Pandora

Chapter VI:

Sick and Comfort

Edited by YanaTG and updated on 11/05/2020

Coughs, a sore throat and a headache were the first warnings that your defenses were being weakened. When Jessica woke up the next morning, she felt the dry ache in her throat like how raw skin is after rubbing it against a 50 grade sandpaper. She let out her first itchy cough soon after, temporarily alleviating her itchy, irritated throat. Maybe deciding to stand out in the rain was a bad idea. She touched her forehead with the back of her hand and suspected she was coming down with a fever as well.

"Great…sick too..out of all the times I get a cold, I get it now." Jessica rolled her eyes to herself before giving herself a sarcastic pat on the shoulder, "Well done, Jessica. Just great. Why are you like this?"

She wondered if she packed the cold medicine her mum told her to pack before she left. Dragging her heavy, protesting body along to her suitcase inside the closet a distance quite far from her bed, she opened the bag and searched through her half unpacked bag.

Of course she hasn't! As expected from Jessica Stanley! Yay! She was torn between towing her half unconscious body down the stairs, to the drug store or just staying in bed all day and suffer through the pain. Neither sounded appealing. Her body never did handle well with something as simple as cold or flu. Ever since she was young, once she became sick – which was not that often – the illness went on for a long time.

Within an hour later, her body grew hot and feverish; the little clothes she wore did nothing to help to cool the sweats forming on her skin. Her fever would still rise. She should quickly go to the drug store before it became too much for her to handle. Donning a hoodie over her shirt and shoes, she staggered to the near drug store, paid for the medicine and back into her bed.

It had taken her half an hour. The time lost in many times when she had to stop and gather her balance before moving again. It wasn't as bad like this before and she, in her hazy state, suspected being in another country had something to do with the fast deteriorating pace.

The bed sheet underneath her was already becoming sticky and moist with her own perspiration. Maybe if she just sleeps for a while, just close her eyes for a moment and rest, she would feel a little better.

Alec wondered what was so interesting about a flower. His sister, after all these years, still held onto her peculiar fondness for flowers.

"What a pretty flower." Jane mused, noticing the new buds of blue roses blossoming. Blue roses had existed, long ago, before they became extinct but Jane had a habit of collecting rare flower seeds and watching them grow which resulted in the castle's only floral garden with the most rarest and one-of-a-kind specimens that became a favourite among female residents.

"Don't you think so, Alec?"

"You're the pretty one, sister." Alec returned with a smile.

Jane turned away from the rose she had buried her nose in, looking at him with a smile, "We all know you're the pretty one out of us two. Our mother always said so."

"I'm not pretty." He pressed as for a moment, Jane's voice overlapped with the human's.

Jane raised a brow; her brother always took the phrase well.

"Alec, you won't ever lie to me, would you?" She asked after a moment of ponder.

He slid down from the handrail he had been resting upon with his back against the column of the Victorian style gazebo to approach his sister. Cupping her cheeks and a kiss to the forehead he looked into her eyes, "Never, sister."

Jane studied him before asking, "Where have you been going these past days?"

A normal person's reaction would have been caught by Jane's sharp, discerning stares but Alec hid his true thoughts and emotions well. Always have. Ever since they were children, the only one Jane always found tricky to read was her own brother.

"Do I worry you?" He asked.

"Answer the question, Alec." Jane never did like to prevaricate around a topic.

"Out." He told her.

"Where?"

"Exploring the Volterra."

Jane stared at him from under her long lashes. She would always give that half-lidded look if someone was wasting her time or irritating her. Rarely was it used toward her own brother.

"Alec." She warned, brows furrowing with irritation.

"Don't frown, Jane. It's unbecoming of you. Smile for you look most beautiful." He teased, "Do not worry about me. That's my job."

"Alec, you're my twin therefore one half of me." Touching her brother's cheek, she muttered, "We've been together since in our mother's womb. How could I be so selfish as to burden my brother with all?"

But Alec refused her offering, gently bringing her hand down from his face, "Jane, you don't have to worry. I promise nothing will come to harm."

