Seventeen

“He's just a vampire, but because he was born to humans, his whole body has life.

- But -

“Before you ask my age, how I'm alive and whether diseases and those things that kill humans can hurt me, the answer is no. I am immortal and tougher than others of our kind.

"So that tree and the fire...

“Nothing, nothing happens, I just get hurt, but soon my skin heals. Only one thing in this world could kill me, and it's already extinct.

"He?"

"If you're unique, does that mean only you can transform others too?"

"You can do this if you want!"

"It didn't work with the nurse..."

"How many are there?" -I'm curious.

"If you're going to ask me that many questions, I'll at least get a drink!" -he turns his back and goes to a small cart filled with drinks, which is near a window. -Accepted? -he offered pouring a Mendis Coconut Brandy, in the glass.

- Thanks! I decline, sitting back down.

“The world calls us vampires, pests, darklings, parasites, and even bats. -he walks over with his expensive drink in hand and sits down again. -However, those names and their ridiculous stories do not reveal even half of what we really are.

"Wow, I guess that means I don't have to sleep in a coffin!"

— We were many! she revealed. -Known, respected -

— Feared! she added.

“In the beginning I changed many men, men who created their own lineage, as did I. But in the face of some events, I spent decades without transforming anyone, until for some reason fate led me to you.

"Countless men have been turned, but only four women in the entire world have the blood of the first vampire!"

— VICENT! - scolds him again.

Vicent could do theater, it's amazing how he knows how to act and make a simple thing become mega stimulating in a remarkable way.

"Am I fourth?"

— And how does it work, how do I transform someone?

— Mila... -he doesn't like the idea.

"What happened, huh?"

- Huh? -like Piter, he also finds it strange. -What does "uh" mean?

— It can mean many things, such as: astonishment, surprise, admiration, irritation. It's well used in an ironic sense too!

He puts his hand on his face and laughs without letting out a sound, shaking his head like he thinks it's different and funny.

"Especially coming from a Queen!"

- Tell me! - I ask again.

— You don't need to know that, you don't want that weight in your life!

"It didn't seem like it was that hard for you!" -debauchery.

"Again, I saved your life!"

"What if one day I need to save someone?" -weigh your conscience.

Benjamin "Why does she have to be so stubborn?"

- Okay! -he gives in. -To transform a human, first he needs to be alive. There's no way the transition can happen if he's dead or something. It's crucial that he takes his blood before we inject our venom-

- Poison? - the hindrance.

"Yes, but like I said, in time you'll learn to control it!"

"But that doesn't stop you from explaining it to me!" -debate.

— All vampires have a poison in their bite, it serves both to kill and to transform as well. And with good training you will learn to feed yourself without releasing that poison, using it only to defend yourself. That's why -

- The doctor I killed... - I'll get right to what I'm most interested in. -Was it because of that poison?

“Being a vampire isn't so simple, Mila! - he replied a little irritated. -Has the control issues, the emotions. You killed her because she released her venom and still sucked you whole.

I went from murder to murder in a few days.

"I want you to stay and allow me to teach you to understand your instincts, learning to use your abilities responsibly."

— Oops! - I stop him from finishing and wrinkle my forehead. -Do you want me to stay here? -debate with an "impossible" tone. -But what about my house, my people, my obligations? -I make him uncomfortable. -I can't throw everything up as if it were nothing and focus exclusively on that! -I affirm highlighting my new "origin".

— "That" and what you are now, it's not just anything! - she warned. -You are different, different from the others and I need to have you close to understand your power, and see how far it goes.

- I am really sorry! I stand up with a serious expression. -Vicent, can you show me where the bathroom is?

— Poss —

"Did you hear what I said?" -he stands up like a hard and reinforced wall. -Do you understand what you're capable of and the horrible things that can happen if you don't have proper training?

"I understand, but still, I'd rather learn on my own!"

“Power like yours can put our entire species and even others in danger. Are you sure you want this?

"Others?"

"I don't even know if I want to be like this!" - I say sadly.

- So stay! he insisted in his firm voice.

