Krimson Mind: The Krimson Cycle Vol. 1

Chapter Fifteen

I drove James's car back to my house because he seemed as though he was barely able to stay awake, much less be focused enough to drive. I guess mind wiping an 874 year old vampire had some pretty heavy consequences. I just hoped that he hadn't done any permanent damage to himself on my behalf. By the time I managed to get him to the car, blood had started to leak out of his nose and ears.

"I didn't mind wipe him. At least not the way you are thinking." James whispered to me. "I didn't have the power to do it. So I buried everything and made him think that he was a zygote. If he wakes up, he won't remember anything." James laughed and it sounded weak and very tired. "I guess I'm not as powerful as I thought." He sighed.

"It should still be enough." I replied. "Just stay with me love. We are almost to the house." I was babbling now. I was seriously becoming afraid for his life. Max's words came back to haunt me. "He is only human."

I pushed the Neon as fast as I could without risking an entanglement with the local cops. I knew that I had to get him to safety so that he could recover his strength. Had I known beforehand, what it would have cost him to do what he did, I would have found another solution. I would have demanded it. I was still hurting him, despite my best intentions.

About six minutes later, it felt like several eternities, I turned the Neon into my driveway and killed the motor. Then I got out and ran over to the passenger side door so that I could help him out of the car. I helped James to my front door, then I opened it. As soon as the door was opened, I called for Max. He rushed over and saw James leaning heavily on me.

"What the hell happened?" He asked, "It was only a date for God's sake!"

"He mind fucked an 874-year-old vampire." I answered. "It was Phantom."

"No shit?" Max's asked with wide eyes. "Here, I'll take him."

While uttering the spell Max pointed a finger at James, and he began to float. Max pointed at my bedroom, and James floated around the corner and up the stairs. I closed the front door, then bounded up the stairs behind him. I entered the room, and found that Max had magically deposited James on my bed. I could see that he was fighting to stay conscious, and it was a losing battle.

I crawled onto the bed next to him and wondered how to help him.

"Feeling... better." James lied.

I gave him a curious look, and noticed that he was even looking a bit better. I couldn't have been sure, but I began to suspect that James was drawing strength just because I was near him. It that was true, how would he feel if I actually touched him? I curled up next to his body, and his shallow breathing evened out and slowed to a relaxed pace.

"Why is it that simply touching you makes me feel better?" He asked as he wrapped his right arm around me.

"I don't honestly know." I replied, noticing that I too was feeling better. "I think we were just meant to be together." I whispered softly.

"I think you're right." He said, with a stronger sounding voice.

"Do you think that you might be pulling energy from the ley line?" I asked him.

"No. I have never been able to draw energy from the ley line. But I discovered that if I use either of my telekinesis or my telepathy while I'm around the ley line, their effects are stronger." James revealed.

"So what happened to you last Monday?" I asked

"I was trying to what I've done to every new person that I have ever met. I was trying to scan you, to read your mind, so to speak. I can usually do it without touching, but I've found that physical contact makes it easier. So when you offered you hand, I figured that I would try to scan you during the shake. But the ley line, which runs under the school, caused the scan to go haywire. I overloaded on pure primal energy."