Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Kip
On The Lam
Each time my phone buzzes with a new text from Charlie, it gets a little harder to ignore.
Leaving him on delivered gives me a gnawing feeling my gut.
It feels bad, man. All I want to do is reach back out to him.
Tell him I’m sorry for ghosting. See his pretty whiskey colored eyes sparkling as he looks at me.
I want to see Charlie sharing his joyful side with me, the side only a few people get to see.
But each time I go to open the text, flashes of the last time I saw him invade my mind.
Him covered in his own blood, slumping over me.
Me coming to the realization that I almost drained him, and if he hadn’t snapped me out of it I would have killed him.
And Tyson admitting that as long as Charlie can bleed, it’ll always be a risk.
I can’t risk any of that. I just can’t. I won’t be able to live with myself if I kill him, or anyone else.
Maybe it was a mistake feeding and turning.
Maybe I should’ve let myself die. That’s what fate wanted for me anyway, right?
I was supposed to die when I fell from that tree, it was only dumb coincidence that Tyson had fed me his blood the night before.
I’ve never felt like this before. Everything has always been glass half full for me.
Never have I felt so lost. Since I dropped Charlie off on Sunday, I haven’t left my apartment.
The only time I’ve even left my bedroom has been to shower.
And I make sure Tyson isn’t home before I venture outside of my room.
I can’t deal with him. I can’t deal with any of this.
“Kip.” Tyson knocks on my door, like he has every day this week.
And like I’ve done every time, I pretend I’m not here.
“I know you’re in there. I can hear you moving around.” Tyson sighs.
“…no you can’t…” I call back.
The doorknob rattles. There’s a thunk against the door when the knob doesn’t turn.
“You have to come out sometime, dude. You can’t stay in there forever.” Tyson says, trying to be gentle. “Just let me in. Let’s talk.”
“I have nothing to talk about with you, or anyone else.” I let my body slide down my headboard, until I’m flopped on my back, sprawled across the bed. “Let me dry out and die.”
I can almost hear the rolling of Tyson’s eyes.
“Don’t be dramatic. You’re being way too serious and it’s freaking me out. Being a vampire is supposed to be fun. You haven’t even tried out all your new powers.” Tyson tries to coerce me.
“I don’t want them.” I know I’m acting like a child, but I don’t care.
“I’ve given you time, Kip. I’ve been pretty patient.
I could’ve broken this door down days ago, but I didn’t.
” Tyson’s voice turns from soft to threatening.
“I’m done playing this game with you, though.
If you don’t open this door in the next two minutes, I’m ripping it off the hinges.
And then I’m making you pay for repairs. ”
I sigh. Why can’t people leave me alone?
“If I let you in, will you leave me alone afterwards?” I hedge.
There’s a pause. “…yes?”
“You’re a fucking liar.” Fine. I huff, heaving myself off the bed. It’s clear that my body has gotten even stronger, and my legs carry me faster than I’m expecting. Fast enough that I can’t stop myself before I run into the door with a thud.
“Ummmphh.” I groan at my head bounces off the door so fast it feels like I have whiplash.
“You might wanna open the door before trying to walk through the doorway.” Tyson interjects, unhelpfully.
Stepping back, I pull the door open forcefully, after unlocking it of course.
I frown at Tyson. Did you know that your face muscles can actually begin to hurt from frowning so much?
I’ve never really frowned in my entire life, and now I’m probably going to get frown lines.
Do vampires get wrinkles? That would suck, to be immortal but still get wrinkles.
But since Tyson still looks like a twenty-five year old dude, even though he said he was turned in the eighties, I’m guessing wrinkles and frown lines aren’t a thing in the vamp community.
I flop back onto my bed facedown, burying my face in the covers.
The bed sinks down next to me as Tyson sits. Nacho was curled up on my pillow, but as soon as Tyson plops down, Nacho stands, hackles raised, and hisses.
Blindly, I reach out to my little kitten buddy and pull him towards me. “I know, Nacho. Tyson is a big meanie. It’s okay though, I’ll protect you.”
