Chapter 19: Stand By Me

My eyes opened slowly, and I found myself wrapped in a sheet on a bed. After a few seconds of bewilderment I realized that I was back in my own room. Still, the feeling of relief that should have accompanied that epiphany wouldn't come.

I sat up slowly, very slowly. I can't even explain the weakness that I felt…my whole body was heavier, my head swam and my vision blurred the more I exerted myself. I had finally managed to move into a sitting position on the edge of the bed when I realized I wasn't alone. I looked behind me and who should be lying there asleep but Lestat. Seeing him dragged all the horrible memories of that cursed house back to the forefront of my mind. My whole body shuddered and I had to look away. I began to think that I might never be able to look at him again.

I decided I didn't want to be around when he woke up. I tried to stand up, but my legs buckled instantly and I was forced to crawl slowly, picking my way to the bathroom like a dying man lost in the desert. I had to stop periodically and let my head fall to the soft carpet; every movement was an agony, my punctured hands cried out in pain with every step forward.

After what seemed like an eternity I made it to the cool tile of my bathroom. I wrapped the sheet tighter around my mangled body and pulled myself up under the sink. There I resumed my previous position, knees to my chest, shivering. In the fog that clouded my senses I thought about Lestat lying on my bed, about the words of the man who had done this to me. I felt entirely hollow… But underneath all the pain there was a growing anger. If I had never met Lestat this wouldn't have happened. That evil man's words had worked their poison. I didn't want to believe them; I knew that this reaction I was feeling was exactly what they had been meant for. Yet there was a measure of truth in them. Still, he had gotten me out of there, even if he was too late to prevent the damage… Once again I'd returned to the confusing dilemma that was Lestat.

It was at this point that he stuck his head in the doorway. He moved towards me but I immediately brushed him off – I couldn't stand the thought of being touched by anyone right now. I still didn't want to look at him. I leaned my head against the cool tile of my bathroom wall and closed my eyes, trying to shut out everything, the whole world.

"Are you alright?" he asked. My ears must have been deceiving me, it almost sounded like there was genuine concern in his voice.

I didn't say a word; I just stayed in my position trying to drown everything out.

"Evie…" he began, but I interrupted him.

"Don't." My voice hovered somewhere between a whisper and a command. "I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear anything. Don't even look at me. Just leave me alone."

"No. I can't leave you alone, I have to know what happened…"

I opened my eyes and looked at him with the most hatred I'd ever felt in my life. "You want to know what happened to me?" I demanded, louder now. I grabbed the edge of the sink and hauled myself up, balancing precariously on my useless legs. Holding on for dear life I let the sheet drop, exposing my disfigurement. I made sure he could see the red gashes on my breasts and abdomen, my back, my neck. Without knowing it, I began to cry. Silently, the tears slipped down my cheeks to the floor.

His face hardened into a look I'd never seen before. Was it anger? Was it grief? I couldn't tell, but I knew it was a look not to be trifled with.

My legs wouldn't hold me anymore. I dropped to my knees and he reached out to help me but I shunned him again.

"I said don't touch me."

He recoiled, looking almost stunned. I pulled the sheet up around my body again and curled up back in the corner.

"Evie…" His voice, had it broken just a little?

"I told you to leave me alone." Everything in me had turned to ice.

"You need help."

"Not from you." I could feel him shrink a little with the harshness of those words, but I wasn't apologizing for anything. I meant them.

"Evie…"

"GO!" I shouted with all the strength I had and flung my bloodstained arm towards the door.

He looked at me helplessly. The great Lestat was looking down on me without his unwavering confidence. He began to say something else, but changed his mind and walked out. I didn't let my head fall to my knees until I heard the front door click. Then I cried until the tears would no longer come.

I must have sat there under the sink for at least an hour. I didn't think I would ever leave that spot when I heard the front door open again. It couldn't be Lestat, I was sure I'd made it clear that I didn't want him around. Then again, when had that ever worked before?

It wasn't Lestat, thankfully. It was Jane. She called out from my kitchen; I tried to answer, but I didn't have the strength.

When she saw me on the floor she gasped and ran straight towards me. "My god, Evie, what happened to you?"

I didn't say a word; I knew my body would speak for itself.

She helped me up, and in doing so got her first glimpse at the bite marks covering my arms.

"Oh my god," she exhaled.

She had to hold most of my weight as we moved back into the bedroom. I had no energy left at all. I fell over on my side on the bed as soon as we sat down. I couldn't look at her…I didn't want her to see me this way. I probably would have started crying again, but there was nothing left.

Jane kneeled down beside the bed next to my face and pushed my hair back. "Evie…how could this have happened?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she pulled the sheet back to reveal more bites.

She didn't let the tears fall. Instead the businesswoman in her took over and she said firmly, "We have to get you to a hospital."

She rifled through my drawers and grabbed some loose clothing. She helped me dress, neither of us saying anything. The process was slow, every movement for me was painful, and no matter how hard I tried to keep it from showing in my face I could see Jane growing more and more worried.

I lay down on the bed again as Jane called a cab. Then she helped me up and we made the tortuous journey down to the curb.

At the hospital they admitted me instantly. It was an easy guess for anyone (especially a doctor) that I was in need of a blood transfusion or two.

Once things had settled down and the doctors and nurses had left me in piece with my IV and bag of O negative, Jane and I had a chance to finally speak.

I was afraid, "What will I tell them? They'll never believe me!"

Jane was a peach, "Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it."

I sighed and turned my head away. At least I was beginning to feel more lucid. For the second time I came to a realization. I pulled Jane towards me so I could talk quietly. "I need you to go to the pharmacy…"

She looked at me with shocked comprehension, but regained her composure quickly.

"Of course, I'll go now," she said. "Do you want to talk about it?" she added sympathetically.

I closed my eyes. "Not right now, ok?"

"Of course. But whenever you're ready, I'm here."

I just took her hand and smiled my thanks.

A giant hubbub broke out in the hallway. We could hear shouts of "I will not calm down! I have to see her! Do you know who I am?"

Leave it to Ben to make even the worst situations a little lighter.

He burst in the room breathing heavily, still waving his hands above his head. He took one look at me and said, "Good lord Evie, what in the bloody hell happened to you?"

Jane tried to shush him, but he wouldn't have any of it.

"Whoever it was, I'll kick his ass, I swear! You just tell me…I know people, you know, I can take care of it!"

I couldn't help but laugh a little…Ben grinned at me, but when he got a closer look at my arms and neck he sobered up instantly.

"Oh my god," he said quietly.

"Well," said Jane, taking control of the room again, "I'll be back soon. Ben if you leave her alone I will hunt you down and make you pay, understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" Ben gave a mock salute, taking on her veneer of strength.

I finally began to relax a little. I wasn't alone, and maybe in time things would be alright again.