Elfrea
"I'm glad you are safe," Alea said, and a wide smile instantly spread across my face.
With a swift motion, I open the door for her to enter the cabin and step back, letting her have space as she walks in. Uncertainty lingered about how much distance to keep after last night, but looking at Alea now, relaxation seemed to settle over her.
"My father was full of surprises, and this cabin seems to be one of them. Given its longevity without any damage, I expect that when it was built, the builder added a spell to the cabin for protection. Everything inside also stayed preserved; it's just very dusty inside." I told her.
Alea walks farther into the cabin, moving to the small wood fireplace that has a small two-person couch in front of it. She opens it up and checks the inside.
"This looks like it should be safe to use tonight," Alea says.
She then points in the direction of the kitchen and asks, "Does the kitchen stove and sink work?"
Crossing the small space to the sink, another surprise greeted me: clear, cold water flowed from the faucet. I shut the water off and I go rummaging through the cabinets, unearthing a few rags, pots, and pans. There were even plates and cups that would be fine after a quick wash. Only dust and leftover ash from its last use covered the stove.
Alea had joined me in going through the cabinets. I watched as she pulled out the largest pot she could find and placed it in the sink, along with a wooden spoon and a cooking knife.
"I can use all of this to cook the deer meat," Alea said with glee. A smile spread across her face, her cheek dimples showing.
Her smile quickly dropped as she moved to step outside the cabin.
"It's already too dark," She whines.
I walked outside with her out of fear that a feral could suddenly attack. I didn't want what happened last night to happen again. I focus my hearing on looking for any suspicious sounds. If I heard the sudden snapping of branches and leaves, I wasn't going to hesitate.
"I can rush and grab your things," I say.
Not giving Alea a chance to respond, I focus on my legs and run into the forest on my way to the manor. The added strength the deer's blood had given me was still coursing through me. I felt much faster as the trees blew past me, making it feel as if everything around me had slowed to a halt.
At the manor, I head into the study where I knew Alea kept everything. Her cloak lay on the lounge chair. The deer meat she had cut sat upon some of the books. Alea's bag was tucked carefully underneath the study desk.
I began to grab Alea's cloak, throwing it around myself. Alea's smell was forced into my nose, and I inhaled her scent. It felt as if she had her arms tightly wrapped around me. I had to pull myself from the thought and continued to grab her belongings.
I swung Alea's bag over my shoulder and turned to grab the meat. Suddenly, I hear a whoosh behind me. It wasn't from the window. Turning, I see a sealed letter and a rectangular box inside the carved symbols. The letter and box hadn't been lying on the desk when I had entered the study.
This must be from Alea's friend. I think while picking up the letter and box, I stick them into her bag. I wanted to ask Alea more about herself, but I wouldn't invade her privacy.
So I left the manor wanting to be back with Alea and the safety of the cabin. I giggled to myself at the thought of living alongside Alea. She seemed to forgive me after I licked at her blood. So maybe I could get closer? It will definitely prove difficult when my mind suddenly drifts off and I think about how wonderfully sweet it had tasted.
When I arrived at the cabin, I could see candlelight flickering behind the thick curtains. Just as I reach the door, Alea is already opening the door with another wide smile on her face. This scene makes a smile instantly grow on my face, seeing her so happy.
"Just in time, I got the stove going and a warm fire to warm the place up," Alea says, taking the meat from my hands.
I wash my hands at the sink before taking the bag from my shoulders.
"I will put these in your room," I say. I head to Alea's room, setting the bag and cloak down on the small wood dresser.
Her room was the same as mine, small with one bed big enough for two, it took up most of the room, and a small dresser with a mirror in the corner.
I heard the sounds of water running and fire crackling throughout the cabin. Since Alea would be busy making herself food, I went ahead and started to peel the blanket and sheets from the bed. Taking a blanket at a time with me outside, I do my best to smack out most of the dust and dirt. One by one, I go from outside back to the bedroom, finishing up with the pillows. I made the bed before heading to the kitchen, where I thought I had seen a straw broom.
Walking into the kitchen, I see Alea standing at the cooking stove stirring contents in a pot. The smell of cooking meat filled the cabin with a wonderful smell. I didn't have the feel for regular food anymore, but the smell had me wanting a bite.
