Maithali turned and hurried up the riverbank. The woman screaming was her mother's sister, and the girl stumbling behind her was Rita.
She was a pretty ten year old, but right now her neck and the front of her shirt was smeared with blood.
''What happened?'' Maithali gasped.
''She was out looking for flowers, and then I found her on the ground. She looked dead.'' Her mother sobbed. ''Look at this, this on her neck.''
On Rita's neck, Maithali could make out two pale marks, they looked like an animal's sharp teeth, but only two marks.
''It had to be an animal.'' A girl sighed. ''But what animal leaves only two marks?''
Maithali's heart felt tight at once.
''It wasn't an animal! It was a boy, she says he threw her down, and bit her, and drank her blood.'' She began to sob, clutching Rita to her. ''Oh please, somebody help me, my daughter's been hurt.''
''A boy ..'' Maithali said faintly, and looked towards the river.
The men were cornering the stranger. He was snarling angrily, but when he saw Rita, his expression changed. It seemed as if he couldn't really stand to look at her, and yet, he couldn't look away. His eyes were fixed on her throat.
And then he turned away, his head falling into his hands.
Maithali looked in horror from the girl with blood in her neck to the stranger with blood on his mouth. It was pretty obvious who did it.
But why? She thought. Why would anyone want to drink a girl's blood?
He must be a demon after all.
The leader of the hunters moved forward, and cupped Rita's chin in his hand. He made her look at the stranger. ''Was he the one that attacked you?''
She started screaming, hands flying up to cover her eyes. Her mother started rocking her comfortably, and the men started shouting at the stranger.
Maithali stood there, rooted to the spot. She looked at the stranger, his eyes shut.
The hunter yelled. ''I think we know what to do with him. This is no longer a matter for the Shamans.''
Maithali looked back, she couldn't speak. This guy almost killed her cousin, she shouldn't care about him. But, she did care.
Maybe he didn't mean it, the thought popped up in her mind. Maybe he didn't want to, but something drove him to. And now he's sorry, he's ashamed.
''You can't just kill him. You gotta take her to Mother.'' She yelled back.
''It's none of her business.''
''It is her business if he is a demon. You take care of the hunting, she takes care of the spiritual things.''
''Fine then.'' He said angrily. ''We will take him to Mother.''
The men drove the stranger into the cave. There was a huge crowd gathering them.
Mother was the oldest woman in the clan - the greatest grandmother of Maithali. Her face was covered in wrinkles and her body was like a dead stick. But her eyes were full of wisdom.
She listened to the story peacefully, while Maithali crept next to her.
''They want to kill him.'' Maithali whispered. ''But look at his eyes, he's sorry. Maybe he didn't mean to hurt Rita. Can you talk to him?''
She shook her head.
''Demons don't speak human languages.'' The hunter snorted.
''He's not a demon.'' Mother looked at him. But she added slowly. ''But he is not a man, either. The goddess never told me about creatures like these.''
''Then the goddess isn't interested.'' He shrugged. ''Let the hunters take care of him.''
''One thing I do know is that he is capable of great harm.'' She looked at the hunter. ''Shut him up somewhere, and we will think about what to do with him in the morning.''
Maithali knew better. In the morning, he would die. Unpleasantly. She heard the angry mutters of the crowd.
It was probably what he deserved. Anyhow, it wasn't her business. But that night, she couldn't sleep. It was as if someone was poking her with a stick and telling her that things ain't quiet what they seem here. Something had to be done, and she had to do it.
She remembered the look of anguish in his eyes. She felt pity for the guy, and she knew that she couldn't let him die.
She got up. Very quietly, she went to the back of the cave. There was a fence, and a man was sleeping next to it with his mouth open.
Maithali edged past him. Her heart was pounding so quickly, maybe he could hear it.
Slowly, she pulled one side of the fence open.
From inside, two eyes gleamed back at her, reflecting the fire away from himself.
It was only then that she realized how dangerous it was. What was stopping him to rush past her and kill everyone in the village?
But he did no such thing, he didn't even move. He just looked at her.
She realized that he was shaking his head. He didn't want to come, he wanted to let the clan kill him. She frowned and reached for him.
That scared him, he shrank back, alarmed. He was afraid, afraid that he might hurt her.
She pulled him outside the cave, through the shadows. They moved slowly, and no one caught them.
She put some food in his hands. ''Go far away, very very far away.''
The moon was so bright that she could see every feature of his face. His eyes were terribly human, he had long eyelashes, and he was handsome.
I shouldn't have brought him here. What was I thinking?
There was a long pause while those two just stared at each other. He looked at the food, threw it on the ground and sighed.
What was he doing? Did he think that she was trying to poison him? ''You need to eat food.''
He shook his head. His eyes rested at her neck, and she dimly realized what it meant. He didn't need food. He needed.. blood.
We are out here alone, he could have attacked me anytime, she thought. He could attack me now, he looks very strong. But, at the same time, he looks hungry. He looks like he is starving. It hurt Rita, but it didn't kill Rita. She was up and fine tonight.
If it didn't kill her, it wouldn't kill me.
Maithali swallowed. She looked at the guy, he wasn't taking a step forward even though he couldn't move his gaze from her neck, and it seemed to be sending shivers throughout his body.
What good does it do to send him off starving? There is no other clan here, he will come back. There is nobody else to help him.
Very slowly, she lifted some hair from her neck, leaning back slightly.
Hunger sparked through his eyes, and then it was replaced by shock. What was she doing? He looked at her face.
She touched her neck, and then her mouth. ''Eat, and go away.''
''Hurry up, before I change my mind.'' She closed her eyes, she was crying now. She clenched her fists.
When he touched her for the first time, it was to take her hand. She opened her eyes. He was looking at her with eyes that spoke a volume of emotions. He leaned down and kissed her palm gently.
It sent a feeling through Maithali. Like shivers, but warm. A sense of awe and wonder. It made her knees go week.
She could see that he felt the same way. He shook off her hand, and looked away. He was afraid that this would bound the two of them together.
He turned to go.
Maithali watched him, her throat was lump. He was going to die without blood.
Although she was standing still, with her head high, there were tears running down her cheeks. It hurt her terribly. It felt like she was losing something extremely precious. The future seemed grey now, she was alone ..
''Pia! Pia! Wake up!''
Someone was shouting, calling out her name.
''Pia! Wake up! Open your eyes, please!''
And then there was another voice, a quieter voice inside her mind. ''Pia, wake up, you don't have to relive all this. Come back, now.''
She opened her eyes.
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