Blood Haze

by L. R. Potter

  Slowly, he once again grabbed the ends to her ties and refastened them around her neck. He slid his hands down to straighten her dress. He took a step back and zipped his pants. He then rested one forearm over her head and leaned over her, looking down in her upturned face.

  Uncomfortable at his close inspection, afraid she’d let her feelings show, she looked down and tugged against his jacket. “Is this how you normally dress when you come to the club,” she said flippantly. “I have to say… it’s a good look.”

  He smiled lazily down at her. “Only to the clubs with the sexiest singers.”

  “Umm, good answer.”

  “No, I was at the benefit.” He ran a finger across her brow. “But I… I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” he confessed softly.

  “Really,” she said, unable to stop the grin from splitting her face.

  He ran his finger down across her cheek. “Don’t look so pleased! It was darned inconvenient,” he said with mock sternness.

  His flippant words wounded her deeply. As casually as she could, she allowed her eyes to fall to his lapel so she’d be able to hide her reaction to them. “I’ll bet,” she said with forced brightness.

  He studied her intently for an excruciatingly long time. Bending down to press his lips against her temple, he said. “Sadly, I can’t stay, my darling Arabella. I have to get back or Karmyl will kill me.”

  In that moment, with those words, she knew without a shadow of a doubt she couldn’t do this. Pure anguish saturated her soul. This was going to hurt. But it’d hurt much more, later. She couldn’t live in this rule-less world. She decided she’d not see him again. She’d have to let Karmyl know she’d no longer be able to sing in the club, period. She couldn’t risk running into him. Pain caused tears to sting her eyes and she blinked rapidly.

  Clearing her throat, she lifted her eyes to his tie and busily began to adjust it. “Well, umm, you probably don’t… you probably don’t want to keep her waiting,” she managed to squeeze out through her tight throat.

  “Arabella?”

  She flicked a glance up to his eyes and flashed a quick smile before slipping away from him. “It’s been a long day. I need to go as well. I’ll… I’ll see you when I see you.” she replied as she busily began to gather her things. As she draped her wrap over her shoulders, she said, “You go ahead and go, I need to grab my check from Tobias.”

  His brows furrowed as he strove to understand the change in her. “Arabella?” he questioned again.

  As before, she flashed him an over-bright smile. “Go… shoo,” she said.

  “You’re good?”

  “Yep! Never better,” she said gaily.

  He glanced at his watch. “I… have to go,” he said with an apologetic smile.

  “I know,” she said.

  He grabbed her hips and pulled her forward. She closed her eyes when he leaned into her. Her heart clutched in her chest when he pressed his lips softly against hers. “Until next time,” he said softly.

  Unable to force any more words passed her lips, she merely nodded.

  He studied her for another moment before slowly backing away from her. When he finally went out, she waited a few seconds before going to the door and closing it softly. She carried herself back to her dressing table and on trembling legs sank down onto the stool. Pain lanced her heart. This was so stupid, she repeated to herself over and over. Being this distraught over someone she’d only known a matter of weeks was stupid compared to her relationship with Drew. She’d very easily thrown that over and moved passed it. She just wanted to be home. It’d been a long, sucky day. She was well and truly done!

  ~X~

  Lynx leaned forward in the backseat of his rented limousine to pour himself a very stiff drink… a double! He sat back and threw the drink down his throat. He was a fool. He’d really thought he could go to the club, have her, then just calmly walk away unscathed. She’d wormed herself into his very fiber. Since the moment he’d left her three days before, she’d been all he’d thought about.

  He’d been determined not to see her again. She was just another woman, just like one of the many, many women he’d had. And yet… she wasn’t like them. He’d kept thinking about the last time he’d seen her as she’d stripped his shirt off her magnificent body and handed it back to him. While she’d tried to hide her hurt, she’d been unsuccessful. She wasn’t cut out to be deceitful. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her so he’d left with the intention of not ever returning, he’d gotten what he wanted… her body… and her very essence.

  And for the most part, he’d been successful… until tonight. While at the benefit for the shelter his sister had dragged him to, he’d sat behind a woman with long brown hair. The way it’d hung and its texture had reminded him of Arabella… his Arabella. He’d left in the middle of the damned banquet… just to catch a glimpse of her. He’d thought he’d go by the club, sit in the back and hear her sing, just for a little while. But he’d found her at the bar wearing that damned dress. He’d wanted to walk up to her, bend her over the bar, and slam into her, right in front of everyone.

  So he’d danced with her and the want and desire he’d seen so clearly in her eyes had been his undoing. When she’d murmured, whatever you want, his head had nearly exploded. He couldn’t believe how brutally he’d taken her. They’d not even undressed. He’d just slammed her up against the wall and pounded into her like some brute. And… she’d loved it. God! The image of her head thrown back, crying his name, made him want her all over again.

