Episode 7: "Arrival."

Alicia just sat there for a moment, her head still lowered. Where could she run off to?

"Alicia?" He said.

She shook her head.

"Alicia, we've talked about this." He said.

She still shook her head.

He sighed and came in front of her. He knelt down. "If this can possibly improve your mood, I wanted you to see for yourself, which you will, but, if you must know now, no, I have no intention of raping you, nor will I ever. I'm not that kind of man."

That was a major weight off her chest, if that part of her brain actually allowed her to believe him. It was about 50%.

"Then what do you want?" She asked, her voice soft and broken.

"I will not discuss that here. Now, let's go." He stood. "I'll carry you if I must."

"Why don't I just quit?" She said.

"And go where?" He used her living arrangements against her.

She wanted to get angry at him, when he didn't know just how severe her living arrangements had become. Though he had a point. What job would pay her $2000 a paycheck at the start? Allow her to find a place so soon? Many places were minimum wage. Even this job. Unless she was living with friends there was no way she would be able to support herself alone. She'd have to be homeless.

She doubted any of her rich friends' parents would allow her to stay with them. The others children were being married off and going to college. And while she didn't entirely trust his word, he did say he wasn't going to rape her, which was at the forefront of her mind. Why else would he want to take her home, offering her that kind of money unless something was physical? At that high of a price, she'd have to be one good prostitute.

Was she going to be a personal maid to him? That'd be two jobs and for that check she'd do it.

Christian sighed again. "What are you waiting for? Get up."

She'd find out what he really wanted once she got there. She stood up, sniffing.

"Do you have everything?"

"No, I still have my clothes in the locker. Ricky gave me the key."

"Well go and get them." He said.

She turned and opened the door. He watched her walk in the direction of the lockers.

Dwayne came through and picked up a brown box from a storage shelf. "Boss." He said.

"Dwayne." He acknowledged him. "How's the customers?"

"They're fine. Like nothing happened. The mess at the table has been taken care of too."

"Good." He said.

Dwayne turned and was about to go, when he looked to him again. "Boss, you really think she's worth it? Is any woman really, to you?"

"Any woman I choose, I care for them, because they are giving their life to me. It's not an easy choice."

"Nor does she seem like an easy girl. At least, Delilah and...well you know the other one, were more than willing."

"That's the problem, Dwayne. They were more than willing. This girl has been fighting me since day one, I like that. She'll most definitely fight me once she finds out what I want her for. And in her case, unfortunately, it's out of survival."

"Survival?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Ironic, isn't it?" He said.

He chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'll see you, boss."

He nodded and watched him go out.

His cafe was the only one that closed 1 in the morning. It was going for nine now. Soon the late-nighters would come in. Coming off of drugs, they'd want to eat. Some would just want to drink.

Alicia returned with her stuff.

"You got everything?" He asked.

She nodded.

"Okay, let's go." He walked out the back.

She followed behind.

All eyes were on them. Delilah stopped stalking the shelves to watch them go. Her hands balled into fists. She didn't expect to be this upset. She knew he was bound to find someone else. He had to in order to maintain his 'condition'. But somehwere deep down, she had hoped he would never. And that maybe he would go back to her. And she had learned her lesson. She did. Just as long as she was close to him. Those thoughts of being nothing but a walking bloodbag rang through her head. She had respect for herself, but she'd give up her life for him. That was either love, or no self-respect at all.

A true woman, she supposed, would eventually want what he had, or let him go entirely. She chose to want what he had, but went about it in the most decieving and conniving of ways. That was his most treasured law. 'Do not want what I have.'. Those were his words to her.

She watched the red doors close on them. Murder in her eyes she would make Alicia fall.

'You stupid, vicious woman! Snake! How could you do this to me! To us! I warned you! I warned you, Delilah! Did you think that I was joking?! That this was some kind of a twisted game or joke! I'm a monster! I can create monsters and you go behind my back...to my brother? My sister? My family! Something you had no right to do in the first place!"

She had tried to explain herself, but all her words were futile. In the end, he called her selfish. If she really cared about him, she wouldn't have wanted something as foolish as that. She remarked that he was being selfish preying on young girls, draining their life just to survive rather than make a choice.

He said that while that was a good point to make, he knew that his time was short, and that it wouldn't be forever. He wouldn't always be the way that he was, and if she truly cared about him, she would have remained the same. She did. He pointed out also that if her blood became tainted, she would no longer be able to give it. Something she obviously hadn't been thinking about when she went to his siblings for a possible change in her genetic code.

Overwhelmed with emotions, she placed a box of toothpicks down and ran in the back. She went into the bathroom and entered a stall. She wept.

Fine, she could be normal. Just as long as she had him. No wonder Alice hated her for so long. It was impossible not to fall for someone like Christian while you were in his company. He treated you like a queen. He meant every word he spoke to you. And the blood loss wasn't an every day thing. Once a month really. Everything else was golden. They went on retreats together. She got paid well. She didn't want for anything. But she did want more of him.

