Page 139 of Dragon 7

“I don’t know these people.” Deja sneered at the Death Guardian. “And why does she have a knife? We have to get Rin in the hospital.”

“Put that little gun up. We don’t have time for this.” The Death Guardian walked our way through a column of moonlight. The silver blade shimmered. "We need your blood, and a sacrifice.”

“Girl, I don’t know who you are, but you better get out of my way, talking about a sacrifice.” Deja tried to go past her and go to Rin.

The Death Guardian moved into her path without rushing. “Do you want to heal him?”

“Of course.”

“Then, listen. We don’t have much time—”

"What happened to him?”

“Yoichi saved Rin and then gave him. . .something to help him heal. However, something old always needs something new.”

Horror covered Deja’s face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The Death Guardian’s voice lowered and she said the oddest thing. “Mrs. Loretta, your apple trees are always so big and full. What do you feed them?”

Deja gasped and inched back.

“I just feed them with bad men, Eartha.”

Deja shivered. “What the hell?”

“Do you remember that day when your grandmother’s neighbor asked and your grandmother said that and laughed?”

“Y-yes.”

“And you were so scared.” The Death Guardian gave her a sad smile. “But your grandmother held all that confidence and from that day on you knew that the women in your family were strong. No police ever came about all those bodies under the apple tree. But, the apples kept coming every season bigger and juicier each time. And although you couldn’t eat the apple pies like everyone else in the family. . .you knew that one should trust their hearts before they trust what they see in front of them.”

“W-who are you?”

The Death Guardian’s voice went low. "We need your blood."

Deja's hands shook. "O-kay."

“And you will need to make another decision.”

“What is it?”

The Death Guardian turned her hooded face to me. "You should leave."

"I'm not going anywhere." I took a step forward. “Deja doesn’t need to sacrifice. No more. . .babies—”

“Tora, don’t worry. This will be different—”

“I’m not leaving Deja’s side—”

"They will need their privacy when he returns."

Privacy?

My mind went sideways for one full breath.

Is this about to get sexual or something?

I let out a long sigh. “Deja, I’ll be in the hallway.”