10. Ten
Ten
M y mother has me mainlining red, like that’s going to solve all my issues. Her constant scowl is the residue of yesterday’s discussion. She is furious that I will not let her, or my family involve themselves. I have tried to reason with her over the past twenty-four hours, but it is in vain. Victoria Loch is the most stubborn and hardheaded vampire I have ever known.
“Mother, if I drink anymore, I’m going to pee the bed. Please don’t make me suffer that indignity.” My playful tone finally elicits a nano grin.
“Fine. I’ll leave it on your bedside table.”
“Thank you.”
She spends the next few minutes tidying my already immaculate room. I understand she is worried, but she’s driving me to distraction.
Marcus knocks on the already open door. He has taken to popping into my room about as frequently as Mother. I never pegged him as a mother hen type. “Amelia, you have a guest. Are you feeling up to a visit?”
“Yes, who is it?”
“Erin.”
Just the sound of her name jolts my heart. I snap my focus to my mother. She shakes her head at me. “I didn’t invite her.” Her answer satisfies me. Mother might be bullheaded, but she would never go against my wishes.
“Of course, send her in.” Suddenly I feel self-conscious. Being laid up in bed all day can’t be a good look on me. I haven’t even brushed my hair.
“H-hi,” Erin says quietly, her eyes wide. Erin is a woman who wears her emotions on her face. Right now, she looks as scared as she did yesterday on the boat when my brothers carried me off in their arms.
“Erin, hello, come,” I say as animatedly as possible. Gesturing her to sit on the bed. The ache in my stomach is intensifying with every step she takes towards me.
“How… how are you?”
“Just fine. Turns out I have a stomach ulcer.”
“Oh, no.” Her hand reflexively jolts to my forearm. The brush of her fingertips on my skin cools the burning in my abdomen. That’s interesting.
“I’ll be just fine.” I smile, setting my other hand over hers. A pulse echoes through my body. It isn’t pleasurable, more like a calming ripple. The ache in my stomach disappears entirely.
“When I saw you being carried by your brothers with blood coming from your mouth—” Erin is unable to finish her sentence. A small sob escapes her throat. I must have spilled red down myself on the boat. And poor Erin believes it was my blood.
Leaning towards her, I take my hand from hers and cup her face. “Erin, I’m okay, I promise.” It’s a false promise, because I am far from okay, but I cannot stand to see the anguish on her beautiful face a moment longer.
The pulsing picks up speed and is now filling my chest. My body once again feels pulled to her. Erin is leaning into my hand. She must be feeling it, too. Our faces are inches apart, but in a second, Erin pulls herself away. The look of realization on her face stings me. “I-I have to go. I’m working tonight,” she stutters, clearly flustered. Probably very confused as to why she nearly kissed me. As far as I know, she is still with Mack. But, like me, I’m guessing her body is reacting to our connection.
“I’ll see you soon,” I reply calmly. “I will be setting up residence permanently in the penthouse.” I hadn’t decided that until this very second. If I’m to stand any chance of winning Erin’s heart, I need to be close to her.
“Right, okay. Great, okay… yes, so I’ll see you soon then.” Her rambling is delightful, and her pink-tinged cheeks are delectable.
“You will.” The smoothness of my voice melts her. I can see it. Something else to store away for later use.
The moment Erin is gone, I call for my mother, who unbeknownst to me had left the room. I swear, when Erin is present, my world is only big enough to see her. “Mother, call the doctor.”
She rushes to my side in a panic. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure, but I need to tell him. I think it’s important.” Like a flash of lightning, she is there one second and gone the next. I wonder if my parents have the doctor stowed somewhere in the house because he arrives mere minutes later.
“Victoria informs me you have something to tell me.”
“Erin was here. I felt the same pain when she entered the room, but then, when she touched my skin, the ache abated. I lay my hand on hers and the discomfort evaporated entirely.”
“Interesting.” I allow him a few minutes of silent contemplation. As much as I want to bark at him for an answer, there is no point. “I need you to tell me the exact context of the touch.”
Sparing no detail, I recount Erin’s visit. “What does it mean?”
“From what you have told me, Erin was experiencing a strong emotional reaction. When she touched you, it was out of concern. My best guess, and I am sorry, but it is only a guess, is that the concern she showed you was genuine emotion. Erin cares for you and that simple act of touching you was a balm to the side effects you were suffering.”
The doctor’s educated guess should provide me with relief, but it doesn’t. It just reminds me, once again, that I need Erin’s love to cure my malady. I can’t expect her to touch me like that every time I see her.
“What happens if I stay away from her? Keep my distance.”
“You will expedite your symptoms; of that, I am sure.”
“But if she isn’t near me, I can’t feel the pull, therefore no symptoms.”
“It doesn’t work like that, Amelia. Your body—your soul—will only cope for so long being away from Erin. No distance will sever the bond you have to her.”
