Civil Twilight

Chapter 6

Lyllian drifted in and out of sleep over the next several hours, with her condition progressively improving. The fevers no longer returned, the blue tint to her lips was gone, and her eyes ceased to be traced with red. Her breathing remained even and gradually she became cognizant of her surroundings. Groggily, she sat up and then froze when she saw the vampyre sitting next to the bed. He stared at her intently in contemplation, obviously perturbed.

“How are you feeling?” he asked in silky tones as he tried to disguise the apprehension in his voice.

She stared at him, disconcerted, “I…” she trailed off a moment, unsure if she wanted to respond at all. He looked on patiently, obviously waiting for a response, “I am feeling better, “she responded, slightly confused.

“Good. Now I want an answer – what exactly are you?” he asked the question slowly, enunciating each word.

“I’m sorry?” she was bewildered.

Abruptly he stood up, “I want an answer! What are you?”

“I don’t understa-“

“Just answer the question terran.”

“I don’t want to talk to you,” she spat.

“Don’t want to talk to me?! You would be a rotting corpse now if it wasn’t for me!” he said as he began pacing the room, stalking the floors like an enraged animal.
Like a hunter she thought as she gaped at him with sudden consternation. “I don’t understand…what-?”

“You are not asking the questions right now, I am,” he desisted his pacing and stood at the head of the bed, staring at her in such a way it sent chords of fear ripping through her, “Right now, I want to know what the hell you are.”

“What am I? I don’t understand,“ she was becoming increasingly discombobulated, her vision becoming blurry as she continued, “I don’t know what it is you want from me!”

She didn’t even perceive him advance towards her, all she knew was unexpectedly he was seated next to her, firmly seizing her wrist and glaring at her threateningly. The look of a predator she thought as terror began to spread through her as she desperately tried to wretch herself free.

“Calm down,” he was still holding her wrist, “All I want is answers.”

“I don’t know what answers you want!” she was almost hysterical.

Gently, he stroked the inside of her wrist with his thumb. When he spoke again, his voice was much gentler, like a man trying to calm a scared horse, “I want to know about you, who and what you are.”

“You already know I’m from Sanavin…I don’t know what else you want to know.”

Infuriation crossed his face fleetingly, and he was quiet for several moments as he struggled to re-obtain his composure. When he spoke again, there was a deadly edge to his voice, “If you don’t tell me what you are, I have other ways of discovering the truth,” he grazed his teeth so lightly across the inside of her wrist it nearly tickled, and as he turned his head towards her, she could see his pupils were dilated, the blue completely obscured with black. He noted with satisfaction that it had the intended effect he had desired.

She shivered, “What do you mean?”

He snickered, “When I take someone’s blood, I can see their thoughts, and their memories…I’ll find out everything about you if you don’t want to talk.”

“Don’t you dare…violate me like that. I don’t know what answer you are looking for,” she was trembling now, her face streaked with tears - she was utterly terrified.

Silence stretched on between them for several moments. Finally, taking a deep breath, he let go of her wrist as he tried to keep himself calm and composed, “You answer my questions to my satisfaction, and I won’t resort to more…invasive measures.”

“But I have-“

He held up his hand, gesturing her to be silent. When he spoke again, his voice was calm and gentle, “Let’s start with the first question. What is your name?”

“My name?” she paused for a moment, “Lyllian.”

“Lyllian,” he repeated, letting the foreign name roll off his tongue as if he could taste it. “Where are you from?”

She paused for a moment, trying to get her thoughts together, “Um, Sanavin, but you already know that.”

“Where in Sanavin?”

“Oh. Emberi.”

“The main city?” he seemed surprised, “How old are you Lyllian?”

“12,” she said after taking a deep breath as she continued to try and calm herself.

David was astonished once again, as he was under the impression she was a little older, “I see. What is your family name?”

“My family name?” panic was rising in her voice, fearful of the consequences if she gave him the truth.

“Yes, what is your family name?” he asked neutrally, expecting a response; he sat motionless, scrutinizing her as he waited for an answer. 

Flustered, she fumbled for a name, fearing that if she gave him her real family name it would mean certain death. She said the first name that came to mind – Hugh’s last name. “Its… Astucia.”

He noted she was apprehensive, “Astucia, I have never heard of that family name before. I take it from your hesitation that your family must be involved with the Shastrua.”

“I, um…” she was very uneasy.

