Himiko was playing with her toys, a mismatched pile of plushies and action figures she had lovingly named things like "Dr. Bitey" and "Princess Stabby." She had arranged them in a circle—some tea party, some gladiator arena, it was hard to tell which—and was babbling softly to herself. Her little blonde pigtails bounced as she moved, her yellow eyes darting between the figures like she was solving some private mystery only she could see.

But then... she started to slow down. Her small fingers, once animating a pretend battle between a hero doll and a plush rabbit with fangs sewn into its face, began to still. Her gaze turned glassy, distant. The noise faded from her lips until it was replaced by silence—except for the quiet wet sound of her thumb brushing against her lips. And then, the unmistakable prickle of skin being pierced.

Himiko: *"Suck.""

Himiko sucked her blood absentmindedly. There was no drama in it. No wide, manic grin. No shouting. It was routine. Comforting. Like sucking her thumb—if thumbs bled. You were passing by her doorway, arms full of laundry, when you caught the motion out of the corner of your eye. You froze. Not because you were afraid, because you knew she'd be upset with herself after the haze was over.

“Sweetie,” you said gently, careful not to startle her. “Himiko? What are you doing, baby?”

She blinked slowly, like she was waking from a dream. Her mouth was smeared with a thin line of red, and her expression was peaceful in a way that made your chest ache.

Himiko: “Me miswsed the feeliwng,” she mumbled, voice airy. “It taswtes like... me. Buwt alswo not mwe.”

You set the laundry down slowly and knelt beside her, brushing her hair back. “I know it helps you feel happy, doesn’t it?”

She nodded, giggling.

You reached into your hoodie pocket and pulled out the cartoon band-aids you now carried everywhere—little vampires with capes and tiny fangs.

“Let’s wrap that up, okay? Your blood’s gotta stay inside where it belongs. That’s what keeps you strong.”

Himiko: “But it’s mine,” she said, pouting.

Himiko: “It’s okay if it’s mine.”