I breathe you again just to feel you
Underneath my skin, holding on to
The sweet escape is always laced with a familiar taste of poison
I tell myself that you're not good for me
I wish you well, but desire never leaves
I could fight this til the end
But maybe I don't want to win
- Familiar Taste of Poison by Halestorm
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my original characters and content.
A/N: Hey guys, it's been a while! I just quickly want to thank all of you for being so patient and for loving this story! I never imagined I would get this many reviews, favs, and follows! Y'all are so amazing! With that being said, I would love for you guys to keep reviewing and following! I want to hear what everyone thinks about LITS and Rowan and the whole kit and kaboodle! Also, I changed the rating to M because things get a little steamy in this chapter. I apologize in advance for my horrible smut writing. ;P ENJOY!
Chapter 11:
All night I tossed and turned. The events of the night raced through my mind. Something is happening to me, I felt it as soon as I arrived back in time. At first I didn't know what it was, I chalked it up to being nerves about coming back and trying to convince the boys about what I knew. After witnessing my dream becoming a reality tonight, the nagging feeling turned into a violent shock that I could no longer deny, a part of me knew that another reason I was sent back was to embrace my true destiny: vampirism.
I managed to sleep for a few hours, but it was not nearly enough. My eyes felt heavy and bruised, and no amount of cold water made me feel better. There was an ache in my gut that needed to be sated, but the breakfast that Catalina prepared for me tasted like cardboard.
She noticed my odd behavior and questioned me immediately.
"Is everything all right, Rowan? There is something off about you today," she said.
Nothing is all right. Nothing will be until this nightmare is over with.
"I think it's just my nerves," I lied. "It's getting closer."
I didn't need to specify exactly what 'it' was because well, that much was obvious.
"It will all be different this time, Rowan," she began. "You have been incredibly strong and everything will work out the way it's supposed to."
That's what I'm afraid of. What if coming back makes it all even worse? There is no guarantee that I will be able to pull this off. The Frogs could still win. Then all of this would have been for nothing.
I wasted most of the day walking around Santa Carla. The peace was a nice change from the hectic lifestyle I've had the past few days. A lot looked familiar, but it was strange to see everything in a different perspective.
Without even realizing it, I ended up in my neighborhood. The newer houses I am so used to seeing on the farther side of the neighborhood are nothing but open land, leaving the ten original houses standing there in all their glory. My house is the third on the left. As I walked closer I saw my dad's prized impala sitting in the driveway. I smiled faintly at the memories of driving on the open road as a child with him. It was a few years later that he left, taking this car with him but leaving me behind. I kept my distance from the house, not wanting to be seen. In all the movies they warn you about being seen in the past for fear of changing something. I scoffed at that. I am proof of that. Although I would like to see my dad again, I wouldn't change how my life turned out. I glanced up at my door only to see it start to open. Quickly, I turned around and headed back to the boardwalk.
By the time I made it back to the boardwalk, the sun had disappeared for a total of thirty minutes, but I knew without a doubt that my boys would be waiting for me.
It's strange to think that a few days ago I was in this same town in a different time. Life had been completely normal, but I have since then learned to embrace the abnormal. I don't think anything could shock me now.
I found them by the carousel, which thankfully is on the complete opposite end of the boardwalk that the Frog's comic shop is.
The boys were perched on their bikes, eyeing up potential meals as they walked by. The boys had just eaten last night, but the look in their eyes were still glowing and feral. They all had a slight twitch to their fingers and had an even more hyperactive vibe going on about them.
They noticed my presence right away, as they turned in my direction once I got close enough.
"Boys," I scolded. "You look starving, why haven't you eaten yet tonight?"
They needed to keep up their strength if they were to ward off the threat.
"Waiting for you, babe," Paul started. "We got a special surprise for ya!"
"Oh, really?" I raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"More like David has a surprise for you, even though it's really not all that surprising," Marko said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, sure. Ruin all the fun, Marko!" Paul punched his brother in the arm, who feigned injury. Marko then pushed Paul in retaliation, causing him to shift in his seat.
"Boys, go eat," David said. "Now."
They didn't hesitate to start their bikes and take off down the boardwalk, where they disappeared into the crowd.
I turned to David. He was sitting there smoking a cigarette and staring at me. The usual. I walked a few steps so that I was in front of him.
"So, you have a surprise for me?" I laughed.
I couldn't help myself. David is David and he doesn't do surprises. No one hated surprises more than him. He didn't even have to tell me that about himself, it's obvious. He likes to be in control and know all the details. And because of this, I know he's been planning whatever he has planned for at least a day.
