Fear and Blood

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Ly removed the last packet of blood from the fridge and drained what was left. It was old, A+ and tasted stale and bitter, but it was all that was keeping him from feeding off Rome and her family.

For the past few days he had been keeping to himself, allowing no-one into the room where he was staying and only going out when the family were all seeping. It had been hard to keep Rome out, but it was the only way her family was safe from him. He had no idea how he was suppose to keep himself under control without a steady supply of blood, but he knew he could manage. He would have to.

He lost count of how many times he had tried to call Val, wanting to know if he really heard what he thought he had. It was no secret that he didn't particularly like Tricia but he found it incredibly hard to believe that she could have betrayed Tristan to the vampire hunters. Grabbing his phone and dialled Val's number again.

“The mobile phone you are calling is switched off or not in a mobile service area...” the robotic recording of the woman's voice said again causing Ly to growl and toss his phone onto the bed. After a few seconds he remembered what Val had said and turned it off.

If only this damn wound in my shoulder would heal, he thought angrily. Then maybe I could find out what the hell is going on.

His shoulder throbbed painfully and he could see the fresh blood seeping through the new bandage he had just used to cover it. There was really no point, it would bleed no matter what he did. He had never had a wound that hadn't healed within minutes before and it was driving his blood cravings to a point where it was almost unbearable, and now his blood supply was gone.

He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. It was then that the unmistakable scent of fresh blood filled the air, thick and strong. He sat up quickly. Someone in the house was bleeding.

Ly's eyes turned slowly from midnight blue to shimmering silver.

* * *

Rome sighed as she put the last dish away and wiped her soapy hands on a towel. Ly hadn't let her anywhere near him for days and it was worrying her. It was hard not to think that he was trying to push her away, even though their conversation from the pervious night had sorted out a few of their problems. She had told him she would be there no matter what, but that didn't seem to make any difference.

If only everything could go back to the way it had been before Tristan died, before Ly knew about her father. Maybe if she had told him before he wouldn't have taken it so badly.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and a yell from the living room. When Rome looked in she saw Rowen sitting on the floor, right in the middle of the remains of what use to be the coffee table. It's glass top had been completely smashed, presumably when Rowen landed on it.

“What happened?” Rome cried, panicking as she ran to her brother. She didn't touch him, just in case he was badly injured. Lee was already there, kneeling by his twins side. “Are you all right?”

“He tripped,” Lee said frantically, his face pale. “Do something Rome! He's bleeding!”

As if only just realising this, Rowen lifted his hand to look at the dark red blood flowing from the numerous small cuts that covered it. Shards of glass had also been driven into the back of his legs where they had hit the jagged edge of the table top. “Wait here, I'll go get mum,” Rome said, dashing off.

Seconds later Mae was at her son's side, a deep frown on her usually pleasant face. Swiftly she checked him over, making sure the cuts were the worst injuries he had sustained before turning to her other son. “Help me get him up Lee,” she said calmly, though her face was just as pale as his. “We need to get him to the hospital. Rome you stay here and wait for your father to get home. Tell him where we've gone.”