Page 16 of Stranded with a Wounded Vampire

“Yes.”

“I’m going to get some of the wine.” She stands up and uses the flashlight to move back into the dark kitchen. “Do you want some?”

“No. But this might also impair your decision making.”

“I know, but it will also take away anxiety, considering my car broke down this afternoon, the power is out and I’m stranded here overnight with a Korn suffering from blood frenzy.”

“A Korn who is forbidden from taking a mate. A Korn who legally cannot follow through with blood frenzy.”

“Okay, I’m actually mixing a drink. Are you sure you don’t want some?”

“No. Blood frenzy and alcohol do not mix.”

“Ah, I see. I’ll make you a non-alcoholic drink.”

“Thank you.”

We stay in the dining room for quite some time.

Then we decide to move into the library which is an intimate space. I bank the fire in the dining room. We take all our light sources and the candle into the library. I use the supply of logs and start a fire in the fireplace there. “This I enjoy because we also do this back on Korn. There are indeed many similarities between our two species which is why I feel comfortable on this planet. And in this exact setting it's mountainous but not to the extent as other parts on my own planet. It gets cold but not too cold and it does warm. Although I think it does become warmer than I’m used to in the summer.”

Willow places two different pitchers and two cups of a refreshing, sweet drink for each of us on a small table.

I begin the tradition of Korn in mating blood frenzy, trying to get to know a mate better, by asking her many questions about her childhood. I learn that her father lives in a different city and is no longer mated to her mother and has instead taken on a different legal mate. And my female does not like this new “stepmother.”

“This is exactly why I consider the fact that your species can divorce and have a new mate so disturbing.”

“Sometimes it can be very harmful, but also since we often choose the wrong mate, it’s good to have an out.”

Humans are so very odd.

She tells me stories about how she started her business. And then she even questions me about myself.

I relax in front of the fire.

“Are you going to tell me about what happened? You said you wear more clothing than the typical Korn. Why do you cover yourself?”

I take another large sip of the surprisingly good drink she’s made for me. I look down at my extra layer of clothing. For some reason I feel the need to tell her everything. “I'm wearing my pants, but I'm also wearing a second layer that I always wear. It covers the scars. There are a few on my chest. The deepest scars are on my back and there are some white scars on my arms that can only be seen in a certain light. I cover them because I cannot let any other Korn see my dishonor.”

She doesn't seem to be bothered by my dishonor which is very unusual.

None of the humans have as a matter of fact. This is why I probably have befriended more humans since I arrived than I normally would have. “Steve Banks has always treated me with respect. Since the first moment he came to my house to fix my vehicle, so I did not have to bring it into town. He is also ex-military, a war veteran with a new career.”

She snorts. “He’s nicer to you than he ever has been to me.”

“I haven’t told anyone this story, mainly because they haven’t asked. Everyone believes the story that is told by the Commander.”

Willow turns and meets my gaze.

“I was a pilot in the elite royal force,” I tell her. “It is expected that I will do whatever it takes to save the life of our King. I was honored to be chosen for such a highly coveted position and was ready to place my life before his. I thought we were on a simple mission to escort the King’s ship, but I was engaged in battle by a rogue sect of Korn. I was the only one who was hit and my ship suddenly locked up and changed course. It looked like I ran away and left the King exposed, trying to save my own life. The rogue disappeared but my ship crash landed on the planet.”

“That must’ve been scary, landing like that.”

“I thought I was going to die and all I could think of was my mission, how I wasn’t able to save the King.”

“Was he okay?”

“Yes, the rest of our team tightened formation and fought off the intruder and saved our King.”

---