Blood Wake

Chapter 4: Feeding

I stared at the blood bag he just gave me and his words sunk into my head. I shivered. Part of disgust and part of anticipation. Something in my body knew what was inside and wanted it. Yet my mind was not ready to accept this as a norm.

— You know if you do not learn how to feed you won't be able to control the thirst. And that's not a pretty sight. I can understand it is not easy for you but it's important.

He took back the bag and opened it for me. Immediately I felt the heat in my throat.

I was thirty.

Edwin giggled and handed me the open bag with a straw.

— Go ahead.

I brought the straw to my lips tentatively and paused. I couldn't bring myself to suck out.

But as times passed the thirst wasn't getting better. To the contrary, my fingers contracted around the blood bag, and I ended splashing blood on my clothes and sheets.

— Crap! I'm sorry!

Edwin eyes widened and he started to laugh.

— That's fine! Now drink, your eyes are so dark that I don't think you will be able to...

He never finished because the door opened and Jessie entered.

As soon as my eyes were on him, motion entered in my mind. He was a source of fresh blood that my body could not ignore.

I ended up on the floor, Edwin pinning me down. His body was on mine. One of his hand was tying my arms together and the other was on my head to stop me from trashing.

Because I was keen on escaping his firm grip, my eyes still on the boy who nearly killed me then took care of me.

— Get out Jessie, hissed the vampire.

— Err... Edwin what's happening?

— She was feeding. Or at least about to.

— Oh.

— Why do you think Dalilah said you had to ask before entering? You can't barge in anytime you want because you feel like that. She could be waiting behind the door to jump on you. Now get out!

Jessie put his hand in remission.

— Hey I'm sorry! I'll come back later Camille.

Even after his depart I could not calm again. Something in me was urging me to go after the boy. To tear his skin and drink. Piercing fangs had grown out of my mouth. Needles to pump out blood from a hot body. Run after him. Hunt him. Voices were whispering into my mind.

And everything stopped. A wet objects was put against my lips, my body reacted naturally. I sucked and drank.

My focus came back like slap and I pushed Edwin away, my face red with embarrassment. He put some distance between us but stayed on top of me ready to push me back on the floor.

— Charles, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

— Stop excuse yourself over something you do not even understand. Besides my blood will probably make you feel sick in a moment.

Indeed I started to feel my stomach contracting. A reflex and I rolled on my side to throw up.

— See.

He get up and searched his bag for another blood pocket that he opened.

I was still emptying my inside and the scent just make the reflex worse.

He waited until I stopped making gasp noise. I sat up and cleaned my face with a sheet that fell when I tried to attack Jessie. The white tissue was now really red. I was trembling.

Charles kneeled beside me.

— Now drink that and hurry.

— Won't it make me sick?

— That's human blood. Your body will support it. I even took the same blood type as yours. Now drink.

I obeyed. At first I had another spasm reflex. But I forced the liquid inside my body and I felt the thirst subsiding. Grey eyes were studying me. Making me feel uncomfortable.

— I won't go on rampage again, Charles.

— Uh? Oh, sorry! I have the bad habit to look at people and they don't remark it. I want you to feel at ease around us. You'll probably get the authorization to go out in the complex tomorrow. Just try to sleep tonight. For now we are going to clean the mess or Dalilah will kill us.

He helped me to get up and took the wasted sheet. I looked around me searching for something to change myself but nothing was in evidence.

I cleared my throat, embarrassed to ask.

— Charles?

— Yes?

— Do you know where I can find some spare clothes?

He froze. The muscles on his back tensed as he was thinking.

He ended up calling someone. While waiting for the clothes we cleaned the room and put broken objects in the bin and dirty sheets in a case.

A knock on the door and I looked at Charles with distress.

He held me to reassure me. I knew that I would not escape his hold and jump on whoever was going to enter.

— Merdith, I have what you asked...

Jessie stopped dead in his track when he saw the position we were in.

— How are you feeling asked me the vampire, his breath on my neck.

— I'm okay. No thirst. I think I can manage.

He let me go and I smiled to Jessie.

— Sorry about earlier. I guess I have to get used to a hell of knew things.

— Sure. Err that was mostly my fault so...

He passed his hand in his hair, casting a glance to me. And looked the other way.

— Nice tooth by the way.

I instantly felt that my fangs were still out and put my hand to hide them.

— Charles! How do I make them disappear?

He rolled his eyes.

— You don't. They'll retract slowly. Given you are a transformed it could take half an hour before you can smile like a human when you will be used to it.

— That long? How much time does it take you?

— 5 minutes. It takes me 7 minutes to make them grow.

— And for me?

— Depends. It took you 2 minutes to flash them. But it's your first feed so it is only natural that you did fast. As for making them retract for your first... It could be days.

— Lucky you! You won't need any costumes for Halloween party!

Jessie was laughing now. I send him a glare.

— Shut up! You are not the one who is supposed to make new friends with that.

I gestured to my teeth.

He shrugged.

— They'll all know who and what you are. No need to hide.

He get up and Charles followed him.

— Good night Camille.

— See you newbie!

I smiled feeling better than when I first wake up.

— See you!