His Only

Chapter Fourteen Desire

Sarah came out with a large pot in hand.

"Jake, would you grab the other one for me?" She said setting the pot down.

I stood up going to the kitchen grabbing one of the large pots on the stove and she came in taking the last one. When we set them down she motioned me to sit down again. I sat down again next to Emily and noticed she was looking down at her lap. Taking the risk I moved my hand over hers and squeezing it lightly. She looked up at me smiling.

"I'm going to grab the water pitcher, feel free to scoop some food on your plates. It's rice and beans with a side of asparagus. Should be pretty nourishing," she said leaving the table.

Emily looked at me before getting up grabbing a ladle to portion some food on her plate, but she didn't get much. Once finished I did the same not getting much either. I despised having to force myself to eat food since everything was tasteless unless it was blood and it costed energy to dissolve it. Sarah came back pouring water into the cups and we ate mostly in silence. She asked questions about our life and I answered being careful about what I said. 

When dinner was done I helped clean up doing the dishes for Sarah. Emily helped by drying the plates I washed. I smiled enjoying our teamwork liking being this close to her.

"Okay dinner is put away, feel free to enjoy the leftovers tomorrow. I have to be at work early again tomorrow so I'm going to head to bed now," she said cheerfully.

Emily and I wished her good night. Together we finished the dishes and went to bed. I stopped in front of her room with her and hugged her tightly kissing her head not wanting to let go.

"Goodnight, Emily," I said rubbing her back softly finally letting go.

"Goodnight, Jake," she said.

I sensed she wanted to say something, but she didn't. She went to her room so I went to my own sighing softly. I sat down on my bed enjoying reading under the softness of the sheets. I picked up a book clicking on the lamp by the table I had moved there enjoying reading under it. My mind couldn't stop wandering to Emily.

~Flashback~

I looked at Emily in my arms a deep thought in her eyes. I held her thirteen-year-old frame softly waiting for her to get her thoughts together.

"Diana said The Cursed like biting the neck," She said seeming confused.

"Well yes," I said. "It is preferred for them."

"But why?" She asked.

"Well, there are a couple reasons we hunters believed. Firstly the neck is considered a very sensitive area," I said dragging my finger along the side of her neck.

She shuddered and giggled a little ticklish. She nodded understanding.

"Since its so sensitive pain will be very high and causing pain is one way to incapacitate someone while increasing their heart rate. The second reason is the carotid artery is in your neck which pumps blood a lot faster since it has an important job, especially with a higher heart rate pumping it even faster," I said tracing its location on my own neck. "It has the job of giving your face and brain blood for survival so when it is severed your heart pumps it so fast that you bleed out in minutes sometimes."

She seemed interested thinking carefully.

"Dying faster and feeding quickly can be beneficial. The last reason we believe, but never proved is the neck tastes better," I said shrugging.

"You never?" She asked.

"No. I was a hunter and even if I am now cursed I am still a hunter. I do everything I can to not hurt any humans. I keep away from cities, towns and people so I don't hurt anyone. Once that beast tastes human they grow and then," I said stopping looking away sadly. "Those we call Feral. When the beast takes over which it does two ways when you starve it or strengthen it. Additionally getting hurt too much can starve it too."