“Don’t I need blood to survive? Isn’t that my food now?” Arianna asked softly, afraid of her grandfather, who was still mad.
The loud laugh at the head of the table nearly made her jump. Lord Randolph’s tone changed as he replied. “Yes, you will need blood to survive now, but you are not always a night human. There’s a day human side to you too. So, for that we eat food as well as blood.” Arianna nodded. The older man’s eyes twinkled at his granddaughter. It had been ten years since she left, but he had thought of her every day. Once a year, he had traveled with Devin to check up on Arianna, but he never talked to her. Each time, he found delight in watching her do just about anything. Her mannerisms reminded him of his own daughter so much. It was hard, year after year, to leave her behind.
Arianna sat uncomfortably through the meal as she was waited upon by maids in black and white dresses. It was too extravagant for her, but Devin and her grandfather didn’t seem to find it odd at all. Devin and her grandfather talked to great lengths about everything and nothing at the same time. There was a clear bond between them. As the meal finished, the maids returned with dessert. Arianna stared at the pie on the delicate plate. It was her favorite, lemon meringue pie.
“Was it made correctly?” Lord Randolph asked as Arianna took her first bite.
“It tastes just like Captain Lou’s,” Arianna replied. “I didn’t know anyone could make it like him.”
“Lou did teach our staff how to cook,” Lord Randolph replied, and Arianna stopped eating.
“Is Lou,” she began to ask, and Devin nodded a reply. “I didn’t know.” Arianna stared at the pie in front of her. Everything was so new to her; she didn’t realize that it had always been happening around her. Just because she didn’t know about it, didn’t mean that it didn’t exist. “Who else?” Arianna wondered.
“More than we can list right now,” Devin replied.
“But then, why didn’t anyone tell me about all of this?” she asked.
“Because I ordered them not to, and Gabriel did the same. Very few people knew who you were, and those who did could not say. We wanted you to have a childhood free from this world; the same world that killed both your mother and father, and would do the same to you if they knew about you,” Lord Randolph replied.
“Are Aunt Lilly and Uncle Dean really not my family?” she asked earnestly.
“No. Lilly is a friend of your mother’s and Dean is her older brother. Lilly was raised here at this estate beside your mother, and they were the best of friends, almost like sisters,” Lord Randolph explained.
Arianna turned to the entering maid, who had the lingering scent of blood on her. Arianna’s sharp eyes quickly glanced over the maid. She wasn’t a night human; yet, she had the strong scent of blood all over her. Her blond curls bobbed as she near Lord Randolph and bowed to him before speaking.
“Excuse me, my Lord,” she said quietly. Arianna guessed she was not much older than herself. “Would you like me to bring it in a glass or medical bag?”
“I don’t think she will readily drink it,” he replied. “Medical should be fine.” The young girl curtsied again and left the room. Arianna stared from Devin to her grandfather unaware of what they were cryptically discussing. “We need to finish your transformation,” Lord Randolph explained, as the maid returned with a bag of red liquid.
“I heard you were being very picky after you turned, and refused any blood but Devin’s, but you need to take more blood to finish your transformation. Devin will take care of everything for you upstairs,” he offered. “Devin, after you get Arianna settled, please send Molina back down here.”
Unsure of what was happening; Arianna followed Devin upstairs to the sitting room outside her bedroom. They didn’t explain how she would take the blood that smelled so unappealing. Arianna sat patiently on the couch as Devin and Molina put an IV in her. She knew immediately their plan to give her blood, and she was thankful she wouldn’t have to drink it.
“Just sit here until it’s empty,” Devin instructed, as he and Molina left the room.
Alone in the fancy sitting room, Arianna studied the paintings on the wall as she drifted into peoples’ conversations throughout the house: two maids talking down several hallways, a young man helping an older man with tools outside, the splash of water as an older woman washed clothes. Arianna focused to the room below hers as the scent of blood caught her attention. It was dearg-dul blood.
“I am sorry, my Lord,” Molina repeated after Lord Randolph hit her across her face. “I didn’t mean to disobey you.”