Onbekend(28)

“Can you at least tell me the basics of dearg-duls? Are they like vampires in the movies?” Arianna asked only to be interrupted by the distinct clicking sound of Molina’s boots. Arianna turned to the door, and Devin stood to open it.

“Lord Randolph wants to go over the reports with you,” a startled Molina said to Devin as he stood at the door. Devin nodded as he hurried over to a door on the left side of the sitting room.

Arianna sat on the bed, staring out into the sitting room. Devin returned from the door he had entered, dressed in new clothes. He walked across the sitting room to another door. He paused briefly.

“Molina can answer your questions about dearg-duls,” he added, before heading through the door.

Molina stood in the doorway to Arianna’s bedroom.

“Why don’t you get dressed for the day first,” she suggested, shutting the door behind her as she left.

Arianna dressed and found Molina waiting in the sitting room patiently.

“So you have questions?” Molina asked. “First, you can look around the apartment if you’d like.”

“Apartment?” Arianna asked. So far she had only seen the sitting room and her bedroom. She hadn’t realized she was in an apartment.

“The door on the left is Devin’s bedroom, the door straight ahead leads into the rest of the estate, and the door on the right here leads into the rest of your quarters,” Molina explained. Arianna nodded as she cautiously opened the door on the right.

Stepping into the large living room, Arianna looked around. The plush sofas were facing a large-screen TV to the left. Straight ahead were French doors leading outside. Arianna walked to the doors and looked through the glass panes.

“What floor are we on?” she asked, seeing that the balcony was several floors off the ground.

“The fourth floor, or rather, the top. Your grandfather’s apartment is right below yours,” Molina replied. “It’s past two; you can go outside if you want.”

“Past two?” Arianna asked.

“Along with a thirst for blood, your skin is now more sensitive to UV radiation. If you go outside between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon, the sun’s rays will instantly cause severe burns on any skin exposed,” Molina explained. Arianna hesitantly opened the doors and walked out onto the veranda.

“We can go outside, into sunlight, as long as it isn’t between ten and two?” Arianna asked, as Molina followed her onto the balcony.

“Yes, but it’s still dangerous to stay in direct sunlight at any time for too long,” she added, as she tried to usher Arianna into the shadows.

“What else is now bad for me?” Arianna asked. “Garlic or crosses?”

“Rubbish, all that movie stuff is rubbish,” Molina replied, still trying to move Arianna, who remained in the sunlight. Arianna sat down in the warmth.

“What about killing a dearg-dul then, no stake through the heart?”

“A stake through the heart would kill just about anyone,” Molina replied, and Arianna laughed.

“I suppose that’s true,” Arianna replied.

“The most common way to kill a dearg-dul is to drain their blood, or prevent access to fresh blood. We need blood to survive. It gives us the non-human powers such as a good sense of hearing and makes us heal quicker. Without blood, any dearg-dul or night human would die,” Molina explained. Arianna thought back to when she was sitting in the cell. The men who took her were planning to deprive her of blood until she died.

“How long can you go without new blood?” Arianna asked.

“For a new dearg-dul like you?” Molina asked, and Arianna nodded. “Only days. Once you get used to everything, and learn how to regulate the amount of blood you use, you’ll be able to go weeks without needing fresh blood.” Molina looked into the sky again. They were staying outside too long in direct sunlight.

“How do you get fresh blood?” Arianna asked. “Do you have to keep finding someone to drink from?”

“The fridge in the kitchen is filled with packs of fresh blood like the one Gabriel gave you yesterday. There are markets around dearg-dul towns that provide blood. Otherwise, dearg-duls can take a keeper or custodian. Normally a keeper is a human, but it could also be another dearg-dul or night human. There a bond is made between the person, or ward, and the custodian so that the custodian promises to provide blood to the ward.”

“Oh, but isn’t that a lot of responsibility for one person?” Arianna asked.

“For normal dearg-duls like me, we can only take one keeper, which is fine because I don’t require much blood. For you, and other purebred dearg-duls, you need a lot more blood, and therefore have the power to take multiple custodians,” Molina explained, as she winced from the increased sunlight that peeked from behind the clouds. “We aren’t the monsters you’re picturing,” she tried to reassure Arianna. “And, like you, we are not this way by choice. It’s just what we are. The biggest difference between us and the movie versions of us is how we choose to live. It takes time to get used to, but this is your life now.” Molina could feel the skin on her arm start to bubble. “We need to go in now,” she said quietly. “Please come with me.” Arianna finally noticed the blisters forming on Molina’s exposed arms.