Bite, p.59
Bite, page 59
“I didn’t know we had any food left,” I say.
Evan emerges from the garage as he responds, “I went to the store and picked up a few things.” He chuckles while adding, “Well actually I was ordered by Gina to go grocery shopping. She practically threw me out to get food for Mark.”
I laugh as I ask, “Is Sam awake as well?”
“Yes I am,” Sam answers as he walks in from the kitchen. I rush over to him and briefly hug him as I ask, “How do you feel?”
“Good. Everything is completely healed.”
I smile and turn my gaze over to Mark as I say, “Thank you again for helping my brother.”
By this time Gina enters as well and goes to stand by Sam’s side. He takes a deep breath as he says, “Mark, I owe you. Thank you and if you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“No problem. Glad to help,” he says tautly.
Gina laughs as she says, “You’re still nervous to be here?” She shakes her head as Joseph brings out a plate of pancakes with a glass of orange juice. She says, “Dig in. Joseph makes the best pancakes in the world. At least, that’s what I vaguely remember.”
“Please Gina, you use to damn near swallow them whole,” I say while we all laugh.
Mark starts to eat while we all sit around and chat. Gina is very concerned about what her friends are thinking but after looking ahead in the future, I assure her that everything is going to be okay between them. Her friends truly care about her and no matter what she is they are going to stay by her side.
Too bad I can’t say the same thing about Tiffany and I. She absolutely hated me for the way I treated her and who could blame her? I knew last night I had to be as callous as possible in order for her to keep her distance. It’s bad enough that she is close to Gina but if Ursela learns that I’m also romantically involved as well, Tiffany wouldn’t stand a chance. Yes marking her was wrong but I couldn’t help it. The selfish side of me wanted to make it known that she was mine and no other vampire better not even think of touching her. All I can do now is hope once all this was over, and if we survive of course, I can make things right with her again.
As my thoughts trail off about Tiffany, I begin to feel tension from my brother. I snap out of my daydream to glance over at him. While no one else is noticing, Sam is staring intensely at Mark. I silently ask Sam Are you okay but he doesn’t answer. Trying not to raise any alarm, I walk around the room so I can look at his face and I freeze when I see his eyes are bright green. I figured he would be thirsty but I was hoping that he could hold out until Mark leaves. Watching Sam now, I feel what is about to happen and I only have a split second to yell, “Sam no!”
Good thing we have excellent reflexes. After picking up the energy in the room, Gina is over to Mark in a flash and she pushes him out of his seat while getting in front of him in a defensive position. I throw my shield on Mark at full blast while Joseph and Evan grab Sam whose snarling with his fangs extended trying to break free of their hold. Gina’s face is frantic but she stands her ground as she yells, “Sam! Baby please snap out of it!” He doesn’t respond to her and looking at his face, it is like he’s in a trance. Harry appears and grabs Sam from behind while she screams, “Pop get him out of here!”
He nods and with Evan’s help they manage to get Sam out the backdoor and I watch them disappear into the trees. While all this was happening, Mark is barely breathing and his heart is beating so fast that I thought it is literally going to burst through his chest. When I feel it is safe, I remove my shield as I say to him, “You can relax now. Harry is going to make sure Sam gets something to eat before he comes back.” I give him a friendly smile as I add firmly, “So everything is cool now. You can slow your heart down and I can stop worrying if you’ll give yourself a heart attack.”
“Right; slow my heart down. Sure no problem,” he mumbles while nodding his head vigorously.
Mark starts taking deep breaths to calm himself. Once I feel better knowing he’s going to be okay, the rest of us try to absorb my brother’s mood shift and how quickly it happened. “What happened? Why did he react like that? I’ve never seen him so determined for blood before,” Gina says.
I’m thinking the same grim thought and I reply, “I guess since he already had some of Mark’s blood, he has become attracted to it and he wanted some more.”
“G-great, I n-never felt so w-wanted before,” Mark stammers while I feel him continue to calm down.
Gina helps him back to the couch and lets him rest his head on her shoulder until his heart is beating normally again. Once he assures her that he’s one hundred percent again, she looks around at our faces as she says, “We have to do something. Sam can’t keep going on like this.” She pauses and takes a couple of deep breaths before she says, “I know what I have to do and time is running out for my husband. I need to go to Ursela and deal with this once and for all.”
I look in her mind and gasp when I see exactly what she wants to do. “Gina you can’t be serious.”
“What? What’s going on,” Mark asks while David enters.
“She plans to go find Ursela and face her alone,” I reply while showing her my disappointment.
“Kiddo, are you nuts or suicidal? You cannot beat her that way,” David exclaims. “She’s not going to sit down over coffee and openly discuss this with you. You are taking over her title and she is not too pleased about that.
Exasperated Gina throws up her hands as she responds, “What else can I do? I have to do something to help my husband. He can’t go on like this any longer. Every time the venom takes over and he snaps, it tears him up inside. Don’t you guys realize how much this is killing him?”
