“You already have,” he responded. “I’m sorry if this is strange to you. You can get blood from drinking it, or injecting it, but we don’t have time to set up an IV.” Arianna nodded, but still didn’t uncap the blood. “Not this again,” he complained.
“Again?” she asked.
“You turned last night,” he explained. “To stop the pain, I gave you my blood. You drank only enough to slightly stop the pain before you passed out. At the safe house we brought you to, you refused to take any blood given to you. I figured this should be okay since it’s from your uncle,” Devin continued to explain.
“It smells like your blood,” Arianna agreed. “Why?”
“That would take more time than we have to explain. Please, just drink the blood,” Devin begged. “We don’t want anything to happen before you meet your grandfather.” Arianna nodded, but still hesitated. In her hands, she was holding real blood. Arianna pinched herself to find she wasn’t dreaming, but she still didn’t feel like the situation was happening.
“Fine,” Devin replied. “We will do this the easy way.” Devin opened the cap on the bag in Arianna’s hands. Reaching down to the table, Devin flicked open a knife, and pricked his finger. The blood began to bead up on the tip of his forefinger. Arianna felt her face go warm at the scent of his blood. Without thinking, she reached for his hand. Devin gently pushed the bag in her hand to her face. Arianna felt an urge inside her long for his blood, but she was satisfied with the blood from the bag. When she finished, Devin took the bag from her and recapped it.
“Thank you,” he said. “Was that so difficult?” he added, quieter, almost for himself.
Arianna looked around the room. The sounds had become louder, and the colors more vibrant in the dimly-lit room. Arianna could feel her senses increase as she took in the newly-colored room. Closing her eyes, she listened to Mori click on the computer in the next room. Molina was pacing behind him. Outside the door, she could hear footsteps at the end of the hall. Beyond the hall, faint music was playing amongst the soft laughter and talking of people. Arianna opened her eyes as Devin finally stood.
“Everything is a bit clearer now?” he asked. Arianna nodded.
“Why?” she asked.
“Though Molina makes it sound like a curse to be a dearg-dul, there are some benefits. Your senses are much more acute than before. You see more colors, even in the dark. You hear sounds better than normal humans. Your senses of smell, sight, and taste increase tremendously, and your sense of touch…” he explained, reaching for her face as Molina returned. He quickly pulled his hand back.
“It’s time,” she said quietly.
SIX
Devin gently offered his arm to Arianna as they approached large, gold-and–white-trimmed double doors. Two large men dressed in matching navy blue coats greeted them as they passed. Arianna clung tightly to Devin as the array of colors twirled before her eyes. In the grand ballroom of the Randolph estate, over four hundred masked men and women had gathered to celebrate with Lord Randolph the birthday of his only surviving heir. The women, all dressed in brightly-colored, formal, floor-length dresses, were being led by tuxedo-clad gentlemen. Many people dotted the large open floor as they waltzed around the room. Arianna paused at the sight. Devin smiled as he waited. It would be the party of the year, and with their matching masks, no one would recognize Arianna on Devin’s arm.
Arianna continued to gaze over the room as Devin kindly ushered her along the back wall. Their faces all concealed by masks, the beautiful women were dressed in their best for such a special occasion. Shifting her gaze from the dancing people on the ballroom main floor, Arianna looked around the ornate, gold-trimmed room. There was a balcony above her, on which people lounged, watching the floor below as they chatted, but the raised platform across the room caught her complete attention. Sitting in a plush chair was an old man. He immediately stood out against the male guests in his deep maroon suit with gold trim. His eagle eyes gazed over the crowd, obviously searching and observing his guests. His hair was gray from the years and his skin slightly wrinkled. She couldn’t guess his age, but she knew instantly who he was.
“Correct,” Devin whispered in her ear. With a brief nod from Devin to her grandfather, her grandfather’s face lit up with a smile.
“It’s been years since he’s smiled so easily in a crowd,” a large, red-bearded man said, approaching Devin. The man grinned as he shook Devin’s hand. “You haven’t been up to visit in a while.”