Violet Blood

by Sophia Stafford

  He shrugged, his face reddening a little. “No, I guess not.”

  Jaycen stayed seated for a bit, drinking more of her cocktail until it was empty. Now, she needed some air, or some water. Or both. Both would be great.

  “You need to try this drink, Jay, it’ll blow your mind.” José grabbed an empty glass from the table and started pouring whiskey into it, then gin.

  Jaycen closed her eyes. “I’m not sure I could drink anymore.”

  “Oh, come on. One more,” Lara shouted over the music, clapping her hands.

  “Yeah, one more,” Gemma laughed along, trying to clap her hands with her arm intertwined with Luke’s, who was just helping himself to a beer.

  One more drink. She should say, no. She should stand up now and go get some water. But she didn’t; instead, she stood up and took the glass that was now full, full of what, Jaycen didn’t know.

  “Oh god, this smells so gross and I really can’t drink anymore.” She peered into the glass, the room still spinning around her.

  “Come on. I promise I’ll hold your hair back if you’re sick.” José sat down in the seat she’d just gotten out of.

  “I think she’s had enough to drink.” The glass was taken from her hand and put on the table next to her.

  “Thorn,” Lara tutted, still laughing a little. “You’re always the sensible one; let the girl drink if she wants to.”

  I don’t want to, Jaycen thought, her body swaying. Maybe, she wasn’t moving; maybe, she just felt like she was.

  “She doesn’t need any more alcohol.” He sounded liked her dad, or how she would imagine her dad to sound anyway.

  “Dude, I can’t count how many times we’ve got drunk together. You can’t talk to anyone about drinking too much,” José said, spreading his arms along the back of the sofa, sitting back, and relaxing.

  Thornton drunk, now that was something Jaycen would like to see. Mainly because she just couldn’t imagine it. She couldn’t imagine a situation where he wasn’t in control, all serious.

  “She’s underage, and she needs to stop drinking.” He sounded matter-of-fact as he tried to take the glass from Jaycen’s hand.

  José shook his head, his smile falling but his eyes still watching them both.

  She pulled the glass back, the liquid spilling out. “I’m not a child. I can drink whatever I want.”

  Before she could even think of what she was doing, the liquid was down her throat and she knew instantly it was a mistake. A huge mistake. Her body jerked forward, whatever was in the cup was coming back up. Oh god. Oh god.

  Someone took her by the arm, pulling her through the crowd, her head still bent with her hand covering her mouth. This. Was. Mortifying.

  Whoever was leading her pushed her into the toilet; even with her head down Jaycen had to blink at the bright lights. She looked up to see a few girls applying their makeup in the mirrors. They all looked her way as she stumbled into one of the stalls. Jaycen didn’t care as she fell to the floor and emptied her stomach into the toilet.

  “Thorn, I didn’t know you were here,” one of the girls purred behind her.

  “Yeah,” he grunted, effectively shutting down that conversation. Jaycen could feel him walking to stand behind her at the toilet door. Jaycen was sick again, the spinning room now getting faster and faster. She heard the girls leave.

  “You okay?” His voice sounded a lot softer now. Jaycen looked up, just to make sure he was talking to her. He was standing over her. “I was trying to guide you in, but I think I ended up pushing you.”

  “I’m fine.” She really wasn’t fine. “I just need a minute. I’ll meet you back outside.” She sat down on the floor, her back to the toilet stall, and closed her eyes. She heard him walk away and the door open, the club’s music blaring into the quiet washroom until the door closed again. So, this was what being drunk felt like? It sucked. Why did people do this regularly? Why would anyone choose to feel this way?

  The door opened again. Still with her eyes closed, Jaycen tried to feel for the stall door, only for it to be stopped before she could close it. She opened her eyes to Thornton standing over her, holding two bottles of water.

  “Here.” He handed one down to her as he slid past the half-opened door, shutting it behind him, and sliding down to the ground so he was sitting next to her, their thighs touching.

  She took the bottle. “Thanks. You should be out there though, with your friends. I’ll be okay. Thanks for the water.” She unscrewed the bottle and gulped it down, praying to god that it didn’t come back up.