  But once again, he’d hurt her. She wasn’t made for the type of relationship he needed to have with her. He wanted her desperately, wanted to feed from her continuously, but he couldn’t endure what he’d gone through with Celeste. Unconsciously, his hand reached up to touch the crescent moon on a chain under his shirt – the one his mother had given him when Celeste had died. He’d thought he could remain detached, but he… just couldn’t. The memory of her faked smile haunted him. He’d broken her. He’d seen and felt it. He leaned forward and poured another drink. It burned all the way down to his gut. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He’d get through the Blood Haze, then he’d leave, go back to Cape Horn… far, far away from here… from her.

  ~X~

  She rose quickly from the stool in front of the dressing table and scooped up her purse. As she spun around, the slit in her skirt caught on the knob attached to the center drawer of the dressing table, pulling the dress apart at the seam up to the waist. She looked down at the damage and tears sprang into her eyes. What a terrible ending to her day. She glanced around the room for something to change into. She spotted a thin, white robe she wore when applying make-up.

  She untied the top to her dress, trying hard not to remember his fingers at her nape just minutes before. She allowed the dress to fall to the floor. She never wanted to see the dress again. With that thought in mind, she gathered it up and slung it into the garbage. With a shiver, she immediately covered her body with the robe. Grabbing her purse, she ran out of the dressing room door and headed out through the back door of the club en route to her car.

  She was surprised to feel the light sting of rain as it pelted against her skin. She found she liked the sting as it made the hurt on the inside almost bearable. In the dim light of the single streetlight situated in the far corner of the club’s back alley, she realized the rain was causing the robe to cling to her body. Vaguely, the robe made her remember the dream she’d had. She shivered at the feel of the teeth sinking into her neck. She preferred that to remembering Lynx saving her as he’d done in the dream.

  Everything in the last few weeks all seemed to mesh together and suddenly sobs were being rent from her chest. The forced loss of Lynx was the final straw. She stumbled toward the parking lot, weaving like one of the ever-present drunks from the club. She’d nearly made to the building’s edge, when she felt a presence behind her. Before she could turn, someone pressed themselves against her back and clamped their arms
around her.

  “Hello, Kitty,” the evil voice said.

  She screamed. It was the same man who’d attacked her in her house.

  He slapped a hand over her mouth. “Uh huh,” he whispered in her ear.

  He dragged her back under the overhang of the club’s roof and without any more preamble, she felt his teeth sink into her neck viciously. She whimpered. “No, please, no. Lynx. I’m scared, save me… oh, please, save me,” she repeated the same words from her dream, begging them to come true. But he never came. Her sobs became weak whimpers until soon, her vision began to blur, then fade, and finally, she sank into the fathomless depths of the night.

  Chapter 9

  Arabella was so very pale… so very fragile. Lynx held her cold hand gently within his own. He lowered his head and brushed his lips lightly against it. God, he was a fool. He’d allowed this to happen. He shouldn’t have left her at the club. The faint beep, beep, beep of the heart monitor mocked him. Red-hot, furious anger exploded in his chest. Someone was going to pay for this. He was going to search and find the vamp who’d done this. The vamp who’d nearly drained her… who’d brought them all under suspicion because of his carelessness. He glanced down at the hospital admittance scan-card in his hand - the one, which had been clutched in Arabella’s hand. Tobias had pried it from her fingers before the police had gotten there. Whoever attacked her, worked at the hospital - which was why he wasn’t leaving her here unprotected.

  She whimpered in her sleep and struggled to disengage her hand from his. At any other time, her weak efforts would have been laughable. But he wasn’t laughing. Rising from his chair, he leaned over her to press his cool lips against her temple. In her ear, he whispered words of reassurance. “Arabella, I’m here. It’s okay. I promise you’ll never have to be afraid again. You’re safe, Arabella… my Arabella.”

  She tensed, but slowly calmed as he spoke. He stroked his fingers over her delicate features. When her body finally relaxed back into the deep realm of sleep, he reclaimed his seat without relinquishing her hand.

  He couldn’t take his eyes from her. He was so afraid that if he looked away for even a second, somehow, she’d slip away from him. He couldn’t take that chance. He’d done something so utterly stupid… so utterly insane. He’d fallen in love with her… with this fragile human. God! What was he going to do? His mind kept going over all the pitfalls of entering into this deadly relationship, but his heart wouldn’t listen. Seeing her like this nearly destroyed him. He couldn’t risk it again. She was his, had been his from the moment he’d seen her on that stage the very first night. He only hoped she’d be able to forgive him for treating her so callously.

  He sat back in his chair, the memory of the night before filling his head. He’d barely gotten back to the banquet… from being with her, when Karmyl had gotten the call from Tobias that she’d been attacked, had been nearly drained. Tobias hadn’t been the one to find her, so keeping what happened a secret from the humans was impossible.

  He gotten to the hospital as fast as he could but the doctors had already begun a battery of tests to determine the cause of so much blood loss. Of course, they’d found no plausible reason. But that determination came only after his poor Arabella had been poked and prodded. All he wanted to do was take her home to Night Shade, wrap her in his gold sheets, and curl his body around her securely. Only then, would he think her safe.

  The door opening forced him to take his eyes off her.

  “How is she?” Karmyl asked softly.

  “A lot of blood was taken.”

  “Has she awoken at all?” she asked, concern marring her features.