She smiled to herself. That was something she nor Alice never got that far in, although Alice got further in some things that shall remain nameless and she wondered just what kind of effect she had on Christian for him to comply. Perhaps it was the other way around. He never liked to discuss Alice. She was practically non-existant in their 'relationship'.

She looked in the mirror. Maybe she really was a snake, with her dried mascara and puffy eyes. There were two things she had now in order to make Alicia fall, but she could completely scrap the whole super human bit. She'd make sure she'd make Alicia want him. Want him in every way. That's what drove her to her blunder. Once you loved someone, you became irrational. She pondered that plan. But what if Christian reciprocated his feelings for her? He was not immuned to love, although he made it clear that they were not 'together' in that way. That they were just friends.

In hindsight, she guessed they were. Friends with benefits, but in no ways sexual. He rarely kissed her on the cheek. Yet he did do things that would make others wonder, like poke her side when he was happy. Or oblidge when she wanted to go do certain things. He after all owed her that. She was giving him her blood which at times was no easy feat, especially if she had gotten her period. But she, out of love, wanted to. He didn't make her do anything she didn't want to do and that's what frustrated her. She could annul their relationship at any time, and there'd be no hard feelings. Or so he claimed. If he got used to a certain donor and they suddenly wanted nothing to do with him, outside of them messing up like she had, she wondered how would he feel. Betrayed? Angry? Annoyed? She could see him being annoyed at having to find someone else so suddenly, but unless they had a great effect on him, why should he feel angry should one girl depart and another came?

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She took a deep breath, and hiccupped. She loved him. Or so she thought. In the end nothing would work out. Not while Christian was the way that he was. Once he became whatever species he wanted to be, then maybe it would be different. She was over here trying to think of ways of destroying their relationship, when the relationship itself would.

"He just refused to make a choice, and I, was tired of waiting..."

Those were Alice's words.

Her own words were "Why don't you just make a choice? I'm sure with whatever decision you make, you'll be able to control it?"

She'd bet money and then pack up and quit if her thoughts didn't come true.

Alicia had to ask, was going to ask the same question they both did. It would keep coming up for however long their time would be until one of them preferably her, would go insane. Or she could just leave, and out of fear for what Christian might do, or would no longer do for her, haunted her mind, then she would break. Break off the relationship, even herself, either way, Christian would have to let her go.

He would have to let all of his women go until he made a choice. What was he going to do should one of them want to see another man, yet were 'bound' to him in blood? The other man would not like that. The woman couldn't tell his secrets. These were just one of the many issues in Christian's little donor relationship. Yet she wasn't thinking about all that when she was with him. Pain could make you see things as they were.

Alicia wasn't going to like it, she thought. The feeling of being used weighed so heavily on her own heart that she wanted Christian to see her as his girl. His woman. Not just a blood supply. But with that came Christian's own dileema that he was dead set on fighting till the bitter end.

She sighed. Perhaps it was her 'growing up'. She would see where the relationship would go. If sparks did fly, she would intervene then. She'd even call in Alice.

She smirked. She was only a snake when the time came for it.

Meanwhile, Alicia was a mute riding in Christian's black sports car. Delilah was right on him having money. She held everything in her lap.

They were in the hills now, Christian having took the freeway to get where they were. 

She hadn't texted her mom yet. She would after she asked Christian something. Technically it was still her money, it would just have to be given to her sooner. Once she had the check in her hand--crap! She just thought of the down payment. If she asked for all 4000 just to secure the place, she'd still be in trouble. There was the food, and the bills.

Her heart pounded in her ears. Never mind whatever he had planned. She needed money. Passing mansions did nothing for her mood. So he lived in one. His place of rest was secure. Hers was not and she pictured her parents setting her things outside in boxes now. Wherever he lived, she'd wish he'd hurry. Or she could just discuss everything with him in the car.

No. That wouldn't be wise. Or just not proper?

Look at her? Already feeling a certain type of way about the man. She had to remember that while she was hired to work, this was a nontangible contract she was in with this man just to make some money.

The car began to slow down, and Christian turned off. He pulled up to a gate.

The house behind it was huge and if she were in a happy mood her mouth would have dropped. It was the biggest she had seen yet.

Lights were implanted along the driveway. He drove around his driveway, making half an arch, and parked the car. He turned off the car. "We're here."

She didn't reply and wordlessly unbuckled her seatbelt. She decided to bring up her proposal after whatever it was that he wanted her to do, if it was not giving up her body, was explained.

He looked at her. She looked to him for a second and then opened the car door. She closed it and stood, looking around a little bit.

She wasn't going to be easy, and if she was, it was the first time he felt guilty. He always did, but she was pounding on his nerves. Rather than take her blood, he would just get to know her. She looked so frightened.

Okay, maybe he wasn't helping by telling her what he wanted her to do. But being a donor? He had to get her here first. Of course she'd think of rape. He didn't help by not telling her that that was not his intention. Not that she would trust him.

