“What’s this?” she asked pointing to Molina’s arm.
“Even though it’s later in the day, direct sunlight will easily burn our skin,” Molina explained.
“This is my fault,” Arianna complained, carefully looking at the blisters on the back of Molina’s left arm.
“Don’t worry. It’s nothing a little blood won’t heal,” Molina replied, leading Arianna through the living room and adjoining dining room to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, Arianna peered inside as Molina grabbed several packets of blood from the bottom shelf. Her face changed suddenly as she bit into the packet. The bubbles stopped growing, and began to shrink. After Molina finished the second packet, the blisters still remained but were much smaller. “Dearg-dul is named for our undead properties. Day humans consider us undead because we don’t die from normal things due to our intake of blood.” Molina ran her hand over the blisters. “I guess they need a little time. I didn’t realize they were so deep.”
“So, blood heals your wounds?” Arianna asked.
“The same with yours,” Molina replied.
“But why are they still there?” Arianna pointed to the remaining blisters.
“To heal you first need blood, and then you need some time for it to work,” Molina replied.
“Is that night human blood?” Arianna asked. She could still smell the faint odor on Molina’s breath. Molina nodded. “So, will it heal quicker with dearg-dul blood?”
“The stronger the blood, the quicker it heals,” Molina replied.
“Then my blood should heal you quicker because I’m a purebred?” Arianna asked.
“Correct, but don’t get any ideas. It’s a crime to drink purebred blood,” Molina answered.
“But what if I offer it?” Arianna asked, feeling guilty that she caused Molina to get burned. Arianna took the knife from the counter and sliced the palm of her hand. “You have to follow my orders, correct? I order you to take some of my blood to heal.”
Molina was stuck. It was true she had to follow Arianna’s orders, but it was also true that it was a crime to take it. Molina shook her head as Arianna held out her bleeding palm. Hesitantly she licked the blood off Arianna’s hand, which had already healed itself. The blisters faded until nothing was left from the burn. Arianna smiled.
“My blood can heal that easily, even with just a drop?” she asked, surprised that it had actually worked.
“Just a drop of your blood could heal over fifty people. You know nothing of this world you are now a part of, but you are the strongest I’ve ever met, and you haven’t even finished turning yet,” Molina replied.
NINE
Arianna followed Devin and Molina downstairs from the dining room into the apartment below hers. From the lingering scent, she could tell that it was her grandfather’s apartment. She curiously peered into the side rooms from the dining room she was standing in, beginning to remember only fragments of her childhood: the deep burgundy satin-covered pillows on the couch, the leather-bound books stacked near his desk, the little ship sitting on the fireplace mantel in a bottle. Lord Randolph sat quietly in the formal living room, watching his curious granddaughter. As soon as she realized he was there, she backed into Devin. Lord Randolph had the same glaring indifference from the night before as he looked to Molina, who was standing beside Arianna. Arianna quickly understood, as she could also still smell her own blood on Molina’s breath.
“I ordered her to take my blood,” Arianna began. “It was my fault she got burned while outside with me.” Arianna waited for her grandfather’s reply, but he said nothing. With a wave of his hand, Molina bowed and returned up the stairs. The fear in Molina didn’t decrease even as she left. Lord Randolph was not a forgiving man.
“You seem to be fine,” he commented, as his tone and facial expression changed.
Arianna looked at her own arms. It was true. She had been sitting in the sun longer than Molina, but nothing was burned. “I don’t know why, but I’m fine. We were only outside for ten minutes or so.”
“Please join Devin and me for dinner,” Lord Randolph added, as he stood and walked to the set table.
Arianna stared at the elaborate elegance of the place settings. This wasn’t a normal dinner in her eyes. From the delicate flower pattern around the edges of the expensive china, to the lace napkins at three place settings, everything indicated that it had been specifically arranged for Devin and Arianna to join him for his meal. Lord Randolph sat down at the head of the table as Arianna moved to the seat set next to him and across from Devin. Arianna’s forehead wrinkled in confusion as food was brought to the table by a maid.