by Aine Massie
“Thanks, dear,” Louie seethed at Simon.
“Focus,” Jonathan snapped at them both. “Anya is the focus at the moment. We need to find out if this will help her. You all can argue secrets later.” Jonathan was not maintaining his normal calm well – probably had something to do with the fact Nicholas was withering now too.
“Sorry, you’re right,” Louie murmured. “Now, Anya, you do understand what you have to do, correct?”
“Yes, I have to take blood from you once you have weakened me even more than I already am. I seriously hate this; nearly killing me, so you can heal me feels exceptionally wrong.” They had decided that they would have to bleed me of as much of the poisoned blood as possible and then have me feed off of Louie. That part would be done repeatedly until I was healed enough that I could heal on my own.
“I know, but I don’t see a better way. Please,” Jonathan implored.
Pain, searing . . . hollow . . . sucking pain ran through me as they drained my fragile, withering form of as much taint as they could. I knew this wasn’t the worst pain – I could still vividly remember what the pain Ashley caused felt like. This was strange though, I could feel the blood drain, and with it, my mind seemed to scatter even more. It didn’t feel like I was entirely rooted in my body any longer.
I did not find it to be as bad as I probably should have, this disconnected sense of hurting . . . Just as self seemed less certain, the pains and breaks within my body seemed to sharpen and come more into focus, though, how . . .
After what seemed like ceaseless emptiness, Louie’s voice broke into my strange swoon, “Anya?”
I could not seem to focus my eyes on him, though I knew he was touching my face gingerly. I felt myself moving, dangling limply from someone’s hands, I thought. A moment later, I could feel his skin against my mouth though I could not seem to force my mind to bite. I knew I was supposed to, I thought.
Other voices floated around me murmuring – She’s too weak to even bite? Are you sure she will be able to do this?
I suddenly felt something warm and wet touch my lips. This I knew. This I had to have! My body acted instinctively, first lapping at the exquisite elixir and then as it drove me forward I suddenly fused to Louie’s throat, pulling from him this luscious healing power. I could feel the strangest mix of strength and pain searing throughout me as his blood began to fill and heal me. It was far too soon that hands were pulling me from him, taking the painful, exciting power from me.
“Anya! You have to stop,” came Simon’s stern voice.
I struggled to clear my head and focus, to focus on what he was saying. Stop. Right. I stopped struggling and tried to look around. “Simon?”
“Yes, finally,” Simon breathed. “You’re safe.”
“I was beginning to think we wouldn’t be able to stop you,” Jonathan said. “Your drive to survive is rather potent, wow.”
“Wow is right,” said Louie. I was finally able to focus my eyes again. Louie was sitting back, in a high backed chair, staring at me with wide eyes. “Ow!”
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “I hadn’t wanted to hurt you, just the power, the . . .” I could not find the right words to describe what I had felt. It wasn’t like being with Nicholas nor was it like when Nicholas had done that strange thing where he could feel through my memories. This was very different.
“I know,” Louie replied weakly. “There are many that would seek to do that for the power and the thrill of stealing, of raping one of us.”
I was horrified at how he said that; I would never take from anyone. “I–I would–”
“We know that,” Simon interjected. “He didn’t mean it as an accusation but a sort of explanation. Remember, I was trying to explain that others would want to do this to you, but to steal from you. Now maybe you understand better the why?”
I just nodded. I could still feel as my body was knitting itself back together, the healing and power of his blood. It was nothing like biting Nicholas but it left me hungry in an odd way. Confusing.
“Ah, I had not thought of that,” Simon commented appraising me with a slightly pained look.
“Thought of what?” I asked. Why was he looking at me that way?
“You’re hungry but confused about how you are hungry,” Simon trailed off, again. This half–speak was going to get old fast. Ugh, can’t he just talk normal!
“Oh, OH!” exclaimed Jonathan and Louie together. “Of course, she wouldn’t recognize the craving as she’s never really fed properly,” Louie continued.