"You're leaving." She stated knowingly.

"I am not."

Jane didn't believe him – a thought that he could see in her eyes.

"No, not now." She said, "But later you will."

He did not deny nor confirm her retort.

Jessica let out another barking cough for the hundredth times that day. Two days had past and while it seemed to be getting better, the aches and soreness of her throat, head and body was a huge pain in her ass. Everything she touched and touched her hurt as if her skin became overly sensitive to the pain.

That morning, she had turned on her phone and instantly she was bombarded with missed calls, messages and emails. Most of them were from her parents or friends and she took time to answer them each. Lastly, she turned her attention to Bella. As expected, ten missed calls, one was just a few hours ago and twenty messages, some short and some long.

She read them all as attentively as she could before typing out her reply. Few messages stood out.

Bella: Alec was the one who gave me the choice to either have you killed or turned. I know it was wrong of me to decide but I just couldn't let you die. I'm sorry.

Bella: You know how I've been telling you Mike's fine? Yeah, he's not actually fine. He's been moody and angry ever since you left.

Jess: Hey Bella, I'm still alive. But not for long. I'm sick. Like real, bad sick. Got cold. Or flu. I don't know – what's the difference? Don't blame yourself. I'd have done the same. I've been meeting with Alec ever since and I think we're OK. My throat hurt so I can't use my voice for a while until it passes but yeah, I'm alive. Half alive. Might not reply immediately.

Jess: Fuck Mike.

The message was sent and read almost straight away. The speech bubble appeared in Bella's section and series of full stops suggesting she was replying back.

Bella: Do you think it's wise to get close to him? I'm not sure if he explained to you about the difference between Edward and his family and Alec's coven but he's dangerous. I'm worried he might not be able to control himself around you since you're a human.

Bella: Don't be so mean to Mike.

Jess: Well he's doing well with his controlling his thirst since I'm still alive and breathing. I'm pretty sure this cold is going to kill me before he does. He seems alright; not a bad kid.

Jess: Fuck Mike.

Bella: 'Not a bad kid?' I'm not sure if I should tell you about his coven but I think I shouldn't. Edward told me not to say anything more than you already know but he's not a kid and he's dangerous. Like lethal dangerous.

Bella: You can be such a savage sometimes.

Jess: Well he's a vampire, of course he's lethal! I know he has a gift of taking away your senses – I experienced that and it's not a good feeling to have your senses taken away. I don't know how people who are deaf or blind or mute can do it; huge respect for them.

Jess: Thank you. Fuck Mike xx

Bella: How do you know about his power? What do you mean you experienced it? JESSICA WHAT THE HELL?!

Bella: I'm not even gonna comment.

Jess: Well he offered and I was like sure why not? Hardest challenge of a lifetime.

Bella: …Jess..why? WHAT THE FUCK?! YOU DON'T DO THAT! OMG

Her phone screen changed from text chat background to an incoming phone call from Bella. Jessica picked up and she swore she lost her hearing for a second or two.

"JESSICA, WHAT THE HELL?!"

"Are you trying to deafen me?" Her voice came out as a hoarse whisper, "I'm still alive aren't I?"

She heard Bella take a deep breath before saying in a composed tone, "W-what are you talking about? What do you mean he offered?"

"After I turned off my phone, I went to find him and I told him to kill me because I don't want to turn into a vampire. And he said that I had to pay the price of my action and few days later we got talking and I said I wanted to die in my sleep. He said he could give me that option and I was like 'sure why not?' and yeah. Not a nicest feeling in the world but I'd rather go through that again than see Mike's face."

She heard a heavy, frustrated sigh from the other line. Jessica could almost imagine Bella rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Y-you don't DO THAT! What if he killed you?! Or what if he turned you then?!"

"Well he didn't!" Jessica countered, voice straining at the slight increase in loudness, "He doesn't look like someone who'd stab you in the back."

"I don't even know what to say Jess."

"Don't." Jessica said, "Beside, I'm gonna really lose my voice soon so I'll speak to you when I get better, okay?"

