Bite Me (4 page)

CHAPTER TEN

     "You don't look well." Donnie commented.

     We were in my kitchen having tea.

      "I feel fine." I lied.

      "You've been saying that for weeks. Yet you're paler than usual and you're getting dark circles under your eyes."

     "You're just not used to me without make-up on all of the time." I put my fingers to my brow and winced.

      "You have a headache, don't you?" he accused with peering eyes.

      "It'll go away if you just be quiet." I groused.

      "No. You're sick, and you're going to rest." He persisted. He went in the parlor and opened the sofa bed. He fluffed the pillows and turned down the blanket. Returning to the kitchen, he grabbed my arm and pulled me off of the chair. "Come on." He ordered.

      I was too tired and sick in my stomach to argue. I had him lead me to the sofa bed and tuck me in. "Now, I'm going to make you a big pot of chicken soup."

     "I only have canned soup." I grumbled, laying my head against the fluffed pillows.

     "I'll make a quick run to the market down the street. You stay put. And, no Mr. Harper this evening."

     "Yes, Dad." I dryly replied and turned on the TV.

     He grabbed his wool pea coat from off of the back of the arm chair and slipped it on as he headed to the door. "I mean it." He decreed. "I want to find you on that bed when I get back."

    I waved my hand and I heard the door open and close. I sighed and sunk deep into the pillows and covers. It did feel good to be pampered. Maybe I was coming down with some sort of flu virus and all I needed was rest. Anything was better than believing a vampire bit me and was turning me into one.

     The afternoon reporter was talking about another killing the previous evening but found early this morning. They went to say the police still had no suspects due to lack of evidence; other than the dead bodies.

     I changed the channel but I couldn't get my mind off of what I just heard. It made me doubt what I had just believed; that I only had a flu virus. And, that still could be true. I forced myself to listen to the chatter on the talk show.

     The phone rang. I reached over and pulled the cell off of the lamp table. I recognized the number. It was Aiden. "Hello." I said with a smile.

     "Hey, Sweetness, how are you feeling?"

     "Not too well. I think, I'm coming down with something. Donnie's at the market getting ingredients to make me a big pot of chicken soup and God knows what else he'll get."

     "So, you're not alone."

      I shook my head as I answered. "No."

    "Good, because I can't get there tonight."

     "Tangled up in that case?"

     He deeply sighed on the other end. "Yeah. It's really getting to me that this maniac is loose on the street and all of these girls are dying; even if they are prostitutes. Because of it, my department isn't looking real hard. That really gets me angry. I'm sorry."

     "For what?"

    "Getting bent with you. You're not feeling well; you don't need to hear my sob story."

    "That's okay."

     "Well, I better let you go and rest. Tell my man Donnie to take good care of you or he'll have to answer to me."

     I softly laughed. "I will."

     We said our good byes and I hung up.

     A short while later, Donnie returned with two armfuls of bags.

     "Have you been resting?" he asked in a commanding tone as he put the bags on the kitchen table.

     "I haven't gotten out of bed once. I did talk to Aiden though."

     Donnie paused in lifting something from the bag. "You didn't tell him it was okay to come over?"

     "No. He's too busy on that case with the dead girls in the alleyways. There was another one last night."

     "And, the police have no clue who the culprit is?" He started setting things for the soup on the counter.

     I shook my head and winced. "Could you get me a couple of aspirins?"

     Donnie reached up into the cabinet over the sink, took down the bottle and shook out two tablets. He filled a glass with water and brought it over to me. I popped them into my mouth and swallowed a few mouthfuls of water. I handed it back to him.

     "Keep it there on the table. You need to hydrate."

     "I'd rather hydrate with a bottle of beer."

     He tossed me a caustic glare and went back into the kitchen.

     A few hours later, I was seated in bed, eating the delicious soup Donnie made. He sat, eating in the arm chair. Together we watched Star Trek. I was still saddened by the loss of Leonard Nimoy. I loved him and his Spock character. So watching the movie where his character died brought more of an emotional meaning to me.

     I was so tired and as much as I enjoyed the soup I couldn't finish the bowl Donnie gave me. I felt bad since he went through all that trouble to make it.