“Properly?” I demanded. “What exactly are you talking about?” I was pretty sure that I did not honestly want the answer, but I still needed to hear what he was going to say. Maybe . . .
“You have only tasted human blood, by your memory, twice, ever. That is all I exist on, so that means my blood carries the essence, I suppose, of human. Your body would naturally crave it anyway, but you have always suppressed that desire due to your view of humans. You will probably crave it for a time.”
Turning to Jonathan, he continued, “I would suggest that until she is fully healed and back to hunting as you do, that she not be put in a position to be tempted. She will be extremely upset with herself if my diet causes her to hurt one of her friends.” It seemed as if Louie had had to search for the word. Interesting.
“I will not hurt my friends! Why does everyone think I will?” I was losing patience with this line of reasoning. They all shuddered at my tone. At least my voice was strong again. It amused me, though it shouldn’t have, that they reacted that way. It meant I was getting better!
“Anya!” Jonathan snapped. His tone was so disapproving that I instantly felt guilty.
“Jonathan, it’s fine,” countered Louie.
“Though the smirk is a little much, Anya.” Simon seemed to find it funny too, or at least me funny.
Ducking my head slightly, I apologized, “Sorry. I just – it’s just nice that something works right for me. It’s been a while.
“Oh, um,” I continued trying to clear my head some. “Did I hurt you? You don’t look right?” Louie was returning more to normal, but he still seemed weaker than normal.
“I will be fine shortly,” Louie assured me. “You should focus on the way you feel and consider that since this worked so well after only one transfusion, you were indeed poisoned, as is Nicholas.”
I wasn’t happy with that point! This meant the Elder House that was after me had resorted to an attack that poisoned Nicholas and endangered Declán. I could have killed him the other day. “Yes, that is something to consider. They have now endangered Nicholas and Declán with their obsessions over me.”
I was going to have to do something about them now. “I cannot just continue to ignore them, Jonathan. You know that, right? They will pay for this!” I was suddenly so angry that I literally began to tremble. My body ached at the thought of retribution. “They will pay with their very existences, if need be, but they will never . . .”
It took them all a while to get me to calm back down, and to remember that while I felt much stronger, I was still not well. Louie said it would take a few days of this for me to be back to some semblance of normal – or normal for me as Simon had teased.
Simon had taken Louie out as he had been weakened from helping me. I was struggling with the issue that for him to hunt meant he would be after humans. I knew they wouldn’t hunt locally, but I still wasn’t dealing well with the idea. Was recovering really worth this?
The other main issue was healing Nicholas. I was in no shape yet nor was Louie. Jonathan thought that he should be able to do it, even with how my blood had changed Nicholas, but that was moot until he and Amber returned.
“Where are they?” I pestered Jonathan, again. “I know why Declán has been gone so long, but they left hours before Louie and Simon arrived.” I had tried both their cells, but they went straight to voice mail.
“I don’t know, Anya. I’m sure it’s probably just that they decided to go do som
ething before heading back. Amber’s with him, so he’s safe.” Jonathan was trying to comfort me, but I could hear the faint edge in his voice. He was worried but refusing to admit it.
I heard Declán’s truck pulling up just a little while later. I practically flew out the doors to go meet him. It was dark, so I wasn’t concerned about if I was still light weak. I wasn’t one hundred percent, but I was much improved. Still, no need to push it during daylight hours.
Nearly pulling him from the truck as he tried to get out, I wrapped my arms around him tightly. I needed to feel him safe and whole with me. “A ghrá, are you okay? Have you heard from Nicholas? Did you have a good time with the girls?”
He carefully put his fingers to my lips, instantly shushing me. “Dear,” Declán said with an amused laugh. “Slow down, you know I can’t respond that fast. Now, yes, I’m fine. Kayla and Skye both say hi and that they want to see you soon. We just wandered around their college, getting the feel for it and finding that there are a lot of GLBT activities and events there. So, they are both very excited.
