The Vampire's Coveted Nectar

Chapter 7 : Truths Uncovered

After a several-hour-long nap, I quickly fix my hair in my ponytail and peek my head into the hall. Well, no one has come to murder me yet. I guess this is a good sign?

Feeling emboldened, I step out and make my way back to the kitchen, hoping to find something.

"Ah, I see you're awake, Ms. Kaids." James smiles, casually frying a few eggs. "Would you care for some breakfast?"

"I thought it was dinner time." I yawn and rub my eyes.

James chuckles and shakes his head. "No, it's early morning now. You'll eventually get used to telling time without the aid of windows. Well, here you go. Is there anything else you want for breakfast?"

I shake my head and poke at the eggs and toast he slid gracefully onto my plate.

"No? Not even something to drink?"

"You got coffee?" That is coffee I smell, right?

James smiles brightly and pours me a large cup. "There, how are you feeling this morning, Ms. Kadis?"

"Overwhelmed and exhausted. And please stop calling me 'Ms. Kadis'. Hemera is fine. So, what exactly do you do for Nia? I'm shocked to find you cooking in his kitchen when you also answered the phones at Zeanon Enterprises. Then you were supposed to interview me, and again, yesterday, you were holding up that umbrella for him like he was a lazy prince. Like, what don't you do for him? Please tell me you draw the line somewhere."

James ponders my questions for a moment while he sips his own mug of coffee. "I suppose to put it simply, I am his proxy. He's busy most of the day and cannot take care of many minor things during the day, so I take care of it for him. With our jobs being so close together, we've gotten close, and Nia considers me a close advisor. My husband and I actually live in the house above this subterranean mansion with our two cats."

"His proxy, huh..." I mumble. "So I guess Nia isn't around, then?"

James hesitates for a moment before shaking his head.

I raise a brow at his slight change but don't press him on details. We sit in relative silence while we finish our meal. After I hand James the dirty dishes, I go around the island to the fridge.

"Hey, sorry, but is there any orange juice?" I go to open the fridge as I speak.

"Wait, don't--" James snaps, but he can't stop me before I open it to find it overflowing with packs of blood.

I would say that I jumped back and screamed, but I'd be lying. Even after a couple fell out, I didn't move.

Instead, I merely stand there rooted to the ground. James hesitantly comes over, picks up the fallen blood packs, and closes the fridge after stuffing the back in.

"Hemera?"

"Why in the flying f*ck are there dozens of blood packs in the fridge?" I whisper.

"Um," James clears his throats and sighs. "They are for Nia to consume. He can't eat human food and get their nutrients, so Nia and others like him drink blood. If it makes you feel better, it's all animal blood. I get it at a great discounted price at various butcher shops."

I can't help but laugh, and my feet start carrying me back, only stopping when I bump into the island. "Oh, no, you are not saying what I think you're saying."

"Hemera, why do you think I was so diligent in making sure the sun didn't hit him? Why do you think I live in the house above? Nianor Zeanon is a vamp--"

I throw out my hands and shake my head. "Don't even say that!"

James c***s his head to the side and says, "What? Vampire? Why shouldn't I state what he is? He isn't human, Hemera."

"Oh god, you said that." I groan and press my palms to my forehead as I sink to the ground.

"Hemera, are you alright?" James asks as he gently touches my shoulder.

I let out another laugh. Why am I shocked? I'm a witch and have been thinking about studying to work with deities. Why am I surprised vampires are real? I suppose if James is to be believed, they don't drink human blood.

"Oh, I'm fine!" My voice is strained from its high pitch. "It's all fine."

"I know it's shocking, but you're alright-"

Before he can finish speaking, I yank the collar of his shirt and drag his face down, so we're eye-to-eye. He yelps from the sudden movement. "Oh, don't you dare tell me it's all okay. Tell me, my old workplace--Luther Orsova is also a vampire, isn't he?"

"Uh, well, yes, actually. The Orsova clan are bitter rivals to the Zeanon clan." James tries to remove my hand, but I keep a tight hold on him.

"Let me guess, the only reason any of you care about me is because of my blood, isn't it? They're all sick of animal blood, aren't they?"

James' eyes widen, and he finally manages to break free. He straightens his shirt and leans back a little but keeps on the same level.

"Um, yes to your first question, no to your second. Vampires are content drinking animal blood. It's less clean-up work, and it's easier for them to blend in with humans. I'm shocked you pieced this all together so quickly," he comments as he adjusts his glasses with a scowl.

"With how many blood drives they did and how different I felt after compared to charity blood drives at the local clinic, it wasn't that hard to put together," I grumble.

"Hemera, I know this is all very confusing, and it's a lot to take in right now. I get it. I was once in a similar place. However, I assure you that Nia has zero intentions of harming you. We truly just want to help you."

"What do you guys even want my blood for?"

"No one is quite sure why, but your blood allows vampires to walk in daylight temporarily, and it also allows them to consume human food. Most don't care about the latter, but the former is something that many have sought after for centuries."

"So Nia just wants to use me, doesn't he? Sure, he may not hurt me, but he's just going to keep me here and milk me for my blood, isn't he?"

James gives me a pained look but shakes his head. "I won't lie, I'm unsure what his true intentions are, but I do know that Nia would not force you into a cage and milk you per se. However, there is a significant dispute among vampires at the moment, and the Orsovas and the Zeanons are fighting to get on top of the hierarchy."

"And he doesn't want them to have me," I grumble again as I pick myself up and head over to an actual chair.

"Nia doesn't particularly care about such social standings. He's part of a large family, so he doesn't need to play a prominent role in this fight."

I don't respond.

When silence reigns for a few seconds, James checks his watch before turning into what I assume to be a pantry. He comes out a minute later with a large bottle of wine and places it down in front of me.

He then grabs a large wine glass and puts it down next to the bottle.

"I figured you'd want to be drunk while mulling this over. I'm afraid I must get started on the day. I cannot take a day off. Nia is asleep until the sun sets, so you'll be by yourself. Good day, Hemera." James dips his chin as he departs.

I stare at the glass and bottle for a long time. I feel like I should be offended. But he also isn't wrong. I'm not usually a day drinker, but I have no other outlets without any of my belongings.

So why not wallow and stew all day until I can confront Nia?

Ugh, do I even want to do that?