     He took the partially filled bowl and shook his head. "Tomorrow, you're going to the doctor." He decided.

     "I told you, I'm fine."

     "We'll let the doctor decide."

     "Mmm, hmm." I mumbled and leaned my head back into the pillows. The movie over, I changed the channel but I could barely keep my eyes opened. I started feeling cold. I curled under the blanket and closed my eyes. Someone was yapping on the television but I paid little attention.

     I felt Donnie lightly shake me. "Hey,"

     I lifted my gaze on him. "Did I doze off?"

    He nodded. "I cleaned up the kitchen. There's a kettle of water on the stove, should you want tea. I've got to go."

    I waved a hand. "Go."

    "I'll be back tomorrow morning to take you to the physician's."

    "Fine. Fine." I mumbled, anxious to make him leave so I could get back to sleep.

    He turned and I heard the door quietly close. I settled comfortably, TV on, and closed my eyes.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

     "I really don't need to be here." I groused to Donnie.

     He firmly convinced me to go to the doctor. I sat on the exam table as he sat in a chair.

     "You've been sick for a few weeks now. It's best you get checked out."

     I huffed and rolled my eyes.

     The doctor came in. He was tall, lanky and balding. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked, setting my file on the desk.

     "I think I have some sort of lingering virus. I've been tired, cold and getting headaches."

     "And when did this start?"

    When I was bitten. I thought. "A few weeks ago."

    He checked me over, thoroughly and after a bit he sighed. "Everything seems to check out. You're probably at the tail end of a viral infection. There's nothing much to do for it but rest."

    I peered at Donnie. "Told ya."

    "At least it's confirmed."

    "It's good that you came in and got checked out." The doctor agreed with Donnie.

     He then left the room and I jumped off of the table. "I wasted my time and money for some doctor to tell me I had a viral infection that I already knew that I had." I complained to my friend.

     "Forgive me for caring." He retorted.

     I slipped into my coat and sighed. "I'm sorry. I know you just did it because you're worried about me. But trust me," I slapped a hand to his shoulder. "I'm fine. Now can we get out of here? I'm famished. Let's stop and get something to eat."

      "I guess that's a good sign." He agreed and together, we departed.

     We sat at a restaurant near the docks. The buoy bells clanged and horns could be heard in the distance. The moon's reflection rippled on the water. Inside was the low chatter of customers and the clatter of utensils.

      Donnie and I had been enjoying our dinner when I noticed him. Was he stalking me? He sat alone at a distant table, watching me. A sinister smile touched his lips.

      "Lucy?"

      "Hmm?"

      "Are you okay? It looks like you've just seen a ghost." He teased.

      In some ways, I did. I dabbed my mouth on a napkin and started to rise. "Excuse me, I have to go to the loo."

      Donnie nodded and continued eating.

      I strolled over to the table and glared down at him. At Draco. "What do you want with me? Why won't you leave me alone?" I hissed.

     "Because, I have great plans for you, Lucy."

     "You know my name?"

     "I know everything about you. You've been chosen. Your life is about to get better."

     "You're sick. And if you don't leave me alone, I'll report you to the cops."

     "Like your quick-minded boyfriend?" he scoffed.

     "He isn't my boyfriend."

    "No, because you belong to me."

    "I belong to no one! Leave me alone." I retorted and walked away. I felt his eyes on my back.

     When I returned to the table, Donnie was drinking a cup of tea. Mine was waiting for me.

     "I ordered us tea." He stated.

     "That's fine." I grumbled and stirred the sugar and cream into it. I struggled with the shaking in my hand.

      "Maybe we ought to get you home. You're not looking all that well of a sudden." Donnie noted.

      "As soon as I finish my tea." I told him. I glanced over at the other table but Draco was gone. And I got the feeling, it wouldn't be the last I saw of him.

CHAPTER TWELVE

     We shared an explosive orgasm. I laid my head limply on his sweaty chest. He put his arms around me and we laid quietly for a long moment. I listened to the beat of his heart as he regained his normal breathing.

     "Are you all right?" he asked me after a while.

     "I'm fine."

      "You seem cold." He noted, pulling the covers over us.

      I lifted my head and smiled, "I'm fine, honest. The doctor said I had a minor viral infection, that I'd be okay in a few days. He said I needed rest."

