between the two of you. "He ducked, shaking his head stubbornly.
"I just can not imagine my life without him," I admitted.
I was astonished at myself. From time to time, I began to confess and open my heart
with a person he had known so recently. Ava made me comfortable in that sense and did not
I could understand why.
"You gave me some damn work, did you?" She smiled, pleased. "Ever since Richard saw you
first time, it was different. I was immediately surprised at the change in behavior: I was distracted, with the
thought away, sighing in the corners of the house, snarling for no apparent reason, no longer
concentration on the readings ... It was difficult to confess the truth and tried in all
a thousand excuses, as if there was a way to deceive himself. It reached its peak when
thought you'd be interested in the other doctor, even though you were intimately suspicious of your reactions
when he was next to him. One way or another, it may have been very good that this
really happen. Only then did he take courage to overcome the fear of being rejected and created
strength to fight for what he felt. Otherwise, he would still be willing to convince himself that this thing
it could never work. I had to use a lot of psychology and patience to put up with his
irritation, and persuade you to talk to you.
"And I thought you two were together, so I always stayed away," I confessed. - No
I'm going to deny that I've suffered too much, I do not like it today, Ava.
"Richard-and me?" He grimaced. - You Must be kidding! For me, he has always been mine.
brother. Except for the fact that we are of the same species and friendship, we have nothing in common.
I wanted to say that they had something in common, yes: they were both beautiful.
"Yes, but in the eyes of everyone in the hospital, you were his girlfriend. And on top of that, he appeared in the
nightclub ravaging all the poor mortals present at that party.
"You were raving at the party." She returned the compliment. - By the way, I needed to see my brother's face.
when he saw her entering the club dressed like that ... It was very funny! - Started laughing. -
I got involved with him, asking if he needed a little help to lift his drooping chin, and the
man was furious with me! All right, at least it was for a good cause.
"You think it was worth it?"
"No doubt about that.
- Thanks. - I blushed. "Ava, may I ask one more question?"
"Of course, cherry," he urged.
To become a vampire is it only necessary to be bitten?
"No. If that were so, all the patients healed would be too, do not you think?"
- It is true. I had not even thought about that. I patted my forehead. "Then how does it happen?"
- He has to offer his own blood for you to drink, thus creating a bond between the
two. I've heard that if this happens between two people who really love each other, that bond becomes
indissoluble, as if their life had become one. I just do not know anyone who has
confirm this story.
I wondered what she said and then a new question arose:
- Do not understand. If Richard did not want to be a vampire, why did he drink their blood?
"You had no choice." He was hypnotized just like me.
"And this transformation takes a long time?"
"It takes a few hours. Many times the hypnotized will only notice the difference when they are already
far, not knowing even who transformed them, how and where it happened.
- That is terrible! I exclaimed.
- I fully agree, but I will not be lamenting irreversible facts, life does not fall behind.
We have to live with what we have been given and find a way to make it worthwhile.
"You're right," I agreed. "And I just have to thank you for everything."
"I've already been rewarded." Just not having to listen to whimpers ... "She widened her eyes. -
Well, I think I said too much, I have to go to court. He should call later. are you sure of
It's okay, is not it?
"Perfectly," I lied again, not to worry. - Ah! Just for
curiosity ... Dora insisted that I go home earlier that day. Did you have any
thing to do with it? I raised my eyebrow in suspicion.
"You found my little secret." She gave her a crooked smile and then said good-bye.
***
I spent the rest of my hours packing things indoors. I wanted to prepare some meals for
in the freezer, with the intention of making my life easier, even if I was struggling with malaise and
weird sensations he still felt. I also could not stop thinking about the things Ava
I had said. And more: the hope of the phone ring and get to hear the much-awaited news. All this
caused a constant headache, to the point of not being able to take it and having to take a painkiller,
then lying down.
I only got up when the cell phone rang late at night:
- Stephanie?
I could not believe it. It was that voice I heard from my childhood! I was so moved that
words did not go out, and when I forced them to speak, they were
throat, in inevitable commotion.
"Stephanie, can you hear me?" It's me, your father!
- Dad?! I do not believe!
"Neither I nor I! He exalted himself. - It was God who sent this boy!
"I'm sure of it."
"Forgive your father for what I put you through. I was...
"You were hypnotized, Father, I know."
"I spent so much time away and did not even notice! Can not imagine where I was ...
"I suppose so, and now it does not matter anymore. What matters is that you are alive! I live! Ah, father!
How I missed you!
"Me too," he said in a choked voice. - I can not wait to go back to Brazil to see
how are you. Oh my! Richard said that Otávio was murdered and passed through
difficulties
- We can survive. Do not worry about anything else. When you come?
