There was a circular bandage on the inside of his elbow. He pulled a grimace when he tore the bandage off to let Aiden see the thing beneath it.
There was a tiny, but visible hole on the lighter skin area. A thin metal ring surrounded the hole, looking a lot like a body-piercing accessory. Only that it was not.
James' eyes were locked on Aiden's face the whole time. There was relief in his heart when he detected neither disgust nor judgment coming from Aiden.
Aiden lifted his gaze from the tiny hole and looked straight into James' eyes.
"James, what is this?"
James' Adam's Apple bobbed up and down nervously. He put the bandage back in place and lowered his sleeve.
"This is a hole made for regular blood collection. I sold my blood to the vampire hospital in the past to get enough money for Princessa's treatment. Ever since then, I... I sold my blood again a few more times when I was short of money."
