Chapter 5 V

"Are you someone who can't eat this kind of thing?"

"Excuse me. What do you mean?" She asked, pretending she didn't know what he was talking about.

"I don't think there would be anyone in this country who couldn't eat salad...No wait, I can think of some people who can't..." He frowned. "Vampires. As far as I know, they can only consume blood and beverages. I heard that as soon as they eat foods like this, their blood stops circulating and they feel excruciating pain..."

"How did he know I was a vampire?" She wondered. "He is probably trying to get me to blow my cover like this...Should I say I have a stomachache and get the hell out of here? No,then he'd know for sure I'm a vampire... What do I do? Neither option sounds good."

Her hand trembled as she reached for the fork in the tray and he frowned as he noticed it. "... Maybe...I shouldn't have said..." His voice trailed off as she shoved in a forkful of salad into her mouth.

"Oh,I'm sorry for eating while you were still talking. It smelled so good to resist." She said,her mouth full.

"I never knew this restaurant's food tasted so good...and I pass by everyday...I'm so going to finish this because I'm starving. Do you want a piece?"

"No, I'm fine." He replied.

"Oh, what were you saying earlier?" She asked.

" Don't worry about it. Finish your meal."

Her phone rang and she hurriedly slipped it out of her bag. It was Roshan.

"Excuse me, I have to take this." She said and rose from her seat headed for the restroom.

She raked her fingers through her hair as she flushed the toilet,once she felt there was no more food to throw up. It had been so difficult trying to keep the food down. She had Roshan to thank though.

She turned on the faucet to rinse her mouth and wash her hands before she sat on the bowl.

Drained, she sighed as she raised her head to look at the ceiling.

"I was able to narrowly avoid getting caught this time, but I really need to be more careful." She sighed and made a quick prayer before she headed out of the restroom.

Kaiwan had stopped eating by the time she got back.

"Um.. I'm really sorry but I have to go." She said.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, looking worried.

"No, it's just that classes are starting soon."

"I'll walk you to school." He said and made to rise when she stopped him. "There's no need to, I'll go on my own."

"It's not a big deal. I could just..."

"Thanks for treating me to lunch. See you some other time." She said as she picked up her bag and zoomed out of the restaurant like someone who was chased and unknown to her, with Kaiwan's eyes clinging onto her back until he couldn't see her anymore.

"I'm finally free." She smiled to herself as she headed for school.

The president of the students council thrust a knife into the air. "It's time for us to take matters into our own hands. Let's prove that we're not vampires. Vampires are said to have powerful healing ability, so..."The entire members of the school's student council raised their hands and pulled down their sleeves to reveal bloody stained bandages on their arms.

"What?They all cut themselves?" A girl asked.

"The entire student council did it."

"And what do we do if we find a vampire?" Someone asked.

"We're gonna turn them over to the police immediately. They can't use their strength when the sun's out... I know this is extreme but I'll have no choice but to suspect you if you refuse to join...Do you really want to argue over exposing vampire's when we can get killed at any moment?" The president asked.

"That's right."

"I think that proactively proving we're not vampires is a good thing to do for each other and in a broader sense,for the good of the school and the society." Another member of the council said.

"Everyone get your arms out." Another said.

"This is too extreme." A student complained.

"This is so messed up."

"I'm not doing this."

"Why are you looking at me like that? Fine, I'll do it."Another student yelled.

This was the scene Zuriña was walking into and she wondered if this was how she was going to die.

She needed to stay calm and forget about going to class. She had to get out of there as fast as she could...

"Excuse me."Someone called from behind her as she turned to leave and she panicked, knowing she was done for if she was forced to do the test.

The person grabbed her and her head whirled round to see it was Kaiwan. "Just start walking." He said and pulled her with him as he went.

Two members of the council suddenly materialized in front of them with a frown on their face."Have you done the test to prove you're not a vampire?" One asked

"We'll just cut you lightly with a scalpel. It'll just be enough to draw blood. The cut will be treated right away." The other explained and Kaiwan tried to drag her out of the scene when two other members obstructed them.

"It looks like you're trying to avoid the test. So you better do it if you have nothing to hide."

"It isn't right for you to suspect me without a proper reason. You can't force me do something like this against my will."Riña blurted.

"How can you say that... when you know what happened at school?" The vice president asked.

"I know... what happened..."She was saying when one of them grabbed her other hand.

"Then do it."

She broke into a cold sweat. She was screwed if she was found out. She felt her sleeve lifting and she closed her eyes. "I can't do this..."

"Huh?"

She slowly opened her eyes and was surprised to see a blood stained bandage on her arm.

"See? We already did it. Do you need more proof?" He asked as she slid down her sleeve.

"That's right...Wasn't it enough that you forced me against my will earlier? And now, you want me to do it again?" she stuttered.

This must be the bandage he used when he got hurt earlier. She thought.

"She could have gotten the bandage anywhere." The president said as he walked up to them.

"He said she already did it..."

"I wasn't able to see you do the test, so I need you to do it again." He said and her eyes widened. Was this it? How she'd get caught?She couldn't think of a way out of this.

He reached out to grab her arm when Kaiwan grabbed his and gave it a rough squeeze. "Listen, she's not on the operating table. Cutting her more than once is enough, don't you think?And by the way, it's a crime to go around using a blade on others without their will. Unless all of you want to be charged with a crime, I suggest you stop now."

"What do you think you're doing? Let go of me."He yelled.

"I understand how you feel, but let us go." Kaiwan said.

"Why would I? I don't trust either of you. We need to catch these vampires today, no matter what it takes. We're even prepared to get expelled."

"I can see you're really determined..."A smile crossed his handsome face as he slipped out his ID card. "...But I'm prepared to risk my life to catch vampires."

"A cop?" They asked, dumbfounded.

"Is this enough proof for you? Oh, and just to let you know. This student is on her way to the police station to assist in the investigation. Do you want to tag along?"

"No..." They stammered and she raised grateful eyes to him.

Later that night, Zuriña turned to her little siblings who were already sleeping when her phone buzzed. and she lifted her phone. It was a text from Detective Miller.

"Hi, this is Detective Kaiwan. If you're ever in any trouble, feel free to contact me."

"I barely escaped earlier."She thought to herself.

"You have a boyfriend no, don't you?"

Her head whipped round to look at her widely awake siblings.

"I thought you guys were sleeping."

"I can tell it's a guy just from the way you're typing." Henry said.

"I can feel the excitement." Rietta smiled and she scowled.

"Go to bed already. And can you please talk like normal elementary school kids?"

The kids laughed and she waited for them to fall asleep before her mind drifted back to the detective. He was no ordinary person...but why did he just let her off earlier?

She didn't know for sure, but...she felt he wasn't a bad person.

Meanwhile, Kaiwan walked out of his rooftop apartment with a sigh. He took out a lighter and ran his finger around the tip as he took out his phone. "I didn't think I'd run into one like this..." He ran his fingers around the lighter as he looked down at Riña's picture. "I finally found the pureblood."