"We're trying to figure it out now, my dear. Oh, Richard wants to talk to you ...
And a few seconds passed.
- Richard?
- Happy? He whispered softly.
"Very much," I said, almost choking with emotion. - Thanks.
- Thanks? Thank you, nothing! Now you owed me. And the way I walk with longing,
you can bet it will be expensive, very expensive ... I want my personal thanks, with interest and
monetary corrections. I'm already counting my kisses on my fingers when I go back to
home. He may be getting ready, "he said in a low voice so my father would not listen,
my laughter on the other end of the line.
"Only yourself to make me laugh now."
"Let's take a day or two longer because your father lost his passport." We already contacted the
consulate and I believe that everything will be resolved by tomorrow. We are no longer in London, we came to
Paris.
- How did you do it?
"It was not as easy as I thought, he was under intensive surveillance. I got a badge
hypnotizing an employee of the blood center, and as soon as Allan appeared, I intercepted and directed him
for an exit I discovered in the back. I left the rented car parked in a
health professionals and had him lie down in the backseat until we
local. After that, we came straight to France.
"No one followed them?" Richard, I'm afraid that ...
"No, Stephanie. And no one saw us at the consulate as well, if you understand me ... "
which hypnotized them.
"So ..
. does Daddy know yet?" I asked, fearing what I would hear. - I mean, sweetheart?
"Your father was terrified at first, almost hysterical, but then we had a long way
travel and talk calmly. I believe he understood everything and gave me a credit of
confidence. He realized that if there was any bad intention on my part, I would have hypnotized him as the
other. In fact, it did not seem as difficult as the daughter, "he joked.
"It's easier for him, he was not hopelessly in love with me," I said in a whisper.
He hesitated a little, I suppose he was not waiting for that answer.
"Are you ... telling me that ... you used to like me ... before?" He stammered.
"That's what you just heard," I said with malice in my voice, and I could hear a sigh in the distance.
"I think ... I'll buy the tickets soon," he said in a funny tone, as if he had.
forgotten what he would do.
"As fast as possible," I said, teasing him.
"It's better ... off," he said, sounding unsightly, which made me realize that perhaps my father
was approaching. "I still have a lot to talk to Allan about.
"Do not hypnotize him. He's still my father, "I jokingly warned.
"Okay, not yet," he returned, disguising himself, speaking in codes.
"I love you," I whispered.
Another sigh - only this time very clear - could be noticed on the other side of the line.
"No more than I do," he whispered back, closing.
***
The last forty-eight hours passed in torturous footsteps.
Perhaps I felt them even more as a result of anxiety, which made me check the clock
every minute.
Those pains in the joints did not cease, much less the fatigue. I have come to the conclusion, for the
that you should see a doctor. I even called the hospital to find out who was
and as I heard Dr. Luciano's name, I gave up. She would not feel at ease, being examined precisely for
he, and he did not want to give Richard any edge of jealousy. So I decided to wait. He
he would soon be back, and my father was a doctor too. Besides, he was sure it should not be anything.
serious, just a typical seasonal virus.
Once again, I took a painkiller for a headache and went to bed, hoping the hours passed
fast.
Chapter 22
I still slept extremely tired, in such a way that I seemed to have been beaten.
The abdomen ached, the bones ... Even from lack of air already was being attacked.
It was cold, and although she continued to have night sweats, she had pulled the duvet over her face
to avoid clarity. Since I did not have to go to work, I was exhausted and anxious, dreaming was one of the
few things that satisfied me at that moment.
In my recent dreams, I did not feel lack, much less loneliness. In them, the vivid memory of
Richard's caresses completely relieved any pain he might present. So much so that I even thought
was a delirium when, at eight o'clock in the morning, I noticed a gentle movement beneath the
covered. Something like the texture of an icy hand came up, sliding slowly from mine.
feet and was, already warming up by the way, running the whole body in a long and excruciating exploration
until I reached the face, making me moan at his touch.
I felt several heated kisses on my neck, which were changing direction and
parked near the earlobe. They were kisses of longing, extremely comforting.
No, that could not be part of a dream. No dream would be able to cause me such
cardiac arrhythmia ...
Anyway, he arrived!
And sharpened the senses, inhaling my perfume!
When I thought I would finally embrace him, I noticed the deck being forcibly taken away.
of my face.
- What is going on? Richard asked, displaying the black irises, and at the same time,
amazed
- As well? I said, the voice weak.
- You're bleeding! He exclaimed, detaching himself from me with one hand and turning his head
as if he were afraid of not resisting temptation.
Bleeding? I was sure that I was not in those days ...
- I am? At where?
I stood staggering, facing the bathroom mirror.
It was my nose.
