Jasmin

"A truly magnificent building!", murmured her mother. "Those red windows. Wonderful."

Jasmin, Poppy, and their mother stood in front of the new building, which was almost completed. The last roof tiles still had to be fastened. They were on their way to the small shops of the city but had stopped here first. A wooden fence prevented passers-by from walking too close to the building, and possibly getting injured. Poppy climbed up the fence in annoyance and looked over it until one of the construction workers scolded her. She wanted to play at home instead of looking at a boring house and buying school supplies.

"And this is where people give their blood?", asked Jasmin with interest. "Do they want to do that? They need their blood."

This made her mother laugh. "But we also need their blood. The blood replaces part of their tax. They have to pay less money for that."

"So, it's a good thing?" Poppy jumped down the fence and stuck out her tongue at the worker. "That people give blood here?"

"Poppy, we're not sticking out our tongues!", her mother reprimanded. A few passers-by laughed softly as they passed. Poppy rolled her eyes.

"Is it a good thing?", Jasmin repeated her older sister's question.

"I think so. But some people also give their blood for money. Then they no longer have to pay the full tax... Cheeky, don't you think so too? Especially since human blood is so much more expensive than animal blood. And more nutritious."

"Cheeky?" Poppy shook her head. "Why cheeky? It's nice that they give us their blood. Dad said it tastes better than animal blood."

"They are food. We don't give our bread any money for eating it!" Her mother winked at them. "Or the cow we drink from."

"But to the baker who makes the bread! We give him money", Jasmin objected. "And people make their own blood."

Lara sighed. "I guess you're right. Nevertheless... Their just humans. And that, even more, will live here soon...  At least we get this center and thus more affordable human blood. Hopefully."

"I can't wait to taste blood", Poppy whispered. "Dad said that when I need blood for the first time, we'll have a big party. And also when Jasmin needs her first blood. Will we get human blood? From the house there?" She pointed excitedly to the new building.

"Maybe", Lara replied. "But you're going to have a big party. But that's still a few years away. Let’s go. We want to buy school bags, paper, and pens for you. And you need some books for school. In a week is your first day of school." Lara pushed her daughters past the construction site towards the small town's shopping street.

"Yes!" Poppy threw her hands in the air with joy. "I go to school and then I thirst for human blood!"

"But that doesn't happen until you are fourteen!", said Jasmin.

Poppy snorted. "But I don't want to wait that long. You?"

Jasmin shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Do you think we'll make a lot of new friends? At school?"

But Jasmine did not hear her sister's answer. An open carriage, perhaps rather a hay wagon, drove past them. Several people were sitting on the carriage. Jasmin knew immediately that they were humans. Their eyes looked different. Different colors and a black pupil. She gazed at a boy who returned her gaze curiously. He had reddish-brown dark hair and blue eyes. Jasmin had never seen blue eyes. The boy smiled shyly.

"Jasmin? Are you listening?", Poppy shouted.

"Oh!" Jasmin looked at her sister. "No. I was... distracted. What is it?"

"We're at the store!", her mother replied.

They were standing in front of a small shop selling all kinds of school supplies and other things. Before they went inside, their mother reminded them to behave well, and not touch everything.