Chapter 25: Illusions of the Past

Emilia slid off Tommy’s bed and headed out to the hall. He rushed after her.

“Emilia, I don’t think you should see him. I think he was asking me to bring him another vampire to feed on,” he said, stepping in front of her and barring her way.

Emilia crossed her arms. She roamed her eyes over Tommy. How easy it would be to move him aside, but she wouldn’t harm him.

“Vampires only bite other vampires for erotic sensation. There is no sustainable nutritional value. We can’t feed off dead blood,” she said.

“Um… dead blood?” Tommy asked.

Emilia tapped her fingers against her thighs. She was anxious to meet the Old Ones. They were considered a rumor, even among her own kind. It was possible Hotaru didn’t even know they were there, or who they were.

“Dead blood refers to blood that isn’t being pumped full of oxygen by a beating heart. Feeding on blood that has been removed from the body or on a dead body weakens us,” she explained quickly. “Where was the secret door?”