      Aiden laughed. "You call this rest?"

     "It relaxed me. Didn't it you?" I teased.

      He tightened his hold around me. "It certainly did."

     I closed my eyes. "I am a bit tired now though."

     "I'm not surprised."

      I rolled over on my back and he turned, leaning on his elbow as he smiled down at me. "Seriously, if you're not well, you should rest."

      "And hydrate. I could use a beer."

      Aiden laughed and sat up, swinging his muscular brown legs over the side of the bed. I watched the reflexes in his taut buttocks as he walked into the kitchen and then laid back down, a smile of pleasure on my face.

      Draco was suddenly standing at the foot of the bed, glowering at me with those piercing gray eyes. "I told you, you belong to me." He snarled and hissed, baring his fangs.

      I sharply sat up with a gasp. He was gone. I heard the bottles rattle in the fridge as Aiden grabbed two. He was soon beside me on the bed, handing me my beer. I gripped the cap and twisted it off, trying to control the shaking in my hand. I guzzled a few mouthfuls.

       "Come up for air." I heard Aiden say.

       I slowly lowered the bottle from my lips and stared at him. "What?"

       He frowned. "Maybe, you should lay down."

      I shook my head. "I'm fine." I repeated and drank more beer.

      He shrugged, "If you insist." He titled the bottle to his sensuous lips. Lips that brought so much pleasure.

      I put the bottle aside and gathered my t-shirt and panties, getting dressed. Aiden laid under the covers naked. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. A sitcom was on and we cozied up to watch it.

     He came up behind me. My back was to him, my head bowed. Darkness surrounded me. His hands caressed my shoulders. He brushed my hair from my neck and kissed it.

     "It's time, Lucy. You're one of us now."

     I slowly turned. And when I opened my mouth, fangs protruded from my gums.

    I sat up with a sharp gasp, struggling against the hands that touched me.

    "Hey, hey, it's me. It's Aiden." His voice pressed through my foggy mind.

    I stopped and looked around; into his dark eyes. I sighed with relief.

    "That must have been some dream."

    I pushed my hair from off my face. "I dreamed I became a vampire."

    Aiden smiled, "I thought you, of all people, would like that."

    "Not really." I grumbled and kicked my feet over the side of the bed, standing. "I'm going to make me a cup of tea. Want one?"

    "Nah. I'll go back to sleep, if you don't mind."

     "Go ahead."

     I went in the kitchen and filled the kettle with water, glancing up at the window over the sink and nearly dropped the pot. Draco's face was pressed on the other side, his fangs gleaming. Why was he haunting me? Why wouldn't he leave me alone?

     He told me, last week, that he had big plans for me. How prophetic was my dream? I placed the kettle on the burner and turned it on. As the water heated, I retrieved my laptop that was on the coffee table and brought it into the kitchen, putting it on the table. Immediately, I started searching for information on vampires and their bites.

     I learned that not all vampires turn their victims into creatures of the night. In fact, only a few actually knew how to. For the most part, they drink blood to nourish themselves. The more they drink, the more powerful they become.

     And, they didn't always turn their victim with one bite. Sometimes, it took a few bites to make the turn.

      Of course, this was if vampires were real. And, I was beginning to believe they were and we, as humans, were ignorant to the fact they walked among us.

     The kettle whistled and I got up to pour the scalding water into the cup I prepared with the mesh tea ball. It sizzled and spit as it hit the mesh. Bringing it over to the table, I stirred in the sugar and sat down to continue reading.

     At one point, during the night, Aiden got up to use the facility. He was surprised to see me focused on the computer screen.

    "Baby, how long you been awake?"

    I glanced up at him and then at the clock on the wall. The hands read four o'clock.

    "I guess the time just got away from me." I turned off the computer before he could see what I was reading. "I started doing research for my next article."

    "About vampires?"

    I must have looked guilty. He laughed and shook his head.

    "Don't you get enough of them? Come to bed. You're supposed to be resting."

    "I'll be right there." I yawned.

    As Aiden returned to bed, I closed up the laptop, put the mug in the sink and climbed in beside him. I snuggled close to him; something I usually don't do and he wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me. That's how we fell back to sleep.