The dagger dropped to the floor with a clinking of the silver. I watched as my blood oozed out of the gash on my neck. I hadn't hit the artery that would have killed me instantly. I wanted to make myself suffer for my crimes. I could feel the blood running down my neck, soaking my top, some of it drying on my skin. I picked up the dagger again and positioned it on my wrist. Please don't do this to yourself! Stop! Please! His voice was so beautiful. I would be with him soon, I assured myself of that much. Joining him in death, not that I deserved him. I was the cause of his death. Me. The one who he had thought he'd loved.
My vision was starting to go blurry and I was feeling light headed. I was finding it hard to breathe and the pain in my neck was growing into agony. I looked down at the blade positioned over my wrist. Closed my eyes and took a deep shaky breath in, choking in the process. NO! Before I realised what was happening, the dagger was knocked out of my hand and thrown across the room. I was moved very swiftly but gently until I stared up into two beautiful pools of blue. I was laying across his lap, where he was kneeling on the floor. His arms supporting my weight and holding me so I was almost sat upright. I saw a tear leave his eye. "Ella, how could you do this to yourself?" He swept a piece of hair back behind my ear with one hand, using his knee to support my in that hands absence. I saw the tears streaming down his cheeks now.
"Jethro – " I murmured, it hurt to talk now. I took another deep shaky breath in, choking on this one also.
"How could you do this to yourself! Your family! Your friends!…Me!" He sobbed.
"I – thought you were – " I couldn't say the last word, and instead let out a little sob of my own.
He took off his jacket, ripped off a sleeve, folded it over and pressed it to the gash on my neck.
"Even if I was, what about your friends what would they think? Your family? Your father? He needs you as well."
"I can't live – without – you!" I gasped. It was so hard to breathe, but I was hanging on, every moment with him was precious before he disappeared into thin air. This may be a hallucination but it's that closest thing I had to the real him.
"I aren't a hallucination, Ella" he looked at me solemnly as another tear left his eye. "I am really here." I looked at him, there was no sign he was lying. I slowly reached my hand out and put it against his cheek, his skin was cold, but soft. This was no hallucination. I screamed in my head. He was back now and I was dying.
"I won't let you die, Ella." He whispered. I heard the door open downstairs. Connor and Emily were home. There were a few minutes of silence as Jethro just stared at me and I stared at the ceiling, trying to work out what was happening. Then I heard a rush of movement downstairs. "Ella!" Connor shouted as he ran upstairs. They must have found my note, I thought distractedly. I felt so tired. "She's up here!" Jethro called to them, then he turned back to me and then whispered, "No! You mustn't go to sleep!" I stared at him for a long minute.
You can read my mind again? I thought, not wanting to speak now for the pain.
Yes, the answer came back clearly. I tried to smile but the pain made it impossible. So tired! I felt my eyelids closing against my will.
"No please, Ella! You must stay awake! Hang on, for me," He said, getting up and carrying me to the bed. Anything for you, I thought to him, my neck was in agony now. My vision was blurry, I couldn't see him anymore.
"Stay with me, come on now." He laid me down on the bed and sat next to me and stroked the back of my hand with one hand whilst holding a fresh sleeve to my neck with the other. Connor burst into the room closely followed by Emily. They froze when they saw Jethro.
"You're alive?" Connor muttered, his gaze switching between Jethro and me.
"Yes, but Ella won't be much longer if you don't help me." Jethro replied, lifting the bloodstained sleeve up by his expression I guess it was bad. That got Connor into motion. He darted forward, "What can I do to help?" he asked, looking me over.
"Connor I need you to go find a first aid kit. Emily I need you to go see if you can get an ambulance up here." Both of them nodded and ran off to do their assigned job. "Ella, I need you to hang on and not go to sleep."
I tried to smile but it turned into a grimace as pain shot up through my neck to my jaw. My vision was really blurry now. I couldn't see Jethro's face clearly anymore.
