As I stared at the bloodied tissue lying on the forest floor, frustration surged within me.
It served as a stark reminder that I hadn't had any blood for the past two days. Thanks to Thomas not only were we discovered, but now also have a knife aimed at our throats.
Frantically patting my body, I searched for my emergency blood tube, only to realize it was missing. If I had that and drank it before confronting Edward..
"Well, that explains why I lost to you," I muttered aloud, catching Edward's attention.
"Does sunlight really affect your powers?" Edward inquired, his tone laced with genuine curiosity.
I shrugged off his question, I did not want him to know more about us. "You got lucky," I retorted as we continued our seemingly endless journey back to school.
The thirst gnawed at me, making me sweat and swallow repeatedly, but I resisted the urge to succumb.
The thought of biting Edward to quench my thirst flickered briefly in my mind, but I quickly shook it away. Attacking him again would only endanger us further.
'Hold out for a few more minutes,' I reminded myself, regretting skipping my 'meal' for 2 days
It'll take us at least 5 to 10 more minutes to get back to school.
The thought of waiting longer dreaded my mind as I was increasingly growing thirsty. I was sweating, swallowing my spit to quench my thirst but to no aval.
Edward noticed this, and offered me a water bottle which, momentarily distracted me, but as I reached for it, my gaze involuntarily lingered on his neck.
I could almost taste the blood, feel its warmth against my lips. With immense effort, I tore my gaze away and accepted the bottle, trying to appear nonchalant.
As I drank, the thirst only intensified, tormenting me with each swallow. I forced myself to focus on Edward's heartbeat, a rhythmic reminder of the blood coursing through his veins.
'No, focus on the steps,' I admonished myself, struggling to maintain control.
If I were to attack Edward again, not only will I be announcing my presence to the world, but everyone in the mansion will be in danger.
Suddenly I was stopped in my tracks, I felt two hands firmly grasped my shoulders. When I looked up, my vision was slightly turning red and all I could focus on was Edward's neck.
I swallowed hard, it's right in front of me now.
"Hey, I don't know what's wrong with you. But I wouldn't advice you to go out looking like that."
Edward, than pointed at his eyes and ears, with that I understood what he meant.
He was telling me to hide my appearance as I couldn't be seen like this and I was also very relieved to finally see our school in the distance.
Before I reached the school, I took out my emergency communication device and pressed a button.
* * *
Nearing the school entrance, I spotted my faithful maid, Aria, The head maid of our family in our mansion.
I fast-walked towards her.
"Greetings, young mis-"
Before she could finish, I snatched the blood tube from her hands and I undone the cork wanting to quench my thirst so badly.
"A-Ah, miss, but h-he's watching." Aria, noticing Edward, tried to warn Valentina, but she just gulped the entire tub in one breath.
"Blood huh? Just like in the shows," Edward remarked casually, his tone tinged with amusement as he observed me drinking from the blood tube.
I rolled my eyes at his comment, feeling a surge of irritation.
Edward continued, "That's why you were so drawn to the bloodied tissue I disposed of? You could have asked for it, I'd have gladly share--"
"Shut it," I snapped, cutting Edward off before he could finish his sentence. His nonchalant attitude was seriously pissing me off.
"Hello, Miss, maid?" Edward greeted Aria with a polite nod, though I sensed an underlying curiosity in his tone. Aria, outwardly composed, acknowledged his greeting with a graceful nod of her own.
"Nice to meet you. I am Aria, Miss Valentina's personal maid," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of formality.
"Enough! Where's Albert?" I interjected impatiently, eager to wrap up our errands and return home for some much-needed rest.
"Follow me, Miss," Aria responded calmly, leading us toward a nearby hotel where Albert awaited us, accompanied by Edward's father and sister.
As we approached, I spotted our homeroom teacher, Miss Brooklyn, among them, a wave of confusion washing over me.
Caught in their conversation, I overheard Miss Brooklyn explaining, "Although Edward's test scores may not rank as high as his peers', his comprehension and problem-solving abilities are exceptional."
"If he agrees, this arrangement will not only enhance his understanding but also motivate him to strive for higher scores," she continued.
Edward's father nodded in agreement, finally stating to Albert, "Alright then, from now on, Edward will be under your care from 6 pm to 9 pm."
Perplexed, I pulled Aria aside, urgency evident in my voice as I demanded, "What is going on?"
"Miss, you will now have a tutor," she replied simply with a small smile on her face.
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and disbelief colored my expression as I muttered incredulously, "What?!"