The blood extraction process went relatively easy. Ben wasn't as gentle with her as I would have been, and, as I expected, she began to freak out when it came time to put the needle into her arm. Evidently she still wasn't used to seeing blood... though somehow had attracted two vampires—who feasted on blood—in the past half a year... and was potentially poisonous to them.

Work out those odds.

While Ben busied himself prepping her arm, I used all my knowledge of her to distract her—asking her about her favourite songs, books, talking about vampire lore. She responded to everything just as I had expected. Even teased me for saying my favourite song at the moment was Diane Young by Vampire Weekend. Little did she know she introduced me to them as a joke shortly after finding out what I am...

Things were going so well that Ben even cracked a joke, causing a smile to appear on her face again.

But after he winked at her—I couldn't believe the sight myself—her face didn't take long to fall. She didn't trust any gestures from him anymore. Only words would be enough proof.

As Ben finally removed the needle from her arm, closing up her wound, I took the vial of blood from the caddy and walked over to the workbench. Ben joined me not much later as I had already set up the petri dish, reaching for a spare vial of my blood I had stored in the fridge —anticipating one of these days we might test her. I just didn't expect it to be today.

But as I poured my blood into the dish, I glanced back at Ollie to see how she was holding up, only to see a confused expression washing her face.

"My blood," I explained, wondering if that's what this was about. "We took it earlier."

I turned back to the lab setup in front of me. Using a pipet to syphon up some of Ollie's blood—it's sweet, fruity scent caressing my nose—I dripped a couple of drops into the dish.

Immediately on impact, the blood began to bubble.

And, rippling out from where her blood landed, the liquid began to turn purple.

It continued to pop and froth at the edges, almost behaving like an acid.

"No way," I gasped.

"What?" Ollie asked from behind us, getting up and coming between me and Ben. She craned over the bench to get a look at the petri dish, her own mouth falling open in shock.

"Ben... go get some meat or something from the kitchen," I told him, wanting to test what her blood could really do... how it could kill something. Was it just a poison that would spread through the heart, making it seize? Or... were my assumptions correct about the acidic state, meaning it could potentially be corrosive?

He came back not much later with a full chunk of steak. I cut off a piece and, ever so carefully, picked it up with tweezers, being sure to not let any of her blood touch my skin. If bond invitations (extending both ways) protected the other party, then this is why her blood never phased me before. Now that I wasn't immune to her shocks...

The moment the steak collided with the purple liquid, it began to feast on the flesh until it dissolved into the liquid.

Rüdiger I dare you to touch a hair on Ollie's head. With the right preparation, she will take you down, I immediately thought as I watched the last bits of meat turn to goop amongst the purple.

"That's what my blood would do to you?" she whispered, fear masking her tone.

But I turned to look at her, grin on my face as I hoped she wouldn't be sad about this.

The reality was, she wasn't going to hurt us... Only my uncle. This whole idea to take him out was her plan.

She once said she'd kill him herself... maybe her wish could come true.

If I just separated her and Ben, then I could give her back her memories and...

I quickly shook away the thoughts.

Ben has one final chance to confess, I reminded myself. If he does, I can... spend the rest of my life being her friend.

But if he doesn't... I will make her mine again.

Though as ready as I was to fall into the spiral of hope again, another thought popped into my mind.

But she can't be mine until this is all over... because a witch can still access our bond line...

I internally sighed, realising I was back to square one again.

"What's wrong?" Ben then asked, calling me to glance back at Olivia. Ben had his hand on her shoulder, eyes seeming to ooze affection, though still that fleck of something lingered behind... what is it?

"A small amount of my blood will kill you," she whispered to him.

Oh Ollie...

"Lukas, yes. But probably not me," Ben said.

Show off.

Ollie's brows furrowed in response to him, but Ben grabbed out a vial from the fridge—his own blood.

Was this why he was down here so long? I wondered. Is this why he hadn't told her yet? Was he worried for his own safety?

