As my eyes cleared, I noticed the rabbit wasn’t quite as big as I first thought. Maybe only eighteen inches high. But it was really close, sitting just next to me. There was a balloon tied to it with the words ‘get well soon honey bunny’ across it.
“You back again?” Peggy asked me.
“Huh?” I asked. It hurt to talk.
“You’ve been fading in and out for two days.”
“What happened?”
“Lay still.” she said, moving over and holding her hands out. “You’re still not well, hon.”
“Wha...”
“You were practically cut in half.” she said.
“Oh yeah. Did... did...” I felt tears building up in my eyes and choking me. “Is Barney okay?”
“He’ll be fine. He got shot in the leg during the fight, but it was just grazed him, and he’s mostly healed now.”
“Oh. So... um... how long...”
“That was eight days ago.”
I took an inventory of my injuries. My arm was almost cut off, but it had been stitched up and was healing. I could move my fingers, so that was a good sign. Though I could barely feel them. I have itchy spots all over where various cuts had begun to heal. I guess my ability to heal extends to a broken spine, too. Thank God.
“I’ve been force feeding you.” Jessica said. She was in the doorway, holding a plastic squeeze bottle with a hose on it. “I just shove this in the back of your mouth and squeeze.”
“Oh gosh, I’m so glad they didn’t come for you Jessica.” I said, tears filling my eyes. “You have to run away before they come.”
“Relax.” Peggy said. She patted my right arm.
“But... they’re going to be even angrier with me now.”
“Who?” Jess asked. “If you’re referring to the two vamps from Wichita, they’re all taken care of, thanks to you.”
“Oh.” That’s good to know. “But... Paolo, and the Venator immortuorom...”
“We were asked to give their regards.” Peggy said. She sat next to me and checked my bandages.
“I don’t understand. I thought they’d kill me. I went into this knowing they would.”
“Kill you?” Jessica said, faked humor in her voice. “Nonsense. They may need your help again in the future.” She held the bottle out for me, waiting for me to take it in my right hand. “Which, by the way, is why we have such a bountiful supply of blood at the moment.”
“I don’t...”
“Paolo says as long as we continue to stay out of trouble, and if we inform them where we are living each time we move, they will continue to supply us with food so we won’t have to resort to thievery. A quart per month for each of us.”
“They’re giving us blood?” I’m so confused.
“In exchange for our help in the future, should they need it.”
“I pray they do not.” Peggy said. “Look what happened this time.”
“So they feed us and all we have to do is turn into vampire hunters? Gee, I so look forward to that.”
“Not necessarily vampires.”
“Apparently there are far more monsters in the world than we knew.” Peggy said. “Which doesn’t help me sleep any better at night.”
“He wouldn’t elaborate, though.” Jess said. “Now try this. I mixed two parts blood and one part tabasco sauce. It’s way better than straight blood.”
I sucked down half the bottle quickly. She’s right, it is better. Why didn’t I try that before? I wonder what else we could mix with it.
“The balloon and the rabbit are from Teresa.” Peggy told me. “She brought them over last week.”
“She cried when she saw you.” Jessica said. “I had to hold her back so she wouldn’t hurt you by trying to hug you.”
“Maybe I should call. Maybe she’ll come visit, now that I’m awake.”
“She went back to Georgia with her parents.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry, hon. She made me promise we’d stop by to visit if we’re ever in the area, though. I told her we’d try to be by during Thanksgiving break.”
“That’s forever, though.”
“Good thing you two have forever, then.” Peggy said. She kissed my forehead. “Try to get some rest, Brynne.”
THE END
About the Author
Jennie Taylor grew up in a small rural town, always dreaming of being a writer. She enjoys listening to music, writing, painting, photography, and spending time with her lovely wife. This is her first foray into publishing her work. She hopes to continue publishing in the future; she has many novels in the works. While she's not enjoying her creative pursuits or working at her day job, she can be found watching Pokemon reruns, Project Runway, American Idol, and Korean dramas. Look for more novels coming soon!
contact Jennie at [email protected]
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Other novels by Jennie Taylor:
Becca
Brynne, Non-Vampire (The Non-Vampire Series Book 1) Page 24