In My Veins

by Madden, C. A.

  David sighed, “For a bunch of people in love, you guys are downers. Let’s go back to your house.” He groaned.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chris came over a little after we got home to help us brainstorm ideas of how to prove our love to each other. Sadly going to the restaurant didn’t help James’s distress. It only made it worse. His misery was adding onto mine and I was starting to think there was more to his worry than he was letting on.

  “How about you two get matching tattoos? That proves love to some people.” Chris suggested making me groan.

  “How does that prove anything?” I asked but still tried to think of some tattoo ideas in my head just in case.

  “You two could get married.” David suggested. Well I wouldn’t be against it but I wouldn’t want to force James into it either.

  “No.” James said immediately making my heart squeeze. He looked at me and gently held my chin, “I don’t want you being stuck with me if I’m like this forever. As soon as I can get this curse gone… I promise you---”

  “It’s okay.” I cut him off suddenly not wanting to hear the promise. I still felt a little hurt by his quick rejection.

  “Have a baby.” Chris said making James stand up. He was about to hit him but I pulled him back.

  “I’m not okay with marriage you really think I want to drag a kid into it?”

  David laughed, “You got to at least try the suggestions before turning all of them down James.”

  I got so desperate that I took my phone and started searching ‘way’s to prove you love someone’. I didn’t think ‘way’s to prove you love someone that is cursed’ would come up with much so I left that part out. But when I even tried that as my search, I came up with nothing. At least nothing that was actually legit.

  “Why don’t we ask Lana?” I hesitated.

  James glared at me, “She wouldn’t want to help. She would want to make it worse.”

  “She might know what to do. Or at least give us a clue…”

  “Who’s Lana?” David asked.

  “It doesn’t matter…” James mumbled.

  “James…” I started.

  “Karina.” He said my name as if it was the end of the conversation.

  I glared at him, “James please…if it doesn’t work what will we have to lose? We have no leading ideas or any direction of what we should do…”

  “If you guys want me to help with this Lana person, keep me in the loop.” David said sounding annoyed.

  “Lana is some gypsy psychic Karina has met with. Twice. I met her once, she doesn’t like me.”

  David scoffed and looked at me, “Told you she’s not worth it.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him but he glared back and his eyes flashed a metallic red color creeping me out. I scooted closer to James even though I was getting mad at him too.

  “David please…” James said only making him laugh. “Fine…let’s go in the morning.”

  “Really?” We all asked unison.

  “Want me to come?” Chris asked.

  “No. It will be just Karina and me. I don’t want you guys getting mixed up in her voodoo. I don’t trust Lana.”

  ***

  I was lying in bed alone. He was still up talking to David about everything. He made me leave the door open just in case. I said he was being paranoid but once I was in the room without him even the smallest of shadows had me jump. So I kept my eyes closed.

  When I did open it, I kept my eyes on the open door. Light was reflecting into the room and I could hear David and James talking in the distance. I tried to focus on what they were saying but at the same time I wanted to talk myself out of it to give him some privacy.

  “…don’t stress too much. You’d hear if anything was wrong.” David whispered so I wouldn’t be able to hear. James was better at the whispering since I could only hear his voice but not understand what he was saying.

  “It’ll get harder… you’ll only get angrier and start craving blood more. You said you’ve tasted her?...That’s even worse…” David whispered again, “And it will get harder to change back every day… it’s a sign that you guys need to hurry up.”

  “…we had until my twenty-eighth though.” James said.

  “We have hope till our fifteenth year… it gets worse the closer we get.” I started to wonder how much time David had.

  I ignored the rest of the conversation, hating where it was going. I wanted to help James. I wanted to help David too. I couldn’t blame him for being so bitter anymore. I wondered what his girlfriend had done to him…

  Moments later I heard footsteps in the room. I knew it was James for some reason so I wasn’t worried. I think I had come to memorize even his walking rhythm.

  I was pretending I was sleeping still even though I was sure he could tell I wasn’t, but I didn’t feel like talking. It felt like he was distancing himself from me already. I felt the mattress shift as he got in next to me. I was facing him and I had to squeeze my eyes shut so that I wouldn’t open them and look at him.

  He put his arm around my waist and I had to force myself not to show any signs.

  He lightly laughed, “I know you’re not asleep.”

  I smiled and fluttered my eyes open. His eyes met with mine and he smiled sweetly, “I’m sorry…” I whispered.

  “For what…?”

  “Saying we should see Lana. I just really want to help you.” I frowned.

  “I know baby… it’s okay. We’ll see her tomorrow, it won’t hurt I guess.”

  I cuddled into his chest and sighed at the familiar and comforting warmth of his arms wrapping around me, “James…”

  “Yes, baby?”

  I felt embarrassed for even suggesting it with James in the house and the heat in my face and ears was radiating off my skin, “Um… what about… you know.”

  “I know? What?” he said pulling away to look at me. He was smirking, I’m sure he could tell how embarrassed and nervous I was.

