Blood Ties

Chapter 5: Realisation

I opened my eyes as conciousness returned but closed them quickly as a bright light assulted them. I groaned and rolled over falling to the floor with a thud. "Ow" I said as I stood up sheilding my eyes from the light. Looking quickly I realised the curtains were open. A bit unsteady on my feet I staggered over to the window and drew the heavy curtains that felt like velvet under my hands, plunging the room into darkness.

I blinked a few times letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. I looked around, weirdly I could see as if it were light in the room which it clearly wasn't but I could see perfectly fine, better than fine even. Must be from everything that's happened the last few weeks, everythings gone out of whack. I didn't recognise anything in the room, or even the room itself. 

I put a hand to my head and groaned as it began to pound and my vision swam. All I could hear was drum beats overwhelming my scences, running through my skull coming from every direction all at once.

Thump-thump

Thump-thump

Thump-Thump

It hurt my head, not to mention how much my body ached and my throat was burning from thirst. I spotted a bottle on a small table next to the bed I had been on. It looked like water so I picked it up and took a long gulp feeling the cool liquid hit my throat but I couldn't swallow it and started coughing violently spewing the water everywhere. My throat convulsed rejecting the water for some reason I didn't understand. It had tasted like water but maybe there had been something else in it. I felt sick and curled up in a ball under the window avoiding the snall slivers of light that came through under the curtains.

I heard footsteps outside the room and flinched back against the wall as the door creaked open, a shaft of light slicing through the room. A girl walked in looking like she had just stepped out of a medival painting; a floor length sky blue dress hugged her small frame while gold blond hair fell over her shoulders in waves. The only thing remotely strange was the pair of shimmering transparent wings that protuded from her back. I saw her squint in the darkness as she reached for the light switch.

Over head the lights flickered to life and I hissed involuntarily as the light hit me. The girls head snapped to look at me. She screamed. It was high pitched and grated on my ear drums. Her wings beat furiously as she ran from the room. I pulled myself up and staggered to the door, trying to ignore the light that made my skin feel hot and itchy, looking out to see her in the middle of a group of girls similar to her; all wore long dresses and had different coloured shimmery wings. I took a step into the corridore feeling the plush carpet under my bare feet.

Where are my shoes? I thought distantly not really caring about the answer.

The drum beats becames faster as I approached them. I walked towards the group. Now the hundreds of drum beats had narrowed to four, four people in front of me. Then I realised, there not drums, there hearts. There the girls heart beats. It didn't phase me in the slightest. Instead of hurting as they did before they were inticing, drawing me closer. An unfamiliar scent hit my nose making my mouth water; it smelt sweet and rich with a slight coppery edge to it. 

Instictively I dropped into a hunting crouch and licked my lips as my eyes fixed on one of the girls, singling her out. One had her back to me, her glossy blond hair pulled into a bun exposing her pale neck. I could see the vein inderneath her skin pulsing rapidly as she clung onto her freinds. Without thinking I lunged at her, propelling myself through the air.

Before I could reach my target I was pulled back, out of the air by a strong arm around my waist. My back was crushed against someones body as they pulled me into the room I had come from. They dropped me roughly on the floor, turning off the light throwing us into darkness.

I turned to look at the one that had grabbed me and I recognised him instantly. "James." I said quietly staring up at him. He looked back down at me. I felt my breath catch as I caught his scent after losing the other one. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to block it out, but it didn't work. I was so hungry. 

James moved silently to sit on the bed watching me closely. I stood as well from where he'd dropped me and caught my reflection in a mirror across the room. I gasped when I saw myself; My skin was pale like porcelain and flawless, my hair loose and flowing straight down my back, my eyes were a deep blood red and my lower lip was indented with a pair of fangs i hadn't noticed before. 

James remained still where he was sat his head down and his arms rested on his knees. "Guess I have to keep an eye on you until someone sorts this mess out." he said quietly almost to himself. I sat down next to him trying to ignore the sweet inticing smell coming from him. His blood smelt even better than that girls. 

Unable to restist any longer I leant towards him. He must have felt me move as he scooted back across the bed until his back hit the wall. He held up a hand as if to tell me to keep away but I didn't care. I moved towards him slowly my hand skimming up his arm gently. This time he didn't flinch away but went completely still. I slunk closer and reached for the top button fo his shirt undoing it quickly so it exposed his neck. "I'm sorry James" I whispered as I put my face to his neck slowly licking over the spot I was about to bite. Then as gently as I could I sunk my fangs into his neck. He groaned deeply as I began to drink. 

He stuggled against me for a few seconds but with one hand on his chest and the other on his shoulder he couldn't move much. After a few moments he stopped struggling and I pulled back having drink my fill delicately running my tonugue over the wounds to help them heal. I closed my eyes and sighed in satisfaction as I licked my lips to get up any excess blood.

James sat frozen and just stared at me as I moved away. "Thank you." I muttered quietly. "I know you didn't really have a choice, but still thank you James."

He nodded seemingly unable to form words. His face was pale and breathing unsteady as he recovered. I turned my back on him ashamed of my actions suddenly. He put a gentle hand on my shoulder making me turn. He was smiling weakly and I smiled back before yawning involuntarily. He laughed and guided me down onto the bed where I lay down greatfully. I heard him move to leave and sat up.

"Don't go. Please. I...I don't want to be on my own right now. Not after what just happened." I pleaded.

He didn't say anything just sat on the edge of the bed before laying down next to me. I snuggled close no longer taking notice of the scent of his blood. He was warm against me and I soon fell asleep curled up against the shapeshifter I'd just basically stolen blood from.