Quoted By:
You firmly patted her on the shoulder, causing her to jump a bit.
You gave her a reassuring smile. <span class="mu-r">“You did good, Reese. Louise might not see it that way when she wakes up, but you saved her life.”</span>
She offered a weak smile, exposing her sharp fangs accidentally. <span class="mu-r">“Thanks. I know she didn’t like me much, but I don’t blame her for it. I barely trust myself some days.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Is it the whole ‘craving for blood’ thing?”</span> you asked.
She nodded slightly, rubbing her arms as if to comfort herself. <span class="mu-r">“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Like a drug addiction that occupies your every thought until you feel like you’re going crazy. Marc keeps me going with the animal blood that he manages to get, and I’ve been trying my best to stay away from human blood…”</span>
Her hand began to visibly shake, and her crimson pupils shrank slightly, disappearing into the inky pools of her sclera. <span class="mu-r">“A bit of her blood fell into my mouth when I bit her. It was unavoidable, and I spit it out right after, but...I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget the taste. I wonder if I’ll even be able to go back to animal blood, and the thought terrifies me.”</span>
A white, bandaged hand gently grasped Reese’s, and the shaking stopped. She looked up, and blinked in surprise. Cindy was now standing in front of her, gazing at the vegan vampire with sympathy in her eyes. Then, she began to sign, and you translated the message.
<span class="mu-r">“She says that you should give yourself more credit. It isn’t easy to resist human blood for as long as you have.”</span>
Reese glanced between the two of you, at a loss for words.
Cindy signed another message.
<span class="mu-r">“And that you aren’t alone in your struggle. She’ll help you however she can. Even if that means she has to-”</span>
You paused, unsure of how to deliver that last part. It was awfully blunt, and probably inappropriate for this situation.
Reese gave you a pleading look. <span class="mu-r">“What? What did she say?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“She said that…she can ‘stop you’ if it becomes necessary.”</span>
Cindy nodded as if to confirm that your words were true. And to your surprise, Reese sagged in relief, another drop of black ichor trailing down her face.
<span class="mu-r">“Thank you. That’s very…sweet of you.”</span> she said, rubbing Cindy’s hands affectionately. <span class="mu-r">“Really, it means a lot. I won’t let this sickness rule my life.”</span>
While the two of them had their moment, you took one to search for little Donnie, who was nowhere to be seen. After about a minute, you found him curiously inching towards a book that was lying flat on its spine, its pages splayed out for everyone to see. When Donnie got a little too close, the book snapped shut, mere millimeters away from its leafy limbs. Donnie jumped back in surprise, only having narrowly avoided the bear trap book’s clutches.
<span class="mu-r">“Are the two of you fine with staying here for a while? Because I need to head out for a bit.”</span>
(Cont.)
