Darker Than Black

Chapter 4

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Izaya nervously waited for the tenants to come back out. A few minutes had already passed with only a brief interval of the Dullahan coming in. She opened the cupboard and took out a glass, before signalling a "1" with her forefinger and exiting again. He could only imagine what they were up to out there. His mind had wanderer off again, this time to his mouth. His jaw had been aching a bit, and his upper gums were getting soar. His tongue traced over his canines.

Why do they seem longer? A bit more pointy too. It must be a dental hallucination... Those are things, right? It was probably just side effects from the strange illness plaguing his body, so he thought. But what this "illness" was exactly, he didn't understand quite yet. Hopefully the underground doctor could provide some enlightenment.

The doorhnob behind the couch turned and opened, revealing the beings who had left him waiting.

"What are you two up to?" Izaya asked the doctor who had a coy smile across his lips, and the headless woman behind him. Celty sat back down at her previous spot, while Shinra came over and set the glass from earlier onto the coffee table. It was full of a strange yet enticing dark liquid.
"What is that?" He questioned, eying it suspiciously. "Some sort of freaky health drink?" He chuckled.

"You could say that. I'm pretty sure it'll help you at least a little bit," Shinra said, "drink as much as you need to." The doctor looked a bit nervous, but slightly excited at the same time. Celty fiddled with her thumbs, conveying a message that she was also a bit on edge. There was a pause as the informant gazed at the drink. He reached out and cupped it in his hand, swirling it around lightly before bringing it up to his nose. He could tell they were hiding something, but it wasn't worth the trouble—he doubted Shinra would give him a direct answer or poison, so it wasn't a big concern.

The odd yet savoury scent was practically mouthwatering. It served only to intensify his already strong hunger. He felt himself visibly relaxing as the edge tactfully came to his lips. It glided the side of the once clean glass, and easily slipped past his pearly teeth. When the inky red, saline fluid hit his tongue, he instantly felt soothed. It was like this caliginous substance was the exact thing his body had been craving for the past half day. It was ever so rich, flavourful, yet he noticed he must have tasted it somewhere before. And it was delicious.

Izaya drank a bit more of the smooth liquid before lowering his hand and licking the excess off his lips. There was only about half left, but Shinra had said he could have as much as he needed.

They were both staring at him.

He looked back at them distrustfully, feeling a bit pressured from the gazes. Izaya sloshed the liquid around a bit more before looking back up. It was leaving lines on the edges of the container, much like the film milk would, but deep red. He wanted to have more, but now wasn't the time.

"Celty, I think you were right. But how do we..." Shinra whispered, gesturing over to the being on their couch "tell him?"

They watched their guest shift slightly, and reluctantly set down the glass he had just drank from.

"What is it? And what was that stuff?" The voice wanted answers, which the others weren't sure they knew how to give.

But how exactly do you tell someone you think they're a vampire—cut think, know would be more accurate.

Celty covered it with her own question.
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