"Do not expect much affection from me." Carla's scarf whipped in the wind. Akira snorted. So dramatic. "I won't. This relationship is purely beneficial."
"Hm. Although I was surprised. I thought the Adam would be a vampire, you know." Carla's complexion was a ghostly white in the glow of the moon. These days, he looked paler than usual. Akira shrugged. "My blood chose you, not I." Carla nodded. "Very well. I look forward to working with you..." his words were cut short as he broke into a fit of coughing. Carla winced, hand traveling to his side before it dropped quickly, like he didn't want anyone to see. As his sleeve was pulled up with the movement, Akira caught a mottled patch of purple marring the apple flesh of his forearm.
"Are you alright?" Akira inclined her head, studying his expression. There was sweat beading on his forehead.
He nodded, straightening, voice raspy. "Fantastic."
Akira frowned. She wasn't so sure.
A few days later, as she was studying the terrain of what would be the wolves' territory with Carla, he was racked with more fits of coughing.
"Carla!" Each cough made his body heave. It was as if his lungs were trying to expel something. Akira froze in horror as blood splattered across the carpet. Carla's body gave out. Akira rushed to hold him up before he collapsed to the ground. Something sharp cut into her fingertip. One of the pins from his badges.
Carla's breathing was shallow and laboured against her neck. Akira hurriedly tugged down his scarf so he could breathe better. "You're not alright," she ground out, slapping his back as he continued hacking violently. More thick, wet liquid dripped down her back before Carla finally stilled. "I can...stand." He grunted. Akira released him slowly. Carla swayed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. The bruise on his wrist was flashed once more. The revelation crashed into Akira like a tone of bricks.
"You're infected...aren't you? With the Endzeit."
Carla staggered to the desk, slamming bodily against it. The map and pens flew off, landing on the ground. He was silent for a long while. Finally, he sighed heavily. "Since you have already seen me in this state, you must have your answer, no?" Recovering quickly, he straightened, not looking at her.
Akira opened her mouth. "Carla. Does Shin—"
He held up a hand. "My brother does not. And as you may know, there is no cure." Carla's voice held no hope, only silent, bitter acceptance.
The heavy silence hanging in the room was suffocating with all sorts of pent up regret. Akira gazed at the countless ancient times lining the walls of the study, and the blood welling on her finger. The red seemed to glow in the dimness of the study. Her lips formed the words before her brain could process them. "Carla...what if there was a cure...?"
