Page 37 of Love Bites
“It is orange juice to replace the blood,” Josefina said. “It is to help. If you do not want...” The woman shrugged.
Katheryn took a wary sip. When she didn’t fall to the ground dead, she drank more of the juice.
“You are better?” Ignacio’s mother asked when Katheryn finished drinking.
“Yes,” Katheryn answered. “Thank you.”
She did feel better. Her legs weren’t as wobbly, and she didn’t feel dizzy anymore. She looked down at herself and saw she wore a high-necked nightgown, made of itchy cotton with long sleeves. The hem touched her ankles and looked more like a tent. It fit her like one too.
“Your robe is fill with blood,” Josefina said. “It no good no more.”
Katheryn shuddered, wondering how much of her blood had covered the robe.
“You come with me,” Josefina said, turning and walking out of the room.
Katheryn had no choice but to follow. She hurried to keep up with the woman’s quick steps and found herself in a very narrow hallway of the house. She stayed alert as they walked past closed doors, fearing Ignacio would pop out to eat her.
Josefina led her into a small living room. It was cramped, with a shiny coffee table in the center of it, a long couch and matching love seat and a high-backed chair. Artisan blankets were thrown neatly over the furniture. A variety of statues and religious paintings covered nearly every inch of the room, giving little space to move around.
“How long have I been out?” Katheryn asked.
“You sleep for one day. Ignacio no leave your side.” She gestured at the couch, indicating Katheryn should sit down.
When she did, Josefina left and went into another room. Katheryn looked around the room. It was small, and ...cozy.
Josefina came back as quickly as she had left, bearing a tray with a teapot, two mugs, and a plate of cookies and sweet bread. She sat it on the coffee table in front of Katheryn then took a seat in the chair across from her.
“You eat now. You gain energy.” She poured steaming liquid into the two mugs, adding sugar to each one. She passed Katheryn one of the mugs then gestured at the plate of sweets. “Eat. Drink.”
“I can’t drink or eat,” Katheryn argued. “I need answers.”
Josefina sent her a stern look, her gaze narrowed. “I tell nothing until you eat.”
Katheryn groaned but held the mug gingerly. It warmed her cold hands and warmed her throat when she drank. She took a cookie from the plate. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she took a bite. Suddenly, she was famished. She ate more of the sweet bread and cookies until there were no more on the plate.
“You like?”
“It tasted so good. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.” Katheryn pushed her mug across the coffee table then settled back on the couch. “Now,” she said, “I need answers.”
“I need question.”
Katheryn shot out the thousands of questions racing through her mind. “How is Ignacio your son? I don’t know much about vampires since I’ve never met one. I thought vampires were made by being bitten. Since Ignacio bit me will I turn into a vampire, too? What about his father? Where is he? And where is Ignacio? Why can’t you see how evil he is? Do you know why he lied to me?”
“One at a time,Katerina.My English no so good.”
Katheryn sighed and began again. “Is Ignacio really your son?”
Josefina nodded. “Si.He is my son.”
“But, how is that possible?”
“Ignacio, he is the Natural Born vampire.”
“Natural born vampire?” Katheryn leaned forward. “What does that mean?”
“In supernatural world, are two kind vampires: Natural Born and the Made vampires. Natural Borns, they come frommamáandpapá.Made come from bite.”
Katheryn hadn’t known there were different types of vampires. “How are vampires born?”
