Feelings

-----Yui's POV

After a while of playing in the ocean with Undine, Ona, Sicily and Lillian, we all exited the water before heading back over to everyone else. It was then that I felt jealous of Sicily and Lillian as they put on their dry clothes, whereas I'm standing here with dripping wet clothes that now feel like I'm carrying a whole other person with me from the weight alone, and that's not to mention the wind crashing against me, making me shiver in place. Undine and Ona had very little clothing since they don't feel the cold as much as humans so they looked to be fine, which means I'm the only one who's suffering...

Natalie: "Ellen!~"

I didn't realize since I was out in the water, but at some point, Natalie must've left as now I can see her running back while carrying some things. It was when she got closer that I realized that it was spare clothes and even some towels as well.

Natalie: "Here, allow me. I can't have you getting sick."

She immediately went ahead and began to dry my hair with a towel after letting down my ponytail. The towel alone brought me warmth as I clung to it while Natalie continues to dry my hair.

Natalie: "I brought with me towels for everyone, please dry yourselves."

Undine/Lillian: "Thank you."

Ona/Sicily: "Thanks."

Yeah, Natalie sure saved me just now. I'm not too sure how we'll deal with my clothes since I'm for sure not undressing everything while being out here. I'm not a nudist like those two.

Yui: "Thanks, Natalie."

Natalie: "Let's take you back and get those clothes off of you."

I was surprised that she suggested that since I would've thought she'd just start stripping me right here and now, so it makes me happy that she's considering my feelings right now.

Yui: "Mm, okay. Does everyone else want to come up to my place?"

Fleur: "Ah-uhm."

Faye: "Sorry."

Ah, right. Yeah with how many maids and butlers we have up in the mansion, I'm sure Fleur and Faye would just be even more uncomfortable than they already are.

Neri: "We'll head back to our place, lady Ellen."

Ona: "But we'll join you!"

Undine: "Yeah. Our carriage will be arriving soon anyways."

Well, at least I'll have some company, although I would've preferred for Kaede to also come with us. Also I'm surprised that Mell has remained asleep through all of this commotion, it's almost like Kaede's just carrying around a dead person, however the slight movement of Mell's chest when she breathes does reassure me that she's alright.

Lillian: "Thank you for the swim though, Yui."

Sicily: "Mhmm! It was like I was back home in a way."

The two elf sisters share a smile with one another as Natalie finished drying my hair, wrapping a towel around my body.

Natalie: "Then we'll be off."

Kaede: "I'll see you soon then."

Yui: "Mm!"

And with that, we went our separate ways. I would've hugged Kaede, but with her carrying Mell and the fact that I'm still dripping wet, I'd only be getting both of them wet in the process. So instead, we smile at one another before splitting off, with Undine, Ona, Natalie and I heading up the hill to the mansion, and Kaede and the others entering their house.

-----Kaede's POV

With Neri closing the door behind us, we all move into the lounge area and relax. Fleur and Faye both seem to be happy now that we're back with only monsters around.

Neri: "Kaede... We need to talk."

But the same couldn't be said for me. Back at the beach, I could tell that Neri was skeptical about Mell, and now with this talk being brought to my attention, I do think I'll need to come clean. It's not like Mell can pretend being asleep forever.

Kaede: "Mell, you can wake up now."

And with Mell opening her ears, she now exposes herself to Neri. Both Fleur and Faye didn't look surprised by this, nor did Neri. But Sicily and Lillian were both startled by Mell's eyes. Mell herself looks to be worried as Neri gives both of us a stare; not that I can even see Neri's eyes thanks to the mask.

Neri: "Hah~ You're really pushing it now, Kaede."

I can tell she's pissed, but I stand my ground, letting Mell now stand on her own feet just in case this gets into a fight. I don't want to hurt Neri, but if it comes down to protecting Mell, then I have no choice.

Neri: "Let me guess. You were actually the one who was responsible for Faye becoming a vampire. Is that correct?"

Kaede: "..."

I stay silent as Mell shifts behind me as Neri approaches me closely. I've been free from my collar for a while now, so I'm confident in my ability to win in a fight, but right now the best thing I can do right now is keep calm. Fighting here will only make matters worse.

Neri: "Why?"

Mell: "Because we're family!"

Surprisingly, Mell was the one to speak for me despite being cautious behind me.

Neri: "You're most certainly family now."

