Fallen Tears: A Blood Crave Novella (Blood Crave Series) Read online

  He just said he didn’t eat humans.

  Tilting his head back at her, he frowned slightly. “I wouldn’t do that to a child.”

  “Hey now,” she retorted back, annoyed. Feathers slightly ruffled, she gave a pout. “I’m twelve years old, almost thirteen. I am not a child.”

  He stared down at her for a moment, making Rowan suddenly feel uncomfortable. She awkwardly crossed her arms over her flat chest as she looked up at him, defiantly. “I may be small for my age right now, but I just haven’t hit my growth spurt yet.”

  Rowan really hated the fact that she still looked like a ten-year-old.

  “My apologies.” He raised his eyebrows, eyes slightly smiling. “I wouldn’t do that to a twelve-year-old. Is that better?”

  She sighed loudly, but had to admit she enjoyed the fact that he found her entertaining. She tried asking another question. “Then why are you here if you’re not going to hurt me?”

  Standing in front of her, he slowly raised a hand to the top of her head and patted it gently, his face serious. At first, Rowan was caught off guard at the cool contact of his hand against her. But she soon relaxed as she welcomed his touch, which almost seemed to have a familiarity to it.

  Like family.

  “Your heart cried out to me, Rowan. It reminded me of a time in my past and I had to come and stop your heart from crying.”

  Those words were profound to her. She couldn’t speak, but it was unnecessary. He heard every thought and every pain she’d felt since her dad died, leaving her all alone.

  The only thing she could do was rest her head against his chest as she stepped forward. Wrapping her small arms around his waist, she cried, finally releasing the anguish she kept buried deep inside for so long. He stood there silently, touching her head lightly as she sobbed. He waited to speak until she had cried out all the tears and just simply whimpered against him.

  “Are you okay?” His voice was low above her head but she heard a trace of concern.

  Embarrassed, Rowan withdrew her arms from around him and stepped back as she bowed her head. “Sorry.” Sniffing loudly, she wiped the remaining tears from her eyes using the back of both hands.

  “No need to apologize. I realize words can be a powerful way of expressing oneself. I truly didn’t mean to make you cry. It appears I still have a lot to learn.” He grinned faintly as if remembering something. Then he spoke again, almost in a whisper.

  “After all this time.”

  Rowan was quiet, thinking about what he had just said.

  He seemed sad, too.

  “I can teach you!” she exclaimed, the words rushing out of her mouth before she could even think.

  He raised an eyebrow at her sudden outburst, curious.

  She went on. “You know, things that you need to learn. I’m really smart! I used to get As in everything before … before …” Her words then trailed off softly as she remembered her past.

  “Before your father died.” He filled in the words she was struggling to say.

  “Yeah,” she answered softly. But then all of a sudden, she felt strange. For some reason, his words echoed over and over in her head as the world began to spin, her mind foggy. Looking up, she watched as his mouth moved, but was unable to understand him at all.

  It was blocked out by the sudden ringing in her ears.

  Blinking slowly up at him, she found his face to be hard and unsmiling. Then it all became a blur and for a second, just before she passed out, she thought she saw her father staring down at her. Although she knew he couldn’t be real and was only a figment of her imagination. But still, she silently wished for her father to come back.

  That was the last thing she remembered before everything went black.

  CHAPTER 2

  It was music that woke Rowan from her sleep. An unfamiliar sound, it was haunting yet calming. She lay peacefully on a soft surface, not wanting the music or the emotion of serenity that she was feeling to end. Breathing deeply, she finally opened her eyes as she blinked rapidly against the harsh lights that welcomed her. She realized she was lying on a white couch, a heavy jacket covering her body.

  “You’re awake,” a voice said, the music stopping abruptly as the last note hung in the air. Rowan’s heart ached as the fading melodic tones were replaced by silence. But she still tried to pay attention to the voice that interrupted the haunting music.

