Bitter Revenge

Chapter 38

Blistering heat settled on my chest, a burning sensation that hurt like the Devil but not enough to kill me and have me crying like a baby. I cracked an eye open, feeling the sandpaper consistency on the back of my eyelids. A different heat caught my attention, a tight gripped heat on my left hand. I turned my head and saw a fiery head face down on the side of my bed, a soft but hot hand holding my hand in a death grip. I brushed my thumb gently over the back of her hand, a small smile turning the corners of my mouth seeing her stir. A tired emerald popped up from her fiery head and upon seeing me awake, they grew wide and she cracked a smile at me. "You sure have no problem keeping me waiting. How are you feeling?"

I sighed, feeling how dry my throat was. "Thirsty and warm." My voice was barely above a whisper, cracked and raspy like I'd never talked before. Stella got up and got me a blood bag that had been laying on a side table. "I'm glad to see you awake. I'm going to get Emma." Then she disappeared to get whoever Emma is. I took that time to take a look at myself. An IV tube, the finger clip, etc. How long have I been out? Stella returned with a pack of people, the only unknown being the vampire I assumed was Emma. Cris, Gray, and Carly rushed forward, Carly smiling wide while Cris and Gray cried a little lot. I swear, those two are the biggest cry babies I have ever met. "She seems good. The wound is healing very nicely. We haven't met– I'm Emma Jenkins. I've been the doctor looking after you."

I gave her a small smile, to be polite and to show that I was grateful for her help. "Thank you. I owe you one." Carly was the only one aside from Stella and Emma who wasn't crying, so she spoke up first. "It's good to see you alive Nona. You have some audacity almost dying on us when we were so close to wrapping up your case." I chuckled, feeling a bit of pain radiate from my chest. "Careful not to agitate the wound. You may be a vampire with regenerative properties, but iron is a tough opponent for us." Emma warned, taking the clip off my finger and unplugging a machine.

Finally Cris and Gray stopped bawling like children enough to speak. "How dare you miss my New Years party?!? You knew how excited I was to spend it with you!" Cris didn't even care about my current condition, or at least that's what she wanted me to think. I could see the worry in her eyes, she's never seen me weak like this before. "I'm sorry, I promise I was looking forward to it. Next year, we'll throw the biggest party and I promise to socialize." That got a smile out of her, even if it was a watery one. Gray spoke up next, "The Crimson Pack has been worried sick about you. My mate too. I should punch your teeth in for worrying her." I just gave him a tired, smug smile because I knew he didn't have it in him to punch me while I was like this.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the pillow. "Alright y'all, as happy as I am to see you, I'm tired and need to knock out. I'll talk to you all tomorrow." Swiftly, everyone left the room except for a certain redhead. "You gonna stay here and watch me sleep? Who's the creep now?" I opened an eye to smirk at her, watching her raise an eyebrow at me. "If you hadn't noticed, this is where I've been sleeping for a while now. So share, you meanie. Besides, you'll never admit that you love having me around, but I know it Freckles." I forced the heat rising up to my cheeks to dissipate, knowing she was more than spot on. "Okay, but you can't complain if I start snoring because I warned you." I closed my eyes again, and let myself relax into the bed. "Don't worry, you don't snore. But you do seem to like hugging pillows." The blush I'd tried to keep down burned my face from embarrassment, making me open my eyes to scowl at her. "Yeah so what? Hugging my pillow allows me to put my arms in a comfortable position." I muttered, feeling a little insecure about my unconscious pillow hugging. For a reserved person like me, it's just not something anyone would expect.. "Nothing to be embarrassed about. It's cute."

I muttered incoherent nothings and turned on my side, giving her my back. "Sleep well Freckles, I'll be here." She whispered, making a small smile tug on my lips before sleep swept me off my feet. A dream filled my sleep, something I felt like hasn't happened in forever.

***

A loud whistle breezed through my ear, the sound of flesh pierced and blood spurting filled my ears. A certain redhead had an iron stake lodged in her chest, blood pouring out of the wound and out of her mouth as well. A stabbing pain filled my chest, tears sprung to my eyes as I dove forward to catch her as she fell backwards. As she landed in my arms, the light in the room disappeared and everything fell into darkness. My eyes adjusted to the darkness enough to see a lighter and smaller body in my arms. Once orange hair was now gold. Fire had cinched the ends of her hair, some of the gold obstructed by black. A twig snapped and my head whipped to the living room window, where I saw the shadow again. My eyes focused harder, the memory becoming crystal clear. My eyes caught a flat chin, a couple hairs on them. The lamp post outside my house illuminated the light pigment of the hairs– light brown. What most caught my attention were the eyes that were illuminated by the lamp post, hazel-green.

The details rang a million bells in my head, but before the conclusion could hit me– he ran off. I looked back at Violet, running a gentle hand down her cheek. I want to avenge you little sis. But I don't want to be consumed by my hatred. I mean, look at what happened to Stella's aunt. Vampires killed her sister too, and she let that hate consume her and ruin all the good she could've had in her life. I don't want that for me. I have friends, a family, even a mate. Is revenge worth the risk?

***

My eyes opened and I no longer felt that weight I typically did. The sandpaper consistency had left, leaving a refreshed feeling behind. The warmth in my hand brought my attention to the redhead who gripped my hand like a lifeline. I smiled and sat up, feeling the tension in my neck and shoulders dissipate into nothing more than morning tension. The weight of the world failed to fall on my shoulders, my heart didn't feel so heavy. I've never felt this way before. So light. The movement woke the bonfire next to me and she sat up too, stretching and yawning. "Top of the morning Strawberry. From the shape of your hair, I can assume you slept well?" She giggled groggily and looked at me, the green in her eyes warming my soul. "You look so much better. I never realized how tired you always looked, but the bags under your eyes are practically gone now. Your skin is amazing, I'm almost jealous." She chuckled and leaned her chin on her palm. "I feel great. I haven't felt this way before in my life, it's nice." The smile she shot me was enough to melt me on the spot. In that moment, suddenly revenge didn't seem worth the risk of that smile.