Dracula: New blood

Chapter seven. Dreams or nightmares...

Is he finally allowing a faint smile to grace his lips?

"Please don't focus too much on his lips," Dracula's voice startles me once more.

"This feels unfamiliar..." Kieran's voice trails off as his hand gestures around us. "Kim should be here to handle this situation... No one anticipated you waking up now, especially not today..."

"What makes today so special? For me, time lost its meaning long ago... I'm talking years..." Dracula comments while I nod, and then, he falls silent, appearing momentarily bewildered.

"Is there anything I can assist you with right now?" Kieran inquires, and a harsh laugh echoes in my mind, causing me to clutch my forehead in discomfort. His hand rests on my forehead, its chill seeping in.

"He could offer a blood donation!" Dracula scoffs, but I choose to ignore him. I'm beginning to regret the reappearance of this voice.

"You've missed me," Dracula acknowledges, confirming my fear that he's been present but concealed. "Indeed, you're correct. I was merely concealing myself while aiding in the healing process. How do you think you survived?"

I shake my head in disbelief. I refuse to allow my own mind to convince me that Dracula resides within it.

"You can resist it for as long as you wish, my dear," the voice persists. "One day, you'll need to come to terms with it. I am not a product of your ailing mind..."

"Is there anything I can do...?" Kieran asks me with a curious glance.

I lean in, resting my head on his shoulder. If this is my new life, I have to fight fiercely to reclaim it. I'm back to the realm of the living and breathing, yet my mind remains plagued, always sick. His arms gradually envelop me in a comforting hug, and I feel the rhythmic pat on my back, reminiscent of my mother's soothing touch from my childhood.

"I'm sure it was a harrowing experience," he consoles me, still holding me close.

"He has no comprehension of what he's saying!" Dracula interjects, his presence a constant reminder.

"Kim always insisted you were incredibly brave, a true survivor. You just have to allow time to work its healing magic..." He offers words of encouragement, never releasing his embrace.

"It's not time that's healing you; it's me, and I must say I've done a remarkable job," he continues in my head. "Now, we need sustenance, the real kind."

A faint whisper escapes my lips before I can control it. "Food would be nice..."

Kieran chuckles softly, his hand gently patting my back coming to a halt. "You've missed quite a few meals, but I'm not sure today's the day to experiment with anything extravagant. Shall we text Kim and see what she suggests?"

I break the hug and push him away, frustration building within me. This man seems utterly incapable of making decisions on his own. It's always Kim, Kim, Kim.

"Don't be upset," he quickly interprets my reaction. "I can't imagine a burger would be the best choice for you right now. Dietary adjustments should be gradual, I presume..."

Reluctantly, I nod in agreement. "I need sustenance," the other voice within me clamors, causing me to wince.

"How about some soup then?" I ask, my hope evident, before the voice booms again.

"Unless it's a bloody soup, it's utterly useless!"

"Perhaps chicken noodle soup?" the man suggests, relief washing over his face.

Is he so eager to leave me here and seek refuge in the kitchen?

"I'm a vegetarian," I confess with a faint, embarrassed smile.