Bloodstream (#2 Blood Series)

Chapter 19

There is only one person I can call upon now. I lie awake in my bed and try my best to focus on Oliver but nothing happens. I have no clue on how to do this stupid dream walking crap and I'm running out of time. Tomorrow I'll be at Mirabelle's mercy and that's a place I never wanted to be in again. I need this to work. I need to hear what Oliver has to say.

"Oliver", I say out loud in the hopes that it could conjure him. Of course that does absolutely nothing. I close my eyes in frustration and huff. This connection only seems to work when it feels like working. It might as well be my WiFi connection, equally untrustworthy. I decide to call for him one more time before giving up. "Oliver!"

Suddenly there is another voice. "Fuck."

I sit up straight and stir my eyes so I could see better in the dark room. "Nathan? I ask incredulously. "What are you doing here, you know, other than giving me a heart attack?"

"Nothing. I'll come back later. You know, when you're not fantasizing about Oliver", he snaps sounding bitter and he has every right to be. I'd never let him live it down if I snuck into his room and heard him say another girl's name.

"I wasn't -- Oh, forget it. Why are you here?" I ask, not bothering to try to convince him. We don't have much time: I have a feeling that Dave wouldn't be too happy to host a Blood in his house so we can't get caught. Dave would probably try to accuse Nathan of breaking and entering or something.

"You're busy", he states sounding annoyed. I smile knowing that the darkness will cover me. Sometimes Nathan is just too cute for his own good. People shouldn't be able to be cute when they are jealous but he somehow still is. I get up from my bed and stand in Nathan's path to the window from which I'm guessing he came from since I was facing my door and it didn't open. I'm careful not to touch him but I don't want him to go just yet. I've been avoiding him but that doesn't mean I don't miss him.

"You came all this way. It has to be important", I try to coax him to talk to me. My hands are aching to touch him, to push the hair out of his face, to hold his hand, anything. But I can't.

I must be a masochist, there is no other explanation for why I keep seeking out someone I can't have. I'll drive myself mad and I'll do it with a smile because at least I'll be with Nathan. This isn't healthy but lately my love for Nathan is what has kept me going. It doesn't make sense because loving him and at the same time knowing that we'll never be together should make me feel terrible. But surprisingly enough our love is what I draw power from.

"Talk to me", I whisper and Nathan obeys.

"I've been trying to find a way to break the curse."

I open my mouth to protest but Nathan holds his finger in the air asking me to be quiet. I reluctantly oblige. This is exactly what I've been trying to avoid. "I think I've found something but I need you to try and remember the exact words she cursed you with. Look, I know you don't want me to do this. But I think you know I have to."

After hesitating for a minute I nod. "I know", I whisper. Then I go to my desk drawer and pull out a piece of paper and a pen. I write down the poisonous words. Even looking at them makes me tremble.