SITTING ATOP A lankly tree branch was a red-eyed beast, staring at the mess below him. Curiouser and curiouser her grew, watching the new blood freak out like a lunatic. Crying, laughing, yelling—she was doing it all. She looked like a wreck with blood, tears and sweat coated all over her. Insanity crawls into the pores of her skin, consuming the innocent lamb into a predator. He grinned, eyes glinting as they watched her.
How interesting.
"What are we going to do with her?" Asked another beast, his eyes a bright green, neon in the dimness of the forest. They stood out like emeralds, hypnotic within the depths of the darkness. His hair was blond and bright, unlike the other male who wore his hair as black as the night. He gave off an angelic appearance, the perfect wolf in sheep's clothing.
"She clearly has the tattoo," he began again. "She's talking to herself. A Goddess is speaking to her."
He who was watching the feeble girl below said nothing, eyes calculating her every move. He didn't care for his accomplices' comments, nor did he care about the very pointed looks they gave him. He was here to watch the new girl. To look at her like that of a snake to a mouse.
Another spoke up, this time a female. "We can't let her go. She's a danger to herself and everyone else if she stays alone any longer. We have to take her back with us." Her voice was girly yet fierce, sounding firm with authority. It was clear she was of importance to wherever she's from. Unlike the blonde, she hadn't cared of how she spoke to the black-headed male.
Finally, the ravenette said, "we can't. Not yet, not until the council makes a decision. You know that." The girl groaned at his statement, finding the whole situation absolutely livid with absurdity.
"She's not natural! You all just saw her go through the blood-stage in an instant. She should be dead." Exclaimed the brown-headed female, confused on why she had yet to be given the orders to exterminate the fledgling. "We must kill her," she said lastly, her very own red eyes glimmering as she extended her canines, which had also shimmered.
With annoyance now, the black-haired male hissed. "But she's not dead and we can't kill her. Only—"
"Yeah, yeah. Only the council can make decisions. Yadda, yadda, yadda..." she grumbles.
Red eyes narrowed his eyes at her, his eyes growing brighter by the second. "Speak down upon the counsel again and see what happens." He growled. The other male whispered something about 'kissing ass', making the girl laugh out loud, not caring about the pointed look they were getting from the red-eyed male.
"You've no authority here, presidents. It is I who rules the lands we're on, as a—"
Brownette raised her hands in surrender. "I get it, I get it! I won't mutter another word of the council. Sorry, I even said anything, to begin with..." trailed off the female, not wanting another argument with a statue.
He sighed, letting go of his bottled up annoyance as he eyed the girl below them one last time.
"Let's go. We have reports to give." The rest of them nodded, agreeing that they should leave by now. The girl started to chant as blondie began humming.
While they did that, the ravenette held a finger up to pause them. "Hold that thought." As he uttered those three words, he snapped his fingers. The dead corpse at the feet of the weeping girl started to levitate just a foot above the ground before it just disappeared.
"Why did you help her?" Asked the other male curiously.
"No reason." Just like that, a black fog emitted from a pocket in the air and consumed the trio, vanishing from the tree branches as if they weren't there in the first place. All of this happening unbeknownst to a hysteric girl below.
__________
"What am I going to do..." I murmured to myself, walking in circles as I debated whether or not I should call the police and turn myself in or hide the body or be riddled with guilt and trauma my whole life. The latter option was tempting, but my humanity begged to differ. I could never live with myself now, I've crossed the line no human should ever cross.
You don't just murder someone and get away with it. You can't. As unlucky as I am, I would never get away with this.
As I started to roll over the list of outcomes, I failed to hear Seraph frantically talking to me, somehow blocking her out of my head where she could only talk.
Underneath my frantic thoughts, I could hear a murmur of her voice. I stopped thinking, immediately clearing the cloud of chaos in my head to allow her to talk.
'...mell somebody...' was all I could get from her before a movement in my peripheral vision grabbed my attention. My head snapped to the direction and, for only a split second, did I see Luca's limp body floating mid-air before he disappeared completely. I shrieked, falling backward onto my elbows in pure and utter shock. Diet flung upwards and onto my already filthy attire, making my appearance all that messier.
