Chapter 46: Chapter 46- Meeting For The First Time
Chapter 46- Meeting For The First Time
After leaving the school, the duo walked through the city in silence. Elio was contemplating what had happened earlier, and he didn’t feel like talking and Fiona was simply keeping an eye on their surroundings.
"It’s a cold night," Fiona muttered under her breath as she put her hand in her hoodie’s pockets.
"Mmm, yeah, it is," Elio replied as he looked at her, finally noticing the outfit she was in. This was the very first time Elio had seen Fiona in casual clothes in his life. She is usually wearing the school uniform or other formal clothes if she is captured by the media. Now, Fiona was clad in a hoodie and sweatpants. She was also wearing slippers, indicating that she had run out of the estate as soon as she got the call.
’She looks... gorgeous.’ He thought to himself, staring at her perfect side silhouette.
"Is everything ok?" Fiona noticed his looks and asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah, ehem, I’m fine. I was just... wondering if... ummm, I have a question, Fiona." Elio said.
"What is it?"
Elio hesitated for a second to ask as he stared down. But, in the end, he found the courage to look at her again and speak.
"What if there are good vampires out there? How would we know if they’re truly evil and we must kill them?"
This was a question Elio had on his mind ever since he spoke with Melissa yesterday. It kept bothering him, and he frankly wanted to know what Fiona’s belief was. Even if he already expected the answer he would get, he still wanted to ask for the sake of his own sanity.
"What do you mean, Elio?" Fiona asked, staring at him with a rather dubious look.
"It’s... I have been thinking about it, but... How do we know for certain that they all want to kill us? What if there are innocent vampires amongst the evil ones?"
"Elio..." Fiona pursed her lips before she continued. "They drink our blood for their own pleasure. They consume us, not to live, but to feel euphoria. They don’t need our blood, and yet they still take it. What does that tell you about them?"
"I get that. But don’t other humans like us hurt for no reason? They steal and kill and do heinous crimes without ever needing to do it except for their own pleasure. Aren’t there still good people out there?"
"Do you think you will have the leisure to figure which of these monsters is good and which is bad before you die?" Fiona asked coldly.
"Isn’t it worth it to save the lives of any vampire that doesn’t deserve to die?"
The two stared at each other without breaking eye contact. Cars passed near them, illuminating their faces for a brief second before the darkness swallowed them again.
Silence took over for a good few seconds before Fiona sighed.
"Listen, Elio, I get why you think this way. You are new to this world, and for you, vampires are still living, breathing, conscious creatures who seem completely like us." She said with a calm tone as she looked ahead, her eyes distant and calm. "But, trust me when I say this. There is nothing redeemable about them. I have looked, and I have seen the things those monsters do to humans... They are not our friends, and they are not to be treated like us."
For a second, a flash of a pained look passed through her eyes. A look Elio had never seen before, yet it struck him hard. That Fiona wasn’t just speaking from logic, she was speaking from an experience. An experience that Elio had no idea about.
’She... What had she seen?’ He asked himself. ’It must’ve hurt her greatly. I have never seen Fiona with that kind of look before.’
Ironically, her reply only further worsened the dilemma for Elio. He was now even more conflicted, not knowing the right from the wrong. Who to believe and what kind of truth to expect?
He didn’t know, and judging from his current state, it won’t be easy to find that truth.
The two continued walking until they reached Elio’s apartment complex. There, they stopped.
"Thank you for coming with me here. I’m sorry for ruining your night, Fiona." He said.
"Don’t worry about it. I’m glad everything went well." She said. "As for what we talked about earlier. Don’t let it bother you too much. If anything, you having this kind heart is what surprised me. Rarely does a Vampire Hunter think of these things, and it only shows that you truly care."
"Ummm, it’s really not much ahahaha..."
’If only she knew why I’m even thinking about that.’ He mused.
"In any case, you should shower and get some rest. I will come here to pick you up tomorrow around the same time."
"Mhm, thank you. Goodnight, Fiona."
"Goodnight, Eli-"
"Oh my lord, Elio! You’re finally home!"
At that moment, out of nowhere, a person rushed toward Elio, smothering him in a big hug. All the boy felt was the softness of breasts engulfing his face before everything went dark.
"M-Melissa?" He muttered as he realized the familiar feeling. ’Wait... MELISSA?!’ Then, the second shock hit him as he realized what had just happened.
Quickly, he pushed her away.
"You’re safe. I thought you had been hurt! I was about to call the cops!"
"Ah, hahaha, no no, I’m fine. I was out with my friend, that’s all."
’What the hell are you doing here?! In front of her!’ He spoke with his eyes, trying to understand what this vampire queen was trying to do.
However, the latter simply smirked and continued her playful act. "Ehhh, friend?"
Turning around, Melissa’s eyes fell on Fiona, and the two stared at each other. Their eye contact lasted a second, but for some reason... The feeling it gave Fiona was a bit off.
"Ehhh, this is your friend? She’s such a pretty girl. You didn’t tell me you have a girlfriend, Elio."
"N-No, that’s not my... girlfriend. It’s just a friend from school! She was helping me with some... homework."
"Aaaah, I see. Nice to meet you, Miss... Miss?"
"Fiona. You can call me, Fiona." She replied calmly as if nothing had happened.
"Fiona! What a pretty name. I’m Melissa. I’m Elio’s neighbor and his friend too! I’m glad to know he is making friends in school. He is a bit of a quiet boy, so I was worried he might not be able to communicate with his peers."
"No, Elio is good. It’s my pleasure to be his friend." Fiona replied. However, her tone was a bit different than usual.
"I’m glad he has a nice friend like you~" Melissa said as she extended her hand for a handshake. "Please keep taking care of him in the future, Miss Fiona~"
For a split second in the end, a cold glint flashed within Melissa’s eyes, one that even Fiona barely noticed. She parted her lips, a bit confused, before she nodded and took her hand.
"Thank you, and I will do my best."
Meanwhile, in the background, Elio watched as the two spoke jovially. On the surface, this was a normal meeting between a high school girl and a normal lady. But, only he knew that this was perhaps the meeting that would start a war. A brutal and bloody war.