Angelina

Chapter 9

      Angelina Emerson slowly got to her feet. She had tears in her eyes as she looked at the small broken twig piercing her hand. She trembled and swallowed hard knowing that she had to pull it out.

     The moment she did, I could no longer form a clear thought. Part of me knew I had to control it; the other part wanted her blood to run free, into my mouth. I imagined myself feeding on her and I forcibly push the images out of my head. She was in pain and some small part of me wanted to take her pain away.

     Angie glanced my way and did a double take when she saw my form. She tried to run but I caught her easily. She struggled violently, uselessly.

     My thoughts mingled with the smell of powerful blood, blood I must have. She screamed. A sound so painful it shattered right through everything, clearing it all up. I knew what I had to do next.  

     “Stop, sweetheart, you’ll hurt yourself.” I said as gently as I could in my state, holding her just as gentle against my chest.

     I winced; her blood scent was even stronger. It surrounded me; there was no escape. I struggled desperately for control. I heard them running straight for us and dread lodged itself deep within me.

     “Trust me” I said before picking her up and running straight for her house. I shut the door just as Stella followed by the rest of my family entered her back yard.

     Finding her room was easy; I followed her scent there and set her down before shutting the door of her room quietly and walking to the window. They could not enter without an invitation. She was safe for now. I made a mental note to tell her never to invite any member of my family into her home. Once it is done, there is no going back.  

     Everyone was there, along the edges of the forest. My phone buzzed. ‘I’m not here for the girl only to help in case things get out of hand and for Norah.’ It was a text from Lextor. I believed him.

     When I turned my attention back to Angelina she was still in the same spot shaking from fear cradling her injured hand staring wide eyed at me.

     I approached as non-threatening as I could. My change would not recede until the scent of her blood is completely gone. That was what she feared the way I looked.

     “I won’t hurt you, Angie. I’ll be back to normal once I see about your wound.” I reached my hand out to caress her face, letting my thumb move in a gentle motion on her cheek. I wanted to soothe her, calm her fears. She extended her trembling, wounded hand to me. She trusted me.

     I could see it clearly in the dark room, it was a nasty piercing, and she bore it bravely. “Where is your bathroom?”

     She pointed weakly to another door in her room. I picked her up and took her to it, switching on the light before placing her to sit on the counter. The wound needed cleaning first. I washed it in warm water then quickly patted it dry, applying pressure with a small hand towel hanging on the wall next to the sink.

     I pierced my thumb and passed it over the wound holding it there so it would cover up the scent of her fresh blood. I felt something inside of me uncoil and closed my eyes as my human form returned. When I opened them, her honeyed colored eyes looked lovingly at me.

     “Angie, I…” I wanted to apologize but my words died when she pressed her lips to mine.

     Her short sweet kiss spoke of understanding and forgiveness. It was exactly what I needed. She pressed her forehead to mine for a short while.

     I washed her hand one more time before releasing it. She raised her hand to examine the damage only to find nothing there.

     “I don’t understand,” She started.