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay? If you want, me and Edward could come and get you right now. We can tell him that we'll turn you after we take you back to Forks."

"Bella, don't worry about me – well not too much, just enough. I made all this happen, I'll take care of it."

"..But–"

"Bella." Jessica stopped her before finally saying, "Thanks for everything. Really."

The end of the phone was silence. But Jessica knew Bella had a smile in her face.

"I'll talk to you later. Bye."

"..Get well soon."

"I will."

She hung up and leaned her head back against the bed headboard with a small, grateful smile. For better or worse, this whole situation seemed to have brought them a bit more closer.

"What did she say?" Edward asked with a tender touch on Bella's shoulder.

"She's alive." Bella said, worried. "I mean, she said she's doing fine but I-I don't know."

"She will be fine." He said with undoubted confidence. Something Bella found strange. Not too long ago he was just as equally worried about Jessica's safety but yet he seemed to know something she doesn't.

"How do you know that for sure?"

Edward sheepishly smiled, glancing sideways amused, "You'll find out soon."

Bella rolled her eyes and inwardly decided going to Alice would be a faster route. In the meantime, Bella deeply prayed for Jessica's safety.

Jane knew something was occupying her brother's mind. Distracted. Her brother had always been reckless and curious. Even as a human. The troublemaker of the two and, often, the root of their mother's ire with his little mischievous ways. He always carried the air of confidence and apathy; he could care less about anything – even what others thought of him. Mocking and always ready to take aim. Independent. She envied that. Sometimes, a little resentful. Always wondered why she had to be opposite when they were essentially one being. Even their powers were on the extreme end of the spectrum. Why was it that her brother fared better with the circumstances? Why was he happier? Why was his gift more benign than hers'? Moreover, he didn't mind his eternal adolescence, stuck in the body of a fifteen year old. Forever. Although she wondered to what extent that was true and a façade.

Despite their closeness, she sometimes found it difficult to understand him. That older-brother-maturity persona which meant he always had to be the bravest, strongest, secretive, protective one. Even though she was older by few minutes.

"Demetri." She called and few minutes later, the tracker appeared. His amicable expression never betraying the apprehensiveness simmering beneath.

"Yes, Jane?"

"I need you to do something for me." She said while remaining with her back toward him.

"What is it?" He asked courteously.

"I need you to track Alec."

"Alec?" Other than a slight downward twitch of his brows, his countenance remained composed.

"He's been distracted." Jane said, pausing, "I need to know why."

"Of course, Jane." He nodded before backing away.

Sitting on a small round table chair in a balcony outside her room, Jessica eyed the mountain the back of the hotel was facing. The slight cool wind was doing well cooling her body down but not enough. Closing her eyes to feel the forest air breezing through, she slid down from her chair so that her back was comfortably resting on the seat in C position.

"This is horrible." She groaned, staring at the mocking blue sky that seemed to laugh at her fate.

"What's so horrible?"

Jessica jumped, startled, and she's thrown out of her chair and her backside painfully collided with the hard, wooden floor. The chair clacked loudly as it fell to the floor away from her. Her head was aching and dizzy and there was loud ringing in her ears from the fall. A black, polished shoe came into her double vision and settled there until she could regain her balance.

"Alec, you scared the shit out of me."

He didn't say anything although he continued to stare at her.

"Are you not getting up?"

Jessica brought herself on all fours before gently, using her left knee and a hand on the chair as anchor, brought her right knee to her chest and heaved herself up.

"You're ill." He stated.

"Yes, well done for the excellent observation, Alec." She sardonically replied as she righted up her fallen chair and heavily collapsed into it. "Everything hurts right now."

"Is it serious?" He questioned.

"It's just a cold." She explained, "I always come down with illness worse than an average person I suppose."

"You'll die then."

Jessica shook her head hastily, "No, no, no, humans don't die from cold that easily nowadays. Unless you can't afford medical care or other reasons, but I'll live. It just means that I've got a few more days to suffer."

"I see."