  The same man she had encountered earlier slowly walked toward her. His large body dressed all in black, he now blocked the harsh light from her eyes. He looked just the same as he did before, in this bright apartment. Eyes were as dark as onyx, midnight hair hung loosely around his face, and pale, gleaming skin was completely unblemished.

  So that really wasn’t a dream.

  She had thought the eerie man in the shadows had been nothing more than a figment of her imagination.

  I don’t even know his name.

  “Kaji.” He replied so casually, as if he hadn’t just read her mind.

  Rowan sat up, slowly removing the jacket that covered her. Clenching the material in her hand, she realized it was the same jacket he had draped around her earlier. Setting it aside, she brought her hands on her lap as she tested his name on the tip of her tongue.

  “Kaji,” she said, regarding him curiously. “That’s different.” And you thought my name was unusual?

  “Yes.” He seemed to like one-word answers.

  “Does it mean anything?” She voiced the question, then shook her head suddenly as she had an afterthought, her mouth forming a slight frown. “Wait a minute! You read my mind, again. I really don’t like when you do that so would you mind stopping?” She peered up at him anxiously, waiting for his answer.

  It really made her uneasy, his ability to easily read her mind. Who knew what she could be thinking at any given moment. Frankly, it wasn’t right for someone to know her innermost thoughts. She didn’t even keep a diary, for fear of someone reading it and exposing all of her true feelings.

  “Sure. I apologize for the intrusion.” He didn’t seem to care one way or another, his voice calm.

  “Okay, good.” With that settled, she relaxed her posture slightly. She realized Kaji had been holding something in his hand the entire time. She watched him as he set the object directly on her lap only to discover that it was a square, white plate with a sandwich neatly placed on it. She reached for it to discover that it was peanut butter. Smiling wide, she automatically brought the sandwich to her lips and took a huge bite, the taste of peanut butter filling her mouth as the paste coated her teeth.

  “You haven’t been eating,” he said, taking a seat across from her on a single sofa. Crossing his legs, he gave a stern look. “Feeding is of the utmost importance, no matter if you’re human or lamia. You shouldn’t let yourself get hungry to the point that it makes you weak and pass out.”

  Rowan took the last bite of her sandwich then licked her fingers, feeling blissful as she only halfway listened to his lecture. Then she grinned again, shocking Kaji at the suddenness.

  “Are you really a vampire?” She eyed him suspiciously as if she still didn’t quite believe him.

  Kaji rested back comfortably on the couch, placing his hands on his lap. “Yes. I can see saying lamia will be quite difficult for you.”

  She ignored his last remark. “Prove it to me. Let me see your fangs.” She tapped her own teeth for emphasis, needing more proof than just his ability to read her mind.

  Kaji raised his brow at her request but didn’t move a muscle.

  “Please?” Rowan clasped her fingers together as she begged him, looking across at him with a pleading tone, jutting out her lower lip. “Let me see them. I’ll just keep asking until you do. I can be annoying like that, you know,” she added with a gleam in her eye.

  Kaji still didn’t move from his position but finally spoke calmly, catching her gaze. “If I show you, you won’t ask again?”

  “I promise,” she responded immediately, nodding enthusiastically.
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  Rowan didn’t take her eyes off him as she watched Kaji slowly bring his index finger up to the corner of his mouth. He pushed his upper lip upwards, exposing his teeth, allowing her to see one long pointed tooth that glinted dangerously at her.

  Rowan swallowed hard, amazed at what she was actually seeing. Okay, so he was definitely telling the truth about being a vampire. She remained staring at him as he dropped his hand back into his lap, trying to figure out how someone like him even existed.

  Like, how come no one knew vampires were real?

  Her stomach suddenly growled at the thought as she glanced down at her now empty plate that was still situated on her lap. She grimaced, hoping Kaji hadn’t heard her protesting stomach. Then a thought flashed through her mind as she remembered the conversation they had earlier before she blacked out.

  She placed the plate down next to her then sat up straight, holding her hand out to him. “Let’s make a deal.”

