“Are you here to kill me?” Vanya asked, her voice raspy. Lorelei turned her head quickly, startled by the sound. Vanya’s parents hid behind Death and Lorelei in fear.

“No.” Death responded firmly.

“Why not?” Vanya lowered her eyes. She leaned against the wall, exhausted. “I deserve it,” she muttered.

“She does! How could you not-” Vanya’s mother injected, only to be slapped across the face by Lorelei.

“She is a child,” Lorelei said venomously as she glared at the mother.

“She’s a monster.” Uttered the father. “She can control vampires with mere words.” his voice trembled. “Control us with mere words.”

“We are going to talk to Vanya alone.” Death stated calmly, “Leave us.” The parents scurried out of the room, not waiting to be told again. Lorelei and Death looked back at Vanya, worry etched on their faces.

“Your skin is turning to stone, Vanya. The massacre wasn’t that long ago. How are you this starved already?” Lorelei kneeled in front of Vanya, who had slid down to sit on the floor, her back against the wall.

“Bloodletting.” Death replied.

Lorelei looked back at Death, Alarmed. “How do you feed?” Lorelei asked Vanya, trying to keep the panic from her voice.

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“I feed on animals,” Vanya mumbled.

Lorelei stood up and walked to stand next to Death. Lorelei took a deep breath in, but her voice still trembled slightly. “She cannot live like this.” Lorelei crossed her arms. They both stared at Vanya, who was struggling to pay attention. “Did you know about this?” Lorelei demanded.

“No.” Death sighed, “I didn’t. I usually don’t deal with vampires. Adrian knows them quite well… so they naturally took the position of keeping an eye on them. They couldn’t have known either.”

“Those god awful people… neglecting her like this.” Lorelei growled.

“What are you going to do with me?” Vanya spoke up. They both turned to look at her. Death stepped forward toward Vanya, gesturing for Lorelei to leave them alone for a moment. Lorelei drifted off to find Vanya’s parents.

“Is it true that you were part of the Unity Compound?” Death asked calmly. She sat next to Vanya on the ground. Vanya nodded slowly in response, and Death stroked her chin in thought. “You are in favor of all the species coexisting?”

“I thought it was possible, but…” Vanya trailed off.

“The fact this is your first slip up… is astonishing.” Death stared at her intently. Vanya refused to look away. “How long were you part of this group?”

“Eight years ago, I heard… um, a lady talking about it in town. I decided to run off to meet them. I’ve been a member ever since.”

“You’ve seen it first hand, life and death creatures living in harmony?” Death asked with an almost desperate edge in her voice.

“Not all the creatures but… yeah, a good portion of them.” Vanya answered. “What’s this got to do with me?”

“It has everything to do with you.” She responded without hesitation. A shiver crawled down Vanya’s spine. “Now,” Death stood and turned to offer Vanya a hand. “Come with me. Not only can you help me… But I can help you.” Vanya hesitated. She stared at Death’s hand for a few moments. “Why the hesitation?”

“I killed so many people… I just... Please… can you just kill me?” Vanya all but pleaded.

Death knelt down in front of her. “I can’t.” Death responded simply. “It’s not your time to go, just like it wasn’t theirs. You need to live. Live with the fact that you killed. Live with the fact that you could do it again. Embrace the feeling and let it help you grow. Prove everyone wrong. You have the power to turn yourself into the person you want to be.” Death stared into Vanya’s eyes, “Do you understand me, Vanya?” Vanya tried to nod. “No, tell me you understand.”

“I understand.” Vanya managed to squeak out. Death nodded in approval, and this time when Death offered her a hand up, Vanya took it.

“Now, let’s get you a meal,” Lorelei exclaimed from the doorway. She had a satisfied smile on her face, and neither of the other two bothered to ask what she had been up to. They both just nod at her as they head out the door.