as she slid down the wall.

“Hello.”

“You die or something? You’re pale. And cold.” Alison said.

“Just came down with something over the weekend. It should go away.”

Ha. If only. Hannah kind of missed her apartment…and that woman who claimed to be her mom. She missed dancing to Frank Sinatra with her. Cigarette in hand, singing and dancing together. They had a bond and that was worth something. She didn’t have much she cared for right now. Helen was kind but she was a bit overbearing with her care. Caleb was a friend. Tristan was…well…Tristan. She never saw Victor around there. She already knew she would like Claduia.