  He slowly shook his head, turning his eyes back to her.

  Karmyl moved to his side and sat on the arm of the chair, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “She looks so peaceful. So beautiful, like a china-doll.”

  “For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror,” he quoted.

  “Who said that?” she asked.

  “Rainer Rilke in his Duino Elegies,” he replied in his high-cultured voice. “I never understood it until now.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Men and vamps alike would be drawn to her because of her beauty. And in both cases, it didn’t turn out well.”

  “I see what you mean. But she’s strong. She’ll pull through this… will you?”

  “I’m not discussing this with you, Karmyl,” he said firmly.

  She pursed her lips. “That’s fine, but you’ll be explaining yourself soon enough when the others arrive next week. This will not go over well with them.”

  “This is none of their business… or yours,” he snapped.

  Throwing her hands up in surrender, she said, “Hey, I’m on your side.”

  He rubbed a hand over his face. “I know, sorry. It’s been a long night.”

  “Why don’t you go home and get some sleep. I’ll stay here,” she suggested.

  “No. I’m not leaving her. As soon as she wakes, I’m taking her back to Night Shade. She’s not safe on her own. She’s been attacked twice in the past week. I… I won’t risk it again!”

  “I wonder how long she’s been fed upon?” she asked with a shake of head.

  “Since the first attack,” he said. “She had no marks before then,” he explained.

  “And you know this how,” she teased.

  “I’m not discussing this with you,” he said again.

  She laughed. “Yes, so you’ve said.”

  “Go home, Karmyl. I’ll call you if anything changes. Make sure things are prepared for her arrival, okay?”

  “Okay.” She stood and walked to the door. Turning her head back to him, she said softly, “Lynx? Can you handle this? With her?”

  He exhaled deeply at the loaded question. “I don’t know… I just don’t know.”

  ~X~

  Her head was pounding, and she was so dizzy she was sick to her stomach. She swallowed to keep her stomach quiet knowing vomiting would intensify the pain in her head. Her first thought was Lynx… always Lynx. She was so pathetic. Her eyes flew open and she began to pant in terror as she remembered the attack. The room was not dark, but very dim. She glanced around frantically and began to hit out when unknown hands began trying to hold her down. Then she heard the sexist, accented voice in the world. The voice that had the ability to destroy her.

  “Hey, hey! Arabella. Calm down. You’re safe,” he murmured quietly. “You’re in the hospital.”

  She whimpered as she sought out his eyes for reassurance.

  Moving slowly, so as not to startle her, he leaned back and placed his forearms on the bedrail, then rested his chin against them. “Hey,” he said softly with a gentle smile.

  “Hey,” she rasped.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked as he brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek.

  She flinched slightly. “Tired, stiff, headachy,” she murmured.

  “Do you remember what happened?” he asked.

  She gripped the sheet weakly within her hands. “Yes, she whispered.

  “You’re safe now. You don’t have to worry,” he promised.

  “Did they get him this time?” she asked hopefully.

  He exhaled. “I’m sorry, no.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why does this keep happening to me? What does that guy want from me? He bit me… again. What’s up with that? I don’t understand. What did I do?”

  “This isn’t your fault. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I should have stayed. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m so sorry, Arabella.”

  “I didn’t see him. He was waiting for me in the alley.” She shivered against the memory.

  He pressed his lips against her forehead. “What can I do? Do you need anything? Something to drink, perhaps?”

  “Water?” she croaked.

  He turned around and got her water-glass with the attached straw and fed the straw between her lips. She whimpered as the pain of sucking m
ade her head pound.

  “Oh, baby,” he crooned. “The nurse left these tablets for you. She said they’d help with the headache and help you sleep.” Carefully, he helped her take them.

  She gulped them down and closed her eyes as exhaustion seemed to seep into her every pore. More tired than she could ever remember, she didn’t even have the energy to worry about her screwed-up situation with Lynx. Slowly, she drifted away… far, far away.

  Slowly coming awake, he stretched his muscles, cramped from sitting in the same position for so long. His eyes flickered open to be encapsulated into her starling blue ones which held such immense sadness. He swallowed hard against the tightening in his chest. She watched him without movement or comment.

  As he had the night before, he moved to lean against the rail. “Morning,” he said with an easy smile.

  She blinked rapidly as tears trickled down from her eyes. She allowed her head to loll away from him.

  “Arabella?”

  She shook her head then groaned as the movement caused her head to ache.

  “Arabella, look at me,” he commanded softly.

  “Please go away,” she croaked.

  Now it was his turn to blink. In any scenario he’d played in his mind, this hadn’t been one of them. “That’s not going to happen as long as you are here,” he replied simply.

  “Why?” she whispered.

  “Because you belong to me,” he said emphatically. While he’d thought the words might have a calming effect on her, he couldn’t have been more wrong.

  A sob broke from her lips. “I… I can’t… I’m sorry, but I can’t,” she cried. “I know I promised, but I can’t do it.” She lifted a hand to press against her head to abate its throbbing.

  “Arabella, you have to calm down. You’re very weak. As soon as the doctor comes in, I’m taking you to Night Shade with me.”