The way she was eating the soup reminded me of a puppy. She ate it so fast and with so much passion. I didn't know humans adored soups so much.

"You didn't eat yesterday. So tell me, what do you want to eat for breakfast?" I asked with raised brows.

She was quiet as if she couldn't decide whether to believe me or think this is another trick. After that we went into the kitchen silently and I made chicken soup for her.

"Can I ask you something?" She stopped eating and looked at me. "Sure," I answered. "Why can you cook if you - uh, you know..." she looked back into her bowl.

"Well, my friend taught me how to cook basic human food, and he knows it because he once had a human girlfriend. He was always fascinated by humankind, and he has this weird obsession to know everything." I giggled. "He said it's fun to learn new things." My smile slowly faded away. Why am I smiling in front of her? Ugh, Nicoli is irritating me, and he's not even here.

"Where is he now?" Talia looked me in the eyes. It almost looked like she was interested in my life.

He had so many "partners" in his life. Humans, vampires, and even some other creatures, but he only loved one girl.

As I said before, vampires cannot love, yet he somehow managed to do so. The love he had for her was too deep. Even I couldn't understand it. What was so special about her compared to the other girls he slept with? His parents didn't approve of her because she was a vampire. I know it sounds confusing, but there is a reason behind it. Hideous reason. Their relationship, unfortunately, ended tragically.

The thought of home made me sick. So sick I wanted to punch my hand into a wall. I wanted to erase every possible memory I had left of it.

"Darcia?" She interrupted my thoughts. "Uhm, he is - traveling around the world." I asserted.

"Can I ask another question?" She hesitated. "I should put a limit to it." I chuckled. "So?"

"Why did you adopt me? I mean, I know why, but why specifically me?" Her expression dulled. "I like the questions you're asking me." I sat down at the table across from her.

"Why you? Hmm, I don't know. Because I can do whatever the fuck I want? Does this answer satisfy you?" I raised my eyebrows in sarcasm. There is no other reason for her adoption other than blood. But she made it sound like there should be one.

"No." She looked away disappointed. I sighed and walked up to her. "Come." I stretched my hand toward her.

She looked at me confused and for sure didn't want to touch my hand. She's still scared of me, which is good. Fear means respect.

"Don't make me repeat myself," I huffed. She grabbed my hand very lightly.

"Where are we going?" she asked. "You'll see," I answered.

"Is it necessary for us to hold hands?" I felt her hand slip away from mine. "Yes." I grabbed her hand more forcefully.

When I went through her stuff yesterday, I noticed she had this book on her nightstand. Very well-known book. I don't read romance books, I'm more into mystery and horror. When I bought this house, a small library was already built there. So, I decided I should keep it.

I opened the door, and with a hand gesture, I showed her to go in first. When she entered the room, her whole face brightened. I never saw someone so happy over a few old, valueless books.

"What do you think?" I asked her. "I-" she went over to take a closer look at them. "This room is incredible," she answered.

"Frankly, I can't see what you see." I closed the door. "Anyway, I don't come in here often, so if you want to spend more time here, just tell me," I announced to her.

Her mind was so preoccupied with the books that she forgot I was standing there the entire time talking to her. So I got closer to her. Standing right behind her back.

I leaned toward her face from the side. "Did you hear me?" I whispered into her ear. "OH GOD, you scared the hell out of me." She touched the left side of her chest.

I laughed and took a step back. "Well, I'm going to sit right here and you can read those ancient cliche books." I moved a chair to the middle of the room and sat down.

She turned to me and gave me a dirty look. "Why are you even doing this?" she asked. "What exactly, sweetheart?" I answered back with a question.

"By showing me this room, are you trying to be friendly with me?" She accused and crossed her arms. "You're delusional." I rolled my eyes.

She turned back to the bookshelf. Silence remained, only the sound of turning pages was heard. This went on for a few hours. Meanwhile, I was restocking the shelves with all of the books that had fallen to the ground. The mess in here was unbelievable. It's been a few years since I last came here. I don't even remember which books I read from here. The dust was on every other book. I should've hired a cleaner.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

She was sitting near the bookshelf, drowning in the book she was currently reading. I got secretly closer to her. She was biting her nails and breathing a lot slower. Almost like she wasn't even here. She didn't even acknowledge my presence.

She tried to stretch out, but my legs were in the way. She got so startled that she hit the bookshelf with her elbow. All of the books that were on top of it started to fall. I pushed her onto the ground and lay on top of her to cover her body. These books were pretty huge, and they didn't fit inside the shelf; that's why I put them on top of it. Honestly, I never intended to clean this room or reorganize the books.

They all fell next to us; you could see the dust flooding the air. Our bodies touched together. Not like the last time. This was more intimate. Too close for my comfort. Her eyes widened, and her chest was going up and down every second. Our eyes met again, but more intensely. I looked at her neck for a split second, and hunger reappeared again.

Her face suddenly changed into pure horror. She tried to force herself away from my capture. My eyes must have turned red, and she thought I was going to feed on her. I immediately stood up and brushed my clothes off. "You should take a shower. All the dust went into your hair." I plainly said and looked away.