  Thornton chuckled, the deepness seeming to be magnified by their close proximity. “I’m not leaving you like this.”

  “Why not? I don’t want to ruin your night.”

  “You’re not. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be,” he promised, smiling just a little.

  “You really didn’t want me to come tonight.” It wasn’t a question; Thornton had made it very clear he didn’t want her invited.

  “I know how these parties get. Lara’s been throwing them since we were young. Too young to drink but we did anyway. I was trying to. . . shield you from it I guess.”

  She liked that. She liked that a lot. She hated that she liked it. He thought of her like a child, someone that constantly needs protecting. She could handle herself, but then she’d find herself in situations like this, drunk and sitting on a toilet floor. Worse than that, it seemed Thornton would always be there to see these moments. Fate hated her.

  She thought about her next question for a moment, unsure if she should even ask it. But hey, it was now or never. “Are you and Lara dating?”

  She could feel Thornton’s body shake with silent laughter. “Dating? Nah, why would you think that?”

  She couldn’t tell him she’d been watching them together; she’d sound like a complete stalker.

  “You seem close,” she said instead.

  “Yeah, we are. But only as friends. Our families are really close, always have been. She’s like a sister, the only sister I’m ever going to have.”

  Thank god, Jaycen thought, smiling to herself, the room still spinning. Would it ever stop?

  “You were right; I shouldn’t have drank so much.”

  He grinned down her. “Everyone gets drunk at some point.” He watched her for a minute. “Have you ever been drunk before?”

  Slowly, she shook her head. “Nope. First and last.” She drank more water, the spinning room slowing down just a little, and she didn’t feel like she was going to be sick; so that was nice.

  Thornton looked completely confused. “How? You didn’t party at your other schools?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’ve been to parties but didn’t stay. Parties sound like a great idea until I get there.” She was actually enjoying this party, maybe it was because she was drunk. Maybe, this was why people drank in the first place.

  He laughed a little, and Jaycen drank more water. “Parties can be fun, you just have to go with the right people.”

  “I’m never going to a party ever again. This is me done.” Jaycen emptied the bottle and reached for the second one. She was going to have to stand up soon, maybe possibly leave. Dread filled her. The others saw her nearly be sick—could this night have gone any worse?

  “No, this can’t be it. Next party, I’ll take you. I’ll even watch how much you drink.” He gently nudged her leg with his.

  Cue her butterflies, as cliché as it sounded they were real and flipping her stomach. Then, the last part registered. “Tonight was, well, tonight was a mistake, but I don’t need someone to watch how much I’m drinking. I’m not a kid.” Jaycen pushed up from the floor, struggling to stand with so little space.

  Somehow the space didn’t seem to bother Thornton as he was on his feet before Jaycen was on her knees. “I was just kidding. I know you’re not a kid.” He looked down at her, his thick brows creasing just a little. “But José is a kid, so don’t take any more drinks off him. He wouldn’t even kn
ow what was in it.”

  “I think he was trying to give me liver failure.” He didn’t think she was a kid! She wanted to celebrate, maybe a fist pump? The thought had barely registered before a new wave of nausea hit—yeah, she was going to have to wait until she was less drunk to celebrate.

  “He probably was.” Thornton stepped forward, so he could open the door; their bodies were now flat against each other’s. His hard muscles against her softer body; god it felt great. It was then that Jaycen realised she’d turned into a perverted weirdo, getting excited about an accidental brush against his body. However, Thornton didn’t move. Jaycen’s heart was beating so fast she was sure he could feel it.

  “You know, sometimes you’re really nice. Then, you’re not. It’s like you have bipolar,” she said quietly, closing her eyes and feeling her body sway. There was a chance she could be sick again.

  “I don’t mean to be,” he told her immediately. “Sometimes, I think I should keep my distance; you know, stay away from you. Then, other times I think, why should I? You know?”

  She opened her eyes, realising she was getting a glimpse into Thornton’s head.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be confusing. I don’t mean to be.” He finished with a small shrug.

  “I don’t want you to stay away from me.” It was an admission she probably shouldn’t have made. She was totally going to blame it on the alcohol if it blew up in her face.

