21. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Aiden
T he train jerks at one point causing me to wake up from my little nap. A groan slips out of me, and I shut my eyes tightly. There’s a pain in my chest and my fangs are digging into my bottom lip.
“Calder,” I croak out in a barely audible tone.
“What’s wrong,” he asks sounding concerned and his arm tightens slightly with his nerves.
“I don’t feel good,” I whine through a hiccup. My guts churning with the way of the train rocking on its tracks. I take a deep breath through my nose trying to will the nausea away, but it doesn’t really help at all.
“Maybe you’re hungry,” he asks but I shake my head in response.
“I don’t think I could eat even if I wanted to,” I croak out as my stomach gurgles, “I feel like I’m going to hurl.” Fuck, I hate feeling sick. I always have, but for some reason, this feels so much worse. I feel like my insides want to explode and I grit my teeth against the wave of pain. It’s probably one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had to deal with.
“I’m going to go find out when the next stop for the train is and we’ll get off until you feel better,” Calder rushes out realizing that the movement of the train wasn’t helping the situation. He goes to stand but I cling weakly to his side.
“Don’t leave me,” I whisper hoarsely. Suddenly, the idea of being left alone makes a thrilling race down my spine. I can’t stand the thought of it.
“I’m not going to leave you, Aiden,” he says, softly stroking my back, “I’ll be right back.” I nod slowly against his shoulder which brings on another wave of dizziness. I swallow down the bile that burns the back of my throat until tears spring to the corners of my eyes.
“I’ll go. I want to go with you. Just give me a minute,” I know I’m babbling but I can’t seem to help it. I’m not even sure why I’m acting like this. I feel like my whole world will implode if Calder leaves me here by myself.
“Shh, okay,” he murmurs still rubbing my back as I try my best to breathe through the pain and queasy feeling churning my stomach.
“Okay,” I mumble clenching my teeth together as I try to find the strength to force myself to stand up. I can do this. I can stand up. I’m going to get up right now. It’s going to be fine. My entire body trembles with the effort and I feel utterly weak.
“Fuck,” he grits out when I stand and stumble into the opposite wall. His strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me back against his chest. After a few moments of trying to steady myself, I turn toward Calder with what I hope is a reassuring smile.
“I think I’m ready,” I mumble.
He shakes his head at me but still wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“You know, little bat, I would have come right back to you after I was done,” he mutters as his hand sweeps back and forth in a soothing gesture against my upper arm. The motion has my eyes drooping with exhaustion from just that little bit of exertion.
“Yeah, I know, but I just… I couldn’t…” I can’t even find the words to explain my strange behavior. Or this horrible feeling rushing through me.
“It’s okay,” he murmurs soothingly as he opens the cabin door leading up into the hallway of the train, “you don’t have to justify yourself, Aiden. If it makes you feel better to come with me then so be it.” With that, he leads me down the hall in search of one of the train attendants.
Thankfully it doesn’t take long, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m breathing heavily by the time we finally spot someone. Calder keeps glancing down at me with worry in his eyes.
When I realize his eyes are dark. Not the blood red that they usually are I reach up pressing my fingers against his cheek.
“What happened to your eyes,” I mumble as I stain my eyes to make sure I’m seeing what I’m seeing. Am I now seeing things that aren’t even real?
“I put contacts in, so I don’t freak anyone out,” he mutters causing me to breathe out a sigh of relief. At least I’m not hallucinating so that’s why thing I don’t have to worry about. He goes on to say, “Just keep your head down. Don’t look at anyone directly, okay? Otherwise, we’ll probably end up dealing with some mass hysteria. At that rate, the sharks would probably have been a better alternative.”
I nod my head right as a little breathy chuckle escapes me. He really doesn’t like sharks that’s for sure. I see one of the train attendants bent down filling up the food cart and quickly avert my eyes, so she doesn’t see my eyes turning my face into Calder’s side. He presses a kiss to my temple, and I let out a little hum.
Calder clears his throat to get her attention, and I peek out just in time to see her sneer. It’s there and gone in a flash and I can tell she’s irritated with being interrupted. I scrunch my nose up in disdain at her behavior.
“How can I help you,” she says in a stiff tone. Completely unfriendly, and I’m actually kind of shocked, but Calder pays her attitude no mind.
That might just be weirder than her horrid customer service, but what do I know? Maybe people just act like this out in bigger cities. I mean this could all just be normal. I should probably ask Calder about it when we get back to our cabin.
“I need to know when the train will be making its next stop,” Calder says in a brisk tone that I’ve never heard come out of his mouth before. I mean, this is weird. I keep my eyes lowered even as I dart my gaze between the attendant and Calder. She lets out a frustrated noise before checking her watch and grumbles.
“The next stop should be in about an hour and a half or so,” she mutters.
“Look my boyfriend is sick and we need to get off the train at the next stop,” Calder huffs out as if trying to stay calm.
