***
Fiona was happy to be back even though she wished that Eian had come along. The atmosphere around the castle still looked bleak but Spring had changed the surroundings slightly; the lake had begun to thaw and the first hints of greens were shooting out from the ground. She had pushed open the windows and was breathing in the fresh cool air when she heard someone clearing his throat behind her.
"Grandfather," she smiled and gave a small curtsey before rushing towards him and hugging him fiercely. "I've missed you!"
"That and you're hungry too," he replied, beaming knowingly at her. She nodded and followed him into the family dining room.
She saw her uncle Draven already sitting at the table with a goblet in front of him. He gave her a kind smile and gestured for her to sit down. Fiona always found Draven somewhat like Eian in his cold yet gentle manner but where Eian preferred the company of a pack, Draven was a solitary figure. He was also more interested in his books and research than in making money or politics.
"He'll be here soon," he said when she sat down. She didn't need to ask who he meant for she had been thinking about Alaron and wondering where he was. Fiona had gotten used to his uncanny habit of reading unguarded minds. He always said that if you were not guarding your thoughts, it meant that they were not supposed to be private.
"Sit down and have a drink first my child. Unfortunately, it is just normal human blood from the storage banks today. Eian made it perfectly clear that nothing out of the ordinary," said Aramis when a goblet was presented in front of Fiona.
"I don't think he'd appreciate any more changes." Fiona felt the liquid slide down her throat, warming her up slightly before energizing her. She felt slightly giddy at the strange taste of the human blood for she was used to the dark and rich flavor of Aramis's Pureblood.
"You'll get used to it," said Draven as he emptied his goblet. "We're starting you on a plasma diet for now. It has all the essential nutrients that your body needs to fuel itself. We will only move you to whole blood diet once I've gotten your birth blood type." When she gave him a confused look, he leaned back and explained, "It's a whole complicated process really, much of which many people, including Vampires themselves do not take the time to understand. Vampires in their hunger are at times careless. They do not take the time to scent out the blood of their victims and end up dead. Taking in blood that is not compatible with your own will cause your antibodies to bind to the foreign blood and you literally die from inside. That's a much worst death than having your head severed, I must say."
"What Draven is trying to say actually is that he is very concerned for you. Don't worry too much my child. You're only missing on iron from the red blood cells. Draven will issue you some iron pills to take later," said Aramis as he laughed. "So just drink up and tell me how's everything with Keiran?"
"Ah... everything's fine, grandfather..." she said softly and blushed. Aramis couldn't help smiling to himself. He didn't really need to ask her to know for he could scent Eian all over her. She was trying very hard to guard her thoughts too, not wanting to let him know why she was blushing.
"Do you love him, Fiona?" This time, she blushed an even redder tint but nodded quickly.
Aramis was about to reply, when they were interrupted by an annoyed groan from Alaron.
"Please Father, stop embarrassing her," he said arrogantly before taking a gulp of from his goblet, then hooking an arm around Fiona. "I'm borrowing her for awhile," he said pulling her away from the chair, without waiting for Aramis's answer.
When the two of them left the room, Draven turned to his father lazily and said, "You really shouldn't have let him take her."
Aramis sighed and leaned back, "She'll be able to stand her ground now. She's not a child anymore. Let them be."
Meanwhile, Alaron had taken Fiona out for a walk by the lake. Although she was still hungry, she was happy to be outside, breathing in the fresh air and talking to Alaron. She missed him the most and was pleased that they had a chance to catch up before she left.
"So that guy still giving you problems?" he asked.
"He was just worried, Al. You shouldn't think of him in such negative light all the time," she replied with a slight hint of warning. "Let's not talk about him if you're going to end up sarcastic and bitter. Tell me about you then. What have you been up to?"
For awhile, Alaron actually brightened up. "Well... Draven's been venturing into pharmaceuticals these past few months. It's quite a step from the usual science of blood research at the blood bank. He's trying to see if the lab can engineer a sort of pill that can be dissolved as blood; kinda like blood on the go you know?"
Fiona's eyes widened with surprise, "Wow! That would mean I could just bring home a instead of needing to come here. Not that I don't enjoy being here... but those pills sound really handy," she said reassuringly.
"Yeah, reduces the cost of all those chillers and all that. But I don't think it's going to taste as nice. Drinking from a goblet is civilized enough for me; but piercing your fangs through the bag of blood is still the best," he said almost absent-mindedly. "Nah, not for you. You're too Miss neat and composed. Piercing the blood bag is really messy but fulfilling."
"You should try being more neat and composed too Al. It's much more appealing you know," she chided.
"Well, I guess you're right. A bit of appeal might be useful for me, where I'm going." Fiona took the bait instantly.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to leave with Draven tomorrow because the big pharmaceutical companies are located in the city area and he suggested that we both do an internship there before we set up our own lab," he said slowly before he stopped walking. "I was hoping you could come with me... I mean us."
"Oh Al... I don't think so. I mean I'm happy for you but I cannot follow. My place is with Eian and I'm happy where I am now."
"But once I leave, I may not come back," he sighed. "I may not want to come back..." He turned to face her and took her hands in his before he got down on one knee. "Fiona... Marry me... and we'll always be together."
Fiona pulled her hand away both in shock and disgust. "No!" she exclaimed. "We're family... we can't! And I... my heart belongs to someone else," she cried, trying to hold back the tears. "I care a lot for you Al... but you seem to have misunderstood me..."
Alaron got to his feet and stared at her coldly. He had expected this from her. Anger boiled inside of him even as he pulled her close in an embrace. "I'm sorry Fi... please forgive me for this," he whispered as he placed his face close to her neck, breathing in her scent. Fiona tried to struggle but he was holding her so tightly that she could not move. An instant later, she felt the sharp prick of his fangs piercing the flesh at her neck. Her eyes widen with shock as memories flooded her mind in frightening flashes.
She felt herself sinking to her knees.
Alaron was crouched over her father; her mother and brother already dead on the floor, their blood staining the carpet. She had been hiding in the cupboard because she was playing hide and seek.
"Don't see me, don't see me," she chanted softly under her breath.
When she opened her eyes, she saw him looking at her, his eyes red.
Fiona clutched her throat; felt breathless as she sensed him pulling out his fangs slowly and tilting her chin up to look at him.
"I'm not sorry for what I did... for I would not have met you otherwise... and I would not have fallen in love with you," he whispered, holding her close. Fiona was shaking. She wanted to feel angry, betrayed and hurt... but all she was capable of doing at that moment was feel empty. Her body leaned forward and she supported her weight with her hands.
