Call On Me

Chapter 8:

Emily woke and couldn't move. She was pinned under something incredibly heavy. Opening her eyes she looked at Eric lying across her. It looked like he had simply fallen on her. She stared at the burned skin across his back. The world painful came to mind. She blinked a few times trying to get a sense of herself. She felt sick; really sick. Her head throbbed; her insides burned. Nausea gripped her stomach with millions of tiny blades. What the hell had she done to herself last night? She looked around; colored streamers and flashed of light; interfered with her ability to see anything. What little she could make out, this was a basement. She was lying at the bottom of the stairs leading up; Eric was atop her.

Normally he woke before her; she began to worry. Why wasn't he awake? What had she done? More importantly what had she done to Eric?

Someone was in the house; Emily listened and recognized Pam's footsteps. "Pam! Down here! We're down here!"

Nothing happened; had she not heard Emily shouting? Finally the door atop the stairs opened; Pam stared down at them. She was lovely but right now she looked annoyed. Pam moved delicately down the stairs, her high heels sparkled with rhinestones. She wore a bright purple skirt that hugged her lower body. Her blue top was a good color on her and matched the skirt; in some weird fashion way.

"What the hell did he do?" Pam asked, standing on the last step, hands on her hips. "He said he wasn't going to get you."

Emily was puzzled over that. Eric had brought her home? "Help me lift him."

"Why can't you do it?" Pam asked coolly, recognition went through her eyes. "You're hung-over."

She couldn't be hung-over she didn't drink booze. Emily let it go, as Pam lifted Eric off her body. She sucked in a great breath; it was habit, not need. Sitting up, her headache increased, making her groan. She felt awful.

Pam tossed Eric over her shoulder; some how managing to balance his huge frame over her shoulder. "Get yourself upstairs, I am going to look after Eric." Pam returned upstairs; Emily still sat in the basement.

God she was sick. It took several tries before she could roll to her knees. Standing was a bad idea right now. Her limbs were a cross between weak and on fire. Everything in her was burning; her organs, her bones, everything. The colored streamers had taken on new colors; increasing in frequency. She doubted she could make it up the stairs. Emily thought of Eric; of his burns. Worry consumed her, she crawled up the stairs. Like a child, on her hands and knees. She had to stop halfway up; her stomach wrenching. She vomited but nothing came up. There was nothing in her stomach. She dry heaved for several seconds. Weakness crashed over her as black waves stormed her min. She gripped the stairs with shaking hands; wavering on her hands and knees. It took all her will to force her body up the stairs. She reached the main floor and collapsed, rolling to her side.

Is this what death felt like? She lay there; her vision swarming between blackness and colored ribbons. The heart in her chest was still; there was no way to gauge her self. She didn't need to breathe but found herself gasping for air. Dampness made her skin slick; she stared at her arms; there was a red shine on her skin.

Emily managed to finally roll to her knees and continued to crawl down the hall. Stopping every few feet and laying down. There was a maddening need in her to see Eric. A part of her she didn't understand drove her to see him. She continued crawling. His room was at the end of the hall; the door was closed. Emily reached it, staring up at the handle. It was inches from her; but it might as well have been fifty feet. She tried reaching up with one hand; but her body weight was too much. She fell to the floor.

The door opened; she stared up at Pam. The vampire gave her a very cool stare back.

"What's wrong with me?" Emily gasped.

Pam arched a brow, an oddly condescending expression. "Do you remember last night?"

Emily couldn't shake her head, "No. Why?"

"You and Eric had a fight last night. As a result you went out and got blood-drunk." Pam saw this wasn't making sense, "Think of it as blood poisoning."

"Blood poisoning?" Emily frowned, "But I am a vampire."

"Yes, but even we can only take so much in one night. You over did it; your body is sick."

Emily sighed, "Eric?"

Pam frowned at her, anger darkened her face. "He went out to save you, from yourself. Even after he said he wouldn't. He flew into the sunlight, for you. And now, he's hurt." Pam glanced over her shoulder, into the room. She turned and walked away from Emily.

Emily looked into the room; Eric was lying on a huge bed; surrounded by fur blankets. His large white body marred by ugly burns. There were towels of different colors under his body. His face was calm; his body relaxed. Pam stood over him; she held a bottle of blood in one hand, a cloth in the other. She poured the blood onto the burns; quickly wiping up any stray drips. His skin seemed to be absorbing the blood. After several applications, the burn on his left arm finally started to look better.

Pushing herself to her feet; she leaned on the wall. The pain in her head was crippling but she ignored it. Slowly, on weak legs, she crossed the floor. Pam glared over at her. Emily crossed to the other side of the bed.

"I want to help," Emily told her simply, "This is my fault."

"Yes, it is, your fault. If not for me, he wouldn't be healing." Pam's icy tone made Emily feel even worse."

