Black Blood

‘You can come in,’ sounds from the other side of the door. With intense posturing discomfort, I again slowly open the door. My eyes focus on the floor as I try to get the image out of my head. As soon as Novak’s legs enter my image, I am relieved as soon as I see trousers.

‘Sorry, I should have, I should have knocked,’ I mutter clearly not knowing what to do with the situation. Then my gaze falls on the blouse lying on the floor. It’s that the jacket concealed it earlier but the thin fabric is covered in multiple bloodstains.

Surprised, I look up at the blue eyes. Only then do I notice that he is wearing a simple green shirt with black loose trousers. Eyes shoot from me to the blouse and back. He only sighs deeply before taking a seat on the bed.

‘Why is there blood in your blouse?’ I ask as a sense of suspicion creeps up on me. With my back against the door, I look at boy in front of me. His hands slide over his face before eyes are fixed on me.

‘I am a vampire Celeste. Whether I like it or not, I need blood.' I knew that but there hasn’t been a moment before when I was confronted with it in such a way. Nausea creeps up on me at the mere idea.

‘You killed someone?’ I ask as I push my back closer to the door, my hand sliding to the doorknob. To my relief, he immediately shakes his head.

‘No, of course not. I have been here before and at that time I had the same problem. It is forbidden to bite and kill anyone, especially without someone’s permission. That doesn’t make vampires not do it either but that’s a story in itself. Zora worked here the last time I was here and at the time she offered me her blood. I had been hungry for days lately and since I wasn’t going to bother you with it. I went to Zora to ask her. She said yes so that’s why the spots are there.' Slowly, the pieces in my head began to line up.

‘That’s why you were acting like that this morning and why I saw you and Zora...?’ A small smile appears on his lips before he slowly pushes himself up from the bed.

‘Yes that’s why I was distant towards you and easily irritated. And why you saw me and Zora kissing. She thinks it gives her a special position.’ I raise my eyebrows.

‘It didn't look like you had such a problem with it,’ I reproach him. A laugh echoes through the room as he walks closer in my direction.

‘When you bite someone you have an emotional connection with them for a short time. She kissed me and no indeed I didn’t push her away but that doesn’t mean I want a relationship with her.’ Slowly I let my hand slide off the doorknob again and crossed my arms.

‘You’re using her,’ I conclude, to which Novak immediately shakes his head.

‘I made it very clear to her then and again now that it means nothing romantically.' My education on romance and Novak’s way of dealing with it are miles apart. Intimacy existed only in marriage or for unmarried men. For women, it was strictly forbidden to even talk about it at all.

Slowly, Novak took a step closer to me and held out a hand. The blue eyes have a twinkle in them that I cannot place. Desperately, my gaze glides over the hand, not knowing what he wants from me.

‘Your image of sex is not reality, no matter how much that idiot wants you to think so.’ No more comes out of me than a single nod.

‘I don’t think I’m the type for that outside of a marriage,’ I mutter slowly. This whole conversation terrifies me. It feels like I am doing something that is not allowed, something that is forbidden.

‘Maybe not but you don’t know that since you’ve never tried.' His hand is still raised in my direction but I still don’t take it.

‘Are you implying that I should have sex with you?’ I ask in surprise with a mix of utter confusion. Novak immediately shakes his head, which thankfully makes my heart beat slower.

‘No, of course not. Please don’t do anything you don’t want and I’m absolutely not going to force myself on you. I’m just saying you should realize that not everyone has the same relationship with sex as you, and it can be fun for both parties. Trust me.' He’s right but that doesn’t remove my discomfort. Still, I slowly grasp his hand with the bit of curiosity taking over my body. He pulls me further towards him and strangely, the touch doesn’t panic me anymore. With controlled steps, he slowly walks past me until he is behind me.

‘Celeste, can I make you feel something?’ he asks softly as he pulls my hair out of my neck. Automatically I take a step forward and turn around. His blue eyes look at me expectantly. I don’t know what he wants me to feel but something about his gaze tells me it’s not malicious.

‘What?’ I ask before I agree to anything. He takes a few steps in my direction, walking around me again until he is behind me. Once again his hand pulls my hair out of my neck. This time I stay still. My muscles are tense from the nerves I can’t deny. Although my body is stressed, I am curious enough not to be taken in. Then suddenly I feel Novak’s breath bounce against the skin of my neck. I stiffen and my breath falters, but I don’t move.

‘Something nice,’ he replies, bouncing against the skin of my neck.