"Our luck just keeps getting better. I cleaned out the cold box and found it worked once fueled with magic. Now I don't have to speed eat through the deer." Alea says her face is still grinning from ear to ear.
"Your room is ready, and I left your bag in the room. Before I left, something came through the magic circle. I put it inside the bag," I say to her. Hearing this, she immediately stepped away from the food and headed to her room.
I stepped over to the pot and continued to slowly stir the contents until Alea returned. The news of the letter seemed to throw her off, taking away her sudden enjoyment. I found I didn't like the idea of anything or anyone taking away her happiness.
She soon emerged from her room with her hand rubbing her forehead. I leave the stove and walk over to her.
"Everything alright?" I ask.
She then gives me a tight smile. I resist the urge to wrap my arms around her and hug her tight.
"The box held some clothes I can share with you," Alea says.
"The letter, however, says that someone will be here tomorrow," she adds.
The thought of someone else being around scared me a bit. I was starting to realize that the more I stayed around Alea, the more I wanted her all to myself. I had to fight this selfishness; I wouldn't keep Alea from her friends. Even if it would lead to her leaving sooner rather than later.
"I have to pass something off to them, and it will unfortunately be at sunset. They shouldn't be staying after. So the plan is to meet them at the manor, and then I will head back here once they leave. You don't have to be around, though it might be better if you stay here. Most witches don't like vampires." Alea says. After she says this, her green eyes widen as she puts both hands up, shaking her head.
"Not that you have to hide, I was just thinking it might be less awkward," She then blurts out.
Her face a bright red reaching to her ears, Alea rushes to the pot, facing away from me. I slowly walk up behind her. I lift my arm. My hand stretched out, ready to lightly touch her shoulder. I stop for a moment, not knowing if Alea would be fine with me touching her. Before the ferals had shown up, she had leaned in, and we were going to kiss. I was sure of it.
I decided I was going to try and continue the gesture and lightly placed my fingers on her shoulder. Alea didn't flinch or move away from my touch; she actually leaned into it.
"Food's done," Alea moves to put the stove's small flame out. Then grabs a bowl that was on the counter and fills it with her food. I sit down at the small kitchen table, watching as she happily eats her meal.
"Alea, I will stay here while your friend is here. I could also stay hidden in the area on the lookout for any ferals." I say to her.
She looks up at me and replies, "I won't stop you from doing either or even show yourself. We are just on edge around vampires, and I don't know how they will react. I have only worked with Cole once, right before I arrived at the manor. He might attack you."
So this wasn't actually a friend but more of a colleague. I thought about the piece of information she had just given me.
"Is he a witch?" I then ask, hoping that it wasn't going to cross a line. It was growing difficult to tiptoe around what I could ask that wouldn't make Alea back away.
Instead, she answers me, "He is."
We slipped into silence as Alea went back to eating. I decide to switch the conversation to me. I still needed to tell her about the strange magic I had felt.
"Last night, when I was fighting the feral, I had felt something similar to when I used magic."
Alea looks up at me with wide eyes filled with curiosity.
"I had my hand pressed against it, trying to push the creature away from me, when I felt it travel to my palm. Then I feel as if it left my palm and went through the feral's torso. I haven't tried replication it since I didn't speak anything; it was all emotion."
"I truly am lucky you decided to be on my side," Alea says. She starts to laugh.
"There are only a few noble vampires that have some gift, and they are the king and his close circle." She then tells me.
Alea gets up to clean her used bowl and spoon. Then she moves the pot into the cold box to save.
"Even if I learn to use the power, I will remain by your side," I say. Then realized I said by her side and not on her side.
Alea only smiled as I said she, then let out a yawn and stretched. Alea then heads to the small wood stove to refresh it with some wood.
"Where did that come from?" I ask, pointing at the stack of firewood.
"In the small basement was a whole winter stash that also remained perfectly dry. Whoever built this place was a master and very powerful." She informs me.
I move to sit on the small couch in front of the small stove as she refreshes the fire. Surprisingly, as she walks over to sit with me. I shift over, giving her room to sit down. The space between us was very small, our thighs slightly touching.