Unbeating (Revamped*)

Chapter 21: Kiss the Pain Away

Chapter 21 :

Raven's P.O.V.

The room I had become accustomed to over the years seemed so foreign and bare. Nothing had changed, not a picture out of place, every nook and cranny was untouched as I had left it all those months before. Of course, the dust and cobwebs that had gathered unmercifully hanging from the ceiling, in the corners of the room, in my wardrobe and on my bed, were inconvenient and an asthmatics living nightmare.

 A growl leaked from the back of his throat as he sniffled. I turned around. Stress lines contorted his sunken face.

Angel's P.O.V.

I lowered myself into the plush coffee brown leather chair hoping that if I stayed quiet enough I'd disappear into the chair completely. Raven stared down at me although it felt as though he were staring down on me, which, now that I think about it, was probably what he was doing.

He ran a hand across his scratched mahogany desk, scooping off a layer of smokey grey dust that had gathered there.

"How was your role as 'leader'" His eyes were amused and his voice held a tint of mockery.

"I couldn't handle it. You shouldn't have left me with the position, I wasn't able for that kind of stress. You on the other hand were born and raised fo-"

He leaned forward and held up a slightly dusted finger in front of my lips. I scowled at him, meeting his brown eyes. He chuckled;

"I chose you because I believed in you."

I sat, silenced by shock.

"There isn't anything you cannot do. If there is a will, any at all, there is a way." His voice had melted into something soft and quiet.

"I really messed up. Ashl-"

"You just made a mistake." He interrupted me again. "Just like every other person on this planet has, it isn't un-natural to screw up every once in a while. And as for Ashley, well he's had a lot on his mind for a long time." He smirked deviously.

"...Okay." I hadn't much to say.
I had always been the closest to Raven and now all of a sudden he was taking his side, even when he knows how much of a moody bastard Ashley can be but then again I guess that's something they both had in common. I gritted my teeth behind closed lips.

"You did a fairly good job." He smiled.

I snorted. Ashley and I would've ripped each others heads clean off if Raven hadn't all too conveniently stepped in, not to mention those weird notes I'd been getting. Yeah, I definitely did a good job.

And just like switching a switch his eyes hardened, "Dismissed." His tone of voice neutral.

I got up and left. Beating music that shook the household welcomed me as I came to the top of the staircase. The walls vibrated and the light bulbs in the chandelier tinkled.
That cannot be good for the walls.
I sighed and ran my fingers along the banister as I skipped down the steps. I froze at the foot of the stairs, a little shocked at the situation I had blindly run into.

Tables were turned over, wine (or blood?) splattered across the wallpaper, vases smashed on the floor and flowers laid scattered and broken across the rug. I pursed my lips as I considered the scene. My grip tightened on the wooden banister. A heavenly aroma caressed my nostrils, my fangs became more prominent against my tongue, thoughts slowly drifting away. 

I swallowed a gulp of air and I could taste it. And by God, or whatever is out there, I've never tasted anything like it. A choir of hiss and growl like noises rung throughout the house. My feet guided me like they had a mind of their own. 

I found Melody in the kitchen, pink cheeked, red rimmed eyes, blood covering her right ring finger while the other hand clawed at a towel on the counter. However I was not the first to notice her scent. Four other males stood at different places in the kitchen, watching her blood trickle down her hand like vultures. I approached Melody who had her hand wrapped in the towel.

"C'mon." I whispered, guiding her out with my hand pressed securely between her shoulder blades.
I gave a slow hard glare to each of the vampire maids in turn.

We stood out on the balcony that jutted out from my room, silently staring out at the forest. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye to find her staring at her hand as if she were afraid of her own blood. I took the hand, realising that the cut was actually worse than I had first seen and that the cut stretched from her ring finger across to her thumb, it was still nothing to worry about. I dabbed the towel on the cut a few times lightly, she inhaled a sharp breath. 

I looked into her greyish blue eyes, they were like an ocean sky on a stormy day, and slowly brought her palm to my lips. I let my tongue glide along the cut, the blood reminding me of mulled wine but with a thicker consistency. My taste buds exploded, as they usually do when one feeds from a live human. My free arm wrapped itself around her waist. A low growl stirred in my chest as her body pressed against me. She didn't object to any of this, in fact she seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was, as was the usual behavior.

I savoured the last drop as the wound closed up in response to my saliva. Her body's natural response was to hide the blood, but there was no way it could mask the smell. I followed her hand with my eyes as I let it go. She let it fall slowly, landing on my collar bone and tantalisingly working its way down my chest, stopping at my lower stomach. She flipped her hand under my red and black checkered shirt and as her hand worked its way up again the buttons on my shirt popped open, revealing my remarkably pale skin. Her skin was burning against mine. Her hot against my cold. Like fire against ice.

I shifted my weight on my feet patiently, waiting and secretly hoping this would go somewhere. My eyes met with hers again and she leaned up, probably on tip toes and pressed her lips to mine.