MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Nana's words hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension settling over the room like a suffocating blanket. Blake and Gunther exchanged a hesitant glance, both keenly aware of the gravity of Nana's grievances.

Blake shifted uncomfortably in his seat, fidgeting with the empty glass bottle in his hands as he struggled to meet Nana's piercing gaze. It felt as though they were being called into the principal's office, but the stakes were far higher.

Gunther cleared his throat, a faint flush coloring his cheeks as he searched for the right words to address Nana's concerns. "Nana, we... we hear you," he began, his voice faltering slightly under the weight of her unwavering stare. "And you're right, we can't keep going on like this. It's not fair to you, or to any of us."

Nana's expression softened marginally at Gunther's admission, but the underlying frustration still simmered beneath the surface. She leaned back in her chair, running a hand wearily through her hair as she processed their words.

"It's not just about being fair," she replied, her voice tinged with resignation. "It's about trust. I want to trust that we're all in this together, that we're a team. But lately, it feels like we're all fighting our own battles, keeping secrets and leaving each other in the dark."

Her eyes flicked between Blake and Gunther, a mix of hurt and determination glimmering in their depths. "I know I'm the only human here, but that doesn't mean I can't handle myself. I may not be a vampire, but I'm not helpless either. I want to be included, to know what's going on, to be a part of the solution, not just a bystander."

Blake winced at Nana's words, a pang of guilt gnawing at his insides. He had never considered how his actions - or lack thereof - might have made Nana feel. She had always been there for them, a steadfast presence in their tumultuous lives, and yet they had failed to truly see her.

"I'm sorry, Nana," Blake murmured, his voice thick with remorse. "You're right. We've been selfish, and we've overlooked you when we shouldn't have. We'll do better, I promise."

Gunther nodded in solemn agreement, a solemn determination settling over his features. "We'll make sure you're included from now on, Nana. No more secrets, no more leaving you out. We're a team, and we need to start acting like one."

A fragile silence descended over the room, each member of the makeshift family grappling with their own thoughts and emotions.

Blake watched Nana leave the room, her footsteps echoing faintly down the hallway. As the door clicked shut behind her, a heavy silence settled over the room, thick with unspoken tension and unresolved emotions.

He sank onto the edge of the bed, the glass still clutched tightly in his trembling hand. Gunther hovered nearby, his expression a mixture of concern and guilt as he watched his friend's troubled demeanor.

"Blake, you can't blame yourself for everything," Gunther began, his voice soft but earnest. "I was the one who suggested we sneak out, who thought it would be a good idea to blow off some steam. You were just going along with it."

Blake shook his head, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips as he met Gunther's gaze. "It's not just about that, Gunther. It's... it's more than that."

He set the empty glass aside, running a hand through his tousled hair as he struggled to find the words to articulate the turmoil churning within him. "Before... before everything happened, before I was kidnapped, before I lost Rose... there were times when I felt the exact same way."

Gunther's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Blake?"

Blake sighed heavily, his gaze fixed on a distant point on the floor as he delved into memories he had long tried to bury. "I felt like a piece of furniture, Gunther. Like I was just... there. Insignificant, powerless, invisible. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, it was like I didn't matter."

He paused, his throat tightening with emotion as he struggled to push back the flood of memories threatening to overwhelm him. "And now... now it feels like history repeating itself. Like I'm falling back into that same pattern, that same feeling of being utterly useless."

Gunther's expression softened with understanding as he reached out to place a comforting hand on Blake's shoulder. "Blake, you're not worthless. You're not powerless. You're a survivor, and you're stronger than you realize."

Blake's lips twitched in a wry smile at Gunther's words, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes despite the weight of his burdens. "Thanks, Gunther. I appreciate that."

Gunther squeezed his shoulder reassuringly before rising to his feet, his gaze unwavering as he met Blake's eyes. "We'll get through this, Blake. Together."

Blake nodded, a sense of determination welling up within him as he met Gunther's unwavering gaze. "Together," he echoed, the word a silent vow to face whatever challenges lay ahead, side by side with his friend.

"You know, I really never liked you from the start," Gunther stated bluntly, his expression unreadable as he stood near the doorway, arms crossed.

Blake's fingers paused mid-page, his gaze snapping up to meet Gunther's with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. He shifted uncomfortably on the bed, the creak of the mattress echoing in the hushed room.

"Wait, what?" Blake's voice wavered slightly, betraying his confusion.

Gunther's features remained stoic as he elaborated. "Yeah. I never liked you from the start."

Blake's brow furrowed, his mind racing to comprehend Gunther's admission. "Why didn't you say anything before?" His tone was laced with a hint of hurt.

Gunther let out a heavy sigh, his gaze drifting to a point somewhere beyond the confines of the room. "It wasn't personal, Blake. It's just... after what happened with the last guy Rose was involved with, we were all on edge. We didn't want anyone getting close to her who could potentially cause trouble."

The weight of Gunther's words settled heavily in the room, casting a pall over the atmosphere. Blake's jaw tightened as he absorbed the implications of Gunther's confession. "So, you saw me as trouble?"

Gunther met Blake's gaze evenly, his expression betraying no hint of remorse. "At first, yes. I even had the urge to... take care of the problem, so to speak."

Blake's eyes widened in shock, a cold shiver running down his spine. "You mean... kill me?"

Gunther nodded solemnly, his features grave. "But over time, things changed. We saw how happy you made Rose. You brought out a side of her we hadn't seen in centuries."

Relief washed over Blake, though it was tinged with a lingering sense of unease. "I had no idea."

"Yeah, well, sometimes things aren't as they seem," Gunther muttered, his voice tinged with regret. "We realized that if keeping you around made Rose happy, then we needed to protect you too. Our dynamics shifted. But even with all our efforts, we failed to protect either of you."

"We'll find her, Gunther," Blake declared quietly, his voice tinged with determination. "We have to."

Gunther nodded in agreement, a grim resolve settling over his features. "Yeah, we will. But for now, let's focus on what we can control."

As they sat together in the quiet of the room, a newfound sense of camaraderie and understanding settled over them like a comforting blanket. And in that moment of shared vulnerability, Blake found the courage to voice the question that had been weighing on his mind.

"Gunther, how did Rose meet you, Reggie, and Randal?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by the thought of learning more about the strange figures who had played such a pivotal role in Rose's life.