The roaring of an exhaust was loud and it pounded in my head. I wish they would turn the dial down just a bit, or slow down one. The hum from the road was even louder as the car swerved and turned. I panicked, hoping that I wasn't taken by Ilona and her ghouls to some remote part of town for her just to turn me into a monster like herself. I felt a warm and reassuring hand on my thigh as I finally opened my eyes to see Julius looking at me while turning every so often towards the road.
"You're alright. I've got you," he said. Such familiar words.
"Did you find him?" I asked before I even had a chance to look around and notice that I was in the backseat of the car and my head was resting on the lap of said man that I was referring to.
Julius just smiled and turned back towards the road, "He'll need blood. He's in a bad place, they weren't very accommodating to him."
I sat up and realized the extent of damage that Julius was referring to. Silas's eyes were closed as he head was leaning against the dark tinted windows of the car. He was utterly naked and stained with blood all over. Parts of his flesh was missing and he was even missing a few fingers on his hands. He legs were torn, but it showed signs of healing that was starting. He had to have had a bit of blood for that to happen. And he was so pale, deathly pale. He looked like he was one of them, the actual creatures of the night, not the man that I remember.
"How far are we from home?" I asked anxiously.
"We're just outside of Washington on I-66 now. It might be a couple hours. In the mean time, you might want to think about maybe...giving him some help," Julius nudged and from the look in his eyes in the mirror, I knew what he was suggesting.
I wasn't sure how to pull this off, I knew Silas would need fresh blood, or even animal blood.
"No, it has to be human, none of this animal business anymore," Julius interrupted my thoughts as if he could read them. Oh yeah, he practically could because we were bonded.
I could feel that he was worried for his cousin, the only living being from his original humanity and only person he's really been close to his entire existence. I didn't reply, but nodded my head. It's not like we haven't swapped before so this shouldn't be any different. Though, when we swap, it's during sex and let me tell you, it's fantastic. This, I was sure was going to hurt and not in a good way either. So I grabbed Silas's face and lightly tapped on his cheek to rouse him.
"Silas?" I asked hoping that he would open his eyes, "Silas, please, wake up."
I could feel his head begin to stir and finally his eyelids opened so slightly. I could see the white of his eyes, how they were opaque and clear. He was starving for blood. "Ani?" he hoarsely spoke.
I smiled at him, "Yes, it's me. Anabelle. We need to get you better."
I took off my light coat and draped it around him and rubbed his shoulders hoping that might bring back some of the warmth he had lost. I wasn't sure how to go about it, or even break the skin considering that my nails weren't long at all and there wasn't anything in the car to cut myself with.
"Just put his mouth on your neck, he'll know what to do," Julius instructed all the while looking in the rear-view mirror.
I straddled Silas in the backseat and pulled my hair to the side bending my neck and placing it near his mouth. I got no movement from Silas. I was starting to worry. What if he was dying? Could a Vampyre die from starvation. "Silas, you have to bite me, you need the blood."
I felt his hands sliding up my thighs to my waist and wrapping around my back. I felt him take in a long breath, breathing me in as he said, "Ani?"
"Yes, sweetie, do it. I'm ready. You need this," I coaxed him.
Man, I was right when I said this would hurt. Considering that Vampyre's don't have the fangs that modern folklore would make you think, but their teeth were extra sharp and cut through skin like butter. That didn't make it any less painful when Silas found my neck, kissed my skin softly as he chomped down on me like I was a big fat steak. Well, I guess to him I might have been. He drank me in holding me firmer in his grasp as I moaned. The endorphins from being bitten were exhilarating. When a Vampyre bites you, it's like liquid pleasure coursing through your viens, which is why it's even more potent while having sex.
His blood lust was great and I started to feel a bit light headed as I laid on top of him as he continued to drink. I felt him stiffen and his lips gently raised from my neck as I laid my head on his shoulder. "Ani?" he said breathlessly.
"Yes..." I mumbled, barely able to keep my eyes open.
His hands grabbed my face and brought my eyes to his, "Ani," he said again, his eyes wide as he finally realized who I was and I wasn't just a dream. He drew me close to him and kissed me hard on my lips. His eyes were still white but the grey was starting to show through. He needed more, but I wasn't sure how much more I could give him. He enveloped me in his arms and held me there, not moving.
Feelings of worry, regret, jealousy and saddness overwhelmed me as I turned to see Julius peering in our direction. While we were close, the bond was very strong between us. He was feeling the pleasure of all this I was experiencing and yet he also knew just how close to death I could be if Silas took anymore of my blood. "We need to stop, get you something to drink, we can pick up some clothes for Silas as well"
Silas nodded as he held me in his arms that were just starting to heal bit by bit. Though he didn't have all his strength back or even completely healed, he was at least strong enough to hold me in his arms until we stopped at a gas station right off the highway in a town called Manassas. We stopped at the Exxon station that was next to a Cracker Barrel where Julius ran into and bought a shirt and jeans for Silas and sugary stuff for me. He said that it helps with bringing my blood levels back up. As well as Orange Juice and a load of water. Silas ran into the bathroom on the side of the Exxon where he washed up a bit and put on the clothes that Julius got him. Granted he didn't look sultry like he usually did, but he at least didn't look like a murder victim anymore.
We were still about and hour and a half from home or more and the car was quiet for most of the way there. Silas and I talked amongst ourselves until Silas jumped into the seat upfront to speak with Julius.
