8

Alexis was stay silent the whole way in Adrian's car. It was Adrian's decision, and yes, to drop off and pick up Alexis to work. One of the things that Adrian is responsible for is Alexis' safety. But when Alexis asked further about her safety, Adrian didn't say much things. He only said that if other vampires found and hurt Alexis, it would be Adrian's most painful regret, for not being able to prevent form that will happening. Although, for Alexis, she herself had absolutely no idea why she could be trust Adrian so easily just like right now. Reminiscing about who Adrian really is. Shouldn't Alexis be afraid and run away. But then again, Alexis herself couldn't explain it either. As if from the first time Adrian bit and sucked her blood that night, a bond had formed, although Alexis couldn't explain it in simple words. The situation that Alexis was feeling right now was a complicated one.

Several times Alexis turned her head towards Adrian who was focused on driving the car. Then she turned her gaze back to the street. Alexis increasingly does not understand the attraction she feels at this time to Adrian. A part of her told her not to just trust Adrian so easily. But another part of her said that Adrian was a good vampire. Or indeed that is the truth that exists for now. On the other hand, Adrian, who had been holding himself back from asking questions, started glancing at Alexis several times. He felt that Alexis had been watching him for a long time.

“What are you thinking right now, Alexis?” Adrian asked as he refocused on the street.

Alexis looked back at Adrian, then sighed slowly. "There isn't any. Just something unimportant.”

"You are sure? You've been looking at me with a certain gaze ever since." Said Adrian once again asked. Because he himself wasn't sure what Alexis was thinking or feeling right now and there.

"Em... where are you taking me home tonight?" Alexis tried to ask. Although that wasn't really what he wanted to ask Adrian right now.

"If you don't mind, will you stay at my castle tonight?" Adrian turned his head briefly to look at Alexis.

"No problem." Alexis answered briefly. Before finally turning his gaze towards the street.

Without another word, Adrian began to steer the car they were driving towards the forest. The location of the castle that became his home is located. Adrian felt strange with his feelings starting to weaken. Whether it's a positive or negative thing. Adrian still can't explain it. But by asking Alexis to stay the night at his castle, his feelings felt like they were shaking. It was as if his long-dead heart was slowly starting to come back to life once again.

***

"Sit over there first. I'll make something for you." Adrian said directing Alexis to sit right on the sofa.

The two of them had just arrived at Adrian's castle. With the quiet and dark atmosphere of the forest surrounding the castle was what directly greeted Alexis there. "Making something?" Alexis asked while walking beside Adrian there.

"Yes. Of course food and drink. Or anything that you want right now. And I'm sure that you must be hungry by now." Adrian answered with a small smile on his face.

Alexis frowned in confusion. "Do you have any ingredients for cooking? Shouldn't vampires have nothing to do with human food needs?" Alexis asked. Because a year, vampires only survive by consuming blood. Whether it's human blood or animal blood though.

Adrian quickly turned his head and looked amused at Alexis. Can't believe what Alexis just asked him just now on right now. "Do you think that vampires only eat humans blood?" Adrian turned to ask.

Innocently, Alexis nodded her head slowly. "Isn't that so? Vampires only eat humans blood… and not human food.” Her words once again explained what she understood in her mind right now.

Before long, Adrian laughed at what Alexis said. Of course, directly making Alexis frown even more there. What's wrong with what I said? Why is Adrian laughing like that? Alexis thought to herself at this moment.

"Gosh, Alexis. Of course vampires don't just eat blood. And don't speculate about what the movies say about vampires. We consume blood because we need it to survive, if we don't consume blood for a certain period of time, we will suffer until we die. And of course that is the most painful way to die as a vampire. In addition, we can still eat and drink with things that humans normally consume. But without drinking human blood, for a vampire it's like starving to death." Adrian explained long enough.

Raising her eyebrows, Alexis no longer felt confused there. “Does that mean you can still eat cake, drink hot chocolate and stuff? I mean, this morning you gave me a sandwich and milk… did you make it too?” Alexis asked again.

Adrian nodded his head with a big smile on his face. "Yes, I made it for you. And of course, vampires can consume those things. Although as time goes on, we will surely lose our human tastebuds more and more. And I can't even taste anything else by myself, other than the taste of human blood of course.”

“Was that one of the reasons how much you wanted to drink my blood that day?” Alexis started to get up the courage to ask. There is no more feeling of fear and worry when you are near Adrian now. Maybe it happened, because Alexis subconsciously began to trust Adrian.

The question said by Alexis clearly made Adrian speechless. Alexis doesn't know the truth yet. About her blood which is the pure blood of vampire hunters. Even if Alexis found out, she probably wouldn't be able to accept it. She is too weak for being in fight with the wild vampires. Because her life would be even more in danger. And I can't let that happen. Adrian's mind spoke. Slowly, Adrian nodded his head. “Yes… that is one of the reasons.” Adrian muttered at last.

***

"I still can't sleep right now. I’m not feeling sleepy at all." Said Alexis for the umpteenth time.

Right now she and Adrian were still in the living room area inside the castle. Holding a glass of hot chocolate made by Adrian earlier, Alexis looked at Adrian. Likewise with Adrian who also holds a glass of hot chocolate for himself. “You have a morning class, Alexis. Of course, you need some sleep right now.” Adrian answered the same since the first time Alexis said that she still couldn't sleep there.

Alexis rolled her eyes there, then sighed. "Do vampires need sleep too?" Alexis was very curious about the life of a vampire. Throughout the lectures on the mythology course, there are not many things that can be discussed about the habits possessed by vampires.

“To sleep... we don't really need it. Because we basically don't sleep, Alexis. But, we prefer to close our eyes and just relax a little bit.” answered Adrian explained.

Alexis drank a little hot chocolate from the glass in her palms. “That day, when I threw garlic… why didn't you weaken? Mr. Joylon once said that vampires are very afraid of garlic. But considering your angry reaction that day, it seems what Mr. Joylon is really wrong."

“Vampires won't weaken just because there's garlic, Alexis. We're not afraid of those things. There's a lot wrong in the mythology about us as vampires. Just a few things we need to avoid to stay strong, and live.” Adrian put his glass on the table near them at this time.

Alexis pursed her lips. She hesitated to ask again, but when Adrian looked at her as if waiting, Alexis opened her lips there again. "Then what are vampires afraid of?"

Adrian's gaze turned dreamy. "We are afraid of losing the chance to be able to live once again as a human and live a normal life or remain a vampire who is much stronger than before without someone accompanying them in their eternal life."