Fighting For My Undead Soul

Chapter 7

Artemis' POV

Lola had been asleep for a while. I still didn't know how much time had passed, but there was a burning hunger growing in my stomach that let me know it had been too long since I last ate. If I had to guess, I would say I've been gone for almost two days. Vampires have to eat, like anyone else, to survive. I've never tested how long we can go without blood, but it didn't feel like I could last much longer. I watched Lola's sleeping form, her head laying on her blood drenched shirt that has no crusted over. I could hear the blood coursing through her veins and pumping into her heart. I gazed at her neck as she shifted slightly, the perfect spot to bite angled right in my direction.

I hadn't realized I was moving closer to her until her eyes opened, catching me by surprise. "What are you doing?" she asked, concern filling her eyes as she sat up quickly, pushing herself into the wall behind her. I was only an arm's reach away. It wouldn't take anything for me to reach out and end her life. Just grabbing her head and twisting is all it would take. Or I could wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze. If I was feeling really feral, I could thrust my fist into her chest and wrench her heart free with ease. She stared into my eyes, fear beginning to fill her, like she understood my intentions had she not interrupted me.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. "I don't-" I didn't finish my thought as I scooted back to my side of the room. I pulled my knees up to my chest, holding myself together. You are made of more than flesh and blood. You will persevere. Do not crumble. I repeated to myself, reminding myself of who I am. I didn't look up at her again, but she also didn't lay back down. I could feel her eyes burning a hole in me. She didn't know what I was or what I was capable of, but she knew I was different. She knew to be afraid.

The door opened sometime later. Valerie walked in, flanked by two of her men. She took her time looking at each of us, taking in small details. Obviously, the camera in the room suggested they had been watching us, so why were they really in here? She wasn't going to find anything she couldn't see through the video feed. I noted the door that was left open as she approached Lola. One of the men caught my eye and smiled. He was daring me to try to run. I looked back to Valerie, not stupid or desperate enough to try anything yet. She was holding Lola's face by the chin, turning her head this way and that. My jaw tightened as Lola stared at me, frozen with fear. I slightly nodded my head to her, trying to tell her it would be okay, though I didn't know if that was true or not.

Finally, Valerie spoke, "It's remarkable, isn't it? How much she looks like your lover did all those years ago?" She turned to see my reaction, though her hand didn't leave Lola's face. I gave her nothing. I had tried to brush of the resemblance as coincidence, but part of me knew Lola had been chosen for a reason. "Why are we here?" I braved to ask. In response, she moved her hand to Lola's arm, pulling her up and dragging her over to kneel in front of me. Valerie bent down too, moving behind Lola to hold her head up and tilted back. "It's simple, Artemis. I want you to drink, as nature intended."

I couldn't stop the blood from draining my face. Lola's expression most likely mirrored mine, though I didn't think she quite understood what was being discussed. Valerie took a manicured fingernail and sliced a cut onto Lola's neck. The tiniest amount of blood began to trail out. My body moved of its own accord. I was on my knees, my hands resting on Lola's shoulders. My canines had extended, and my body was begging me to move forward, to place my mouth on her neck. I inched closer. I wanted to drink from her. More than I ever have wanted to drink from someone before. But I saw myself, in her green eyes. I saw the way I looked. Scared, disheveled, weak, hungry. If I drank from her, I would become the one thing I always feared I would be. A monster.

I gathered all the energy I had left and pushed myself off her. I laid, crumpled on the floor in front of them. My knees drawn back up to my chest with tears streaming down my face. I knew now, what was going to happen. I didn't know why, but they were going to break me. They were going to make me kill her. Unless my family got to me first. Through my tears, I watched as one of the men approached Valerie and Lola. He handed her a switch blade. She clicked it open and swiftly stuck it into Lola's abdomen. I covered my ears as she screamed out in pain. I wanted to block everything out. Her pain, the sound of the knife entering her, the smell of her blood as it rushed out. Valerie let go of her and Lola fell to the floor, catching herself with her hands. She looked at me through her pain, conflicted. She wanted my help, but she didn't know if she could trust me. I didn't know either.

I didn't move from my spot. Fear holding me in place. Valerie caught my attention as she began backing away towards the door, the blade in her hand dripping a trail of blood. I could barely see her through the tears that still blurred my vision, but I could have sworn I saw a twinge of remorse fill her features before it vanished. It was replaced with a look of ice-cold determination. She stopped, her hand on the door ready to pull it closed. "You can leave here Artemis. But you must drink first." The door slamming shut was the final blow to my predicament.

Lola had laid down on the floor fully, blood pooling around her now. If I scooted closer and reached my arm out, my fingertips would be covered in her blood. She had moved enough to where she could still see me. "Help me," she whispered, her face already becoming pale. This wound was bigger, I realized, deeper. If I didn't help her, she would die. If I helped her, she might die. I had never drunk from a human when I hadn't consumed blood beforehand. And I had never experienced hunger in this way. She managed to put her arm out, reaching towards me. It fell into the puddle of blood, splashing some onto my hand. "Please," she begged, her eyes drifting closed. I stared at my hand. At the tiny spot of blood sitting on my knuckle. I looked back at her. At brown, wavy hair and a straight nose. I inched forward, reaching my hand out to her. All I had to do was get my wrist to her mouth. I held my breath as her blood drew nearer. You are made of more than flesh and blood. You will persevere. Do not crumble. I pulled my hand back to my mouth, using my teeth to slash a tear in my skin. My blood mixed with hers as I reached it out to her again. I inched closer. And closer. My arm extended over the blood puddle and finally reached her mouth. I felt her suck gently, as my wrist rested on her mouth. My face was so close to her blood. I could flick my tongue out and drink some if I wanted to. Maybe I could stop after a little. Maybe I wouldn't need to drink all of it. All of her. I closed my eyes. She continued drinking from me, growing stronger as I grew weaker. You are made of more than flesh and blood. You will persevere. Do not crumble.