bite.

bite. chapter 36 - the lake

Leandro was waiting on the drive as we came in. I hadn’t let go of Sheldon’s hand since he took his last breathe. So many people were dead because of me and I was starting to wonder how many more would die? The nameless faces that had perished last night in the pub had not been my friends or my family, and in that way their passing although sad hadn’t been personal. But Raphael had killed my cousin who was trying to protect me. A monster hadn’t killed him, I had. I had dragged Sheldon into this the moment I asked him to find out about Emma and Micah and now he was dead.

Michael stopped the car and Leandro opened the door. I didn’t move. They both tried to talk to me, but none of their words got through. I held on to Sheldon’s hand until Michael literally dragged me out of the car. I cried, even screamed as two security guards appeared with a body bag. This wasn’t happening to me. This had to be a dream. I had to wake up.

Sheldon was lifted out of the car and placed inside the bag. I staggered away from Michael unable to watch my friend being thrown into this cotton coffin. Michael tried to follow me, but Leandro called him off. My pink track suit was soaked in his blood. The sneakers he brought me was also dreanched in his blood. Rage, grief and crushing sadness tore me up inside. I ran away from the house into the gardens and found an old apple tree to sit under. I closed my eyes and pretended I wasn’t a vampire. I pretended this was the tree in my back yard and at any moment my Mom was going to call me in to have dinner. I opened my eyes and Leandro was stood in front of me.

“This is all my fault.” I said clawing at my own skin.

Leandro snatched my wrists restraining me, “Selfish girl, you think those people died for you?”

“I let it happen, I dragged them into it.”

“Vampires were dying way before you came along.”

“But this was my fault. I know it was my fault.”

“Emma did not die for you. Sheldon did not die for you. That gang did not die for you. They died so that those creatures would be destroyed one day.”

“But it’s me they want. Micah won’t stop killing until he has me.”

“That isn’t your fault Lorna.” Leandro said.

I struggled to breathe, every muscle inside me seemed to ache, I felt so drained and weak. Leandro gathered me in his arms and took me round the back way, sparing me the view of the bloody corsa. He handed me over to Michael he took me upstairs into the bathroom.

“I want to be left alone.” I said bluntly as Michael started running a bath.

“Yeah I know baby but you are covered in blood.” He said.

“I don’t care.” I replied.

Michael took my clothes off and gently placed me in the warm water- I had no idea why, I didn’t deserve to be looked after. I deserved to be exiled and shunned. The bath water turned pink as Michael scrubbed off the blood. He bagged my bloody clothes in bin liners.

“Leandro had some clothes brought over for you. I didn’t know if you wanted the blue PJs or the pink night dress?” Michael said.

“Do you even fucking care that he is dead?” I asked flatly.

Michael’s hands dropped to his side and he stared at me. There was no hate in his eyes or offence at my words. Instead there was only sadness and remorse. I turned my head away and stared at the bath water. Michael threw the blue PJ’s to the ground and chose the pink night dress. He lifted me out of the bath and dried me. Putting on my night dress he took me to our bedroom and laid me against the bed.