Children of Blood ✔️

Chapter Twenty Six

A/N

I love to read with music, it adds so much effect! So, if you you want to play this song, I recommend turning it on at the half way point.

Enjoy <3

A rough finger brushes a strand of hair from my shut eye, causing me to wake, but I kept my eyes closed in exhaustion.

"I feel like I gravitate towards her," Alaric whispers among the distant voices.

"Technically, you gravitate to everything, each object or being has its own gravitational force that pulls you in slightly. Therefore, you gravitate to her, and you gravitate to that man just as much," James states loudly. He pokes my face and I twitch, my eyes fluttering open.

"How are you feeling?" Alaric smacks James' shoulder.

I groan and scan my body, "I'm sore, dehydrated and hungry."

"That's what happens when you exert yourself to the extent you did," James peers out the window and puts a coat on. "I don't think the bar will be busy, but I need to go for my shift. I hope your platelets and regenerative tissues heal you relatively quickly, Jean."

I stare as James walks out, fiddling with his cuff. Alaric smiles down at me and I return it.

"You're okay," I sigh and try to sit up. A dull pain throbs on my forehead and I wince, reaching for it. "Where's Luke?"

"Grabbing food," Alaric tenses and he helps me sit up. "Don't push yourself. You got yourself a mild concussion after that fight with Lady."

I nod, touch my nose and wince before moving my hand down to the L carved under my eye.

"Your nose is fractured too," Alaric brushes the back of his hand over my cut and frowns. "The L under your eye might scar, it's Lady's kill mark."

I pull away from his touch, "I need to make something clear, you are an amazing friend."

Alaric grimaces and nods. "I felt that was coming."

I clear my throat, "Through all this darkness and loss, I need a friend at my side. I don't know if I could deal with taking care of a relationship when I'm struggling to take care of myself."

Alaric grabs my hand and holds my gaze, "Every time I have been there for you I've been your friend. Just because I have feelings for you which you don't reciprocate, doesn't change the fact that I want to help you and protect you. Relationships are just glorified friendships."

I sigh, "Thank you for being understanding about it. I'm sorry about the misleading kiss."

"Don't apologize for that. I shouldn't have kissed you. That was wrong, and I was out of place. I didn't know you and Luke broke up yet... my brother is stupid, but he's not stupid enough to let a girl like you get away."

I tune into my surrounds, pushing past the pain in my skull. I flip the thin blanket over my legs and watch nurses zip to each side of the clean room. They push bins filled with bloody clothing out of their way. There's a sea of people in overcrowded beds, groans and silent cries erupt from them.

"What's going on?" I ask, swinging my legs over  the bed and stand up. Alaric rises with me and offers extra balance. "Why are there so many people here?"

"Will you please sit back down?" Alaric try's pushing me back into bed and I shove him off me.

"No!" I yell, my emotions out of check. "Alaric, what is going on?"

He sighs, sits down and pats the spot beside him. I shake my head and head to the exit. He chases after me and helps part the crowd, "When you go out there, don't freak out."