He threw his cigarette on the ground and motioned for me to get on behind him.
"Guess you'll just have to wait and see," he chuckled as I climbed on his bike. With my arms securely wrapped around him, he look off.
We rode for a while. I relaxed on the bike as we flew through the seaside town. My eyes were closed most of the ride, it seemed more thrilling that way. When we stopped I heard the familiar crashing of waves against the bluff, and surely when I opened my eyes, that's where we were. It was a different side than the one I was used to seeing, but it was still much the same.
"The entrance we use was the main entrance to the hotel, however there are many hidden entrances that are more difficult to get through. As far as we can tell, the lobby is severed from the rest of the hotel, but there are still open rooms through the different entrances. It just takes a little longer to get through," David explained.
We had since then gotten off his bike and walked towards a small crevice in the side of the bluff.
"It's a bit of a tight squeeze here for a few feet, than it'll widen out and there will be a hole that'll drop into the room," he said going before me. He made it look so easy and disappeared before I took three steps in. I had to shimmy myself sideways through the crevice, sucking in my stomach as much as possible. Thankfully it widened rather quickly and I was able to turn forwards again. David was unclear when he said that it'll drop into the room. I was under the impression that it was a foot or two, but no, it was more like ten!
"David?" I called out.
"Jump, Rowan. I'll catch you," his voice sounded below me. I couldn't see him. It was pitch black now with a flicker of light in the hole. I sat on the edge of the opening and swung myself so I fell through. Before I could gasp in fright, David caught me. I opened my eyes to see him holding me bridal style, a smug grin on his face. I was going to make a remark, but was distracted by the view in front of me.
A ballroom!
Half of it was buried under rock, but that didn't prevent me from realizing what this place was. The ceiling was surprisingly high, and the chandelier managed to stay suspended in the air! The candles were lit as well! Part of me questioned how long it would stay up there, but that was a minuscule detail compared to this place. It wasn't as nice as the lobby the boys reside in, but it still had a haunting charm to it.
"This is amazing!" I gushed.
"Yeah, it is. The boys and I debated about making this our sanctuary, but decided the lobby was our best bet. This place is a little difficult to get into, especially with... Guests," he grinned.
Guests as in take-out food.
"Is this the surprise then?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Yes and no," he said, pacing the grand ballroom.
"I brought you here to talk about our future," he turned to me smirking. "So I ask again, how far are you willing to go?"
I spent long enough debating this question, so when I answered without hesitation, I shocked myself.
"I want you to turn me, David."
He looked at me long and hard, waiting to see if I would change my answer. I stared back.
After a few moments, one of his rare smiles appeared on his face as he produced a flask from deep in his trench coat and handing it to me. David knew what my answer would be all along, which is not surprising since he is a sly bastard.
I knew without asking what is was. The same blood he gave Michael, it had to be.
Wait, did that mean I would be sired to Max?
I looked up at David, but before I could ask, he answered me.
"It's my blood, not Max's. You are mine, not his."
It made sense, so without further hesitation, I unscrewed the flask cap and took a swig.
My senses went into overloaded as the liquid flowed down my throat. It had the burning sensation of whiskey, the sweetness of red wine, mixed with the metallic taste of blood. It was an oddly delicious flavor and it only took me a few moments to drain the contents of the flask.
When I opened my eyes to look at David, I noticed my sight became clearer and my hearing had heightened. I could hear the crashing of waves in the distance, and I could see smaller details throughout the ball room. For instance, I saw the wax dripping from the candles that I hadn't noticed before.
David was smiling encouragingly as I took in my new senses.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
To be honest, I felt the best I have in a long time. My fatigue diminished and the dull ache in my head and stomach began to fade the more the blood laced wine soaked into my system.
"Amazing," I laughed. "It takes effect that quickly?"
"It depends on the person, usually. Some take longer than others," he shrugged. "The full effects happen after you feed, so until than you're in a limbo."
It made sense.
"How long until I need to feed?" I asked, leaning against the wall.
"Whenever you're ready. It doesnt have to be tonight," he replied. "Hell, Star has been in limbo for months now!"
I narrowed my eyes at him. Did he really need to mention Star? I had almost forgotten about that harlot until now.
David chuckled and walked closer to me. "My blood is in your veins, Rowan. I can read your emotion."
"Yeah, we'll then you know I can't stand the bitch!" I growled.
