Conflicting Blood {Vampire}

I sat, clutching my knees to my chest. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I cried silently. My Barbie doll lay forgotten by the closet door. The pink shirt my mother had made me wear was wet from my crying. It was dark in the small neatly organized closet, and only a sliver of light found its way through the small crack beneath the closed door.

The darkness was not left in peace however. No, it was soon broken as the door opened and light poured in from the bright guest bedroom. My eyes, which were already blurred from tears, stung from the light and I squinted upwards. “There you are.” the familiar smooth voice whispered. His words were soft and gentle as he smiled sadly down at me. “I thought I’d find you in here. Your mother told me you were upset.” My eyes darted to my feet as I brushed away my tears, embarrassed.

“Sorry sir.” I apologized, not wanting to look him in the eye. I could hear a softhearted chuckle come from him as he squatted down in front of me.

“Miya, you know better than to call me ‘sir.’” he said in a low, gentle chuckle. I could feel his strong warm arms snake beneath me as he reached out for me. Easily he picked me up and off the ground.

I lowered my eyes to my feet once more. “But my mother…” I began to mutter.

He cut me off as he closed the closet door. “Ignore your mother.” He sat down on the edge of the neatly made guest bed, holding me on his lap as he cradled me gently in his arms. “She is just jealous that she is just a boring old housemaid and you-” he smiled warmly down at me and lightly touched his nose to mine, “-are my very best friend.” Through my tears, I smiled at him, a small giggle escaping my lips. As I did so some of my golden brown hair fell out from behind my ear, and I tucked it carefully back into place.

“Maybe.”

“No ‘maybe’s.” he shook his head still smiling. “There’s no doubt about it.” For a moment, he looked happily down at me, but then he sighed and turned calm. “Now what has made you so blue as to hide in this closet?”

I sniffled and looked away from him. “It’s my birthday.” I said in a quiet unhappy whisper, as if just announcing the death of a loved on.

“Ah. The big number seven I do believe.” he replied with a nod. “But why would that upset you so?”

“I don’t want to get older.” I whispered, upset at the idea of ageing. “I want to stay young forever and ever.”

He wrapped his arms tighter around me, pulling me closer as I snuggled up against his hard, warm chest. The tears that had been in my eyes a few moments ago were now gone as his warmth radiated through me. “Forever is a very long time, and seven is a rather young age.”

For a moment, I thought about that. My eyes blank as I absorbed what he was saying. “I guess so.”

“Why do you not want to grow up Miya?” he inquired, interested to hear my reasons behind this decision.

I scrunched up my nose as I answered, “Old people are grumpy and smell funny. And they never do anything exciting. I don’t want to be old and wrinkly like my mother.”

His booming laugh rumbled from his chest, and my small body shook as he laughed. A blush came to my cheeks. He was laughing at what I had said. “That is a very very good reason.” he comforted me as he saw the lush, his laughter quieting down. “Perhaps you should wait to make such a decision. Now you cannot fully think it through. No need to hurry into wasting your birthday candle wishes.”

“But I am getting older every day. How long do I have to wait?”

“I would say eleven more years. I promise you; by nineteen you won’t have any wrinkles.”

“Promise?”

I stared up and into his eyes as I waited for a response. He returned my stare, blinking his beautiful hazel eyes. For a moment I could not look away, the crimson sliver around the pupil had my attention. So vibrant, alluring, and wonderful. However, it was gone the next time he blinked his eyes. “I promise.”

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