  “Then, I won’t.” He paused. “Are you feeling better?” He was still so close; their noses were nearly touching.

  We should kiss. She didn’t say it, but she wanted to. Instead, she gave a jerky nod. “I think so.” No matter how much she tried she couldn’t take her eyes away from his lips; she knew that he could see what she was looking at, but he didn’t move, so neither did she. They were so quiet in the bathroom, the faint sound of music in the background. It was then that they heard the scream. A chill ran down Jaycen’s spine.

  “Probably someone who’s gotten too drunk.” Thornton twisted and opened the toilet door.

  Jaycen prayed that was true, but she remembered the last time she’d heard a scream like that. Then, it rang out again. This time Jaycen didn’t second-guess; she ran out of the toilet and into the club. The music was still blaring but it didn’t seem as busy. This was because instead of people drinking and dancing, they were all gathered at the far end of room, a woman’s scream drowning out anything else. Jaycen moved towards the group with Thornton just behind her, weaving in and out of the group until she saw what everyone was looking at. Gemma lay in the centre of the group, her eyes closed with her legs and arms thrashing out, Luke and Lara both kneeling at her side.

  “No, no, no,” Jaycen chanted, falling to her knees and crawling to Gemma. “What happened to her?”

  A wide-eyed Lara looked up at her, her shaky hands holding Gemma’s hand tight. “I don’t know; she just… she just started screaming.”

  “Gemma, please, please look at me.” Luke sounded terrified as he gripped Gemma’s head, forcing her to look at him. “Someone help! Help her!”

  Thornton stepped in, gently easing Luke away from a still screaming Gemma. “She’s going to be okay; I’ve already called an ambulance.” Thornton’s words were supposed to be calming, but then Gemma screamed again, and Luke’s face became frantic with complete panic.

  “Does she need an ambulance?”

  Thornton’s eyes flashed to Gemma for just a second, before he said calmly, “Maybe, but I promise she’ll be okay.”

  “Get it off me; please get it off me.” Tears were now streaming down Gemma’s face, her whole body shaking.

  “Get what off you? Gemma, talk to me. Please.” Jaycen was patting down her whole body, but she wasn’t bleeding like Perry had been.

  “What has she been drinking?” she heard Thornton demand.

  “Just a Cosmo, I swear, nothing else,” José answered, sounding as worried as everyone else looked.

  “She’s just had too much to drink; she couldn’t handle it.” Stephen’s voice was unmistakable, his silly little laugh at the end putting Jaycen on edge. She wanted to jump up and hit him in his face, but she couldn’t, right now she had to focus on Gemma.

  “It’s chok…. It’s… choking me.” Gemma’s eyed widened to the point that it looked unnatural, her lips parting but no screaming coming out anymore.

  “Choking?” Automatically, Jaycen’s hands went to Gemma’s throat, but nothing was there.

  “She’s choking. She said she’s choking,” Luke shouted, his voice now completely frantic as he looked around for help.

  “I don’t know; I don’t know what to do.” Jaycen put her body over Gemma’s, just like she had for Perry. But unlike Perry, Gemma didn’t snap out of it.

  “What are you doing?” Thornton pulled her up and set her aside, his fingers going to Gemma’s pulse.

  “It’s faint. Where is the ambulance?” Thornton shouted. “I think I’m going to have to put her to sleep.”

  Jaycen didn’t even know that was an option. “Do it,” she pleaded, taking Gemma’s hand in hers and pushing her hair away from her face. If only she could see what Gemma was seeing, was it the same thing Perry had seen? Or was it the alcohol?

  Before Thornton could put Gemma to sleep, Jaycen was pulled into a dull room. Everything was grey and dark. Gemma looked over at her, her body twitching as she gasped for air. Jaycen’s lungs seemed to empty immediately, as the feeling of something wrapping around her neck and tightening made her panic. Her hands started to scratch at her neck, but there was nothing there. Her body fell back on the floor, so she was looking up at the ceiling. Then, after a few blinks, the creature appeared above her. Hovering over both of them, it was truly petrifying. It’s long, thin arm covered in weeping sores reaching out and wrapping around Gemma’s neck. But Jaycen could feel it around her own. The monster flickered over her, then it was gone, the squeezing around her neck continued.

