บท 72: Vampiress

"I'll gather some dry wood to light the fire," Gabriel said, throwing a furtive glance at a concerned Vathin. "Take care of her."

Vathin nodded, swallowing the lump that settled on his throat from the moment they left the cabin at the lakeside. The strife between the two had taken a toll on his emotions too.

Gabriel disappeared in a nearby bush, leaving Vathin and Elena at the clearing. She was leaning on a tree, holding her knees close to her chest to fight the cold. Her thin fabric was dump, worsening the situation.

"Do you need something?" Vathin asked to break the awkward silence. She lifted her eyes in defiance and gave a curt reply.

"I'm okay." But judging from the way she was fighting to keep her voice still, Vathin could tell she was not okay.