"I am sorry," She reached for a plastic container of blood and a cloth. "I just pour it on?"

"No, a little bit at a time, don't just dump it on the wound." Pam showed her what she meant.

Emily made herself focus on the right arm; carefully pouring blood onto his skin. It ran everywhere. She sighed, quickly mopping it up. That's when the idea hit her; she stared at the cloth in her hand. Perhaps if she soaked it in the blood, then applied it? She gripped the cloth tight; pouring the containers contents onto to it.

"What are you doing?" Pam snapped.

"Shut up," Emily muttered.

She pressed the cloth into Eric's arm. Thing rivulets of blood ran down his arm; onto the towels under him. After a few minutes, Emily lifted the towel and smiled to her self. The wound was absorbing it. She gently pressed down again and waited. Lifting the cloth she smiled again. The wound was closing on its own. Emily reapplied blood to the cloth and gently laid it across his arm.

Her legs caved and she fell beside his bed; sitting on her knees. Waves of sickness rolled through her body; she touched her hand to his. Wrapping her cold fingers around his; she squeezed his hand.

"I am sorry," She whispered in Swedish, her mind too sick for English, "I am sorry, Eric."

Pam stared at her for several minutes; finally soaking her cloth in blood and applying it to his shoulder. She left the room; returning with more blood and clothes. Emily passed out.

**

Cool hands smoothed her face; there was love in those hands. They touched her so gently, so tenderly. Emily slowly opened her eyes; blinking at the blonde angel in front of her. His blue eyes were lovely; his face was handsome. He looked so perfect and then he smiled and it was a whole other level of perfection.

"Welcome back," Eric whispered gently, "You were out for quite awhile."

Emily blinked slowly; she felt cold. "Eric? Are we dead?"

"Technically, yes." He smoothed his hand across her cheek, "Don't worry, I hear life sucks."

Emily managed a weak smile, "Are you okay?"

"I am."

She looked around, it was her room; Eric was sitting beside her on the bed. He wore a red button shirt and blue jeans. His hair loose around his face; it gave him a carefree feel. His hand continued to caress her cheek; his fingers brushed her neck softly.

"How long have I been out?"
Eric smiled at her, "A week. You really did your self in my dear."

A week? She had been out a full week? "I am sorry I got you hurt."

"You should be," He said gently, "I looked awful."

Emily lifted a hand to his arm; the skin was smooth and healed. It was as if the burns had never been there. Letting her hand drop she folded it across her stomach.

"Pam said you were going to leave me out there." Emily whispered, "Why didn't you just do it?"

Eric's eyes darkened slightly, "You're important to me."

"It was reckless," She muttered, "I should never have been so stupid."

"I told you that before." He told her gently, settling his hands into his lap. "You have to be more careful."

"What is happening, Eric. Why are you so concerned about me?"

He arched a brow, "After all that's happened, you're asking me that?"

Emily stared at him for a moment, "It's not just my feeding habits, something is bothering you and your not sharing."

He sat back slightly, smoothing his hair behind his ears. "A Tribunal has been called by the Magistrate to deal with Able and I."

Emily frowned, "Because of me."

He nodded.

"And they could punish you for saving me." She stated quietly, "How would they do that?"

"They could kill you." He said quietly, barely above a whisper.

"And after everything I've done, you still think I am worthy of your protection?"

Eric gently touched her cheek; smoothing his fingers downwards. He rested his palm on her heart; her chest was still. "You're part of me, Emily. It's just because I am your Maker; you know that."

"I know," She placed her hand over his.

"I don't want to loose you; but if the Magistrate demands it, you will be staked. There is nothing I can do then."

Emily sighed, "We don't know for a fact that it'll happen that way."

"There is no other alternative," Eric sighed, "Able is saying that I took what was his. That's a crime for us."

"I am not his," She said firmly, "I never was."

Eric looked away, taking his hand back. "It's his word against yours, the Tribunal may side with him."

"Why?"

"Because he is older and technically you in his territory."

Emily frowned, "I don't agree with that."

"It doesn't matter what you agree with. This is the Magistrate; his is the law."

She sat up, slowly, he helped her. His arms wrapped around her back, supporting her. She rested her head on his chest. It felt good to be held.

"When are they arriving?"

"Tomorrow night,"

"Okay, so tomorrow we'll talk with them. Where are they meeting?"

"Fangtasia, it's the best place for a meeting in private." Eric ran a hand through her hair, "I wish I could keep you from this."

Emily hugged him; it wasn't a tight hug, she was still weak. "Thank you, Eric. No matter what happens tomorrow."

"Rest now, you're still weak." Eric gently laid her back on the mattress; covering her with the blanket.

Emily closed her eyes and was surprised when sleep took her away. She felt Eric's presence near her, watching, soothing her. Her hand held his; giving her a sense of security.