The Hunger - Only Lovers Left Alive

Chapter Sixteen

I awoke to the sound of gentle strumming, surprised in myself that I had managed to fall asleep again so easily, though I would put it down to the stress of everything that had happened.

The sun had barely gone down, a small slither of light still barely visible behind the curtains, but that was disappearing fast and night was taking over. However, there was still enough light coming in to illuminate Adam in a dark silhouette where he sat at the edge of the bed, hunched over a guitar as he tuned it.

Luckily, the light was faded enough to not cause pain as it shone through the small slit in the curtains but still bright enough to highlight Adam's hair, which I had, up to that point, believed to be black only to realise that it was actually brown.

Such a mundane bit of information seemed important to my drained mind in that moment.

There was also something strangely calming in this moment, lying on the bed with nothing but his silhouette and the brown of his hair being hit perfectly by the fading light.

It was serene.

The haze of sleep took its time to lift as I stared at Adam's back, which was gradually becoming more than a black shadow as my eyes adjusted to the shifting light.

Gradually, my senses started to awaken and I noticed just how hungry I was, my dry lips were dying for liquid and my body felt sore and stiff.

Adam hadn't seemed to notice that I was awake, not until I shifted onto my side to stretch out and take the weight off of my numbed rear. It was also only then that I noticed that my wrists were no longer bound and instead there was a burning in my arms, stiff from where they had been held in the same position for so long.

"I'm surprised you're not attacking me," he said softly, breaking the silence.

"I don't think I have the energy to at the moment," I replied with a quiet huffed laugh. "Maybe when I feel better."

"Only maybe?"

He twisted around to look at me, his face twisted in confusion.

"Yes, Adam, only maybe."

"You're surprisingly docile."

"I'm surprising myself if I'm being completely honest."

It was hard to explain the headspace I was in at that moment.

My anger had given away to nothing but numbness and near acceptance of the situation, that didn't mean I was happy about it but as I watched Adam tune and strum at the strings of his guitar, I found it hard to stay mad at him.

As much as I loved Vincent, I could understand that a vampire's relationship values were still lost to my fledgling and I should have taught him better before it reached this point.

It was conflicting.

My heart felt heavy but my mind felt numb.

"Maybe one day I'll avenge him," I mumbled.

Adam turned away with a light scoff and I just barely caught a glance of an eyeroll before his face was shielded.

"I don't know why you would, but that's your business."

"I would because I loved him."

"Loved?"

"Pardon?" I frowned, rubbing at my aching eyes.

"You said loved, as in past tense."

I regarded his bare back in silence, mulling over the words I had just said and considering the weight of them.

"I suppose I did, but that doesn't mean anything, it was loved, he is dead."

"Doesn't mean that love fades into nothing but 'was' after barely a few days."

"Will you cut me a break, Adam?" I snapped, glaring unnoticedly at him before rolling onto my other side and curling into myself as my stomach started to growl. "I lost my husband at the hands of my fledgling, I don't need you questioning every little thing I say or do."

The room fills with thick tension as quiet descends yet again, a long period if time stretching between us until the bed begins to start shifting behind me.

At first I thought that Adam was getting up to leave, perhaps that would have been for the best, instead he had set down his guitar and crawled across the bed to drape himself over me, his head resting against my shoulder as he placed his hand on my thigh to give it soft circular rubs.

"I'm sorry, you know I never meant for this to happen," he near whispered, "I don't know what came over me, you know I'm usually calm but seeing him disregarding you for others drove me mad."

I kept quiet, letting him stroke my thigh while lightly pressing kisses to my jawline and neck.

"One day, I hope that you will forgive me."

Slowly, I shook my head and let my eyes fall closed, resigning to the moment as all fight had left me.

"Adam?"

"Yes?"

"I would like something to eat."

"Of course," he nodded, pressing one more kiss to my jaw before pulling away, "I'll get you something, though we'll have to stock up soon."

His footsteps faded out of the room as he left, though they were already faint to begin with as he was quite light on his feet, and I was left to my own conflicting thoughts and emotions for a few moments.

Each second felt like a year as things processed slowly and finally, I was willing to allow myself time to grieve, to cry and to accept that I would never see Vincent again.