Chapter 9A Strange Surprise

We stepped out of the store with two bags of clothes, all for me. We headed into a shoe store nearby and bought two pairs of simple white shoes to go with my dress and shirt. I was not paying very much attention I guess. Still very happy with the visage in the mirror, I felt more alive then ever.

Ironic. I know.

We walked around more so that Khuna and Valerie could point out some of the places to go to. My thoughts fleetingly returned to everything that had happened so far. It still seemed surreal but everything I felt, saw, heard and smelled was still so intense. I kind of got used to it. But my mind kept registering so much more then I was used to.

I wondered when I would go crazy.

Khuna's voice got my attention. "Hey, stop dreaming. This is all kind of important."

"I'm sorry, it's just a lot to take in."

Khuna smiled. "Alright, I guess it is. Valerie, if you want you can get something for yourself."

Valerie nodded and waved goodbye. She was gone through the crowds before Khuna's words had properly filtered through my thoughts. I guess she was going shopping. Or feeding... That's what I still wanted to ask her. Did she ever...

"What did you want to ask?" Khuna spoke openly and managed to tackle, trip and pin down my thoughts quite forcefully.

"Oh! Eh. I'm not sure if it's proper to ask." My walking momentarily interrupted. I felt flushed between so many people. But no one noticed us.

"You can ask anything. It's always my choice if I will or want to answer, isn't it?" Khuna smiled again.

I nodded. "Okay, I heard Valerie say she was alone for several years. Did she feed... eh... completely. Did she give in to the thirst?"

Khuna stopped and looked at me. "Please don't take this the wrong way. You've felt how strong the thirst can be. Imagine that without guidance, without anyone telling you what to do or when to stop. I won't give a direct answer to your question, you'll have to ask her yourself. I understand you asking the question and I can guess why you chose to ask me and not her. It's alright, but the real answer lies with her."

A few seconds passed, people just walking by us having no idea of how heavy those words were just now. I nodded. "Okay, I understand." Then I rallied and dared ask. "And you?"

For the first time I saw Khuna really surprised then she smiled. "That was unexpected, but I guess it was only fair. No, ironically enough I didn't dare to feed until the last moment. And when I finally did Kai saw me. I'm very thankful for that, I was more beast than human and probably would have ended up... Well you know." She slowed down and stopped.

I nodded and understood. "Yes, I do. I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have asked." I glumly looked at her.

Khuna giggled and poked me, almost painfully. "What did I just say? Always ask. There is too much uncertainty already. We need to share our knowledge and our questions with each other if we wish to survive." She spoke the last few words very seriously, getting me worried.

"Are we in danger?"

"Maybe. Well, not at the moment, but... I guess we'll have to tell you all about them later. Now is not the time. Come, we'll head back."

I nodded, many thoughts racing through my head as I fell behind Khuna. She walked slowly, as if to give me time to think before we were back.

Walking right behind her I still had so much thoughts to figure out. My parents, my new 'powers', the thirst and all the quirks of my new body. I was still very deep in thought when I heard a voice I'd heard before.

"Amy."

It was a hoarse male voice, just like, no exactly like the one from the construction site. I stopped and looked around to find the source of the voice. I didn't see anyone likely enough around me. But wasting all these moments made me lose Khuna from my sight.

Of course, mentally I should have known she was just a few steps away from me. No need to panic. No need at all.

But I panicked.

I didn't see her anywhere and I was just about to scream for Khuna when I heard it again.

"Amy."

I almost snapped my neck as I turned around to see it. Walking past me was a man, early thirties perhaps - hard to tell, dressed in classic clothing. Perhaps gothic, I didn't know for sure. I couldn't see anything of his face, I didn't understand why, but his beautiful clear blue eyes. Like the midsummer sky, open and inviting.

I blinked.

Somehow I knew he was gone even before my eyelids opened again. An instinct I guess. Immediately I tried to get his visage in my mind, forcing myself to remember. But I could only recall he was like a gentleman from another time. Even if I could not tell what he wore exactly I had a feeling I might recognize it.

All kinds of thoughts ran through my head. I could just feel that was the owner of the voice. It was as if he'd shown himself to me on purpose. But why? Why would he show himself. Had he been following us?

"Amy!"

It was Khuna's voice, she was running towards me and stopped when she saw I was still in a state of shock. "Amy, what happened?"

I stuttered. "I-I saw him."

"Who?"

"The one who turned me."