And What I Found There - Book Two

44. Try to Take Away My Pain

I toss and turn in my sleep.

Lightning from the storm unfurling beyond my tent flashes, I can see it even through my eyelids.

Thunder sounds like it's explodes right in my ear. I jump with alarm but can't fully bring myself to consciousness. I start to panic as I struggle to make my body obey my commands. My eyes won't open, I can't catch my breath, I feel like I'm being suffocated within my own skin.

"Lady?" I vaguely hear Bishop's sleepy voice. He noses at me anxiously. "Wake up, lady, you're havin' a fit." I twitch more. "Lady? Lady!" He barks with alarm as I start thrashing uncontrollably. "Help!" He squeaks frantically. "Red, help me! I can't wake the lady up!"

I scream as I feel a scorching fever rush through my bloodstream. I twist and thrash so violently, Bishop is flung off the bed.

"Wha...?" Adisonia's groggily voice morphs into a yelp of alarm as I spasm and arch off my bed as if I'm possessed. I can't keep my cries of torment contained. I feel like I've been caught on fire. "Darie! Stop, stop!" She struggles to hold me still but I keep helplessly twisting and turning. "Get the Knights!" She frantically orders her Knave.

Just then Quill and Cornelius burst into our tent. "Adara! My gods, what's wrong with her?" I can hear the disbelief and fear in Quill's voice and I'm vaguely aware of him trying to help Adisonia keep me still. But the agony is making me insane, I just can't be contained! I scream as I thrash, accidentally smacking Adisonia in the face.

"Adara, wake up!" Quill urges me, clutching both my hands together between his. Cornelius and Adisonia struggle to keep my legs still.

It's like my flesh has been ignited. I can feel carnivorous flames eating through my dry flesh, searing my bones. My lungs feel like they're full of smoke and seem to be collapsing on me, I can't breathe. I can't force myself to take another breath as I suffocate on the air around me. I can't even scream anymore and now just silently twist and contort unnaturally, possessed by the explosive pain gripping me.

My eyes feel like they're on fire. All I can smell is smoke, and all I can taste is blood.

I abruptly start coughing, blood goes everywhere.

"Lady!" Bishop howls with panic.

"Cornelius, do something!" Adisonia anxiously commands.

"I don't know!" He exclaims desperately. I've never heard him so helpless before, it breaks my heart.

"Darie, wake up!" Adisonia slaps me but unlike before, new pain doesn't disrupt the hold this current agony has me under and I keep thrashing and spitting up blood.

"Quill," the White Knight says suddenly. "Have your animal soul spirit search for Von Vesymir. He surely hasn't left us for good, perhaps the Vampire can Heal her or something."

"Yes, of course!" A few moments later though, I hear Quill's voice again. "What if he doesn't come? I mean, what if he really isn't following us anymore? What if he left for good and is up in the other Hills?"

"Seriously?" Adisonia snaps. "That freak is out there somewhere close by. It will come."

Who would have thought she'd be positive in a crisis?

"Indeed," Cornelius agrees. "I am certain he cannot be far -"

I suddenly sit bolt upright, and my eyes finally fly open. Everything is glowing bright red. I scream wordlessly with terror and torture as I claw at my arms and chest. I can feel something crawling through my veins and I'm desperate to finally get rid of it.

I rip my choker off and press my hands to the bites Vyndren left on my neck, screaming as I feel them burn as if they just catch on fire.

"What are those marks on her throat?" Adisonia demands.

Abruptly something icy cold pours from my burning bite wounds and runs down my throat. I'm panting with exhaustion as I reach up with a shaky hand and dab at my neck. I pull back to stare at dark Vampire venom, brightly flecked with bright ruby red crystals, staining my hand.

"What?" I pant, my voice is so coarse, I don't even recognize it.

More venom gushes from my wound, from all the bite wounds actually, I can see the venom staining through my dress. The venom keeps coming and coming, staining my dress black as it runs all over me and soaks my blankets.

I am seized by pain again and suddenly an inky black cloud of darkness escapes the bite on my neck and is blown from the tent. I numbly wipe the venom off my neck and now my eyelids flicker before they slide heavily down my eyes and black darkness -so soothing- consumes me.

The Vampire's venom and curse over me are finally gone.

I fall back down to my bed, totally unconscious.