"This is mine," Ben told her before grabbing another petri dish and pouring his blood in. Picking up the vial that had the rest of her blood, he tipped it in. They both leaned in, watching, though nothing changed. The reds mixed together, their scents becoming one. There was no shift to purple. Not even a slight ripple.

"I don't understand..." Ollie said. "Is it because your mum was human?"

Come on, Ben... it's an opening. Tell her about the bond.

"No," Ben whispered. "It's something else." He stared at her for an immeasurable amount of time and then made an audible gulp.

He's nervous...

Should I go?

Should I leave them alone?

But my feet were glued on the spot, stomach churning at the idea that he might actually confess... That he'd really take her away from me.

Though the longer he didn't say anything, the more her eyes began to glisten.

"I'm going to the bathroom," she mumbled, and darted out of the room, the door thudding behind us as we listened to her footsteps retreating down the hall.

For a few beats of my heart, I watched the closed door, worried for her. Wondering how to make her pain go away... wondering if perhaps the best thing for her was for me to mediate between them until they were together. Until Ollie had whatever her heart desires. Until—

But suddenly another set of footsteps sounded in the hallway.

Shit... Jade. My plan.

She pushed open the door, walking to the back of the room and taking a seat. "How's it going?" she asked.

"She's a fairy," I said, turning to look at her. "Her blood will corrode the flesh of any vampire who tries eat from her."

"What?" Jade gasped, eyes flickering between us.

But then she looked at Ben, a crease worrying between her brows.

Suddenly, her grip tightened against the armrests of the chair, and I felt the force of the spell seeping through the room.

Without any ounce of magic in him, Ben was unaware of its presence.

But Jade was doing as instructed—casting the deadening spell.

Now, we wouldn't know when Ollie would come back.

So I figured it was time to lay it all out in the open. "Now we know what she is and that she can't hurt you, Ben, what's your next move with her?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" he replied.

"I mean... is it bond time?"

His brows furrowed. "We literally just found a way to kill your uncle and you're still worrying about my relationship with her?"

Why did he almost seem... angry? "That's the pressing issue... isn't it?" I asked. He said earlier that he wanted to see how this goes before confessing... did he not? Now that he knew he couldn't be hurt by being with her—

"Just... I still don't know about the bond. I need more time with her. I just want to focus on the task at hand. At helping you."

Fine. If he wants to talk about that... "Helping me? There's no way to help me in all this because I know just as much as anyone regarding what Ollie can do and how she slots into our plans. This is a shock to everyone, not just you. We have never heard of such creatures before because my uncle attempted to wipe them out before you and I were born. The record of their existence doesn't even exist anywhere in the world except where Ollie is from. Not only do we not know what we are getting into with her, but we don't know how to deal with her blood. We don't know what she can even do. Weren't you yourself concerned about bringing her into this world?"

"That's when I thought she could still be human..." he whispered.

"When she was closer to being like your mother?"

Looking me in the eyes, he gave me a small nod.

"Well she's not. And we need to think about what this means in strategy. She needs to digest what it means for her own identity to be a fairy. At the end of the day, she doesn't know a thing about me or my uncle except from what you told her. Based on—" I fumbled for my words, trying to make sure I didn't reveal too much. "Based on what you have said about her, maybe one day she will want to offer her blood to us as a way to take him out. But... you've scared her off enough, Ben. Don't make her think this was all you were after."

But that look that took hold of his face began to worry me that I had just hit a nail on the head...

"But we should get some of her blood now while she is here... just in case," he said.

Cocking an eyebrow, I replied, "Just in case? Surely you're going to keep her around for a long time so she can come to that conclusion when she's ready. Besides, we can search for other options in the meantime."

Confirming my fears, he said, "Her blood is the solution we've been looking for."

Don't... don't tell me you played with her heart... with mine... just to try getting in my good books, Ben.

But while one part of me was breaking at the idea that this boy did not reciprocate her feelings, the part of me still holding onto our bond invitation was rejoicing. I might still be able to have Ollie... If I just convince Ben to let her go...

