Rook goes through the motions again. She moves quickly inside Samuel’s reach and pushes her palm against his chin and makes a slashing motion against his neck.

Samuel nods and moves away from her, “That was good, but you need to be faster and you have to remember, this will only disable them, not kill them.”

“I just need enough time to get away,” she says.

Samuel’s shoulders fall in disappointment, “I don’t know how to get through to you that you aren’t ever going to be fast enough. These are supernatural beings, you can’t match their speed or strength, not even a vampling.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Rooks voice reaches a higher register.

“You’re going to have to use what you have.” He kneels in front of her, “I know you don’t want to hurt anyone, but you’re going to have to understand that if you’re being confronted by a vamp, it’s you or them.”

She rolls her head around to pop her neck, “How did this all get so far out of control?”

Samuel huffs a laugh, “It’s always been out of control, you’re just aware of it now.”

Rook looks around, trying to the let the beauty and safety of this place soothe her. “Things really were simpler at home.” A twinkle dances in her eye, “But oh so boring.”

Samuel shakes his head, “My goal is to get you back to boring but be able to defend yourself.”

“But if I get back to boring, I won’t have to, right?” There’s hope in her eyes when she looks up at him for an answer.

“You’re going to need to lay low, but we’ve talked about this.” He holds his hand out to her, “Let’s get back.”

Rook goes to stand, and a wave of dizziness takes her over. She widens her eyes, reaching out to steady herself on Samuel.

Samuel catches her, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she says, putting her hand to her forehead. “Just...hungry.”

“Again?” He studies her.

“Yeah,” she says with force and holds her stomach. “I need to eat something, I think.”

“I’m sure Alfrigg can whip something up.” Samuel watches as she goes pale.

Rook’s knees buckle under her and Samuel catches her before she hits the ground. With worried eyes he calls to her, “Rook? Rook?”

He cradles her in his arms and runs at full speed back to Alfrigg’s. Samuel busts through the door, “It’s happening again.”

He rushes her to the couch, laying her down, “Rook? Wake up.”

She doesn’t respond, he turns to Alfrigg, “She’s still breathing.”

“What happened?” Alfrigg asks, peering around Samuel to get a look at her.

“We were resting, I said let’s get back and when she stood up, she got dizzy, said she was hungry and passed out,” he says, never taking his eyes off her.

“Very peculiar.” Alfrigg folds his arms across his chest.

“Let’s try to wake her up and feed her. She said she was hungry, maybe she needs to eat. You know how humans are,” Samuel suggests.

Alfrigg’s entire body sparks with an idea, “I know how to wake her up.” He hobbles to his potions table.

“What is that?” Samuel asks cautiously.

“It’s wake up juice.” Alfrigg wedges his way between Rook and Samuel. He slides his hand under her neck and tilts her mouth open to pour the liquid in. “And three, two, one...”

Rook shoots up on the couch, “Jesus God what the fuck?”

“Rook?” Samuel watches in shock.

She tenses, “Sorry. I just...what was that?”

“Wake up juice.” Alfrigg nods quickly, “You awake?”

“Um…” She swallows several times, smacking her tongue, trying to get the taste out of her mouth. “Yeah.”

“Okay, so food.” Alfrigg heads for the kitchen. “I’ll make you something light.”

“Okay.” Rook rubs her stomach. She leans forward to Samuel apprehensively, “I have this weird craving.”

“Craving?” Samuel questions, looking down at her belly, “Are you pregnant?”

“Gross! No,” she says as though he just insulted her.

“Just asking,” Samuel defends. “What are you craving?”

She looks around the room and leans in closer, “Blood. I want to hunt, like go out, kill something and drink its blood.” Concern riddles her expression, “Part of me is utterly repulsed, the other part is...excited.”

Samuel considers what she’s saying and calls over his shoulder, “Hey, Alfrigg, are you aware of vamp bites causing blood thirst?”

“Only if they’ve been turned.” Alfrigg comes from the kitchen, “Why?”

“She wants blood,” Samuel says in a confused tone.

“That’s very odd, there are no documented cases of a rook being turned.” Alfrigg squints his eyes, looking her over. He leans down and shoves his fingers in her mouth.

She struggles away, “What are you doing?”

He rights himself, “No fangs.” He pulls his lips to the side in thought, “Very strange.”

Rook blows out an audible breath. “Damn,” her lids are heavy, and she feels herself falling back into a daze. “Don’t let him give me that crap again…” Rook voices her last wish as she falls back on the couch.

“She’s out again,” Samuel says, alarmed.

“This isn’t possible.”

“What’s happening to her?” Samuel’s brow furrows with concern.

“I don’t know.” Alfrigg’s hopelessness leaks into his tone, “If that potion didn’t keep her up that means there’s something magical keeping her down.”

“Do you have anything for that?”

Alfrigg shakes his head slowly, “Maybe, but I’m reticent to give it to her. I think we need to bring in an actual healer, figure out what’s wrong.”

“Vivienne?” Samuel offers the idea.

“She’s such a curmudgeon.” Alfrigg bristles.

Samuel slowly turns his head to him, “Really? She’s a curmudgeon?”

“Yes, and bitter,” he says, moving to the alchemy table.

Alfrigg peers over the bubbling tubes full of multicolored liquid, “I vote you go.”

“I don’t want to leave her.” Worry clouds his expression.

“Well, I’m not going,” Alfrigg declares. “I’m going to work on something here. She’ll be fine for now, but you should get a move on.”

“Okay.” Samuel stands reluctantly. “Look after her.”

“I will.” Alfrigg doesn’t look up from his work.