Tyson ignores my jab. “Look, Kipper. I know this is a lot. And I know you’re upset about hurting that Charlie kid. But moping around isn’t going to help anything. This isn’t like you. I’ve never seen you down like this.”
I snort. “Udntrlynome.” I mumble into the bed.
“What?”
With a deep, annoyed breath, I tilt my head to the side so my mouth is free. “You don’t really know me. Just like I don’t really know you. This has all been a lie.”
“Oh please, will you stop with the dramatics? None of it was a lie. Sure, when we first met I was using you. But after that we became friends, and it’s been genuine since.”
“You can’t prove that, though.” I turn my head away again.
“I mean, would I still be here trying to help you if I wasn’t your friend? And, doesn’t it say something that Charlie isn’t here helping you? Who is your real friend here?”
“Don’t talk about him. You don’t know anything about Charlie.” I snap.
“Sorry, dude. But it’s true. I’m here, trying to help you.”
“Are you sure it’s not to make yourself feel better? Maybe you’re trying to rid yourself of the guilt from turning me and ruining my life.”
There was a time, a long time, where I considered Tyson my ride or die. I thought we knew each other. I thought we were going to be best buds for life. And now I can’t trust a single thing he says.
Tyson sighs. “I do feel bad about everything, Kip. I didn’t mean for this to happen.
But, look at the bright side! Being a vampire is so cool, and has tons of perks.
Once you get past the whole hunting humans and drinking their blood thing, it’s all up from there.
You’ll look young and have a smoking bod for eternity, dude.
Think of all the pussy you could get in that time. Or dick, if you want that.”
“I don’t want a bunch of meaningless hookups.
Not anymore. All I want is Charlie, and I can’t have him because I could accidentally kill him.
If I was still human, it wouldn’t be an issue.
It fucking figures that I meet my soulmate after becoming vampire, when we’ll never work.
All my years of optimism and positive thinking, and where did it get me? ”
Tyson guffaws. “Soulmate? You’ve known the guy for less than a week. He’s not your soulmate.”
“What do you know about that, huh? You probably don’t even know what love is.”
“And you think you do? Maybe you aren’t cut out to be a vampire. Seems like it scrambled your brains a bit, made you delusional.”
“Get out, Tyson.” My voice is filled with resignation. I don’t even have it in me to be angry right now. I’m drained.
“I’m just trying to help you, Kip!” Tyson shouts, standing from the bed.
“Yeah, a real big help you’ve been.” I mutter. “Just leave me alone.”
“Gladly. Who wants to be around someone so depressing anyway?” Tyson throws over his shoulder as he stomps away, slamming my bedroom door on his way out.
“You still wanna be around me, don’t you Nacho? You don’t mind me being depressed.” I snuggle my kitty closer.
Nacho finally calms down now that Tyson is gone. He curls up in my arms, butting his head against mine.
Mrow.
It’s been days since I’ve fed. I thought that Tyson said we only needed to feed once, maybe twice, a week. But I’m already starving. I fed Sunday, so I thought I would be good for about a week. Not the case, seeing as it’s Thursday and I’m about to lose my mind with how hungry I am.
After the fight I had with Tyson earlier today, I heard him leave the apartment, and then I fell asleep. There’s not much for me to do while locked away in my room. I can’t look at my phone, because that’ll make me want to call or text Charlie.
I have no workout equipment here, so I can’t even blow off some steam by lifting weights. Why would I buy that type of stuff when I could use it for free at work? It’s not like I’m made out of money.
I’m pent up, and hungry, and it’s driving me insane.
My fangs have been sticking out of my gums almost non-stop, like they’re waiting for any source of blood to come by. I accidentally ripped up my pillow earlier because I couldn’t get my claws to retract. I fell like a caged animal, ready to attack, and snarling at anything that moves.
Another thing that’s getting me down? Charlie hasn’t texted today.
His texts have been a constant since Monday morning.
But today? Radio silence. Did he finally give up on me?
For his sake, I hope so. I hope he moves on.
Finds someone who can actually love him and be good for him.
For my sake, I hope he doesn’t. I know, it’s a contradiction.
Two things can be true at the same time.
But my hope for him outweighs my hope for me.