“It’s alright. Do you have brothers or sisters?”

“A brother,” she responded truthfully.

“And is he a Mashari?” she bit her lip, hesitant to respond, “I will take that as a yes.” he was quiet for several moments before continuing, “What are you, Lyllian?”

“You’ve asked me this several times. I don’t know what answer you are looking for!” the frustration could clearly be heard in her voice.

“So either you are being deceitful, or you are ignorant of the fact you aren’t entirely human,” he stated.

She looked at him both bewildered and surprised; it took her a few moments to realize what exactly he was saying.  “I am human!” she asserted passionately.

“Not completely,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“I…what are you talking about? I am human! There is nothing else I could be. Look at me! Do you see-“

He was now convinced that she was clearly ignorant of what she was, “Calm down,” his voice was soft and reassuring, “Yes, most people would probably assume you are human; however, anyone that is…more evolved can tell otherwise. I don’t know what you are, and I’m still uncertain how you could have survived in a family involved with the Shastrua without persecution. You look human enough but your scent is different, and even your energy is different from that of a terran, and I’m sure they would have sensed that.”

“Then maybe you aren’t ‘sensing’ me right!” she snapped.

“Oh, I’m sensing you right.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling a chill that wasn’t due to the temperature of the room, “It can’t be true,” she said as she hung her head.

Suddenly he felt sorry for being such an asshole earlier; it was now visibly apparent that she was completely ignorant of what she was. “I’m sorry,” he said genuinely, “Perhaps then it is better, all things considering, that you wound up in my care.”

“And how is it better!”

“Because if you had stayed they would have eventually found you out, I’m astonished they didn’t already. We both know what they would have done to you. Would you have desired such a fate?”

Another shiver ran through her as she considered the honesty of his statement, “No.”

So many emotions were running through her, adding to her earlier confusion. “I…I don’t understand,” she said as her cheeks became wet once more, “Are you being honest with me?” she asked somberly.

“I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”

Lyllian realized that he was speaking the truth, she wasn’t sure how she knew she just did.
He tenderly touched her shoulder, “I’m sorry…” he muttered again.

She sniffled as she tried to wipe away her tears, willing herself not to cry and failing miserably at the attempt.  She stared at the comforter for several moments. Without looking up she asked, “What happened?”

“You nearly died,” he stated flatly.

“I nearly died,” she stated emotionlessly.

“I am not sure what was ailing you; however, whatever was the cause will not be a problem again.”

“You found a cure? You know what it was that was making me ill?” she paid intense interest in whatever he was about to say next.

“We did not discover what was making you unwell. Truth be told, I consulted numerous physicians and none of them could confirm a diagnosis. It was quite vexing.”

“Yet you said it would ‘not be a problem again’, you spoke as if you had given me a cure.”
   
He took a deep breath, “When they brought you up, you were barely breathing.  I watched your condition deteriorate over several hours, nothing the doctors seemed to help,” he ran a hand through his silky strands, “I don’t think you realize how close to dying you were. You terrans are so frail…”

His gaze was far off as he continued, “I watched you struggle for survival, and if I hadn’t intervened you would not be here now.”
               
“Intervened?” she was disconcerted and clearly not understanding what he was speaking of.
               
“I don’t know why I did it, it was uncharacteristic of me, but I gave you some of my life essence to keep you from dying.”
           
“Your life essence?” she said as her eyes grew wide.
             
“My blood. Just a little.”
             
“I drank your blood?!” she asked incredulously, her voice cracking.
               
He looked at her sharply, “I’m not terribly happy about it, but it’s done now.  My blood is sacred; I don’t just share it with anyone. I don’t even know why I gave it to you,” he sounded bitter, “but needless to say, you are indebted to me.”
         
“You have tainted me…”
         
“You were tainted long before you were brought to me. You are welcome, by the way, for saving your life,” he abruptly rose and began walking towards the door.
         
He paused for just a moment, realizing he probably ought to offer an apology for his harsh words, he opened his mouth about to speak when she interrupted him, “Just leave me alone.”




**Author's Notes**
I don’t know if I’m happy with this chapter or not. I’ve written and re-written and re-written it. I’m trying to cram so much character and relationship development into one chapter, while trying not to overdo it or sound cheesy.
Also I'm trying to fix the spacing issue. If you see somewhere where the space is off, feel free to let me know. :)