“Well, it’s another hour and twenty-nine minutes to the next train stop, sir,” the attendant says as she turns towards her cart again, “there’s not much I can do for you until then.” Her bleach-blond hair shines with the overhead light as she starts rummaging around the cart.
She stands holding out a ginger ale to Calder, “This might help.” She shrugs before turning her back to him again. Clearly, dismissing us and going back to her work. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone act so rude, and I can’t help the little snort that escapes me.
Calder, however, doesn’t find it funny as his knuckles turn white around the soda from how hard he’s gripping it. I feel like either Calder or that soda is about to explode and my money’s on the soda. I tug on Calder’s sleeve bringing his attention back to me.
“It’s okay,” I groan as a sudden wave of dizziness hits me out of nowhere, “let's just go back to our cabin.”
He looks like he wants to protest, but I trying to shake my head. The dizziness gets worse with the movement, and I press the back of my hand against my mouth. Calder’s jaw twitches with how hard he’s clenching it, but he finally gives me a curt nod of his head. We turn around and before I even know what’s happening he’s lifting me gently into his arms.
“Calder,” I whimper, “put me down I don’t want to throw up on you.”
“I’m not worried about a little vomit Aiden,” he grits out as he makes his way down the hall of the train.
“I may be sick right now but trust me I did catch you calling me your boyfriend,” I mumble as my head lolls to the side as I try to look up at him.
“Oh, you did, did you?”
“Mmhmm, you can’t just go around telling people lies,” I timidly murmur against his chest.
“Who said anything about lying,” he questions like I offended him.
“Well, you should probably let your boyfriend know before other people at the very least,” I said stressing the word.
Now back in our little cabin Calder sits back down on the bend with me still nestled against his chest. I’m completely drained from just that little experience as a yawn slips from my lips.
“Rest Aiden,” he murmurs, “I’ll wake you when we get to the stop.” The only thing I can manage to do is nod my head because I don’t have much strength for anything else.
Calder
When Aiden’s breaths slowly turn deep and even out, I let out a sigh of relief. He looks so fragile in my arms as I stare down at him and my stomach curls with worry. He’s paler now with deep purple circles under his eyes and I hate that. The way he looked earlier had me internally freaking out. I reach into my pocket trying my best not to jostle him too much as I pull out my phone.
I pull up Marcus’s messages and shoot him a quick text.
Me: I think Aiden’s getting worse
I bite my lip waiting for his reply as I stare down at Aiden’s still form. He is far too pale. I don’t like this at all. When he was swaying while we were talking to the rude train attendant, I was worried he’d pass out while standing against me.
My phone chirps and my eyes dart towards the screen.
Marcus: what do you mean? What happened?
Me: he seems weaker than before. I’m worried…
Marcus: Don’t start freaking out Calder. I know how you are.
I let out a scoff and Aiden makes a little disgruntled noise. My eyes darted over him with worry that I may have disturbed his sleep. His brow is furrowed, and he looks like he’s still in pain even in sleep. He doesn’t wake though, and I let out a harsh breath.
My phone chirps again with another text message.
Marcus: I mean it, Calder.
Marcus: Just wait until you find out more. I’m still looking into a backup plan.
I let out a sigh when I read his next text. At least this crazy plan doesn’t solely revolve around finding Dracula. That part worried the hell out of me if I was being completely honest.
Me: yeah, okay.
Marcus: I mean it, Calder. It won’t do him any good if you’re freaking out too.
Me: okay. Fine. I get it.
Marcus: Good. Then I’ll see you when you get back.
Me: Okay…
Marcus: Aiden is going to be fine Calder.
Me: I hope you’re right.
Marcus: I know I am.
I pocket my phone again and pull Aiden closer to me. I hope like hell he’s right. I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to Aiden. I run my hand through his hair trying not to dwell on the way he looked, but it’s almost impossible.
I wonder what Marcus is looking into. I didn’t think there were any other ideas for helping Aiden. I thought finding Dracula was our one and only hope. Aiden lets out another little noise and his mouth parts slightly. His little fangs stick out as his lip twitches like he’s searching for something.
A little whine comes from him and my brow scrunches in confusion before I realize what his body is trying to tell me. I push my sleeve up my arm and press my wrist gently against his lips. His little fangs sink in as if by second nature, and I try my best to muffle my moan. He doesn’t feed, and I can’t help but find that weird. I’ve never seen another vampire bite someone without the intent to feed before.
He’s done this a few times though and he’s told me it comforts him. I let out a little sigh pulling him closer to me. I shift in my seat in discomfort as I grow achingly hard. This is going to be a very long train ride.
I tilt my head back against the wall looking up at the ceiling. I hope we find what we’re looking for. I hope we manage to find Dracula because I have this terrible feeling that we might just be running out of time.
“You’re going to be fine, little bat,” I murmur as I close my eyes, “I’ll make sure of it.”