Finn used the guidance office because no one was typically there, and Professor Hayes didn't seem like the sort to pop in after hours. It was no secret that the whole counseling idea had not been the plan of either of the Hayes, so she doubted either of them were exactly overzealous when it came to their positions. Besides, if she did get caught, surely the professor would be more worried about getting her to feel secure in who she was than he would be upset at the trespassing.
She could honestly say it was the worst thing she did.
Besides, you know, drinking blood.
But that couldn't be helped.
The hospital wing supplied vampires with blood taken from patients who needed blood work done. It wasn't often, however, so they also had magically frozen blood brought in from Mungo's as well, where a sector of their blood was set apart just for vampires and for testing. Finn didn't know why she was always so much hungrier at Hogwarts. She had never brought it up to her father, as he was already over-involved in her life, but the blood at Hogwarts never seemed less filling, less nourishing. She felt a bit weaker at Hogwarts, a bit more faint, and the blood craving was much worse. She couldn't figure out why - she knew fresh blood was better, but the blood at home was delicious and her father did not get it from fresh kills. He had his ways too. Her father would never kill though. Not just for food. He only killed bad guys.
Nevertheless, she had a small box in her bag that she kept with her at all times. Norm had magically enchanted the lock so that only a kiss from Finn's lips could open it - and inside, she kept vials of the blood. She typically sipped on blood when she used the restrooms, right when she woke up, and before she went to bed - always in private, as no one beyond the Hogwarts staff and her two closest friends knew what she was.
But sometimes, it hit her... and it hit her hard. And these were the times she abandoned class or meals or studying and hurried through the halls towards the guidance office.
It was particularly bad today, so she stopped for no one or no thing. Her shoelaces had become untied but she could not stop, or she was certain she would burst. Her breath was coming more and more quickly, as though she was losing breath. Color tinted her neck and cheeks and she finally saw the door that led to the guidance office. With each step, it seemed farther, but she reached it in good time, fumbling to get the door open, closing it behind her in a rush, not bothering to wait to hear if it locked shut.
She stumbled towards the desk, scrambling through her bag. She found the box and set the bag down, lifting the box to her face. She pressed her lips to the cold lock and felt the mechanisms shift, and the box opened with a click. She set it down and her hands glided over the bottles and vials, practically gulping for air now. Something was trying to claw its way out of her belly and she shakily picked up a large vial, pulling off the stopper. She took a deep breath and then tipped the contents into her mouth.
Blood had never tasted like blood to her. It had always been this warm light that seemed to seep into every muscle, every tissue, make her new again. The Hogwarts blood was always cold, because it wasn't fresh, and was typically disappointing. But when the bloodlust was this bad, it did the trick. For a moment.
She sighed and leaned against the desk for a moment, sighing. Breathing more easily now, she pulled herself so she was sitting on the desk. She put the stopped on the vial and set it back in the box. Her bottom lip was stained with blood now, her eyes flickering black, her fangs sharper. The disappointment was setting in again. One more - just a small vial this time. Just to last her till bedtime.
She snatched up a vial and pulled off the stopper, closing her eyes as she lifted it to her lips. But before she could taste anything, she heard a noise...
by Fiona Grimm Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:33 am
