Eliot stared at her, barely able to breathe.
The silver-haired girl sat calmly on the edge of the bed, swirling a glass of something dark red. Her pale legs swung slightly over the mattress, as if none of this was strange.
"You're finally awake," she said, smirking.
"Took you long enough."
He tried to sit up, but a jolt of pain shot through his neck. His hand instinctively touched the sore spot.
She noticed. "Don't worry, you didn't lose too much. I controlled myself… eventually."
His chest tightened. "You… bit me."
"I did." Her tone was casual.
"To save us both."
His breath caught as the memory flooded back. The rooftop. The monster. Her collapsing. Her bite. The way her wound healed.
She must've read the confusion on his face.
"That thing was a feeder demon," she explained.
"It latches onto rooftops and waits for prey to wander close. Nasty ones. I was already drained when I ran into it. If I hadn't found you…"
"You would've died," Eliot said, trying to stand.
His vision blurred, and he collapsed back onto the pillows.
"Easy," she said, leaning closer.
"You're not like normal humans. Your blood is special, intoxicating, that is why I want you."
He swallowed. "I don't want to be 'something'."
"Well, too late."
She stood and stretched.
"Monsters are real, Eliot. Vampires, demons, ghosts. Things that hunt in shadows. You just happened to fall into it."
"I didn't ask for this."
"No one ever does."
She handed him a warm cup of tea. Her movements were fluid, confident, almost lazy.
"Drink. It'll help you recover faster."
Eliot hesitated, then took a sip. The warmth traveled down his chest and relaxed the ache in his limbs.
"I want to make a pact," she said suddenly, sitting across from him.
"A familiar bond allows our souls to be bonded together on some kind of agreement between both of us."
"No," Eliot replied instantly.
Selena blinked. "No?"
"I'm not useful," he said, voice tightening.
"You said it yourself, I was just there. I'm not strong, or brave, or special. I was thrown away before I even had a chance. I'm broken. I don't have anything to offer."
She stared at him.
"...You really believe that?"
He looked down at the floor, throat tight.
Suddenly, she was beside him. Her arms wrapped around him in a gentle hug.
"I don't care what the world said to you," she whispered.
"You're still here. That's enough."
The dam cracked.
Hot tears blurred his eyes, and before he could stop himself, he buried his face in her shoulder and cried. Quiet, trembling sobs that he hadn't let out in years. She didn't say anything else. She just held him. And for once, he let someone hold him.
Later, when the tea was gone and the tears had dried, she stood and pulled out a glowing silver charm.
"Now," she said, more softly,
"Let's make a pact?"
Eliot nodded.
She placed the charm between them and whispered something ancient and melodic. The air shimmered, and light wrapped around them like a second skin.
The moment it ended, Eliot felt it, a pulse in his chest. A link. A warmth that wasn't his alone.
Selena looked pleased.
"It's done. You're my familiar now."
"Great," he mumbled.
She laughed. "Don't worry, I won't make you wear a collar or anything. Yet."
As night fell, Eliot stepped out of the shower in a borrowed towel and padded into the hallway. The apartment was too big. Every room looked expensive, like it belonged in a magazine. It was the first time he'd ever walked barefoot on marble.
Selena was already in a tank top and shorts, brushing her hair on the living room couch.
"Hey," she said,
"Are you good now?"
"Yeah. Mostly."
"Then let's head to bed."
She walked toward the spare room.
Eliot followed until she stopped in front of his door.
She turned around.
"So, which bed are we using?"
He froze. "What?"
"We just forged a soul-binding blood pact. Kinda intimate. Might as well sleep together."
"No. Nope. No way."
Her eyes narrowed, playful.
"Why not? It will be fun, don't act shy with me."
"You're a girl. I'm a guy. I'd rather not make this even more complicated."
Selena gave a dramatic sigh.
"You're such a gentleman. Fine, we'll sleep separately... for now."
She opened the guest room door for him.
"But if you get nightmares, my door is open."
Eliot muttered under his breath and walked in.
As he lay down, he realized it was the softest bed he'd ever touched. Clean sheets. Quiet air. No screaming. No rats in the wall. No cold floor.
Just comfort.
He didn't deserve this.
And yet, here he was.
The next morning, Eliot stood at the school gate, tie loose, bag slung over his shoulder. He still hadn't figured out how to explain why he hadn't gone home the night before. His classmates would find something new to mock him for, no doubt.
Then he heard heels behind him.
He turned.
Selena stood there in a pristine school uniform, tie perfect, hair sparkling in the morning sun. Her red eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Yo," she said, grinning.
"Miss me?"
"What… are you wearing?"
"School uniform."
"You…?"
"I transferred," she said, lifting a folder.
"Surprise. Now we can be together every day. Isn't that great?"
Eliot groaned.
"You're going to ruin my life."
"I plan to make it interesting."
She hooked her arm through his and led the way inside, her smile as sharp as her fangs.
He sighed, already regretting everything.
But deep inside, for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel completely alone.