After what felt like a long car ride, Uta pulled into his driveway and cut the engine. I hopped out from my side and got to his side of the car. I help him out and shut the door behind us. As I entered the house, I called out.

“Yasu!”

“Yasu!”

“Where are you?”

I took Uta to the sitting room and helped him to the couch, then rush to the kitchen where I searched the cupboards. No blood. Food, perhaps? It would only keep him for a minute or two. He needed blood. I rummaged through the refrigerator, knocking over everything in sight. Where was the blood? This wasn’t happening. I slammed the refrigerator door shut and ran to the attic. The door creaked open and what lay ahead was a dark, dusty, chilly room. I looked for a light switch but didn’t see one. I opened the door so the light from the passage filtered into the room. I gazed around the sitting, noticing how crammed it was with antiques. Many pieces seemed like they belonged in an art gallery. It was hard to take it all in. My gaze fell on a wooden rack in the back of the room. Just like everything, it was old.

Hurrying over, I expected to find bottles filled with blood, from different countries, diverse types, but to my shock, the rows were empty—every one of them. I tried to steady my breathing and think about what to do now. After returning downstairs, I dropped myself next to Uta.

Alfred was out, and I’d no idea where Yasu was. I rested my hand on his. My heart was beating hard against my chest. Don’t overreact Ji-Hye.

“Where is, Yasu?” Uta’s voice was weaker. I forced a small smile.

“I don’t know.”

I watched, unable to help as Uta changed colour before my eyes. Then my lips curled into a small smile. I touched my neck.

“What’s going on?”

The voice made me jump, startled. “Jesus Christ, Yasu! Creep up much?”

“And hello to you, too.”

“Uta needs blood! You’ve to do something!”

Yasu was by my side, observing his friend. So close I could hear his breathing. He smelled intoxicating! I felt high inhaling his scent.

Raising to his feet, Yasu's eyes swept over me and then shifted to his friend.

“No,” Uta said before Yasu could utter a single word.

“You are sure? It’s not like she’d object.” He scoffed.

I notice his jawline tautened; his eyes darken fleetingly. Something troubled him.

“I said no.”

“Well, you’re in luck then. I’ve blood. I got it while you went to ravish Miss Feisty when she should have been in class learning or attempting to.”

This fool didn’t go there. Yasu gave me a look that said, “oh yes, this vampire just did”.

“Prick,” I muttered low under my breath.

“What?”

I looked at him. “What?”

Yasu’s eyebrows furrowed as he frowned. “What did you say?”

“Nothing!” I plastered the most artificial smile I could muster.

His scowl deepened, and he opened his mouth to say something but stopped by Uta’s question. “Where did you get blood?”

“Does it matter where? Just consider her a sweet treat. Come out!” Yasu ordered.

I couldn’t catch my breath as I stared in disbelief of sight now in front of me. I froze to a point where I could hardly hear myself breathing.

“Can’t be!” My voice came out hoarse.

“You look like you see a ghost,” Yasu said.

I opened my mouth to ask a question, then snapped it shut when I couldn’t find my voice. I gulped.

Uta pushed himself up to a sitting position. He nearly howled in pain. “How did you get her here?”

“Getting her here wasn’t a challenge. Girls sure have a thing for handsome faces.”

He had the most dangerous and lethal smile I ever saw. It almost stopped my heart.

“Do you know her?”

“Yes.”

He raised his brow in my direction. “Friends?”

“No.”

That was the truth, but I knew Yasu could sense I was holding something back. He seemed to have this unfortunate ability to tell when I was hiding something.

He cocked his head to the side. “Hm… am I sensing something else?”

“You and your preposterous sensing!” I snapped.

As if he knew it was coming, he laughed at my sudden outburst. That attractive laugh did something to me.

“Who is she?” Uta demanded.

I glared, narrowing my eyes at them both. “It’s best you don’t know.”

I looked away. It was Witt’s sister, Linda. We weren’t friends, but Linda was nice and simple. Her cream-coloured face dotted with freckles. She looked helpless, like someone stranded in the desert or somewhere far away.

“You already feed?” I asked Yasu.

“Not quite. Her blood tasted like…” He paused with a strange expression. “It threw me off.”

“Oh?” I said.

“What? I am very particular with blood types. It’s not that hers is bad; it’s just… something about it.”

I looked at my boyfriend’s face; he didn’t meet my gaze. What could I do? I didn’t want him to feed on Linda. I envied her. My chest burned with jealousy.

Uta hesitated a moment, looking at the fragile girl standing before us.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Nothing.”

“What about the holes on her neck?” The last thing I needed was her mom or brother to see the holes.

“It will heal. How long it takes depends on how deep your boyfriend bites. Tomorrow she’ll wake up with a massive headache—kind of like a hangover, only worse. She won’t remember what happened; I’ll make sure. She will feel weak and exhausted. It’ll past.” Yasu explained.

Hiding the hurt I felt when Uta drew near to her was impossible. I hated what would happen next. I wondered whether I’m being unfair, or whether I would feel annoyed if I could watch myself as an outsider.

Linda didn’t move, nor did she appear afraid. She only followed Uta’s every move with her eyes. My brain seemed to have short-circuited. Around me, everything was in fast-forward mode while I’m stock still in the middle of it all. How could this happen?

She flinched when Uta bit her skin. As the life-giving liquid flowed into his mouth, his colour gradually returned. She gripped his back for support. I shook my head, overwhelmed by it all.