Running with Shifters (completed)

Chapter 4 Isadora

Chapter 4

Isadora

Hearing someone clear their throat behind me, I turn and am instantly stared down by Meg's glare. I take a step back, unnerved by her unexpected expression, and Lin wraps his arms around my waist as I lean into his chest.

"What were you thinking?"

"What?"

"With the vampire. Obviously. You blew the whole situation out of proportion. Why did you chase her?"

She continues to stare me down until I finally reluctantly answer. "I don't know what happened. One minute I was using telepathy to see if she was a vampire and the next... I- I just started craving her blood and my body just took over. I could barely get enough control to slow down enough so I didn't catch her."

Still glowering at me, it takes her a minute before she looks away, an ashamed expression on her face as she rubs the back of her neck and leans into Eli's chest. "I suppose it's my fault..." I open my mouth to deny it but she just cuts me off, "no. It really is. I'm the one that wanted you to get back in the swing of things. I pushed too far too soon."

I step away from Lin and we hug, "it's not your fault. It's not. You were just trying to help." It's still weird having a friend that I'm on hugging basis with. Ever since Rob and I hit puberty we've avoided it, for obvious reasons. Something twinges in my arm and I pull back, looking down at the dried blood on my arm. Remembering the fact that there's still a bullet in my arm, I ask for one of Meg's daggers and thank her when she hands it to me. She actually gave one of them to me but I'm making her carry it with her; the memory of what I did with them and the fact that, outside of the Craze, I have no idea how to handle it, keeps me from having it.

Pulling back my sleeve a little to avoid getting any blood on it, I hold my arm out and Meg takes it, already knowing what I'm going to do. I gesture for Eli to restrain Lin and he does, much to the annoyance of Lin. I hate having to do it but I know he'll freak out and try to stop me.

Probing my arm for the bullet's bump, I stab myself with the dagger and shriek in pain, making Lin try to get past Eli just as expected. Digging my finger around until it touches the bullet, I'm surprised I'm not freaking out. Even though I've caused more than my fair share of carnage that doesn't mean I should be okay with digging around in my own muscles- even though I am.

I pull it out and watch as it heals over in a second flat. Meg lets go and I drop it to the ground before giving her back the dagger. I run a finger along the stream of blood before licking my finger, not wanting any to go to waste.

Lin wraps me in a hug and I hug him back as something that should have dawned on me earlier finally does. "I need to stay away from vampires. It's not just my sanity that's at stake, I could kill them. Look at what just happened, I could barely even control myself from eating her." I shiver and snuggle against him as he pulls me closer to him, comforting me with his presence.

Romulus steps forward and I only just realize that Kate, Wallace, and he are here too. "I know where we could go. It's a small town, most likely vampire free. At least if I were a vampire I wouldn't live there."

Eli turns to him, a surprised look on his face. "Don't tell me you mean..."

Romulus nods, shrugging, "it's worth a try. I haven't seen her in five-something years, she could be over it. Plus, we have to ask her about dad's friend."

He notices the rest of us and all of our confused looks and then explains. "My mother. When she found out what I am shortly after dad died, she kicked me out and I haven't seen her since. There's a camping area behind the house and I'm sure she wouldn't mind too much if we stayed for a few days. As long as no one Shifts around her and you two don't let her see your fangs."

Having no better ideas, we all agree and walk back to the hotel to pack.