5. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Calder
I just barely escape my bedroom with my dignity kind of still intact. Sort of? Yeah, I’m obviously in denial as well, but I’m going to just go with it. I mean, what else can I really do?
I’m the one that ran away from him. I ran away like a complete nutcase. Who the hell does that? Me, that’s who. I let out a frustrated noise as I rushed down the hallway. My long strides eat up the distance to my office where I shut the door behind me. I slide down onto the floor with my back against the door. A groan escapes me as I knock my head back against it.
Embarrassment churns my stomach, and I can’t believe how forward with him I’ve been. I shouldn’t be acting this way. I barely even know Aiden. Is he even into guys? Maybe I got my wires crossed… Fuck! I feel like a complete idiot.
Something ugly starts to twist and unfurl inside my chest. I chew on the inside of my cheek until I taste copper on my tongue. I need to get myself under control. This is ridiculous. What kind of vampire just runs away!?!
I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them. How am I supposed to deal with this? How am I supposed to just act normal around him? I feel like an idiot. I feel crazy. Out of my fucking mind.
Maybe I should just keep my distance until I can get ahold of Marcus to get Aiden his own ring. Then I’ll send him on his way and problem solved. My chest tightens with the thought of him leaving. Fucking hell, I shouldn’t feel this way for a complete stranger.
I don’t act like this, and yet my little bat seems to be driving me up the walls. And I guess now I’m taking ownership of him. I bang my head against the wall again. Fuck me, what the hell is wrong with me? I was just in the right place at the right time to save him. It could have been anyone, but it was me!
Is that so bad though? Being the one to find him. Maybe I’m just fooling myself into believing things that aren’t true. One thing is for certain though, I have somehow decided that Aiden is mine for better or worse. At the very least my responsibility to take care of him since I’m the one who changed him.
I can’t see myself just walking away from him, and maybe that’s the crazy part. It’s too soon to have all these insane BIG feelings bursting through me. I’ve never felt this kind of pull towards another living soul before.
He had to have known what he was doing to me, right? He had to have known what that little comment would do to me. I run my hands through my hair as a little growl begins to build inside my chest. Friend had to be code for something more. Was it another guy? Was it a girl ? I let out a harsh breath trying to get myself under control. I’m overreacting, that’s all. That’s all this is nothing more.
I’m not hiding from him. Nope, a vampire would never do something that silly as to hide from the guy he just turned into a vampire. That would be irresponsible on all kinds of levels. I feel foolish and ridiculous, but I guess that can’t be helped now. What’s done is done. I didn’t even think about what I was doing.
The only thing I can do is make it right. I actually do have something that needs to be done anyway. I reach into my pants pocket and pull out my cell phone. No new messages. I let out a little growl of frustration as I opened my phone to find Marcus’s text messages.
Me: I thought you were going to bring my ring to me today?!?
Marcus: Whoa, calm down you’re the one that disappeared last night. You said you were going to get some fresh air and then you never came back! What the hell man!
Me: It’s a long story
Marcus: Will you tell me when I swing by?
Me: yeah, sure. Fuck, actually I need another ring also.
Marcus: Why the hell do you need another ring?
Me: It’s not for me…
Marcus: …
Marcus: …
Marcus: *sigh* you’re going to tell me about that as well when I come by, right?
Me: yeah
Marcus: Good. I should be able to come by tonight…
Me: Okay, thank you.
Marcus: see you then
With that out of the way, I breathe a sigh of relief. I shove my phone back into my pocket as I lean my head back against the door again and close my eyes. One less thing to worry about, I guess. I just have about a bazillion other things to worry about now. I made a complete ass out of myself by running away from Aiden. He’s probably trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with me.
Then on top of that, I have this horrible feeling that once Aiden gets that ring he’s going to be gone in a blink of an eye. Maybe I can persuade him to stick around… I mean, I can be persuasive. I just need to lay on the charm. I can do that, right?
My ears zeroed in on a wrenching sound that had my stomach clenching in worry. My brow scrunches into a scowl trying to understand. What the fuck? Vampires don’t get sick… ever. I’ve never been sick in my two hundred and thirteen years of life, but that’s Aiden vomiting down the hall. I shoot up from the ground and rip the door open. Rushing back down the hall to get to Aiden, while I nearly trip over my own two feet.
