“But,” Bella suddenly continued, “this works best on vampires like me. I’m a Halfling, plus I’ve never tasted human blood. So, it’s enough for me. But, there are vampires here who have tasted human blood and this usually isn’t enough for them. They need more, like a fix of their drug of choice, you know.”
Eva listened intently and kept nodding to everything Bella was saying.
“That’s why there are blood dealers. I know there are two: Sebastian is one, and there is another guy, but no one has ever seen his face and they don’t know who he is. You can just get in touch with him by leaving a message in that empty well, by the abandoned house.”
“The one in the far end of the campus, where no one ever goes?”
“Mhm,” Bella nodded. “It used to be a small dorm before, but now the roof’s collapsed, and it’s dangerous, so no one is allowed to go there.”
“I guess that’s exactly why it’s the perfect place to get what you need.”
“Exactly,” Bella confirmed.
“How do you contact him?”
Bella didn’t expect that question. She eyed Eva for a second, then that same doubt dispersed and she continued talking.
“You write your message on a piece of paper and leave it there, in the bucket, hanging by the well. You write what you need and leave the money. You’ll get your stuff the next day.”
“And no one knows who the guy is?”
“No.”
“Can’t they just hide and see when he comes?”
“He wears clothes that hide his face.”
“Then follow him on the way back, to see where he goes?”
“He’s very careful and knows when he’s being followed. All vampires do. And, besides, to those who need blood, it doesn’t matter who he is. They just want their fix. Who delivers it is irrelevant, as long as they get what they need.”
“I guess you’re right,” Eva nodded, “but, how do you know Sebastian does this?”
“It’s a public secret,” Bella told her. “He doesn’t care. He’s just doing it to piss off his parents, I think. He wants to get expelled but, of course, that will never happen, because he has nowhere else to go.”
“I see.”
“So, do you understand now why it’s not a good idea to hang around guys like him?”
“Because he’s dangerous?”
“Exactly, and because he doesn’t care about anything or anyone, that makes him even more dangerous.”
Bella’s words hung in the air, like a bad smell, unwilling to disperse and disappear. Eva couldn’t believe anyone so nice could be a criminal. But, then again, it was more and more obvious that things here usually weren’t what they seemed and Eva had to start getting used to that.
Chapter 11
On Monday morning, Eva delivered her project and slammed her locker door with a satisfying sigh at the end of the day. She was hoping to see Sebastian and make good on that coffee he’d suggested but she didn’t see him anywhere. Instead, another familiar face dropped by to say hi.
“Hey, you!” Frey grinned.
“Oh, hi,” she smiled back, a little awkwardly.
The memory of their kiss still lingered in her mind. She doubted she would ever forget it but she was sure she’d never tell him that. Guys just get cocky when they hear such things and Frey really didn’t need to get any cockier than he already was, otherwise his head might explode.
“I hope you’re not upset with me about the other night,” he continued, flashing his pearly whites as he spoke and Eva understood again why he was considered so irresistible.