Chapter 45: Risk and Reward
When I woke up, the sun was shining in the room and I carefully stuck my finger out toward the ray of light nearby from under the cover. My finger went from normal to pink and then red after a minute or so. I pulled it back and watched it heal back, sighing deeply as I knew this was going to change everything. I stuck my hand into the light, letting it stay for 15 minutes. When I pulled it back, the flesh was red…but that was it. It was crispy or peeling the skin away to ash…only like a minor sunburn.
I smiled, there was hope…if I wasn't dreaming again. I pinched myself hard, wincing and then I tested it again on my other hand, again only a minor sunburn. I retreated back under the covers, prompting Neville to moan slightly and pull me closer to his body. "Good morning…" he mumbled, still half sleeping. "Can you pull the shades closed, the sun is getting in…" I asked, feeling bad that I needed him to do things for me as simple as that. He nodded and left me only for a moment before climbing back, uncovering our heads. It was still light, but the shades blocked out the rays well enough I didn't burn.
I showed him my hands and he looked for a while before asking if I burned while he slept. "No, I woke up and tested it out…but Neville, this is from 10 minutes in the light. Only a burn, I didn't crisp or ash away this time. Maybe there is hope for us to be normal again." the happiness on his face seemed to brighten the room more as he pulled me to him in a long kiss. We finished our love-making and got dressed for the day, Neville leaving to get more clothes as ours were ruined from last night. He returned and handed me a sunshade umbrella, smiling at me.
I was dressed in thin but enough fabric to keep the sun from burning my skin. We walked down stairs and Augusta seemed to be waiting for us, her face stern and concerned at the same time. "Gran…Is Aethna still welcome here?" she gave a motion for Neville to leave and he sighed, but followed, heading to the dining room for breakfast. "I am sorry for any trouble I caused. I'm unsure of where to go from here." she nodded and gestured for me to follow her, leading me to the parlor. "I have a guest coming to see you this evening. I want to give you time to prep and get ready." "Who?" "The vampire from the party. And your brother."
I blinked, why would she want them here…what could they do for me? She didn't say anything more and left me to join Neville at the table. He was poking a grape with his fork and stood up when I entered the room. I sat beside him and took a roll from the plate, loving the sweet smell of it. I could feel his eyes on me as I lifted it to my lips. I took a small bite, so cautious as it seemed so much like my dream…and I chewed then swallowed. I looked at Neville, who was just staring and waiting…but nothing happened. I took another bite, a bigger one this time and chewed faster.
After a while, I just gave it up and began to eat normally, filling my plate. Neville seemed to be happy as he continued to eat with me. After we finished, he took my hand and led me out to the garden, to our shed. "Well…they seem to be growing well." he mumbled as he trimmed some of the branches of the plants. I sighed and brushed my fingers along the shelf, seeing a bit of dust settling. "Neville, you haven't been able to properly care for your plants with everything happening with me. I'm causing trouble again." he didn't say anything as he continued to trim and clean everything up and hummed a song under his breath.
I watched him move around, enjoying seeing how happy he was when he was surrounded by plants and herbs, he seemed to stand taller, look braver….and sexier. I didn't realize that I was brushing my fingers against my breast under Neville glanced over and his eyes went wide, his face becoming red. I stopped and blushed myself, looking away from him. "Sorry…" I mumbled, but my body was already hot and wanting him to touch me, wanting to feel him against me. He seemed to read my mind as he stepped closer, reaching out and brushing a stray hair from my cheek. The skin lit up under his touch, sending a wave of desire through me.
**That evening**
Augusta called for us to come inside a couple hours later, we spend the entire day inside our special place, just being with each other and giving into our pleasure. We changed from our old clothes, being dirty from the green house. When we joined her at the table, Neville was surprised to see my half-brother and the vampire from his party sitting at the table with his grandmother. He sat beside his grandmother and I sat across from him, brushing my foot against his to calm his nerves down. We ate in silence, but I felt their eyes on me, watching every bite I took, every drink I had.
Finally I couldn't take it any longer and excused myself, going to the sunroom, seeing the bright night sky filled with stars out the windows. "Can I join you?" I turned and saw Sanguini standing in the doorway. I nodded and he walked over, pausing to sniff the air slightly and bowed to me. "Good to see you again, Aethna. You are looking…more beautiful than ever." I rolled my eyes and sat on the couch, motioning for him to join me. I looked around, wondering where Neville and Nikolaus might have gone. "Augusta thought it was best if we spoke alone for a while…about your developments."
I blinked, I hadn't realized that she had told him what happened…but then again, if I was to stay here and stay with her grandson, she had every right to make sure it was safe. "Has this happened before?" I asked, meeting his eyes and seeing the red peeking back at me dangerously. "I had heard…many years ago…it was thought to be only rumor." I nodded, understanding that half-vampires were unheard of…we were thought to me rumors ourselves. "Vampires taking other vampires blood and power isn't uncommon as you may think. But the issue is that you are not full…the same reaction may not happen."
I waited, listening to his words as closely as I could, "Yes? What is the reaction when a full vampire takes another?" he brushed a nail across his chin and looked out to the sky, "I heard of this, most vampires cannot handle the power of two and instantly combust into fire and ash. Their bodies unable to harness the power." I sat back, was it delayed because I was half? Would I burst into fire and ash soon? He seemed to hear my thoughts and shook his head. "I also heard of blood-bonded Vampires being able to take powers from another blood-bonded vampire." "Blood-bonded?" I was confused, I hadn't heard that term before.
"Yes…blood-bonded as turned by the same blood. It is what connects us to each other. We are all blood-bonded, but not all can handle the powers, the stronger the blood-bond, the likelihood of successfully taken another power. You and I are not blood-bonded close enough as I am much older than you or most others in the area." I sighed, this wasn't helpful for me, I wanted to know if I was going to be normal again. "So this is my life now? No sunlight, no human food, am I forced to be a full vampire from now on?"
He was quiet for a while, before speaking in a low tone, "There may be something to try…although dangerous and possibly deadly." I leaned over to him, my curiousness getting to me. "What? Tell me." his eyes bore into mine, "This has never been thought of as half-lings have never be discovered until your brother and yourself. But perhaps instead of taking the power…sharing it with another blood-bonded vampire." I remembered what happened when my blood was given to Snape, and when my father was testing out my abilities to make soldiers…maybe it would work with the power inside of me.
"So I need to find a blood-bonded vampire to share this power with? Like give it away? That's dangerous, because I wouldn't give such power to someone that would abuse it." he smirked slightly and stood up, taking my hand. "Have you not realized yet? There is a vampire so near that is strongly blood-bonded to you, it is sure to work." he turned me and I saw Neville and Nikolaus walking into the room, they were talking to themselves and didn't notice us yet. That's right, he was my half-brother, our blood was given by our father. We were blood-bonded, born as vampires.