Back at the house, I immediately pulled out the books I bought on medieval folklore and proceeded to read. Like a lot of texts on medieval and ancient beliefs, it was written from a scholarly angle. It dealt with a few accounts written at the time. Inquisitors who had hunted down and destroyed a vampire or vampires terrorizing the countryside.
It was treated as none sense of course. Just a bit of superstition.
The bloodlust of the newly risen was beyond questioning. It was reported that whole villages would be wiped in mere short spans of time, including the vampire's own family. It is likely these villagers were victims of a plague or starvation. Attributing the massive death on a foe that could be fought must have brought some measure of comfort to the writers of the time.
Yeah. Blame it on the plague.
It was late when Kimi came home from her work shift. It didn't take a genius to know that Charlie or someone must've filled her in on the latest trashed via Waylon Forge, my uncle's friend. I made sure the light was off in my bedroom and I was under the covers by the time Kimi climbed the stairs. The floorboards outside my door creaked, followed by a moment's silence before it creaked open.
I held my book safely tucked away as I feigned a subtle measure of being deep in sleep. There was only a short moment, but I was surprised when I heard more footsteps approach me before I felt something press against my head.
Kimi was kissing me good night. Huh.
"I love you," she whispered gently, that for a moment, I thought I imagined it. Her hand tenderly stroked my cheek—it felt like she was pulling strands of hair away from my face—before she finally let out a breath and footsteps followed. The door shut then, implying Kimi must've left the room.
I peaked open my eyes—it was empty.
To say I wasn't surprised to hear those words was an understatement. Kimi never said stuff like that to me. Fact, I always believed she despised me.
A warmth I didn't recognize spread from my heart, filling up my body with a feeling of comfort. But I immediately recurred it—Kimi was still a bitch step mom and will always be.
