The Vampire's Friends (2)

Stuart turned back to find Zero's irritated glare. For a second, he looked like about protest upon Zero's bad manner. But he held his tongue, perhaps reminded of the urgent matter at hand.

"You're right." He spoke. "As you say, even if Karen's gift attracted some vampires, it did not explain why he turned her sister, Keira."

"Before that, how could a vampire even mistake his target?" Shane raised a question worth notice.

Stuart tilted his head a little. "Now that you said it, it was rather strange, huh?"

I moaned a bit. My patience wore down as the discussion took a roundabout. "There's nothing strange. There were only Karen and me. Besides, I kind of implied that I was the target."

"Um, you know, it's a vampire we're talking about. From what I know, when sucking blood vampires do more than just feed." Stuart shifted his gaze to Zero, asking his opinion.

"That's right, when a vampire sucks blood, it's not only to feed or relive thirst, but also savouring the blood and sensing what lies inside. A person character, charms, and many more will be implied in his/her blood. That's why the blood of someone gifted would have more attractive traits. And that's why many will desire it."

I could feel a nausea rise from my stomach. While Zero might make sucking blood sounded a rather effective mean for vampire, it was still a disgusting thing. Not to mention I've experienced it myself.

"If you say so, then it's almost impossible that a vampire could mistake someone gifted with ordinary person, isn't it?"

Somehow Stuart statement made everyone sent their gaze at me. While I was fully aware of the question implied behind their gazes, I could offer no answer since myself was wondering the same thing. If vampire could sense so many things from one's blood why on earth that vampire mistake my blood (a very ordinary girl) with Karen's.

Then I realize someone had a quite different gaze. Zero's gaze did imply some wonder, but did not question.

"It is indeed a bit strange. But I don't think it was impossible, in this case." Zero sent me another glance. "Key's blood has a very attractive scent. Should I say, it's almost seducing for vampires like a rare and unique wine of top quality."

A chill ran down my spine. Zero statement was more than overblown. It was a confession about what he himself think as a vampire. There was no more doubting that he would suck my blood dry at the moment he gets the chance.

Karen put her hand on mine, probably sensed that my body had tensed as the danger alarm ring inside me. Her eyes looked like saying she wanted me to stay calm.

Before I gave any reaction, to my surprise, some opposed arguments aroused around us.

"Wait, Zero, what did you mean by that? Are you saying that you want her blood?!"

Shane stood from his seat. Readied on his feet, anticipating the worst. Stuart tried to calmed down his brother.

"Shane, calm down please. And Zero, just a moment ago were you not stating that you have no ill intention to these girls?"

"I am merely stating my honest opinion."

Zero remained unfazed. His voice was as emotionless as usual. There was no feeling of under threat, nor anger whatsoever. No one could read what might he be thinking.

"Let me make one thing clear, you're not about to feed on anyone here, right?"

"I never feed without the blood's owner consent."

Shane glared at him like eyeing some beast. If it wasn't for Stuart, a fight might have begun.

'What an odd group? They said they lived together under an agreement. But there seemed to be more than just a few contradictories here.' I thought to myself as I witnessed their exchange.

After made sure that Shane had been calmed down and back on his seat. Stuart told us to not worry because Zero was a man true to his words. He even said that if worst come to worst, he'll stop Zero himself.

'Well, even if Zero is true to his words, he never said that he'll never feed on us.' It was indeed something to worry about. But then, let's save that for later. Right now, I needed to get as much as information.

"I understand," I said to reassure Stuart, or rather to get our discussion back to the topic. "So, can you guess what might be the goal of that vampire party who attack our city? They came for us and mistook me for Karen because of my blood. Then why did he turn me? And why did they kill so many people?"

"That's …" Stuart seemed troubled to get out his words.

"The party killed those people just for fun." Zero's voice was as unfazed as ever. Cold and emotionless. "They came following their leader's order, von Blood, to find someone and did the killing along the way. This nasty feed party habit of von Blood was what made him branded as criminal in our kingdom."

I had guessed that this vampire was an oddball. Turned out to be true. He couldn't be read at all. Whatever he said he always put the same expressionless face. His eyes seemed clouded despite its shimmered topaz blue colour. He was talking about such terrible terror with no hint of fear or guilt or anger. For some reason I started to think that Zero was actually a bigger threat than von Blood.

"And as for why he turned you, should you have known the reason yourself?" Zero stared at me. "My bet is he found you interesting, more than he thought. And so, he suddenly had the idea and put his blood in your vein. This is exactly why he will not kill you."

I felt my blood drained from face. I couldn't comprehend how on earth he could guess so correctly. While I felt silent on my blank mind, Stuart praised Zero for his deduction. From what he said, apparently predicting enemy's motives and such was Zero's speciality.

'Guess I was right for one thing, Zero is a threat.'