"What the fuck was that?" I exclaimed, shaking in fear of the unknown. Crazy shit after crazy shit has been happening to me lately. Why can't I just catch a break? I kept my eyes in the air where Luca had been floating for quite a while until I snapped out of my daze. Frantically, I looked to the ground, only to find remains of his fluids soaking into the soil.
I stood up, mouth agape still. "Seraph... what the hell just happened..?" I could finally find my voice.
'I have no idea.'
We both grew quiet after that. The morning had already begun to shift into the day with the brightness of the sun shining through open cracks in leaves, leaving the used-to-be ominous woods friendlier. I fell onto my back, hitting my head on a root of a tree as I did so.
Surprisingly, it didn't hurt. My head was already so overwhelmed with everything happening that I couldn't bother fitting anymore in it.
"Seraph," I spoke, voice quiet yet not meaningless. "Are you really real?" By this point, I didn't know what I wanted to believe or not. Did I want to believe that vampires are real and that I was one of them? That there's an entity in my head coaxing me into murder? Or, perhaps, did I want to believe I was going insane, slowly succumbing into my own life insanity. That the things I'm seeing—the things I'm hearing—are merely a fabrication of a disturbed mind.
Seraph said nothing. Whether that should worry me or not failed to bother me. So, I decided upon myself to answer the question.
I went over every detail in my life. To my first memory of playing with rubber toys in the bath to my second birthday—the day I got my first pet, even if it was just a goldfish that died a week later.
My mind lingered to feelings I've lived through. The love I receive and the love I give out. The pain of fears and pain of petty obstacles, such as falling off a bike. The sadness of being heartbroken, the sadness of death. The unknown feelings, like sitting on my bed with the tickling sensation of being watched, passing a stranger that gave me vibes from hell and maybe, even the time I was being watched by the shadow in the playground. The feeling I got from there was so foreign I fear thinking of it.
I thought of my friends at school. Avery, my best friend since fifth grade who sticks by me through any and everything. Micah, our friend since middle school and now the boyfriend of my best friend for two years. Luciana, a friend I had just made a little over three months ago but was quickly accepted into our little trio. They all cared for me as I did them. Now, I might not ever see them again.
Lizzie, mom, Sadie... if I was crazy, then I would be sent away. To prison? To a nuthouse? I don't know and I hope I won't ever have to.
Did this all happen because of Luca? The only reason I had such a... such an urge to end this madness was all because of him. How he used me, how he tore my heart apart just to fix it the way he liked it. Because of his possessiveness, controlling nature. Because of his touch—a touch I didn't want but endured anyways. I wanted him gone but he wanted himself in my head.
He got into my head. He tore it apart and then I did the same to him. Is that so bad? Giving him what he gave me? Torturing him to death, literally.
My throat started to hurt, a feeling I get when I start to cry. I pushed it back and continued to think.
He gave me so much pain. He was the needle in my head, pushing himself further and further into it to stick it up, but all he did was stab me. He poisoned my head gave me habits I shouldn't dream of having. He made me fearful of the world, gave me anxieties and paranoia beyond compare. A slave to polish the throne he had on me.
I started to laugh. A little chuckle at first, thinking of the insanity I just went through. But, now it'll be okay. Everything will be fine, no matter what he did to me before.
Because he's dead. I killed him. Not some freak accident or O.D., but I, his ex-girlfriend that he had wrapped around a chain, killed him in cold blood.
Me.
I laughed again. I laughed and laughed and laughed until I was under hysterics. I was laughing while crying, tears streams down my face, each tear holding a different meaning from the other. I was sad, confused, angry, and full of despair.
Apart from those very prominent emotions, underneath, even if barely, I could feel joy.
Even after killing him does he still break me.
'Stop acting crazy,' Seraph said, her tone wary. I only laughed again, finding absolutely nothing she said funny. I couldn't help it, I couldn't help the laughs and giggles and tears. They just kept coming. I was gasping for air, wheezing and choking on my own cries of happiness.
'Genevieve.' She called sternly. She must've noticed I didn't stop and said, 'Genevieve, you're going to drive yourself insane. Snap out of it. I can't have a looney for a host.'
"So—" I cut myself off with another laugh, albeit softer. "Sor-ry..." The laughing fit stopped and now I could only find myself searching for more air than my lungs could fit. "...Sorry, I don't know what came over me," I said with my voice barely audible.
Seraph chuckled humorlessly. 'The devil did, that's what.'
