Cursed Blood

Part Fourteen

Awkward, uncomfortable and unnerving were all appropriate adjectives to describe the mood in my motel room tonight. I was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room whereas my brother was sitting against a wall furthest from me. He was running a towel through his freshly washed hair; sending the occasional disapproving glare in my direction.

He was mortified and embarrassed to be such a situation and coming to me for help. I was the last person he would have wanted to come to but the truth had to be evident to him now: friends are few and far between when you need them the most. This was no different in the vampire community. In fact, it was worse for us. Vampires looked out for themselves and cared only for the next poor soul that would prove them with vitality. I was surprised his pride had even allowed for him to make it this far; he was not so lucky to have a group of warlocks to help him in a fight against the elder's guards. I don't know how many he has fought or for how long, asking my brother about his loses was asking for a fight of my own. But I could tell one thing…he was scared…we both were.

"Don't you think you're human will get angry if he sees me here tonight?" Max smirked while draping the towel upon his shoulders.

"Oh I'm counting on it." I snapped with a smirk of my own as I took a sip from my cup of soda. I had grown quite fond of the fizzing nature of the drink.

"Don't sick your pet on me Madison; I'll be forced to take action."

"A lot of good your actions have done this far." I replied. Max chuckled softly; he knew I was right. This entire situation was his fault and I think even his clouded judgment has determined that to be true.

I couldn't help but investigate my brother's exposed chest where wounds, both new and old, decorated every inch of his skin. He's lived a hard life; a hard life brought on by his own doing, but still…my heart ached to see what his slender frame has had to endure in the sake of the vampire way.

"Do you really hate me as much as you claim to?" I finally blurted out.

"We're not having this conversation again." Max sighed while allowing his arms to stretch far enough before pain caused him to withdrawal his limbs.

"Yes we are. We're here…we're going to talk whether you like it or not. I deserve that much Max and you know it." I said sternly. He shot me a cold stare before standing up slightly and making his way towards me. His footsteps, although heavy with anger, still manage to go without being heard. I found myself feeling nervous as fear swelled within me the closer he got to me.

I instinctively stood and prepared myself for whatever he had planned with his advances.

"Chill out, I'm coming to indulge you in your pathetic conversation." He said while pulling out a chair across from me and plopping down. I slowly returned to a sitting position across from him.

It was so weird to be sitting at the same table with Max. I tried to focus on the slightly swaying light illuminating the dinning table in hopes of distracting me from looking at my brother. Seeing him in this light, in this situation and in his wounded condition caused a wave of emotions to rush over me. I wanted to hit him and scream at him; I also wanted to pull him into a hug and cry until my eyes refused to release any further tears. I hate him, and yet I love him…I wish he would leave at the same time I wish he would stay and never leave my side again.

"I gave you a gift Madison…and you've done nothing but waste it! And now…you're in love with a human? It's…sickening to see what you've done with your life." Max said in a low voice. I could sense him forcing his anger at bay, his very jaw muscles were clenched and his hands were curled into fists.

"You didn't even ask me what I wanted…you imposed this gift upon me!"

"Because I thought it was best…I only wanted what was best for you! I didn't want to watch you grow old and wither away when we could use this power to make a life for ourselves…a better life!" Max replied while slamming his fist onto the table.

"Do you still think it was best?" I asked while searching for his eyes through his long locks of hair falling into his face.

"If I had known this is what you would have become…no. I don't think it was best looking back now. You were too immature and weak to fully grasp what you needed to survive. You made me…hate what I did."

"I'm not immature or weak Max…I just wanted to live my life and let you live yours. You kept attacking me, sending people to follow me around…I don't understand why you couldn't just leave me be." I said while folding my arms to hide my shaking hands; the tension and seriousness of the situation was causing my hands to tremble.

"Because I was trying to knock some sense into you! I thought if I made you fear me enough or you finally grew too tired to keep running from town to town…you'd accept the fact you belonged at home…with me! Mom asked me to look out for you Madison! But you refused to even let me!" Max shouted. I felt my jaw drop slightly; I didn't know his intentions were as genuine and pure as he was confessing. His brutal and cold approach was enough to make me think otherwise but now, now I didn't know if he was necessarily wrong.

"I didn't know…"

"You didn't ask." Max quickly added.

"But the things you've done…you can't expect me to believe all that was in the hopes of me returning home with you."

"Well there were times my anger took control; but what the hell do you expect to happen when I'm watching you put yourself in danger by traveling alone, or becoming intimate with a human!" He said while forcing his eyes away.

"He's not just another human Max…he's important to me." I said softly.

"So you have…become intimate with him?"

"Yes…" I admitted. Suddenly I sensed the entire mood of the conversation shift, the very feeling within the air changed completely.

"What a pity to hear; I was honestly going to suggest we run away from here if you hadn't been stupid enough to lay on your back for the pleasure of a human…" Max said in a cold tone. I raised an eyebrow in confusion as I watched him rise to his feet.

"What are you talking about?" I asked in a panic as I also stood up and felt myself taking a few steps away from the person I thought I was reconnecting with for the first time in decades.

"The only way I could bargain for my life was if I was to claim yours. I might even get to join the guard…things are looking up." My heart dropped like a stone in a lake as I watched my brother begin looking at me like a stranger.

"Max…you can't be serious!" I screamed while scanning the room for a path leading out of the room and away from this unexpected situation I was now in.

"Survival of the fittest Madison; that's the lesson to take away from this." He said calmly.

"Who gives you the right to decide who the fittest one here is? Huh?" I asked franticly.

"The elders apparently; but I do have good news at least. I did manage to talk them out of making you return to endure wolfing. You should be thanking me; we all know that would be a horrible way to die."

"I believe all ways of dying are equally horrible." I spat.