I slam into the bathroom causing Aiden to jolt from my sudden appearance, and the sight before me has my panic rising even further. Aiden’s on the floor clutching the toilet for dear life as he empties his guts out. He’s pale as fuck and sweat drips down his brow. The black sludge that’s coming out of his mouth is like something straight out of a horror movie.
For a long moment, all I can do is stare in shock and I have to forcibly shake myself out of my stupor. He looks like he’s ready to pass out from the strain. His small body looks so fragile that it has my chest tightening further. I drop down on the floor beside him and my hands flutter anxiously around him not knowing what to do. Should I try to help? Will I just be making it worse? I’ve never dealt with something like this before.
“What’s wrong? What happened,” I ask, and I cringe a little at my shrill tone.
“You’re going to be okay,” I say with uncertainty lacing my voice. I take a breath trying to calm myself, so I don’t make it worse for him. I shake my head at myself because if I don’t even know what’s going on I doubt he’ll know.
I gently place my hand on the center of his back between his shoulder blades. He tries to pull away making a disgruntled sound. I’m tempted to pull my hands away worried that I may be hurting him.
“Go away,” he croaks out and I instantly feel like an idiot until he grumbles, “don’t want you to see me like this.” I soften at his comment as I gently run my hand in a circular motion as I scoot closer. Sure, it’s not the best moment, but I’m not going to leave him here to suffer alone.
“You’re still beautiful, little bat, even with your head in the toilet,” I mumble trying to lighten the mood as I settle on rubbing his back, and hoping it helps.
“Liar,” he rasps and all too soon he’s back to throwing up. His little body tensing up every time he heaves, and I have no clue how to make this better.
His whole body continues to lurch and convulse. Past the wrenching sounds, I can also hear a dull thump.
Thump………
Thump………
At first, I think I’m losing my mind. There’s no way I could be hearing this, but it continues. It’s a weak sound, but I can hear it all the same. Every time I hear the thumping sound Aiden’s muscles tense, and he screams in pain.
It’s as if his body is trying to come back to life, but how the fuck is that even possible? In all my years I’ve never heard of something like this happening. If something like this had ever happened in the past, I’m sure I would have heard about it.
Eventually, Aiden slowly pulls back from the toilet swiping the back of his hand against his mouth. He has tears trailing down his cheeks and he’s a sickly pale color that doesn’t help my worries. He looks up at me letting out a little whine before crumbling to the floor. He shuts his eyes tightly as if still in pain.
“I don’t feel good,” he whines out in a weak hoarse voice. Gently I pull him into my lap and run my hand through his sweat-soaked hair.
“I know, little bat, I know,” I murmur as I continue the motion until his body slowly relaxes into mine.
“I don’t understand,” he mumbles pressing his face into my chest, “why am I sick.”
“I don’t know little bat, but I’ll figure it out,” I whisper the promise against his temple.
“Come on, let's get you up and into bed so that you can rest for now,” I mumble as I slowly stand up and pull him up with me. I put my arm around his waist and started to guide him out of the bathroom.
“Wait,” he croaks out, “I don’t want to be huffing out gross blood vomit breath.”
A snort of amusement escapes me causing him to glare over at me. I give a slow nod before shuffling him toward the sink and I watch him turn on the water with a shaky hand. I hate that he looks so fragile. It makes me think of the moment when I pulled him out of the grave last night. I give myself a mental shake to rid myself of the image.
He swishes his mouth out and then mumbles, “Do you have toothpaste?” Wordlessly I retrieve the toothpaste and a new toothbrush from the cabinet. He mumbles an almost inaudible thank you before brushing his teeth. All the while I watch him shaking uncontrollably.
Finally, I manage to get him tucked into bed under the covers and he lets out a little whimper. I brush his hair back from his brow, “just rest, little bat.” I turn to go, but he grabs my wrist.
“You’re not going to stay,” he whispers, and he sounds so utterly vulnerable it breaks my heart.
Without a word, I walk around to the other side of the bed and climb in behind him. I hesitantly put my arm around his waist, and he snuggles back into me. He breathes out a little sigh and I smile in response. I had wanted to get him back into bed with me, but this was not how I had thought things would go.