Chapter 3: Chapter 3

On my way to the bathroom, I ask him. "You read?"

"I'm not a lifeless being, okay? I do read. How was I suppose to live my many years without having a hobby to entertain me?" He says, rolling his eyes. I would have smiled or something, but his choice of words; many years keeps ringing in my brain. How long has he lived?

"That would be a question for another time. Now go and bath, you're beginning to stink." And that's enough for me to hurry into the bathroom and shower like a child who's been pranked just to do the right thing.

After I'm done, I meet Nicklaus in the room, already changed into an underneath white singlet, and brown woolen trouser. He's pressing something in his phone. I'm thankful that the bathroom has another small wooden door that leads to the closet where I find a nightgown to wear. I had forgotten to take a cloth with me to change into.

He smiles yet again, and welcomes me into the bed with him. At first I thought there's was more to his intention, but nothing comes up. On a deeper part of the naughty-me, I had wished something happens. Jeez, you're still seventeen. That means nothing. Most seventeens have been disvirgined. And you're already mature. Remembering that I have a mind-reader next to me in the bed, I shut those filthy thoughts and sleep on Nicklaus chest. I notice that his chest doesn't rise and fall, he has no heartbeat. Yeah. At least one thing from the movies is true about him, he has no heart and that's what makes him what he is — a dangerous being. I wonder if he has no heart to pump blood, then how come his blood hasn't dried since all those "many years" he's lived and got wounded, and lost lots of blood in battles. That's a question for another day, thought. I'm surprised that I'm able to drift off into slumber in the unfamiliar room, but with Nicklaus next to me, anything can change.

This kind of feeling is so unlike before. I shift in my position. God. The sound — however — isn't much different from I've felt before, but the audibility is. The sound of the birds, chirping, and rufflings of the leaves...and I'm forced to bolt up. God, I'm in Nicklaus' room. Yesterday's event comes rushing into my brain like a bombarding team of ants, stinging my brain to recall. On my side of the king-sized bed, I don't find Nicklaus so I roll out of the bed, and slip into one of the many found slippers near to the all-glass window, and from there I am almost lost in the beautiful scene. I never knew seeing a forest just outside the window of your room will brighten up your mind, with the help of its companies as well.

I find the door, leading to the hallway and soon, is finding my way to the dinning area. I find Adeline there, drinking...coffee?

Do Vampires drink coffee?

I don't know either.

I shut my mind — something I now do a lot when amongst these blood-suckers — and approach her. My throat needs one as well, supposing what I'm thinking is what she's drinking.

"Hey, morning." I say to her. She blinks up at me through her naturally long lashes, and smiles. I do so back.

"We don't do that here." Is her short reply.

"Pardon?"

"We don't greet one another here, I mean with time." She snickers on seeing my reaction. Why do I still feel shocked? "Time doesn't really matter to us. Sometimes we don't even remember it."

"Wow." I nod persistently.

Go figure!

"You want some coffee?"

"Yes, please." I tell her, and take a seat opposite from hers. In a brink of a second, she's stood up, open the coffee machine, and pour me a cup of coffee. She's back, leaning closer through the space and passes it to me. "Thanks."

"Welcome."

I stay in silence, and it seems so for her. None of us attempt to say something again. Feeling ridiculous just sitting here with her, I say, eyeing her cup.

"You guys drink too."

"Of course." She laughs. What's so funny? "Pardon me, then." Oh, the mind-reading thing. She can read your mind! I practically yell at myself. "We do drink human drinks, but this is blood though. And human foods as well. It doesn't taste quite well. You know, like a goat, we only smell the amazing scent of its delicacy, but when eating it, it has no taste. However, it's healthy, well, for those of us from transformed from humans to Vampires, or Vampire hybrids. Sometimes, if said beings eat very rich foods, it gives us more blood, so we don't dry."

What does she mean by those of them transformed from humans to Vampires, or Vampire hybrids? I know that there are some of them transformed, but she...she's not one of those, right? Or was I wrong about her being an Originals?

I decide against asking more, but go for what brought me here in the first place. "Um, do you know where Nicklaus is?"

"Yeah..." Before she finishes, I already grab her answer when a gust of wind blows heavily into my back, pushing my hair forward so that they itch my face and scatter on my shoulder.

I turn to see Nicklaus in his elegant looks, peering down at me with a half-smirk, half-squint. He looks down at my cup of coffee. I don't know why.

"Someone's had a good sleep." He walks past me to his room. I follow him, dropping down the coffee and follow behind his steps.

In his room, he turns to me as I close the door behind my figure. "Your conditions, we don't really have much time."

But instead of listening to him clearly, I'm busy watching his white nylon-shirt, hugging his body to bring out the flexing muscles behind those materials, with a ashy sweatpant below.

"Do you even hear me?"

"Excuse me, what?" I question, stunned. Realizing he's caught me, I facepalm just in time a blush will come, but fake it as wiping my face. Hope he doesn't caught me.

He huffs. "Your conditions?" I bet he's asked me more than that before.

I look down to my fingers, entwining one another, and tapping against my lap. I haven't really given this a thought. I roam through the odds, and wins, the advantages and disadvantages. And at last, find out that the advantages is more than disadvantages and that's given me the chance to want to agree with compelling my parents since it will be of their safety and my peace of mind. I can't even imagine them getting hurt in any ways.

I raise my eyes and look at Nicklaus, who's obviously waiting impatiently for my response. I decide not to remark on that, but give a straight answer. "You make sure none of them gets hurt in the least, and on the way back, I'll like to call Shade...just to make her know that I will not be coming to school regularly."

"You're...done?"

Is he planning on making me blow a gasket, or what? "Yes, I am." I pout and leave for the bathroom.

"It's my room, you should ask for a permission."

"I never ask you to put me 'in your room,' where I'll be asking for permissions!" For nothing in particular, I yell at him.