"But, aren't you a devil, Seraph?"
'...what?' She laughed again.
I didn't laugh at the dumb tone she spoke in. Instead, I raised my left arm above me, shielding the sun from my bare eyes as I looked at the devils marking on my arms.
"You're a devil yourself, though, aren't you?"
'Genevieve, you don't get it yet, do you?' Seraph asked. I opened my mouth to speak, but she never gave me the chance. 'I'm not a devil. I'm the devil.'
I snickered. "Yeah, and what does that make me? Your loyal worshiper?" I joked.
'No, that makes you nothing.'
_________
By the time I made it out of the woods, I felt fine. Under any other circumstance, that would be normal. Only, I had just miles on end without any breathers nor water, just me and pure stamina. That couldn't be normal—at least, not for me. Out of habit, I stopped with my hands on my knees as I eyed the busy street.
Why do I have so much stamina?
'Well, duh. You're a vampire now, remember? Or, is your brain so small you forgot something as big as that..? Having inhuman speed is nothing compared to—'
"I didn't ask for a lecture," I whispered grumpily, quiet out of fear of people hearing me talk to myself. If I'm not a looney, then bes' not make myself out to be one. "Anyways, I need some new clothes." I slung the filthy bookbag around my shoulder to my chest, where I unzipped it and rummaged around for my anime wallet. It was a wallet I got when I was twelve years old and haven't got around getting a new one.
Plus, I still like this anime so...
Feeling a certain cottony material, I quickly snatched the wallet and opened it up. Eighty-seven dollars, that would be enough for something simple.
I shoved the wallet in the side compartment of the book bag and dashed for the street, careful enough to miss incoming cars but, in the back of my mind, the fear of getting hit by cars was gone by now.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
'You're gonna get hit if you do that again.' Seraph scolded. I scoffed, newfound confidence swarming within me.
"Like that could kill me," I huffed, spotting Miss Marabella's Clothing Shop. Flooded with relief, I dashed in that direction, my book bag hitting my back repeatedly. Seraph just sighed like a disappointed mother.
'No, but that would cause complications when people realize you survived being hit by a semi, head-on. Not so smart, are we, Genevieve.'
I actually hadn't thought of that. Which, makes sense. If I saw someone get hit by a semi—by any moving vehicle, for that matter—going full speed and walking away like it was nothing, I would be mortified.
'Let's just keep being a vampire under wraps for, like, forever. We don't want another witch hunt.' I furrowed brows. I walked in the clothes shop, trying my best to ignore the disgusted looks people were giving me as I did.
What? I'm not a witch, I thought, playing it safe in my head. I already looked sketchy coming in here looking like the mess I am. Imagine being caught talking to myself? I didn't need to get kicked out before I got at least a new shirt.
'Might as well be to them.' I didn't respond back but instead went on my search for new clothes. I would need at least a shirt and pants and that was it. I found a simple stripped back and white shirt with a collar around the neck. It was something mother would approve of, so I got it along with some plain blue jeans.
I walked up to the cash register and handed her my clothes while I paid, trying my hardest to ignore the cold-hearted glare she was giving me.
"Umm..." she spoke snottily, twirling a piece of hair between her index finger, "are you, like, okay? Shouldn't you take a shower or sumthin'?"
I bit my lip, holding back any mean comments. "I'm fine, just tripped." I mean, that wasn't completely false. I tripped (a lot) but that wasn't necessarily where the dirt came from.
"Is that blood..?" She asked yet another question, pointed at my chest which, indeed, was stained in Luca's blood. My stomach did a flip at the thought.
"No, its mud." My things rung up and she handed me my recipe. "Thanks," I mumbled, snatching the bag from her manicured hands. She probably wanted to say something else, but I was already out the door.
I sighed, the anxiety slowly leaving me. God, that was hard. Today was hard and its not even over yet.
I glance towards the bag in my hands, content. At least something went alright today. After thinking that, I paled.
Did I really just but clothes like this morning never happened? God, I'm a nutcase already.
'Well, expect this every day. Vampires need blood. Human blood, mind you.'
Wait, the anxiety that just left me quickly came crawling back at my feet, I... have to ki-kill people again..? I can't do that. I won't do it!
Seraph laughed—long and hard. If she had volume to herself, I imagined her being loud like a horse. 'Oh, hell's no! You don't have to kill people, just drink from them.'
