Blood Ties (NaNoWriMo 2015)

Fifty-Four

One screeching Marilyn (as I'd splashed her when I'd jumped in), a dip in the hot tub and ten wrinkly fingers later I headed back to our room. After my late start at the night and the handful of hours playing in the water, dinner was due to start in two hours. I did not need two hours to get ready, but I wanted a chance to relax a little before I had to go and face the public once again.

I entered the room, toweling my soaked hair, the strands like straw thanks to the chlorine. I slipped into the bathroom, hanging my swimsuit over the edge of the bathtub. I stepped under the gushing hot water and quickly washed my hair and shaved my legs. I'd gotten a bit lazy with it recently and the only dress I had with me was just past my knees, I wasn't going to be able to just let it be.

Ten minutes later, I was out, wrapped in a fluffy towel and listening carefully to make sure Damon had not entered the room. When I saw the coast was clear, I pulled on some sweats and began rummaging around in the dresser for the guide book for the TV. Given the time, I didn't think much would be on, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

I'd found it, settling onto my half of the bed, ready to browse three hundred channels when I heard a knock at the door. I set the remote and guide down on the mattress, worried. That couldn't be Damon, he had a key just like I did. Keith maybe? I wished I had some sliver or brass with me then as my mind went to darker people. Richard and Doc. One of them could have seen me leave and knew I was alone. They knew as well as I did that as a human, overpowering me would not be an issue.

I recalled the last attacker, the one I'd punched, the only thing that happened was my hand breaking and my actions had amused them more than anything. My first attacker, I'd pepper sprayed him, which had hurt, but only briefly and the slight lead I'd gotten away from him had been closed fast thanks to his natural strength and speed.

They knocked again and said "Ember, are you in here? I can smell you."

I knew that voice and my fears vanished. I opened the door, smiling and stunned to see Ife standing there. "What are you doing here?" I asked, hugging her though I wasn't much of a hugging person.

"I heard you got hurt," she answered. "Can I come in?"

"What you need permission?" I teased and I saw her face light up at my joke.

"No, I'm just polite." She smiled, "So can I come in or not? I have a gift."

"Why didn't you start with that?" I stepped aside and bowed much to Ife's amusement. "Please come in."

Ife stepped through the threshold, pencil heels sinking into the white carpet. I saw a large white garment bag in her hand. "Nice place," she commented and she kicked off her shoes. The change in her height was astounding. We were almost eye to eye now. "So what happened exactly? Doc left the manor and I heard your name mentioned. I was worried."

Her concern touched me and I sighed. "It is a very long story."

"Make it short," Ife plopped onto the bed and crossed her legs.

"A priestess did some kind of ritual on me and I had a bad reaction to it."

"'Bad reaction'?" she repeated. "Coma is not just a 'bad reaction' Ember. That's deadly, disastrous, downright awful."

"I know that," I said, those words had come to my mind regarding the incident plenty of times already. "I'm just trying out the whole positive outlook thing."

Ife smirked and crossed her arms. "How's that going for you?"

"I cannot fathom how people do it day in and day out," I said as I sat down next to her. I slid the garment bag over a little before resting my full weight on the bed. "What's the secret? It's exhausting!"