She shook her head. “I do not understand.”
“We drank each other’s blood, and now we….” I hesitated, trying to convey things without revealing everything. “Can’t live without each other.”
Her eyebrows shot straight up.“The demon did this to you?” she demanded, standing up quickly.
I joined her.“No, not at all. We did, on our own.”
She didn’t seem to be listening. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and her jaw was tight. Suddenly, the almost girlish vampire who sat with me just moments before had switched to the leader everyone claimed she was. She stiffened and started out. I opened my mouth to speak but she clearly didn’t care what I had to say.
“We’ll see about all of this.”
36
I didn’t see Magdalena the rest of the night. I sat by the fire, enjoying the delicious tasting blood and when I had drained the cup I heard someone clear their throat from behind me. I turned to see two beautiful vampire women, dressed similarly to my aunt, smiling at me.
“Do you want a bath?” one of them asked. Her English wasn’t great, but it was absurd to go to a different country and expect them to know your native tongue. I nodded.
“We will take care of you,” the other woman said, and offered me her hand. I took it and stood up. She squeezed my hand in an almost comforting way and led me out of the room. We went down the hall, and I tried to remember the way back but they were walking so fast, I could barely keep up let alone memorize turns and rooms.
We reached a door, and they let go of me to open it. I blinked when I saw it was the back door. I peered out, and was pleasantly surprised to see tons of candles around a large wooden bath.
“The water is warm and ready for you.” They both smiled reassuringly, and I walked outside.
The bath was scented with jasmine and flower petals were floating above the surface. I turned nervously back to them. I watched them close the door and turn their faces to give me privacy.
I was slightly hesitant but I put a finger in the bath and the heat enticed me enough to strip down and climb in.
I sighed as the warm water heated my perma-cold body, slowly thawing it. I spread my arms out and stretched my legs, letting them float up. While I had spent more time than not an undead creature of the night, I still missed being naturally warm. The moment I left this water, I’d begin to cool again.
I was handed a bar of yellow soap. I sniffed it and thought I recognized papaya as a main ingredient. I washed my body and thanked her.
“What is your name?” I asked them both. They smiled, but it didn’t quite reach their eyes. It was as if they were on the clock, more than doing a favor for a friend.
“Alicia,” said the one who offered me the soap.
“Anita,” said the other.
“Were did Magdalena go?” I asked when I finally got out. I didn’t want to, but my fingers were pruning.
“She went to see the demon that cursed you.” Anita handed me a warm towel. I blinked as I dried myself off.
“What? How?”
The pair exchanged smirks. “The High Priestess does not explain her ways, but we always see the results.”
I frowned, unsure of how to take that.
“I broke my curse already, there’s no need to stir up old things.”
“We do not ask why the High Priestess does things,” Alicia said very matter of factly.
“We are to take you to your room.” Anita changed the subject. She had my clothes folded in her arms. I tried to take them back but she shook her head.
“They are dirty. We have a dress for you.”
I wasn’t entirely enthused, but I was getting tired, and when I looked up I saw that it was getting lighter in the sky. I hurried inside with them and they led me through the large home again, twisting and turning until they stopped to open a door and usher me inside.
The room was decorated in reds and yellows. There was a giant bed with red silk sheets that looked divine. There was a yellow rug on the wooden floor, and I had an armoire and vanity table. Simple, but lovely.
