Freja: "Raphael, I can't..."

Raphael: "I can put it in a cup if you want. It doesn't look as creepy then. You should try it."

He left the room and came back with a cup and poured the fluid in. He came towards me but I flinched backwards.

Raphael: "I won't force you to drink it. But you should try it. I'll drink it with you."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the sofa where we sat down. He took a sip of the blood. His pretty lips were bright red now and I could notice his sharp teeth.

Raphael: "We didn't kill someone to get the blood. It was donated and the hospital would have thrown it away because it got too old to give it to other humans. It tastes good. Just one sip."

Freja: "It belongs to someone elses life."

Raphael: "No, not anymore. It's ours now. No se sienta culpable."

He held the cup closer to me and I could smell it. The metal smell was horrible. I turned my head away but Raphael grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. I looked into his brown eyes and nearly got lost in them. I could not look away. He smiled and looked even more beautiful.

Then I looked at the cup again and took it. My hand was shaking. I almost spilled it. Raphael placed his hand on top of mine and guided the cup to my mouth. I could already feel the rim on my lips. I closed my eyes and opened my lips, the fluid poured into my mouth. I was in a rush and ripped out of it when the cup was taken away from my lips. I placed my hand over my mouth. I drank the whole cup within seconds without really noticing. Tears filled my eyes. I ran away. Back into the bedroom of Raphael. I'm a monster. What did I just do? Tears rolled over my cheeks but I immediately wiped them away and took a deep breath. I heard a voice behind me.

Raphael: "It's nothing to be ashamed of. That's part of us... part of you. I'll be there to guide you through this. Siempre estaré a tu lado."

He wrapped his arms around me from behind and put his chin on my shoulder. His touch send a tingle through my whole body.

Raphael: "It must be hard and you need to be confused. But we can manage it. How do you feel? How's the pain?"

The pain was completely gone.

Raphael: "Freja, is it gone?"

I nodded.

Some days later...

I now lived in hotel Dumort. I would call it my home... For now. I slept in Raphaels bed with some distance between us and drank blood from time to time. I felt horrible... guilty... sad... ashamed... And so much more. Raphael and I just returned to the  hotel. We visited Magnus. He was glad that I felt better. It was midnight now.

Raphael: "Do you want to go to the roof? It's a pretty night. We should enjoy it outside."

I nodded and we headed up the many stairs until we reached a small door. We went through it and stood outside. I looked up. It really was a beautiful night. For some seconds I forgot all the trouble around me. I was just on a roof with a person I like, from the deepest spot of my heart. I didn't know I had such a spot at all. We sat down on the floor and looked up. I began to talk first.

Freja: "You know, in scandinavia the nights are different. Up to the north we can see the northern lights."

Raphael: "You saw the northern lights?"

Freja: "They were my lullaby." I smiled.

Raphael: "Why did you go then?"

I decided to trust him. He was all I had right now... and all I wanted.

Freja: "After my parents died I needed to live with my uncle, the brother of my mother. Horrible stories were told about him, a lot of rumors. I always believed them tho."

Raphael: "What rumors?"

Freja: "When my parents were still alive he used to have a normal life with his wife and his son, my cousin, Björn. One night, after he had a fight with his wife the whole house burnt down but he was the only survivor. Both, my aunt and my cousin died. My uncle was alright tho. Not a single wound. He got a small cabin in the woods after that."

Raphael: "You think he set the fire?"

Freja: "No, I know it."

Raphael: "Did he do something to you too?"

Freja: "He did everything, but nothing good. Scars decorate my body and my soul. I couldn't do it anymore. I needed to go. I saved all my money and wanted to start new. I mean, I did start new but not the way I wanted. Every single day I am afraid he might find me and take me back. I don't want to go back. I'd rather die than go back."

Raphael: "I am so sorry. I didn't know. I'm actually speechless."

My eyes filled with tears. It didn't take long until they ran over my cheeks. It was the first time in my life I cried in front of a person.

Raphael: "Shh, it's over now. I promise I'll always keep you save. I swear. The moon and it's light are my witnesses. I will protect you."

He cupped my face and wiped the tears away with his thumbs. I looked at him. The moonshine sparkled in his beautiful dark eyes. They were full of love, grace and warmth. My view stopped at his full lips. They looked so soft and all I could think about was touching them with my own. I looked back into his eyes and my heart started beating faster.

Raphael: "Princesa, what is your heart telling you?"

Freja: "It's nothing."

I was ashamed that he could hear it and even more ashamed of the fact that I longed for him so bad.

Raphael: "But my old heart is telling something to me."

He still held my face. I was sitting on the floor, he next to me but he changed his position. Now he was sitting right in front of me. He took his hands away from my face, put them around my waist, lifted me a bit and pulled me closer. Just some inches were between us. He put one hand away from my waist and put it behind my head. We looked into each others eyes. This time I totally got lost in them. My surroundings started to blur out. He was pushing me closer and closer to his face. He smelled so good. I closed my eyes. A glimpse later our lips slightly touched. Adrenaline was rushing through my veins and my heart was beating even faster. I gave in and kissed him.