"Jethro –" It hurt so much to talk, I took slow breaths, "I can't – breathe." Breathing hurt so much.
"Just hold on, sweetheart. Help will be here soon." He whispered, I heard his voice break, he was crying again.
"I can't," I moaned, a rip of agony tearing through my neck, "Make it st–op Jethro, it hurts – so – much." I was begging now. I couldn't wait for help any longer. My body felt weak and it ached everywhere, I couldn't move any part of me. Which scared me, driving the panic higher. I was breathing heavily, but it hurt so much. Every breath causing extreme agony.
"Phone lines are down." I heard a breathless Emily say.
"I got one." Connor said. I heard his footsteps on the wooden floorboards. There was a moment's silence then I heard some rustling.
"Nothing in here can help!" Jethro said; I felt his gaze on me.
"It's too late for her to go to a hospital, Jethro." I heard Emily whisper.
I felt myself drifting off to sleep against my own will. Their voices were fading out as the blackness closed over. I only caught parts of the conversation.
"You have to – "
"I can't – "
"She'll die if you don't!"
In that silence is when I stopped hearing what was happening. I wanted to listen. I wanted to know what they were talking about. I felt a sharp pain in my neck at the other side from the gash, the pain slowly faded only to leave a slight tingling in that side of my neck. I then felt something cold trickle down my throat. Though it was cold it still burnt my skin. Then a pain in my chest started. With that pain I let the last of the blackness close over so I could no longer feel anything.
"How's she doing?"
"I'm not sure."
"Has she moved at all?"
"No."
"Do you think she's –?"
"I don't know."
The conversation cut off and I could feel their gazes boring a hole into my face. I felt a lot better than I had done. How long had I been out now? It had to have been at least a day. I felt strange. I felt all tingly and light. I could smell Jethro, his sweet scent hung in the air on my left. Just next to him I could smell Connor, his scent was horrible compared to Jethro's and I couldn't quite figure out why, I'd never noticed that smell before. I could hear Connor's heartbeat, he was calm, his heartbeat steady. I listened to both of their breathing. Then got distracted when I heard a scuttling. There was a fly on the window. I could hear it walking up the glass.
Connor moved slowly, then I heard the door creak and then click into place. Jethro and me were the only ones in the room. Jethro, I thought to him. I heard the chair squeak on the floor as he swiftly got up and came to my side. His hand brushed against my cheek. There was something weird about his touch, something not quite right.
Oh thank god, I thought I'd lost you, his voice came into my mind, strong with emotion. How are you feeling? Can you speak?
"I'm fine." I said, slowly opening my eyes. My voice sounded beautiful. I was shocked when I opened my eyes fully. Everything was so clear. I could see every little detail in everything around me. I looked at Jethro; his face was just as beautiful as ever. He smiled at me, a smile that warmed my heart. He pressed his lips to mine.
"Your skin is warm!" I blurted out in spite of myself. He looked at me. Pain flickered in his eyes.
"There's something I have to tell you." He whispered.
He didn't seem very happy about what he wanted to tell me, which made me feel very nervous. It was going to be bad news, very bad news.
"Your one of us, Ella." He looked away, ashamed, "It's the only way I could save you, I'm so sorry."
I gawked at him. That was it? That was the bad news? I threw my arms around him.
"Oh, Jethro." I sighed, "This is what I've wanted since I met you, I've wanted to be with you forever. Now I can."
His tense shoulders relaxed and his arms formed a tight circle around me. His lips claimed mine instantly. He pulled me tighter against his chest. Our lips moving together, he effortlessly lifted me from the table – not once breaking the kiss – and carried me to his room.
I lay next to Jethro with my head resting on his chest, playing mindlessly with a strand of his hair. His arm was around me, hugging me to him. His beautiful aquamarine eyes were swimming with satisfaction. I sighed, breathing in his scent, it smelt so good with my heightened senses.
"I love you." I whispered.