We all think for a moment and I know that she’s right. But that doesn’t mean I’m happy with her walking up to Ursela by herself. There has to be another way to help my brother without Gina getting killed. We stay lost in thought until Mark breaks the silence as he says, “Well we gotta come up with a plan. If this Ursela is as bad as you guys say she is then you’ll need to come up with a way where she won’t see you guys coming.”
While nodding David chimes in, “Marky Mark is right. Plus kiddo still needs to be able to work around people’s heads without them knowing.”
She sighs as she says, “I’ve been working on it but you guys still feel when I’m in there. I never realized how hard it is trying to do it unnoticed.”
I feel her anxiety and I say, “It’s not easy Gina but we’re not going to let you give up. We’ll keep practicing.”
She lets out a tired sigh but nods while murmuring, “Okay but I’m going to push until I get it right.”
“We wouldn’t want it any other way Gina,” I respond with a confident smile.
Gina smiles in return and turns to look at Mark, she says, “I better take you home now.”
“If you want, I’ll take him for you. I’m sure you’ll want to be here when Sam returns,” I offer.
She grins as she responds, “I would appreciate that. Thanks Charlie.”
About fifteen minutes later, Mark and I are in my Maserati (I’m still steamed about my other car being destroyed) on our way back to his dorm. He’s very quiet as he stares out the window and reading his thoughts is depressing me. He somehow regrets giving Sam his blood but he feels that if he didn’t then Gina would have been upset with him. All he wants is to stay in her good graces but he thinks Sam freaked out because of his blood, which he hopes she doesn’t hold against him. All I do is sigh. Is everyone in love with her?
“It wasn’t your fault for Sam’s reaction. If you didn’t give him your blood, he probably would have still reacted that way since you were the only human in the room,” I say in hopes it will make him feel better.
He just sighs as he says, “Yeah I know. I’m sorry he’s still struggling so much. It’s been real hard on Gina but I’m amazed at how well she’s holding up.”
I find that piece of news interesting and I ponder his statement as I push the car forward. I honestly never thought once to ask how Gina was doing. In the course of a year, she began dating my brother only to learn later on that we are all a bunch of vampires. Then on a few occasions, he’s had to rescue her from near death experiences and let’s not forget her nearly falling into the river as we crossed the GWB (Sam still owes Joseph an apology for his misjudgment in thinking he let her fall). Her wedding night nearly cost her life in trying to protect Mark and she was turned into one of us and Vincent adding the pressure that she’s the one to destroy Ursela, Gina’s head has to be pretty fucked up by now. I feel guilty for never asking her how she was doing or if any of this was too overwhelming for her. Or to even let her know that if she had any thoughts or concerns that she can come talk to any one of us including me. But none of us knows what’s going through her head and since Tiffany just recently learned our little secret, I imagine Mark was the one Gina’s been running to when she needed to vent. Some brother-n-law I turned out to be.
“How has she been dealing with everything? I don’t mean just when Sam loses it but with everything that’s happened over the past year,” I ask.
Mark looks at me in astonishment as I pull up to the college entrance. He clears his throat as he replies, “She’s been okay, actually better than okay she’s doing great under the circumstances. I know you guys think of yourselves as cursed but if you knew Gina before, you would think differently. When she thought Harry was gone, the whole world would have crumbled around her and she wouldn’t have noticed. You guys not only reunited her with him but you make her truly happy. She even told me she couldn’t imagine having a better family than the one she has now. Gina really loves you guys.” He shrugs his shoulders and with a sheepish grin he murmurs, “I thought you should know that.”
I think about his words and I smile as I respond, “Thank you Mark. I really do appreciate hearing that.”
He smiles, as he says, “No problem. Take it easy. And thanks for the ride.”
“Anytime Mark.”
He gets out of the car and I sit for a moment wondering what to do next. I’m not quite ready to go back to the house because I feel a strange ache building in my chest. I know it wasn’t for sex (even though it feels like forever since I got laid) but definitely for female companionship. I know there’s only one place I want to be and the desire to go there builds. And I don’t care whether my decision is a good one or not.
I turn the car around in the direction towards my golden hair angel. Even though she is probably ready to drive a stake right through my heart, I am willing to take the risk to see Tiffany. Maybe after what she witnessed on the beach, she’ll go a little easy on me. Then again if she wants to put my balls in a sling, I can’t be mad at her for that.
I cross my fingers in hopes that she is alone and I smile with relief when I get to her house and I only hear her mind. After I park, I sit in the car for a moment actually feeling nervous about what I’m going to say to her. She peeks out the window and I feel her mixed emotions when she sees it’s me. Well no point sitting in the car since she knows I’m here. I hop out the car and gather my courage to face her as I walk towards the house.
When I reach the porch, Tiffany is already at the door standing with her arms folded across her chest. Her mind isn’t sure if she should be angry since part of her is elated to see me. I know it’s cheating but I need to know what she is thinking so I’ll know how to talk to her without setting her off into an angry fit. Seeing Tiffany relieves some of the ache but now I long to hold her as well as other things.
Trying not to show how slightly happy she is to see me, she asks, “Hey. What are you doing here?”