“So I have only pain and suffering to look forward to. Fantastic. You can leave now. ”
Bowing his head, Dr. Mendhi retreats. I’m royally fucked either way. If I get near her, I’m in pain constantly, but if I stay away, I will probably die quicker, or worse, suffer madness.
The room feels claustrophobic. I cannot sit in this bed a second longer. Ripping back the covers, I stumble my way to the shower. The water does nothing to soothe me, but at least I won’t stink. Hurrah for small wins.
Considering my mother or Marcus haven’t immediately come back to my room means they are peppering the good doctor with questions. That’s fine. It allows me some precious minutes alone.
Feeling out of control enrages me. For the sake of my family and our relationship, I need to leave the house. They will all cry bloody murder, but it’s tough. There is no point in sitting around, as they all fuss over me.
“And where the hell do you think you’re going?” Mother screeches. Ah, and the peace is shattered.
“I’m going to the club. I need to arrange for my possessions to be shipped to the penthouse.”
“Amelia, you need to rest.”
“No, I don’t. What I need is some time to figure this nightmare out. And, as I’m sure you are now aware, I need to be closer to Erin, so I don’t give myself a heart attack or whatever.”
“Can you not speak like that?” she pleads.
“I’m sorry, truly. I know you’re scared, Mother, but I have to go.”
“Let one of your siblings accompany you. At least do that for me.”
“Fine.” If I don’t concede, she will be in the penthouse, hounding me. I know her too well. “Tell Lucille to pack a bag. ”
Her eyes widen. “Lucille?” I have to chuckle. Out of all of my siblings, Lucille would usually be the last one I would voluntarily choose to have in my house. But, in this circumstance, she is the one I need.
“Yes. Lucille.” Turning my back, I end the conversation. I know I must come across as rude, but trust me. Sometimes it is the only way to get my mother to back off.
Hearing the door close, I know she has gone to find Lucille. A small grin blossoms on my face out of sheer devilment. Lucille is going to be pissed, and that makes me feel a little better.
Stomping in the hallway notifies me of Lucille’s impending arrival. “Why do this, Amelia? Why torture us both?”
“Why not? If I’m going to be miserable, you might as well come along for the ride.”
“You’re such a… ugh, I can’t even stay mad. Well played, sister, well played. I would have absolutely done the same thing.”
“I’m glad you approve,” I chuckle.
“Seriously though, wouldn’t you prefer Laurence or Marcus to live with you?”
“Will you coddle me? Treat me like I’m a child?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
“Therefore, you already know the answer to why I want you at the penthouse with me rather than any of our siblings. My tolerance is already at full capacity.”
“Fair. Know that I won’t suffer wallowing, Amelia. Not like your birthday.”
“That was you suffering? Lucille, you ripped the covers off me.”
“But I didn’t drag you out of bed, did I?”
“True. ”
“So, care to tell me what the doctor was summoned for?”
I fill her in on the details. There is no point keeping anything from my family. “I figured it’s better for me to stay close to Erin. At least the club offers me that excuse. Gives me time to plan my next move.”
“Your next move is to ask her out.”
“While she still has a girlfriend?”
“Sure it’s tacky, but, hey, clearly Erin has feelings for you. I would bet she doesn’t understand them. If you push too hard, I think she’ll retreat. But, you have to do something, Amelia.”
“I know,” I sigh. “Let me have a couple of days to gather my thoughts. I can’t do this half-cocked.”
“Agreed. We can use the time to watch her a little closer.”
“That is creepy as hell, Lucille.”
“And yet we still have to do it. Do you think you’re going to be alright, being so close to her but—”
“Not being able to touch her?” Lucille nods at me. “I have no choice, sister.”
After a few more protests from my mother, I finally escape to Insomnia. The club is dark for another few hours. Erin will be inside though, setting up. I want to go to her immediately, but I don’t. Instead, I slip in undetected with Lucille and head to my apartment. We unpack what we have and then set about organizing my belongings to be shipped. I have no idea how long I will have to stay here.
“Get dressed. We’re going downstairs,” Lucille instructs from the doorway to my bedroom .
“I’m beat.” My words fall on deaf ears. Lucille strides in and goes straight to my closet, picking out my blood-red corset and black fitted pants.
“Get dressed,” she demands. We stay frozen, staring at each other in a silent battle of wills. I clamp my jaw, knowing I’m about to concede defeat.
“Fine.”
“You have ten minutes.”
Already I regret my choice of housemate. Still, I get myself ready with a couple of minutes to spare. The three-inch heels I choose make me feel strong. I’m going to tower over most people, and that’s what I need. Some form of control and power.
We descend the private stairs and enter the club. The crowd is vast, and the air is electric. I scan the area, happy there are no problems. The bar is busy, so I leave Lucille by herself to help out. Of course Erin is serving. I try my best to act like there is no big deal. Slipping behind the bar, I take orders.
The ache in my stomach is there, but I know the moment Erin spots me because the ache turns into a ripple once again. That means she is looking at me. That means she is feeling strong, caring emotions. That means there is hope!