Authors: Renee Travis
"I'm sorry, please don't hate me. I love you," he whispered, scooting closer to me, his face just inches from mine.
"I don't, I love you too, thank you for saving my life Julian." He looked shocked at my words, like they were the last thing he'd expected me to say. But I wasn't concerned, Julian's blood had saved my life, I didn't feel any different so what was there to be upset about?
Julian graced me with his smile and kissed me, as his lips touched mine, I realized the scent of roses was a little stronger than normal. I was about to kiss him back when our privacy was ruined.
"Get away from her!"
We both jerked up at the very angry and hysterical cry from my ragged looking mother. Her hair wasn't brushed and she was in clothes that looked a few days stale and slept in. Her eyes were red and brimming with anger and tears.
"Mom, what the heck?" I asked her, Julian had pulled away from me at her command, but I kept a firm grip on his hand.
"I said, get away from my daughter Julian, this is your fault! If you hadn't taken her to that party she wouldn't be in here right now!" I had never heard my mother shriek quite like that before. But the tone in her voice and the thought of Julian leaving caused my slow beating, slumbering heart to wake up. I was the only one who noticed when my heart monitor began to beep faster.
"I can't believe I ever trusted you with her well being, well it will be the last time! Get out! Get out!" My mother advanced toward Julian and just as the beeping on the machines began to get faster and higher pitched, a new voice and two new people entered the room.
"Mrs. Watson if you don't calm down I will have you escorted from your daughter's room," a burly, older nurse with the voice of a strict matron walked right over to my heart monitor and began adjusting it.
"What!" my mom yelped.
"Bethy, your tone is upsetting her," I saw dad, pale and tired looking, just standing in the door way. "All her monitors started going off like crazy the moment you entered the room."
Face flushed with anger my mom opened her mouth to say something, then her eyes darted to the nurse who had begun to take my pulse manually, and she closed it just as fast.
"Julian, could you step outside and give us a minute?" my dad asked, politely.
"Yes Mr. Watson, I'd be happy to," Julian gave me our special look as if to say don't worry I'll be right outside and then he left the room.
After Julian was gone the nurse, whose bright blue name tag read Monica, pulled out a syringe, she flicked it with her finger a few times and then quickly injected it into my IV.
"What's that?" I asked.
"It's just something to help control your heart's reactions, like the meds you already take darling," Monica gave me a beautiful smile and then sent my parents a dagger filled look. "Do not make me come back in here because you've upset her again." Then she filed past them and shut the door loudly behind her.
"Daddy, what happened?" I asked my father, angry at my mother for how she had treated Julian.
"After Julian and Avalon brought you to the ER, you were in a coma for three days. Julian stayed by your side for almost every minute. He only left to give a statement to the police," dad said. He came further into the room, leaned down and kissed my forehead.
"We were really worried Rose, but the doctor said that Julian getting you here so quickly saved your life," dad stroked my hair back from my face.
"Saved her after he almost killed her," mom snarked.
"Now Bethy, stop. Julian saved our daughter, this is not his fault," dad giving my mom a harsh look. I was so grateful he was sticking up for my boyfriend!
"What happened to Athol?" I asked.
"He was arrested shortly after you were admitted. The police still need to speak with you, but we've told them it needs to wait until you feel better," mom came closer and took my hands in her warm one. "We were so worried baby; I never want to see you in the hospital again."
"It's okay you guys, I feel fine, besides I haven't been in the hospital like this in what, three years?" I tried to joke but they didn't care for it.
They each took one of the chairs next to me; my mother still had rage in her eyes and my father looked alone and distant. I closed my eyes, I didn't want to sleep, but I also didn't want to talk to them about anything. My mother wasn't going to get past her anger and my dad, well he was grieving, for what I didn't know, but I didn't want to deal with it either.
I pretended to be asleep and within about twenty minutes I heard my father snoring. My eyes popped open in shock as I glanced at my parents and silently chuckled. They had both fallen asleep, how they could manage it in the stiff back hospital chairs was beyond me.
"Rho?" I heard the whisper and turned to see Julian's face about three inches from mine. I gasped and his hand covered my mouth before the sound could leave my throat.
"Look, they can't hear me or see me but I needed to speak with you, sorry I startled you," he took his hand away and I reached up quickly. I cupped his face in my hands and kissed him. I had been dying (I know: bad pun) to since I'd awakened to see him holding my hand. My lips were feverish as they pressed against his. He kissed me back, his mouth open, breath hot against my skin.
As soon as it started it ended, "ah my Rose blossom, I love you," Julian pressed his forehead against mine.
