Avalyn
A brief moment of silence passed as we processed what was now our reality. And then suddenly, Nik’s eyes turned sharper. “I need you to stay here, Avalyn. You’re fragile right now, and your body needs to rest and recover,” he said it as a command mixed with a plea. “The condition outside is not… it’s bad, Ava.”
The palace was a safe place, even from the sounds being created outside. But just because we couldn’t hear them didn’t mean that our people weren’t suffering, fighting for their lives, dying.
“But I want to help.” I argued but it sounded weak to even my ears. Because truth be told, I was feeling weak, I didn’t feel I had it in me to step out in the battlefield right now. There was something brewing inside my body. I could feel it in my bones.
“You will help just by being safe, Avalyn.” He said as he moved behind me and fiddled with the collar before it snapped open. “Knowing you are safe will put my mind at rest and help me to focus on better. Stay inside.”
“Okay,” I whispered. “Please be safe.” I had no idea what was going on. But I knew the war we had been planning for, believing that it was a month away, was here.
In that exact moment, we heard a loud blast from somewhere on the top of the palace. My eyes flew up to see what was going on from the glass ceiling but I couldn’t see anything. The sound was followed by the shuddering of the walls of the palace. It seemed like an earthquake had occurred but I knew that wasn’t the case because the source was of this wasn’t the ground.
“What the fuck was that?” Nik whispered in shock, looking up as well. Who the hell was strong enough to shake the entire palace? Especially a palace with magical powers of it’s own!
“I need to go now. And you are staying here.” Nik said before he kissed me one last time, softly, deeply. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” When I opened my eyes, he was already gone.
My eyes fell on Tessa just when her eyes fluttered open and she asked in confusion. “Mistress?” Her hand immediately raised to her neck where I had bitten her, only to find it healed. “Didn’t you… did you…”
“Yes,” I bit my lip in deep remorse. I hurt her. I hurt my Tessa. And she’s only always cared for me and loved me. “I -I’m sorry, Tessa.” I went near her to help her up but she flinched before scooting away.
I stopped in my tracks. Did she hate me now? Did she not want me as her Mistress anymore? “I’m so sorry Tessa. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t know how it happened, I swear. I wasn’t even aware of it!” I rushed out. “I would never hurt you! Knowingly, I won’t. But- I guess you know this now-” Goddess, even saying that was difficult, “I’m now half vampire. And half faye.” I swallowed. “I-I didn’t know. I smelled your blood again…” I gulped at the thought of blood. I need to feed. Oh dear. Will I need to continuously feed? On humans? And hurt them? “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Tessa began crying. “Vampire?”
She hates vampires.
She hates me.
“Stop being a fucking bitch, would you?” My head snapped up to see Eliyah enter. But he was looking at Tessa. Scorching her with his glare seemed more appropriate actually. “So what if she fed off you? You’ll forget all the good she’s done for you? What happened to the ear-grating speech you gave me when I came here? She at least had the decency to heal you. Not everyone does that. Or cares.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I shook my head. “Apologise.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking at me but saying it to her, “but I don’t mean it. We were sick with worry when you were kidnapped. She said it was her fault to let you go alone and that she wished that it was her instead, and that she would give up her life for you. I guess she didn’t really mean it. Or else she wouldn’t have minded you drinking her blood, she wouldn’t have flinched away or looked at you like you’re a monster.” His voice rose in anger, “hell, she isn’t even fucking grateful to see you back safe.”
“Eliyah,” I sighed. I didn’t have the energy to reprimand him, my head felt fuzzy.
“That’s not true,” Tessa fought back but her voice was weak. Does she really think of me as a monster?
“What?” Eliyah asked, as if he didn’t know what he had done wrong. And he actually didn’t. But I needed to keep his past in mind. He has grown up like this, with no sympathy and no mercy-towards himself or others. He has been taught to be a hard fighting machine and it’s going to be difficult to unlearn.
“Everyone thinks differently, Eli,” I whispered, clutching my head. It was pounding. I closed my eyes, massaging my temple. My head hurt. I felt weak. Terribly weak.
I opened my eyes to find Eliyah standing in front of me. And then he had swept me off my feet and he was carrying me outside. I couldn’t find it in myself to complain. I didn’t know where he was taking me. Everything was blurry. I saw faces after faces but recognised none. They all looked the same.
And then I was placed down, on a couch. I realised that we were in the west wing now.
“Drink.” Eliyah ordered.
I forced my eyes to focus. Eliyah was kneeling between my legs and his head was tilted to the side as he offered me his neck.
Yes. Maybe I need to drink. Yes, that’s what I need. More blood.
I bent forward and my fangs extended out before I dug them deep in Eliyah’s neck. He didn’t say a word or make a sound as I drank. He simply remained still.
His blood tasted different then Tessa’s. But it was just as good. My eyes slid shut as I sucked harder, my hands holding on to his face and shoulder, trying to get the perfect position.
Nothing has tasted this good. Nothing. Every delicacy I’ve had pales in comparison to blood. And there was a time I used to find it disgusting. Definitely not anymore.
And then I could feel that I was drinking more than I should. It was difficult but I stopped and released him.
“Better?”
I nodded, licking the last remaining blood off my lips before savouring it. “Thank you.” I waved a hand over the punctures of my fangs, instantly healing them.
He shrugged like it was no big deal and then stood up. He was probably used to vampires drinking his blood, having grown up on a vampire island. “I really mean it, Eliyah. Thank you for letting me drink your blood.” I really did feel much better now. “Your body is yours and so is the blood in it. You letting me drink it means a lot.”
His eyes met mine before they softened a tad bit, “you’re welcome.”
And then suddenly, there was a ‘zap’ sound. My head snapped in the direction to look at the source. A portal opened up, Nat fell out of it and then it shut back up before disappearing.
What the hell?