Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 16

It had been almost twenty-four hours now. Rayna had drugged me heavily, trying every possible remedy she could find. For brief moments, outside of the agonizing waves of pain, it was slightly manageable, but those moments were fleeting. The relief came in fits and starts, barely enough to catch my breath before the next wave crashed over me.

Damian, Leuca, and Anne sat beside me, their faces etched with worry. Leia and Zera were nestled on the bed with me, their tiny bodies clinging to me as if they sensed the gravity of the situation. Leuca had called Wendy, Aria, and the others, informing them of my dire state. I knew they were on their way, though I wished they didn't have to see me like this. Gill's had been closed off immediately, cutting off any further interruptions.

I was holding onto my daughters for dear life, and Zera clung to me with a desperation that mirrored my own. I could feel her tiny heartbeat against my chest, a fragile reminder of the love that kept me anchored even as the pain threatened to pull me under. The knowledge that I wasn't lasting much longer was a bitter pill to swallow, but it was there, hovering in the back of my mind.

Rayna had come to see me earlier, her face lined with exhaustion and frustration. She had apologized profusely for not being able to do more, but I saw the determination in her eyes. She was relentless in her quest to find something—anything—that could alleviate the torment. I had urged her to rest, to eat, to drink, but she was adamant. She couldn't find peace while I was suffering. Her sacrifice was a testament to her dedication, but it only made me feel more helpless.

But then... Another wave of excruciating pain tore through me, sharper and deeper than anything I had felt before. Leuca sprang into action, quickly grabbing Zera, while Anne scooped up Leia. I heard the twins' cries, their little voices piercing through the fog of my agony. I clenched my teeth, desperate not to scream. I didn't want them to see me like this, didn't want their last memories of me to be filled with my screams of pain.

Damian moved to my side, his face a mix of fear and determination. He quickly handed me more of the medicine, his hands trembling. I swallowed it down, but the pain didn't subside. It kept coming, wave after relentless wave, tearing me apart from the inside. I could feel panic clawing at my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

"It's not working," I gasped, my voice breaking. "It doesn't work!" I cried out louder, my voice raw, the edges of my vision blurring.

Leuca's face hardened with determination. "Anne, take them out!" he barked, shoving Zera into her arms. She didn't hesitate, rushing out of the room with both twins clinging to her, their cries echoing down the hallway.

The pain was so intense now that I couldn't even scream. I felt myself slipping, my body trembling uncontrollably, a shock-like state taking over. My vision dimmed, the room spinning. Damian grabbed me, his arms tight around my shoulders, his voice close to my ear, desperate and scared.

"I'm here, Mom," he whispered fiercely. "I'm right here."

His words were like an anchor, something to hold onto in the sea of agony. But even his voice seemed distant now, fading as another wave crashed over me, pulling me further into pain.

I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. The wave of pain wasn't easing; it just kept growing, consuming every part of me. It felt like my insides were being ripped apart, every nerve screaming, every muscle locked in agony. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but feel the relentless torture tearing through me.

Damian's panicked voice broke through the haze. "Dad, I'm going to get Rayna," he said, his words sharp with urgency. I heard his footsteps rush out, the door slamming shut behind him.