Ties To The Blood Moon

by Robin P. Waldrop

  Chapter 47

  The steaming shower spray felt like tiny needles piercing my skin, but William assured me the pain would go away quickly. I wasn’t sure just exactly what his definition of quickly was, but it sure as hell wasn’t the same as mine.

  When I opened the bathroom door William was still sitting in the same recliner he’d been in when he sat vigil while I was turning. He had my phone, and when I saw the look on his face, I knew something was wrong.

  “What’s going on?” I rushed to him, stumbling over my own two feet. William said when you first turn, your body still moves slower and has to play catch up with your mind. I sat down on the side of the bed closest to him and he handed me my phone.

  “When I realized you were going to be here longer than you were supposed to, I pretended to be you and sent Luna a message telling her to get in touch with your aunt so she wouldn’t worry. Luna messaged back and said your aunt is missing.”

  I scrolled back through her messages.

  Gen are you okay? Haven’t heard from you. :(

  Got your message, but your aunt’s not answering. Call me.

  Gen! It’s been four days. Are you all right?

  Why aren’t you calling me? Something’s terribly wrong. I need you to call me!

  Gen, can’t find your aunt. I sent my brothers over there after she didn’t answer for three days. They said your house has been trashed and she’s gone!

  “Oh my God!”

  “I didn’t see all the other texts until that last one came through a few minutes ago.” William lowered his eyes. “I knew something bad would happen if I turned you. I should have never done it,” he said severely, and sprang from his seat. He paced the floor, really beating himself up about something I had talked him into.

  I jumped up, crossing the room and stopping in front of him. “Hey…wait a minute. You didn’t do this. I did.”

  “If you were at home, she might still be there.” He was angry, but not with me.

  “If I was at home, I might be dead.” I peered at him, waiting for what I’d just said to sink in.

  After a minute, William dropped his shoulders and sighed. “I know you’re probably right, but it doesn’t change the fact that something’s happened to your aunt and I feel responsible.” He pulled me close to him, wrapping his arms around me. “We’ll find her. I promise.”

  His touch felt so good I tried to let him hold me, but I had to push him away. My bloodlust was too strong. “Sorry.” I shook my head, and wrapped my arms around myself while hurrying to the other side of the room.

  When William tried to follow me I shouted for him to stay away. “Don’t get close to me,” I said severely, and he saw my razor sharp fangs. Vampires didn’t really have fangs, they were just incisor teeth that when threatened or aroused turned pointed and hung down a fraction lower than the other teeth.

  His eyes grew so sad I knew he didn’t understand why I was pushing him away. He just stood in the middle of the room looking like a scolded puppy.

  “I’m not strong enough yet. When you were holding me, I could smell your blood, and I felt your heart beating deep inside me. All I could think of was how much I wanted to bite you.”

  I was shocked when I felt hot tears sting my eyes. I wiped my hand across my cheek, then looked at William, my eyes wide and brows raised. “I thought vampires can’t make tears?” I stared down at my hand after wiping my other cheek. “What’s happening to me?”

  William appeared just as stunned, but tried not to let me see it. “Uh, first things first.” He unlocked the door to the secret room, slipped away, and was back in a minute with a fresh bag of cold blood.

  Of course, I found that bag blood wasn’t nearly as good as William’s blood had been. His tasted like the sweetest honey you could imagine, and had the intoxicating effect of the finest wine. But, right now blood was blood, and I craved it more than anything.

  When I spotted the bag of blood, I rushed him, trying to snatch it from his hand. He was still much quicker than I was, and easily managed to keep it away from my grasp.

  I kept fighting him, determined to get the bag. “Give it to me,” I said in a low snarl that actually scared me. My mouth watered uncontrollably, drool sitting on the corners of my mouth.

  “Stop it!” He growled, glaring at me, and showing his fangs. “If you want to leave this house, you’ve got to get your bloodlust under control. It’s what separates us from savage vampires and lycan. We only feed when we’re truly hungry…not for sport.

  “I need It, William. I’m so thirsty. Please, give it to me.” The entire time I begged him, I never once took my eyes off of the bag. Between his heartbeat and the smell of bagged blood, I was going insane.

  “No! You don’t need it, Genevieve.” He placed the bag on a dresser sitting across the room, then turned around to face me, planting his feet and crossing his arms tightly.

  As soon as I saw his hand release it, I attempted to go after it. I’m sure I looked just like a clumsy Great Dane puppy. My feet fumbled, and my long lanky legs twisted under me when I tried to run causing me to stumble. I tried catching myself, but my reflexes were still not quite there yet, and I fell, landing at William’s feet.

  He laughed and it took my mind off of the blood for a moment. I got so angry, I grabbed his foot, catching him off guard, and yanked it out from under him. His back landed on the floor right next to me.

  “That’s what you get for laughing at me.” When I saw the shock in his eyes, I couldn’t help but laugh, too. “I’m not as weak as you thought, am I?”

  His face scrunched up like it hurt, then it quickly faded into a sly smile. “No, actually you’re pretty damn strong…for a newbie.”

  He barely got the words out of his mouth before pouncing, and we wrestled around on the floor. I was still pretty sore, and at one point he accidentally elbowed me in the stomach, causing me to scream out in pain.

  He stopped immediately and scooped me up off the floor, cradling me. He carried me to the bed and gently lay me down. He just kept apologizing repeatedly.

  “I’m okay…really, it’s no big deal.” I smiled reassuringly at him. His already naturally disheveled hair was even more disheveled after our romp on the floor. I glanced up, then giggled. His mouth curved up into that sly smile again, and he smeared my hair all over the place.

  Afterward, he plopped onto the bed next to me, pulling me onto his shoulder so he could wrap his arm under me. “Guess what?” He said in his most sexy tone.

  “What?” I replied.

  “Don’t freak out or anything,” he said, taking hold of my hands. “You seem to have forgotten all about your thirst.”

  I thought about it for a minute and realized William was right. For whatever reason, my hunger wasn’t driving me crazy. It was still on my mind, but at the moment it wasn’t controlling me. I was controlling it.

  I heard a faint vibrating noise, but William heard it, too, and reached across me plucking my phone from the bedside table. “Here, love,” he said in what was possibly the worst British accent I’d ever heard.

  It was a text message from Luna. I read it aloud for William to here. Gen, I have news about Bev. Tell me where you are and I’ll come there.

  If it’s something bad, tell me now. I messaged her right back. When she didn’t respond, I texted her again. Luna! Tell me now, please.

  When she didn’t text right back, I sat up. “We’ve got to go to her,” I said frantically, and had already started chewing on my lip.

  William sat up and swung his socked feet over the side of the bed. My gaze flitted between him and the bag of blood. “Just close your eyes and concentrate. You don’t need it.”

  I quickly did just as he said. Even though it helped some, just knowing it was there was starting to get to me. “Please put it away.” I was nowhere near ready to trust myself yet.

  When William left the room my phone vibrated again. Naturally, he’d easily heard it from the other room and hurried back t
o my side.

  Sorry, I had to wait until my mom left. I overheard her talking with my grandfather. He said in his vision he saw Bev with Zane.