20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
I open my eyes slowly and stretch my body. The darkness around me makes me want to stay in bed a little longer, but then I notice a ray of sunlight sneaking through the closed curtains. I turn my head to the other side and find John looking at me. His deep eyes make me uncomfortable as they search the depths of my soul.
"You're awake," I say.
"Vampires don't sleep much."
"Okay. I'm hungry."
"I saw how hungry you were before." His eyes move to my lips as fire swirls in the depths of them.
I wet my lips. "I mean for food."
"You know, there are all kinds of food," he notes with a half-smile.
"What happened before was because of your blood and the magic making me feel confused.”
"If that's what helps you sleep at night."
"I meant it can't happen again."
"Until the next time you let me take some of your blood."
"I won't give it."
"And what about your powers? Don't you want them back?"
Of course I want them. The feeling of them inside me is addictive. I feel complete. Now that I've tasted them, there's no way I'm going to give up on the possibility of them.
"I'm hungry. I'm going to make myself something to eat," I say and move the blanket aside. I get out of the bed feeling his hot gaze piercing my naked back as I leave.
**
Fifteen minutes later, I’m concentrating on the omelet and bacon cooking. My stomach rumbles as I turn the bacon over, making it crispy before adding four eggs and scrambling them a bit. With my free hand and the help of my magic, I open the top shelf and take a plate.
“This smells nasty,” I hear from behind.
“So, I guess you won’t be joining me?”
“I’m less of a dead meat person and more of an alive with blood pumping one.”
“Yuck.” Twisting my nose, I serve everything on a plate and sit down at the table, more than ready to dive in.
Inhaling the spicy smell, I close my eyes before taking the first bite. Moaning loudly, I swallow down the bacon, needing more.
“You really like it.” He takes a seat next to me and I open my eyes to find him looking at me with a hooded gaze.
“No, I’m just faking it.” I snicker, taking another bite of the eggs. “So, you really aren’t eating? I mean, besides blood.”
“I don’t need to. And besides, the smell of fresh food is much tastier than fried eggs.”
“So, what’s my smell?” I ask. “I mean, the smell of my blood.” I take a small bite, my eyes locking with his.
“Like the sweetest candy with a hint of salt.”
“Not deep or anything,” I mutter, wetting my lips. Pushing my plate aside I ask, “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Helping me?”
“I’m not just helping you. I’m helping me in the process.”
“But why? ”
“I need to find a coven, and you are the direct descendant of the strongest opposition line. You are all connected, so you have the ability to find the coven.”
“Your other witch can’t do that?” I try to hide the jealousy but end up failing.
“You have nothing to worry about with Soraya. She’s not strong enough."
Is it stupid that I feel a tug of happiness in my heart? I linger on that feeling until I remember that we can’t know for sure that my magic will work.
“How can you know I’m strong enough?”
“I don’t, but I’m rarely wrong.”
I expect to feel relieved, but I don't.
“You should start doing the cloaking spell. We need to start the search of the coven.”
Pushing myself up, I head to the basement. Using my power, I light up the candles around the room and then spread the map on the table. I feel John’s presence, though I push it aside. He’s too much of a distraction as it is. Trying to concentrate, I cut my palm with the blade, letting the blood drip down. Stiffing back the tingle of pain, I focus on the books that I read as I continue.
“Blood to blood, witch to witch. Show yourself. Blood to blood, witch to witch. Expose yourself,” I repeat over and over and the drops start moving, covering too many places at once.
Stopping, I let out a strangled breath before saying, “It’s not working.”
John moves closer, making me too aware of his suffocating presence. “They’re covering their tracks. Smart. We will need to make all those stops because one of those is the right one.”
“I think I have an idea to shorten the search.”
“How?”
“I can try to reach each place through a vision. It will be a short one, but it will give us an advantage.”
“Okay, try it.”
Nodding twice, I say, “Places to be, places to seek, give me a clear view to see.”
A chill invades my body as I place a finger on one drop of blood.
Too many flashes invade my mind, making me confused. A nasty headache attacks me, causing me to squeal. The images all blur together until they stop. My breathing cuts in my throat as I stumble backwards.
Before I can hit the floor, strong arms catch me. “What is happening?”
“Are you okay? ”
“My head hurts.” It’s all I manage to say as I need to close my eyes. It feels like we’re floating until I feel the soft mattress beneath me.
“It’s your powers. You overused them for your first time. You need to rest.”
“Can’t you just drink more of my blood and do the spell again? Please,” I say in a small voice, needing this helplessness to pass.
“I’m sorry. I can’t. Only after your blood is clean can we do the spell again.”
Defeated, I stifle a cry as I feel my power leaving me. “Can you stay please?” I’d much rather think of him and feel the heat of his body consuming me than feel my magic sweeping away, but this is the cruelty of my fate.
“Okay,” he replies and moves to lie beside me.
Allowing myself to relax, I drop into oblivion as his hard body makes my heart flutter.