Barely An Angel (Completed)

31~ Elixir of Life

I threw my hands in the air, agitated. "Please do!" I exclaimed. "Because it looks suspiciously like you're smuggling all of my mom's blood bags, and were hoping we wouldn't notice."

Anna looked sheepishly down at the ground. "Well...yes...that's exactly what I was doing," she admitted.

"Why?" I questioned exasperatedly.

She kept her eyes down. "I...I can't say." I found it quite odd that my usually straight-forward and outgoing aunt was being so uncharacteristically shy and avoiding my gaze.

I reached behind her on the floor and snagged a blood bag from the pile she had gathered before she could even blink, sinking my teeth into it and tearing a hole in the top so I could drink from it easier. Within seconds, I wrinkled the empty pouch into a ball and tossed it in the nearby trashcan. Anna stared at me, wide-eyed.

"Did you...?" she trailed off. I simply nodded, a smirk lifting the edges of my lips. At least the thirst that had ravaged my throat only moments before had blissfully subsided.

"So, are you gonna tell me what you were going to do with all of those?" I gestured towards her duffel bag. She didn't answer; instead, she continued staring at me as if she had just forgotten how to speak English. Suddenly, she began to glow the same soft, golden hue I had before, only it became more intense and blinding with every passing second.

It got so bright that even when I covered my eyes, it still hurt. I stumbled backwards and tripped over something my mom must have left on the floor, falling square on my back. By the time I had leaped to my feet again, the light had vanished, and with it, so too had Anna and her duffel bag. I rubbed the back of my head, a slight twinge of pain from my fall still present.

I cursed under my breath, rushing back up the basement stairs, hoping to catch Anna in time before she made out like a bandit with my mom's blood bags. But she was nowhere to be seen. I was too exhausted to run around aimlessly looking for her, so I decided to see if I could finally get some sleep.

As I neared the steps that led up to my room, I caught a glimpse of the clock on the stove, in the kitchen. 4:30 A.M. Great. I have less than two hours before I have to get ready for school.

***

"Ramona Marlo, you have some explaining to do, young lady," my mom called when she saw me trudging down the stairs. I rubbed my eyes, willing them to adjust to the early morning light that lit up the house.

"What...what do you mean?" It was just barely 6 A.M. My mind was still plagued by sleepy fogginess and I could barely think. My mom sat alone at the island in the kitchen, a can of nyris in front of her. I squinted, wondering if I was only seeing things. Since when does she drink nyris?

She trailed me with her eyes the whole time it took me to leave the stairs, cross through the living room, and sit across from her. "I mean," she lowered her voice to a whisper. "Where are all my blood bags? I'd really rather not drink this sorry excuse for a blood substitute if I don't have to." She regarded the can with a face wrinkled in disgust.

I reached across the surface of the island and grasped the still-cold can with my fingertips, bringing it to my mouth and taking a swig. The events of last night; rather, early this morning; replayed themselves in my mind. My mouth fell open with a gasp as I remembered everything.

"What?"

"Anna. She had a duffel bag. She stole them," I answered, raking a hand through my dark locks. "But she didn't say why."

Mom growled from the back of her throat. "That sneaky little-"

"Good morning," Anna sing-songed as she entered the kitchen. "How did you ladies sleep? I had the most wonderful dream-"

She was cut off by my mom's hand flying to her throat, picking her up and pinning her to the nearest wall. "Where are my blood bags?" Mom fumed through clenched teeth.

Anna grabbed at my mother's hands in futility as she gasped for air. "I...don't...don't know," she coughed. I flew out of my seat, trying to pull my mom away from her.

"Mom! Mom, stop!" I cried. "She can't breathe!"

Mom yanked her hand away, Anna falling to the ground as she rubbed her neck.

"You know, I actually feel sorry for you vampires," she rasped, rising clumsily to her feet. "Your every movement and thought is controlled by your thirst for blood. Angels, on the other hand, are only governed by a desire to do good for others." She focused on me. "And you, sweetie, I feel especially bad for. You're going to have to choose which side you'll want to take, which side of yourself that you'll ultimately give in to. You're going to have to hope you pick the right one, if you want to keep Nathan safe."

"Where are my blood bags?" Mom yelled. It was precisely then and there that I realized Anna was completely right; her words were a dagger of truth that cut deep, twisting and burning themselves into my memory. I realized that all my mom cared about in that moment was her blood bags, and when she would get her next fix of the elixir of life. I realized, regrettably, that I didn't want to turn out like that; I didn't want to be that person. If only I knew how to choose.

"What's all the noise out here?" Dad rushed out of his and Mom's room. "Anna, are you alright?" He noticed that she was still holding her neck with one hand. "What's going on?" He gazed at Mom and his sister expectantly, awaiting an answer.

"She accused me of stealing her blood bags!" Anna cried, pointing a finger at my mother. "And she held me against the wall by my neck!" She rushed over to her brother, hiding herself behind him. "She's putting us in danger, Veren. You really shouldn't stay here much longer."

"I saw you with them!" I yelled. "You stuffed them in some duffel bag, blinded me, and then you disappeared! You even admitted to me that you were stealing them!"

Dad took a step away from his sister. "Is this true?"

Anna scoffed. "Of course not! What would I do with all that blood? Goodness, Veren."

He stared at her a few seconds more in disbelief, before moving over next to me. "How dare you call my family liars? I know you're hiding something, Anna, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it." 

~

Kind of an abrupt ending for the chapter I guess, but what do you guys think? What in the world is Anna up to? Haha, let me know your thoughts in the comments, and as always, don't forget to leave a vote if you enjoyed! This chapter was actually pretty fun for me to write, lol. Till next one,

~R.J. <3