I groaned. Can't I just get raw meat from the supermarket and eat that or something...
'Nope, if it were that easy then there would probably be vampires everywhere. Plus, that shit's nasty. You'd crave the real stuff—the warm, intoxicating blood pumping through a human's veins. You'll drink again, they all do.'
"Yeah, well," I snorted, "not if I cure this bloody disease." Again, she laughed like a hyena, going about it for a good minute.
'Funny—that was funny. I think I like you, host. I just might.'
My eye twitched. Better drop the subject as is, I didn't want to get annoyed again. Last time I got annoyed... well, it wasn't good for both parties. I drowned my annoyance in a new target: finding a restaurant I could get dressed in since Miss Marabella's Clothing Shop doesn't have the luxury of a changing room (oddly enough). Luckily, I found a McDonalds right around the corner. Jogging, I rush past people to get to the bathroom.
I ditched in front of some lady and her kid, muttering an apology. I was going through all this trouble just to go to school. School, after I murdered someone with just a bite. Like it was a casual thing to do. After all the regret, I didn't care anymore. He got what was coming for him, he got death after almost putting me at its hands several times before. I feel bad I killed a person, but not that it was him.
'Already thinking like a monster, I like it.' Seraph was necessarily commented, halting my movement of putting a shirt over my head.
"I'm not a monster. Remember, I'm nothing." I grumbled, putting my arms through the holes.
'Yes, but, you are a vampire. Anything inhuman automatically equals monstrosity. Welcome to the wondrous world of being a monster in human flesh.' Her voice was laced so deep in sarcasm I could have drowned in it.
"Not me. I'm still human."
'Okay, let me make this easier for you. Be a human and be a murderer or be a monster and be a predator. Human are pray to us, just like cattle to humans. If you choose humanity, you're a murderer.' Seraph exclaimed with insight, pulling me from my hole in the ground. I was still, taking in what she just said.
"I don't wanna be a murderer. I want to live and love like a normal girl. How can I live my life normally after I committed a crime worth years of my life."
'You can't. You're already dead.' The need to cry faded as it was replaced with a sorrowful laugh.
"At least I'm not a disembodied voice." I counter. She was silent after that and I felt victorious. What is with me today with all my mood swings? Hopefully, within the next second my next mood isn't murderous, I joked. Whatever the case, I went along with zipping my pants and walking out the stall.
The lady I cut stood there, arms cross. "You're an awfully rude young lady." She uncrossed her arms and motioned her child in the stall. I rolled my eyes, even though I was very at fault, and went to the sink to wash my face.
"Done," I said to myself. After like... wait what time is it? I grabbed the phone out of my pocket and checked the time. It read 9:47, meaning I've spent three hours in absolute hell.
'Off to school, I presume? My, what a good girl you all. You know, apart from killing your ex-boy toy and all. And cutting that nice, old lady off. Oh, don't forget—'
I get it, I get it! Just let me at least act like my life is not going to complete shit, yeah? I just really need to see a nice face right now.
I grabbed my book bag and after setting my destination in Google Maps, finally went off to school.
'I can't believe you're going to school right now.'
__________
After thirty minutes of energetic running, I finally made it to Montana High School. I felt no exhaustion whatsoever, which would need some getting used to. I felt a wave of fear as I pressed the button to the office, waiting to be buzzed in because my school has a weird but very needed security system. I heard a loud noise from the speakers; it was the ok to come in.
I did and pulled out the quick ten-second excuse note from my 'mom'. After years of practicing, I mastered my mom's handwriting for things like field trips she didn't need to know about.
I walking in the office, showing off a very practiced kind smile. It was the kiss-ass smile, the one all teachers fell for. But, what's a nice smile without the voice to match?
"Hello, Mrs. Winchester! How are you this morning?" I queried, handing her the slip. Miss Winchester, the receptionist, matched my smile and sighed like she was currently during the crisis of her life.
"God awful, I tell ya. My son has caught the flu and was just the needly little thing last night. Got no sleep," she sighed. She was a little too talkative, but she was a nice lady. Her son is her main topic of each day, him being six years old.
I nodded. "That sucks. Hope he gets well soon." I added, genuinely. I loved small chat with Mrs. Winchester and her son seemed like a good kid. Nothing like me, I unconsciously added, making me grow pale.
