WARNING! If you don't like graphic scenes of blood, this is not for you. Furthermore, if you are easily upset, this is not for you either.

Please remember that all of this is fiction and not facts, which means it isn't meant to offend you or anyone else.

Thank you.
                          ***

Ezra Foster's POV

"Ezra, is this completely necessary?" I hear, Yejide call out from her room, asking me.

I look up from my counter top, which is strewn with way more books than usual.

I've been in and out of her house for the past couple of days, studying the cause of the mark that has appeared on her neck.

I look up from the cup of coffee I'm making and nearly burst out laughing.

"Don't laugh at me Ezra" she pouts.

Ever since her episode while we were training, I've been keeping her completely under wraps.

Figuratively and literally.

She is wrapped in several blankets over the top of a hoodie and she's staying that way until I say otherwise.

She walks up behind me and gets on her tip toes to look over my shoulder and I try not to visibly freeze.

She is so close that I can feel her soft breathing against my neck.

I can hear her heartbeat at it's normal rhythm, reminding me that I've not fed in...

Days?

Weeks?

I gulp inaudibly.

"Yejide, you're in my personal space" I chuckle, trying to make it lighthearted, but I can feel my head start to swim.

"Oh, sorry!" She says apologetically stepping back.

"I was just curious to see what exactly you were looking at?" She half asks, half states.

I nod.

"I was just looking at any tribal marks that could be similar or linked to the mark on your neck. That way we can find out what exactly is going on with you" I tell her.

She nods.

"Okay and what have you found?" She asks, shuffling towards the kettle and clicking the button.

I shake my head.

"Nothing, so far." I respond.

She nods in response.

Then an idea flashes into my brain.

"Yejide, let me take a picture of your mark" I say, pulling my phone out my back pocket.

She turns to face me.

"What the fuck, why?" She asks me.

I sigh.

"Language. And I know someone, that knows about strange signs. I can ask them about it" I explain, shortly.

She does not need to know details.

"Can I go with you?" She asks, looking up at me with doe eyes.

I gulp.

No, Ezra! Don't fall for the puppy eyes.

I shake it off and give her a small smile.

"Not a chance. It's not safe" I tell her bluntly.

She huffs.

"Whatever" she responds, with a cute little pout.

I walk up to her and cup her face in my hand, pulling it up to meet my eyes.

"I'll be back soon. Try not to miss me too much, okay?" I ask, teasingly.

She rolls her eyes.

"I could never!" She teases back and I laugh.

I grab my jacket and wear it.

"Stay wrapped up until I get back, or else in our next training session, I'll make you do 200 press ups" I tell her.

She scowls at me, knowing that I'm not playing games with her.

I wink, open the door and walk out of her apartment.

I go out the stairs and I step into the cold clean air, taking in a deep breath and letting it out.

I get into my car and start to drive at a reasonable speed until I reach my destination.

I step out of my car and approach the building, climbing up the stairs.

I open the door and enter the empty looking room.

It's an orchestrated mess!

Different things are in bundles everywhere.

A pile of old lyres and harps.

A bunch of keys and locks.

A pile of shoes, and too much more to describe.

There is hardly any light in here and it always makes me feel uncomfortable.

I need sunlight, to live.

"Ezra" a voice calls, sending willing chills down my spine.

I turn to face her.

^^Nephelae (Nef- ay- Lay) Bains.

"Neph" I say with a grin.

I can feel my stomach growl and my fangs start to appear visibly.

She snorts.

"Don't Neph. I'm tired" I complain.

She giggles.

"When was the last time you fed?" She asks.

2 weeks ago.

I shake my head.

"I don't want to talk about it" I say.

She walks up to me and looks up slightly to look me in the eyes.

"When was the last time you got some sun? You're looking pale" she states with a grimace.

I roll my eyes.

"I've been studying" I tell her honestly.

She walks up to her front desk and  starts to look for something.

I sigh, feeling a little impatient.

"Nephelae" I call.

