BANE

CHAPTER ELEVEN - BODE (Part 2)

Holden unclenched his fist and watched as his blood filled one specimen tube, then another as Birgitta quickly switched them out. "Why do you need so much of my blood? How much of this are you drinking?"

"Just a taste, here and there. I am showing incredible restraint, I will have you know." Birgitta smiled as she changed the test tube once again. "Your blood is unlike anything else I have ever tasted, it must be part of your appeal. I am surprised Corbin resisted for as long as he did."

"Are you hitting on me? What would your future wife say?" He grinned.

"Quit flattering yourself, pet."

Holden laughed. "So, why do you need so much of my blood? You never answered me."

"You're the only one of your species I have ever come across. We need to study as much as we can," Birgitta removed the needle and brought the samples out of the room while Holden held pressure against the small ball of cotton. "How are you feeling?" She asked upon returning.

"Fine, but..."

"What's on your mind?"

"If someone else got a hold of my blood... Wouldn't they be able to tell it wasn't human? Isn't it risky to study everyone like this?"

"Ahh. I see what this is about," Birgitta gave a small nod of her head. "Lorelei came to see me a few years ago, not long after she came to the city. She had a health scare and wanted my help as someone familiar with other species in case the regular human treatments were not effective. I agreed, but on the condition that she provide me with venom samples for our research. Unfortunately, Stella and her paranoia got a grip on Lorelei a few months later and she became convinced that humans would come for us if they knew. I never gathered a large enough venom sample to create an antivenin, so I still have the venom I collected here in this building and she hates it."

"You said Stella was paranoid. You don't believe humans would turn on us if they knew?"

"There is always a risk of that, but I do not think people are so unreasonable. You thought you were human when you first met the group of us, yet you took it all in stride. Also realize that there have been many humans who have discovered our existence throughout history, few resulted in a witch hunt."

"I guess that's true, huh?"

"Personally, I have always looked differently from humans. I was teased as a child, and am still whispered about as an adult... Perhaps that is why I do not fear humans the same as Lorelei or Stella might. I am well aware that people are mostly bark and very little bite." Birgitta smiled again to put the younger man at ease. "You do not need to worry, humans are not the enemy Stella would have you believe."

"How long have you known her?"

"Oh gosh... A decade now, at least. I think I was in my second year of university when we first met, around seventeen years old... So I suppose I've known her for closer to twelve years. She was the T.A. for one of the classes my girlfriend at the time was taking, so we met through her. It did not take long before her paranoia reared its ugly head, and unfortunately, my bigoted ex agreed with her all too willingly. Stella's first convert."

"So, Stella was the reason you broke up?"

"Well, far from the only reason, but I suppose she was the catalyst. A lot happened in those years, no relationship could survive that much pressure, especially not with someone like her... But, I digress."

Holden rolled his sleeve back down. "It worked out in the end, huh? You met Callista and now you're less than a month away from your wedding day."

"Ironically, something else Stella was responsible for." Birgitta chuckled. Noticing Holden's confusion, she continued to explain. "She targeted Callie and Vic one night and Vic got injured. It was how we met. Gordie and I were neutral to her methods until that night, but we inadvertently chose a side when he attacked Stella to get them to safety. I stitched Vic up, the four of us hit it off famously, and the rest is history."