The Donor to a Vampire (Donor #1)

Chapter 11: A Satan Instead of a Father

"Dess!"

As soon as I entered the camaraderie, Renée cried out and flung herself into my arms. She looked absolutely stunning in her floral dress and high heels, while I, on the other hand, stood out like a sore thumb in my plain clothes and ripped jeans. Despite our contrasting appearances, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion as I held her close, taking in her sweet fragrance and the softness of her embrace.

"I was so worried, Cheri when you were nowhere to be found after ze alarm was sound. What 'appened? Where were you?"

I shrugged my shoulders sheepishly, causing my shirt to hang off my left shoulder. "I got lost," I replied, "and then Ly and I got stuck in the elevator when the alarm went off." My voice trailed off as I glanced around the room, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me.

Most people around us were dressed in designer clothes that were the latest fashion, and I couldn't help but feel self-conscious in my own plain and worn-out clothes. I tugged at my shirt, giving it a bit of a grimace. After all, I had been the odd one out for so long that deep down, I craved acceptance. But at the same time, I didn't want to compromise who I was just to fit in with the crowd, and I didn't want to lose my sense of identity.

Renée's exclamation in French was so loud that several Donors turned toward us, stopping mid-conversation and glaring.

"Mon Dieu! Trapped? Quelle horreur! What did you do? You must 'ave been down zere for 'ours!"

"Yes!" I said with a matched horrified expression, then leaned in to whisper, "And I must say I got a little worried when I felt the urge to pee."

As we sat at the table and were served our coffee, I confided almost everything that had happened down there to Renée. I recounted the events in detail, but I made sure to omit the passionate kiss that Ly and I shared. I also kept Lysander's claustrophobia a secret, not wanting to give him further reason to doubt me. I wanted to prove to him that he could trust me, that I could be a reliable partner in this twisted and ever-complicating situation we found ourselves in. Ever since I had met Lysander, I had wanted to gain his trust and show him the beauty of friendship.

"What was happening in the Camaraderie?" I asked Renée to satiate my curiosity.

As I waited for Renée's response, I couldn't help but notice Kendra acting strangely. She spoke with Julius in hushed tones, glancing around as if someone might be eavesdropping on their conversation. When she caught my gaze, Kendra glared back at me and pointed with her index finger at my clothes. Then, she put her finger in her mouth, mimicking the act of vomiting. It was a disturbing display, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Kendra was up to something. What was she hiding, and why was she so intent on keeping it from me? I made a mental note to keep a close eye on her in the future.

How did Kendra graduate with this kindergarten behaviour?

Renée scrunched her brows in concentration. "Well, at first, we were all confused; we were a tiny bit drunk when it all started. I invited you to my room because I wanted you to meet some of my amis and I made a little get zogezer. Zen some Created burst in, killing our buzz and ushered us out to the fountain, and we were sitting zere with ze rest for few 'ours, and none of us knew what was going on until few Stainless came down and told us."

I leaned in with curiosity. "Really? Was it that bad? Did they say what triggered the security system?"

My mind drifted to the two figures I spied on yesterday in the chamber directly below us, and they seemed sinister enough to cause such a scene.