"Patience" she mutters, still looking around.

"I have work to do!" I nearly snap.

Her eyes snap to mine.

"Well if your incompetent ass fed more frequently and stayed in the gotdamn sun some more, your skin wouldn't scale up and you wouldn't be hungry as fuck, old man!" She snaps back.

I bite my tongue.

Let me not hurt this girl's feelings. I need to eat.

Now.

"Here" she says, now calm.

She throws something at me.

"Shirt off and then go into the conservatory." She tells me.

I nod and walk into the back room, pulling my shirt off and dropping it where I usually drop it, walking to a door.

I open my hand to find the key that Nephelae gave to me.

I unlock the door and step inside, breathing heavily as the sun hits my skin.

I tilt my head back, soaking in the golden rays and feeling my body relax and smoothen out.

My eyes flutter shut and before I realise, there is a knock on the door.

"Alright, Foster. Time's up. Come out and feed" she says.

I don't need to be told twice.

I step out of the room to see her holding my shirt and avoiding eye contact.

I chuckle to myself.

I grab my shirt and wear it, and she looks back at me.

"Be quick. And for the love of God, be gentle this time" she scolds, moving her hair out of the way of her neck.

I feel my adrenaline spike once again and I feel my pupils dilate and redden.

My lips part slightly as my breathing changes and I lick my lips, in attempt to slow myself down.

This is what happens when you don't feed for 2 weeks! My brain reminds me.

I shut it off and I approach Nephelae, cupping her face into my hands.

She leans into my touch, getting comfortable.

I lower my face to her neck and I hover my lips over her.

"Are you ready?" I ask.

"Am I ever?" She asks sarcastically, making me chuckle.

I let my fangs lower and I slowly sink them into her neck.

She jumps at the sensation and a small whimper leaves her mouth.

I grunt in apology, my mouth full.

The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth and I groan in satisfaction as I swallow.

I drink slowly, careful, not to hurt her or get it everywhere.

When I'm done, I pull away and I catch her as she slumps into me as usual.

"How was it?" She asks, with a small grin.

I grin back.

"Bitter. Just like you" I respond.

She chuckles and yawns, her eyes drooping.

"Leave the photos on my desk, I'll text you about them when I wake up" she says and I nod.

I lick the wound, letting the healing properties of my saliva instantly close the wounds.

I pick her up and take her to the next room, covering her with a blanket and then closing the door after me as I leave.

She'll wake up in about an hour or two.

I pull out an envelope, containing the pictures of the marks on Yejide's neck.

I also place a few hundred dollar bills on the table to say 'thank you' for letting me use the conservatory.

I walk out of the shop feeling a lot more refreshed.

I look at the time.

"Shit!" I curse.

I've been out longer than I thought.

I make a plan in my head to buy takeout from the local Chinise restaurant.

Yejide will be hungry.

I wonder what she likes?

You know what? Let me get a bit of everything.

I get into the car and I start making the calls to get the food.

                             ***

"Yej!" I yell on the other side of the door.

My hands are full and I can't knock on the door.

I hear heavy footsteps and then the door flies open.

Fuck.

Yejide stands there in a t-shirt and cycling shorts, making me wish I'd have been prepared mentally.

I knew her body was gorgeous...  but the training we've been doing has toned her up a little more and I can see it in her thighs...

And her waist.

And hips.

My eyes trail over her slowly and she gasps.

"Ahhh please don't make me do 200 push ups!" She yells all of a sudden.

Push ups?!

Ah. Yeah. That.

"Push ups are the furthest thing from my mind right now" I tell her, walking into her apartment.

She gives me a confused look.

"Then?" She asks.

I grin.

She is clueless isn't she?

"I'll tell you when you're older" I say, putting the food onto the table.

She scowls.

"Not all of us can be a hundred and some shit" she retorts, flopping onto the couch.

I sit next to her and I show her the spread of food.

"Oh, Ezra, you didn't have to do all of that!" She exclaims, eyes wide at the amount.

