Chapter 5: Human Stuff

When I was on my way back to the manor, my head was turning because of the high temperature. I felt the food in my hands was heavier than it should have been due to the exhaustion. I had noticed the severe lack of human food in the house last night, so I got some after my classes. As a half-breed, I could survive by having human food, which was one of the things I was delighted about. I couldn't imagine how I would have lived if I couldn't taste human food ever again. It was afternoon when I finally made it into the mansion and the kitchen, passing the regular electronic security checks. I figured Sol was still asleep for the day and didn't bother letting him know I had come back before getting ready to prepare my dinner. I peeled the potatoes. My mind ran with thoughts of the previous night—the couple I had met, and their peculiar situation. I was not sure what the situation of my parents was, but I had never met a pair like them in my life. Sol was indifferent to their blood status and seemed to wholeheartedly support his friends. I took out the knife to chop the potatoes. Still thinking, I couldn't help the creeping feeling that welled in me. It seemed they didn't have a child. Once they had, would Sarah be dangerous when giving her birth? I shook my head to stop myself from caring about a thing that hadn't happened yet. I gasped as a shooting pain stemmed from my finger and looked down to the source of the pain. I had cut my finger accidentally. My mood turned even sourer as I stared at the blood that leaked through the cut. Suddenly, before I could even move, there was a wooshing sound from around me. The door to the kitchen opened so fast that I could barely see who came in. When I turned around in alarm, I was surprised to find Sol standing in front of me with a stoic look. However, he wasn't looking at me. Instead, his eyes were trained on my bleeding thumb. The blood had run down my index finger and was now nestled in my palm. He stepped forward with dilated pupils. Out of pure instinct, I took a mirroring step back. A growl came from low in his throat. I felt the countertop nudge into my lower back, trapping me there. I could only watch as Sol moved forward. "You got hurt," was all he said in greeting, his eyes never once leaving my bloodstained hand as his tongue darted out to wet his lips. If I could hear the hammering of my heartbeat, I was sure he could hear it too. "It's a small wound." My voice sounded weak. I willed my arms and legs to stop shaking. Sol reached toward me. A large hand wrapped around my forearm as he avoided touching the leather bands on my wrists. I watched with a hitched breath as his tongue darted out from between his lips and took my finger into his mouth. A gasp left me. His eyes looked up at me from his bent position, hooded and glazed over. I could feel the warmth of his tongue as it wrapped around my finger. An ache shot through me as I felt his teeth graze the soft padding of the skin there. But he didn't stop there. As soon as my finger left his mouth, I felt him trail his tongue down my palm. I could only close my eyes as he licked my hand clean of the blood. A low purr of satisfaction raked through him as he spoke. "You taste like sin," he murmured. I felt his breath against my wet hand. "Why do you taste so delicious?" Nervousness shot through me at his question. I felt a sense of worry seep through me at the familiar question I had once heard so often before. The fear left quickly when Sol released my hand in favor of licking the blood on his lips. "Why? Your blood was amazing. Why do you taste like that?" His voice was a whisper but firm as he repeated the question. I only shook my head at him, not knowing what to say. "Human… Human blood tastes good." He shook his head. "Even for a half-blooded vampire, they usually taste bland and lifeless. But you are different." Sol took a step away from me as he crossed his arms over his chest and regarded me. It was then that I noted what he was wearing—a low-cut white cotton shirt hugged his torso tightly, and his sweatpants hung low on his hips. I swallowed hard at what I saw and moved up to meet his gaze. He didn't notice the look I had given him. He still held his chin in his hands and looked over me. "Let me think about it. You smell different from the other normal half-blood ones. What exactly are you?" Quickly regaining myself, I didn't answer his question. I walked to the sink to wash my hands. The cut had already healed itself, and I was grateful for that. "What were you doing here?" he asked as he surveyed the state of the kitchen. The groceries were scattered all over the floor. Pots were already on the stove, ready to be used. "I have to eat," I told him. "Half-human, remember?" "But you don't have to eat human food," he reminded me. "You're still half v–" I cut him off as I shook my head. "I prefer the human stuff. It tastes better anyway, and I'm… I'm sort of a vegan vampire." "A vegan vampire?" Sol huffed as he repeated my words. "Is that a real thing?" I could hear the teasing lilt in his voice. I only rolled my eyes, thankful that the atmosphere had changed from the previous tense one to a calmer one. Otherwise, I would have worried that I'd be sucked by him without having a last dinner. "It is now. I'm a real vegan vampire." I picked up a cucumber from the counter and bit it. "So delicious," I emphasized. Now, it was his turn to roll his eyes at me and move to the other end of the kitchen. I began to prepare the meal again, "Well, I suppose if you're to going to be staying here. I should at least feed you." I turned my head to him and raised my brow in question, Sol motioned to the food around us with a lazy hand, "You know, this sort of thing." "Human food?" I asked him with a strange look. He shrugged. "If that's what you need, yes." "It's democratic, isn't it?" I asked him as I poured the contents of the pot into a plate and placed it on the table before sitting down near it. "Is it?" Sol asked me as he sat across from me. "Honestly, kind of weird," I said. "I mean, you are my employer. Speaking of my job, what exactly is it? What did you say? Personal assistant?" I scooped a spoon of food into my mouth. Sol sat back in his chair and regarded me for a moment. "Well, I suppose I…" He trailed off before going quiet and then spoke up again. "I'll have to find something for you to do." I waved my hand in front of him in a lazy gesture. "Take your time. But just to remind you, I am being paid by the hour. Shouldn't we sign a contract or something?" Sol nodded. "If you feel it's necessary." I didn't. I knew the old vampires held their word as their honor. I had no worries that Sol would hold up his end of the bargain. I just needed him to know I was serious. "Well, I'm serious..." I told Sol as I leaned forward toward him. "Hm?" I watched as a conspiratory smile played across his lips. He leaned forward as well. "It's a bit weird to watch a vampire eating human food." I kept a restrained laugh when he shot back from his leaning position and stood up. "Alright," he said as he cleared his throat, "I'll wait for you to finish." ###