"Thank you," Silas said as he touched Julius's hand on the gear leaver.
"You're welcome, but you know if you didn't just leave me there, this would have never happened," Julius said.
I was confused by the sudden burst of anger from Julius and the way he responded so I chimed in my two cents, "Left you? Is that what you think he did?"
Julius turned to me. I had a hand on either head rest with my head between the two seats looking at both of the men who were so involved in my life recently. Two men who I wasn't sure I could survive without. Julius, who I was bonded, and Silas, the man who I was sure I was falling so deeply in love with.
"Julius, I didn't leave you with Ilona, I came to find you," Silas tried to explain.
"That's not what I was told. I was told you got there before me and that you made arrangements for me to stay there so you could have Anabelle to yourself," Julius argued.
"What?" Silas and I both said in unison.
"That's crazy! You left the house after you saw Silas and I together. We went to find you and bring you back. Why on earth would you ever believe Ilona of all people. Do you know what she tried to do to me?" I screamed while I thumped his head from behind.
Julius turned slightly to give me the stink eye, "Yes, I was fully aware of her plans when Vlad took me downstairs to 'search' for Silas."
"Why did you even bring her here? Have you lost all your brains?" Silas continued.
"You think I could have stopped her?" Julius argued as Silas looked at me and I shrugged.
"I would have found a way to come anyways, so I only put myself at danger. Don't blame Julius, he tried to get me to stay," I said as I sat back down in my seat and let the boys hammer out their own differences.
By the end of the trip and we were getting off of the highway it was early morning. The sun was rising and we were all exhausted. Silas still needed a full amount of recouping in order to be 100 percent. I figured we would all go back to the cabin and sleep the day away, but Julius turned down towards my street and pulled into my driveway.
"Why are we here? Are you both going to stay at the house?" I asked.
Silas looked away and Julius was averting my eyes, "No, I'm just dropping you off," Julius said as he pressed the unlock button for the doors.
"What?" I questioned, "You don't seriously mean to just leave me here by myself? After all that happened?"
Julius turned in his seat and looked me in the eyes, I could feel his sincerity when he said, "Silas has to get better and fast. I'm sorry, there isn't anything else you can do right now. You are drained yourself. He wouldn't be able to take anything else from you. I need to get him home so he can rest and I can find someone for him to feed from. Just stay here. Don't go anywhere until I come to get you."
I crossed my arms and gave him a pouty face, which obviously didn't work on him. I knew I was acting like a three year old, but I didn't want to be left alone. I was scared to go back into the house, especially after what happened the other night before Julius came over. When the wolves came. Granted, it wasn't likely for them to show up in the daytime, but still, I didn't want to be in the house alone. I pushed my feelings towards Julius so he could feel just how scared I was.
He reached back and touched my arm, "You'll be fine. I'll come to get you soon, I promise."
Like a child, I crossed my arms and refused to take my seat belt off. It wasn't until Silas spoke that I started to tear up.
"Please, Ani. I know you want to help, but you can only do that by being well yourself. Stay here and we will come to get you soon."
"Why can't I go with you? I can eat and sleep at the cabin. I don't need to be apart from you both," I tried to persuade.
Julius's lips were in a tight line as he opened his door and stood outside before he grabbed the handle to my door and opened it. "Come on," he said but I refused to move. He reached in the car, unbuckled my belt and picked me up.
I know, I was being very childish, but I had good reason to be. The house was empty and lifeless, my closest friend was in Waynesboro and I didn't want to be in the house by myself right now. Not after what happened here and not after what happened in D.C. What if Ilona were to come here and take me before Julius or Silas could come back? So I clung to Julius, refusing to let go.
Julius laughed, "There may be a time where you clinging to me would bring me much joy, but now, you really have to let go of me. Anabelle. Please."
Tears spilled from my eyes as he laid me down on the ground. I wrapped my arms around his torso and cried into his chest, "Please don't leave me here. Please."
Julius, feeling my worry bent down and brushed the hair from my face and held my cheeks in his hands, "You'll be safe. I promise you. I wouldn't let anyone hurt you, do you understand that? We are bonded. I would know if you were in danger."
I just nodded my head as he closed the car doors and got into his seat. He looked up at me and smiled as did Silas who was looking worse for wear than he did earlier. Julius was right, Silas had to come first. Especially if they wanted to bring down Ilona, Silas needed to be at top strength. I shouldn't have carried on like a child. So I stood in the driveway, tears streaming down my face as they backed down the asphalt to the main road where they took off towards the cabin leaving me there at the house, alone.
Wiping the tear stains from my cheeks I walked towards the house. It was the sound of a door slamming shut that startled me and to my amazement of who came barreling towards me with arms wide open.
"Tristian?" I said as I ran towards him with my still blood stained arms outstretched.
He pulled me into a tight hug as he kissed my cheek and spun me around like I was just a little girl. "I'm so sorry for leaving like I did."
"It's alright, I forgive you," I said, the tears swelling in my eyes once again, but not because I was scared or alone, but because I was happy to have my friend back.
Tristian took a look at me up and down, holding me at arms length from him, "What on earth happened to you?"
"It's a long story," I said exasperatingly.
"Well, come on inside, I'll make us some tea," Tristian said as he put his arm around my shoulders and lead me inside where I wouldn't be alone.