"I love you too Julian. Now what did you need to tell me?" I inquired, curious as to what could be wrong now.
"I needed to tell you what you can expect now that I've given you my blood." I bit my lip and nodded for him to continue, "It just provides a stronger bond between us now. You will find it harder to be without me and if you concentrate you will be able to find me with our bond no matter where I am."
"That doesn't sound too bad," I frowned, wondering what the catch was.
"I may become...a little more possessive over you than before," Julian gave me a rather sardonic smile, "but most important, a vampire may only give a mortal blood three times before they must change them. If they do not change them after that third time the mortal becomes in danger of going insane. Do you understand?"
"Yes, but this is only the first time, so what's the problem?" I posed the question in such a way so that there was a hidden second question: only the once, right?
"There isn't one; I just needed to tell you." Julian seemed relieved, "I must go now." Julian stood up and reached a hand out, he ran his thumb over my bottom lip and mouthed, "I love you."
"I love you too," I whispered back and just like that Julian was gone, all that was left was his scent and the slight tingle in my lip.
For a few moments after he left, the feeling of utter abandonment ran through me causing my heart to sputter, the monitors made an odd bleeping sound, but I remembered what Julian had said, and consoled myself. He loved me, he was going to come back and I was fine. After another second or two the monitors went back to normal and I was fine.
The door to my room opened and Monica peeked in, looking to the machines, to me, to my parents, and back at me. She titled her head, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing, bad dream, we're all good in here," I said.
"Okay, well try and get some more sleep," Monica darted back out and the door closed, silently.
I was about to settle down into the hospital bed when the phone rang, I nearly jumped out of my skin and grabbed it as fast as I could, my parents stirred and dad mumbled in his sleep. I sighed; they weren't going to wake up, good.
"Hello?" I asked into the receiver.
"Oh Pumpkin I'm so glad you're okay," the voice on the line sounded young with a accent that was a weird cross between British and Spanish.
"Grandma!" I whispered, excited, "How did you know I was here?"
"Your father called me, your evil mother, sorry sweetheart, but she doesn't own him entirely yet. He keeps me well up to date on how you're doing."
I laughed a little at Grandma's words, "it's so nice to hear your voice, I miss you."
"And I miss you, but I promise that you'll see me for Christmas whether your parents like it or not." She sounded sad but stubborn and I knew it was because she was afraid I'd die before she could see me again.
"Okay, you better! I love you."
"Get some sleep Pumpkin I love you too," and then she hung up.
Smiling to myself and feeling warm and happy, I allowed sleep to suck me in and under.
Chapter 9
"Now we've installed an intercom near your bed in case you need us in the middle of the night," my mom said as she and my dad tucked me into bed. We had just arrived home from the hospital after five days of being tested and poked until the doctors were satisfied.
It was strange being home where nothing had changed, I looked around my room and it felt very surreal, "I don't need an intercom mom." I was trying not to lose my patience, she'd been even worse than ever.
"I say you do, now it's only one way so don't worry about your privacy, if there is anything you need you just-"
"Bethy we have more important things to discuss." My father cut her off. He looked rather amused by her extreme mother hen act. Dad had been the only voice of reason for days, we shared a small laugh at my mother's expense.
"So you two think this is funny? Well it's not!" mom gave a pretend huff, and then she too smiled.
"Now your teachers have all sent you the work you've missed, they extended all your deadlines and you have until the end of the semester to get caught up," dad told me.
"That sounds fair, the semester ends in January, I shouldn't have a problem, especially if someone helps me..." I gave my best innocent look and dad rolled his eyes, I knew he'd probably already finished half of my work for me. Mom said he spoiled me, but I needed his spoiling to balance out her inane rules.
"The police said that your written statement was enough for Athol to be tried in juvenile court. He may or may not be allowed out on bail but we've already filed for a restraining order." I nodded, listening to mom's words. I lay back on my big pink pillow to rest; as I did Julian's scent penetrated the room. I didn't think my parents noticed the sweet smell or the fact that my whole body stiffened, alert to him.
"Now for some new rules," my mom started.
"New rules!" I exclaimed, barf. What now? Every time I went to the hospital she added more rules and I was so sick of it.
"No more friends over for the night or going out on the weekends at all unless it's for school purposes. I have gotten rid of anything even a little questionable, like the diet soda and your father won't be smoking his pipes in his study anymore." I gave dad a harsh look; I could tell he wasn't happy with any of it.
"And last, no more Julian," the words were like ice water hitting my face, I bolted up in bed.