The Vampire Extraordinaire Book 1

39. Licking Our Wounds

"Michael!" Anna gasped and ran into his arms.

"Careful," he laughed, hugging her and stumbling back a step.

She caught him easily and stood him on his feet, "Oh Michael, you are so weak. Be careful. Come sit down," she put her arm around his waist and took his left hand.

"Well, now you all know what kind of fool I was then," he moaned and sighed when she sat him in a wing chair. He looked around us, "Seems I haven't changed. I'm still a fool."

"You had no control over what she did to you," Nigel told him.

I went to Dad and knelt in front of him. Dad's gray hair was a bed ravaged mess that hung loose around his shoulders. Tiny wrinkles creased his face and dark circles were under his eyes. His cheeks were sunken and his skin was deathly pale.  He looked old; ready to die at any moment. I put my hand over his, "Are you alright?"

"Yes," he smiled, turning his hand over to squeeze my hand weakly. Worst was he only had the strength of a Human. He was a shell of the man I knew and loved. Part of me wanted to hold him tight and never let him go again. Another part of me, an evil part of me, wanted to kill him and put him out of his misery.

"We'll leave as soon as dawn approaches," Anna ordered. I sensed she had felt the same way.

"NO!" Michael snapped, then he bit his lips, closing his eyes.

"Dad?" I whispered.

He looked at me and groaned, holding his ribs with his hand. "Damn her," he shook his head once. He licked his lips and looked up at Nigel, "She got away. Didn't she?"

Nigel nodded, "Only just now."

He looked at Anna, "We can't leave now. Don't you see?"

"Michael," she spoke sympathetically.

"London is far more smaller than America," he panted, "We could track her down here. She won't leave England as long as Marcus is here. She wants him. She wants his blood."

"Is that all?" Allan said sarcastically and I smiled at him.

"Michael," Nigel started.

"It's true," he looked up at him, "She no longer loathes being a vampire." He looked down at me, "She wants ALL of your blood. She wants to rule over all the Houses. She wants to be the Vampire Extraordinaire."

"Well, she can have it," I frowned and moved to stand up.

He gripped my hand and I let him stop me. "She will destroy you to get it," he spoke as he panted.

"Dad," I started to argue.

He frowned angrily, "Don't be so cocky that you think she won't kill you!" he pulled his shirt open, causing buttons to fly. "Look at me!" he ground through his teeth and his eyes danced with unshed tears. I heard Anna gasp behind me as our eyes fell on the deep purple marks on his chest. "She is heartless," he hissed and his tears fell. He jerked his sleeve up and showed me his wrist, "Some scars will never fade."

I looked down at his wrist and the mangled flesh there. "What did she do to you?" I whispered.

"She's a cannibal," he moaned as he stood up. He went to the side table and picked up the bottle. He held the lid down at his side as he put the bottle to his lips. He threw his head back and drank as his shirt fell down his arm. He took big drinks of the bottle. I could see the purple marks on his arm and shoulder. I wondered why they hadn't healed by now. It had been two days.

"Bring us another bottle," Nigel told someone.

"Yes Sire," the servant said from the doorway and started to run off.

"Bring two!" he called out. She bobbed a curtsy and disappeared.

Anna pulled his shirt up over his shoulder and said softly, "Michael, you'll be alright. It just takes time for the deep wounds to heal. You've just been sleeping."

He dropped his arm around her shoulders and smiled, "I'm sorry," he kissed her forehead and she laid her head on his chest. "I didn't mean to scare you," he whispered.

"You've been through a lot," she nodded, hugging his waist.

He closed his eyes tight and sighed into her hair, "A nightmare."

"Here you are, Sire," the servant rushed in and placed two bottles on the table.

After she left, Dad picked up one of the bottles and drank half of it. He panted and looked at Nigel. "This doesn't seem like it's enough," he said irritably.

"It's the first blood you've had in two days," Shawn said.

Nigel smiled broadly, "We can go out tonight." He looked at me, "I want you to stay here."

"I want to go," I shook my head. "I want to find her," I clenched my teeth.

"Not tonight, Son," Dad said with more authority in his voice than his weak body could defend.

"You'll stay!" Nigel snapped, then added gently, "Let this family recover before we fight again."

"How long will that be?" I sighed and put my hands on my hips.

Dad's voice lowered to a hate filled tone, "Not long," he spoke as he walked out of the room.