Pallido

Twelve

"Sydney, please talk to me." Peter said from the other side of the door.

"Just go home."

"I can't. They tore my house down."

I wrapped my arms tighter around my middle. That place was just as much my home as my own home. It was weird to think I'd never see it again.

"Sydney, let me in."

"I'm done talking."

"Then just listen, okay?"

"No."

He sighed. "I don't want you to do anything you'd regret. Not now and not in the future. Things are new to you and I know it's hard to balance out your feelings. Everything gets amplified and it... it sucks."

"Peter... Why... why did you follow me?" I asked softly, turning my head toward the door.

"Because I love you."

I don't know why I thought the answer would be more elaborate. Peter wasn't the type to elaborate. But maybe his answer was enough.

I slid away from the door and opened it. Just as I had been, he was sitting against the door, his arms rested on his knees.

I wrapped my arms around him and hid my face in his chest. He still smelled the same, though I noticed a hint of blood. His hair was a mess but it was still him. Even if nothing else in my life was the same, at least Peter was.

Through the window, the rising sun started peeking through and I shut my eyes tightly.

Peter got to his feet, holding me in his arms, and carried me into my room. He laid me on my bed and covered me with the blankets. Then he went to the window and shut the curtains, even going so far as to put things in front of the window so no sunlight could get in.

"Why am I so tired?" I asked, my face buried in the pillow.

"Your body hasn't adjusted yet."

"Then why do you sleep? Aren't you like really old?"

"The older the vampire, the less sleep you need. Some vampires can go weeks without sleeping."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah." He said hesitantly.

"Did you know Matthew was working for the council?"

"No, Sydney, I didn't. He wasn't even an official member. Just someone working for them under the table."

"Why would he do that?"

"To earn their trust."

I lifted my head and squinted to look at him. "You never did that, did you?"

He laughed. "Do you really think that after everything we've been through that would be the case?"

"I don't know what's true anymore."

He sat down on the bed beside me, blocking the sun a bit. "I know I've done some pretty shitty things in the past but I wouldn't stoop that low. Anything the council would ask would just be for their benefit. You could do great work for them but still never earn their trust. They don't like young vampires any more than they like humans."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah. The older you are, the more respect you get."

"So there's no way to ever move up the scale."

"It's a shitty system, I know. The older vampires came up with it so they'd never lose their power."

I sighed and let my head fall back onto my pillow.

"It's a better position to be in than being a human."

"Why? Why did things ever have to change?"

"Because when you can be snapped in half by your enemy, the best thing to do is hand over control and do what they say."

"What will happen when humans are extinct?"

He sighed. "I don't know, to be honest. Some of the vampires are working on making the humans immortal but I don't think it'll work."

"Immortal?"

"It's terrible to think of. Humans shouldn't have to live that way. Especially not forever."

"It makes me feel awful."

"Why?"

"Because that would be us, Peter. Doing the same thing I've always hated vampires for."

"There's no other option."

I groaned and pulled the blanket up more.

"Get some rest, Sydney. It'll help curb some of your appetite."

"Don't remind me." I said at the same time my stomach growled.

Peter and I were silent for a while. I could feel the sun coming up though none of it was really touching me.

"Peter?" I asked softly.

"Yeah."

"Will you stay?"

He laid down beside me. "I never had any plans of leaving."