  I drew imaginary doodles on his chest with my finger and avoided any eye contact, “Maybe if we---”

  He stopped me by putting his finger on my lips, “Before you go on. I have to stop you.”

  “Why?” I said getting annoyed. I wasn’t even sure why I was so annoyed about it, I should be happy I found a guy that doesn’t just want me for my body but never wanting my body wasn’t exactly the best compliment either. “Is it because I’m a virgin?”

  “What? No…” he assured me, “It has nothing to do with that. It’s…trust me baby, I want to. I want to so bad...”

  “Then why haven’t you even asked? I feel like a slut always hinting at it.”

  “Don’t feel like that. It’s normal and natural for you to want to but what I am is not natural. I can lose control at any moment and I don’t want to lose control with you. I’ve tasted your blood. Being around you like this has me on edge and I don’t think I could handle being with you like that.”

  “Is that really it?”

  He smiled, “Yes. That’s really it. Trust me… once the curse is gone…” he let the sentence fade as he trailed kisses down my neck. He paused midway to my collar bone, his lips lingering on top of my skin. He was so quiet and still that I started feeling my heart beating out of my chest…and neck. He pulled away quickly and he looked like he was in pain, “See.”

  “What if I let you---”

  “No.”

  “Have you ever?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sex or biting?”

  He hesitated, “Both.”

  “Oh…” So he wasn’t afraid of losing control with the other women he dated. I tried to ignore the pang of jealousy.

  He kissed the top of my head, “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry… just because I’m experience-less doesn’t mean I’m naïve. I didn’t expect you to be like me…”

  He sighed and pulled me close to him when I didn’t say anything else. It was a silent plea that I didn’t run away. I wasn’t going to
but I couldn’t help but feel jealous that he wasn’t able to ‘control’ himself with the other girls. It was stupid and I know I was probably reading it twisted.

  He pulled away and cupped my chin and brought his lips to mine, “Don’t over think it.”

  “I’m trying.” I forced myself to smile and do a fake yawn, “Finally sleepy.” I cuddled into his chest so I wouldn’t have to look at him anymore and sighed.

  “Goodnight beautiful.” He whispered.

  “Goodnight…” I mumbled.

  ***

  James was nervous as he got ready. I was half asleep when he suggested that we go to my parent’s house before going to Lana. I agreed half-heartedly. I think he was thinking the worst possible things that could happen from seeing Lana. I’m not sure why I felt nervous too. It wasn’t the ‘I’m nervous he’s meeting them’ type of nervous, more nervous about the day in general. There was a pit in my stomach making me feel like something bad was going to happen today.

  I acted asleep as he got ready. I counted the minutes he was in the shower. How long he took to style his hair. He stared at the closet for a good thirty minutes before deciding on jeans, a black V-neck and a blazer. I loved when he was casual dressy.

  I tried not to swoon from the fresh smell of his cologne or soap or whatever made him smell so irresistible when he walked by and kissed the top of my head and fix the blanket that had flown down to my waist.

  I got ready quickly, rushing through my shower and doing my quickest cutest hair style and my makeup with my usual look. I walked into the kitchen to James pouring two cups of coffee.

  He turned around when he heard me approaching and smiled. I wrapped my arms around his waist inside of his jacket and loved the feel of him against me, “I like this outfit.”

  “I guess this outfits a winner. I was thinking about changing it…”

  I smiled, “Don’t be nervous about meeting my parents. They’re going to love you.”

  He smiled but I could tell he didn’t believe me, “How do I look?” I asked doing a little twirl.

  “Gorgeous like always.” He said and pulled me closer to kiss me good morning.

  “God… I really regret saying I was going to stay here.” David groaned coming into the kitchen. He grabbed one of the coffees as I pulled away from James.

  “That was for Karina and me.” James said to him.

  David shrugged and grabbed the other one handing it to me, “Make yourself another cup. We’re the guests.” He said to James making me laugh at the surprised expressed on his face.

  I smiled and took a sip of the delicious coffee, “Really good.”

  “Perks of having a friend who owns the coffee shop. He taught me everything I know coffee wise.” He smiled proudly.

  I handed him the cup of coffee and he took a sip as well. Making David annoyed even more; I ended up on James’s lap sharing the cup of coffee and a bagel with him. Something about sharing a morning coffee that says, “I will do anything for you, even share my much needed morning caffeine”.

  We drove to my parent’s house first for tea. I told him not to take anything, but he stopped by a pastry shop and bought some flower as well knowing that my parents were kind of old school.

  My mom greeted us first. The same surprised look that most people get among seeing my mom and dad, I look nothing like them. Thanks to the beauty of hair dye, my mom had natural looking blonde hair and my dad was a bald intimating looking man. But like I knew they would, James and my parents hit it off immediately.

  I tried not to cringe whenever my dad would bring up something embarrassing and I would elbow my mom to tell him to stop talking. I noticed James looking at my childhood pictures and smiling.

  I showed him around the house before we went, “Why aren’t there any teen pictures. I’ve seen pictures of you as a baby, toddler, late teens and now…”

  I blushed, “Awkward stage. Burned the pictures.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “Okay I didn’t burn them, they’re hidden.” I laughed.