  “A deal?” Kaji remained seated as he glanced down at her extended hand, then back up into her face.

  “Yeah,” she said firmly. She had to seize the opportunity, like her dad always said. “You said you still had a lot to learn. So how about I teach you how to be human and in return you feed me?”

  “Teach me to be … human?” he asked with raised brows.

  “Yeah!”

  “And all I’ll have to do is feed you?” He still looked skeptical at the notion.

  “Mmm-Hmm,” she said, nodding her head vigorously. She then glanced back longingly at the empty plate again. She sat up even straighter on the couch, hand still extended as she impatiently waited for his answer, ignoring the fatigue that was starting to set into her muscles.

  “Would you take that in blood?” He appeared serious.

  “Eww.” Rowan crinkled her nose up in disgust at his comment.

  He had to be joking.

  “I am lamia, after all.”

  “No.” She gave a little laugh at his poor joke, shaking her head. “See, Kaji. You still have a lot to learn. I mean, real food like that delicious peanut butter sandwich. Gosh, if you even supply the food I can make some great meals. I was always the cook at home.”

  She looked back at him with a frown as she thought of something else. “Kaji, can vampires eat?”

  “If we desire. But it’s really not necessary,” he said, grimacing at the thought. “I wouldn’t see the point.”

  “Great!” Rowan exclaimed, ignoring his latter statement. “Then I’ll cook for you, too. That’s a good deal, right?”

  Kaji didn’t say anything, just observed her for a moment, black eyes deep in thought. He finally broke the silence. “Shouldn’t you be with a proper family that’ll care for you?”

  All the happiness that had started to bubble up inside of Rowan instantly dissipated at his words. Shoulders slumped, she drew her hand back and looked down as she noticed a crack on the hardwood floor. She bit the inside of her cheek then breathed deeply as she glanced up into Kaji’s eyes. Somber eyes stared back at her, waiting.

  “No one wanted me.” She didn’t want to think of her time in foster care so she moved on, brushing it off as she gave a small shrug.

  “They weren’t that great of people, anyways. So I ran away. I thought it’d be better to be on my own than be where I’m not wanted. But I was wrong. It’s definitely been harder than I thought it would be. Stupid.” She banged the side of her head lightly with her fist, keeping her eyes as wide as possible to prevent any tears that threatened to fall.

  Kaji gazed attentively at her for a moment. “Better on your own than being where you’re not wanted.” He closed his eyes briefly as if contemplating something in his mind, so Rowan didn’t speak. It seemed like hours of them just staring at each other, but it was actually mere seconds. Then he finally spoke again.

  “Okay.”

  “Huh?” Rowan was confused by his comment.

  “Okay,” he said simply, giving a nod as he repeated it, his smooth black hair rustling against his shoulders. “I’ll agree to the terms you’ve created.”

  He stared back at her seriously. “Food for knowledge. It might be a good learning experience for me. But knowledge is a precious thing so I’ll do more than just feed you. I’ll take care of you as well. It isn’t safe for a girl your age to be out there alone in a city such as this.”

  “Really?” Her eyes lit up in happiness as she jumped up and down on her seat.

  “Yes.” Kaji got up abruptly from the couch and walked away. Rowan stood up and followed him, ending up in front of a strange-looking instrument. It was long like a piano but instead of keys, there were strings, like on a guitar. Kaji, standing in front of it, lightly fingered the strings with his hands as its rich sound vibrated throughout the room.

  “Kaji,” Rowan said, liking the sound of his name on her tongue. “Is that the instrument you were playing earlier?”

  “Yes,” he replied, nodding his head in affirmation.

  “What is it?” She walked closer, intently watching him as he played.

  “It’s called a koto, a Japanese instrument. I’ve had it for a very long time.”

  “It sounds really pretty. It makes me feel warm inside.” She wanted to touch it but felt apprehensive. Instead she decided to change the subject. “Did you really mean it? About our deal?”

  She did not want him suddenly backing out.

