Mike PoV
I did as David suggested earlier, say goodbye. Sam has already traded his own, but he wouldn't acknowledge the fact we will probably all not be around for the next sun rise. I pause at the top of the steps hearing Sierra talking to someone. This sets my nerves on end. There shouldn't be anyone down here and whomever it was had her upset badly.
As I come down into view she finally... hung up on the caller.
"Sierra?" I look at her questioningly as I came closer, picking up the phone and then turning it over. "Who were you speaking to?" I ask. I know my face has to be full of worry and utter confusion as I look over the phone's back. There was no way she could have been speaking on this old thing, all it had were wires sticking out the back, and 'sides, there's no phone connection down here.
I sit the phone back down and sit next to her.
"We'll figure something out for you." I'm not sure what we'll do. I don't want her to end up dead, but that's the way she's heading, she looks like shit. "When this is over tonight, maybe things will go back to normal, or as normal as you can get." It stings, because nothing will be "normal" again, not for me, or my family. I can't change back, David won, but it may not matter, cause we all may be dead by dawn.
Suddenly i have an idea.
"I think i can help a little." I raise my hand to my mouth and shift, drawing my fangs out and bite down, then hold it out to her. My blood looks strange, semi clear reddish color and seems to ooze instead of flow from my wrist. "Sam says you can't hold anything down, maybe you can my blood."
I don't want her to drop dead on me and this might help, as long as she won't refuse.
"I won't take no as an answer either." I smirk, she can be stubborn, but I'm not letting her drop dead on me, I can spare a little.
Sierra PoV
I don't know what to say, so my plump rose stained lips remain slightly gaped for a few seconds until I decide the right thing to do, and the effortless thing at that, is to tell him the truth.
"It was my brother" I inform him with a half smile that masquerades my upset, my gaze nonchalantly drifting down to the phone where my eyes widen. It isn't connected. I snatch it up, surveying it frantically. I have just spoken to Edgar, mere seconds ago in fact. How is this possible? "What the hell?"
I drop the phone onto the table, with a bang echoing around the room as I crouch down so my eyes stare intently onto the palms of my hands, my slender fingers skimming deeply through my thick, dark waves.
"I'm totally going crazy" I sigh, shaking my head a little as I face Michael again, my eyes mortified as tears congregate, a few slipping out. Instantly, I erase them. "Shit, sorry, I don't usually cry in front of people" No, I never cry in front of people. Its a part of my strength so potent to thrive. I swear I'm on the brink of collapsing, that strong demeanour expiring. I want to be strong, but as I asserted hypocritically to Laddie: Sometimes its okay not to be strong.
Then, I realise the blood imperturbably trickling down Michael's arm, inviting me to taste its beauty. I'm almost disturbed how I'm not questioning what I'm about to do. Time to think of my health and not my pride as my fingers tenderly coil around his wrist, and I move forward a little so I am more proximate with him. Then, I overcome some shyness that I have been socialised to exhibit when interacting with guys I am attracted to as I lean in slightly to place a supple kiss on his cheek, knowing it may be the last time, so I elongating it by a few seconds before I retract to drink from him. Hopefully, it will give me some strength.
"Thank you" I whisper, my voice beginning to hurt again and put my lips to his wrist, allowing the blood to leach into my mouth, dancing on the tip of my tongue. It is the first taste that eases my churning stomach, a lullaby lulling it into a deep slumber. I don't drink much, but as I straighten my back, I feel no vertigo, only health healing the fragments of that heinous vampire lurking within me. My throat no longer hurts and nothing feels wrong aside from the dreading sensation belting me habitually. "Thank you, I think I needed that" I observe him from where I sit, he appears anxious. I think I would be as well if I was about to duel with an elderly, potent vampire whose lust for death is beyond insanity. I smile at him, endevouring to ease his pain.
Mike PoV
"I think... we're both crazy. 'Cause, you're a half vampire and now I'm a vampire, so I think that makes us insane, 'cause, hey, what if this is all in our heads?" I chuckle, trying to make light of the situation. "I'm sure I heard a voice other than yours, so, yeah, we're both are nuts."
I watch as she finally takes my wrist after the kiss on my cheek. The feeling isn't what I expect. I figured it would be uncomfortable, but instead it is pleasant, almost even sexual as she drank. I wrap my arm around her and lightly stroke her hair, she has been through way too much, I don't need to be a genius to tell that much.
"Don't worry about crying, there's nothing wrong in it. You don't have to be the one in control, the one taking care of everything, not right now. I'll take care of everything and I'll help you." Least I hope, as long as I walk from this alive, or undead. I'm not able to feel pity or sympathy, so much as I didn't want her hurting and I wanted to fix it, take care of her. After her drinking from me, it seems for some reason this need to help her and see that she's ok is stronger. I also do care for her. "Anytime, I'll help you." I try stroking a hair from her face. It seems her color has improved, but she's nowhere near normal health. I have a feeling my blood only helped because I'm either newly turned, or that I just fed, could be a bit of both, but seems vampire blood can help a half vamp, while animal blood, at least the store bought stuff won't work. Then again, maybe it has to be fresh? Well, I know my blood has helped her, at least last out another night. She looked as if she would die any minute before.
