Strange Magic

The Girl Who Never Bites

Rose's perspective:

Rose had lost count of the days she was shut up in that dreadful place. She never saw daylight anymore. She wanted so badly to get out but she could hardly stand up on her own. Her neck was scarred with bites beyond repair but the last thing she cared about right now was her looks.

The girl who refuses to drink from her was brought in to her once every week and she never lay a finger on her even once. When the girl leaves, somehow Rose would find herself feeling stronger and better than how she was feeling. She wanted to ask her why she doesn't bite her unlike the rest who dive for her throat but Ethan was always on patrolling duty and there was nothing to be done.

"Can't I go out just for a while?" Rose begged of Ethan once, right after a young vampire left the room after feeding. "I just wanna feel the sunlight. It's so dreary here. You can keep watch over me, I don't mind."

Ethan looked at her. His expression was mixed with sympathy and guilt. He stared at her for a long time and then shook his head slowly.

"I can't do that," he said.

"Why can't you?" She demanded. "What are you so scared of?"

"You don't know anything," he snapped suddenly. "So just keep silent and don't ask stupid questions."

She watched as he walked out of the room looking agitated.

I would if you can only tell me.

Rose didn't know what she had done to make Ethan suddenly edgy. He was always the most stable and sane person in this place. Helena still detested her and she still don't know why. Ethan and Helena were the only faces she sees apart from the random faces she sees everyday. Well, she also couldn't forget the girl who was different from the rest. She wanted to see her again.

The time came soon. Rose actually smiled at her when she came in followed by Ethan. But her smile froze on her face when she saw the girl frowning at her, gesturing that they were not alone. Just as she was about to pretend to sink her fangs in, they were interrupted.

"McClain, His Honour wants a word with you," a formal looking lady appeared on the doorway.

Ethan frowned at Rose and the girl.

"Keep an eye on her till I come back," he ordered the girl.

"With pleasure," the girl grinned at her.

Ethan turned and slammed the door behind him. Rose was already sitting up in her bed. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for her. The girl stared down at her.

"Why don't you ever drink my blood?"

The girl smiled and then replied, "Because it's more or less like killing. Besides it's disgusting."

Rose could only gape at her reply. How can a vampire say blood is disgusting? Isn't that what they live on?

"I didn't mean all blood is disgusting," she answered her thoughts. "That's what we live on, true, but it doesn't necessarily have to be human blood. The place I'm from, we were taught to live on animal blood. We were never savages. In fact, we were even close with humans."

"You...you can read my mind?" Rose gasped.

"Yeah," she grinned. "You're easy to read cause you're weak now. And your determination is even weaker. One can easily sabotage you with your own mind."

"Why aren't the others like you?"

"Because they were born and raised to hunt and kill."

"Where are you from? And who are you?"

The girl paused for a moment before replying. She looked nostalgic as her eyes seemed to drift far away.

"The place where I'm from is like paradise," she said, half smiling, her eyes still far away. "Everything I needed was there. Everything I loved. The one I love..." She trailed away then shook herself back to the present.

Rose waited for her to recollect herself.

"But it's no more," she said, dismissing it with a shrug. "And I don't know who I am now."

"And you're okay with that?" Rose asked in disbelief.

The girl shrugged again.

"Where am I?" Rose asked changing the topic.

"You're inside an evil empire," she answered. "Where they will eventually drain you dry."

Oh what an encouragement!

Forcing the reply away, Rose asked, "why am I here?"

"They thought you were someone else," she answered promptly. "Because you have the same face."

"They're after Jenna?" Rose's eyes widened in shock. "What for?"

Jenna! What have you done this time?

"Beats me," she shrugged. "Look I wanna help you escape this place but it won't be easy. Are you willing to risk your life for your freedom?"

"Why would you help me?"

"I know how hard it is to lose someone," she said. "And I bet your sister feels the same gaping hole I always feel in my heart after losing the one I loved the most. You'll just waste away here. Isn't it better to risk it than wonder when the end would be?"

"Of course I'm ready," Rose said. "I'm just concerned bout you. What if you get caught?"

Before the girl could reply, Ethan was back. Both the girl and Rose immediately put up long faces.

"Alright girl, you may leave," Ethan said.

The girl got to her feet, winked at Rose and left the room. Rose felt again the familiar healing power she always felt when the girl leaves. She wondered how she was gonna pull off the plan to escape.