Xiongyan pov:

“Stock 73 and stock 74 .”  The male vampire often feeds  me Stock 73 and My brother Stock 74 who I secretly named Liang after I heard the name from a vampire talking about a  novel. He smirked, tossing a  couple loaves of bread and oranges to prevent scurvy. I tore into my loaf. And ate a couple of oranges. Liang didn’t move from where he laid on his cot. I brought his food to him and he devoured it.  His face  flushed with a fever that’s been going on for days.. I touched his forehead.  His blue hair was plastered to his forehead. It was like touching fire. I yanked my hand back.  Liang looked at me weakly with his amber eyes, the only difference between our appearances. He’s roughly around 5-6 years old, he’s probably-

I heard footsteps and a different vampire, a female customer. The customer vampire pointed directly at Liang. “I want the little one.”

The female vampire  opened the cage door. “Are you sure? Stock 73 is twice his age and will have more blood you can take without him passing out.”

“I’m sure.” She said

Liang shrunk back shaking.  The female vampire grabbed his arm. 

“Don’t take him, he's sick! I’m healthy” 

“The customer wants Stock 74 not you.”

As they were dragging away Liang I saw flames flickering around his hands. Getting stronger and stronger. 

“Liang calm down! You’re mani-“

The female vampire kicked me in the gut. “Names aren’t allowed for stock.”

Fire exploded from Liang. 

They plunged their hand into his chest and squeezed.  His lifeless body dropped to the ground.

I didn’t cry, I didn’t even scream, something broke.  I felt nothing.

I woke up with ice on my skin. The sweat must’ve frozen… I glanced over to the nightstand where The glass bottle sat. I forgot my medicine last night, or it stopped working. I lit the candle with a fire spell to check. The liquid inside was at the same level as the night before. I checked my pocket watch for the time.  The hour hand pointed 4 the minute to 6.  It’s too far early to take more medicine for my dreams. I might as well get dressed.  I picked up my uniform and headed to the bathroom to change. I shut and locked the door, setting the candle down. 

I took off my pants first. Vampire puncture scars all over my legs. I yanked the pants up so hard it would’ve hurt if it was done to someone else. I can’t  actually remember the last time I was bothered by pain. I turned away from the mirror, I pulled my arms through the sleeves as fast as I could; but I still caught glimpses of the scars.  My fingers  shook, causing me to keep failing to button the shirt. The longer I saw the scars covering my torso. The more my fingers twitched. 

I made it after several minutes. I grabbed a brush, running it until every tangle and untidy hair was completely gone.  Liang had long hair… I leaned forward over the sink,  hair falling forward, my breath shuddering.  After a few moments I grabbed the dull leather string I kept redoing pulling back my hair until not  a hair was out of place. Lastly, tying on the brooch the same shade of amber as his eyes. I exited the bathroom quietly.  Scanning the room with the candle I saw Aleksander sleeping, the covers got kicked off at some point… Jin’s bed ,empty since the festival.

…

I walked down to the training grounds. I still couldn’t force the memories to go away. 

“ Hiraeth found this location and got the stock out of here!”

I swung the practice sword harder.  Focusing on technique and my breathing. But the memories kept coming.

I looked at the vampires running.  Many get hit by magic.  A vampire approached my cell.  

“No reaction?  No life in your eyes? It's unfortunate that the ones with life are more entertaining.”  They opened it and approached Me.  They grabbed my arm, forcing the sleeve up about to bite when arcane energy  slammed into the vampire.  A man in a uniform stood above.  He handed me a dagger glowing with magic. 

“What do you choose?  Let it live or kill it.”

I raised  the dagger up. For Liang. And plunged it into the vampire’s neck.

The man smiled,  “What's your name?”

“Stock 73.” I responded 

“What’s your real name?”

“It’s always been Stock 73.”

A sad expression crossed his face. “These monsters raised you?”

I nodded.

“Do you have any family to go back to?”

I stared at him. “He’s dead.” 

The man held out his hand. “Come "Away from this hell hole, then maybe we can find a place for you to stay"

"won't they come back for me?"

"who knows, maybe they will, maybe they won't"

He looked at my face for a moment. “Why not learn a few things about how to get rid of these creatures, then you’ll be able to fight back.”

“The doll is back at the training grounds. “

“Is that all he does? Train and follow orders?”

“He’s the Captain Lucien’s pet.” One said with disgust. 

I felt a faint flicker or irritation at that.  I dropped the sword and walked back to my dorm.