I feel more drawn to her now, like the little blood I parted to her calls to me to be close to her. It's subtle, barely noticeable. I wonder what the effect of my blood is on her, if she feels drawn to me? I should ask David about this if we survive our battle with Max.
Sierra PoV
I laugh a little at his remark about it all being in our heads, this dire situation we are both embroiled in. What makes it sadder is he may not come out alive when everything concludes. But the most despondent fact is that the situation is so severe that three children have to be involved just to ensure the glimmer of hope ignites. I don't like the notion of it at all, but I can't impede David's decree. I never could, but yet I persevered to contest it, never once deeming it naive of me.
"And I'm pretty sure I was talking to my brother on that ancient thing, so yup, we're crazy" I laugh, savouring every second of it. I feel tranquil as he soothingly brushes my hair with his delicate fingertips, causing me to incline my head slightly so they can rest on them as he continues to exhibit this relaxing affection. 'I'll take care of everything and I'll help you', that one sentence instigates my head to dart up, my lips parted in amazement. I've never had the luxury of handing over that duty to care for others, it has transformed into a trait adhered to my life through daily experience. "Yo-you'll help me?" I ask, almost flabbergasted how he even suggests it. Maybe I do need help, but I want to help others. A vociferous conflict transpires in my head. Should I or should I not accept it? I want to, the covet to do so is intoxicating. Then, I decide that in order for him to understand the way I am, it is fundamental he sees something. I reach into the pits of my bag until I feel the rough texture of a Polaroid picture contrast with the chilly smooth surface and hand it to him. "That's my sister, Delilah" I bite my bottom lip, should I divulge this one secret, this one precious clandestine into him? I trust him. I can do this. "In 1984, when I was 14, she went missing. Until two weeks ago, about a week after the third year she had been missing, I was walking along The Boardwalk with some friends, and I ran into this girl. It was Delilah, the first time I'd seen her in three years and she'd been in Santa Carla all along" I purse my lips, tears goading to trail down my improved face. I won't let them. I can't let them. "About the same time I found out what was going on, it was the same time I found out what she was. I found out about a month ago she'd turned full willingly and left me on her own accord. I know, it doesn't sound too bad what with two parents. But um," At this point, I feel fresh hot tears sprint down my face, the demons releasing themself from a manmade incarceration. Yet I don't have the contorted facial features to prove I am crying, so that is slightly better, I guess. I don't know whether I should do this. I can trust him. But it's such a secret, not many people know. For him to understand why I yearn control and the need to help others, he has to see. As I begin to leisurely tug down the neck of my jumpsuit, my hands quiver, the blatant seven inch scar on my neck being exposed. "My dad, not the one you met, but my dad, he, um, he takes a lot of drugs. He, um" I wipe away at the tears "he gets angry sometimes, at my mom and me. Sometimes at my brothers" I immediately hide it again, and after a second of looking at him, and decide from the blood and my own personal attraction, and nestle into his shoulder, burrowing my head away as I wrap my arms around him. "Thank you, Michael. I don't think you have any idea how much I appreciate you being here"
Mike PoV
For a moment I can forget what awaits me upstairs as she laughs, it seems Sierra never has reason to be happy or laugh. I can only wonder at the cruelty of her life and that it may extend on before the two weeks she has suffered the nightmare I've only spent almost a week with in which ended in my giving in, having to choose saving my soul, or saving my family.
Sierra speaks a little about her life, whether it's the situation or my blood, both or just maybe she is attracted to me as I am to her, still she opens up and has relaxed more around me, no longer as on guard, no longer trying to hold control. As she cries I rub her back, trying to ease the pain, her story, though lacking detail was enough to show the hurt she has endured.
"That was wrong. She shouldn't have done that. I've at times wanted to just walk out and go on my own, but I couldn't do that, not without making sure Sam and my mom are alright and they knew I was leaving. You just don't do that to your family. She should have let you know how she was, wrote or called, anything instead of sit back and watched you and those who cared for her hurt and question what happened to her."
It was a completely selfish act by her sister and her sister didn't even have the excuse of having been turned into one of them as a reason.
"It sounds bad, even with you having parents even if your parents were saints. Not wanting anything to do with your parents is one thing, but she should have called you. She didn't care enough." I ran my finger over the small scar. "It's not that bad, don't worry so much about it. Someone asks, just say 'you shoulda seen what I did to the other guy, er girl'" I return her kiss from earlier, kissing lightly on her cheek. "Or put a little make up on it to hide the scar. Don't let that old cut control you."
I don't have any scars, guess mine are all on the inside.
