Daniela and Her Brother
The reason Daniela doesn't want to stop Ken from bringing Victor out from White Castle is because Wendigo creatures can die if they eat flesh and drink the blood of special humans like Victor, mainly because he has the ability to relate to time.
They can turn into ashes in an instant. The first time she met Victor, Daniela didn't know if Victor had that ability. She sees Victor as an ordinary person, until Wildo tells her, she still doesn't believe it.
However, the incident of Victor defending himself from Ox's attack has explained everything. He knew what kind of creature Victor was and didn't want to interfere anymore. His brother, who could still lose control if he smelled human blood, could attack Victor at any time. If Victor still lives in her house, she could lose her brother, Diego. Daniela didn't want that to happen.
Daniela sat by the window and thought back to that day. Victor appeared at his door late at night.
Daniela was already asleep when in the middle of the night Victor knocked on her door. Victor also rang the bell connected only to her room. Other residents will not hear it. This is a system she implemented to ensure other residents did not hear if a stranger came into the house. Daniela will be the first to greet them. Then, Daniela will evaluate, that person can enter or not.
From the outside, White Castle looked like an ordinary lodging house. Everyone is given the freedom to pay daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. Daniela will benefit no matter what.
Daniela got out of bed in her nightwear. She smelled a very good fragrance. No one cooked that night. She knew this was the scent of blood. Very interesting fresh blood. Daniela had never smelled this scent before.
Daniela opened the door and a young man with his hair cut short was so short that the young man's ears appeared big on his head.
"I'm sorry to disturb you at night. I was lost for a while, so I couldn't make it in time. I'm Victor, I have already booked a place to live here," Victor said with a tired face, full of sweat, and also looked hungry. His lips were dry, he must be thirsty.
Daniela smelled the fresh and fragrant fragrance from the young man's body. Daniela was almost about to ambush him, but she decided to hold back. Can't be a classless creature, she told himself.
"Please come in," Daniela said kindly.
Daniela took Victor to sit in the administration room.
"Please drink," Daniela said, providing water in the glass. She observed Victor in amazement. A human like him will be born into this world once a hundred years. It's very rare, but I have to be vigilant first. Is it safe to eat or does it contain poison?
Remembering, Daniela already knew that if Wendigo creatures could die if they ate certain human flesh and drank blood, she had to know first. The special scent of Victor's blood must have a certain meaning and Daniela had to confirm it.
She once saw a creature similar to Victor die after ambushing a human with the same scent as Victor about two hundred years ago and also a hundred years ago. One of them died, while the other turned into eternal life.
Daniela didn't know where the survivor was. For her the creature had obtained a treasure, eternal life that neither demons nor humans could kill. That creature can determine its own death.
Daniela dreamed the same thing, but if Victor had blood with the opposite efficacy, then she committed suicide as her fellow man did 100 years ago.
Because of those two incidents, Daniela knows that there is a special human with special blood that can make her live immortally and someone who can make her die instantly. Unfortunately, both have the same scent. So, Daniela decided to be careful and find out first.
"This is your room number. I have prepared it. Because you told me in the app that you were going to be late, so I saved it," Daniela said as she handed him the room key on the desk.
In Daniela's eyes, Victor is a friendly and innocent young man. She liked Victor from the first sight. Don't get her wrong. Her liking is not as a woman to men, but just like because Victor gives the impression of being a resident who will not cause problems. He's a different type from the other residents.
"Come, I will deliver you to the room. Also, I will give you a quick tour of this house," Daniela said as she stood up.
Victor followed Daniela by dragging his suitcase.
"You just brought that?" Daniela walked in front.
"Yes," said Victor who held tightly to his suitcase as if it were his only treasure. The most important item in this world.
Daniela almost laughed at Victor's awkward attitude. They climbed the stairs.
"The first floor is full. I don't think it's necessary to give a tour of the first floor, so you can rest quickly too," Daniela said, a little lie. There are some empty rooms, but... No one should know what's inside.
Victor who walked behind her listened while glancing right and left. The walls of the house looked unkempt. The paint color is white but it has peeled off a lot. At that time, Victor thought he had chosen the wrong place. However, what can be done, he chooses through the lodging booking application. He decided to choose White Castle because of its low price. When he saw the front photo, which showed the words White Castle in green, Victor felt that he would not be disappointed with the place. There was an attraction of its own that made him decide to take one of the rooms that was otherwise still empty from the application.
Daniela opened the door of the room. "This is your room. I hope you feel at home."
Victor looked inside. The content did not disappoint. The bed with a cot is made of wood that looks strong and is still maintained. The walls are well maintained, very different in condition from those in the hallway. There are tables, cabinets, chairs, and hangers for drying clothes.
Victor walked inside. The aroma is old. The furniture made of wood also gives the impression that the house was built in a very long era. The cabinet door even has distinctive carvings like the carvings we see at the entrance of Javanese temples.
Victor put his suitcase close to the bed. He was not disappointed with his room. It was better than imagined. Cheap price with spacious rooms and there are contents, it really helps his expenses. No need to buy beds, cabinets, tables and chairs.
"Come, I will deliver it to the kitchen and bathroom. My inn can't provide an en suite bathroom yet, so you have to adjust in the shared bathroom. It's okay, right?" asked Daniela.
Victor nodded. "When booking a room here, I have already read the description, so I have already taken into account the consequences," Victor replied.
Daniela smiled. Should it be relieved by Victor's statement? I don't know why Daniela felt a little offended by Victor's explanation.
Victor followed Daniela walking to the kitchen area. So far, she has been defending herself from ambushing and sucking Victor's blood. The fragrance really starved her.
"It's the kitchen, and if we walk straight, there is the bathroom. There are four. Hopefully you won't have to wait for others to take a shower in the morning," Daniela said.
Victor observed the area pointed out by Daniela. Everything seems fine. It's no different from the bathroom in his house in the village. The bathroom is accompanied by a squat toilet. There is no shower but there is a bucket to collect water.
In the kitchen, there is a gas stove, round tables and chairs surrounding it. There are refrigerators for shared use and shelves that can be used to store kitchen utensils.
"The kitchen utensils are complete, you can use them at any time. But, I warn you not to make noise after midnight," Daniela said.
Victor nodded. After the small tour, Daniela left Victor to rest. Daniela hurriedly went downstairs and walked into room number two. She saw that her brother was already trying to get off the chain. He must have smelled the scent of Victor's blood as well.
"Take off this chain quickly!" Diego growled.
"No, brother. Must not. We don't yet know which blood it is. The blood that saves us or the blood that will kill us. Be patient, I'll find a way to find out the answer," Daniela said, rushing to calm her brother.
Diego seemed to struggle to calm his desire. So, Daniela had no other choice but to put her brother to sleep. Daniela held her brother's head and used a spell to lock Diego's movements.
"Go to sleep, brother, I'll wake up when the day of the hunt comes," Daniela said, then kissed her brother's forehead. After that, she walked out of the room.
At the door, Daniela whispered silently, "Is it possible that that human can save brother?"
Diego can't be like him because 100 years ago he was exposed to a special human blood splattered like Victor. A poisonous blood type that can kill. That splash of blood alone made her brother look like a monster now. Daniela didn't want to lose her brother. However, this is a very good opportunity. If Victor carries special blood that can make them live eternally, Diego will not only heal but have a body like a whole person, just like herself.
For Daniela, Victor's presence is both a hope and a threat until the answer is found. Then, when Wildo arrives and says Victor can rewind time, Daniela's dream of healing her brother vanishes.