Picture Perfect

Twenty

It was later that night. I had just returned from the hospital to sleep. The doctor had assured me that Alexis would be able to return home the next day.

I stepped out of the car only to be slammed against the vehicle by someone large and strong, "What have you done!"

I looked up at the sound of his voice. I hadn't spoken to him in nearly two months, "Joss! What are you doing?"

Joss laughed and I knew right then that he had changed in the worst possible way, "I'm finally taking what is mine," he leaned forward and placed his lips on my neck. I felt a light prick before I was overcome with euphoria. I just leaned into his embrace as I became light-headed.

Then, just as he had slammed me against the vehicle he was torn away from me. I fell to my knees as I leaned against the car to stay upright. I watched as my hero hit Joss in the chest and he went flying. I didn't realize at that moment that that strength wasn't humanly possible.

I took a deep breath as my vision became blurry. I didn't care what was happening to me. I had yet to come down and everything just seemed so great.

I blinked everything back into focus as Joss picked himself up and went to attack my hero, but my hero was stronger than Joss. My hero wrapped his hand around Joss' neck and lifted him off the ground. He said something, but I didn't make it out.

Finally, I slumped over right before everything went black and I fell unconscious.

~I woke up and looked around. I was in a small room with concrete walls and no windows. I sat up slowly and heard Keiran's haunting voice, "If you'd allow me to change you like I first suggested this wouldn't have happened."

I glared at him, "Why did you even turn that ass!"

Keiran's obsidian gaze narrowed on me, "I didn't turn him. I haven't turned anyone," he stepped over to me, "I don't know how it happened," he placed his hand on my neck, "The only thing I can think of is that Audrey somehow got my blood without me knowing," he turned my head as he inspected my neck, "It looks like you're going to be fine. It appears to be a bruise."

I sighed. He seemed to be taking care of me. How did he know to be there? "What were you doing following me?"

Keiran stepped back and chuckled, "Don't flatter yourself, Jo," he smiled, "I was looking for a snack and I caught a whiff of a fledgling that I didn't create. I wanted to investigate," I went to ask him why he saved me, but he stopped me, "Again, don't flatter yourself. You're the only one that can create the horseshoe crab blood that I love so much. Wouldn't ever want to run out of that."

I glared at him, "What time is it?"

Keiran shrugged, "Some time around midday."

My eyes grew wide, "I need to go," I stood up and looked towards the door, "I told Alexis I would be there around nine," I stepped over to the door, "Stop by tonight and I'll have a couple jars for you. I need to go," I opened the door and he hurried to the other side of the room.

"You should have warned me!" he hissed at me as my eyes adjusted to the sun that was streaming in, "Damn it, Jo!"

"Three jars."

~Alexis was sitting on the couch in the front room of our apartment. I had gone to the hospital to find that he had checked out nearly an hour before.

Alexis' amber gaze was questioning as I closed the door behind me, "What happened last night, Jo?"

I smiled at him, "Nothing."

He shook his head as he leaned forward, "Jo," his hair fell into his face, "There is a dent in the back door of the car. The door wasn't shut. There was blood smeared all over the hood," he took a deep breath before he looked up at me again, "What happened last night?"