What Are You?

The aftermath of the battle was impactful to say the least. The day after it, we headed north and came across an abandoned wooden shack on the mountain side.

We planned to only stay there for a day, but it’s been two days now. The reason being is that Marshall fell ill and has a very high fever.

I took care of his wound from the quarrel with the bounty hunters the best I could. However, it appears that isn’t enough. I tend to him, but the fever hasn’t gone down yet.

I’m extremely worried. If he were to die on me now, everything we done would be all for naught. The thought of losing him made me anxious.

It's the afternoon of the third day. I sat on the corner of the shack leaning against the wall, sulking and in despair.

Out of nowhere, I felt an odd presence from outside. This aura I’m sensing felt so foreign, and it’s slowly approaching. I stood up, and ready to engage.

The door then slowly open. Feeling threatened, I grew my nails using my vampiric ability and thrusted my right hand towards it.

Surprised by what I saw, I stopped just before my index finger pierce their left eye. Shocked, they took a step back in panic, tripped, and fell down.

“What the—who are you? Why attacked me out of nowhere?”

She’s just a normal human in my eyes, calling her a girl is wrong. But calling her a woman is also incorrect. She’s just a young lady.

“I’m the one who should’ve ask that. Who are you? No. What are you?”

She’s wearing pants with suspenders and fair buttoned shirt. Her hair is black, goes to her shoulders and unkempt.

She’s wearing a backpack, but it’s quite unconventional. It's in the shape of a cuboid and made out of wood almost like a portable wardrobe.

She then stood up as she swiped away some dirts, while speaking in a dull voice with an eerie smile.

“I’m nothing but a medicine seller. My intuition told me that there’s someone here that’s in need of my help.”

“Well that’s true, but…,” I stopped for a second as suspicion took over. “I just don’t think you’re trustworthy.”

“That’s a given. Can I at least take a look and check them? My moral compass prevented me from ignoring someone who’s in need.”

I’m in no position to reject her, I need whatever help I can get. I sighed as I replied.

“Alright.”

“Thanks, pardon m—.”

“But, if I see you doing something suspicious. I will tear you into pieces!”

“…”

“Well, come in then.”

As she entered and looked at who’s lying on the ground. She yelp in disbelief.

“Marshall‽”

She quickly got to his side and took off her backpack and set it down.

“Oh it’s you,” said Marshall with a low spirit. “How are you?”

“Now’s not the time for small talk Marsh!”

“So you’re the medicine seller I’ve been hearing about?” I asked.

She ignored me and opened her backpack’s shelves as well as drawers that are filled with herbs, flasks, and tools. She turned around and spoke in a demanding voice.

“You! Can you help me gather some stuff?”

“Umm… Sure.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything weird to him while you’re gone,” she said while handing me an empty flask and bundle.

She then asked me to get some water and listed me ingredients to gather, alongside their descriptions on how they look like as well as where they’re usually found.

I left and searched the forest around the mountain. Crossing a flowing river, I filled the flask with water. Next I went a bit deeper to find the rest of the herbs.

I made quick work gathering them. With everything collected, I went back to the shack. Walking there, my head’s filled with questions on why my senses flared up about her.

But since she’s the one that Marshall once talked about and that I’m depending on her to cure him, I shoved those doubts away.

Entering the shack, I gave her the stuff immediately.

“Here they are.”

“Perfect timing!”

I sat down and watched her closely. She mixed these herbs seamlessly. Some of the tools she used are also unconventional, they’re makeshift almost.

The herbs she mixed has turned into some kind of paste. She then applied them to the wounds. The light receded as the sun slowly set.

“Are you just gonna sit there and do nothing?”

She spoke in a voice as if she’s superior than me. And I don’t like it.

“What are you trying to say?”

“It’s exactly as it sound. Can you start a fire outside?”

She’s getting on my nerves, but it can’t be helped. I lit the fire a few steps from the shack. She then boiled some water and made a bowl of stew for Marsh.

The night went on, I stationed myself outside to scout and watched over them. With morning rolled around, I went back inside to catch some sleep.

I then felt someone tapping my shoulder.

“Hey, wake up!”

It appears that I slept for quite a bit, as it is midday now.

“What do you want?”

“Accompany me to gather some supplies!”

I agreed to her request as I’m basically indebted to her for her service. Walking in the forest, I asked her a question as I walked behind her.

“Who are you again?”

“Like I said, just someone that sells medicine.”

“Right, what’s your name then?”

“Beatrice Phyllida. You?”

“Lillia Maris.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Bit too late for that isn’t it?”

“Right,” she said laughing.

She then stopped in front of a bush and crouched down to pick the flowers. I then asked her the question that I had in mind since yesterday.

“By the way, what are you?”

“…”

Her hands stopped for a second, before it continues as she exhaled a sigh.

“That’s rather impolite don’t you think?”

She stood up and turned to me as she spoke.

“What if I ask you that question?”

“What’s the point of asking questions you already know the answer to?”

“Well I do have a guess, but…”

She then slowly extend her right hand. As it getting closer to the brim of my hat, I grabbed her hand with my left hand to stop it.

“Seems like I was right,” she said smirking and continued to wander. “So, how long have you been with Marsh?”

“More than half a month.”

“Far longer than me then. Has he been a good boy?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“He told me that he wanted to leave his past behind, did he succeed?”

“He did take a few small steps forward.”

“That’s glad to hear,” she then stopped beside a tree to pick some mushrooms. We then continued to explore.

“By the way, we don’t have that much on us, but I’ll pay you for your help. Name your price.”

She walked to under a tree and stood in the shaded part.

“Is that so? Before I got here, I came across three men. One of them was quite injured. Helping him, I got paid quite handsomely. So I still have a few to go around. You said you’ll pay right?”

“I will.”

She then grinned as she stated her request.

“I want you to drink my blood.”

“What?”

“Did you not hear me?

“I did, I just can’t fathom what I heard. How is that a payment?”

“Partly because I’m curious. Beside, you want to know what I am right? I think you’ll find the answer that way.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Then I wouldn’t continue the second half of the treatment for Marsh.”

She played me like a fiddle. My mind’s arguing with itself on which is the correct thing to do.

I could decline, but I don’t think I’m skilled enough to help Marsh in his current condition. And If I accept it, I’m breaking my own moral code, but I’ll get what I want.

After thinking for a bit. I made my decision and strengthen my resolve.

“Fine, I’ll drink your blood then.”

A smirk painted her face. She set her backpack down, unbuttoned the top of her shirt and showed her neck to me.

“Please help yourself, miss vampire.”

I walked to the shaded area and took off my hat. As I got closer, I revealed my fangs. Seeing it, her grin got wider.

I grabbed her and sank my fangs in her jugular vein. I didn’t drink much, just enough that it won’t be dangerous for her.

I retracted my fangs from her neck and took a step back. The taste of her blood is similar to Marsh’s, but very different. Another odd thing is that she didn’t get drowsy. Instead of finding the answer, I got more questions.

She’s rather pleased by it, so I guess the payment is done. The day then continued. The sun has set and the moon emerged.

I wander around the forest just like usual. However it’s not going to be an ordinary walk…

“Look at what I found...”

The voice came from behind. When I turned, I saw she in the silly uniform. She continued with an eerie voice as she lifted the hood of her cloak.

“A vampire wandering in the dusk!”