He moved in closer, pinning my body to the wall with his. I could feel his cool breath on my face and his hands gripped my waist. My heart started to beat erratically like it does every time David and I are close. I tilted my head back so that is rested on the wall behind me and he wasted no time attaching his lips to my neck.
"Jealous, are we?" He chuckled against me.
"I used to be, but I know she never let you get this close to her. She's scared of you more than she's attracted to you," I said gripping the back of his leather jacket and pulling him closer.
An intense desire was coming over me the closer David and I got. My mouth started to ache again and my eyes started to burn. A heat spread through my lower half as David grinded his body against mine, causing a mix between a growl and a chuckle to rip through him.
"David," I moaned, half irritated at his laughing and half turned on by that growl.
He growled again and nipped at my jugular. Groaning, I tilted my neck to give him more access. His hands roamed from my hips to the back of my thighs as he hoisted me up. I gasped as my back rubbed against the stone wall and wrapped my legs around his waist.
In a flash, we were moved to a blanket covered floor. My back hit the extremely well padded make shift bed as David's weight pinned me to the ground. I squeezed my legs around him tighter and brought my hips up to meet his in a teasing manner. His face was level with my chest and looking down I saw his gleaming blue eyes looking up at me. He sat up with a grin to shed his jacket before coming back down to attack my throat. The warmth spread throughout me as his cool hands roamed up my shirt teasingly. Without warning he bit into my vein and a cry of ecstasy overwhelmed me. The pain I felt the other night was nonexistent. This time it was all pleasure. He sucked for a few seconds before his tongue darted out to soothe the punctures. His mouth continued to move down my neck and my chest, his breath hot with fresh blood. He continued to move down my body until he was at my feet. Giving me a wicked grin, he took off my boots tossing them carelessly out of the way, then moved up to the button of my pants. I lifted my hips to allow him to rid me of the material and sat up so that we were face to face once again. I reached my hand up to stroke his cheeks and his hair before moving down his shoulders to his chest to his stomach before stopping at the button of his pants.
"My turn," I said giving him a wicked grin of my own before popping the button. He grabbed my hand giving me a nod of disapproval.
"It'll be your turn when I say it's your turn," he smirked.
A new wave of heat traveled through my lady bits at his dictatorship.
His hands released mine and traveled up my shirt, grabbing my bra covered breasts momentarily before sliding back down and pulling my shirt over my head. He gave me a once over, fire igniting in his eyes.
I reached my hands behind me and unclasped my bra, letting it trail down my arms and falling to the ground. David's red eyes flared as he pulled me to him, one hand on my neck, the other on my hip before capturing my mouth with his in an urgent kiss. My hands gripped his shirt and pulled it over his head, breaking our kiss momentarily. To hell with him and his rules. The fire in my loins is burning hot with need, even more than before. He knew before I did and quickly but gently lay me back down on the ground. He stepped out of his jeans in a flash and knelt before me to peel my panties away. The cool air hit me for a moment before David's still hot mouth was on me. I gasped in surprise and gripped the blankets as David held me down by my hips and licked fiercely. Within moments my juices were covering his face but he didn't let any if it go to waste. My legs are shaking and my breathing is coming out in gasps as he kissed his way up my stomach and my breasts before attacking my mouth again. Our eyes lock as we communicate silently. His mouth moves to my jugular again and he bites down as he swiftly enters me. I cry in pleasure, my nails digging into his back as we start to move as one.
I woke up with a jolt. Something is wrong. Very, very wrong.
Pain shoots through my chest and an overwhelming sense of anger and sadness came over me.
I flung the blanket off me in a fury, and stumbled into my jeans that were on the floor. I zipped up my boots in a jiffy and sprinted towards the hole leading out. I pulled myself up with ease and shimmied out of the crack in record time.
The sunlight hit my eyes, my hands automatically coming up to shield them. After I caught my bearings, I headed in the direction I thought the cave entrance was in. It took me longer than expected to find it, but I had to go all the way around while avoiding the deep crevices that led down to the crashing waves below.
I jumped down to the main part of the cave and heard horrible screams of pain.
"David!" I called, not knowing where the was. He appeared out of a higher hole in the wall, all vamped out and fuming. It was day time, so control over himself was not the highest cause of priority.
Dwayne and Paul appeared next, carrying a writhing Marko, setting him on the far corner bed. The farthest from possible sunlight exposure.
I ran to their sides and looked at Marko. He was covered in a layer of blood, as were the other boys. He had a huge stake passing right through his chest cavity.
"What the hell happened!?" I screamed, examining the damage. It needed to be taken out.
