ELEVEN

The house was always quiet early in the afternoon, right after the vampires finished breakfast: Terra sought refuge in her study, Ruby watched TV shows I recommended her and Aren rushed to the gym to keep an eye on Vera. Their relationship was going well but I explained to the vampire that he must stay on friendly terms till my friend trusted him and he'd have more time to learn about the fitness business, how to behave in public, who his soulmate's friends were, what conversation topics were right... Things that were obvious to me and that most humans take for granted, we don't think that much about this stuff because we learn it from our entourage, from our family or at the school, but it was totally new to him. Standards of behaviour had changed a little since the time of the Vikings and bragging about how many British monasteries you looted when you were younger was not the best way to flirt with a girl in LA while drinking fruit smoothies.

Luckily for Aren, human partners feel some kind of irresistible attraction towards their vampires and my friend was no different. The beautiful Brazilian girl couldn't stop talking and gesturing nervously, giggling and blushing every time my boss talked to her. The gym customers seemed bewildered at first since the owner had a reputation for playing hard to get but they soon understood that the drill sergeant got relaxed when the Viking was around and we were able to leave walking like decent humans after a training session instead of crawling like exhausted zombies. But that wouldn't last, Aren would have to be honest eventually and I'd have to find a way to calm her down and explain her that we weren't nuts and vampires existed in real life.

Luckily, our guests had left the previous week and I returned to my work routine. Terra was monitoring me closely, of course, concerned in case I developed a PTSD and had nightmares after Giulio attacked me. On the other hand, Ruby behaved cautiously despite I had sworn a hundred of times that the violence I witnessed didn't change the way I felt about her. The fact that our bond wasn't completely sealed made the situation even more complicated, probably, causing a tension in our relationship, and in addition to that I was still adjusting to my new life. Despite the weeks I'd stayed in that house, some aspects of the vampire life made me feel awkward and certain subjects made me flinch inwardly, above all the ones related to their diet and the fact that I had to face immortality and the loss of my friends and family. A random comment could trigger a feeling of discomfort in my stomach and made my heart raced, they both noticed it and got sad despite trying to hide it... but their blood was powerful in my veins and I was able to sense their mood.

That morning I was putting the groceries in the pantry wondering what could I do to overcome my fears, I wouldn't be able to avoid them much longer no matter how hard I tried and I must face the situation sooner or later. I closed the glass door of a cabinet and my face reflected startled me: I was pale and had dark circles despite I'd slept well, or that's what I thought... I understood why Terra was determined to keep an eye on me. A small bruise stood out on my neck skin although the hickey was vanishing, the memory of my vampires made me smile while rubbing the mark with my thumb... That was the right moment to take one step further, obviously, I needed to overcome my fears to be able to enjoy a full relationship with them, and my girls needed it too since I was sure they wouldn't seal the bond definitely as long as I had doubts. Maybe an exposure therapy was the solution, like it was a phobia, so I headed to the corridor that led to my old apartment behind the kitchen with determination.

"Amor... what are you doing standing here?" I blinked coming back to reality and realized that I'd been staring at the stairs leading to the basement quietly for a few minutes. Terra was looking at me cautiously, holding a cigarette between her fingers but she seemed to have forgotten about it and it was burning slowly. Her unbuttoned shirt let me take a look at the beautiful tattoo on her chest and I couldn't help licking my lips noticing the way her soft skin glowed under the lights but the vampire ignored my reaction, despite she'd taken advantage of the situation to flirt with me some days ago, and her deep blue eyes kept watching me closely. "I've felt your anxiety and wondered if you needed my help..."

"I'm okay," I whispered and smiled at Ruby who was walking towards us, looking at us confused. "Can I see it? The fridge..." I explained when I saw them frowning. Both vampires exchanged a concerned glance and Terra let her cigarette drop on the floor when she felt it burning her fingers even if it wasn't a problem for her because her wounds healed almost immediately. "Please..." I tried to lighten the mood pouting like a toddler and Ruby rolled her eyes hard, annoyed and amused at the same time.

