Page 49 of Fallen Thorns
“How are you doing?” they asked me, bending down to my level. They had gloved up both arms and carried an extra bucket full of soap. I had made such a horrible mess. There was blood everywhere, even in places I thought impossible for it to reach.
Why can I still barely remember the events that led to this? How did I let this happen?I shuddered.
“Coping,” I replied, scrubbing harder on the tiles at the entrance to the bathroom.
“You know,” they found a clean spot and crossed their legs beside me — voice pleasant, “when I first turned, I ran off twice. The first time, I didn’t get far, but the second time? It took Marianne three days to find me.”
I dunked the sponge in the bucket and wiped my brow. “Where did you go?” An appropriate question, I thought.
“I ran as far as my legs could carry me, which, as I’m sure you’re now aware, can be quite some distance.”
“Why?”
“Why did you refuse the blood?”
I stared back at the tiles, hit by a memory of tearing one of the bags open with my teeth. “I wanted to be in control.”
“Precisely. When we first turn, we think we can rule the world, or so to speak.”
“So, you didn’t cope either?”
They shook their head. “I told you. I knew what it felt like. We have to look after ourselves a lot more than a human has to. They starve, wechange.”
I flinched at the word.
“Sorry.” They looked at me apologetically. “It’s probably useless saying this now but it does get better you know. Once you find your feet, you’ll be able to go a lot longer without drinking anything. Look.” They stood, and I tracked them with my eyes as they stepped over to my makeshift kitchen stand and pulled out two random mugs. Mars walked back over to return to their position. The clattering sound pierced my ears as they set the mugs down on the tiles and rifled through the bum bag around their waist. They produced two small sachets of… well, I knew what it was the moment the mugs were placed before me.
They poured the viscous liquid into both mugs then handed one to me. I took it, reluctantly, and made eye contact, as if waiting for approval.
“Maybe this would have been a nicer approach,” they chuckled slightly.
“Maybe.”
“Rat blood, sweet and easy to come by.”
I looked at them, repressing the urge to vomit as I thought of sewers and subways. The smell coming right to the front of my mind.
“What? Did you think we constantly raided hospitals? We’re meant to be looking after humans, not making things worse. We can’t catch any diseases or sickness from any blood, so we do what we can.”
That was a very valid point, I thought. I hadn’t even considered that.
“Cheers,” I said and we clinked mugs. Mars took their sip a moment before I allowed myself. I could only bring myself to take the smallest of mouthfuls, letting the smooth liquid slide down my throat. I willed my mind to stay open at all times, refusing to let anything in. Mars studied my reaction closely.
It worked. I felt nothing but that familiar zing before returning to normal. Maybe the monster was further at bay than I thought.
Mars smiled at me. “See, not so bad, huh?”
I let out a deep breath.
“Oh, you’ve got erm...” They leaned forward and their arm shot out to wipe my lip. Their slender, brown fingers lingered a moment too long before I jerked away and wiped down hard where their touch had been. Mars backed up in a panic, shaking their head out of whatever trance they’d been lost in. “God. Sorry. I got carried away. You... you don’t like touch, right?”
“It’s not that I don’t liketouch.That’s a very broad term and encompasses many things...” I was angry, but I wished I wasn’t. A knee jerk reaction.
“Shh, you don’t have to explain.” They smiled again. “I overstepped the boundary. Let’s start over.” They took a long sip of their drink. “Rani seems to be handling all this very well.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Frighteningly so. She’s just straight in there. I don’t know how she’s always that brave.” I swirled the blood around a bit before sipping some more. A dull sweetness lingered in my belly.
“It’s because she cares about you.”