I give her my sexiest smile as I reply, “Hello. I just wanted to see how you were holding up. I can imagine yesterday was a lot to take in and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
She softens up a bit as she mumbles, “Oh. I’m okay. Last night was pretty crazy and I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that happened on the beach. Speaking of that how’s Sam? Is he better?”
Her concern for my brother makes me smile as I respond, “He’s okay now. A night’s rest was just what the doctor ordered and his body is a hundred percent again.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Tiffany hesitates for a second and then she asks, “Would you like to come in?”
“Sure,” I reply while a little surprised that she invites me inside.
Once inside, Tiffany says, “I would offer you something to drink but being that you don’t drink anything but blood…”
Her voice trails off and I let out a light laugh. “I do enjoy wine if you have any even though you’re not twenty one yet.”
She gives me a sly grin as she says, “Oh please Charlie I know you don’t think I’m totally innocent. I can probably drink you under the table.”
“I’m sure you can but it wouldn’t be much of a contest since I can’t get drunk.”
Tiffany giggles, as she says, “Well don’t think that’s your advantage because I will still out drink you.” She gives me a wink while adding, “One glass of wine coming right up.” She hurries into the kitchen and a few moments later returns with two glasses half full. After handing me my glass, she takes a sip and then says, “Okay let’s cut the bullshit shall we? I’m glad that your brother is okay but why don’t you tell me why you’re really here?”
Ah the direct approach; I can handle that much better. “I came to see you.”
“Why? You dumped me remember? You told me that I was nothing but another notch on your one hundred and forty plus years old belt. Why do you still give a shit about me?”
Her reminder of my harsh words makes me cringe. Yeah despite everything Tiffany is still pissed and I have to find a way to smooth things over so at least we can have civil conversations without the tension. I nervously clear my throat as I respond, “Please let me apologize for my rude behavior. I shouldn’t have been so cruel. I’m very sorry.”
She wasn’t expecting my apology and she is even taken back. She slightly smiles as she says, “Thank you. I really do appreciate hearing that.”
“You’re welcome. Please know that I mean every word.”
Tiffany moves closer to me and with questioning eyes she asks, “There’s something more to it isn’t there? I want to know the truth because there’s something you’re not telling me. In fact, it’s like I can almost feel you. It’s weird. It’s like I can feel your apprehension. Why is that?”
I smile when I realize my mark is affecting her. I pull her close to me and reply, “I feel closer to you as well.” Being this close to her is putting my head in a daze and I have to fight every urge in my body not to kiss every inch of hers.
Tiffany’s breathing gets heavy as she says, “This doesn’t change anything. I’m still angry with you but I want to know what you’re keeping from me?”
I can’t tell her that my marking her has put her in more danger so instead I lightly kiss her on the lips and I softly say, “That is what I’m keeping from you. My affection. I know that is not going to make any sense but what I said to you last night is not all completely true. I do love you but you need to stay away from me now, at least for a while. But please know that everything I said I didn’t mean.”
I can tell she is confused as she asks, “Why? I don’t understand.”
It’s too much to get into now which is a good thing because I wouldn’t know where to begin. Tiffany just learned about vampires and I think going into details about Ursela and her history might be a bit too much for her. Instead I’ll just keep it simple until she leans a little more about our life and Gina gives the okay to tell Tiffany more. I let out a sigh as I just simply reply, “I know you’re not going to find this fair but there’s more going on here that we’ll have to discuss another time. It’s a very dangerous situation and for your safety I can’t tell you now. But know that I do love you but being with you now is a very bad idea.”
Tiffany throws up her hands as she responds, “Ugh I swear you’re gonna give me a migraine. You love me but you don’t want to be with me. I swear Charlie, am I supposed to make sense of that?”
I sigh as I reply, “No and I’m sorry that I have your head in a whirlwind. I don’t mean to frustrate you so much and I wish with all my heart that I could make this easier for you. But like I said the situation is very dangerous and once I feel it’s all clear, I’ll tell you everything. You have my word on that.”
She just stares at me in silence as my frustration tries to get the best of me since I’m not going to read her mind out of respect for her. She still doesn’t say anything so to give me comfort I wrap my arms tighter around her waist surprised that she lets me continue to hold her in my arms and as I inhale her scent, I let out a hard groan. Her body stiffens as she asks, “Are you okay?”
I sigh as I murmur, “Yes I’m fine. I think I should go now before something happens that I know you’ll regret.”
She pauses for a second before Tiffany whispers, “Would that be so terrible?”
I smile as I reply, “No it wouldn’t but I don’t want to complicate your life any more than I already have.”
“Charlie, you haven’t complicated my life. You might have added a little excitement and confusion to it but for the first time I feel loved. I never had any man make me feel the way you do and right now I wanna forget everything else right now and enjoy that feeling.”
Her eyes begin to tear up and I pull her into a hug. I never realized how complex being in love could be but being this close to Tiffany is worth it. I want to be with her and protect her. I sigh with irritation at the fact that Ursela’s presence is delaying me from being with my golden hair angel.
