• -:>Maribelle<:-


    I watched her sleepily climb the stairs and cross the walkway, all the while holding myself back from her deliciously pulsing blood. Leo was watching me carefully, making sure I didn't make any move against his adoptive sister.

    As soon as her door was shut, I groaned loudly and threw myself on the couch. I covered my head with the afghan that was laying there and crossed my arms.

    "You did... well." Leo offered, sitting beneath me on the floor. "I should've sent her to bed earlier, it wasn't fair for you."

    "You should've led her somewhere else and dropped her off the face of the earth." I muttered, pulling the blanket off my head. I tugged the band free from my hair and let it tumble toward my waist, and I sighed heavily.

    "You know as well I as do that I can't stand this very long. You've had practice with being around them, and I haven't had so much. I've been living off the blood you bring back, and I've been cramped up here practically my whole life." I accused in a rush, the harsh whispers directed only to his ears. Leo stiffened, obviously about to argue, but he reluctantly let it go. We stared into the light of the fire until I heard the door above me creaking open.

    My head snapped upward, but it was only Alexandra in her pajamas and slippers.

    "Good night!" She called, smiling. I waved back at her. The distraction had disappeared from her face; maybe I was wrong about her overhearing my conversation with Leo about the smell of her blood.

    "Night, sis." Leo said lightly, giving a short wave. Alexandra disappeared into her room once more, and I punched Leo on his shoulder.

    "You have to get rid of her!" I said, standing on the cushions to step over him. He growled slightly but let me pass, and I wandered into the kitchen. So what if my vampire monthly was going, so what if the pills were making me irritated and drowsy, I needed some blood to calm my frayed nerves.


    -:>Alexandra<:-


    I listened from the back of the door, panic swelling in my chest.

    "You've had practice being around them! I've been living off the blood you bring back, and I've been cramped up here my whole life!"

    Afraid I would escape out the window and free myself from the cannibal's prison, I forced myself to smile and step out onto the walkway. Mari looked up at me with some panic, then relaxed a little when she saw me.

    "Good night!" I said, the fake smile burning my lips. Mari waved lightly, and Leo responded with a good night of his own. I frantically ducked back into my room and closed the door lightly, then pressed my ear to the door again.

    "You have to get rid of her!" I heard Mari yell from below, oblivious to my eavesdropping. Emotions welled up in the form of tears in my eyes. She didn't want to hurt me, but she clearly wanted me for dinner. Options swirled in my head.

    Cannibal? Vampire? Some weirdo who likes to pretend to eat people? Wait. Vampire?

    I eased the door open a crack and watched Mari come back from the kitchen with a large cup in her hand. The red liquid sloshed around while she slurped through the long straw. It couldn't have been blood, could it?

    I shut the door and sat uneasily on the bed, staring at the window. It was huge, with a large screen behind it. Perfect for me to slip out unnoticed.

    Moving as quickly and quietly as I could, I slipped on my shoes and coat, then pushed the window outward. It gave reluctantly, and I somehow welcomed the gentle breeze that blew my hair away from my face. I picked up my bag and threw it over the ledge, not necessarily worried about Mari and Leo hearing me. I peeked toward the ground, which didn't seem that far away, so I tossed my legs over the side, then dropped to the grassy floor.

    "OWW!!" I screamed in agony. My leg crunched beneath me as I tumbled forward over and over down the invisible hill, then soon my arm went with it when I tried to stop myself. Tears streamed freely now, flowing as I cried with the immense pain.

    Faces appeared in the brightly lit window, which scared me even worse than the white bone protruding from my calf.

    "No, no." I whimpered and tried to stand to run away, but I accidently put weight on that right leg. Pain shot through me, knocking me over. Soon Leo was hanging over my head, patting my cheek and telling me to stay awake. I looked around wildly for Mari, but I couldn't see her anywhere. Leo must've told her to stay inside.

    "Alex, stay awake. Stay with me, Alex!" The blackness started creeping into my vision and I quickly was overwhelmed by the welcoming darkness.


    -:>Maribelle<:-


    "Oh my god!" I yelled and stepped out onto the porch. Leo turned to me with frantic eyes.

    "No! Get back in the house! There's too much blood! Go!" He screamed at me, then picked up Alexandra in his broad arms. He bolted down the mountain, carrying her as fast as he could away from me.

    Frankly, I was glad to see her finally go, but the blood was dripping in a steady trail behind them.

    "No," I told myself, forcing my eyes to turn into the house. I stopped breathing and slammed the door behind me after I slipped into the house. I hit my forehead on the white wooden door and closed the drapes as quickly as I could. I had to do everything in my power to keep myself from the intriguing liquid that sat just outside the door.

    "She must've heard me." I scolded myself and laid down on the couch. I picked up the cup of blood that I had set down in a hurry at the screams, then took a long drag of the stuff. It tasted dull and tasteless next to the fresh blood from Alexandra's leg. I sighed in frustration and covered up with the agitated blanket, soon drifting into a light and restless sleep.