"I—Uh, can I go to class now?" I asked, averting my eyes from her face. I heard her stop monologuing made a noise of confusion.
"Dear, are you alright?" She reached for my upper arm and I didn't respond to it. Deep breaths, Genevieve. Deep breaths.
So, I mustered up a plastic smile and met her eyes once more. "Yeah, sorry... I just got an earful from mom about being late and all..." I added with false sadness. Mrs. Winchester nodded understandingly and let go of her grip on my arm.
"Oh, I'm sorry them. Surely she won't be mad at you all day." She smiled up at me. Guilt filled me from my core at her innocent, motherly smile.
I can't live with this guilt.
'You have to.'
I ground my teeth. Seraph always only spoke the fact I didn't need to hear. Didn't want to hear.
After typing something into her computer and writing along a pink piece of rectangular paper, Mrs. Winchester handed me my late slip. "And here ya go. Have a good day, sweetheart. Actually, wait a moment," she looked towards her lap and rummaged through what I assumed to be her pockets. She then pulled out a piece of candy wrapped in a peppermint-looking wrapper. "Take this, it might brighten up your day some."
The guilt was now eating me inside out. I don't deserve that candy. Really, I don't. She was too nice of a person to be talking to me anymore. After what I did, I could never amount to anything good.
Even so, I took the piece of candy and placed it in my bookbag. With a Barbie-like smile, I said, "thanks a bunch, Mrs. Winchester. Really."
I turned around and left the office, the smile on my face immediately dropping into a monochrome frown. It was depressing, really. How I ruined my life just merely hours ago and was going to school like nothing had ever happened. Thankfully, I would hear nothing about Luca since he was a freshman in college and didn't go to my school, being a high school.
My hand clenched and unclenched around the tardy slip, mind wavering off as I walked through the school's corridors. Our school was one of the largest populated in Montana and seeing that it was obvious our school was massive. Thankfully, I memorized the layout in my sophomore year.
Trapped in an everlasting daze, I failed to realize directly in front of me was someone heading straight in my direction, their head seemingly also stuck in the clouds. Their shoulders bumped into me, causing my body to jerk sideways and stumble on my feet.
Ouch! What the hell? I went to look at whoever I ran into, only to find air. Uh, that's weird... I swear I ran into someone... there were no rooms in this part of the hallway unless you go further up or further down.
'Maybe if you kept your head outta your ass, you would have known if someone was there or not.' Scolded Seraph. I could tell she was already done with my oblivious and clumsy attitude. Nothing I could help, though.
Well sor-ry, princess...
'Don't call me that again, host.'
Then, I thought in a remark, don't call me host.
She said nothing back. Sighing, I gripped the bridge of my nose and continued walking to third period. Third period was British Literature, something I absolutely despised. Luckily for me, I was only in for the second half of english, knowing that my English class was second through third period and they were already thirty minutes into class.
'School is rather pointless for you to know,' said Seraph. I almost scoffed but feared being caught doing that to myself by by-passers.
I would rather not be stupid, thanks though. Maybe you should thank me I'm going to school for us...
I could hear her ego growing. 'Hmph, as if. I'm smarter than any of these humans could ever hope to be.'
I finally reached English. Why the hell was this class literally the further class in the whole school? I, as usual, ignored Seraph and quietly opened the door.
Several faces whipped upwards from their papers to stare at me. One face being Avery, who started glaring at me. I sheepishly smiled at her before turning to a very annoyed Miss Greene.
Miss Greene crossed an arm over her chest and held the other outwards to me. "Tardy slip, Miss Paris." She demanded, not even bothering to ask nicely. For the second time today, I grounded my teeth together and handed her the very crumbled up slip. Disgusted, she opened it and nodded in approval. "Very well, then. Go on, sit down and I'll give you the directional sheet. We're proofreading our essays today and starting the final draft if you've finished."
Nodding, I (very awkwardly) walked down the aisle to the spot next to Avery. The only hood thing about Miss Greene was her respect for friendships. I didn't miss the pissed off look Avery was casting in my direction. Probably trying to cast a hoax on me, most likely.
I sat down, immediately slouching. God, I've been walking and running all day and sitting down felt so relaxing. I could fall asleep if I wasn't in English.
