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chapter six | sweets
The hunter followed me into a small little shop that I frequented quite often, the dark wood floor and cream coloured walls gave a comforting warmth to my unbeating heart. Seated at the front counter was a little girl who beamed brightly upon seeing me. "Big sister Gin!" Climbing onto the counter, the child launched herself at me, however there was too far of a distance between us.
Panicked, I allowed my vampire speed to take over and managed to catch the child before she injured herself. With the little blonde now tucked safely in my arm, my knees gave in and we slowly sank to the floor. I locked eyes with her rose coloured ones and gave her a scolding look. "How many times must I tell you not to do such dangerous things, Melody?" I began to scold her. "What if I was unable to catch you in time? You would have been badly hurt!"
The girl looked down at her hands, fingers laced together on her lap, before looking back up at me with a wide grin. "But you did catch me," her arms shot out and linked around my neck in a tight embrace, "you always catch me, so I'm never afraid."
Sighing in defeat, seeing how she was right, I looped my arms around and under her before standing. Holding her tightly as to avoid dropping the energetic human child. I turned my attention to the hunter who had accompanied me here.
His golden graze was locked on the two of us, however he showed no signs of seeing a vampire holding a human child. Walking around the shop, I shifted Melody into my right arm, resting her on my hip, while my free hand now plucked up items from shelves that I was in need of. A bottle of dried lavender, a vial of ground basil, some rose water, I kept plucking up glass after tiny glass. Melody occasionally reaching out to hold some of the items for me.
The entire time I shuffled around the shop, I could feel the hunter's eyes locked on me. It wasn't unsettling, as his gaze was lined with curiosity rather than threatening.
Once I had found everything I needed, the glasses all carefully lined on the front counter, I let Melody down to do her job. The young twelve year old counted up the prices as she carefully wrapped and bagged them, her pencil making quick work of the notepad where she did her calculations. She was such an intelligent girl for her age, it was ashamed that she had to remain in the shop rather than attend school like the others her age.
Once the total was calculated, I handed Melody double the amount, giving her a pat on the head to stop her protest. "I'll drop by again next week with the books I promised." She nodded joyfully and waved us goodbye with enthusiasm.
As we walked, the large paper bag hugged tightly in my thin arms, the hunter asked his questions. "That girl, does she know about vampires?"
"Her brother is a Level D." I answered bluntly. "However he is stable and I cannot imagine he would fall any lower in the future. He has a strong will, and he has only every craved human blood once since being turned." We continued to walk as I explained the sad tale of little Melody's family. "He lives alone in the near by mountains, I visit him from time to time to ensure he is alright. Their mother is in poor health, which is why Melody works alone in the shop most days."
"Is that why you have the child so much money?" He questioned me. "To pay for her mother's medicine?"
"That is correct. They are kind people who helped me on my first day in town." I looked up at the blue sky, as if trying to seek out a fond memory within the clouds. "I wish for a better future for Melody, which is why I visit every week to tutor her."
It was silent for a moment, before the hunter spoke up once again. "That's very kind of you."
I simply hummed, neither fully acknowledging his point nor denying it.
Suddenly, the large paper bag was lifted out of my arms. With a surprised expression, I looked up to see that the hunter had taken it upon himself to carry my things—easily holding the heavy brown bag of glass vials.
He continued to walk, his pace a tad slower then our initial walk had been, and I followed after him with unspoken questions. "I've still got someplace to go before I can bring you back to the academy." Was all he said before the walk was once again silent.
A/N: hello everyone who's still reading! I hope you are all staying safe, keeping your distance, self isolating and washing your hands! Please don't be foolish like the people the media is giving attention to.
It's not just your life that is on the line during these times.
I don't know if I'll be posting more often with all this time I've got on my hands, the university doesn't seem to want us to have a mental break from the stress and anxiety of the state that the world is currently in. I'm drowning in deadlines.
But I do hope you all stay positive during these times!
Don't attack elderly or children just because they look like they're of Asian descent.
Be mindful and call a friend, face time a relative during these times.
