The Familiar

XI. The Morning After

Lucy groaned as she awoke, her body feeling strangely sore--not on the surface, but somewhere deep inside her veins. She buried further into the warmth she was resting again--a hard surface, and yet not uncomfortable. She snuggled against it, the feel of something tightening around her waist finally striking her that perhaps was unusual.

Wearily, her eyes slowly opened. It took a few blinks to rid the sleep from her eyes, from her mind, and then she was staring wide-eyed at a boy. In her bed. Asleep. 

Her heartbeat sped so quickly, so harshly, that she felt it in her throat and in her ears, as if she had just run a marathon. Her breath came sharply and quickly. 

Sebastian startled awake, feeling the difference in the body he shared the small bed with. At first he looked around, worried that they were in danger, and then to her, to see if she had injuries. 

Then their eyes met. His concerned amber to her shocked pale blue. 

Lucy's mouth opened, and she tried several times to form words, to start a sentence. Each time she failed. 

Sebastian waited for her to remember, for the surprise to settle and the realization to dawn. He didn't want to scare her with any sudden movements. 

And then her eyes widened even further, if it was possible, and her hand flew to her neck. Sebastian apprehensively awaited her response. Her eyes stuck to his mouth, and he was surprised when she boldly put her fingers on his jaw. 

Lucy's eyes quickly glanced up to meet Sebastian's before looking back to his mouth. He knew what she was after, and he didn't stop her. She manipulated the flesh around Sebastian's mouth--he breathed in sharply through his nose when she even carefully touched his lips--and he opened his mouth for her. 

Her teeth bit her bottom lip as she stared at his teeth. Her thumb touched an incisor. It was normal sized, just sharper than average. It didn't even break her skin. 

Sebastian took a large, steadying breath, before his incisors slowly slid down into fangs. 

This was what she had been wanting, had been looking for, but when she'd finally gotten it, she shrieked and pulled away from him. She overshot it and fell out of the bed on the other side, the sheets falling with her, tangled in her legs.

Sebastian leaned over and looked at her on the floor. She was on her butt, her hands and feet flat against the cheap carpet. Her eyes were wide and her mouth open, looking at nothing in particular. He couldn't help but laugh. 

Her eyes snapped up to his and narrowed, her mouth closing. 

Before he knew it, Lucy lunged up and shoved him onto the floor on the other side. He found himself lying there, his knees bent, feet flat on the floor along with his back. He was still laughing, his fangs gone.

Lucy started laughing too from her position on the bed now. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Lucy broke the connection and stood. This lasted for only a second before she fell right back down on the bed, her head in her hands. 

"Lucy?"

"My head," she groaned. Black spots had peppered her vision when she'd stood, and there was a pounding headache right in her forehead. 

"You probably need to eat. Last night was your first drain," Sebastian said, standing and walking over to face her, his hands in his jean pockets. "You didn't lose too much blood, but you lost enough."

Lucy gave a small, humorless laugh. "I'm amazed I didn't pass out. I always do when I get my blood drawn."

"The adrenaline from the venom kept you going. You'll need to drink a lot of water too." Sebastian held out his hand to her. "Wanna try again?"