"You did the right thing." Kenlie said for the millionth time as she gathered the keys and her purse to make a trip to the store.
"I should have killed him." I said monotone as I took a swig from my bottle of Jack Daniels.
"Why didn't you?" She asked as she gathered up her cell, purse, and our car keys.
"I don't know." I lied absently, I knew exactly why I hadn't killed him but I couldn't tell her or anyone for that matter.
"Well I'm off to the store. I'll be back soon." She said obviously not buying my story.
"Bye." I said taking another swig of my liquor as she walked out the door.
I don't know exactly how long I sat there next to the bed that was supposed to be mine watching him sleep. I was unsettled by the whole evening. Never before had I taken pity on a vampire and now I was keeping him safe in my hotel room while my partner is off buying whatever animal blood she can get her hands on so he can eat. Seriously, what the Hell are we doing? If the Guard were to get wind of this they'd end us in a heartbeat. We most certainly would be viewed as traitors.
"Hey." A gravelly voice said quietly from the bed. Even though I had been staring at him I had managed to miss that he was now awake.
"Hey." I replied still stunned as I for unknown reasons stood.
"Umm I know it won't do anything for you but do you want some water or, well water's all we have at the moment." I fumbled over my words as I paced before the bed.
"Please." He said giving a small smile and nod.
I nodded back in reply and went to the small kitchenette, grabbed my oversized Batman mug out of my bag and filled it with water. Getting water for a vampire I thought to myself, ridiculous.
Mug in hand I made my way back across the room pausing momentarily once I remembered that he was tied to the bed and I would have to get him into a sitting position. Just because he was the undead didn't mean he couldn't choke, right? I sat the mug down on the bedside table and took a breath in.
"I'm gonna level with you." I said as I sat on the bed that I would be sharing with Kenlie.
"You've got to set up and I'm gonna make that happen but you should know that I had the flu so…" I lied as I stood up from the bed.
He nodded his understanding as I moved the blanket away from where his hands were tied to the bedframe. I loosened the knot, grabbed his arm and raised it up. Happy with the amount of movement it would give him I tightened the knot back up and moved to the other side to do the same.
"Ready?" I asked standing next to the bed with my hands on my hips as if I was trying to sort out some kind of puzzle.
"Mmhmm." He muttered looking at me with amusement.
I tried to ignore his pleasure in my discomfort and moved closer to him. I rested one leg next to him on the bed, leaned over him placing one hand on each of his sides under his arms and as he pushed up with his arms I lifted with mine to scoot him back. The proximity of my neck to his face was much too close for comfort. Finally successful in getting him in a relatively comfortable position I sat on the bed next to him and grabbed the mug of water. I placed the mug up to his lips and he took a small sip. I gazed for a moment; I'd never seen a Vampire drink water before.
"Thank you." He said his voice sounding more clearly thanks to the lubrication for his throat.
"Sure." I said with a nod, turning immediately upon hearing the door open signaling Kenlie's return.
"I have food!" She exclaimed holding up a large paper bag, leaving me with the distinct feeling that she was not talking to me. I got up and made my way to the kitchenette where Kenlie was emptying bags.
"Things go okay here?" She asked as she placed some Chinese take-out on the small table.
"Well, we're both still kickin' so things went fine." I replied as I eyed the paper bag, knowing that I would end up the one who would open it.
"How was town?" I asked and I poured the rest of the water out of my mug and placed it on the table next to the bag.
"Good. The guy at the butcher shop looked at me like I was bat shit crazy but other than that it was good." She said with a giggle
"I hope pigs' blood is okay." She said to him as she took her dinner and plopped down on her bed.
He didn't reply, at least not verbally, and if he nodded I was too busy examining the paper bag to look for it. Sure blood wasn't a foreign thing to me, it's not like I got queasy at the sight of it, mostly I was just bummed that I would have to desecrate my Batman mug to feed the Vampire in my bed.
Slowly I opened the bag to find four quart sized containers filled to the brim with blood. I carefully took each container out and placed it on the table. I reached in for the last container was taken aback by the sudden thick, wet feeling that was now on my hand.
"Gross." I grumbled and I pulled my hand and the container out of the bag to see that the container was a bit full.
"You okay?" Kenlie asked through a mouthful of orange chicken as she and he watched TV.
"I'm fine." I grumbled and I placed the mug in the microwave and turned it on. I opened the small fridge and found just enough room to put the containers. I wiped up the mess on the table and the microwave beeped. I cautiously grabbed the mug and grimaced as the smell of warm blood hit my nose. I suppressed the urge to gag and made my way back to the spot I vacated when Kenlie got back.
"Uh, I'm going to eat in the bathroom." Kenlie said quickly jumping up and taking off into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
"The girl can destroy a can of Spam with a spoon but she can't handle this." I mused aloud with a shake of my head. He chuckled quietly as he looked at me but I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes.
The next few minutes were super awkward. I steadily fed him blood, avoiding eye contact and he steadily drank it never taking his eyes off me. I tried to ignore that a think about what the plan from here would be. We needed to see if he had any information that would help us to find Aidan Waite but that was as far as we got in the plan. What were we going to do with him after we got our information or even if we didn't? If I was going to have to kill him, it didn't make sense that I was hand feeding him now. He finished what was in the mug and I immediately got up to fix another glass.
"How do you know I want more?" He asked sounding much better already.
"I've seen your face." I replied honestly. Whatever he'd been through had him looking rather rough and judging by the redneck beard he was rocking I was inclined to believe that the car wreck wasn't the only disaster to happen to him as of late.
"Ouch." He replied feigning a look of hurt.
"I mean don't get me wrong, you pull off the mountain man look quite well but you are looking a bit pale, even for a Vampire." I assured him with a sly smile as I returned to his side with another warm mug of blood.
"You've spent a lot of time around Vampires I take it." He said once I set the now empty mug down.
"Enough time." I said simply as I looked down at my hands.
"What's your name?" He asked with his head back against the headboard.
"Adelaide." I replied hesitantly still looking at my hands.
"Thank you, Adelaide." He said his voice sincere and smooth.
"Don't mention it." I said quickly as I grabbed the mug and turned toward the kitchen.
"By the way," He began as I reached the foot of Kenlie's bed.
"My name is Aidan."