Perfectly Red

Where Her Heart Resides.

(Amy's POV)

*Three days later.*

I'm sitting in the armchair next to the windows looking out at the waves crashing into the nearby cliffside. I'm so stuck in disassociation I hadn't noticed Jake standing next to me until he rests a hand on my shoulder. I tense up my body immediately.

"Sorry, we didn't mean to startle you," Jake apologizes.

Without saying a word I roll up the sleeve of my shirt for Federico, the in house medic.

"Just this last time, signora. I'll be gentle," he says taking out his supplies.

He cuts off the circulation in my arm before wiping down my skin with alcohol. I quince slightly as the needle is inserted into my vein. They draw out about a pint of my blood into a bag. Once he's done he removes the needle, and bandages my arm. Then he gathered his things, and politely excused himself from the room leaving the bag of blood with Jake.

"I have some business to attend to. But perhaps this evening we'll have some time together," he says placing a kiss on top of my head. "I love you."

I stare blankly out the window uncomfortably thinking of what to say without setting him off.

"Okay," I reply plainly.

A smile spreads across his face, and he grabs the bag of my blood before walking out of the room. Finally peace, and quite again. I let out a sigh, and stand from the chair. A little woozy from the blood loss I make my way over to the bed, and lay down.

I'm not sure why they keep taking my blood. My best guess is  maybe they aren't just a family of mafia members. Maybe they are also vampires who seek my blood as payment for being here. Or at least they dress like they could be vampires. More likely though it's just for some sick desire Jake has. Perhaps he pours it into his baths, like a disgusting version of a milk bath.

Eww, just the thought of that makes my skin crawl. I quit smoking years ago, but I sure could use a joint or something right now. The effects my body is going through from not taking my daily prescribed medication is truly unbearable. Jake doesn't even have to lay a finger on me I'm already being tortured. There's nothing to stabilize my moods, and help me sleep. I'm truly a wreck. Most of all I feel a emptiness in my chest, for I left my heart back in the middle of the united states... that's where it lives with my husband, and kids.

In order to get my mind off of things I pick up the book from the bedside table, and flip it open to where I have it marked. This will have to do for now I suppose. I let the characters in the novel take me into a land of fantasy, and romance. Soon I'm flipping through the pages consuming its tale. An hour or so later another knock sounds at the door before it swings open. Ceci walks in with a plate of food, and a small kit. 

"I thought perhaps you'd be interested in something to eat," She offers. " I could do your nails too, of course Jake choose your color options."

She sets the plate down, and opens up her kit showing me the polished acrylics.

"At least he gave a white, and black option with the reds,"  I lament for a broader color pallet. "Black, please."

"Okay," she says grabbing one of my hands to get started. "I'm not the best chief that's usually Dee's job. But since she's busy with other things today I made you something small. A slice of bread with a drizzle of olive oil, and a few leftover meatballs."