We pull up to a gray stone just in time to avoid the rising sun. Not thinking I open the door and scream the moment the first rays of sunlight hit my skin. Rafael pulls me back, cloaking me with his hoodie.
"Foolish girl," he mutters, "you can't go out that way."
Since my head is covered, I can't see where I'm headed, but at least Rafael doesn't let go. I can feel myself going down as if on a slide, and then the hoodies pulled off me.
"You can sleep down here," Mika says, "I'll let Ma know," she takes her cat form and sprints past us.
"Where am I?"
"Our home," Rafael says, "well technically, you are below it."
"The Forgotten City."
"Part of it," Sean opens the door to a dark room, "the area below our home and above is neutral territory."
"Why?" I step through the threshold, my eyes adjusting to the welcoming darkness.
"Ama's a Healer," Leo says, "all territory occupied by Healers is considered neutral."
"Not everyone respects that," a female appears Mika by her side, "Where did you get burn?"
I extend my hand; the skin still slightly burned. Warm light engulfs me as the burning across my face stops. How did I not realize I burned my face?
"You had a light sensitivity before, didn't you?" the Female asks.
"Yes, why?"
"Whether you consider this a gift or a curse, know that you are not only stronger and faster, but your light sensitivity has increased. As you grow older, it should get better, but it'll never go away."
"Is there a way to undo what I've become?" I ask while trying to fight the sleep that's trying to claim me.
"Rest, there's no use in fighting it," the Female leads me towards the bed, "we'll talk when you wake."
I nod my agreement and collapse on the bed. My dreams are filled with images of blood and screams. At some point, I dream of a male with skin as cold as ice, eyes as red as rubies and hair as white as snow. He calls to me and while lovely something about him repels me.
The last thing I truly want is to be near him. Something sinister lurks behind his feral smile. The strange Male tries to reach for me, and the moment I take a step back, I'm falling. The world spirals out of control, and then just like that, I'm flying higher and higher.
"Isn't it lovely?" a songlike voice asks, when I try to turn, he stops me, "just look at the sleeping city, it doesn't compare to you."
"Who are you?" I ask, but he just chuckles, and then there's darkness. I wish he hadn't left me.
Finally, when I wake, I find the room I'm in glows. It's as if the walls were made of iridescent stone. There's a soft pink glow coming from what I find to be the bathroom. Without a second thought, I strip and step into the shower.
Muddy water pools at my feet before it's all whisked away by the drain. I scrub my skin until the dried blood starts to fall off. Realizing I have nothing to clean myself with, I step out of the shower, water still running. There is a shelf carved into the wall where washcloths and bath towels are folded neatly.
I take one of the washcloths and step back into the shower. There's a rose-scented shampoo and conditioner along with a strawberry scented body wash. I scrub my face first, then the rest of me. Enjoying the feel of the cooling water on my skin, I take my time washing my hair.
Even from here, I can hear footsteps approaching, rinsing out the conditioner I step out of the shower and head towards the towel shelf. Water pools around me more, falling to the floor as I ring out my hair. Will I have this hairstyle forever. I guess it's a good thing I waxed before leaving the house that night.
But can I really not see my family ever again. There's a light knock on the door, "Lil are you awake?" Mika asks.
Wrapping myself in a dry towel, I walk out of the bathroom and open the bedroom door. Crow sits on her shoulder; he lifts a wing as if to hide his face.
"What's he's deal?" I step back so Mika can walk in.
"He's being shy," Mika hands me a bundle of clothes, "this should fit, oh, and ma sent you spiced blood."
I take the clothes and coffee thermos, "Spiced blood?"
Crow takes that moment to shift, "she added cinnamon to it and a few coffee grounds."
"So, it's a bloody coffee?" I ask, seating the clothes down. I open the thermos; a sweet aroma wafts out.
"I guess you could call it that," Crow takes a seat on the lounge chair.
"Why are you here?" I ask before taking a sip of the warm blood.
"How is it?" Mika asks.
Ignoring her, I drink every last drop wishing there was more. Crow gets up and yanks the thermos from my hands, "here," he says as the blood on the sides and bottom connects and hovers out in a sphere-shaped drop. I open my mouth, and he lets it fall in, "I'd say she likes it."
"More," I reach for him, and before I can sink my fangs in, I'm frozen in place.
"I'd prefer you didn't feed on my children," their mom stands by the doorway arms cross a bemused look on her face, "get dressed and meet us upstairs."
With that, Crow's dragged out of the room, Mika doesn't look my way as she closes the door.