  “Yes.” As Kaji stopped playing, Rowan’s eyes went to his perfectly manicured fingernails lightly floating atop the strings. The last hum of the cord vibrated throughout the room. “You remind me of someone from my past—someone that I couldn’t protect.”

  “Oh?” Rowan observed Kaji with wide eyes.

  Who was she?

  “That story is better left in the past.” He looked directly at her. “And yes, I really meant it. One thing you’ll get to know is that I’ll always keep my word.”

  “Always?” she asked expectantly.

  He rested his hand on her head as he gave it a light pat. He looked out the window where the shining stars flickered brightly, as if listening to their conversation.

  “Always.”

  Rowan poked him lightly on the shoulder, causing Kaji to glance down at her. She smiled widely, her eyebrows raised innocently.

  “Would you mind making me another peanut butter sandwich, then?”

  He stared down into her shining eyes and for a moment, he felt an emotion that could only be described as happiness. He laughed and cracked a smile. Then glancing back at the sky, he noticed one star that seemed to be shining especially bright.

  This is what he had been missing—what the both of them had been missing.

  Family.

  CHAPTER 3

  That was how it was as the years went by: Rowan and Kaji. He fed her, provided her with shelter and protection. She, in turn, showed him what it was to be human.

  It was a strange relationship of sorts, the girl and the vampire. (Or, if going by Kaji, lamia.) But to Rowan, it was the only constant in her life. Kaji became the only person that she could rely on. The pain of her dad passing, and the hardships that she was put through slowly eased inside of her, until they were nothing more than memories. Memories that made her who she was today.

  Her anger and sadness subsided and it was all because of Kaji.

  He sheltered her from everything. Although lamia, she never actually saw him feed. In front of her he acted as any human would. His personality might have been a bit subdued but that was the only Kaji she ever knew. When he left the apartment every night she would lie in her bedroom as she stared up at the ceiling, knowing he was out there somewhere, feeding. But he would always come back as if nothing had happened. He would still eat the meals she’d prepare for the both of them. He would still watch the cartoon of her choice after she’d pestered him into finally buying a television.

  She never knew how long he had been lamia and how his life was before. She had asked him on numerous occasions about his past since th
ey first met but he always refused to respond. Rowan eventually gave up, realizing it was no use. He was—and continued to be—a complete mystery to her, but she accepted this life wholeheartedly. Kaji was also extremely stubborn, which would always be a problem with them because she was just as bad.

  Chuckling as these thoughts ran through her mind, she thought about the present matter at hand.

  “I got a job.” Rowan, now nineteen, viewed her reflection in the dresser mirror as she played with the mane of dark hair surrounding her face. Naturally curly, she preferred it straight, as it was now. She refused to live without her hair straightener.

  Although her curls had a tendency of making an appearance in the crappiest of weather, unleashing itself on the world.

  Ugh.

  Kaji glanced up with raised eyebrows as he caught her gaze in the reflection. Nowadays, he seemed to show more expression on his face than his usual stone-faced one, the one he had on persistently during those first few years.

  It had taken some practice on his part.

  He was sitting on the edge of her bed, flipping through a novel that he had picked up from her nightstand. He froze at her comment, then casually tossed the book aside. “Did you, now?”

  “Yup.” She turned around and faced him, giving a careless shrug. “It’s just at a coffee shop. Since I have no real educational experience, it was the only job I could find.”

  “Your lack of schooling is no one’s fault but your own. Had you not decided to drop out three years ago, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” Kaji looked up in the air in exasperation, muttering under his breath as he spoke to himself. “I should have compelled you.”

  “You promised you would never do that to me again,” she replied with a smirk, looking back at herself in the mirror.

  As lamia, Kaji possessed the power to influence people’s thoughts. He had done that to Rowan when they had first met all those years ago but promised her that wouldn’t happen again. He also promised not to read her mind, which she had been very adamant about, especially recently. There was one thing in particular she desperately didn’t want him to know.