[sakari09]

Grandma told me to never trust a street vendor; they sold anything without care if it hurt you or not. I paid no attention this time and ran up to a jewelry vendor. The man was ancient and had wrinkles upon wrinkles on his green skin.
He smiled widely when I neared him, “Well if it isn’t Kari Warlow! How can I help you today!”
I looked at all of the pieces until I found the one I had been looking at for a long time. It was a choker made of silver chain on which hung two wilting roses with thorny stems that twined together to form a heart. He wanted an arm and a leg for it.
“Still looking at the same thing that I’ll never be able to afford.” I sighed running my fingertip over it.
He sighed too and looked away; “You know I can’t sell it for any less. It’s just too valuable.”
Will came up behind me and glanced down at the necklace, “How much?”
I turned, “What! Will you don’t have to get it for me! It’s too much!”
He held up a hand to silence me and asked the vendor again, “Randolf…How much is the trinket?”
Randolf gulped, “For my Lord I will make it 900 gold coins from Dajer.”
Will dug in his pocket for a moment and came out with three silver-colored coins that had vines entangling them, “Will three Elvin coins due? I’m sure they’re worth more than the amount you asked for in Dajer currency.”
“Yes…of course my Lord! That’s more than enough. Elvin money is such a rarity these days!” Randolf exclaimed putting the choker into a velvet box, “The trinket is yours.”
He handed him the box and took the coins eagerly. Will grabbed my hand and drug me along the street without giving Randolf another word of thanks.
“Here. Consider it a rare gift from me.” Will said taking the choker out of its resting place.
I started to grab it but he beat me, “I’ll put it on you. It has a rather annoying clamp.” He lifted my long white hair away from my neck to put the choker on.
“You’re being really weird today…” I began but Will’s cold hand on my neck stopped me. He’d never touched me like that before.
I felt his breath on my neck as he leaned closer; I knew what was coming but I couldn’t find the words to stop him. He was thirsty, not for animal, but for me.
“Hey! He’s blood drinking in public!” A short tailor shop owner yelled from across the street, “Bind him!”
Before I could tell him that it wasn’t necessary, a crowd had formed around us from everyone who happened to be on the street and in the shops. Will was going to be punished and maybe even killed if I didn’t do something quick. I was shuffling through my brain for an escape plan when I heard chains being dragged from behind us. I knew then that I had to snap Will out of it.
I felt him take a quick breath behind me and suddenly we were scaling buildings. I guess we were criminals now. I felt terrible. After all, it was the court we were going to.
Will stopped on top of a hotel roof to take a breath, even though he didn’t have to breathe, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened to me. When the necklace clicked I lost control. I’m so sorry Kari.” He apologized.
I turned to look at him. Sweat was beading his forehead and the lines under his eyes looked more prominent; in other words, he looked like he was supposed to--dead.
“It’s ok. We all slip sometimes right?” I tried to comfort him.
He shook his head, “No. It will never be ok. I will never let that happen again. I will not do that to you without your consent.”
Will was as stubborn as an ass when it came to this subject. He didn’t believe in blood drinking from fairies like me. He always said it was too risky and would blur his senses.
“So you’re saying that if I say it’s ok to take a sip from me then you’ll take me up on my offer?” I asked out of curiosity.
He nodded, “Something like that.”
I looked at the looming gray castle in the distance that was the court, “Well. Let’s go apologize some more.” Will’s answer had surprised me and I didn’t want to say anything else to him at the moment.
Will slung me up on his back and off we went again.
…