“As to Nicholas, no he hasn’t called me today. I thought he was out with his mom.”
“He is, but they should’ve been back by now. I’m getting worried. Come on inside, we need to discuss a few things.” I was getting more worried, though I knew it was irrational. Size means nothing to one of us, Amber was more than capable of protecting Nicholas.
“Fine, we can talk,” Declán chuckled.
As we entered the house and moved to the couch, he traced my face gently. “You look much better. I take it Louie was able to help.” I could hear the uncomfortable tenor of his voice, but he controlled it well.
“Yes, though they say it will take a few more transfusions before I’m back to being me again. They will be staying with us for a few days. They are out right now.”
“Out hunting?” Declán asked, looking mildly ill.
“I’m not happy either but they said there was no other way to undo what has happened to both Nicholas and myself.” I could hear the anger tainting my words again. I needed to be more careful!
Declán shuddered but maintained his composure, thankfully. “So that means Jonathan was right? You two were poisoned somehow, and that’s why you were injured and acting weird lately?”
“Yes, our hunting area most likely, but it also means I’m going to have to stop them! It was one thing when they were just harassing me, but they have now endangered you both. I won’t tolerate that!”
“Anya, you know you’re in no condition to go after them!” Declán looked terrified at the idea.
“Yes, well, what would you have me do? They poisoned Nicholas and thanks to what they did to me, I could have killed you. I have already had to compromise a lot; this is not one I’m willing to give. They will regret this. You’re too valuable to me to–” I couldn’t manage to continue talking. Declán was starting to shake, his eyes wide with fear. I cannot allow this insult and attack to go unpunished!
Jonathan came bursting into to the room then. “Anya,” he snapped. “Stop it!”
“What?” I demanded back. Why was he yelling at me?
“You’re scaring Declán, that’s what. He didn’t do anything wrong.” Jonathan was moving slowly. Seemed my snapping had affected him as well. Why did this all have to be so hard?
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “I didn’t mean to upset either of you. Please relax.” I watched carefully as they both were able to calm and regain their composure.
Declán pulled me against his chest, caressing my hair. “It’s alright. I promise we will protect you until you fully recover and then we can discuss how to deal with them. But, Jonathan is right, your voice is just as problematic as always when you are upset. Please, Nicholas isn’t here right now to help you keep control.”
“As to that, I want to go check on Amber and Nicholas but,” Jonathan’s eyes flickered nervously toward Declán.
“But, you don’t want to leave me unsupervised. Right?”
Declán tilted his head slightly as he stared at Jonathan. “Why can’t I protect her? They won’t attack the House, and she’s well enough that she should be fine.”
“That wasn’t the concern I was thinking about Dec. Um, how to explain this? Louie is worried about her being alone with you, or any human, right now.” Poor Jonathan looked down, shifting nervously. It was almost cute, almost.
“Let me, Jonathan,” I said, shifting to look Declán in the eyes. “Louie is worried that my, er cravings will be dangerous to you for a little while. Simon and Jonathan backed him up on this, sadly. You have to understand, Louie’s diet is a problem for me and well . . .”
“And they are afraid you would bite me again?” Declán said with a sigh. “I get it but, I’m not going to stay away from you just because they lack faith in you, love.”
I watched in amused annoyance as Declán and Jonathan argued and debated my ability to control my cravings. I knew I shouldn’t find it so amusing but well, they were both so animated and so certain of their opinion that this kept up for probably a half hour. They only stopped when I interrupted to warn them.
“Um, do you two really want to act like this in front of company? Louie and Simon are almost back.” I couldn’t help but find this all too funny. They both went silent glowering at the other.
“Fine,” Declán conceded first. “I will be good, but I still know you wouldn’t have actually done anything bad to me before, with or without Geoff,” he added, crossing his arms with a huff. Too cute.
