Page 31A quick overview.

Friday, July Third.

It had been both an intense as well as a boring month. Most of the store work was just that; work. Though I got to meet some interesting people (that one guy returned a few times as well), they usually didn't want to talk to me. Just admire me from a distance. But it was alright, as I was spared any silly seductions.

No, my problems during that month were of a more practical nature...

Esmeralda really caught on to me coming back before sunrise and getting up after sunset. I hadn't found a single place to suit my needs that wasn't already taken by squatters or on the verge of collapsing. And the graveyard out of town, though having a crypt, was a bit too creepy for my needs. Besides, the caretaker apparently stayed up fairly late which would have made things very difficult for me. I didn't want to give him a heart attack.

She sometimes came with me when I got back to the Cathedral and, at times, even cuddled with me. But we didn't kiss again. I think she was trying to give me some space, trying to be understanding.

Yet she did try to follow me twice.

My biggest problem was that of blood. How would I feed every night, not raising any suspicion. I went out of my way to vary where I took blood and how I did it. Sometimes just going into a night club, other times looking for people already outside. I tasted young, old, man, woman and was often surprised by how different they tasted. It didn't have much to do with how rich a person was, but more with how rich their existence was. Active people generally tasted better than lazy, those with a goal in life better than those left on the streets.

But, as I said, Esmeralda tried to follow me.

It was good that my senses were growing stronger again, as she was surprisingly quiet as she tried. I managed to lose her easily the first time, by going up on the roofs after I turned a corner. The good thing was that she would not know which direction I'd taken after it. While I hid on the roof, I saw her trying to look for me.

I wasn't angry though. I would have done exactly the same if I was in her position. Besides, I'd gotten away easily.

The second time was a little harder. She was walking with me towards Jack, saying that she needed something from a store nearby. While it was very friendly and nice, it made it impossible for me to drink blood before I went there. But I had to, as Tyler wasn't allowed to see me pale like this. I managed to convince her to let me go a few streets before I arrived, as she didn't want him to know that she told me about all of it. The blood I took then was from a homeless person not too far from Jack. It was dangerous and not at all tasty. His blood was so empty. But at least it filled me up and gave me a blush. Once I was filled, it didn't matter as my body would use it, tasty or not.

I asked Esmeralda not to walk me again.

Tyler was a problem for different reason.

Tyler just assumed I had other things going on in my life that prevented me to come earlier. He never asked though. He never asked anything. He didn't try and look at the dairy (which I always stored in my locker or took with me under the shower) or even made any off-handed comments. In a way I appreciated the respect for privacy but, to be honest, it was driving me crazy with curiosity.

I wanted to know about him.

I wanted to know who he was, how he made this store, why he allowed me to be here and why he knew what he taught me. But there was a silent agreement between us that he didn't want me to ask him about it and, in return, he would not ask me about my oddities. He wasn't stupid though. He quickly realized that I was much stronger than I looked and very keen with my senses.

Well, at least it helped me to get lock-picking in my blood.

I mean in my head.

Still, my curiosity remained and it was becoming dangerous. I never tried to open his locker or his office. Not that it was often closed or anything. The only weird thing, to me, was that he didn't appear to have any real friends here. Just some of the more regular customers.

There was also a curious lack of women customers.

What did happen was the following conversation one night between Tyler and I.

"Amy?"

"Yeah?"

"Come here for a moment."

"Sure."

We sat down behind the cash register. "You know it's not my habit to ask questions, but you have a very curious nature. Are you aware that it might get you into a lot of trouble?"

"I suppose."

"I'm serious Amy. You're very skilled. But there are a lot of... touchy people in that world and if you start asking questions you shouldn't, you could get more than you bargained for."

I could see the logic in that. "Okay."

"Don't expect to lose your curiosity, but try and focus it towards your tasks rather than everything around you. Perhaps that will save you. Now, did you unpack all the lenses?"

Simple though that conversation was, it had me thinking for many nights. Questioning almost everything I looked at. Even Esmeralda asked if anything was wrong. Nothing was wrong though, I was just questioning myself on my motives. I had no idea if what I was doing was a good idea or not.

And I still don't.

I wonder what she's learned.