Miss Greene walked down the aisle, her stance holding pure authority with her back straight and head held high. She handed me my paper and left, but not without giving me that look. By that look, I mean the look of disappointment.
'She wouldn't be disrespecting us if we had her on the ground in her own blood.' Seraph's God-complex came out, sending a bloodlust invading my senses. I gripped the pen in my hand and closed my eyes.
One... two... three... I started counting in my head. Seraph would not control my emotions ever again.
A tap on my side helped me calm down, somehow. With a small sigh leaving my chapped lips, I turned to Avery and offered her an apologetic smile. As expected, she huffed and pointed her nose to the ceiling.
I scribbled on the side of my paper lightly so I could erase it later.
I'm sorry I'm late, I stayed up all night doing homework and slept in... :(
I sucked the insides of my cheeks from frowning. Now, I'm lying to my best friend. Too many changes for me than I'd like to admit.
'Yeah, and don't forget the bloodsucking part.' Somehow, I could feel Seraph's smile in my head.
Avery turned her paper sideways to write on. Turning it to face me, it read: yeah right, i know ur ass was up all night watching anime.
I would have laughed. That statement would actually be very true for our situation if I was late before my accident. The number of times Avery caught me in my lie for 'doing homework' when I was just watching My Villian Academia was countless.
It's a good ass anime, that's my excuse.
'What is this anime?' Asked Seraph, making me choke on my spit. Everyone turned to me with a 'what-the-fuck' look and went back to their papers. Miss Greene had to be extra about it and give me a snotty look before going back to her computer.
You're joking. Aren't you supposed to be smart, Seraph? I questioned, genuinely confused. She talked like she was the shit and was omniscient. Guess not, after all.
'I have you know that I haven't been awakened for nearly centuries, host. I just need a bit of a refresher of your time, is all...'
I laughed. A granny, then? It's ok, I used to volunteer at a nursing home.
She went to reply (angrily, at that) but Avery intervened. Instead of writing, she whispered, "what is going on? Are you on drugs?" Her voice was serious and non-joking. Which, ended up making me laugh again.
"Is there a problem, Miss Paris?" Miss Greene was by my desk now. How she is so stealthy I would never now.
"No, Miss Greene. I'm sorry." Her eye twitched at my emphasis on the word miss. She replied with no snarky comments but instead just walked back to her desk.
I turned back to Avery. Who, by the way, was giving me an extremely annoyed look. "I'm not talking any drugs, what are you on?" It was kind of crazy that she did come up with that assumption. I've always been straight edge and would never turn to drugs—I know what they do to people and their families.
She sighed. "You're the one laughing to yourself and making these stupid expressions..."
I put a hand to my heart, pulling yet another stupid face. "Ouch, you wound me, dear bestie. And can I not laugh to myself? I was thinking of something that was funny."
'I don't really like this girl,' Seraph concluded. I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to respond.
"Well—but..." Avery puckered her lips. "Fine, you know what, you're right. Sorry, I even asked." She pouted, looking at her paper and away from me.
I gave her a knowing look. "I know you're just mad I was late for homeroom and you look awkward waiting for me the whole time." By the look of embarrassment on her face, I knew I was right. I giggled softly, covering my mouth from being any louder.
Avery gave me and mean look and started jotting things down on her paper. "No, you're wrong snd conceited."
When she met my gaze, I rolled my eyes. "Right, okay. Totally." She responded by huffing and looking away from me again. Something must've caught her eyes because her head snapped back towards me with an incredulous look.
What, I mouthed. She shook her head and pulled the sleeve of my Tee slightly and my eyes widened. She was looking at the mud on my arm I recklessly forgot to wash off.
Seraph almost sneerer. 'You're going to get caught! You need to be more careful, you stupid girl!' I ignored her again. I mean, I couldn't really talk to her without spacing out and raising more questions from Avery.
"Why is there mud on you?" She asked, eyes curious and confused. I frowned, acting like I didn't know what she was talking about. I looked back at my arm and 'thought' about it for a second.
My lips formed an 'O' as I nodded my head. "I went through the woods this morning and a dirty branch hit me." I confidently confirmed. She looked as if she didn't believe me.
Okay, that should have done it.
'It better've. Or else that would only mean bad news and we had enough of that today.'
"Genevieve," Avery said my name with a quiet voice. "Where did this blood come from..?"