"That's not fair," she complained laughing. "You know we can't say no if you ask it like that... Are you sure?" My vampires stared at me with intensity, really worried, and I crossed my arms over my chest, frowning: I was sick of them treating me like a poor and weak human, easily impressionable, a damsel who would pass out when seeing a little bit of blood... Well, maybe there was some truth in their point of view but I was determined to show them that I could face it.

"Why don't you want me to see the fridge? Is the cellar so dirty and untidy that you fear I'm going to scold you?" I asked with suspicion and a hint of aggressiveness and they both stepped back, shocked by my tone of voice. Terra was the first one who recovered and shook her head chuckling.

"If you don't mind I'll go down first... it's a very steep staircase."

"You're a truly gentlelady..." I whispered walking behind her and holding her hand to climb down the last steps.

Ruby turned on the light and I was able to take a look at the cellar finally, walls were made of bricks and bottles of wine were carefully piled up on shelves, there was a bit of dust covering the floor but no spider webs on the ceiling and a massive steel fridge stood out on one side. The vampires stayed unnaturally still while watching me wandering around and touching a table to check if it was clean. I looked at my finger with a critical eye but it wasn't stained.

"All right..." I whispered and my girls seemed to relax a little. "Can I open it?" I've barely extended my arm and my fingers grazed the fridge handle when Terra moved at vampire speed putting her hand on the steel surface to stop me.

"Iselen, baby..." I raised an eyebrow quietly but kept my hand on the handle, those blue eyes kept watching me closely and I'm pretty sure she was able to hear my heart racing but I stared at her stubbornly quietly and she stepped back eventually.

"Are you sure?" Ruby whispered worried moving closer but she never tried to stop me actually and I nodded opening the door.

"Do you get this at hospitals?" I asked frowning when I saw dozens of plastic bags with identification tags.

"Blood banks..." Terra whispered while she kept watching my face buy I was feeling okay, I mean, those transparent plastic bags were full of blood, obviously, in a deep and dark burgundy colour but they looked normal to me, like the ones I'd seen on medical TV shows where doctors and nurses made out in rooms with fridges like this one. I didn't touch them but didn't feel sick when looking at them... I took a deep breath and decided to move one step further.

"Can I see you drinking?"

"Fuck!" Terra whispered pulling away and rubbing her hand on her face. "What the hell is wrong with you today?"

"Do not talk to me like that," I answered angrily pointing at her with my index. "I'm not a stupid and weak human like you seem to believe." The vampire looked ready to start a fight with me and I almost wished she would in order to blow off some steam but Ruby stopped her putting her hand on her soulmate's chest.

"Terra, calm down... Iselen is trying to make an effort, this isn't easy for her but she's willing to... learn. Let's try to help her..."

"I don't want to..."

"Terra..." I whispered cupping her cheek with my hand. "You can't protect me forever, I'll have to face this sooner or later..." The vampire turned her head and leaned her lips on my palm, kissing me gently while trying to hold back her tears... That shocked me, the Spanish woman always looked so tough and confident to me, a dominant personality always concerned about her family, but it was clear that she was suffering for me and the bond that bound us was breaking my heart when I saw her like that. "Listen, if it makes you feel better... you have my permission to hold my mind if you think my anxiety skyrockets, all right?"

"Yes, I can do that... are you sure?" I nodded firmly and the vampire moved away, resigned, to grab one of the bags while Ruby took two glasses from a cabinet, the distinctive clinking echoing against the brick walls made me blink surprised.

"Bohemian crystal?"

"Humans use it to drink their best wines, don't they?" Ruby had a point so I nodded and watched her while they poured blood on the glasses carefully till the bag was empty, the liquid looked thick and not as red as the blood I used to see when I cut my finger accidentally while cooking. My stomach was feeling okay and I kept enough distance not to smell it while they took their glasses, hesitating.

