Blame the Blood

Chapter 9

Alexa

There's nothing more important than a good breakfast.

As I sat in my happy place, the kitchen, notes of cumin, coriander, and amchur, caressed my senses.

"That smells amazing!" Diana swooped in and took D's seat, again. So, I flipped a fresh aloo paratha onto the empty plate before her and poured her a glass of milk. Appreciative Diana looked on at its contents, but reluctance ebbed onto her face as she ripped off a corner. "Not that I don't appreciate the breakfast but Alexa it's Thursday. And 10 am." She mentioned as she dipped a corner into the chutney I'd laid out.

I casually prepared myself a plate. Pointedly ignoring her horn-rimmed gaze. "I'm sure you've got something better to do today."

"What do you fancy huevos rancheros?"

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Then what?"

"Alexa, I received a call from your school. You haven't been going for a couple of weeks."

"Why should you care what I do?"

"Because I do, and this final month is incredibly important!"

"Why did they call you, you're not my father!"

"No, but he asked me to look after you, and that includes your future. Why aren't you going?"

"My future? I'm a vampire hunter destined to probably die at the first mistake I make!"

"You could do more and you know it, Alexa! Besides, maybe what D told you about destinies was wrong! Look at Paul, not all vampires are bad."

"You don't get to speak for D, you won't even tell me where he is!"

"Honey, you don't want to hear from him... Let me put it this way: he's a scholar what would he think if he came back and you had failed all of your GCSEs?"

"So, he is coming back?"

"Yes, no, he didn't tell me the specifics. Just go study with Sarah, instead of that musty library."

"There's no point." Her daughter mumbled.

"There is! There always is a point to learn and better yourself, just go this one day and make D proud."

"I told you not to speak for him!" I screamed at her, hot fury engulfing my entire body. I needed to leave before I did something I would regret. I charged out, running and running until I could feel the wind at my ears and the sun on my face.

...I was in the middle of nowhere. I looked at myself, I hadn't broken a sweat. My heart rate was slowing and-and somehow that woman had ruined my appetite! What do I do now? I walked through the field, a horse cantering up behind me. A brownish cinnamon colour with a dark mane. I knew it from Instagram. Spirit is named after DreamWorks' Spirit by Gabby Hoover. And regrettably, Gabby's family's land was only 3 miles from school.

Maybe Dianna was right, D would be disappointed in me, for skipping out. He didn't care about many things but academic achievement and braving awkward social situations. "Hey Spirit, are you here to give me a message from the universe?" I reached up to pet him. He gave me a sniff and about turned and cantered off again. Ran after him, catching pace, and running with him, the wind surrounding us, lifting us. But, when he stopped at the edge of the fence, the magic was broken. "Goodbye!" I jumped the fence and headed to school.

Apart from the lecture, I had about not wearing school uniform, and being forced to wear a spare PE kit. The school was relatively painless. Since the exams were around the corner we were revising each subject.