Fighting For My Undead Soul

Chapter 9

Artemis' POV

When did I last eat? I couldn't remember as I laid on the floor, passing in and out of consciousness. My stomach burned with hunger. I didn't think it had been that long, but it felt like several days at this point. It didn't help that I had lost blood saving Lola's life, twice. Speaking of, when I was awake, I would glimpse her watching me from across the room. She was on high alert. I haven't been as aware of my surroundings the past few hours, or days... shit. How long has it been? I groaned, crossing my arms across my stomach, trying to smother the pain away. I've never experienced starvation, but I knew the symptoms. I had already broken out in a cold sweat and soon, I would experience vomiting, chills, fever, and eventually death.

Tears slipped down my cheeks and I closed my eyes in embarrassment. I haven't felt this exposed and vulnerable in front of a stranger before. I wished I could muster the strength to turn over. Movement from across the room had me opening my eyes. "Don't," I whispered, realizing Lola was moving closer to me. She paused, her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth open to protest. "I know I don't look like much right now," I responded lowly, "but you were right to be afraid of me. Don't stop being afraid of me. It might be the only thing keeping you alive."

Another wave of pain flooded my body, and I grunted as a shudder ran through me. When it passed and I could look back in her direction, I saw she had moved back to her spot on the wall. "Are you going to tell me what you are?" she asked. A trickle of sweat rolled down my cheek, tickling my lip. I swept my tongue out to catch it and grimaced at the soreness in my throat as I swallowed. So thirsty. "Are you sure you want to know? The truth might be scarier than your imagination," I warned her. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her crossed legs. "My imagination was left behind with my innocence when I was taken. Everything now is fueled by my nightmares, and in that case, maybe you're giving yourself too much credit," she responded. I smiled half-heartedly, noting again her resemblance to Lena. Always giving me a hard time, keeping me in check.

"I'm a vampire," I watched her as I spoke, waiting for a sign of disbelief or absolute horror of it being the truth. She gave nothing away, other than the audible intake of air. Things were silent for a little bit, and I thought that would be the end of any budding friendship we might've had. "Tell me more," she demanded quietly, curiosity in her green eyes. So, I did. I told her everything about my family, what we were, where we came from, and all the things that had led me to this moment. She was fully emersed the whole time. Her eyes zoned out like she could see everything I was describing. She never showed any signs of fear or disgust, for which I was thankful. I wanted her to like me. Not only because I like her, but because she brings me comfort. Her face, her eyes, the way she speaks with a subtle confidence, it all reminds me of the one person I need most right now.

"I'm a senior in high school," she said absent-mindedly as she picked at some dried blood caked on her leg. "I have a boyfriend; we've been together since freshman year. He's very smart and kind of a dork." She was smiling sadly now, and my heart ached for her. "At first my friends tried to convince me not to be with him, but I don't know, there was something about him. Like, the way he looks at me is different from other guys and when I talk, he listens. I know that's like the bare minimum for someone to do, but I've never been someone who needs much. Just someone who will be there and give me the love I give them." The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped and my body shook from the coldness. Lola seemed unaffected as we observed each other. She made to move towards me again and I managed to grunt another warning. She stopped, but I wasn't sure I could convince her to stay away much longer.

Clearly, she is a person who cares for others to a fault. No matter how dangerous I try to make myself seem, she is going to try to help me. Though, I guess I'm not the most convincing vampire at the moment. My right cheek is pressed into the cold, hard floor and the rest of my body is curled in onto itself. The tiny shakes that began running through me are now a consistent tremble, the involuntary movement only adding to the pain I already felt. I could feel my skin wet and sticky with sweat. Not exactly the picture of something made to kill. But I knew, even if she didn't, that all it would take is a little bit of blood to awaken the monster lurking beneath my skin.