"I was never cut, but my father didn't get his way, he would hit. My mom didn't know and he abused her, she tried hiding it, but we knew. She tried to make things work and believed him when he said he'd change." I snort at that thought. "Mom finally got the divorce after he came home drunk with lip stick smeared on his face, just she couldn't deal with trying to get alimony or child support 'cause he would fight her in court to take Sam if she did." She had been open, so I figure I'd tell her a little about me, nothing detailed.
Sierra PoV
It feels abnormal opening up to him as I have never done so in the past to any other person, albeit the few close friends, but they don't even know the full story. I divulge concise details and conclude the conversation before I can get to emotionally attached. Sensations of exuberance rush through me, the emotion outlandish but amiable, as even just talking to Michael consoles, providing me with a justification to illustrate a lively demeanour through facial expressions and joyful voice without having to masquerade my private life. I stop crying on his shoulder, listening to his opinion on Delilah. Though she is my sister, the seething detestation I endeavoured vigoriously to ward away since her revelation can still dash through my veins brimming with blood originating from a human and vampire.
"That's Delilah for you. It wasn't just leaving, it was the outcomes of it that seemed to prevail more. Because of my dad, erm, my mom doesn't work to take care of him, so she worked and so did I. When she left, I paid for mostly everything. My mom tried working for a while, then my dad just, well, you could say he got infuriated by it, and stuff happened, so she had to quit" I don't want to let too much slip as my nature won't consent me to, but I am improving with the trust concern. When Michael mentions Delilah calling or writing to me, I shake my head, my dark tresses motioning simultaneously. "She couldn't" I'm abandoning the dismal subject of Delilah now. I'm not going to burden him with the factors of what happened concerning David and the others. Not only will it perplex him as it has done to me, but with what looms upstairs, I don't want him to go knowing about something so bemusing and terrible. "I usually do wear make-up on it. Kinda ran out of foundation and concealer a few days ago though, so guess I'll just have to use hair. It isn't what it looks like that bothers me, just the who did it and what happened when he did"
When his lips brush my cheek, I get this sudden urge to kiss him back, to fuse our lips together. However, I restrain myself from doing it as bashfulness invades. Still, on my exterior, I smile at him whilst listening to the horrible aspects of his own life. What has ensued during Michael's life establishes more care for him, a covet to take care of him and ensure he is safe.
"Sounds like my dad and yours should hang out some time. What happened to you and your family," I shake my head out of disgust. "No one should have physical or emotional abuse inflicted upon them like that" It reminds me of my ex-boyfriend and how he would dive into infidelity when I refused to lose my virginity to him just subsequent to slapping me around the face hastily.
One incident that scarred me for some time materializes in my bank of memories, but I rebut it from surfacing. I feel content in Michael's presence, and so, I situate my head on his shoulder again, deflecting the memory and the return of the thunderstorm in my head, the one symptom that notifies me that the vampire is coming back. There's one segment of information cemented into Michael's head I require knowing before he leaves to the anonymous fate waiting for him threateningly.
"So, you know what Alan said up there to Edgar? Is that true?" I ask, then resting my chin on his shoulder. I glance away slightly as I elicit valour to even admit this, a smirk crawling onto my lips. I look back up to him, noting the expression on his face. "Because if it is, it's reciprocated"
Mike PoV
I laugh at the suggestion of her father and mine.
"I doubt it, my sperm donor would turn his nose up at your father. He thinks he's better than anyone, if the person doesn't have big money, he considers them trash... Even though he's the biggest piece of trash that walks, only trash that's back stabbed and stepped on people to get to the top. Only good quality he has, is that he'll probably have a heart attack before sixty. He's not a worry now, no way he'd come here, if he did and touched Sam... I'd rip his arms off and choke him to death with them." I shake my head. "I'm fine I know he can't hurt me, but I sure can hurt him."
I smile and continue stroking her hair. She needs to be cared for, for once. I at least had a mother; Sierra had nothing and didn't get to be kid when she should have been.
"You mean Alan telling Edgar 'we do now', when it came to working with vampires?" I chuckle."Yeah, he said that, even though he seems to play follow the leader to Edgar. He's got a brain. Edgar didn't say a word; neither of those kids want to face Max alone." I sigh. "And David wasn't joking, if Edgar and Alan don't follow David's orders, they will leave... and drag me with them. David's very angry... actually that's an understatement." I can feel the sheer hatred from David that is directed at Edgar. "David apparently doesn't make deals often and it severely pisses him off if the deal doesn't work in his favour... and now he has to fight Max because Max wasn't removed when he should have been and none of them think we can win, if they could, they'd have killed Max themselves before now. Edgar messed up as far as David's concerned, why he has demanded their part in things upstairs, if he has to fix the situation, they're going to help and do as he says so we all can leave this house alive." I ease from her, standing. "I'm going to have to head back up and wait. I plan on coming back down when it's over though, 'cause really I'm just not in a dying mood tonight." I laugh a little, trying to make some light of the situation. "Try and get some rest while you can, 'cause likely to get noisy upstairs."