"Shouldn't it be warm?" I whispered and realized I'd said it out loud, I didn't mean to do that, and my girls fidget awkwardly, looking at each other before Ruby answered.

"Sometimes we take the bag out of the fridge earlier so it reaches room temperature but we can't heat it in the microwave... it clots." She explained grimacing and I nodded because it made sense. Both vampires looked at each other again and Terra decided that she had enough of the situation, she'd lost her patience and moved the glass closer to her mouth drinking half of it in one gulp, licking her lips to get rid of the red traces. Ruby copied her movements although she took a smaller sip, swallowed and they both waited for my reaction, staring at me awkwardly. Okay, I admitted my stomach turned a little and I had to hide a grimace, but I wasn't feeling dizzy or freaked out... the three of us relaxed when noticing it.

"How does it taste? It tastes of salt and iron to humans, it's not pleasant... but I guess it is for you. Is there any difference between blood types?" And there I was, the human that a few weeks ago was working in a supermarket for healthy stuff hardcore fans, trying to have a casual conversation about the blood bouquet with two vampires with whom I was going to have a threesome in a bed sooner than later. The fact that I wasn't locked up in a mental hospital was a great achievement, actually.

"No, blood types have nothing to do with taste but it's better not to mix them if they aren't compatible because the blood gets... lumps." Terra was trying to keep a neutral tone of voice, like a doctor teaching a lesson to her students. "Age can influence the taste since old people are prone to anaemia, it means that their blood has less amount of haemoglobin which is the protein vampires can't produce and we need it to bring oxygen to our cells. And it tastes good... sweet and fruity, in fact. I don't understand why because it has the sodium and iron humans find so unpleasant, I think vampires' taste buds are special and make us believe blood tastes sweet."

"All right, thank you for your honesty..." I whispered leaning on the wall behind me, I felt tired all of a sudden and Terra moved one step closer to me, worried. "I'm okay... I won't mind if you want to drink blood around me from now on, this way I'll get used to it and I know I won't throw up but... Please, use the same kind of glasses always so I can know what's inside, I don't want to grab a cup by mistake and take a sip..."

"Okay," Ruby smiled and I couldn't help smiling back. "Thank you for being so brave, baby."

*****

"That one?"

"No, that one..." Ruby nodded and jumped nimbly to be able to take the cake mould on top of the last shelf I couldn't reach before giving it to me with a smile on her pretty face. She'd walked in the kitchen a few minutes before and begged me to bake an almond cake, the pout on the beautiful vampire's lips was totally irresistible and I didn't think twice. Terra was sat at the island nibbling at a breadstick while focusing on the scientific magazine she was reading, she was spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately and much less in her study.

"Since when can we drink blood in front of Iselen?" Aren ran in the room throwing his jacket on a chair.

"Since yesterday afternoon..."

"Great," the Viking cut Terra grabbing the glass on the table and drinking it in one big gulp, like it was whisky instead of blood and he was dying to feel the alcohol burning in his stomach. We stared at each other perplexed for a second till Aren pointed at me with his index. "I need human help."

"In that case, I'm your kind of human... Ask me."

"Apparently, a thing called Saint Valentine is going to happen next Friday and Vera is worried because I haven't invited her to dinner... she was thinking about it nonstop... I don't understand it."

"Oh, fuck..." I covered my mouth with my hand and burst into laughing while the vampires stared at me even more bewildered. "I'm sorry... oh wow, I forgot about it. How can I explain this? According to tradition, Saint Valentine was a bishop who was killed by the Romans because he was celebrating weddings following the Christian rite that was banned back then... The Church remembers his death every February 14th and the day has been considered the lovers' day since centuries ago. Well, it doesn't matter, the point is that the commemoration has led to a completely different celebration."

"Different celebration? Wait a minute, is this the reason why the webs where I buy my new sneakers are full of hearts all of a sudden?" I nodded at Ruby and she looked at me confused.

