Awakening (new chapters added)

Part 10 - chapter eight

Eight

Evie felt clean, her hair was mostly dry, but the ends dripped onto her shoulders and down her back. Suddenly she could smell him, as she turned she heard his bag hit the floor. He ran his fingertips down her face and she pushed her head into his hand. She trailed her hands up his back and they embraced.

"I missed you so much." He whispered as her head fell onto his chest. She felt at home when he was here, he made this weird house full of strangers her home and she relaxed.

Evie had no concept of time, no idea of the day of the week or the hour of the day, it wasn't necessary to know, there was nothing but Joseph; just his arms around her, just his body moving against hers, just his smile. Only Joseph.

Evie became aware of noises, scuffling and raised voices. She looked up at Joseph; he was leaning over her, his body between her legs. He held her so close, sometimes she couldn't distinguish between his body and hers; sometimes she would wonder at the colour of his skin and then realise it was her own.

Arms cradling, legs entwining, mouths searching; this was her world. In his arms she was both lost and found and that elated and terrified her equally. The door sprang back, leaving a hollow dent and a spidery crack across the wall. Then silence. Joseph seemed not to notice or maybe simply didn't care.

"Joseph what are you doing?"

"Would you like to guess Lewis?"

Lewis was angry; she could feel it ripple through the walls.

"You know what I mean. You need to eat regularly...she...needs to eat regularly." Joseph stared down at Evie, brushing away the annoying curls that clung to her face.

"We're fine."

"Well you might be but she isn't and neither will her human be when you eventually let her feed? Have you considered him?"

There was no sound as he moved closer to the bed, his anger was dissolving. Joseph never turned from her. Evie felt her face blush red with embarrassment, she turned her head cautiously.

"Listen I know you're...excited to have Evie back."

Joseph smiled, it wasn't his usual smile, there was something almost sinister about it. He pushed once with his hips, she squeaked and her face burned.

"Yes, I'm officially excited."

Joseph was deliberately ignoring Lewis, making sure that everyone knew the power he now had to flaunt the guidelines that everyone else appeared to maintain, she was being used and it made her angry. If she reacted as she wanted Joseph would accuse Lewis of having hypnotised her. Evie sighed, this was becoming complicated.

"Please Joseph." Lewis had softened his voice as he had moved closer. "Bad things happen if we don't eat regularly. Evie's new, she's stronger, wilder; please think about what you're doing."

"I know what this is Lewis." Joseph's voice was tinged with sarcasm.

"What is it Joseph?" Lewis's voice hardened in response.

"Jealousy." Joseph acknowledged him for the first time and stared out from the bed defiantly.

Lewis stood tall and she felt him shudder.

"You're jealous of me; it was always going to be like this wasn't it? How kind of you to be concerned, but I'll take care of Evie."

Lewis opened his mouth and for a second he caught Evie's eye and froze. He reconsidered what he was going to say and swallowed down his anger.

"Leave my room Lewis. Leave us alone."

"It's not your room, its Evie's; she wouldn't just act out of stupidity to prove a point, especially if it meant putting you in danger."