"Great timing, Alec, I was becoming so bored. I can't go out because I don't wanna infect everyone with my germs. Glad I've got a vampire pal I don't have to worry about."

"You shouldn't trust me too easily." He warned.

"Well for now, you didn't do anything to break my trust." She countered wittily, "Unless you're planning to, then it'd be nice if you can tell me 5 working days beforehand. It's Sunday today so I've got one more day."

"How fortunate."

"Right!" Then, "Alec, where are you from?"

"Here."

"No, like where are you from as in did you live here as a human too?"

"England. I was born in the Dark Ages."

Jessica let out a low, impressed, 'oooh'.

"That's so..ages ago! I can't imagine how it must feel to be born at that time and see the world change so much!"

"The world changes but the humans within remains the same." He answered.

"Okay, Mr. Realist." Jessica laughed, "I'm sure you're right but I also hope you also meant it the good way."

"Same old avarice. Same old selfishness. Same old malice. They're boring."

"Not all humans are like that." Jessica said, "We're all innocent at birth. But at one moment, some become evil. They might mistake it as happiness – the good they seek or scared or something like that. Evil turns people into monsters. But I want to believe that good will prevail."

"That's a naïve notion."

"Sometimes I think so too. But you never know. If a vampire can exist, what else is out there?"

"Those thoughts will only bring you despair." He warned in a dejected tone. There was something gleaming underneath his usual stoic demeanour. Was it melancholy? Sympathy? He almost seemed disappointed like watching someone shatter his expectation with avoidable mistakes.

"Maybe." She shrugged, agreeing with him. "You can call me stupid or naïve, but some people need that second chance."

"A fool's hope." He named. "It would be interesting to see what expression you make when that time comes."

"Me too." She agreed. "If you don't mind me asking, but what makes you think my belief is stupid."

He shifted in his seat, hinting that their little debate was finished. She didn't try to push on it more and left it at that. Although she was nosy, she knew when to back off.

Using her hand, Jessica fanned her tomato red face boiling with heat and sweat. Even with this chill weather and wind, her body heat didn't seem to cool even slightly. The ice that she brought from the kitchen had already melted into lukewarm water from the heat. She wished she had never melting ice cubes. Then her eyes landed at Alec. Then to his hand. Then to his face again.

"Yes?" He tilted his head, noticing her intense staring.

"You're a vampire." She thought out loud.

"Yes." He answered with confusion, not realizing her statement was rhetorical.

"No, no, I know you're a vampire. Your skin is ice cold." She muttered slowly, "Do you mind if I ask you a teeny tiny favor."

"Depending on what it is."

"Well, I have to be comfortable." She stood up and gestured him to the inside of her room, "Do I have to give you permission to come in?"

"No." He wearily stood up. "Myths."

"Good." She said. "Well, don't just stand there, come in."

It was only when she had arrived by the bed that he stepped inside. Jessica dragged a chair from the table inside the bedroom put it beside the bed.

"Well, what is it?"

"Can you sit here?" She pointed towards the said chair.

He did. The image was almost comical. Dressed in expensive looking pearl gray suit, seated on a small dingy chair in a budget hotel room plastered with tacky orange coloured wall papers that was peeling apart, half faded rusty oak wood tiles and cheap polka dot bed sheet; he was laughably out of place.

He didn't suit light, bright colors. She can imagine his room to be adorned with dark, rich colors like burgundy or dark emerald and draped with expensive silk and wool.

Jessica got in her bed, pulling up her blanket, "I haven't slept properly in like a week now."

"What does that have to do with me?" He replied stoically, void of mocking intention.

"Well, I thought since you're here, you can help a sick friend." She smiled then reached out for his hand. The touch startled Alec who immediately flinched back but Jessica patiently waited until he relaxed and she had the permission.

"What are you doing?"

"Just trust me."

"No."

Jessica rolled her eyes, "Stop being childish."

"I'm not."

"Then give me your damn hand." This time she was successful in grabbing his hand and bringing it toward her temple and sighed in bliss as coolness pierced through the heat and spread down her body.

