Fear and Blood

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“Ly,” Rome whispered against the young man's chest. He held her against him, as if he would never release her and she found she didn't want him to, but her brother was still in the club and if he come out and found her like this he would be furious. “Ly, my brother's inside, he'll come out soon looking for me. I have to go.”

“No,” Ly said, voice still rough and strained. He tightened his grip on her waist. His breathing was still heavy and he felt that if he let her go he would lose the battle that had been going on ever since she appeared. “You can't, not yet. Just stay a little bit longer.”

“I can't,” the red-head replied, but she didn't try to remove herself from him. “If Alex sees us he'll go crazy. He doesn't want me seeing you anymore, if he finds us he'll never let me stay.” Ly didn't say anything, he didn't even seem to be listening at all. “Ly? Did you hear me?”

“Why do you always have to fight me?” the young man whispered into her ear, making her shiver. “Before, when I told you to go, you stayed, and now that I need you to stay, you have to go. Do you enjoy torturing me?”

Rome jumped as she heard a door slam and angry voices coming from the direction of the club. One of the voices sounded a lot like Alex. “Ly, please. Alex is coming, if he sees you there will be a fight and I don't want that.”

Ly didn't feel up to fighting anyone but himself that night, so with a deep sigh he reluctantly released his grip on the young woman, suddenly feeling cold and empty. She took a step away from him, but didn't leave.

“Are you all right now?” Rome asked, looking concerned. She knew she had to go before Alex came looking for her, but she really didn't want to leave Ly in this condition. “Do you need me to call someone for you?”

“I'll be fine,” Ly said, suppressing the urge to grab her and pull her back to him. His cravings for her blood were rising again and he didn't know if he could fight it back a second time. “Just get out of here. And don't tell anyone about this.”

She nodded and turned to leave, but, without thinking, Ly grabbed her hand and held it gently. She looked up at him in surprise, meeting his haunted blue gaze with her own emerald one.

“I'm sorry,” he said softly, looking her straight in the eyes as he said it. “I'm sorry for everything I've done. I'm ruining your life just by being around you. I'll stay away, if you want me to.”

Rome smiled a smile that Ly found almost more beautiful than the smell of her blood. “Why would I want that, Ly?” she said. She went to leave again, but he squeezed her hand.

“Lyconides,” he said suddenly. “You once asked me what Ly was short for. Lyconides, that's my real name.”

Rome smiled again, hugged him quickly and ran off in the direction of her brothers car. As soon as she was gone Ly felt his legs begin to shake and he could no longer stand on his own. He slid down the brick wall and sat on the ground, breathing heavily.

With shaking hands he reached into a pocket and pulled out his mobile phone. He could hardly even see straight as he dialled his brothers number. Shamed filled him at the thought of having to call for help, but there really was no other way.

The phone rang twice before it was answered. “Ly,” Tristan's voice came through, sounding concerned. “Where are you? Are you all right? You never call me on this number.”

“Tristan I...” Ly began, struggling to fight the cravings that were growing stronger again now that Rome wasn't around to suppress them. “I almost did something...I...I'm sorry, I...need you to come and get me.”