  “Jaycen, what’s wrong?” She could hear Thornton’s voice, but she couldn’t look at him, not when the pressure around her neck intensified. Her head fell to the side, getting a better look at the thing above Gemma. The monster wasn’t like Perry’s drawing. It was longer and thinner, its skin scaled like a snake, and covered with big, open sores. The sight of it was enough to make her sick.

  Then, the pressure in her stomach started. Numbly her hand went there, trying to claw at whatever was pushing into her, her eyes now getting heavy from the lack of oxygen. She twisted to look at Gemma, ready to let the darkness take her, when she saw the monster slowly, ever so slowly, pushing something into Gemma’s stomach. Each inch it moved intensified the pain in Jaycen’s own stomach by what felt like a million. What was happening? It turned to look at her then, its movement quick and sharp. Two dark black eyes, boring into hers.

  “Jaycen! Jaycen, look at me,” Thornton shouted, but she couldn’t see him, all she could see were the dark eyes of the monster above her as it squeezed the life out of her and Gemma simultaneously.

  Jaycen reached out, grabbing hold of Gemma’s hand, and squeezing it tight, Gemma’s eyes heavy and her face pale.

  “Put them to sleep; do it now,” a panicked Luke cried just as Gemma’s eyes closed and Jaycen’s world went dark.

  Chapter 20

  Jaycen shot up, her heart pounding in her chest. The image of those dark eyes still fresh in her mind. What were they? A dream? A nightmare?

  “Oh Jesus, calm down; you’re alright; just calm down. Deep breaths.”

  Jaycen heard Thornton’s voice before she saw him standing to her right. Slowly, she turned her head, her mind completely disoriented, and her body aching. That was when her surroundings became clear. She was in a bed, and Thornton was there, wearing a pair of loose, jogging bottoms and completely shirtless. Was she still dreaming?

  “Are you okay now?” he asked slowly, moving towards her and holding out a glass. “You sat up so fast there; I thought you were going to take off.”

>   “I’m… I’m okay.” She nodded numbly, taking the glass of water, and staring straight at his bare chest.

  He had a great chest; she could recognise that even in her disoriented state. Somehow, she managed to look away; it was then that she noticed the room. It was huge, and not hers. “Where—” She had to swallow before continuing. “Where am I?”

  Thornton sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re in my dorm.”

  “Oh,” she said numbly. He was acting like it was normal so why shouldn’t she? Even if her stomach was doing somersaults. She took a sip of the water, and then because she couldn’t hold back her question anymore, she asked, “Why am I in your room?”

  Thornton leant forward, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. Again, like the action was completely normal. Jaycen was just frozen. Come on, she thought, pretty sure her mouth was hanging open at this point, surely, I must be dreaming?

  “Your hair looks great in the morning; I mean, you have great hair anyway, but in the morning, it’s just better.” He smiled, almost to himself. Then, his face became serious. “Do you remember what happened last night?”

  She nodded numbly, then shook her head and shrugged. She remembered eyes. Just black eyes boring into hers. A dream? She didn’t know, and no matter how much she tried to focus on the eyes, her mind just became fuzzy. It seemed all she could focus on was how completely shocked she was at her current situation. Shocked at his closeness, shocked with how he was being with her. Just shocked with the whole thing, really.

  “Something happened to Gemma; she was having some kind of fit. You stepped in,” he began, and the evening started slowly coming back. She was at a party; she had been drinking, a lot. Her stomach clenched at the thought—she had been drinking a hell of a lot. Gemma had been there, she’d been laughing. Slowly, very slowly, images came drifting back to her. They’d been having a good time. She could remember her and Thornton talking in a bathroom and couldn’t help but smile at the memory. Until, Gemma started screaming. Then, it came rushing back, hitting Jaycen like a ton of bricks. Gemma on the floor, thrashing in pain, and gasping for air. Jaycen being able to see the monster, the creature, whatever it was, looming over her. Looming over them both.