Forbidden |18+

XVII: Pack

XVII: Pack

I can do it...I can do it...

I'm trying to stay awake, though it's just about as hard as it was for me to get any sleep last night. Ulric's bed was quite comfortable, so it has everything to do with my sleep schedule.

...can...do...i—

My head nods forward and the next thing I feel is a sharp pain erupt in my head. I immediately jolt away and upward from the small coffee table in front of the couch. I groan as I rub my forehead, desperately glancing around the living room.

Ulric had left a note. He'd stayed up last night, installing overhangs outside of each of the windows. I don't need any of the curtains drawn, the natural light not coming anywhere near me, though allowing me to look out and around the area.

While he is taking his finals in the medical building, I'm trying to desperately stay awake.

I lean my arm against one of the armrests on the couch. My cheek presses against my hand, my eyelids keeping open for dear life. My eyelids slowly begin to take more time in between each blink, until I see shadows and flickering dreams across my vision.

"I believe you are supposed to be awake," Noir's voice startles me and I release a sharp yelp. Nearly falling off my arm being used as a post; I quickly grasp the armrest for balance.

She arches a brow while dropping off a bag on the coffee table. I giggle nervously and lean back, saying, "I was just resting my eyes."

"Says the beautiful snore I heard the moment I walked through the door," Noir is holding back a laugh, watching her smirk as I turn bright red. She shakes her head and asks, "Have you had any caffeine?" She pauses a moment and furrows her brows, "Wait, can you have...?"

She kind of trails off her thought as she can't quite put the right words together. Instead, I help her, "I can have any liquid beverage mortals can."

"Then you need a coffee...stat!" Noir shakes her head in disbelief, making her way over to the kitchen. While she's doing stuff behind the bar top, I quietly make my way over to her. Pulling out one of the bar-style chair stools, I lean my arms against the countertop.

While I watch her get water, putting things together, I tilt my head to the side. I've never seen how coffee is made before. We've ordered it a few times while out, though we waited outside while mother or father got it.

"What?" Noir questions me.

I shift on the seat and shrug my shoulders, "I've never seen how it's made before."

"Wh..." Noir just stares at me in disbelief. Shaking her head, she sighs, "One minute you're as powerful as the Moon Goddess and the next, you're acting as clueless as a pup. I swear..."

"I'm sorry..." my voice lowers and I glance away, looking at the countertop.

Noir releases another sigh and states, "It's not your fault. I've just never known an actual vampire before. Well, on a personal level anyway. Look, I don't mean to come off rude, it's just I don't have much of a filter between my mind and mouth." She winks at me as she hands me the completed drink, "I say what I mean and I'm blunt to a fault."

"Oh, I...I can understand that," I lift my gaze while holding the coffee, breathing in the salivating aroma. I love how warm and soothing the mug is, telling her, "I'd rather someone be brutally honest with me instead of sugar-coating everything. How else can we ever come to grasp and cope with the world and those within it?"

Noir giggles and nods, "Exactly, you are brighter than most bulbs." She clears her throat and says, "Anyway, have a good day."

"Oh, I—"