"Those fucking comic book kids, the Frogs did this!" Paul lashed out.
I paid no mind to his anger. I knew he was worried about his brother. I debated with myself whether I should tell them if my dealings with the Frog's, but decided against it considering Marko's situation. A fight is not something that needs to be happening right now.
"We need to get it out," I concluded. "They missed his heart by a few centimeters."
David wasted no time in objecting. "He needs to feed as soon as this comes out. Our blood will hold him over for a little while, but he needs fresh human blood to heal."
I thought about offering Marko some of my blood to heal, but one look at David and that idea was squashed. He knew what I was thinking.
"Someone's here," Dwayne states. His pacing has stopped and he faces the entrance.
"Well, go see who it is, girly!" says Paul. He shoved me lightly by the shoulder.
"All right, all right," I replied.
Leave it to me to risk my life for brutal killers with an affliction to sunlight.
I grabbed Paul's sunglasses from his shirt (why he needed them I'll never understand) before proceeding out of the cave.
I still had to squint with the sunnies on, but it wasn't too bright.
I was shocked to see Catalina standing there with an impish grin on her face.
"Catalina? What - what are you doing here?" I questioned, pure shock lacing my voice.
"You're not the only one with sight, my dear friend," she grinned. "Marko needs blood, does he not?"
I nodded my head, still not understanding how she knew. I didn't have time to ask any more questions, she is right, Marko needs blood, stat.
I helped her enter the cave, but she is more agile than I gave her credit for and she made it in easily. She looked around in fascination as we caught our bearings.
"Pretty amazing that a place like this exists, huh?" I grinned looking around at my new found home.
"Most definitely," Catalina agreed.
"C'mon, the boys are back here," I said continuing our tour.
When we got close enough, David grinned at the gypsy woman.
"Catalina," he greeted. "Nice to see you again."
I looked back and forth between the two. David's gaze shifted to Dwayne and his eyes lit up in amusement at a memory. Catalina looked disinterested.
"Where is Marko?" She asked, ignoring the look David was giving her.
We returned to Marko's bedside where he was still groaning in pain. The transfusions his brothers gave him helped to lessen the pain, but it did not completely go away. Paul looked nervous and had adopted Marko's habit of biting his nails. It was a strange sight to see.
Catalina wasted no time walking up to Marko. Paul took a step forward, but Dwayne interceded, placing a strong hand on his brother's shoulder.
The young gypsy examined the wound for a few moments before looking at David. "Come hold him down," she said. He did as she asked, holding Marko down by the shoulders to prevent him from launching at Catalina. A low growl could be heard from Marko as Catalina's hand neared the lodged stake.
"It's okay, Marko. I won't let you die," she promised. He gave her a nod and closed his eyes. Catalina grasped the wood and gave a hard yank, ripping it from Marko's chest. He thrashed and howled at the pain, his all ready vamped out face snarling as more blood shot out of him.
All three boys now crowded around Marko, holding him down so that Catalina could help him some more. I watched in fascination as she fearlessly brought her face to Marko's level. Her hand reached up to caress Marko's face as she whispered something to him. He immediately calmed down enough that the boys didn't have to hold him as taut. Catalina nodded in approval before pulling her face away from his, replacing it with her wrist. She nodded at him and he wasted no time sinking his teeth into her warm skin. He drank for a while. I was worried for Catalina's safety but she was holding up well. When she eventually started to pale, Dwayne was actually the one to pull Marko away and lead Catalina to a chair.
Marko collapsed back on the bed, a euphoric look on his face as the new blood flowed through his system. David stood at Marko's side, examining the now healing wound. A ghost of a smile formed as he saw the magic working. I walked to David's side, grabbing his arm and pulling myself close to him. His scent attacked my senses and as discretely as I could, I took it in. Surprisingly, David's arm snaked around my waist, pulling me closer as he turned towards me breathing me in as well.
I looked up at him a small grin on my face and breathed a sigh of relief. "He's going to be fine," I reiterated. David still has his doubts, but I know Marko will survive now. "Catalina will give him more transfusions until he's able to hunt on his own."
He nodded again, but his expression turned dark and his grip tightened. Now that Marko is healing, the need to avenge him is strong. I understand the need to do it. The Frog and Emerson brothers royally fucked up, that's the bottom line. At the same time, my stomach aches at the thought of the boys meeting them. Marko's outcome changed, but the outcome of the battle is still up in the air. I needed to talk to David about it now. He'll be planning to take care of this problem tonight.
To be continued...
