“Nadia...what have you done?” Katia asks in a horrified tone as she places her hands on Nadia’s shoulders and pulls her to the side, away from Kei. “That girl is human. You know our laws. Please explain yourself before things can get worse.” She whispers to her in a panicked but hushed voice, so Kei can’t hear. “Surely you haven’t forgotten our most important teachings?”
“Of course, I know all of that Katia, it’s something we’re taught as soon as we can understand language. I didn’t invite her here and if I knew how, I’d have sent her back to her human society right away. But she found me and said she’d gotten lost. I wouldn’t have talked to her normally, but I felt bad leaving her alone, and if I had, she would’ve been dead by nightfall. Also, there’s something else, but I’m not sure how to explain it though. It’s a feeling I’ve had since we met.”
Katia sighs. “You’re a good girl, Nadia, and so I know you only wanted to help, but willingly allowing a human to wander around in our borders for any length of time instead of alerting the Hunters is a crime. If anyone finds out, not even you as the Chancellor’s daughter can escape persecution so easily. Though I wonder how she could’ve passed through the barrier? Our strongest saints erected that barrier and assured no human could breach it. Yet here she is. There’s so much wrong here, but for you to be at the center, that’s my greatest worry.”
“That’s kind of related to the other thing I mentioned, Katia. It’s hard to explain, but she doesn’t seem like a normal human. I mean, she is for sure, but I feel like she gives off a weird aura. I could feel the evil inside me react to it somehow when she and I first met. Our eyes met and suddenly I felt like the presence that’s always there inside of me became distant and I felt lighter. Maybe she has a hidden power to dispel dark energy? That could explain how she could pass through our barriers so easily and why the evil retreated inward. She could have special powers.”
“I doubt-.” Katia wants to dismiss Nadia’s claim as foolish, but she also asks herself what other explanation there could be? “I’m not sure, but this isn’t something we can handle alone. I understand why you brought her to me first. That was wise. Now we just have to summon the Hunters. We can say that she wandered in on her own and we humored her as a precaution until they could get here. They’ll never suspect your involvement. I’ll do what I can to persuade them to at least let her live. She’s a child, so perhaps they’ll be more lenient. That’s all we can hope.”
Nadia looks over Katia’s shoulder at Kei, who sits in a chair, curiously looking around the room as she patiently waits for them to speak. She returns her gaze to Katia’s worried, Periwinkle eyes, which perfectly contrasts her lightly tan, but pale complexion. She knows she’s scared.
“I understand your reasons, Katia, but I don’t feel good about that plan. I don’t want to abandon her so coldly and possibly condemn her to death. Isn’t there another way? Can we speak with Minister Lowell privately and explain the situation? He may know about her strange aura too.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Nadia. While the minister is a holy man, he will not show a human who breached our barrier with unknown intentions such mercy. He may be the first to have her sent for bloodletting and she may very well become our next daily blood rite.”
“We have to try something, Katia, but I don’t believe turning her in is the right choice. You’re always telling me we have to help others when they’re in need, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Even if she is human, I don’t want her to be taken away. Even humans are deserving of mercy.”
Katia can see her eyes glaze over, and she finally understands. Nadia rarely shows such concern for others but her, so the truth is glaringly clear. “You want to keep her, as a friend, don’t you?”
Nadia nods. “None of the other kids here feel comfortable around me. They say I’m creepy. They don’t even try to understand me. But this girl learned I was a vampire and didn’t run away. She learned I am cursed by evil but didn’t run away. She even asked to be friends. She’s just a human, but she’s treated me kinder than any vampire I’ve ever met, and she doesn’t even know me that well. I can’t betray her so easily. I’m willing to do anything it takes to save her, Katia.”
Katia looks back at the girl, who smiles politely when she catches her gaze. Turning back to Nadia, who’s eyes are misty from her pooling tears, she says, “Ok, we’ll figure out another way. So, stop those tears now.” She gently wipes them away from Nadia’s eyes and kisses her forehead. “I’ll do all I can for your friend.”
“Thank you Katia! I love you!” Nadia hugs her with all the strength she can muster. “I’ll be careful, I promise.” Katia smiles warmly at the girl and watches as she excitedly runs to Kei’s side and shows her around the room and her prized possessions. Frankly, she’s terrified, but she can’t bear to see her dear Nadia so sad. She’s been so lonely. She deserves a little happiness.
“Ah!” Nadia screams suddenly, breaking Katia from her thoughts, then collapses to the floor.