Raven was starting to feel self-conscious, afraid they’d ask him for an opinion any moment now.Jason always does that.He did whenever we watched something on one of our laptops.His, mostly.Mine crashed too often.
Before that could happen, Heath stood and cleared his throat.“It’s time for snacks.”
He looked at the table, which held a few plastic containers that looked like they were designed to keep the food inside cold or warm, depending.
Jason hummed and moved his feet off the book bag, which he’d used as a footrest.“I could eat, but I didn’t want to interrupt the movie.Some people are super particular about that, but I was wondering what you have there.”
The curly-haired blond, Clement, snorted.“You wouldn’t enjoy that, human.You’rehuman, and you need human food.It used to be that guests were offered that when joining a gathering.”
“You don’t need to call me ‘human,’ you know.I have a name.And I’m really fine.I don’t want to put y’all out.”
Heath looked at Jason like he was only now seeing him.“Oops.I guess… Would you like a drink, Jason?”
Bryan hissed again.“I’ll go downstairs and find some snacks for our guest.”
Jason raised his hands.“Guys, I don’t mean to cause any trouble.I’m fine with a drink, honest.”He looked at Raven.“We can drink to you being back.”
The world went quiet and narrow around Raven, as if the lights and sounds had been switched off.He watched Bryan leave, with Clement going along, the pair of them arguing if their faces were anything to go by.
A hand landed on Raven’s shoulder.“…isn’t that right?”
Maxim’s eyes had found him again.Why is he always there?How does he aways know?He doesn’t, does he?I’ve not even been back a day, and I feel like I fell asleep on top of an anthill—itchy and achy all over.
Raven tensed, balled a fist, and tried to breathe out without bursting into tears.“Sure.”
Maxim smiled, the expression only affecting his mouth.His eyes were probing, not missing anything.“In that case, we’ll try some of the liquor we have around.Only for those who want to imbibe, of course.”
Heath gasped while opening one of the containers.“Are you making fun of me?Again?Raven, don’t listen to him, and try this blood cookie.”
Raven looked at where Heath was taking a bite out of something that resembled a steamed dumpling.A beetroot dumpling, maybe.
“Blood cookie?”
Heath nodded while he chewed.“Really good.They’re made with…cellulose?Or agar.Or something.They’re not really cookies, but—ignore me.They’re really good.Here.”
He held out the container to Raven, and at the same time, Maxim moved his hand off Raven’s shoulder.It was the second thing that made Raven frown, even as the smell of the weird cookies made him realize he was thirsty.
The elevator returned with ading, spitting out Clement and Bryan.
“…but more than that, why would you lurk in my foyer like some ghoul, leading guests around the house?”
Clement sniffed.“I am present.If you consider that lurking, I cannot help you.You’re a child, so how would you know the difference?”
There was more hissing.Raven looked at the strange cookies, took one, and bit into it.
It was good.Really good.This consistency was strange—more squishy than crumbly, very moist—but the flavor was like nothing Raven had ever had.It was delicious in a completely unfamiliar way.
“Tastes like…lemon?”
Jason pretended to be shocked.“You just ate that!Lemon, seriously?”
Heath plunked down on the couch next to Raven, the container still in his hand.“I think it tastes…lemony too.But good, right?You can do so much with blood if you just put your mind to it.Have another.”
Raven was still eating the first cookie.He looked at where he’d taken a bite out of it.“This is really blood?I’m really…” He turned.Maxim was watching again, quietly observing.Raven spoke to him, ignoring the others.“Am I really a vampire?”
“Yes.”
Raven turned the cookie in his hand.“I thought maybe… People make mistakes sometimes.I thought maybe that was what happened.That someone made a mistake.”
