I was...counfused more than scared.
She just observed my expression for a while, and I stared back, looking for what caused her shadow to disappear.
Was it a trick? Was it her position under the lamp?
I searched but couldn't find anyhting noe matter which angle I looked.
"Lily."
It was Taylor's voice, and it didn't sound too far.
Lily didn't respond, and kept staring at me, but I saw a hint of uncertainty behind those eyes.
I counted thirteen seconds before the call came again.
This time, she turned around. "If you want to know, follow me."
She just threw that invitation before leaving me alone with my thoughts and fear.
Even after she left, I just stood there without moving.
I stood there for what felt like forever, trying to make sense of it, if there was a hidden explanation.
But no matter hhow much I twisted my imagination, there wasn't one.
She had no shadow.
And she had just told me she wasn't alive.
My heart continued to pound violently.
She doesn't have a shadow, she's not alive...what is she?
I pieced together all the things I've read or seen about supernatural creatures.
Undead?
Ghosts?
Vampires?
I felt like I was being fed clues little by little. It was odd that her touch was cold, and I blamed it on the weather, but now...that wasn't the case.
And also...it would only make sense for them to know so much about the supernatural, since they belonged to such existences themselves.
It also made much more sense the way Lily thereatened me, when she thought I was something else.
"It", she said.
Then...
"...suck him dry."
"Vampires."
My mind realised it, and saying it out loud solidified my thoughts.
They're vampires.
I had never felt more in danger than that moment. I had thoughts of running, escaping, but before i took a step, a thought was planted in my mind.
If they were really such creatures, would I be allowed to leave after discovering their secrets?
I was in danger, and i had no choice but to go towards the danger.
Maybe walking into the eye of the storm will be safer...
I looked at where she headed to, and forced my body to go there.
A minute or two should have been enough for me to get there, but it took me more than ten minutes to reach there.
It was a pavilion, and under the complex structure, four chairs surrounded a table.
Taylor and Lily each took a chair, and four cups were placed on the table. The place was set up, as if he knew I would come.
Lily had a coat over her shoulders, maybe Taylor didn't like her exposing too much skin, or it was her decision.
"Take a seat, you like tea, right?" Taylor offered.
I stood there, and instead of replying or sitting, I looked down under Lily's chair.
The light stretched the chadow of her chair behind, but it was empty. Just like before, her shadow was nonexistent.
I glanced at Taylor's chair, and my fear was heightened. He was no different from Lily, and had no shadow.
Taylor smiled politely. "Is something the matter?"
Is something the matter?
That sounded like a joke.
Lily folded her arms over her chest, glanced at me, then looked at Taylor.
"He knows." She was very calm, and Taylor turned to her.
"Knows? What?"
"He noticed, so I told him about us, stop acting." Despite her words, she was still calm, nad Taylor still smiled.
Maybe it was my imagination again, but I might have seen his smile fade slightly.
"What do you want from him?" Lily asked, leaning forward.
Once again, the smie faded slightly, then he chhuckled.
"So Christopher is learning our truth?"
"Your truth?" I repeated, but none of them looked at me.
Lily rested her chin on the back of her palm. "You knew this would happen."
"But you decided to reveal it to him," he said calmly.
"You brought him here," she countered.
They stared at eawch other, and as the silence stretched, I found myself looking down again, searching for something I would never find.
The light stretched the shadows around.
The table had one, the chairs had one, even the cups had one. I had one also, but...
I checked Lily's and Taylor's Father and daughter remained existent and nonexistent at the same time.
I checked again and again, yet there was nothing.
I heard Taylor sigh.
"Looking for our shadows, Christopher? I should have noticed the first time."
I looked up, and his eyes met mine.
Once again, I was in the school, and it was my first time meeting him, as a stranger.
Just that this time, he wasn't a strange person, but a strange creature.
I rem,ained silent. What could I say? I glanced down again.
"Even if you searched for an eternity, that won't make them appear."
Lily leaned back again. "You're making it worse."
"Perhaps." He took the teapot and poured tea into three cups.
It was so casual, it disturbed me. Why was he acting as if we weren't discussing something imp[ossible? As if two people without shadows was no differend from breathing.
He slid a cup closer.
"Sit," he commanded.
I pulled a chair stiffly, and sat.
"Christopher." He was still calm.
"Breathe," and as if I was now reminded about the basic act of survival, I inhaled, now realizing I'd been holding my breath.
"I imagine you have many questions."
Many?
That word felt inadequate.
Ineedwe answers, explanations, and for someone to tell me I wasn't losing my mind.
Instead, I found myself asking only one thing
It was the simplest question anyone could ask among all possible questions, yet it was the one that frightened me most.
I looked at Lily, who indifferently took a cup and sipped, then at Taylor, who seemed eager to know my reaponse, and finally forced the words out.
"What are you?"