Ham or blood

Swallowing hard I reopened my eyes to him as the fire still crackled on beside us, I didn’t even want to think about what fate would eventually bestow on me. I noticed him pick up something else beside him before handing it to me, it was a piece of bread.

“Eat,” he said gesturing at the bread still in his hand. Taking it from him I slowly brought it to my mouth and took a bite, my mouth felt so dry which in turn made it difficult to chew. Handing me a metal mug he nodded once, “Drink,” I took it from him and started drinking the water, taking slow sips at first but eventually I started downing the cool liquid so fast that I half choked, “Slow down,” He said, pulling the cup from my mouth. Looking up at him I nodded once as I frowned slightly,

“Thank you,” I whispered. Why was he being nice to me? Clenching his jaw, he nodded before getting to his feet, 

“Come with me,” he said gesturing for me to follow him. Swallowing hard I felt panic creeping over me as my heart started beating hard in my chest, but I did as I was told as I was in no position to protest.

Following toward what seemed like his bedroom my anxieties started taking over when suddenly he turned toward a closed door, opening it he held up his hand toward the room. Peeping inside I quickly noticed with great relief that it was a bathroom, there was a warm steaming bath already run and the smell coming from it was heavenly.

“I’ve left you some of my clothes to change into after you’re bath, I don’t have girls clothes unfortunately but, I’ll see what I can do in the morning,” looking up at him I smiled softly as I nodded, 

“Thank you, Groban,” I said softly, frowning he clenched his jaw. I had heard one of the other brothers call him that and assumed it to be his name. I quickly walked inside as I turned to close the door behind me, Groban was already gone from where he stood. Turning back I noticed the clothes he had left me neatly folded up next to the bath, I found white shorts and a white t-shirt, I leant over and smelt them, they smelt like him which made my stomach clench with an excitement I didn't understand. I again smiled as I gently touched them. Looking over to the basin I looked straight up and into a mirror hanging on the wall my jaw dropped as I studied my apearance. Tears welled up in my eyes as I touched my cheek, it was completely dirt stricken, with stains of blood still visible in the corner of my mouth, the side of my face slightly swolen from where I had been slapped. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I kept staring at the horrified apearance before me, my dark hair looked lifeless as it hung down past my elbows, was this the person that I had become now, this dirty and sorry excuse of a creation that should never have been.

Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes as I wiped away more tears before looking over at the clearly brand new toothbrush waiting for me with a full tube of toothpaste already next to it, swallowing hard I instantly felt a lump come up in my throat again. I didn’t understand why he was being so nice to me, I was a hybrid and he was human, and not just any human, he was one of the brothers. A flash back of Jake’s kindness made me flinch, I would never be able to trust humans no matter how nice they seemed, something inside of them would always betray me, I had learnt that the hard way.

After my bath I felt so clean and warm, I couldn't stop running my fingers over my clean skin, I had washed my hair for the first time in months, pulling a strand close to my nose I sniffed and smiled, it smelt like strawberries, sighing I almost felt brand new as I studied my appearance in the mirror. I looked down at the clothes as I had to fold the shorts over twice just so they wouldn't fall from my waist, I was a lot smaller than him, the t-shirt looked more like a short dress on me. My frame was tiny compared to his strong muscular one, but I didn't mind, for some reason having his clothes on me caused a spark of excitement to erupt. Instantly brushing it off I reluctantly turned before slowly opening the door. I leisurely stepped out as I turned toward the fire place, I steadily made my way toward it when suddenly Groban stepped out from inside the kitchen, his eyes landed on me as he froze, he just merely stared at me in surprise,

“Feel better?” he asked watching me intently, nodding I wrapped my arms around myself.

“I’ve put some bedding down near the fireplace for you, I thought you could sleep on the bear skin rug right next to the warm fire. I only have one bedroom so… um…” he trailed off without looking up at me. 

“That’s very kind of you, thank you,” I said softly. He instantly looked up at me as his frown deepened, 

“I’m not,” he quickly corrected me,

“You’re not what?” I asked confused,

“I’m not kind,” he said clenching his jaw as his whole body stiffened before walking straight past me toward the front door. I frowned as I watched him walk away,

“I have to go out, keep the door closed and don’t open it for anyone, understand?” nodding I knotted my fingers within the t-shirt I was wearing,

“Tell me you understand Laya!” he abruptly said. Quickly looking up at him I swallowed hard,

“I understand Groban,” I quickly answered. Nodding once he turned back toward the door as he made his way out, shutting the door behind him. I was left standing there all alone and grateful for that as I turned toward the fireplace. Making my way toward it I looked down at the thick blanket folded neatly with a pillow on top of it, making myself a bed on the soft bearskin rug I snuggled up with the warmth of it as I stared at the warm crackling fire beside me, eventually allowing my heavy eyes to close as a deep sleep then took me.

***

I was fast asleep beside the fireplace when I heard the front door slam, jumping I gasped into a seated position as I looked up to see Groban staring at me. I kept getting a whiff of mountain dew and it was getting stronger and stronger with each passing moment, swallowing hard I kept my eyes fixed on him. I breathed in the air only for the smell to become so intoxicating now that it actually burnt my throat. 

Frowning he quickly broke eye contact as he dropped a bow and arrows to the floor before walking straight past me toward the bathroom, closing the door behind him I instantly grabbed my chest as my breathing felt erratic. What was wrong with me, I felt strange and tingly all over my body and couldn’t understand why.

