Alejo [Vampire]

Alejo- Chapter 20

::CHAPTER 20::

I shot out of my sleep. Usually only a subconscious sense of danger could do that. Which was why I had a dagger pointing at some phantom threat. I couldn’t see anything, but my arm didn’t lower.

Hopping out of the bed, I scanned every inch of the room. If there wasn’t an intruder, what woke me up? Caroline was now awake and looking at me as if I was crazy.

“You sleep with a knife under your pillow.”

“This is as much a mere knife as I am a mere man,” I murmured still checking behind every door and corner of the vast room.

“Beside the point,” she said, “I was asking about the blade.”

“I wasn’t aware that it was a question,” I peered into the walk in closet, “I missed the inflection.”

“Well?”

“Of course I sleep with a blade under my pillow. In my hand. Doesn’t everyone?”

“No, Al. Most people don’t,” she grinned, “You’re downright hopeless. I hope you find your Boogeyman. See you later.”

She slipped into her clothes, blew me a kiss over her shoulder and went back to her room, underwear and shoes in hand. I raised a brow at the gesture. It was odd having someone around who didn’t seem in the least bit frightened of me. Not many would be able to sleep through the night beside me. A lot of women would be even more spooked to find that there was a weapon in my hand while I slept in the same bed as them. For that, I respected her. Her fearlessness that is.

There was a sudden swimming sensation in my stomach. It was the same odd feeling that had startled me out of my sleep. My body tipped over and I landed hands-first onto the bed. What is this sorcery? This voodoo. This black magic. I clutched my stomach. It was the oddest feeling. There was no physical pain…and yet there was a near painful feeling. A discomfort. Damn it. I couldn’t describe it right.

My eyes landed on the water that had been brought to me before I went to bed. I had tested it for poison before drinking, but…perhaps it had been poisoned later. Caroline. She must have spiked my water glass.

I pulled a kit from the side table drawer. Inside was a small vial. I let a droplet of its contents fall inside but after a moment, the water remained clear. Not poison then? But it has to be.

The most irritating part about this was that it was not a fixed discomfort. The damn thing came in unexpected waves. I took a shower and got dressed before heading downstairs. I had to call a physician and get myself checked out. I probably caught something from one of those infested countries. Even as I thought it, I knew it was unlikely. The stronger the immortal, the stronger the immune system.

As I passed the kitchen to get to the voice-controlled telephone directory, I froze. Two people were sitting inside. Walking backward, I stopped at the doorway. Of course. It’s her. And this bond thing.

In the kitchen, the sibling red heads sat at the table. I began coming over and saw Ana’s eyes widen and her lips part which, in turn, caused Ria to look around.

“You,” I hissed.

“Me?”

“Yes, you,” I glared at Ria, “What are you doing to me? Why do I feel…funny? Make it stop. Whatever it is.”

“I’m not doing anything, sir,” she said truly looking confused.

“Then why do I feel like…like…I can’t even bloody describe it! I-I don’t understand any of it. Make it stop now,” I grabbed her from the front of her shirt and shook her. That only made it worse. I released her and instead held my stomach. “What did you do to me?”