Choices

chapter 13

Pavni asks me to go out with her later, which is normal really. Wherever she is taking me, it is far.

I ask her the same question that I asked Diya and Raam. She says, "You are quoting Diya. She told me about it once. This sweet moroi man. He used to come here to meet his wife or at least that is what Diya believes. I think his name was Dashkov or something."

I fall silent. Abigail. Pregnant. Wife. Dashkov. Dashkov is a royal family but I shrug these thoughts away. I don't want to accept them just yet.

She takes me to another part of the town. I have been here barely for two months, so there are parts I still don't know about.

As soon as we reach the street, Pavni runs towards this man. He seems to be a moroi. He looks at her and smiles. I am happy at the thought that these both have something sweet going on between them.

After some observation, I am not happy about them. She is mad over him and he controls her. He takes a bite in front of me. That is degrading! We dhampirs are not made to be their feeding bags.

When we walk away from him, I grab hold of Pavni and ask, "How old is he? How could you let him bite you? That is degrading Pavni."

Pavni seems irritated at the thought of me lecturing her. She tells me, "What do you know of love? He loves me. So what if he wants to take a bite? You are being judgmental. You always are. He is going to come to be with me soon."

"Come to be with you soon?"

"He has to leave his wife. You see, he is leaving his wife for me. He loves me so much." She looks at me and when I show that I disapprove she stomps off. I have to get back on my own.

This story is what I have heard often. Moroi men promise many things but keep very few of them. They use us. Not all relationships are like that, but many are. When they say they are yet to tell this to their wife, you can take it as a no. They are not looking at this relationship for more than short pleasure.

I walk back to the small room where I stay. I breathe out. Same things everywhere. I forgot that these towns were also a spot for moroi and dhampir relations. I sigh. Once, and then twice. I close my eyes and slip into a dreamless sleep.