"But I don't think we should take it from her now. She can make up her mind over time if she wants to do that," I repeated, hoping he'd reveal more to confirm or deny my assumption.

"She's drifting from me," he then said. "I don't know how much longer she's going to want to stick around me."

Stick around? You've been toying with her because you know Ollie, with her kind heart, would do anything for someone she cares about? You sick, twisted—

"Maybe if you sealed the bond and told her everything," I tried again, trying to get him to outright confess he didn't want her. Hoping she was listening when he did.

But again, his response confused me on where he stood. "Lukas, I've uprooted her life by telling her everything in those mythology books are real. I can't just throw that on her. Besides... she doesn't seem to want that anymore."

I don't understand him... does he want her? Is this some trick? "Yeah, because you wouldn't kiss her during truth or dare," I replied, wondering if my confusion was obvious in my tone.

"I can't just kiss her like that. You know what would happen. I can't just put that on her when we barely know each other." But his eyes weren't full of worry for the girl he was talking about. Instead... they were full of longing. Longingly staring at me.

"I just think she should make the decision herself regarding whether she wants to give her blood," I said once more, knowing this was the triggering phrase for him to reveal more about what he was thinking. But when logic kicked in, I added, "And, besides, the blood is probably only good for a short period, so we'd have to use it soon."

There wasn't nearly enough time to strategise how to take my uncle out with the month at most we'd have with her blood. And did the toxic effects disappear over time? I'd have to study it... 

If Ben wasn't sure if he wanted to be with her, meaning Ollie was still going to her home far away from my protection every day...

She had to be close where we could guard her constantly if I was going to go kill my uncle with her blood.

If things went awry and he went after her, knowing what the blood was...

"Lukas..." Ben whispered. "She could run from me at any moment. And if she's gone... we have nothing. Don't you want him gone?"

That finally did it. It was finally enough to confirm what I feared. He was buttering her up so that she'd agree to us taking her blood. So that we could use her. He played with her all this time for me... for my mission.

What would he say if he knew I was doing all this for her, though?

So I whispered, "What if you scare her away doing this? Don't you care about Olivia's feelings more?" Because how could he possibly even have a bond invitation... how could it exist if he really was so infatuated with me that he'd use a girl who clearly liked him for the sake of helping me? I had to be wrong.

And then he said, "I think getting rid of Rüdiger who tortured my best friend and wants to wipe out human beings is a little more pressing than the feelings of a girl I barely know."

As I stared at him, lost for words, while his eyes clouded with guilt and yearning, the door opening broke our eye contact.

Our heads both whipped around to Olivia, and his heart rate sped.

You're only scared because you wanted to use her and you think she will run from us now... I'll ask Ollie myself one day. You stay away from her, I venomously thought to him. But as Ollie and Ben stared at each other, utter betrayal oozing from her face and Ben's eyes clouded in fear, I decided to stay out of this, letting Ben's lack of ability to communicate mess this up further.

"When did you get here?" Ben asked, trying to stay calm, but I could hear the slight waver to his voice, the squeakiness.

Ollie responded by walking past him, over to the chair that Jade had gotten off. Then she began to roll up her sleeve.

To Olivia right now, Jade and I weren't here. This was between her and Ben. Eyes locked on him, she said, "Take what you need." She's had it with him, I realised. I know that look...

"Ollie—" I started, hating seeing the tears already welling in her eyes while Ben continued to stand still, not saying or doing anything.

But then Ben said, "Thank you, Olivia." He darted to her side and began to prep her again for blood withdrawal, this time setting up a bag instead of a vial.

We all stood where we were on our parts of the room, rooted to the floor.

Jade, as per the spell she was under, ignored Olivia from her spot.

I stood still in shock to see her heart shattering in front of me.

This is what I wanted... I thought. But why do I hate seeing it?

Ben was more determined than ever, though I could see the hints of relief in his eyes as he watched the blood bag fill.

When the bag was full, he pulled the needle from her arm, placed a bandaid over the mark, and, in a disinterested tone, said, "You have to stay seated for the next half an hour and also eat something."