Kaede: "It was her wish. I did not do this for my own selfish needs."

A white lie, but still the truth as well. Sure it was Mell's wish, but deep down, I knew I didn't want to see Mell die before me. And with her not smelling like food anymore, it really does make us seem more like family now. Our bond feels like it's grown ten-fold in fact.

Neri: "That's not acceptable. I'm aware you can coax people into thinking things, manipulating their thoughts and actions. Sure it might be the truth now, but what stops you from manipulating someone else, thinking that they want to be a vampire?"

Kaede: "That won't happen."

Neri: "So you say now, but that can all change, can't it?"

Kaede: "..."

Neri: "I will be reporting this."

She finally steps away from me as the tension subsides a little. That's when I noticed everyone else had been keeping silent, watching us with worried expressions. I let out a sigh as I collapse onto the couch, with Mell joining next to me.

Fleur: "I knew something was off."

Faye: "Yeah, and you probably gave the secret away, sis."

Fleur: "...I'm sorry, Kaede."

Kaede: "It's fine. I couldn't have kept it a secret for long."

Sicily: "But wow. So now this house is quite literally a house of monsters."

Lillian: "4 vampires and 2 elves... This might be the most dangerous house in all of Yarene."

She's right. Thanks to me, I've made things quite complicated. Vampires are monsters that have been extinct, and now 4 are now dwelling here in just a singe house. Of course problems would bound to come up. I don't have any ill-intentions towards Yarene and the queen, but I can see how people could be scared. It'll be an uphill battle, but maybe slowly I can make people see us as just people who want to live normally, changing their views on vampires.

Kaede: "I wonder if elves can become vampires?"

Sicily: "Don't even joke about that, hehe."

Kaede: "Pfft, sorry."

Lillian: "Well, even if it's not a joke, I'd say it's highly unlikely."

Kaede: "Hmm? Are elves special or something?"

Lillian: "No, but we do inherit a high amount of resistance to diseases and other sicknesses."

I wonder if those resistances played a role in them deciding to swim in the cold ocean...

Lillian: "So I'd imagine that vampires would find it hard to infect us."

Kaede: "Hehe, then shall we test it?"

Sicily: "I can't even tell if you're joking or not."

Kaede: "I'm kidding, I'm kidding~"

It's too risky to just simply "test" if Sicily and Lillian can even turn into vampires. So far there's no way to reverse it so unless some kind of antidote were to be made, then I'm not even going to attempt that experiment. Plus that'll make the issue right now with Neri even worse...

Mell: "I'm sorry if I've causes you problems, mom."

Kaede: "It's okay. We'll get through this. We just have to play nice and make sure everyone knows we can function together with others."

Mell: "Mhmm!"

Fleur: "How do you feel by the way, Mell?"

Mell: "I feel great!"

Fleur: "Really?"

Faye: "Well that's because there's no one else around. You feel good right now as well I'd bet."

Fleur: "I suppose you're right, hehe."

Faye: "But this would mean you need to feed three of us now, right?"

Kaede: "Y-yeah..."

It's bad enough with feeding Fleur and Faye, but now with Mell thrown into the mix? Yeah I really need to find a different source of-

Sicily: "What if we help?"

Fleur: "What?!"

Lillian: "Hmm. Good idea. I don't feel comfortable with Kaede having the burden of feeding all three of you."

Kaede: "I appreciate it, but Faye still needs to control her feeding habits. And Mell is completely new to this as well."

Lillian: "Then I can take Faye and you can watch in case something happens."

Sicily: "Mhmm! And I can take Fleur."

Fleur/Faye: "That's-"

I guess this could work... It's fucked up, but it would balance out everything. I can deal with Mell since she is a newly born vampire. Fleur might be more sensitive to the smells of people, but her feeding habits have now gotten a lot better. The problem is Faye... I haven't dealt with Faye like I did when I tackled Fleur, so I have no idea how powerful Faye might be. It's risky, but this would lift a huge burden off of my chest.

Kaede: "Okay. We'll go with that then."

Mell: "Wait, then who feeds mom?"

Kaede: "Hehe, don't worry. I have Yui, remember?"

Mell: "Ah~ Right."

It's been a while since I've tasted Yui. Maybe tomorrow I'll ask her about it. But I still need to find a job where I can somehow collect blood, preferably human or demi-human blood.