“Wait, how are they back if he isn’t hunting here?” Declán asked, venom slipping into his voice. “I don’t like that he would be hunting anywhere but . . .”
“Um.” He was right. They weren’t supposed to hunt here, “I wonder if something’s wrong?” They couldn’t break the alliance, even if they wanted.
Just then, Louie and Simon came in laughing loudly. Neither one seemed overly concerned about the way Declán was glowering.
“You’re funny, Declán,” Louie chimed, trying to stifle his amusement. “We would not hurt her humans, even if we could.”
“Then how are you back from hunting?” Declán was not going to let it drop until they satisfied his annoyed curiosity.
“Simple, I chose to hunt Anya–style. It’s vaguely unpleasant, but for now, it will suffice. And, I thought it would help Anya mentally handle things better.” Louie sobered as he spoke, looking towards me with the gentlest eyes – considering they were still creepy.
“You what?” I choked out.
“I thought it would be easier for you to handle this way. It’s not quite as strong, but close enough, and that way we also didn’t have to go as far.” Louie wrinkled his nose, frowning as he continued, “Though I don’t know how you stomach that all the time.”
“How about if you two don’t debate the nutritional and taste value of animal versus human with her human right here,” Simon interrupted.
“Thank you,” Declán mumbled. “I appreciate that you’re helping Anya and that you chose not to hurt those like me. I’m trying, okay?” Poor Declán, he looked so uncomfortable. I hated that what I am and what they did to me upset and endangered him.
“You’re very lucky, Anya. It’s so hard to find a human that can manage like your Declán here can. It’s even more impressive with what else he is,” Simon added.
“I know I’m lucky,” I sighed happily, taking Declán’s hand. “But, there was another concern before you came back.” I turned to face Jonathan. “I’m sure Louie and Simon can guard me, so you can go check on Nicholas and Amber. They won’t let me hurt him,” I added raising my eyebrows, daring him to argue.
“True. And since the point is to find Nicholas, I can’t wait for the one person that can resist you at all to stay with you,” Jonathan chuckled shaking his head. “Still wish I knew how he did that.
“Louie, Simon, would you two be agreeable to staying here and helping Anya while I go see what’s keeping them?” He was working hard not
to show his concern, but I could tell, so could the others – even Declán.
“We would be delighted, Jonathan,” Louie answered. “Go find out what the wayward ones are up to. It’s probably something mundane. Do you need any help?”
“No, I’ll be fine. She was taking him to where she and I usually hunt, so it should be easy to find them. Be back in a few,” Jonathan added as he flitted out the door.
“Wow, he’s more worried than he wanted to admit, huh?” asked Declán. “But then he’s been weird since I got home today. Did anything else happen that I should know?” Declán looked primarily at me, but his eyes shifted to them as he finished his question.
“It’s nothing, a ghrá. We just expected them home already, and with Nicholas being weaker, we just wanted to make sure everything is all right. That’s all,” I answered, trying to sound confident.
“Interesting,” Simon began, examining Declán, carefully.
“Yes, his worry is nearly as potent as hers for Nicholas,” continued Louie.
“Why is that interesting? I worry about Nicholas too, so what?” Declán was being defensive again. I felt as if I was missing something in this discussion, but as Declán couldn’t hear with his mind, I knew that wasn’t it.
“Declán, I’m sure it’s nothing bad. Relax, please,” I begged.
“But it is something Anya,” Louie said. “He loves your other mate as well. Fascinating.”
“Yes, I noticed that already. But, I don’t think they’ve dealt with that discussion yet so, please, be nice,” I trilled just for them. Declán could tell when I did that, but his hearing couldn’t interpret it, thankfully.
Poor Declán flushed a succulent burgundy. The heat and sudden perfume in the air around him was mouth–watering, truly delicious. I closed my eyes and stopped breathing for a moment as I worked to focus my mind again. Keeping my eyes closed I spoke again, “Do you mind not doing that? This is hard enough without that!”