"Well, I wouldn't let my own dear sister die in such a barbaric way; got to uphold the family name right?" There's the Max I should have been expecting ever since he walked into my room.

"So let me get this straight, you came here to shower, fake your way through a conversation to earn my trust and now you plan to kill me so that you can live?"

"That's about right; thanks for the shower by the way." Max laughed. I finally managed to stall my brother long enough to make him position himself further from the door allowing me a small window of opportunity to run for the door. I continued to wear an expression that resembled fear until I finally bolted. I ran for the door with as much speed as I could gather until I felt a handful of my hair being grabbed and my head as well as my body was jerked right back.

I fought my brother's hands away from me as I scrambled towards the door a second time. This time sensing my emotions finally catching up with the fact I might very well be killed at the hands of my own brother here tonight; I was desperately trying to get away only to have my brother pull me right back.

This was a game to him; it was always about the game. Finally I found myself remaining on the ground looking up at the one door I couldn't seem to reach. The stench of the stained carpet and cheap cleaner filled my nose as I lay there under the keen eyes of the newest addition to the vampire guard it would seem.

"Are you going to cut off my head, cause a big bloody scene for the world to find?" I spat.

"No, but good idea; I'll have to keep that in mind for future reference. Nope, I'm going to pull a classic. Kill the disobedient vampire child like any good master would do. It's painless and I think you deserve to be free from the pain you've brought upon yourself." That was just like Max, to make his prey believe that this was the only suitable option; to sound merciful and thoughtful. A clever disguise for a monster to portray.

I went to stand and yet I found the most curious feeling taking over me. My legs seemed to collapse under my own weight; I couldn't stand. I felt Max sitting me upon the edge of the bed. I begged my hands to claw, punch or do anything to push away my brother but they just wouldn't respond. Was I…paralyzed? What sort of power was this?

The moment I was placed upon the edge of the bed I instantly felt my body fall limply back onto the scattered blankets and pillows. I was breathing so loud, I was using every ounce of strength I had to force myself to move but still nothing followed.

"You probably shouldn't have left your cup unattended to get a hairbrush; looks like vanity really is a deadly sin." Max chuckled as he took a seat next to me. I couldn't believe this was even happening to me. I had been drugged; how does this even happen?

I watched with blurred vision as my brother lifted my arm. The very arm he took and punctured with his fangs to turn me so many years ago.

"For what it's worth…I am sorry Madison. I never wanted this to turn out like this." Max said softly as his fangs retracted slowly. The points were sharp and shined under the dull light of the motel room light bulbs.

"P-please…" I pleaded while I felt tears freely falling from my eyes. He methodically positioned his fangs at the very scars he left upon my arm and he bit down hard. My skin was punctured with eased as he began to drink from my veins.

Every thought and feeling ever experienced began to dance around my mind as I laid there feeling my very life being drained away. So this was what it was like for humans to be bitten by a vampire; it was…hauntingly calm. Almost peaceful, hardly the barbaric vision I had about the matter. Must be the venom we carry within our fangs; I heard it causes a numbing sensation for the victim…I was quite thankful for that mixed with whatever concoction my brother slipped into my drink. I was dying…but it felt more like I was drifting off to sleep.

A faint chill began creeping into my body as I focused on my arm; blood was trickling down my arm and onto the fabric beneath me. I then looked up at Max; his eyes were glistening, as if tears were threatening to fall.

Darkness began falling over my vision as I felt my body starting to slowly shut down. My heart was pounding as slow as my few intakes of breath I was taking. I just hope Max doesn't leave my body hear for Reid to find; that was the only thing I wish I had the strength to ask.

Before I allowed myself to close my eyes for the final time I watched as Max pulled away from my arm and throw himself back. He crashed into the television upon the dresser, causing it to tip slightly. He then shook his head frantically and repeating to himself that he couldn't do it. Did he not drain me enough to kill me? Was it already too late?

I was determined to keep my eyes open and fight away the feeling of eternal sleep death would surely give me. Max rested his eyes upon me as he wiped his chin from the remnants of my blood still escaping his lips.

"You're dead. Do you hear me? I did what I came here to do. Now for fucks sake drink that human's blood…it'll save your life Madison." He said while grabbing his shirt from the chair and running out of my room and slamming the door behind him.

What just happened? Did he save my life after trying to end it? My brother was as complex as they came; never wanting to leave you with an impression to count on or find comfort in; but he might have spared my life after all.

Reid. I was hoping and also fearing for him to return; he could save me but I would have to go against every moral I still maintained for myself. I said to myself and to him that I would rather die than to drink his blood…but I suppose it took me to experience a vampire draining me of blood first hand to realize it truly wasn't what I had envisioned. Would I experience blood lust? Would I be able to stop drinking his blood once I start? So many questions…but I suppose now was the time to at least try. Max had taken too much blood for me to replenish on my own; I would die before enough blood was made. My heart was already sluggish and I still felt myself fading from reality with every slow breath I took.

Come on Reid…I need you now more than ever.

Author's Note: What a fun chapter to write. Hope the rollarcoaster of events wasn't too much! Max truly is a creature of complexities is he not? But in the end, as evil and twisted as he is, he wasn't capable of murdering the only person he had left in this world, even if it spared his own life and reputation with the elders, he couldn't do it. Siblings…ya gotta love them right?

BJQ: Thank you so much for the review!

Sandflight: Thank you for such an awesome review! Your comment saying that Max isn't all bad was pretty much confirmed in this chapter, of course it took quite a bit of time and unfortunate events to take place before it brought him to this better choice of action, but still, he isn't all bad you're right. Karma is a total bitch and hopefully karma will be kind to him since he didn't follow through with his redemption offer. Well hope you enjoyed this update, I made sure to have it up soon!