Page 14 of Taste of Fate

“Unturned humans?” I had so many questions, but the burrito was so damn delicious and I couldn’t stop taking bite after bite. It was hard to talk without my mouth full.

Bea nodded. “Brusang are humans who have been turned by vampires. So we’re a bit of both, but don’t fully fit into one species or the other.”

Since putting food in my stomach, my brain seemed to get better at connecting dots. “Wow, so that has to be where the human-world myth comes from. The one about how vampires are made.”

“Correct. I suspect brusang have tried to integrate back into the human-ruled world in the past, but were ostracized as monsters.” She shrugged and popped another salsa-dipped chip into her mouth. “I’ve never been to the human-only side, but that’s my theory.”

My throat tightened and I took a big gulp of water. “So, is Cyan going to want to turn me?”

Bea stared at me for a moment before her eyes went wide with horror. “Oh Temkra, no! He would never. The turning process is extremely risky and it fails something like fifty percent of the time.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, her gaze lowering to the table. “It’s a um, last resort kind of thing. Most vampires won’t turn a human unless they’re already dying. You could say it’s a last-ditch effort to save a human’s life.”

With how serious her mood turned after being so full of laughter moments ago, I could only surmise that was exactly what happened to her.

“Oh, I see.” Awkwardness settled in. “I’m sorry.”

The corner of her mouth quirked up and she gave a flippant wave of her hand. “It’s fine! I got turned over twenty years ago. Sometimes I forget I was human at all. Then I get a craving for peanut butter or something and it’s like, oh yeah!”

My stomach now felt like it was near bursting, and I leaned away from the table. “Thanks for the food, and explaining things to me. I’m Tavia, by the way.”

“My pleasure, Tavia. You feel like walking off that burrito baby? I figured we could go to the market and you can start getting the lay of the land. You’re welcome to my food of course, but you should probably stock up on groceries for yourself.”

“That sounds good, thanks.” Bea was bubbly and friendly in a way that made me feel at ease. It was hard for me to feel unguarded around anyone besides Amy and Robin, but I could see her being added to that list. “So, do you live here? In this, uh…”

“Mm-hm, I live in the Blood 'til Dawn compound.” She crunched on another chip with a nod. “I’m just across the corridor from you, actually.”

“Are you uh, somebody’s blood pet? I’m sorry if that’s rude to ask, I truly have no idea how things work here.”

“Ah, you’re good, girl. And nope, I’m unclaimed.” Her smile twitched in a way that I didn’t know how to interpret. “Want to digest that deliciousness in your belly first, or you ready to head out?”

I looked down at the single piece of clothing I’d brought with me, the stupid white virgin sacrifice dress Nancy had stuffed me in. At least I didn’t have to die in that hideous thing after all. I wasn’t even a virgin, not that Nancy knew that.

“I would like to explore, but I don’t have any money for groceries,” I admitted. “Or a change of clothes.”

“Oh no, babe! Don’t worry about money.” Bea waved both palms at me with a shake of her head. “All our necessities will get billed to Blood ‘til Dawn. As for clothes, I probably have some things you can borrow for now. But we can go clothes shopping too, if you’re up for it. We’re near some great boutiques.”

“The clan will cover everything?” I stared at her skeptically. “Are you sure?” Cyan certainly could have mentioned that as a perk, but maybe he took it for granted.

“Oh, they’re flush, believe me. And they take care of their people, which is what you are now.”

I never thought I’d see the day I’d be part of a vampire…faction? Extended family? I still wasn’t sure what a clan was.

But, first things first. Groceries and new clothes.

“Alright, then.” I slid out of the barstool, my gaze landing on the clock that now read 5:02. “Is it early morning or afternoon?”

“Morning,” Bea said. “We brusang can function fine in daylight as long as the sun isn’t at its strongest. So I can hang with you until about ten am, then I’m useless until about six pm.”

“Okay, good to know.” I drummed my fingers on the back of the barstool. If it was morning, was Cyan already asleep in bed? Or would he be getting in soon? What was the typical bedtime for vampires? I had so many questions.

“Guess I’ll get cleaned up.” Earlier, I had seen a brand new hairbrush and toothbrushes in Cyan’s spare room, which I probably should start calling my room.

“You do that.” Bea gathered up the food containers as she headed for the door. “I’ll come back with some clothes for you to try on, and then we’ll go out. ‘Kay?”

“Sure, sounds good.”

After brushing my teeth and detangling the mess on my head, I stepped out of the bathroom to find neat stacks of clothes folded on a chair just outside the door. The folded pants and shirts smelled of fabric softener when I held them to my chest. A wave of emotion came over me to the point where I was almost blinking away tears. Bea was being so nice, and I wasn’t used to anyone helping me out this much.

I composed myself quickly, tried on a few different things, and settled on a jeans and T-shirt combo that fit me best. With a final check in the mirror, I figured I was decent enough. Bea was lounging on the couch and glanced up from her phone when I walked out of the bathroom.

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