The Chosen One

Eight: Drawing Closer

Damon

                "Damon! Damon!"

                Through my haziness I became aware of someone shaking me and calling my name. The sweet, melodious voice was laced with anxiety and a sense of emergency or stress. I recognized that voice and as I tried to open my eyes to see that beautiful face, I couldn't hold back a groan.

                "Damon. Hey wake up."

                I opened my eyes to see Jessica kneeling down beside me where I lay on the cold hospital floor. Her attractive face was etched with concern and despite the fact that I'd just been darted with vervain, I was proud and satisfied that she was worried for me which proved she cared for me. At least now I knew that I meant something to her. A notion that I found pleasing since I'd already established the truth with myself that she meant something to me. What exactly, I wasn't entirely sure but I definitely felt something for her.

                Jessica grabbed my arm and started helping me up onto my feet. "What happened?"

                "Vervain. She shot me up with it and took some of my blood." I answered her, trying to regain my bearings and senses. Standing on my feet now, Jessica slowly started to release her hold on my arm. When I was able to stand firmly, she dropped her hands and looked at me with a quizzical expression.

                "What? She stole some of your blood? Why?" Jessica asked not comprehending Dr. Fell's motives.

                "I'm fairly certain that she is using vampire blood to heal people." I could still feel traces of vervain in my system as it slowly started to wear off. It would take some time for it to fully leave my system but for now I could function fair enough even though I wasn't my usual one hundred percent vampire self. My hearing wasn't quite as keen, nor my vision quite as sharp and my head was still a bit fuzzy. I felt off, sick. Which I was, I'd been poisoned. "She was stupid enough to take mine. Surely she doesn't think that she can get away with that." I growled indignantly.

                "I get it. Dr. Fell is officially on your 'I do not like' list but let's not go hunt for her right now. You can try to unravel whatever she is hiding later." Jessica strongly suggested.

                I nodded. "It's time we let Rick know what his girlfriend has been up to."

                With Jessica following me, we left the room and entered back out into the hall. She walked alongside me as we made our way to the elevators. I was trying to ignore the scent of blood that I was picking up. Blood would help my body get rid of the remains of the toxic vervain faster since it had wounded me and left me feeling hungry. Now though was neither a good time to indulge nor a good place. Instead as we stepped into the elevator and I leaned against the wall, still feeling a bit weakened, I thought about grabbing an alcoholic beverage from Rick's stock at his apartment.

                "You alright?" Jessica asked capturing my attention.

                I looked over at her and scoffed. "I just had an encounter with vervain. If I had some blood I'd heal faster and it's made me a bit hungry. So this is not exactly the best place for me to be right now."

                Realization dawned in her sparkling emerald eyes. She was silent for a moment, seeming to contemplate something before she sighed and gave me a firm look. "Don't make me regret this. I'm trusting you so don't break it."