I pick up a spoon and I hand it to her.

"Less talking, more eating. You can thank me by attempting to kick my ass in the gym tomorrow morning" I tell her.

She smiles at me a little and takes the cutlery, picking up one of the boxes and getting started.

She eats, while watching tv and I look at her as she does so.

She's taken her hair out of the weave and I take the time to admire her natural hair.

It's beautiful!

She ties it up in a puff , leaving her shoulders bare.

She catches me staring before I can look away and I feel myself feeling flushed.

"I never got to ask my question" she says, taking another helping of her noodles.

We put the rest of the takeaway stuff that she wouldn't eat right now in the fridge for if she wants it later.

I nod.

"Ask then. And you only get one question, remember!" I say turning to face the tv.

"What kind of vampire prefers the sun? Doesn't it make you like... evaporate or something?" She asks.

"That was two questions" I say and she scowls.

"Just answer" she says, taking a sip of her drink.

I sigh.

"I was turned during a time where the supernatural beings were at the pique of their existence. That meant it was a lot harder to tell who was human or not at the time." I say.

Realising she's not really following, I decide to simplify it a little.

"My great grandparents were humans held captive by vampires a long time ago. The vampires would turn humans into vampires also to put them work for longer. And then when other humans discovered their strength, they were killed." I tell her.

She looks at me with intense interest.

"So people like my great grandparents made a plan, to turn their children without anyone knowing. The children would grow up in hot climates and adapt to what is called 'nature energy'.

Different nature energies stem from different part of nature. For us the Africans, Caribbeans and other black people, it was from the sun. That's why I need the sun to survive. Pale skinned vampires, on the other hand, do not" I finish.

She looks at me in awe.

I look away.

"Don't make a big deal out of it. Eat your food" I tell her.

She seems to understand that I don't want to speak on it further and she leaves it.

After a while though, she pokes me.

I look at her and she is holding her spoon up to my face.

"Try some" she tells me, looking into my eyes. 

"Absolutely not. Human food is disgusting" I say with a huff.

She rolls her eyes and leans towards me a little more, unconsciously making her breasts spill out of her shirt.

I fight to keep my face eye level.

"Just a little bit and I'll leave you alone, I promise" she says, making doe eyes at me.

no. No. NO! Resist, Ezra! I tell myself.

She gives me an adorable smile.

I groan and open my mouth, letting her feed me.

Oh it's not that bad!

"What was that?" I ask, chewing my food.

"First of all, did you die?" She asks.

I scowl and she shows me the box.

Fried rice and beef stew.

I nod and indignantly pick up my own box, and a pair of chopsticks and I start to eat, ignoring her chuckles.

"Oh, wait, Ezra, you've got something right there" she says, leaning towards me and moving her fingers to my lips.

Without thinking, I grab her wrist and pull her towards me.

She squeals, straddling me to keep her balance.

"Ezra!" She gasps.

I smirk up at her, as her fingers dig into my shoulders, shock written all over her face.

Her eyes move to my lips and I lick the residual food off my bottom lip, making her lips part slightly.

"Is it gone?" I ask her.

She nods, unable to speak and I feel myself pulling her closer to me.

Fuck, she's beautiful.

I look at her lips and she leans forward, feeling drawn to mine.

She is a hair width away from me, when her phone rings, shaking is out of the trance.

My eyes snap to her phone and my heart drops.

'Sol'.

I gently let her get off of me and she snatches up her phone, breathing shakily.

"I should go" I tell her cooly.

She stares at me, her face flushed.

"And you should take that" I say, signalling to her ringing phone.

She looks torn.

I walk up to her.

"Answer it" I say, leaning down to kiss the corner of her mouth.

I then take her phone out of her hand, answering it and then giving it to her.

I don't stay to hear her talk to him.

I get my shoes and jacket on, clean away the takeout stuff and I leave.

———————————————
Hey all!

It's been a while but what did you think of this one?

Let me know in the comments!

~ X.