I debate with myself for a few hours. Stuck in my head with only my misery and hunger for company.
I don’t want to feed. I don’t want to, but I need to.
I can’t think straight. The only thoughts in my head are of Charlie, and of blood.
The worst part about all of this is that the only blood I want is Charlie’s. But I won’t, and I can’t.
Which means either I chain myself up and hope the hunger goes away…or I find someone else to feed off of.
I have a feeling that trying to ignore the hunger isn’t going to end well for anyone. So the only solution? Going to Blood Rose.
I psych myself up, mustering as much energy as I can into this.
Looking in the mirror, I point at myself.
“Come on, Kip. You’re gonna go to the club, get initiated or whatever, and feed.
Then everything will be peachy. Except for the whole not having Charlie in my life thing…
but one step at a time!” Staring at my reflection, I see a fake smile plastered on my face.
My eyes look tired and lifeless. My words are hollow.
But, like it or not, this is my life. And this is the way things have to be.
When I get to the club, a sense of longing comes over me. My eyes dart around, and my gaze keeps snagging at a hooded figure on the balcony. My brain screams ‘Charlie!’ at me, telling me that’s my little dude, but I know that I’m just desperate for it to be him.
Shoving my way through the crowd, I step up to the bar to find the same bartender as when I was here last.
“Hey, buddy. Remember me?” I ask, trying to flash a grin at the bartender, but I’m sure it actually looks like a grimace.
“No.” He replies cooly.
I lean in close. “I was here Sunday. You know, new vamp? Looking for something fresh? Is this ringin’ any bells?”
“Nope.” He replies.
Damn, he’s a tough cookie. I guess this place has to be careful about vetting vampires.
“Okay, well, let me reintroduce myself. I’m Kip.
I fed for the first time Sunday night, and now I’m a full fledged vampire.
And I’m in need of some…blood.” I say it out of the corner of my mouth, trying to muffle the word in case there are any unsuspecting humans around.
“Last time I was here you said something about an initiation?”
The bartender snickers. “What do you think this is, some type of cult? A secret society?”
I’m not sure if vampires are capable of it, but it feels like I might be blushing in embarrassment. “Well, I mean…isn’t it kinda? You know, secret society of vampires? I mean, it’s not common knowledge that they’re real, at least to humans. So that kind of makes them like a secret society.”
“Listen, Chip, there is no initiation, I was lying to you. No secret society of vampires. It was all a joke.” The bartender goes to move away.
“It’s Kip.” I correct quickly. “And please, man. I need help. I don’t have anyone to get me through this. I’m scared, alright?”
He stops, turning back towards me. “Fine. There is a guy, I can give you his number. He sells blood bags, but it’s black market stuff. And it’s not cheap.”
“Can I drink blood bags? I mean, is that good enough? I’m new to this. I thought I had to drink straight from a human.”
“Dude, you really know nothing about this, huh?” The vamp bartender’s brow rises.
“Yes, you can drink blood bags. The first feed has to be straight from a human, but after that, bags are fine. Though they’re disgusting compared to fresh from the source stuff.
That’s why a lot of people come here, looking for willing humans to feed from.
Not only that but bags are expensive and hard to come by.
” The vamp pulls out a pen to scribble a number on a napkin.
“Here. Call him and see if he can help you.”
“Wow, you know, you’re not a bad dude. For a bit there, I thought you were kind of a dick.
Anyway, thanks for the help!” I pocket the phone number.
Maybe blood bags are the way to go? But the dude did say they’re expensive and hard to get, so that’s probably why Tyson doesn’t use them.
But I’m willing to try anything right now.
“Just don’t go spreading the info around, alright? You made me feel bad for you. That’s the only reason I helped. Now either order a drink, or go away.”
“You know what, I could use one of those Vampire Kiss drinks again. Might as well live it up since I’m already here.”
As I wait for my drink, my scalp prickles.
I look around, seeing that same hooded figure.
Their head is tilted towards me as they sit on the balcony.
I need to feed now, and who knows how long this blood bag thing is going to take?
And it’s not even a guarantee that I can get ahold of any.
Maybe this mysterious hooded stranger is my best bet.