The Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael Page B

quietly.
Arianna guessed she was not much older than herself. “Would you
like me to bring it in a glass or medical bag?”
    “I don’t think she will readily drink it,”
he replied. “Medical should be fine.” The young girl curtsied again
and left the room. Arianna stared from Devin to her grandfather
unaware of what they were cryptically discussing. “We need to
finish your transformation,” Lord Randolph explained, as the maid
returned with a bag of red liquid.
    “I heard you were being very picky after you
turned, and refused any blood but Devin’s, but you need to take
more blood to finish your transformation. Devin will take care of
everything for you upstairs,” he offered. “Devin, after you get
Arianna settled, please send Molina back down here.”
    Unsure of what was happening; Arianna
followed Devin upstairs to the sitting room outside her bedroom.
They didn’t explain how she would take the blood that smelled so
unappealing. Arianna sat patiently on the couch as Devin and Molina
put an IV in her. She knew immediately their plan to give her
blood, and she was thankful she wouldn’t have to drink it.
    “Just sit here until it’s empty,” Devin
instructed, as he and Molina left the room.
    Alone in the fancy sitting room, Arianna
studied the paintings on the wall as she drifted into peoples’
conversations throughout the house: two maids talking down several
hallways, a young man helping an older man with tools outside, the
splash of water as an older woman washed clothes. Arianna focused
to the room below hers as the scent of blood caught her attention.
It was dearg-dul blood.
    “I am sorry, my Lord,” Molina repeated after
Lord Randolph hit her across her face. “I didn’t mean to disobey
you.”
    “You were told that you are under her
command on everything but one issue. No one is to take even a drop
of her blood,” Lord Randolph growled. “No one includes you.”
Arianna winced as he slapped Molina again. Though she couldn’t see
him, Arianna could feel the anger in Lord Randolph’s voice. Arianna
listened as Devin helped Molina back to her feet. “The next time
anyone takes her blood—I don’t care if she offers or is forced,
I’ll kill them.”
    “Out of my sight,” Lord Randolph ordered.
“Just remember, next time I won’t be as lenient.”
    “Yes, my Lord,” Molina replied. Arianna
listened as the click of Molina’s shoes brought her upstairs and
through the kitchen.
    “She doesn’t understand the value of her own
blood,” Devin said quietly to Lord Randolph.
    “She needs to learn it soon. As soon as we
let her out of this house, they will all come looking for her.”
Lord Randolph’s tone of voice changed as he talked alone with
Devin. “I have already received over fifty marriage proposals, and
just as many custodian proposals.”
    “You expected that much,” Devin replied. “Do
any of them look promising?”
    “I threw them all in the fire this morning.
She’s only sixteen. There’s no way she’s ready to be promised in
marriage to someone. She doesn’t even know the value in her own
life,” he complained. “As to custodians, she doesn’t need to decide
that for a few more years. Besides, she has you.”
    “Forever,” Devin replied. “Is everything set
with the school?”
    “Yes, she can begin tomorrow. You and Molina
will accompany her,” Lord Randolph ordered. “I prefer to keep her
here, but she might get suspicious if we never let her out of her
apartment.”
    Arianna tried to continue
listening, but realized the words were now starting to sound funny.
Arianna giggled as the last bit of blood drained into her arm. For
some reason, she felt so warm and happy. Maybe the blood had
something in it. The overly-decorated room became amusing to her as
she looked from one corner of the room to the next. So much stuff in such a little
space , she mused. Arianna giggled more.
Everything she just heard sounded so scary, but she just had the
urge to