Monarch Academy

Chapter 6

Alice

I woke up a little dazed, my vision was blurry, I was weak, and still really tired. I guess I passed out or something. After my vision straightened out, my eyes started to wander around the room. I saw the sunlight peeking through the curtains, it wasn't very bright so I figured it was evening. To the left of me was a blood bag hanging on an IV pole. I traced a small tube that was filled with blood down to my arm. I laid there puzzled for a second then I remembered what happened. I was bitten by Darius.

After a while, Gabriel walked in, "Oh good, you're awake." He gave me a quick smile and walked over to the IV post. "The blood flow is constant so that's great. Do you remember what happened?"

"Yes, I think so."

"well, I'm sorry that he did that. He's not very good at keeping his hunger controlled." His face had an apologetic expression. I looked out the window, the lights were dimming a little more than they were before. "Are you okay?" I didn't look back to Gabriel when he talked, I just nodded my head. He came over to the other side of the bed and crouched to get in my line of sight. "Are you sure? You just got bit by a vampire. It looks like your pretty shaken up to me."

"No, I'm okay." I paused for a second, remembering the questions Darius asked me in the infirmary. "I am a donor, right? Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" He frowned, "Yes, but he attacked you. You didn't give him permission to feed on you, there's a difference."

"But..." I was lost at words, I couldn't think. The person who rescued me from another vampire attacked me, it just doesn't make any sense. We both heard footsteps close to my door, so we turned. Darius leaned against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest. "Hey, are you okay?" His voice sounded like he couldn't make out any words. His face was flushed with red, mine did the same. "Umm, yeah, I'm okay." Gabriel looked at both of us and laughed a little to himself. Darius looked away and his face got even more red. "I'm glad."

I felt like my heart was beating so fast it was gonna fall out of my chest. Gabriel's phone rang and broke the awkward silence that filled the room. "Hello?" he sounded professional, like he was in a business meeting or something. "Oh, hey Megan." Darius finally looked back into the room and gave Gabriel the way to go smile. "Yeah, totally, I don't have to go into the infirmary on Friday. The movies? Sure." He hung up and looked at Darius right away. "Well, I have a date."

"Finally! I've been waiting for the big teddy bear to actually get a girl!" Gabriel started to walk out of the room and Darius gave him a pat on the back.

Darius

I leaned in and whispered in Gabe's ear as he walked past me into the hallway. "Don't get too crazy."

"I'm not like you." Ouch that hurt. I deserve it though, I just attacked Alice, a girl I just rescued and I already made her a meal. I looked at the floor and blushed. I screwed up. "I..." I don't know what to say, that my hunger controlled me, that I'm a monster. I walked in, shut the door, and placed my hand on the back of my head. "Alice, I don't know what to say, I'm so sorry." She looked away from me, "It's o-okay."

"Are you scared of me now?" She shook her head. "No, I just wasn't expecting to get attacked." I looked down to the floor again. I feel so bad, this reminds me of the first time this happened. I never even saw if she was okay, I was too mad at myself for actually attacking someone. "Darius." I looked up and Alice was smiling. "Darius, it's okay."

"It's not, I attacked you. You just think it's okay because it's never happened before." I noticed Alice had a tear streak down her face, I raised my voice. I looked away to the window, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Quit saying-"

"No!" Her voice went to a slight yell, tears began streaking her face more. "It's okay because it's you! You saved me from someone who was gonna possibly kill me!" She looked at the blanket that covered her waist down. My eyes were wide, surprised that she actually yelled. "It's the least I could do." Tears dropped on the blanket. I went over and sat on the bed next to her, I raise my hand up to her face and wiped away her tears. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry, I'll never hurt you again." She blushed which made me blushed. Her eyes looked like she was really tired, She fell back onto the pillow. "Alice?" No response. "Alice? Are you okay?" Still nothing. My heart has a sudden pulse and it hurt like hell. I grabbed my chest, everything went blurry, the black.

A few hours later...

I woke up next to Alice in her bed, I got scared and fell off the bed. What the hell? What happened? I stood up and checked to see if Alice was awake, but she wasn't. There was a slight pain in my chest that still lingered. I quietly made my way to the door and stepped out of the room. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the time, it was 9:35 pm, Gabe should be at the infirmary by now. I quickly dialed his number and grabbed a pen and paper from the island in the kitchen. "Hello?"

"Hey Gabe, you busy?"

"Not right now, why what's going on?" I yawned before answering. "I've got some questions, mind if I go ask you?"

"Why can't you ask now?"

"I need a check up." He started talking to one of the nurses about getting me an examination room. "Sure, we have an open room, you better hurry though. Did you tell Alice?"

"No, actually I'm writing her a note." I was jotting down some stuff on the piece a paper as we spoke, so I wasn't lying. "Well alright, see you in a bit." He hung up immediately, maybe he got a new patient. I finished up the note:

Alice, I'm going to the infirmary to ask Gabe some questions. I'll be back soon if you wake up before I'm back. ~Darius

I went back into Alice's room and placed the note onto her pillow next to her head. Then, I quietly made my out of her room and out to the elevator.

Gabriel

I was working with another patient when Darius walked in, so I told him to sit in the extra room. When I finished up I walked over to his room. "So, what's going on? It isn't about earlier is it?" He looked at the floor, I knew it was going to be. "I feel bad for biting her Gabe, but that's not what I'm here to talk about."

"Well, what is it then?"

"My heart, it pulsed, what does that mean?" I knew it, he doesn't just pass out after biting someone. I went over and check his heartbeat, it's pretty normal for a vampire. "Was that the first time it happened?" 

"Yeah, that's the first."

"I think you know what it means." His head pointed to the floor and a tear fell onto the floor. "I'm not ready Gabe." He sniffled, "I'm only eighteen and I already connected with someone." I put my hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "Don't be sad, that's awesome! Alice is beautiful and she's an elementalist with ancient darkness, just like you." He picked his head up a bit, "I guess so, but still, it's too quick."