~BOOK 3/PART TWO~ Paranormal: A Vampire's Time Is Now (Multi-Bandom FanFic)

Chapter 16

Patrick felt great to be back and in control of his own body. He was given control of his fate again, but that demon was still out there. Everybody knew it, but they decided to avoid the topic for the next week and a half while the vampire was in the hospital. Patrick found it strange how Kenya was so willing to help him, seeing as she hated him. Sure, she hadn't held a decent conversation with him except for asking about how he was feeling or if he need anything, and he could see it was killing her to be nice to him, but she did it anyways.

"They said if you feel up to it, you can go home tomorrow," Kenya bluntly informed him while looking at the white board hanging in the hospital room that gave information about the vampire's doctor, his needs, and other information. She crossed her arms, giving off a displeased vibe, as if just being in his presence upset her.

"Look, Kenya, if you want to go, just go," Patrick muttered, taking note of this, "I don't need you here twenty-four seven. I am an adult, after all." He really just didn't need her aggression. Plus, he'd been dying to be alone, to just appreciate the solitude, something he hadn't had in awhile.

"Your girlfriend wanted me to stay with you until she arrived," The she wolf replied as she took the seat farthest away from him.

"Rachael?" He questioned. Kenya nodded. She knew Rachael, but she referred to her differently now. It was either "your girlfriend" or "that witch". It was almost as if she didn't know who she was.

Patrick could see the surprise and the bewilderment in her eyes when he told her of the vivid memories of her and the witch. He assumed it was because she still making sure that it was actually him and not the demon, but she hadn't made any sarcastic comments, or jabs at him like normal. Not only was it as if had she forgotten Rachael, but it was as if she'd forgotten how the two of them acted toward one another too.

The vampire noticed Kenya bouncing her right leg nervously, her face showing that she was in deep thought. He shifted uncomfortably in the bed and said, "Hey." She met his gaze with narrowed eyes. "Do you honestly not remember me?"

"Yes. How many times do I have to tell you?" Kenya snapped, her vulnerability and frustrated confusion becoming evident, "I have no clue who you are, and I don't know who your girlfriend is either. But everyone's talking about you guys like I should."

He stared at Kenya blankly.

Just then, to break the silence and tension that had fallen over the room, a knock rattled on the door. They both turned their heads in that direction and saw Rachael standing in the doorway, a small grin on her face.

"Thank the moon goddess you're here," Kenya mumbled, standing up from the chair and walking up to who used to be her best friend, "You can take care of him now."

"I will," The witch assured her, "Thanks for watching him for me."

"Whatever..." Kenya grumbled, brushing past her out into the hallway and leaving. Rachael heaved a sigh and returned her attention to Patrick, the brief expression of sadness that flashed upon her face being quickly replaced with a forced happiness.

"Someone's looking better," She commented, approaching the vampire's bedside and setting a coffee mug down on the table beside him.

"What's going on with Kenya, Rach?" He questioned.

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't remember us, and she's treating you like a stranger."

Rachael pointed her hand at the metal cylinder and within seconds, steam began to stream out from the hole in the lid. She picked up the hot beverage and handed it to him. "Here." Patrick took the drink into his possession and pulled the lid off, smiling at its contents.

"It's blood."

"Yeah. Type O, your favorite." A blush crept up in her cheeks as she looked into his eyes.

The vampire brought the mug up to his lips and took a sip, the thick, warm liquid running down his throat and comforting him, giving him the feeling as if he was at home. He moaned in delight - forgetting about his question the witch had yet to answer - and met her gaze. "Rachael, you're the best."

She giggled. "I just know what you like." She sat down in the chair Kenya was sitting down in no more than five minutes ago and hung her head, twiddling her thumbs in her lap. "So...um, Ashley's leaving town again."

"When isn't she?" The hybrid's father replied with a slight chuckle, sipping the hot, tasty beverage like he hadn't drank something in days.

"Yeah, and...well, I am too."

Patrick spat the sip back into the mug and looked at her with wide eyes. "You're what?"

"Yeah, um, Brendon and I are going away for a little while." She rubbed her upper arm nervously, the topic evidently difficult for her to address.

He set the beverage aside and wiped the red trail that was dripping from the corner of his lip away with the back of his wrist. "Why?"

"I just need to get away for a little while, Patrick," The witch tried to explain, "I mean, that's what you and I originally intended to do but didn't, and...and I really need that time off, that time away from New Orleans and everyone in it."

"But why with him?"

"I'm giving him the chance he never got," She answered his question, undeniably avoiding his hurt-filled gaze, "He deserves it, after everything he's done for me."

"So that's it? You're going to throw away thousands of memories - no, an entire lifetime worth of love - away for a guy who barely knows you?" The vampire knew it was a dick thing to say, but he loved this woman. She couldn't just ask him to forget everything and let her walk away.

"Patrick, I love you and I always will, but...I think I love Brendon too." She heaved a frustrated sigh while standing up and running her hands through her hair. "We had history, hell we made history. And yes, we still have something between us, but while you were gone, I discovered that there's also something between Brendon and me...I just want to figure it all out." Rachael was stubborn and, if there was one thing Patrick knew about her, it was that when she'd made up her mind, there was no changing it. "Besides, you and I both need some time apart. You need to regain your clan and refocus on your music career, and I need to learn what it means to be alone and be without you."

"If you wanted to be alone, you wouldn't be leaving with him," He growled, unhappy with her decision.

"Patrick, please," She begged, "Don't make this harder than it already is."

As much as Rachael's words hurt, they were true. Patrick had so many things on his plate and so many desires that he had yet fulfill, that he'd forgot about what Rachael wanted. He couldn't trap her here. So he nodded silently, knowing there was nothing he could say, nothing he wanted to say that wouldn't make her hate him.

The vampire traced the mug with his fingers and tried to change the subject. "You still haven't told me what's up with Kenya," He mentioned, "Something's off and I can't place it."

"Oh, yeah, Bruno and Anthony made Brendon cast a spell on her that made her forget about you, me, and the guys," The witch answered casually, as if it was okay.

Patrick's eyes widened, looking up into hers. "He what?"