Brothers 3

Chapter 18

James woke with a pounding headache. He didn't usually feel too great when he was up during the day, but this was worse. His eyes hated any light, and his stomach was doing flips. He knew the feeling well. A hangover. Vampires didn't often get them. It took a lot of alcohol to get them drunk and even more to make them feel dehydrated. James must have consumed half the whiskey supply in the house.

He groaned and threw his arm over his eyes. The sofa felt lumpy under his back and the room stank of werewolf, adding to his sick feeling.

"How much did you drink?"

James knew it was Bonnie even before he saw her. She had a high voice that was impossible to mistake for another.

"I don't remember."

"A lot then."

"Go away. I am not in the mood for whatever lecture you have prepared for me."

She chuckled. "I don't have a lecture prepared. Although given how upset Ella was maybe I should."

James started to clench his teeth but stopped when he found that gave him more of a headache. Before he got to tense he decided to change the subject.

"What time is it?"

"About eleven thirty in the morning," Bonnie said, "the wolves have us all getting up around this time now."

Just another thing they had changed in his life, great.

"My mother is not happy with you."

James groaned again and sat up. the whole room spun as he moved. He was sure that if he had been human then he would have vomited. It took a lot of effort to open his eyes. When he did he was met by the sight of Bonnie sitting across from him, in the armchair. She was wearing a large jumper and had the sleeves pulled over her hands. She was playing with the ends of them idly while she spoke to him.

"I don't know what I am supposed to have done to her," James said, massaging his temples. He would need to go on a hunt soon to relieve his symptoms.

"It isn't what you did to me." Mrs Greene's voice was like nails on a chalk board in his current state. He flinched and felt her come up beside him, holding out a glass to him. the scent of stale blood made him gag.

"Its what you did to yourself." She affectionately pressed the back of her hand to his face as if checking for fever.

James leaned away. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure that you aren't still sweating in that most concerning way."

James screwed up his face. "I was sweating?"

"Yes. I think it might have been stress."

Or rage, James thought.

"Drink this." She thrust the glass in front of his face. he reeled away from it and Bonnie giggled.

"I won't ask again. you need strength." Mrs Greene shoved the drink into his hand and started to fuss about the room. James was going to ask her what she was doing but he noticed that bottles on the floor along with socks and whiskey stains.

He hadn't left the living room in such a state since he had been a child.

"I can do that," he croaked, starting to stand. His tongue felt like sandpaper.

Mrs Greene shook her head and motioned for him to stay where he was. "You stay there and finish that blood. And not one word about how old it is."

James wrinkled his nose and held his breath while he downed it. It was like drinking water that had been left out in a glass for a few weeks. Although admittedly it did start to make him feel better almost immediately.