Numbly, Ollie nodded and climbed out of her chair, mumbling, "I'll be in the kitchen."

Jade followed, as per the spell I had put her under, guiding Ollie upstairs.

"Are you..." I started the moment the door closed. "Are you going to explain to her?"

Ben focussed on labelling the blood bag and putting it in the fridge. "We've accomplished what we need from her. What's there to explain?" But even though the comment sounded horrible, he lacked conviction to his tone.

Pointing upwards in the direction of the kitchen, I said, "That's not how you keep friends, Ben. You don't obviously tell them you were using them the whole time. You could have just told her you didn't want to be with her romantically. You could have told her about the bond and said you want to break it."

"Breaking it requires a rejection through kissing," he hissed. "I don't want my first kiss with her."

Closing my eyes, I breathed a heavy sigh, trying to not let the anger overtake me. "Or you could explain that you two would need to be apart for a while?"

His head snapped up, eyes assessing me. "What do you even care? You don't know her."

"What..." But he had me there. Ollie and I didn't know each other that well in his eyes... "She seems like an innocent person in all this, getting hurt for no reason."

"What's it to you?"

"What's it to me? I'm not an absolute scheisskopf, that's what!"

"Did you just... did you just call me a shithead?" Ben spat, coming over at me. "After everything I just did for you—"

"I didn't ask you to break the one person who'd probably ever like you!" I shouted back. Even though things had worked in my favour, I hated knowing Ollie had been hurt like this. If Ben never liked her like that in the first place... he could have gone about this all in a way where neither of our hearts would have been broken. But Ben always messed things up when his emotions were involved. When I was involved.

I watched his face fall, the cracks slowly spreading across his face. "You... nothing I do will ever be enough, will it?"

Again, I took a few deep steady breaths and told him what he had to hear. What I had been avoiding admitting all this time in fear of hurting him. But after what he did to Ollie... "I will never like you like that, Ben. You are, and forever will be, like an annoying little brother to me."

"Annoying?"

The front door upstairs slammed shut, meaning Ollie had just left. Glancing upwards, I knew I should have just let her go. I shouldn't have said anything to Ben. But even still... even though he was an absolute jerk who didn't deserve her, I said, "This is your last chance to chase her and clear up any miscommunications. If she goes home like this... she may never trust you again. Surely a part of you liked her."

But then he said what we both knew. "I like you more. And I always will..."

"Ben... I'm never going to feel about you like that."

"Is it because of that girl you brought to your room that time?"

My jaw went tight. "What girl?"

"Don't lie to me."

Letting out a shaky sigh, I lied, "It was that human I mentioned... the one I had sex with."

"Not a one and done thing then like you told everyone else?" he accused, crossing his arms over his chest as his eyes welled with tears.

Jaw clenched, I shook my head.

"Why would you bring her here and hide her from us?"

"Because... I gave her another potion."

"But why show her?"

"Because sometimes, Ben, I just want to be my true self around someone."

His face softened slightly as he whispered, "You could be your true self around me."

"Are we seriously back to this?"

Just as quickly, the anger and hurt returned. "Fuck you, Lukas."

"No. Fuck you for hurting an innocent person in all this. You pretended you cared about uprooting her life. Now imagine she was shown a world of mythical creatures and finds out she is one, only for all of them to be a reminder of the guy who broke her heart!"

"She barely knew me," he said back, but I saw the flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"That doesn't change how she felt. You at least wanted to be her friend. Friends don't do this to each other."

But rather than trying to argue with me more, rather than explaining himself, he stormed out of the room and up the stairs.

I hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room where everything unfolded. But as I came out of the hallway, foot pressing against the first step, I heard Ben's voice echo through the house.

"Did she... Was she okay?" he asked Jade.

"She said she doesn't want to see you for a while. That she will contact you when she does."

"Okay," Ben breathed. "That makes sense." Then he shuffled up to his room.

Why can I still hear guilt in his voice? I wondered.