Getting out, he closed his door.

He couldn't wait until this night was over. He'd have a fresh view of everything come morning's light.

"Follow me." He said.

She walked behind him, reaching a double door entry. He unlocked it, and the alarm sounded.

The foyer was dimly lit.

She stepped inside.

Christian disarmed it and closed the door.

The sounds of it locking didn't make her feel any better. She was here. She was actually in this man's house. A stranger. A rich stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. Not to mention that despite all of her circumstances, she felt out of place.

Her parents didn't come from money. They were decent middle-class folk.

He turned the lights up more. "There." He said.

She turned to him.

"Let's go." He said.

She followed behind, coming to the double spiraling staircase. Reaching the top, she passed multiple hallways and areas that would be unexplored for her.

Walking down a hall, they came to sturdy wooden doors.

"This is my room." He said, twisting both handles. He opened the doors wide, allowing Alicia a full view.

Stairs led down into a room fit for a King--royalty of some sort.

A massive bed lie in the center with a golden finish headboard. There was a sitting area-almost mini living room, a wetbar, and open doors that led into probably a beautiful bathroom. She didn't see the closet, but it was probably big. There was his 'work' area where head a desk and chair. Everything would seem crowded in a much smaller room, but this one gave way to their own areas it seemed, with space to spare. There was his entertainment center which boasted the top of the line audio system, huge flatscreen tv, and shelves with books on either side.

The steps were marble that led down into his room. She gave it another going over, finally noticing the lounge chair and what looked like something used for an IV drip?

She turned to him. "What's that?"

"What's what?" He stepped inside now.

"That?" she pointed to it.

"That, is a bloodbag, Alicia." He turned to her. "Would you step inside, please?"

She furrowed her brows. "Bloodbag? What would you need that for?"

"This is your last chance to run." He said. "I will take you home. No hard feelings."

"Christian what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about what I want you for. No, I do not want your body in the sexual sense. But I do want it, medically."

"For what!" she yelled.

"Like I said, last chance to run."

And go where!

"Christian, what is the bloodbag for! What would you be needing my blood for?!"

"I can't explain further unless you accept."

"What are you? Some type of scientist or something?!"

"On occassion." He said, thinking of his attempts to cure himself.

"So what do you need me for? Samples?"

"You could say that."

If she was at the doctor's office getting treated for something and they needed samples of her blood, then she was all for it. This? This under the table stuff? Was he even licensed to do this kind of work?

"Are you a doctor? In some profession?"

"No." He said.

"So what you're doing is illegal!"

"In the rest of the world's eyes, it would be. But for my own. I do not care."

"What?"

"Alicia, I'm only going to ask you one more time. And at this point I don't care if you end up on the street."

Her sitaution hit her again. Survival. It was all survival she told herself.

Sure it was. This was madness, but what choice did she have? She doubted he would 'demote' her to a regular maid. He said himself he wasn't looking for that and how they recieved applicants daily. He wanted her for this. Whatever reason he had behind it. She thought of using her body over this when she cringed. It was only blood. Only her blood. Just how much of it would she be giving, and why? Illegal or not.

"How much do you need?" She asked.

"All questions and concerns you have will be answered once you step inside the room. I will answer no more if you continue to stand out in the hall."

"Let's say I agree to all of this and one day I want to leave you? What would happen then?"

"Then you'd be fired."

"But you're keeping Delilah!"

"I can deal with one mishap."

"Who says I'm a mishap! It would be my choice!"

"So it will be. Now enter the room, or I will take you home."

"I don't have a home anymore! They're kicking me out!"

"You told me that already."

"That was when I thought I still had a month. That text, it was from my mother. She said she and my father were packing my things. They want me out by Sunday now!"

"Then that is unfortunate and if you want a chance at survival then you'll enter the room."

"How can I survive when I'm handing over my blood to you!"

"You will see." He said, smirking some.

They both knew he got her now.

She kept thinking of her parents when she stopped. They didn't care. He didn't either. She was literally on her own now. For now, numbing her emotions would do the trick. She could scream and claw at the walls later.

She, in anger, stepped inside the room. She didn't know what was worse. Rape, or giving her blood away. Both were extremely personal and he'd be a fool to think otherwise.

The door closed behind her.

"Please, have a seat on the lounge chair. I will explain as I go along."

She glared at him and then took a step down, nearly tripping. She dropped her clothes.

"And please, watch your step." He said.

She looked back at him and then knelt down to pick up her clothes.

"You can set them on the bench over there."

"Where?" she looked to him.

"There, by the window."

She did as she was told and then walked back over to the chair. She sat down and laid across it.

Christian looked her up and down.

"Could you quit staring at me like I'm some speciman and not a human being and get this over with!" she yelled.

 "Human?" He chuckled to himself, looking down at the floor. He sighed and placed his hands in his pockets, raising his head once more. He looked at her. "Let's start there? Shall we?"