"You're right, now it's a commercial celebration, humans have this damned habit of turning everything into a consumerist orgy... Every shop sells cards, flowers, chocolates, teddy bears... There're red hearts all over the place. Most humans complain, most of them claim that it's a stupid celebration and you must show love to your partner all year long but, actually, not having a date on Saint Valentine's Day, taking her to dinner and buying her a present, is considered a major failure. It's hard to understand, I know..." The vampires stared at me raising their eyebrows. "We'd better leave the theory and go for the practice... What Vera wants is a phone call where you invite her to go dinner to a smart restaurant next Friday behaving like a gentleman."

"I'm not a member of the gentry..."

"No, Aren, not gentleman meaning that you're a noble... She wants you to be kind and charming, polite, funny..."

"I don't know if I'm capable of behaving like that..." the vampire fidgeted awkwardly, frowning.

"You're already doing it, Aren. Vera is crazy for you... And besides, she's your soulmate, you have an advantage... Listen, this is what we're going to do: I'm going to book two tables in a smart restaurant, they have private booths usually, you'll be sat in one of those with Vera and we'll be in the next one so I can give you instructions while we have dinner. Although I'm pretty sure you'll do well... The only problem will be to find free tables, everything must be booked right now..."

"We're vampires," Terra replied. "We can persuade humans to do whatever we want, it'll be easy to get two tables..."

"Okay, those expensive restaurants force their customers to respect a dress code: you'll have to wear a smart suit but if you intend to wear one of your black T-shirts under the jacket you'll need to convince the waiter somehow, messing with his mind, that he's seeing a shirt and tie instead." Aren nodded while staring at me without batting an eyelid like he was taking mental notes. "You're going to phone Vera and ask her for a date, you'll explain her that you thought you had to work next Friday night but now you're free luckily and that's why you're calling her late, you'll apologize humbly and will tell her that you understand if she says no because she already has a date..."

"What?" The proud vampire looked at me outraged while his sisters chuckled.

"Listen to me... Vera could think you're calling her late because she's your last option or your first date cancelled at the last moment and she could feel humiliated."

"I don't want that..." I couldn't help smiling when seeing the powerful Viking pouting.

"Understandable. You also need to buy a present..."

"Oh that's easy, we have a lot of jewels in the safe. Do you think she'll like emeralds? The come from Brazil too..."

"No, no, no... That's too much, Vera isn't your official girlfriend... yet." I explained when he frowned. "I was talking about a gorgeous but symbolic gift, not over the top, you don't want her to have a heart attack or run away scared... I'll tell you what I do..."

"What you do?" This time was Terra the one scowling at me.

"I did... What I did when I asked a girl for a date, long time ago, not now..." The vampire nodded and I rolled my eyes hard. "You're going to send a beautiful bouquet of flowers to her house with a card saying you can't wait to see her that night. Usually, boys carry the flowers with them when they go to pick the girls before going to the restaurant and that's a common mistake men tend to do... Their dates are smartly dressed, wearing flawless makeup, it probably took hours for them to get ready... most of them buy a new dress for the occasion... And suddenly they have to deal with a big bouquet of flowers that drops pollen everywhere and water splashes on their gorgeous dresses when they try to fill the stupid vase. Sending flowers to her house at noon is a better idea, she'll be happy and feeling butterflies fluttering in her stomach because of the anticipation, she'll have time to put the flowers in her favourite room and will remember you every time she sees them... and will have enough time to take a shower, get dressed and do her makeup without interruption."

"You gain an advantage by doing that because it predisposes her to have fun with you, with the lovely woman who sent her flowers and won't stand her up." Ruby looked at me in awe while I nodded. "What a smart human you are..."

"Thank you..." I winked at her before pointing at Aren. "Call Vera as soon as possible, she'll be in the gym, be kind and show her you're delighted when she says yes, tell her you'll pick her at her house at 7 and ask the address... She doesn't know you already know it."

"Can you write what I have to say in a piece of paper?" I nodded resigned, I couldn't believe that powerful vampires were so insecure deep inside.