Arianna could vaguely remember the night before, as if it were a dream covered in fog. Exact words and conversations were not registering in her head, but she did remember one thing. He kissed me, she thought, staring at the sleeping Devin beside her. Arianna was entranced by the rhythm of his chest, rising with each breath he took. Analyzing his face, Arianna stared at each feature: golden eyelashes that fluttered slightly as he slept, the rosy color in his cheeks, his messy blond hair that hadn’t been cut for months, and his light red lips. Arianna continued to stare at his lips. She had never been kissed by a boy before. Reaching up carefully, so as not to wake him, Arianna gently touched his lips. Though she still felt like she was in a dream, it was real: the boy lying beside her, the large, fancy room and house, and the blood. Arianna jerked up suddenly, looking around the room. She could smell blood. Was it in her room? Whose blood was it?
Devin rubbed his eyes as he released his grip on Arianna.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“There’s no one awake in the house, but I smell blood,” she replied.
Devin lay back down. “Don’t worry about it,” he responded. “It’s probably my blood you smell.” Arianna thought for a moment. The scent was familiar, but she couldn’t understand why. She glanced over Devin and couldn’t see any exposed blood. “Now that your grandfather completed the transformation, blood you have tasted doesn’t have to be showing for you to smell it. Purebloods tend to be really sensitive to blood, and can even smell blood within someone.”
“Oh,” she replied, lying back down on her own pillow.
“Are you finished sleeping?” he asked, noticing her shy away from him. Devin rubbed his eyes and grabbed his watch from the nightstand. “Seven o’clock,” he read aloud. “I don’t know too many night humans that like these early hours,” he joked. Arianna continued to stare at him.
“Why?” she asked as she stared intently at him.
“Why what?” he replied, rolling to his side to face her while still lying down. Devin had grown accustomed to the life Lord Randolph led, and also did not normally wake early.
“All of this. Why? Why do you watch over me? Why do you do all of this? You are human, aren’t you? Why get involved, especially with me?” she wondered.
“Do you remember any of last night?” he asked. Arianna shook her head no while beginning to blush from head to toe. “So, you at least remember that,” he chuckled.
“But why me?” she asked. “I’m nothing special. I’m just some supposedly orphaned kid whose grandfather was kind to you. Just because he took you in doesn’t mean you have to like me.”
“No, I don’t have to like you; I just do. I’ve watched over you for the past few years as a ‘thank you’ to your grandfather, but falling for you wasn’t part of the job description. It just kind of happened,” he replied. “I’ve had a crush on you since I first met you. It used to be a treat to go see you at Lilly and Dean’s house. Your grandfather would promise me if I did well on my studies and training, I could go with him to see you. Year after year, we would stop by to visit Lilly and Dean without you knowing.”
“Grandfather would visit also?” Arianna asked. Devin nodded. Arianna pictured her grandfather but couldn’t recall ever meeting or seeing him at their home or restaurant.
“No matter what you say to me, you can never convince me that you are not special. You are the most important person to your grandfather and me, along with many people that have been waiting to see the legend about the blue eyes come true,” he added.
“You still won’t tell me about the legend though.” She pouted.
“Nope, not even if you make a cute face like that. I respect your grandfather’s decision. He will tell you when he feels you should know,” Devin added.
“So, you really do like me?” she asked, feeling like she was in a dream. She had never had a boy tell her he liked her before, especially not a cute one. Her heart began to beat faster as she waited for his reply.
“Very much so,” Devin replied seriously.
“But Aunt Lilly said I can’t date until I am sixteen,” Arianna automatically replied before quickly covering her own mouth.
Devin laughed. “And I suppose sleeping in the same bed with a boy night after night wouldn’t be allowed either?” Arianna blushed as he climbed out from beneath the covers dressed only in boxers. “Besides, I’m not asking you to date me. I’m not even asking you to like me back. I just want to be your friend. I am satisfied just being beside you.”