"I have a husband Benjamin, and he's the only one who 'still' orders me around!"

"There!"

He takes a deep breath and turns to Vincent.

"Take her back to the palace!" she asked. -But first, give her other clothes!

"Follow me, Mila!" He walks through the door and I follow without looking back.

When I cross the two-meter wood, I come across a long and luxurious corridor, displaying five large paintings on its walls.

As I walked, those paintings displayed the most valuable works in the world. My eyes widened each time I got closer to the next oddities, discovering that the first vampire actually also owned the first paintings of man. They being relics and sought after throughout the land.

"A-are they real?" - perplexed stammer.

"Yes, all five!" she confirmed.

"But what about those in museums?"

"Guys, is this all a scam?"

“Fakes! - he assumed without worrying.

“You steal the most valuable works in the world and display them like this, quietly?

- To steal? he repeated sarcastically. -Why would my master steal something when the painters themselves looked for him personally to present him with the paintings?

"WHAT?"

"Did Benjamin know each of these artists personally?"

— Not only did you meet, but you got to live with one of them!

"My God!"

"Does Thomas know about these paintings?"

As greedy as he is, I'm sure he doesn't know.

"What about museums, do they know about this?"

"Do you always ask so many questions like this?" -He gets upset. -Looks like a five year old!

"Our!"

"Have you ever been told how thick you are?" I say and turn my back to him, rolling my eyes.

"See, another question again..." He lets out a laugh and follows me down the hall.

While I'm thinking I know where the bathroom is, I can't help noticing how the decor of the place is totally different from anything I've ever seen.

Unlike my husband who grew up in a classic palace full of riches, Benjamin lives isolated near the forest, in a modern and spacious house. Huge glass windows occupied much of the house, mixed with wood and nature. From the outside it was already possible to be impressed by the luxury, but from the inside it was even more shocking.

"Will he mind if I ask one more question?"

I walk and look back real quick. That shy look that the eyes make very evident of how they are filled with drama, begging the other to fall into their trap just so that the silence ends and their mouth can come loose.

"I'll look again!"

I turn around with a face like an abandoned dog and face him feeling that a fit of laughter is about to start. When I realize I'm going to lose my composure, I look back to the front listening to the butler chuckle.

"I'm sure he's making fun of me behind my back!"

— Mila... -he says my name, knowing that just that little word would release me from my agony.

- Hey! I land on the floor instantly and turn to face him. -What it was?

He laughs again.

- Question! -he spoke. -Ask me what you want to know!

"Oh my God!"

I don't jump or squirm, but my lips curl into a very childlike smile.

- Serious? - I speak with all the happiness in the world.

- Hurry up!

— Tell me more about him...please...

I fill him with questions and we don't even pay attention to the time, or how we hated each other five minutes ago.

On the way to the palace I could only think of one thing.

"Thomas!"

From afar, illuminated by the rays of the rising sun, I see that Piter is waiting for me at the entrance. I believe that by this time, Benjamin has already organized everything for my return, inventing good lies.

— Mila! -he comes towards me all happy.

— Hey, Peter! - I close the car door and look at him without interest.

- How it feels? -He asked. -You are -

- We can talk later? - I cut it, broaching it completely. -I really need to talk to Thomas!

"He's in a meeting and asked not to be interrupted by your arrival!" - he answered me without understanding my insensitivity.

"Oh, did he?" - I'm ironic. -I don't know why that doesn't surprise me!

“It's better that—” he starts to say, but I ignore him by walking right past him. -MILA! - He shouted at me, going after me. -What are you doing?

"By entering my house, may I?" -I'm rude without interrupting my steps.

- Don't do that! -he keeps following me seeing that we were going straight to the meeting room.

"Leave me alone, Peter!"

I follow without looking back, my heels clicking hard against the floor. If Thomas saw me now, he was going to say death was coming for him.

I reach the living room door and open it brutally with both hands without worry. The three investors next to my husband, their eyes widened confused with my attitude.

— Mila? - is frightened by my presence.

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