One strand of hair
Water running from the facet had become white noise lost to the thoughts that clouded her senses. Hands gripped the edges of the sink counter, nails clicked on the surface of the side. The long salmon hair was draped over shoulders, begging to be submerged into the water below that was just now starting to puddle in the sink dish.
Looking up from the facet, eyes making contact with themselves. Melancholy cerulean eyes traced the features of the chalky skin, from the edges of the bangs to the bottom of her chin and then finally landing back on sharpened teeth. Last night's blood was still resting inside bringing any vampire at ease, but the events that followed the feeding caused her own stomach to flip and grow nauseous.
Luka debated on hiding in her apartment to settle with jumbled thoughts on why and how? Though the blood sucker knew better to not do so, she had a reputation to upkeep and everyone would notice the disappearance. Living in an apartment complex that was run and only housed to the vampire colony was a splendid idea, house your own and teach your own. It was faster to make vampires this way and protect each other, as well as to claw and fight your way up the chain and be the leader.
The mentally exhausted woman shut the cool water off and dried her hands on the nearby towel. Bare feet carried its owner from off the bathroom tile to the sofa in the living. Luka slumped down to the cushions, having the creamy fabric hug the worn soul. Neck resting on the back of the couch, eyes closed but still looking through lost thoughts. “Why?”
The young werewolf still tainted her mind, from the dirty sneakers to the messy teal hair tied in pigtails. During last night’s supper, Luka tried to take note as much as she could on the shifter. From her fair skin, bright turquoise eyes that had flecks of green, to the two necklaces she had draped over her chest. Luka couldn’t judge Miku fully as the werewolf she was till she was in wolf form, then a full evaluation could be calculated in the vampire’s mind. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is nothing to judge in the mind of Luka.
The phone buzzed on the table in front of Luka, causing dread to bubble in her stomach. Reaching out over her own limbs to fish for the device, sliding a thumb over the screen to see the caller ID.
Kagamine Rin.
“Hello Ms. Kagamine,” Luka tried to sound excited to speak to the blonde.
“Oh Luka, stop it. You are always so formal with me!” Rin laughed. Luka gave a small chuckle but her face stayed neutral. She knew better to treat the Kagamine twins with respect, they were older and a few ranks above herself. If she did cause any disrespect, Luka would never hear the end of it or possibly earn new scars from the other vampires.
“What do you need? I’m trying to rest after last night's hunt.”
“Oh you know, the usual.”
“You don’t have a usual.” Luka stated. Rolling her eyes, to have them land on the bloody shirt from last night sitting on the stool at her small bar. The dark rich liquid had long lost its color to fade to a rust against the white, finally revealing the loose strand of hair that was stuck to the fabric. Turquoise.
“Luka? Hello? Are you listening to me?” Rin snapped on the phone as if she bit the person’s ear off on the other end. “I said, I need you downstairs in the diner tonight. We have big plans to discuss those mutts.”
“Ah, yes of course Ms. Kagamine.” She nodded, having the weight rock her toward to stand from the sofa. “I’ll of course be there, you know me. No one hates werewolves more than you and I.”
“Good girl!” Rin sparked a happy tune once again. “Love to stay and chat, but I have some young blood to shape into fine vamps like you. Bye bye!”
With that the call ended quickly. Luka sat the phone on the bar as she approached, switching to pick up the shirt. How did her hair end up on the shirt? They spent so little time together and only were face to face after Miku had tested the vampire. How? It didn’t make sense to Luka.
Werewolves were known to shed, in human form, a little less than wolf. Still it was enough to leave a small trace on Luka’s shirt, and was able to be easily seen by her own eyes. If she didn’t catch it and a fellow vampire walked in, she would be toast. Worst case would be the Kagamine twins, they would sniff out the truth and know Luka didn’t kill the wolf. It would only bring Miku harm if she hadn't been caught first.
Then again, she didn’t care. Right? They only shared a few moments in the forest, agreeing to meet up and educate one another about their species. If the she-wolf got caught and harmed, why shouldn’t it matter? She shouldn’t, but why does she care so much now?
“Curse you mother.” Luka referenced a time before she became a vampire a few centuries ago, her mother warning her that Luka’s heart was too big and would cause her trouble. She was right, more than just this count. Luka a decade ago had begged the colony to leave a group of high schoolers alone and weren’t worth their vampire lifestyle. Only due to the fact they had befriended Luka while she had spent time at the local library, they often invited her to do other activities. Hiding in the dust cover shelves, pouring herself into worn pages only to be tempted into an old forgotten lifestyle. It was a reminder of a life she could have had if it wasn’t for the desire to feast.
This time though, if she put her neck on the line for a werewolf. It might cost her life. Other parts of the nation had vampires and werewolves living side by side without an issue, but in this state, it couldn’t be the same. The werewolves were being hunted in the last location and escaped, their numbers hurt and still rebuilding. The vampires were loners, till half of century ago the colony set up and built their hideout. It’s been a struggle to see who can survive, recently the blood has been thick and spilling over leaving stains on both communities.
Luka had to show face tonight to Rin at least and make effort in discussing a way to chase out the pack, then she can focus on handling the Miku meeting in the next night.