She got up and, without a word, went upstairs. I honestly don't know what she expected. That I'm going to feed on her only once and then let her be? Why would I keep her here? She has no other use for me.

I put the books that fell back where they were and locked the library. My cravings have been getting much worse since she came here. I don't know for how much longer I can restrain myself from her. I fed two days ago, but I desperately need blood right now.

I headed to my room to see if she was already in the bathroom. It only took a few seconds to get inside my room. I looked around, but she was already in the bathroom. I heard how the water stopped running and she went inside the bathtub. "Oh shit." Talia suddenly burst out.

"What is it?" I asked louder so she could hear me. "Uhm, my towel," she softly answered.

I opened her suitcase and took the first towel I saw. I walked in front of the bathroom door and grabbed the handle. I opened the door, and she immediately turned back to me. I put the towel on the cabinet, and when I was ready to take my leave, my eyes strayed back to her. Her skin was covered in bubbles, and her hair almost escaped from the hair clip. I walked up to her and bent down. "Your hair is falling." I pointed it out and then carefully readjusted her hair.

"Oh." Talia touched the back of her hair immediately. My eyes fell on her spine and then on her back. I wanted to touch her soft skin for some reason. I couldn't stop looking at it. Only for a short second to know how her skin feels. I touched her before, but my mind was focused on something else. And by that, I mean blood.

Several seconds passed by. Without thinking, I lightly touched her back with my index finger. Her skin was incredibly smooth and squishy. My finger somehow traveled down her lower back. My mind was occupied with so many bad thoughts. Thoughts I never had before.

I sighed in pleasure. She immediately wrapped her hands around her body and moved farther away from me. The look she gave me showed disgust and uneasiness. I only saw hatred in those eyes. Her hatred for me was so big; I have never seen a human look at me like that before.

I stood up and instantly sprinted to my room. "Why-" I sat down on the bed, trying to understand what just happened. I despise humans, and if I didn't need to feed on them, I would certainly not be around them. So many weird things went through my mind when I touched her.

"Ugh, why am I acting like this? Pull yourself together, Darcia!" I got up and headed to the living room. I couldn't bear to be near her. Her presence made me question my decisions. Decisions I was sure were right. I hated this feeling inside me. I wanted it to stop.

I sat at my desk and went through the things that needed to be done. "Perhaps it's best for me to keep my distance from her. At least for a few days." I mumbled. I can feed in two or three days. I wouldn't enjoy it when I'm in this state. I can't even properly explain what I'm feeling, but I for sure don't like it. Unknown things make me uneasy.

A couple of hours passed, and I was still in the living room, trying to focus on other things. But all I could do was try to listen to what she was doing upstairs. The house was so quiet that you could only hear rats running around. "Why am I hiding from her? Did my self-respect drop so low because of her?" I speculated and then sighed. "Maybe her adoption was a mistake."

Talia's pov

When I walked out of the bathroom, I was strongly hoping she was not in the room. Her touch was incredibly cold. My entire body froze for a split second. I thought she would not attack me if I was in the bathtub, but I was mistaken. She doesn't have any respect for others. She only cares about herself. Even though she said she has a friend, I strongly believe she would sacrifice their friendship for even a drop of blood.

The audacity that the woman has is unimaginable. She almost killed me, and now she's trying to make me like her? I tried to be nice to her for my own good, but I don't think that is going to work. The sooner I get away from here, the better.

I crouched down to find some comfortable clothes in my suitcase, and I found the phone that Stacey gave me. "I entirely forgot I had it." I thought to myself. I need to be careful what I say out loud since she can hear me.

"How do I call Stacey without her hearing our entire conversion?" I sat down on the carpet and leaned my head against my hand.

The good thing is she didn't find my phone; otherwise, I would have had zero chance to escape. I need to make a plan that will work out no matter what. So, now I'll just stay quiet and try to think of a plan.

I put on my big hoodie and leggings, then laid down on the bed, trying to calm myself down. "What if I'm going to be stuck here until I die?" I thought.

Another unexplained situation is what happened in the library today. Why did she push me to the ground? Trying to save me from the books when she is my real thread here.

The way she looked at my neck got me trembling. Almost like a snake looking at a rat before he swallows it deep down into his stomach. The rat knows very well that he could never escape his sharp teeth and venomous bite.

I lay on my stomach, playing with strands of my hair. The weather outside was getting worse again, and I couldn't stop thinking about Darcia. What if she decides to bite me again? I have no chance against her. Locking doors won't help either. Maybe I should become a vampire too, then she would finally let my neck be.

"Uggh!" I let out a weird sound and took a book from the nightstand I stole from the library, trying to think about something else to distract my mind for a while. Books are an escape from reality. Your wild, unstoppable thoughts suddenly stop, and all you can focus on is the story inside. You picture this perfect life these characters have and wish you could be them for even a slight second. That's why I love reading a lot of books.

But I know I can make it out of here sooner or later.