After a while I must have dozed off again, because I woke up to the familiar smell of mountain dew so strong it felt like I was choking on it. Looking up with a start I stared right into his eyes as he looked down at me, they were the darkest brown eyes I had ever seen and his black hair was short but spiky after his bath, he smelt even more amazing now. Keeping his eyes fixed on mine he swallowed hard,

“I was just… placing another log on the fire,” he said in a husky voice. Turning my head toward the fireplace I saw his left hand holding on tightly to a log, I turned my gaze back at him before nodding. My breathing picked up and I could sense his was doing the same, 

“Um, you’re hungry?” he said and I wasn’t sure if he was asking me if I was hungry or telling me that I was, right now I couldn’t really concentrate on anything else besides his scent, it was starting to drive me crazy. In an instant I was shaken from my elation when I remembered that he was in fact human and one of the brothers, pulling away from him I quickly broke eye contact as I tried not to breathe in his sweet scent. He must have felt my change in mood because he suddenly pulled away from me as well, 

“Come,” he said as he quickly got up and started heading for the kitchen. I slowly rose to my feet as I started following behind him, as I stepped out from behind him I noticed something strange on his kitchen table, were those blood bags? Completely taken aback I just stood there staring at them, right beside the five bags of blood lay a delicious looking ham sand which, not that I had ever had one before but I had seen the children in the tribe enjoying them. I frowned as I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Seeing my confusion he smirked, 

“I didn’t know what you would like to eat so… I got both,”

“Both?” I said feeling even more puzzled than before. Nodding he seemed surprised by my general ignorance right now,

“Yes, both. You’re a hybrid, you eat ham sandwiches right?” swallowing hard I looked down as I thought it over for a second,

“I’ve never had it before,” frowning in disbelief he scoffed, 

“You’ve never eaten a ham sand which? Shaking my head I quickly looked up at him as he still had a quizzical look on his face, shaking it off he quickly pointed toward the blood bags, 

“Well, you need blood though right?” turning my attention toward the blood bags I instantly felt a strange tingly sensation down my spine as I felt a puddle develop in my mouth, how did he know I needed blood? Looking up at him I swallowed hard, 

“Is that... human… blood?” Nodding he smirked, 

“Yes, what else would it be?” shaking my head I took a step back,

“No thank you,” frowning he stared at me with uncertainty,

“You don’t want human blood?” as he said human blood I felt something inside of my stomach pull toward it and I gasped, again shaking my head I looked down,

“I’ve never had… human blood before,” I said in a voice so unsure of the situation I could have easily become lost in my own bewilderment,

“Wait, so what the heck did you feed on if not human blood?” feeling shame for something I didn’t understand the emotion of in that moment, I clenched my jaw.

“Rats,” his eyes simply widened as he stared at me, 

“Those people made you feed on rats?” I could see the disgust on his face. I instantly felt shaky deep inside, “Laya, answer me!?” he finally said with determination for an answer, my head quickly shot up to him as my breathing felt shakier than before,

“No, they didn’t make me feed on rats, I did that on my own," confused he just stared at me,

“Why?” 

“My tribe didn’t know that I needed blood to survive and I never told them, I was afraid, and I didn't understand why I needed it either,” 

“Laya, you’re a hybrid, feeding on human blood is part of your diet, how could you not know that?” smirking I looked down,

“I lost my parents when I was four and lived with humans since then, my diet consisted of whatever they threw in the trash and did not want to eat, so I doubt they would have been very understanding, if I told them I needed blood to survive,” a bit taken aback by my own courage to speak those words I wrapped my arms around myself for support,

“They made you eat out of the trash?” he asked appalled, 

“They gave me a roof over my head, clothes, food and an education. Considering what I am, they were actually very kind to me,” taken aback he scoffed, 

“An education?” looking up at him I swallowed hard, 

“I was allowed to sit in on classes as long as I stayed in the far back corner of our daily teachings, I would listen in on what the other children were taught. I was taught about who and what I was and why no other human child in our tribe was allowed to touch or come near me, considering what my kind have done to humans, I don’t understand why they would show me any kindness at all." Groban’s mouth fell open as he stared at me in complete shock but quickly composed himself as he cleared his throat, 

“Well Laya, you now belong to me and I say you will eat what I give you,” turning to pick up the bag of blood he ripped it at the top and started pouring the darkened liquid into a glass before picking it up and holding it out to me, “Drink,” he finally said. Swallowing hard I stared at the glass and then at him, seeing my reluctance he sighed as he took a step toward me still with the glass stretched out in front of him. He was right in front of me now staring intently at me, “I don’t like repeating myself,” he said in a darkened voice. Staring down at the contents of the blood before me I slowly took a whiff as I closed my eyes, my body was betraying me as I instantly felt my canine teeth begin to extend. Gasping I quickly covered my hand over my mouth as my eyes widened in shock, Groban half narrowed his eyes as he stared at me, but I took a step back as my eyes hit the floor,

“I’ll just eat the sand which,” I said with uncertainty in my voice. Sighing loudly he turned and walked back to the kitchen table as he placed the glass down, picking up the plate he turned to face me as a seriousness came over him,

“You can’t avoid drinking human blood forever Laya, and I won’t allow you to feed on rats, understand!?” nodding I swallowed hard as I looked down,

“Tell me you understand,” looking back up at him I sighed, 

“I understand, Groban,” I answered as I fisted my hands by my sides in frustration. Smirking he handed me the plate and walked past me as he left the room, slamming the front door as he did so. I flinched as I stared at the plate in my hands, how was I going to avoid drinking human blood when blood was something my body needed and he wouldn’t let me feed on rats.