Enjoyed, and did not bleed little. I washed it and dried it with paper.
"Richard, how long have you been quenching your thirst?" I suspected, watching the purplish
deep around your eyes.
He did not answer, but by his expression he probably had not eaten for days.
- My God! The whole trip ...? I walked slowly toward her.
He stepped back, still stunned.
"I've endured much longer than that." But do not worry, love. I will not hurt her-
she explained, turning her face back toward me, still keeping a safe distance. -
Sorry, I did not want you to be afraid of me. You know I would never ... "he excused himself,
expressing distress in the voice.
"I'm not afraid of you," I interrupted. "Where did you come up with this absurd idea?"
"I'm not blind, Stephanie. You're pale as a wax!
"You can only be confused by thirst ... I'm not afraid of anything!" I repeated. I'm dying of
I miss you and you do not even want to let me get close! I complained, annoyed. - Wait here, already
I'll get you a bag of your favorite blood in the examination room. - I started walking with
difficulty.
His icy hand intercepted me by the elbow, blocking the movement.
- Wait for you. His eyes began to examine me intensely. "If it's not because of me ..."
What do you have, anyway? That pallor is not normal. Looks like you lost weight ...
"It's nothing, I'm just unwell," I wanted to tease, but it did not work. The abdomen hurt and so
I was forced to push it with my hand, curving the torso slightly. The breathing also failed,
getting choppy.
"And you're in pain here?" She squeezed my abdomen.
"It must be some kind of virus, stop worrying."
"Do you feel any pain anywhere else?" He insisted.
- In the joints. Richard, do not ...
"Let me examine you right!" He scolded me, practically forcing me to lie down on the bed.
He came closer with the look of a tracker and did a thorough analysis of my body. Your
cold hands probed the region of the lymph nodes, testing the abdomen again. The blue immensity now
more like a glacier.
"You have spontaneous bleeding, abdominal repletion, enlarged spleen and liver ..." he said.
Do you feel weak? She could see it from the tired look I was wearing.
"I'm sorry, I will not lie," I said in defeat.
"Any more symptoms?" Do not hide anything! She warned.
- Night sweats and dizziness.
- You felt?
- No, why?
Her physiognomy became more and more tense.
"When did these bruises appear on your legs?"
- What bruises?
Richard punched the bedside table, tearing a crack in it, and pointed to the stains.
purple on my thighs. He had not even noticed they were there.
"I do not know when they showed up, it must have been from yesterday to today." Why are you nervous about this?
way? I shrugged, seeing him so restless.
- You are sick! Why did not you call me or call a doctor? Ava could have taken her! -
He started to get out of control. - For those who work in a hospital and have seen so many similar symptoms,
you should at least be suspicious!
"I did not think it was serious."
"Stephanie, you're no
t kidding! You can not simply assume that what you feel is not
let it go! Do you have any idea of the pain I would feel if I had arrived on the road and found her dead?
Where did your sense of responsibility go?
- Crosses, Richard! What an exaggeration! I'm not as irresponsible as you say. I even called yesterday for the
hospital, but it was Dr. Luciano who was on duty. So I gave up ...
- Give up? Because?
I could tell by his perplexed voice that he would not like the answer.
"I do not know, I do not think I wanted you to be jealous ..."
- What? I can not believe what I just heard! He did not seek a competent
Luciano to deal with because he thought I would be jealous of him? Heavens! I must be a much worse monster.
than I thought! Do you think your life is worth so little to me? - shouted.
- Richard, stay calm! So, it will wake the whole neighborhood!
- I want the neighborhood to go to ...
He could not vent his nervousness because the door of our bedroom, lying down,
was opened suddenly, preventing him from reacting. I could hardly believe who passed by. My father!
I got up quickly to meet him, but his legs did not follow. I almost did not
I lay on the floor, were it not for Richard's hands to hold me by the arms.
- Dad! I exclaimed with happiness.
- What's going on here? My father asked, looking suspicious.
I was able to take a step forward and hug him tightly. Richard was still leaning on me with
one of his hands, though his physiognomy did not hide the uncommon worry he felt. The two
They looked at each other, and my father knew immediately that something serious was happening to me. And because of this,
ended up examining me and asking the same questions. Like Richard, his expression
changed, seemingly lifeless.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" What I have? Is this serious? I asked, but not
I got an answer.
"I have to prove it," Richard said impatiently.
He went to the examination room and returned with a disposable needle in his hands.
"What are you going to do with that needle?" I asked.
I did not get an answer again. He just held my index finger and jabbed it. He pressed it with
strength and brought it to his mouth, tasting it with his tongue. Dad was watching us from across the room,
completely alarmed. Richard closed his eyes, sharpening his palate, and shook his head,
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