"It's so nice to have something this cold that won't melt." Jessica said, looking up, "Do you mind just staying like this for a while? Just until I could fall asleep. Do you think you can use your power on me? Just take away my senses for a while – just until I fall asleep. I just need some sleep."

"This is absurd and ridiculous."

Letting out another bout of hacking cough, Jessica tiredly met his eyes, pleading.

"Please, Alec." She said, "Just for ten minutes. I just need undisturbed rest. Do you have any idea what's it's like to not sleep?! It's horrible."

He gave her a pointed look, "Vampires cannot sleep, therefore, yes I can imagine."

"Look, there's an actual difference between not being able to sleep because you physically can't and being able to sleep but can't, okay? The latter is more horrible."

He didn't move for a long time. Jessica couldn't help but think he will leave. Mock her fragile morality; angry at suggesting to use his gift for something as trivial as this. After all, they certainly weren't friends; she liked to think they were although Alec might have a clear sense of what they actually were. In the end, she was a pig. A pig with a name, yes. But it still did not make any difference.

"You're a peculiar human."

"Thanks – people tell me I can be weird sometimes."

"Are you not afraid?" He asked, "Afraid of me – afraid of what I'll do?"

"You didn't give me a reason to be afraid of you." She said then added. "Other than the time you tried to eat me but you didn't."

More silence.

Then…

Alec held up his other hand hovering away from her face. The familiar shimmering smoke oozed out from his fingertips, stalking toward her with deadly obscurity. Her desperate mind was begging for the thief that would steal her senses. Quick. Quickly. Take it away. The pain. The heat. The tiredness.

And soon, numbing nothingness enveloped her. This time it was more comforting than gripping panic she felt the first time. Don't fight it, she said to herself, go with it.

Soon to the sound of her own thoughts, Jessica Stanley fell into deep slumber.

A vampire. A human. In a sparse, confined room. It was a disaster waiting to happen. Yet one of his hand still remained on her forehead while his other free half was propped on his thigh in an uncharacteristic show of mercy and tenderness. He stared at the fluttering curtains at the balcony door that was ajar.

Jessica's eyes fluttered open with refreshed, charged up energy only a deep, recovery sleep could afford. Immediately, she could sense her body was lighter, cooler and limber than the night before. This time she didn't wake up to the soaked sheet and sticky skin. The soreness that irritated her throat seemed to have gone and her blocked nose could taste the dry air again. Oddly enough, her forehead seemed to be much more chilly than the rest of her body.

Then she saw a dark figure sat on the chair beside her bed that made her eyes go wide in surprise.

"Alec?!" She gasped in unexpected shock. She had expected him gone.

"You're not as feverish as yesterday." He said as he turned to her and removed his hand.

"You've been here all night?"

"Yes."

"Why? You could have gone."

"You wouldn't let me."

Jessica blinked rapidly. Then frowned, confused as she desperately searched through her absent memory to answer his statement.

"W-wait, what do you mean?"

"Whenever I try to take my hand away, you would not let me and grip my hand back." He revealed in a story-telling tone. She searched through his eyes to see whether he was irritated by her mortifying sleeping habit. He didn't seem too bothered by it so as much as eager to tell her this which he undoubtedly knew would embarrass her.

"And it has only been seven hours I believe." He nodded toward balcony where she could see the sky was completely dark and a full moon was at its peak.

"You could have just slapped my hand away or something."

"I didn't want to break a bone or kill you by accident."

Jessica's lip made a perfect 'O' shape, having a cold was already torturous; she didn't want to imagine how it'd feel to have a cold and a broken hand, "W-well…uh, thank you for not breaking my hand or killing me in my sleep. I feel so much better now. Thank you, really."

He stood up to leave, walking toward the open balcony and disappeared in flash that her human eyes couldn't catch.

Beneath the hotel, behind the tree across the balcony, Demetri watched as Alec landed on the floor with a feather-like ease and turned toward the direction of the castle. An amused smile curved his sculpted mouth, enhancing his alluring magic.

Edited by YanaTG and updated on 11/05/2020