Blood Of My Blood | UNDER EDITING

A Painting In A Storage Room

After dinner I retreated to my room, only thinking about what Emit would do if he found out, would he? No, he wouldn't. He wouldn't do that. But what did I have to assure myself that he wouldn't? Nothing. I had nothing, when he'd finally know about me, I'll be handed over to the ducal guards and they'll give me the stake to my heart. If that would even work.

The fear I once felt years ago returned, much more strongly, I started to panic. All this was going the wrong way, all my life, losing her. I then calmed myself down, it was nothing but a conversation. He only disclosed new information about the accident, it could be many factors at work here. But who's to say he wouldn't hold a grudge against the whole race?

As much as I had once hated it, I was a one of them. The days that I lay in hatred of what has become had passed, but with her help, I only wasted my life. Time has come to embrace what I am. That was something I always told myself, to move forward. I laid in bed, covering myself. Sleep had been a challenge when all my thoughts poured at once, preventing me from resting. She was all I remembered, my friend. My dear friend.

The next morning I opened my eyes as I heard that Emit was awake, preparing to go fish the day away, I sat up in my bed and looked around the humble room, I could smell the fish from here, but what more could you expect from this place, it was close to the port. I had gotten ready to go, the vineyard was waiting for me, I made my way in that direction. But all I could think about was last night, it took all of my thoughts, the blood, the feelings.

Dusk was upon me when I finally finished my shift. It was a busier day than usual, like a hive of bees working hard to make honey that was used in the future in high quantities to get nobles drunk. What was good about all this is that the scents were beautiful but most importantly, I could sneak a bottle or two instead of going back to the Pheasantry to beg for a drink from that innkeep, the look she gave me annoyed too much so I decided to stay away for now since she kept wrongfully accusing me of that day.

I walked to the Gran' Place and indulged in the taste of the stolen wine while looking at new paintings. There wasn't much new ones that I haven't seen before. One artist mentioned the Mandragora to his colleague. I knew of the event but never paid it any mind but for now I decided to ask.

"Yes, excuse me. When is the Mandragora exactly? I'd love to see more of your work, kind sir" I said with a little smile to seem friendly.

"Ah, yes, I shall showcase all my new paintings then. It would get much views from the noblemen and perhaps they'd buy it" he said hopefully.

Views. That was all what they hoped for. Views and money. I didn't blame them, I needed some of both. I noticed the artist looking at me. I made eye contact and raised an eyebrow, challenging him to move his eyes but he didn't budge.

"What? What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?" I said, becoming impatient and uncomfortable.

"Oh..I...uh...I'm sorry my lady" he began and lowered his eyes. "I just...I'm interested in drawing you"

I raised both my eyebrows in surprise, drawing me. Huh. That was new. I stared at him, sensing this was some sort of artist joke. I shifted my eyes to the other as he too began eyeing me, beginning another uneasy festival in my stomach.

"Quit it with the jokes already, you wanna draw me?"

"I'm sure with a little change of style in your hair, you'll look beautiful. Oh and with the soft light in the morning. It will look magnificent" he gushed.

I couldn't help but laugh, I found everything he said quite hilarious. Not only did he think I was beautiful, but he expected me to sit still while he drew me early in the morning.

"The fisstech is working its charms on you folk" I said in between laughs as I started to walk away.

"Wait, miss. I'll pay you"

I stopped without turning to face him. Now he talked a language I could understand, but still, the offer was ridiculous. I discarded the dresses, thinking it would suit my everyday needs of running here and there. I had ditched my long, black hair, now reducing it into locks that rested on the nape of my neck. Yet this man thought I was beautiful enough to be a portrait to eventually be bought by a nobleman that would gift me to his wife where I'd either hang on the wall proudly or be stored and covered with a sheet.

"I'm still going to say no, I'm sorry" I said in a empathetic tone, hoping they both caught on to not to bother me again with the same question.

Heading off before they thought of something new was the ideal thing for now, I strolled through the city, enjoying the views and scents of good food that was mine for the taking. I had finished the wine before I knew it and started to get drunk. Drunk me was troublesome and somewhere deep inside me that was still sober hoped to be as far as possible than being stored and covered with a sheet in someone's storage room.

I laid down on the grass in the field and saw the sky lighting up, getting freed of the darkness as the first light danced in the dark sky making it look like milk mixed with blood. I smiled, I didn't know why, but I felt good. I smiled as a remembered her. We'd lay down in a field like this and count the stars, I smiled because in this state, I lived in the past and the past was somewhere I wanted to stay in.

Suddenly my views of the sky was blocked when a man looked down on me. My smile faded as he looked at me blankly, his eyes not revealing his intentions, I couldn't read him. Instead, I just stared at his face as he stared at mine and awaited the other to speak. His eyes were black and his nose was hooked, his grey hair was neatly combed back as sideburns descended from the sides of the neat hair to cover his cheeks.

"Hello" he finally said.

"Hi" I said in a whisper.

"You certainly had much to drink"

I smiled as I remembered, snickering a bit at my pathetic state.

"But you must not in any circumstance get used to this. I understand you're a vampire and I shall identify myself as one. I shall leave this letter with you, it's urgent and within it you'll find the answers you've longed for" he said as he put down a piece of folded paper on my chest.

"You may meet me after you've read the letter in Meré Lachaiselongue if you want, of course. Which I trust you'll keep this information to yourself. I wish you the best of luck"

"You too" I muttered unknowing to the strange man as I closed my eyes, signalling my body to pull me out of this dream.