Blood Luster

Chapter Twenty

Magnolia spent days in bed, reeling from the idea she might also be a witch. After everything that had happened, she didn't have the strength or the motivation to force herself to do anything. The first few days she laid in bed and pondered what the future held for her and Benjamin. He laid with her on most days, waiting for any want or need she'd have. He'd occasionally leave for about an hour and return looking livelier, Magnolia assumed he was drinking a blood bag. She was thankful he was considerate enough to not bring it in there with her.

After about three days, she tried to get out of bed but was too weak to do anything beyond using the bathroom, even then Benjamin helped her. She drifted in and out of sleep regularly, unaware of what day it was or what was happening around her. Sometimes Giovanni would be in there with her, just sitting with her. Usually Addeline accompanied him, holding her hand and ensuring she was breathing regularly. Most of her nights consisted of going to feed, being interrupted by Ricky, and struggling to pull herself into a conscionable state. The shame Ricky projected onto her was enough to stifle her feeding, even if he wasn't there.

It had been almost a week since she'd drank out of the blood bag. Her bones were ached throughout her body, her urine had turned to a dark brown, her skin was beginning to mold into the crevices of her body from the weight loss. She avoided the large mirror displayed in the bedroom, the last time she saw herself she cried for hours.

"Magnolia, will you try to eat some food?" Benjamin was sitting on the edge of the bed holding a tray of food.

"I'm not hungry," she whispered.

"You must be. You haven't eaten anything in days," he pleaded.

"That's not true."

"A piece of toast and a glass of milk doesn't count."

She rolled her eyes. "It's enough to keep me alive."

"Have you looked at yourself?" His voice was borderline shouting. "You're starving yourself; you're killing yourself Magnolia. How can you be so damn selfish?"

"I'm being selfish? I can't feed, I can't eat in human form, I'm exhausted, my body aches, and I can hardly stay awake longer than an hour at a time—"

"I know this, but you've got to try. We're doing everything we can, but what's the point in everyone working their asses off to save you when you're determined to let yourself die." He ran his hands over his head and sighed into his hands. "What about me? What do you think is going to happen to me if you keep going on like this?"

The bedroom door swung open, and Giovanni walked in.

"Go get some air, I'll take care of her."

Benjamin sat the tray on the end table beside the bed and stalked out of the room, muttering to himself.

Giovanni sat down and took Magnolia's hand in his. "He's just scared. Seeing you like this hasn't been easy for him, not that it's been easy for you either."

Magnolia raised her hand to catch the tear free falling from her cheek. "I know."

"I can only imagine what you've been dealing with, emotionally and physically." He released her hand and stood, leaning against the wall. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

"Sure," she responded.

"Can you tell me what you're feeling? We've observed your weight loss, your lack of appetite, profuse vomiting, exhaustion, and you seem to be in an immense amount of pain anytime you do anything."