  “I’m sure you looked beautiful.” He said kissing my cheek as I hugged her from behind.

  After looking around we chatted with my parents some more and left. As we were leaving my mom hugged us both and whispered in my ear, “He’s handsome. Definitely a keeper!” I could tell James was holding back his smile as he said his goodbyes.

  “You know… you being able to hear everything is starting to get annoying.” I mumbled in the car.

  “Sorry baby…” He laughed.

  “But…my parents liked you a lot.” I said happily, “I was so nervous…”

  “Why you thought they wouldn’t like me?”

  “No I knew they would. I just… you know… first guy I’ve brought home…” I said shyly.

  “You’ve dated before though.”

  “Not serious enough to bring the guy home to meet my parents. They weren’t worth the nervousness.” I half joked. They really weren’t and I was thankful there would be no more ‘first meetings’ with our families.

  We walked into the familiar café with the same parrot from hell. As James walked past the parrot, it freaked out more than usual and started flapping around and squawking.

  James glanced around and held me close to him. I loved his protective side, but I’ve been here before, it’s not like she’s going to hurt me.

  Lana walked out and looked at James with a smirk. I suddenly felt guilty for asking him to see her knowing how much he didn’t like her.

  “Well, I was expecting you two to come. You need my help, correct?” she said and sat at her usual wooden table. I wondered if she ever had more than one customer here at a time. I felt James tense up and I squeezed his hand.

  “You are James Carmichael, correct?”

  “Yes.” James said through his teeth. I pulled him to go with me and sit across from her.

  “You two want to find a cure for your inner monster demon, correct?”

  “He’s not a monster demon.” I snapped at her. James squeezed my hand trying to calm me down and I hated that he wasn’t as offended as I was.

  “Well… I don’t know the legend that well. But… I’ve heard of it. You two have to prove you love each other.” She shrugged.

  “How have you heard of it?” He asked.

  “Well… you’re not the only one who’s come for help recently. And have you maybe thought that it’s not working because it’s possible that your girlfriend is part gypsy. Gypsies aren’t new and her ancestors come from an area close to our home. It’s possible that could be the problem…”

  James looked at me silently asking me if it was true. I shrugged, “I don’t know my family tree past my grandparent’s parents.”

  “Even if she was, there is no part of the curse that says I can’t be with one.”

  “True…” she said to herself.

  “You said someone came here already for a cure?” David didn’t know of her so it couldn’t have been him.

  “Doesn’t really matter, but after I saw your cup. I called my Aunt Nadya, she knows the legend better than I do. I explained to her what I saw in the cup, especially the dragon, and she was convinced that you had come across and/or fall in love with a Carmichael and you are in danger.” She said to me.

  James stood up his eyes flashing red, “I would never harm her.”

  I pulled him back down making Lana smirk, “Getting harder to control your anger lately isn’t it?”

  “Please Lana… this grudge is from years ago. None of us were even around then…Could you please just tell us if there is any way to break the curse? How can we prove our love to each other?”

  “Are you sure you two love each other? Maybe he’s just using you to break the curse. The love has to be mutual, not just one sided.” James was squeezing my hand tightly trying to keep himself from yelling or attacking Lana.

  “Please… I love him and he loves me. I would do anything for him. He’s proven his love millions of times already�
�� he’s saved my life and protects me…” I said looking at him lovingly.

  “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” She asked.

  “This is ridiculous, let’s go.” James said standing up.

  “There are a few for sure ways that I know of. You,” she said pointing to me, “Are you willing to die for James?” she started, “You could risk your life. Or forfeit your pure blood to a Carmichael man. Any Carmichael man that’s related to him, and has the curse of course, and the curse will be broken to the Carmichael man that you love, meaning James."

  “He already had some of my blood.” I said remembering the rose incident.

  She raised her brow and I saw a flash of disgust on her face, “No. A lot of your blood.”

  “No. No no no,” He repeated, “that’s just ridiculous; I’m not going to let her die for this stupid curse!” James yelled standing up.

  “She’s doesn’t have to die necessarily. She just has to risk her life.”

  “You keep changing everything you say! Forget this, it’s not worth it.” James grabbed my arm and started pulling me out of the café, I turned around to look at Lana and she was smirking while she waved.

  James dragged me to the car. Unfortunately we had parked a block away since there was no parking. “James wait! We should try it!”

  “What!? Are you out of your mind!?” He finally stopped to face me, “She could be lying! It is in her blood to want the curse to stay on us. She could be lying because she sees that you love me. She wants to get rid of you!”

  “I won’t die if you take some of my blood! People donate all the time!”

  He laughed, “Donate? First of all; I’m not doing it. You saw how I reacted when you got that small cut from the thorn, I wouldn’t be able to stop… and I don’t trust anyone else either to do it.”

  “James…”

  “Please… just drop it Karina.” He growled at me.

  He drove us to his parent’s house quietly. We stopped speaking to each other after he told me to drop it, because I don’t want to drop it.